For nearly six years Liverpool's left flank has been patrolled by a player who has consistently come in for criticism. Despite being a near ever present, primarily at left back though at times pushed further into midfield he is a player who has failed to win any great acclaim. Check any Liverpool fan site and one of the first areas for improvement in most people's wish lists is the left back berth. It seems no matter what Riise does he will never receive the recognition he deserves.
Riise signed in the summer of 2001, one of the unheralded defensive signings that Gerard Houllier made during that period. In the five and a half seasons since he has made just short of three hundred appearances for the club (his three hundredth game should be played before the end of the current season). The number of appearances, over fifty per season, give the first clue as to one of Riise's qualities. On arrival at the club a number of players were said to have remarked on the incredible levels of fitness of the player. Riise has rarely missed a game through injury and is often seen getting forward late in games when others would lack the stamina.
Of course there is more to professional football than being incredibly fit. Though the signings of players like Sissoko, Kuyt and Crouch who all cover incredible ground during the course of a game shows the value that Benitez puts on this attribute.
There are of course faults in the player's game. He is not blessed with the fastest of feet which can be demonstrated when he is required to turn quickly or when faced with a defender with the ball at his mercy. It's derigour to mock Riise's dribbling attempts, his one main skill being the schoolyard trick of playing the ball one way past a defender and running around on the other side. In deed this writer, whilst sat in close proximity at the Watford game at Anfield coined the Riise 'two shin dribble' as the ball bobbled, uncontrolled from one leg to the other (the look on Talklfc poster Lofti's face at the time was a picture!). Of course every team should aspire to have a left back with the footballing elegance of Paulo Maldini but the reality is, that few players of that type exist.
What Riise does provide is a rarity amongst fullbacks - a genuine goal threat. You will hear little mention of the goals Riise has contributed over the years. In fact his individual goal tally is generally lost amidst the memories of a single goal which the Kop still refer back to with the slightly annoying (actually, very annoying!) "How did you score that goal?" chant, his famous strike past Barthez in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United. It would come as a surprise to many to note that that is just one of 30 goals Riise has scored in that time. No Liverpool fullback in recent history has come close to matching that scoring level. In fact for comparison, Denis Irwin the Manchester United fullback who was highly regarded for his goal scoring feats managed a meager 22 goals in 368 appearances. Against the Champions of Europe in midweek it was Riise who came closest to scoring.
Of course scoring goals is all well and good for a fullback but the primary job of a defender is to play his part in stopping the opposition doing likewise. To this end Riise is arguably the last of Liverpool's current defence to receive deserved recognition. The recent praise for the likes of Finnan and Carragher has been late in arriving, both players have been playing at a consistently high level for some time now. Hyypia was recognised early on in his Liverpool career as an excellent signing whilst the comparison of Agger to Jocky Hansen, whilst a little premature, demonstrates the impressive performances he's put in. Given all that you'd figure that it must be Riise's fault alone when Liverpool concede goals.
Yet Riise has been as much a key part of the excellent defensive record through both the Benitez era and also further back to Houllier's time when Liverpool were also difficult to breakdown. Riise's qualities in this area are often ignored in the glare of the times he is beaten by a winger (which is not as often as is usually made out). Whilst his positioning at times in his early years could be brought into question you rarely see Riise playing a forward onside or getting caught by the ball over the top these days nor do you see Riise getting as much support down his flank as is usually afforded down the Liverpool right. In fact the value of Riise's positional play has been demonstrated in the games in which he's not played (or been moved to midfield) where teams have attacked the space behind the replacement fullback or the offside trap has been breached due to the left sided defender sitting too deep. Liverpool rely heavily on a well drilled defensive effort and Riise knows his part. At just over six foot he also provides a valuable aerial cover on the left flank, a much underrated part to a fullbacks game (it's something Finnan also does well on the right). Riise's strength also allows him to stand upto a winger to challenge for posession.
Of course this likely won't change the view of many. Riise still has ginger hair. He has the most annoyingly well defined six pack. He's won amongst other things the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup. Hopefully though it might stir a bit of recognition for the positive aspects Riise has brought to Liverpool over the past six years and will no doubt contribute for a few more beyond.
he's been good over the years and deseves as much praise as the rest.
Riise signed in the summer of 2001, one of the unheralded defensive signings that Gerard Houllier made during that period. In the five and a half seasons since he has made just short of three hundred appearances for the club (his three hundredth game should be played before the end of the current season). The number of appearances, over fifty per season, give the first clue as to one of Riise's qualities. On arrival at the club a number of players were said to have remarked on the incredible levels of fitness of the player. Riise has rarely missed a game through injury and is often seen getting forward late in games when others would lack the stamina.
Of course there is more to professional football than being incredibly fit. Though the signings of players like Sissoko, Kuyt and Crouch who all cover incredible ground during the course of a game shows the value that Benitez puts on this attribute.
There are of course faults in the player's game. He is not blessed with the fastest of feet which can be demonstrated when he is required to turn quickly or when faced with a defender with the ball at his mercy. It's derigour to mock Riise's dribbling attempts, his one main skill being the schoolyard trick of playing the ball one way past a defender and running around on the other side. In deed this writer, whilst sat in close proximity at the Watford game at Anfield coined the Riise 'two shin dribble' as the ball bobbled, uncontrolled from one leg to the other (the look on Talklfc poster Lofti's face at the time was a picture!). Of course every team should aspire to have a left back with the footballing elegance of Paulo Maldini but the reality is, that few players of that type exist.
What Riise does provide is a rarity amongst fullbacks - a genuine goal threat. You will hear little mention of the goals Riise has contributed over the years. In fact his individual goal tally is generally lost amidst the memories of a single goal which the Kop still refer back to with the slightly annoying (actually, very annoying!) "How did you score that goal?" chant, his famous strike past Barthez in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United. It would come as a surprise to many to note that that is just one of 30 goals Riise has scored in that time. No Liverpool fullback in recent history has come close to matching that scoring level. In fact for comparison, Denis Irwin the Manchester United fullback who was highly regarded for his goal scoring feats managed a meager 22 goals in 368 appearances. Against the Champions of Europe in midweek it was Riise who came closest to scoring.
Of course scoring goals is all well and good for a fullback but the primary job of a defender is to play his part in stopping the opposition doing likewise. To this end Riise is arguably the last of Liverpool's current defence to receive deserved recognition. The recent praise for the likes of Finnan and Carragher has been late in arriving, both players have been playing at a consistently high level for some time now. Hyypia was recognised early on in his Liverpool career as an excellent signing whilst the comparison of Agger to Jocky Hansen, whilst a little premature, demonstrates the impressive performances he's put in. Given all that you'd figure that it must be Riise's fault alone when Liverpool concede goals.
Yet Riise has been as much a key part of the excellent defensive record through both the Benitez era and also further back to Houllier's time when Liverpool were also difficult to breakdown. Riise's qualities in this area are often ignored in the glare of the times he is beaten by a winger (which is not as often as is usually made out). Whilst his positioning at times in his early years could be brought into question you rarely see Riise playing a forward onside or getting caught by the ball over the top these days nor do you see Riise getting as much support down his flank as is usually afforded down the Liverpool right. In fact the value of Riise's positional play has been demonstrated in the games in which he's not played (or been moved to midfield) where teams have attacked the space behind the replacement fullback or the offside trap has been breached due to the left sided defender sitting too deep. Liverpool rely heavily on a well drilled defensive effort and Riise knows his part. At just over six foot he also provides a valuable aerial cover on the left flank, a much underrated part to a fullbacks game (it's something Finnan also does well on the right). Riise's strength also allows him to stand upto a winger to challenge for posession.
Of course this likely won't change the view of many. Riise still has ginger hair. He has the most annoyingly well defined six pack. He's won amongst other things the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup. Hopefully though it might stir a bit of recognition for the positive aspects Riise has brought to Liverpool over the past six years and will no doubt contribute for a few more beyond.
he's been good over the years and deseves as much praise as the rest.
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