Riera says don’t judge me on City spell

[Pablo]

Quagmire

genius. Wonder what "Giggity, giggity, goo" translates as in Sanish

[Parr_Zee]

Albert Riera,
He drinks Sangria,
He came from Barca, (Espanol is in Barcelona)
To Bring us Joy,
He's Six Foot One Tall,
Magic with the Ball,
So please dont take Riera away....

[Yozza]

Albert Riera,
He drinks Sangria,
He came from Barca, (Espanol is in Barcelona)
To Bring us Joy,
He's Six Foot One Tall,
Magic with the Ball,
So please dont take Riera away....

That is ****.

[Parr_Zee]

That is ****.

I know. But then so is the Father Ted Robbie Keane one...

[Kenneth]

I know. But then so is the Father Ted Robbie Keane one...

It's not that ****.

[Skillz]

We could play them both. Wont happen but Babel could play up front with Keane (presuming Nando is crocked). Or possibly Babel on the right but Rafa's golden boy Dirkie surely wouldnt be dropped!?!?

Bit harsh on Babel he's only just back from the Olympics and with his assist against Liege saved us the possibility of an ignominious exit from the CL.

Hang on. We had Reina

[Cormack74]

Think he made his debut for City in a 3-1 win over the scum!

Sounds like a lucky talisman to me.

[Elvoz]

Espanyol hit-man Luis Garcia is happy to see former team-mate Albert Riera join Liverpool.

Riera asked to leave the Barcelona club at the end of last season, and the midfielder is believed to have had a bust-up with members of the dressing room last term.

Garcia, who was linked to Tottenham and Benfica, remained at El Montjuic but was happy to see Riera move to Anfield.

“Riera being sold is a breath of oxygen for us,” Garcia told As. “He made sure we understood he wanted to leave and it ended with a move.

“For sure him leaving means we lose a great footballer, someone very important. Nobody’s going to say the contrary that Albert did a lot to the club in term of football quality.

“Nevertheless, he’s part of the past now. We are who we are and have to carry on, that’s what he said when he left.

“To me this (argument with Riera) is over and I don’t want to speak about it. I’m back, happy with my summertime and don’t want to get hot speaking about it (laughs).”

[lfc1394]

Only an intial £5.5mil, that a long way from the 9.5-12mil being banded about. Not really a lot in todays transfer market.

[Elvoz]

Only an intial £5.5mil, that a long way from the 9.5-12mil being banded about. Not really a lot in todays transfer market.

was surprised but glad to see that

JP cost more

[ineednewfootwear]

we finally get a proper winger and you want to sit him out of one of the most important games of the season? what kind of message would that send? stick him in there and let him run at the mancs.

also ... great thread, best i've read in a long time.

[barnes10]

totally agree. stick him on the left and let him do what he needs to settle in until christmas. not like we're going to miss anything there is it, we've got fook all there as it is.

[friedk]

Liverpool can get the best out of Riera

Many have questioned Albert Riera's abilities following his previous stint in English football at Manchester City. However, it would be wrong to judge him on his short spell at Eastlands: he was not given the opportunity to play in his natural, attacking, position, and spent his time there being used as a wing back.

I've had hundreds of e-mails and comments from Liverpool fans asking for my opinion of Riera - and please keep your questions and comments coming in:

Dave, from Liverpool, asks: 'Our new signing, Albert Riera. I know very little about him, and have heard very mixed reports. The price seems decent and Rafa seems happy, but there's a few question marks:

What kind of player is he?
Is he Liverpool standard?
What's the best position to play him in?
Will he settle in Liverpool and make the left side berth his own?

Others have expressed some concerns: Victor. P in London said: 'Liverpool have just bought Albert Riera, do you feel he has the mental strength to become a success at Liverpool, because he strikes me as a very in and out player and I heard Graham Hunter say he has grave doubts that Riera is the player that will give us the incisive thrust that we are looking for, hinting that he falls short of the top class signing the club should have made.'


Well guys, let me start by saying that, when he is on form, Albert Riera can be one of the best left wingers in Europe. I'd even go as far as saying that, on his best days, he is the best left winger in Europe. I do realise that this is quite a claim and I must stress that this is only something that we will see when he is on form, playing in an attacking wide position, confident and happy.

Unfortunately, that form can suffer: Riera is someone who can struggle with consistency, he will constantly need an arm around his shoulders and be made to feel important if any manager wants to get the best out of him. He started last term at Espanyol in fabulous form, but without receiving that kind of attention, his form can dip dramatically, as it did over the second half of the season. He's even been known to put on some excess weight if his confidence suffers or he loses focus.

To avoid that happening, and to get the very best out of him, he therefore needs to feel that he is a key player and cannot spend to long keeping the bench warm. Thankfully, I don't think that will happen at Liverpool: as someone close to the manager told me, 'If anyone is going straight in to the side, it's Riera - we simply don't have a better option for the left wing.'


Riera has a powerful shot that is particularly effective from outside the box, he is a strong header of the ball and he is capable of taking on and beating defenders: in spite of not being the quickest around.

If there is one criticism of his play, it is that he often spends too long on the ball. His natural position is as a winger in a 4-2-3-1 formation and, if he does end up playing in a 4-4-2, then Rafa will need to be constantly on top of him to remind him of his defensive responsibilities: Albert isn't particularly fond of tracking back.

However, the Liverpool coach knows all about him - his strengths and his weaknesses - and will be fully prepared to get the best out of him, I'm sure. And, as Riera told me when he signed, he has joined Liverpool because he wants to 'learn to be a better player under Rafa Benitez.'


In my opinion, the signs are there that - under the right conditions - Albert Riera will turn out to be very good acquisition for Liverpool.

[Kenneth]

'If anyone is going straight in to the side, it's Riera - we simply don't have a better option for the left wing.'

Looking forward to it. Go on Albert, **** up the mancs.

[Elvoz]

imo the way to beat the scum is to attack attack attack




then of course sit on a one nil

but play him we need to put the fear of god up the freaks
a winger running at them and a stadium putting the fear of god up their full backs should help