I haven't had time to catch any football lately so I was wondering......Obviously, it's early days but with a few league games and a handful of friendlies under their belts, how have the new guys been performing? Do they improve the squad enough to make a noticeable difference or have we replaced the departures with like-for-like in terms of quality?
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I think we have made some great signings this summer - Dossenna hasn't looked great so far but he looks a good player and he will get better with experience here. Degen has looked ok for a free signing. Keane is a PL expert and will be great - yet to take off so far. Riera signed today and will bring some skill to the side too. All in all a good summer with a lot of money spent.... we will know more by October I guess. -
When did you see Digen play ?Anybody who criticizes Klopp ever is a James Blunt. Nov 2015
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"The definition of insanity is not running into the same wall again and again; it's expecting a different result every time you do it."Comment
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Also the new no2 Goal Keeper looks more than up to the job .. great signingAnybody who criticizes Klopp ever is a James Blunt. Nov 2015
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Yeah played well last time i seen him.Originally posted by Nicey View Post
His first touch for LFC was brilliant though against Tranmere, kicking it out of the stadium
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Originally posted by Rashid View Post
I like the look of Dossena, he definitely needs some time to bed in before making proper judgements but he obviously has ability. I'm not too concerned about that position anyway, Aurelio when fit is a good player, and Insua has bags of potential, so if Dossena doesn't work out we should be fine there.
Degen, well, he was free and hasn't played a lot yet, I'm a bit concerned about right back but he was a low-risk acquisition who could add something to the team in terms of width.
Cavilieri (sp?) can only be an improvement on Itjande.
Ngog's looked a smart buy so far in friendlies, very very raw but for the price and his age should be a better option than Voronin was as a backup striker.
Keane has looked a bit nervy so far to me, when he settles down and puts a couple in the back of the net we'll start to see what we paid the money for. He certainly does look like a natural Liverpool player (if that makes sense).
Riera looks done, I think this one might split the fans a bit but at least the guy is a proper wide player and has improved a lot by all accounts in the last few seasons.
I think its been a good summer if not necessarily a great one, we are improving and now do have genuine strength in all but 2 positions, where we will really need players to step up if we are to be strong across the board and genuinely challenge for the title.I could not dig, I dared not rob:
Therefore I lied to please the mob.
Now all my lies are proved untrue
And I must face the men I slew.
What tale shall serve me here among
Mine angry and defrauded young?Comment
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Riera is no Ronaldo, but he has bags of skill something we have missed out wide since Macca left us, that is an improvement right away. He doesn't have much pace but lets see how this one pans out....Comment
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How come i have heard nothing about Riera other than rafa is interested in him?
Normally you get the hype surrounding a possible new signng but it appears that Riera has been done very Wenger like and kept quiet.Comment
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Well I am genuinely happy with that, Job done and very solid summer of ins and outs ..Hopefully we can all now settle down bunker in and enjoy the season aheadAnybody who criticizes Klopp ever is a James Blunt. Nov 2015
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I will stick my neck on the line here and say in no uncertain terms that I think Dossena will be nothing short of a disaster at LB and be duly shipped off in January.
I hope I am wrong but from what I have seen I am shocked that we signed this guy for 7m when we had Aurelio and even Insua. That extra 7m could have got us Barry."Its not about the long ball or the short ball, its about the right ball." Bob PaisleyComment
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tidy post rashid, keep it up mate!
Regarding Riera i have to admit im not enthused about him but then i must admit that he is an improvement (god i hope so anyway) on what we currently have. Wonder where this leaves Babel though? Hopefully on the right!
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I posted this in another Riera thread, it was a profile on Riera from October last year.
Mallorcan Beginnings
Albert Riera came up the ranks of RCD Mallorca’s youth system, and made his debut for the club at the end of 2000-2001, capping his performance with a goal.
His youthful zeal, combined with running power and the ability to give defenders the slip, quickly endeared him to the fans at the Islanders' then-stadium, Son Moix.
In 2002-03, Riera established himself in the side, taking part in what was a dream end to the season for the men from Son Moix. Despite struggling in the league, Mallorca swept Real Madrid and Deportivo la Coruña aside on their way to the final of the Copa del Rey.
At the final in Elche, they recorded a resounding 3-0 victory over Recreativo. A certain Samuel Eto’o scored two goals for Mallorca that day, but Albert Riera, too was also a regular in the side by then.
Big Spanish clubs were sniffing around Riera, with Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Deportivo La Coruña rumoured to be interested in acquiring his services.
Bordeaux Patrol
Yet, the destination took almost everyone by surprise when the inevitable move came: a switch to Bordeaux.
Riera made an impressive 39 appearances for the Girondinsin his first season in France. Although he has never been a prolific scorer, Riera usually weighs in with a few goals, and this season in particular saw him find shooting form.
During his first UEFA Cup adventure, he found the net five times as Girondins reached the quarter finals before meeting Valencia, the eventual winners. Albert’s second season in France was less successful. He was in and out of the team and decided to return to Spain in 2005.
From Montjuic to Manchester
Albert Riera found himself in the Catalan capital, but the destination was the Olympic Stadium rather than the Camp Nou. The early indications at Espanyol were not great. Riera only made eight appearances for his new club in the first half of the 05-06 season and did not appear to be highly rated by Lotina, who was in charge at Montjuic.
Frustrated at the lack of first team football at Espanyol, Albert decided to try his luck in England. He signed a loan deal with Manchester City during the January 2006 transfer window.
Riera did well in his short spell in the Premiership, playing fifteen times for City and scoring against Newcastle. City manager Stuart Pearce was said to be keen to sign him permanently but no deal was agreed at the end of the season.
City had barely survived in the top division and back at Montjuic things were no different. Espanyol only stayed up thanks to a dramatic injury time goal in the last game of the season.
Work Ethic
It may be that Riera’s short spell in England was time well spent. On his return to Espanyol, Riera soon found himself back in favour with new coach Ernesto Valverd,e who had arrived fresh from his own troubled spell at Athletic Bilbao.
Valverde noted that Riera had added discipline and a defensive aspect to his game. He was now working harder for the team when he didn’t have the ball. Before that, he had been a player who frustrated his coaches almost as much as he entertained the fans.
His sweet left foot, technical ability and quality crossing had never been in doubt, but in the modern game that is not enough to satisfy coaches who know that a work ethic is also required to get results. Riera had it, and he found regular football again under the new boss and added more consistency to his game.
He again inspired in the UEFA cup, turning in excellent performances as Espanyol stunned the likes of Benfica and Werder Bremen.
Back in the UK
Riera returned to Britain this May, where he was a standout for his club in the UEFA Cup final at Hampden Park. Espanyol and Scottish fans alike will remember his equalising goal for a long time to come.
It was a strike that typified Riera’s style. He picked up the ball on the left touchline in the middle of the park and surged forward before cutting inside Daniel Alves. He then delivered a shot with his weaker foot which the unlucky Brazilian deflected beyond Palop’s reach.
However, it wasn’t enough to stop Espanyol from suffering penalty shootout heartache for the second time in a UEFA Cup Final.
A rueful Ernesto Valverde watched from the sidelines, and knew only too well how his players felt. He was experiencing this feeling for the second time having been part of the Espanyol side which lost on penalties in Leverkusen in 1988 after throwing away a 3-0 first leg lead.
A Bright International Future
Riera continues to establish himself as one of his country’s best left-sided midfielders. His strong running and long stride make him hard to pin down. At 6'2" he can be a danger when on the end of crosses, too, as he showed recently against Real Madrid.
Espanyol have had a very good start to the season but whether Barcelona’s second most successful club can challenge for more trophies this season is open to debate.
The signs are good so far, though. For example, three of their players featured in Spain’s recent European Championship qualifier in Denmark.
Much of the Spanish media focus was on Raul Tamudo’s controversial selection ahead of his Real Madrid namesake but Luis Garcia and Albert Riera also featured, and Riera stood out. The Mallorcan appeared as a late substitute and stole the headlines with another wonder goal.
It’s been a checkered career so far for the 25 year-old. But Riera’s stock keeps rising. If he can continue to play consistently while scoring spectacular and important goals then he could well establish himself in the national team. It may only be a matter of time before bigger clubs come calling again.
Steve Porter"The definition of insanity is not running into the same wall again and again; it's expecting a different result every time you do it."Comment
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