Aurelio out for the season: Riise, Arbeloa or Insua?

[dww]

Mate, I understand what you're saying, but IMO Riise is so bad as to warrant a re-organisation of the defence in such a massive game where the tactics are so scrupulously and meticulously planned. There are certian players who are suh a liability when tehy play for us, not only cant they not do a passable job but they actually make us a weaker and poorer team. Riise is in that bracket, a long with Kewell and of late Pennant and Voronin.

We deride Kuyt for his lack of technique, pace, control etc, yet he keeps on pulling it out the bag in games like this. Riise on the hand proves to be a liabilty. No place for him in games of this magnitude where one error can be so costly. Time for him to go.

I can see that. However I don't think that Riise has always been a liability (although he has always been a limited player). I think he needs to be playing regularly to keep himself in tune as defending is not something that comes totally naturally to him. Maybe thats wrong but it is my take on it. I think it has always been a mild flaw in Rafa in that if he believes in someone then he is always willing to use them sometimes despite their recent form (see Kewell for another example).

I do think that despite his good service to the club it will be the right time to move him on at the end of the season. I hope he redeems himself in the next Chelsea match though as I would hate him to leave with that as his last big contribution. I'd love a reaction like the one he had against Barca the other year after the Bellamy golf club incident.

[Los Rojos]

I wouldn't consider Riise to play left back again for the reds. His confidence will be shot after last night, he knows he's surplus to requirements in the summer and he's been pretty poor for the last two years.

[Nic83]

Yeah that's right, sack him

[Los Rojos]

Yeah that's right, sack him

If he's going to get another game this season, it should be at left midfield not left back. It pretty clear he'll be off in the summer though.

[the rev leeroy brown]

So are you a true fan if you slate Riise like yourself and others have been doing since yesterday???

Everybody has players they dont think are good enough - does not make you less a fan...

Anywho, I would go for Riise still think he is better than arbeloa on the left. Insua is to young and inexperienced to jump in at stamford.

Is insua registered for the CL??

riise (i'm not a fan even before last night. he should leave in the summer with his head held high for his acheivements with us over the last 5+ years) is a decent enough left sided midfielder but he is shockingly bad this past season at left back. he is confident enough to be part of our back four. arbeloa on the other hand is an accomplished defender who has finally broken into the spanish national squad. remember against messi last year at left back he didn't let the argentinian genius get a sniff of the ball he was that solid. i'd stick him in at left back for the remainder of the year. faster than riise from what i can see, better defensively than riise and not excatly a slouch going forward.

[Dhav]

I can see that. However I don't think that Riise has always been a liability (although he has always been a limited player). I think he needs to be playing regularly to keep himself in tune as defending is not something that comes totally naturally to him. Maybe thats wrong but it is my take on it. I think it has always been a mild flaw in Rafa in that if he believes in someone then he is always willing to use them sometimes despite their recent form (see Kewell for another example).

I do think that despite his good service to the club it will be the right time to move him on at the end of the season. I hope he redeems himself in the next Chelsea match though as I would hate him to leave with that as his last big contribution. I'd love a reaction like the one he had against Barca the other year after the Bellamy golf club incident.

To be honest, I hope he's not given a chance to play in a game of any import for us ever again, that's how bad I think he is. Like you have said yourself, the sophisticated way we play under Rafa shows him to be the limited footballer that he is. Kuyt is also quite limited in certain ways yet of late in the CL league matches he has consistently been one of our best players. There is certainly truth in what you say about Rafa keeping the faith in certain underperforming players, eg Kewell and this season Kuyt. With Kuyt his faith is now paying dividends, with Kewell he has now lost faith. If he still has faith in Riise I would be surprised, and a little concerned.

[Only1mboy]

We need to have an attacking threat from the full backs at Chelsea, and seeing as Riise will now probably be shot to pieces after last night i'd go Finnan right, Arbeloa left, Carra and Skrtel in the middle.

Don't care about Birmingham so Insua can play left back and I'll play right back.

Thats the one

[DannyMan2006]

Get rid of Aurelio and Riise in the summer. Buy a new left back, the reasons why are obvious.

For the CL games, I'd play Riise. Strong enough to deal with the Chavs. He'll not cost us another game if given a chance.

I'd play Insua in the league games for the experience. Maybe not against Brum, but in the others.

[Matt]

BBC says Fab is only out for 2 weeks

[friedk]

I would hope that Insua is given a run out against Birmingham on Saturday.

Would also love to see Nemeth on the bench.