Sky's premier team of the season....

[BFG]

People don't rate him because they always slog home the 'he's a bit dodgy with crosses' argument. Much like rotation and zonal defending, on the whole it's complete dog****. I don't care if he doesn't get recognition despite the GG awards, more fool idiots like Gray etc.

We allowed the least shots on target this season incidentally. As long as we love Reina who cares, we all know how valuable he is

And we all do, except for possibly Nic and DJS.

[El Jefecito]

Mascher needs to improve his passing for me. Doesn't pass like a £17m player, but tackles like one though

Even so, that doesn't put Flamini ahead of him.

And as an aside I don't think his passing is all that bad, it certainly improved as the season went on and he even pulled a few Xabi'esque passes out of the bag.

He's definitely a better passer of the ball than Makele was.

[El Jefecito]

People don't rate him because they always slog home the 'he's a bit dodgy with crosses' argument. Much like rotation and zonal defending, on the whole it's complete dog****. I don't care if he doesn't get recognition despite the GG awards, more fool idiots like Gray etc.

We allowed the least shots on target this season incidentally. As long as we love Reina who cares, we all know how valuable he is

People who say that tend to think goalkeeping is about shot-stopping and dealing with crosses. That's a superficial analysis.

It's as much about:

Command of area
Mental strength
Ball distribution
Ability to sweep
Communication

etc
etc

Reina excels in each of those categories, but as I say, thats too deep for people like Andy Gray.

[wiw]

People who say that tend to think goalkeeping is about shot-stopping and dealing with crosses. That's a superficial analysis.

It's as much about:

Command of area
Mental strength
Ball distribution
Ability to sweep
Communication

etc
etc

Reina excels in each of those categories, but as I say, thats too deep for people like Andy Gray.

His distribution is second to none

[El Jefecito]

His distribution is second to none

Doesn't he have two assists or something like that?

[wiw]

Doesn't he have two assists or something like that?

Not sure mate, think it's one in the league (Torres against Fulham ?). Can't think of any recently though...his kicking from his hands though is outstanding, most recently that one to Voronin against City which he completely ****ed up

[nevelator]

He has to be the best 'keeper in the league for 'sweeping' up behind the defenders.

[Kas]

Just saw this on offal site, which backs up the majority of people's views

Rafa Benitez thinks people may not realise just how good Pepe Reina is – because he plays for Liverpool.
The Anfield boss claims the fact his side gives away so few chances means Reina doesn't get to show off his skills as much as many of his Premier League counterparts.

One such rival, David James, was nominated for PFA Player of the Season after being kept busy in the Pompey net.

Benitez is in little doubt that his number one would get similar recognition if he played for a lesser side. Instead, Reina will have to make do with his third successive Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in the Premier League after his 18 shut-outs this season.

His boss told Liverpoolfc.tv: "Pepe is a 'keeper in a top side, so he has less to do. If he played for a lesser team he would be fantastic because he'd be involved all the time. He is a very good goalkeeper."

Reina was presented with his award at Melwood this morning in an event which seems to come around as regularly as Christmas.

In the four years since the Golden Glove was introduced, Reina has won it three times and Petr Cech once.

Benitez added: "I am not surprised. When you see the performance of Pepe in every game, and also the team in defence, you can understand why he normally doesn't concede too many goals. I am really pleased to be here again.

"When you talk about three seasons in a row, it means he is doing a good job. Always I say the same: for me, when we signed him he was the best 'keeper in Spain. He's really good, a good worker, he wants to learn – everything is positive now and for the future.

"Everyone likes to see strikers scoring goals but your 'keeper is always a key part of the team. When you don't concede many goals you always know you can win because you always create chances."

The fact Reina has again kept the division's most clean sheets is often ignored by pundits, who instead see a single mistake from a set piece as a damning – and ridiculous -indictment of zonal marking.

Not that Benitez dwells on such facts.

"It's something that you know is normal in football. People just talk about one or two mistakes and not the performance of the team during the year," he said.

[jonymadness]

Lads, at the end of the day (copyright David O'Leary) this list was put together by redknapp and gray, 2 of the WORST football analysts out there, who gives a sh1t what they think? Does it matter that they dont see the benefits of Masher? Who cares if Gray has had a pick on Reina cause he dropped a few crosses, they are idiots, both of them.

[Shaggy]

Lads, at the end of the day (copyright David O'Leary) this list was put together by redknapp and gray, 2 of the WORST football analysts out there, who gives a sh1t what they think? Does it matter that they dont see the benefits of Masher? Who cares if Gray has had a pick on Reina cause he dropped a few crosses, they are idiots, both of them.