John Arne Riise, blast or past?

[carheex]

****ing bull****...hes easily good enough to be in a title winning team and he sure as hell is good enough to be our regular left back for a few seasons yet. I cant see that heinze is a huge improvement, if an improvement at all, over j.a.r and I think only 2 or 3 players in the premiership, and 4 or 5 in europe, are better. Rafa sells j.a.r it would be his first major mistake.

Spot on. He's won us numerous points over the years and there isn't a better goal scoring full back that I can think of. Give the guy a break and pick on Alonso. Now there's someone who has done absolutely **** all for the last 18 months!! We won't against chelsea if he plays - you need 11 men to beat the top teams. This is one game where we can't afford to carry passengers!

[friedk]

He'll start but my thinking is is that why doesn't Rafa look for another left back...will Heinze be the answer? I hope so!

So Rafa IS looking for another left back

[LFCman]

He's got a place in our squad but not as a left winger IMO. He has no close control and is very one dimensional with his dribbling.

[dww]

Riise is a good player and will always be an excellent squad member for us. Could we improve on him - yes. Is he a liability - certainly not.

I'm sure this thread could go for ever but I suspect at heart everyone agrees about it. he only differences is the language we will use to attack or defend him.

[desertscouser]

Riise is a squad player at best. If Rafa had a better player in the squad Riise would be warming the bench more often than not.

[REDSCOUSER]

Riise is a squad player at best. If Rafa had a better player in the squad Riise would be warming the bench more often than not.

[Revo]

Heinze will not play in as many games as JAR if he signs even if he stay s fit.



Are you smoking crack?

if heinze signs, he will be the starting left back for the season mate and be rested in a home game here and there.

[Revo]

My money is going on him for the first.

parlay 1-0 with riise crackin bet that mate

[Farside]

Squad player?! He's not even that good! I would like that Heinze deal to be done asap

Heinze will not play in as many games as JAR if he signs even if he stay s fit.

He might have served good years for us but I think its time to get rid of dead wood. He lacks pace of the wing, lapses in concentration, takes shots from God awful angles and despite this he still starts nine tenths of the games.

Are you smoking crack?

[GreystonesLFC_WTF]

Riise is a player that will divide opinion not just week-in, week-out, but day-in, day-out.

For me he is a near invaluable member of the squad. I probably am insane so no need to throw that at me.

Three years ago, the guy stood forward and said <quote>if you could blend my forward instincts with Carragher's defending, you would have a decent left back</quote>

He knows his problem areas, he has worked on them. When we signed him, he dove in more often than Ian Thorpe. Now he doesn't. Stays on his feet, trys.

People complain about him starting 90% of games, but forget to mention the fact that our defense is the most solid in the premiership. Not bad for having a '****e' left-back. Bring back Traore I say.

Allied to the things he has added to his game, and (Norwegieans please back me up here) he has always been a left wing back. Versatile enough to play at left-back or left-midfield, neither is his 'proper' position.

If nothing else, his goals would always warrant him a mention, or is a certain Roberto Carlos, who could not defend a birds nest an exception?

[Farside]

will score the winner on sunday against the chav *****

My money is going on him for the first.

[Revo]

will score the winner on sunday against the chav *****

[Red Chilli]

He's the Norwegian Roberto Carlos

Magnificent servant to the club. If there's a better payer available then we should be in for him, but let's be honest, how many better left backs who could come straight into the team are out there? I can't think of any and Heinze may or may not rediscover his form but will he go a full season uninjured? Doubt it. If Heinze is so good, why is Evra ahead of him?

[Farside]

Where did all this Riise bashing come out off. He is a very good player. There is a hell of a lot of clubs all over Europe that would love to have as good a left sided player as him. Unbelievable at fee kicks, so what if he hasn't got a decent shot with his right leg, plenty right footed players that can do nothing with their left leg. As a player he is good enough to play on Premiership winning team.

[Marky]

I'm baffled/perplexed/stunned by all the Riise bashers, i really am.