How much do we miss.....

[Parm]

Riise?

I'd never thought I'd say that, but either at FB or LW Riise is our number one choice. Aureilio looks a bit so so, Speedy too and you never know which Kewell will turn up. We look a lot mor stronger and better when Riise is in the team.

Aureilio and Speedy will take a lot longer than I thought to bed in.

[kurtangle01]

I thought the signing of Aurelio would help us find decent competition for Riise and suitable back up so that we wouldn't miss him that much but so far I've been unimpressed by Fabio. He's good going forward but his positional sense at the back is awful.

Hopefully it's just a case of him having to adapt to the EPL and he settles soon.

[Parm]

I thought the signing of Aurelio would help us find decent competition for Riise and suitable back up so that we wouldn't miss him that much but so far I've been unimpressed by Fabio. He's good going forward but his positional sense at the back is awful.

Hopefully it's just a case of him having to adapt to the EPL and he settles soon.

hope so too, Fabio looks a bit lightweight (though he still carried on espite being whacked in the face twice!)

[kurtangle01]

Gonzales does look a good prospect though and I have been impresed by him. I couldn't believe that we never started him in the derby yesterday. We really could have used his pace and crossing to good effect early on.

[NICKZS]

Although Riise's defensive attributes sometimes get called into question, I remember seeing some stats through last season when we were defending really well until that dip in form. It was basically explained through our rotation of the left back position with Traore (suprise, suprise) having the worst stats, then Warnock and then a huge gulf between the number of goals conceded leading to Riise's inclusion in the squad.

Whether it is a matter of communication across the back-line or whatever I don't know, but statistically we concede less goals when JAR is playing. Go figure!

[Mumsafan]

We missed someone like Didi I know that

[cobain]

We missed someone like Didi I know that

+ don't get on Aureilo's back so much people... He was almost killed 2 times yesterday... I thought he'd finish a game without his head on his neck...

[Bender]

We missed someone like Didi I know that

we should really have kept him for 1 more season,he was the daddy of our midfield.

[NICKZS]

we should really have kept him for 1 more season,he was the daddy of our midfield.

Turned 2 important cup finals on their head for us

[Charlie_B]

Riise, although not the best defensive player in the world, is invaluable to the team. Never realised until now to be perfectly honest. Aurelio isn't a LB, that much is clear.

[nobbylad]

+ don't get on Aureilo's back so much people... He was almost killed 2 times yesterday... I thought he'd finish a game without his head on his neck...

He was **** at the derby which was slightly worse than this last performance.

He's no left back, so shouldn't even be played there.

Was Warnock still injured? He would've done better against the bitters.

[rushscored4]

Riise? I'd never thought I'd say that, but either at FB or LW Riise is our number one choice. Aureilio looks a bit so so, Speedy too and you never know which Kewell will turn up. We look a lot mor stronger and better when Riise is in the team. Aureilio and Speedy will take a lot longer than I thought to bed in.

Football is a funny old game isn't it? Full of opinions - wrong ones and my ones!

I think Riise, like Aurelio, is stronger going forward than defending. His lack of positional awareness often lets him down and he sometimes loses concentration. If you review the goals we concede when he's playing you'll often find they start down his side.

Gonzalez needs to adjust to the pace of the Premiership and get stronger. He's obviously got pace going forward but doesn't work hard enough tracking back for Rafa's liking. He will improve, though, as will Aurelio who I think has adapted pretty well considering he's the first Brazilian we've ever had at the club.

But what about Stevie Warnock? One week Rafa announces he is too valuable to lose to Blackburn as a makeweight in the Lucas Neill deal then the next week he's not even second choice at left back even with Riise still carrying an ankle injury.

[red g]

Course we miss Didi, but then HE wanted to play more in his last two seasons, would love to see him in a red shirt again.The man is the Kaiser but we have the boss now and its time to move on

[Parm]

Riise, although not the best defensive player in the world, is invaluable to the team. Never realised until now to be perfectly honest. Aurelio isn't a LB, that much is clear.

[Taffy]

+ don't get on Aureilo's back so much people... He was almost killed 2 times yesterday... I thought he'd finish a game without his head on his neck...

I must admit I had a chuckle when Aurelio got a ball in the face for the second time in that game! Glad he's allright though.

Back to the thread topic though, and yes I agree, we do miss Riise.

Although he may not be the best defender in the world, I do agree that he's greatly missed at left back at the moment. We had a stability about us when he was part of the back four and his latest setback is a huge disappointment - hope he recovers fully and quickly.

On Aurelio, I feel we should continue with him at left back as it's still early days for the lad, and he hasn't been given much time to settle yet, so give the lad a break. Once he learns the system and everyone else's game he improve. He's a quality player and one that brings a lot of experience to the side, so give it time I say!