Albert Riera

[Mike]

I am genuinelly excited about Riera

[Shaggy]

Really enjoyed his debut. A tall, imposing figure with a great touch and some sublime skill. He beats people for fun. He showed more in that 70 minutes or so than I saw from him in all of his time at City. He looks much improved.

[Guest]

Really enjoyed his debut. A tall, imposing figure with a great touch and some sublime skill. He beats people for fun. He showed more in that 70 minutes or so than I saw from him in all of his time at City. He looks much improved.

I don't think he was a bad player back then. I remember him in that game against Manure at the time and he was outstanding. Now he's playing with better players and it shows. He's got more confidence also.

Rafa can judge a good player alright and for £8m he could prove to be a snip.

[red g]

I don't think he was a bad player back then. I remember him in that game against Manure at the time and he was outstanding. Now he's playing with better players and it shows. He's got more confidence also.

Rafa can judge a good player alright and for £8m he could prove to be a snip.

i remember seeing him in the uefa final, he was great. Him and Babel on the wings for the future will be frightening.

[deedodatderdodontdeedo]

He has a big head too

Not as big as Dossena's!!

He looks like Frank Sidebottom

I like the cut of Riera's jib. Looks strong and got a few tricks and most of all he WANTS to play left side.

Time will tell

[anfieldanfield]

Not as big as Dossena's!!

He looks like Frank Sidebottom

I like the cut of Riera's jib. Looks strong and got a few tricks and most of all he WANTS to play left side.

Time will tell

Crucial in my opinion.

He's not afraid to get some chalk on his boots and doesn't constantly feel the need to drift into the middle and get involved in the play.

I don't mind having a right winger, Kuyt, Yossi or Babel who cuts in all the time as long as we have some natural width on the left hand side.

[Craig_H]

Not so fussed about tricks and flicks, the end product is more important. If he keeps offering natural width, keeps being intelligent on the ball and keeps taking on (and beating) his man, with the ability to put a good cross in, i'll be delighted.

He did all of the above and it was a very good debut. Strikes me as someone who will also, given time, be able to pop up with a few goals here and there.

[deedodatderdodontdeedo]

Not so fussed about tricks and flicks, the end product is more important. If he keeps offering natural width, keeps being intelligent on the ball and keeps taking on (and beating) his man, with the ability to put a good cross in, i'll be delighted.

He did all of the above and it was a very good debut. Strikes me as someone who will also, given time, be able to pop up with a few goals here and there.

I recall one long range effort that he caught very sweetly but VDS plucked it.

He also has the Spanish waiter look that Rafa seems to feel is essential,....

[Craig_H]

I think he's more likely to pop up on the far post when the ball is crossed in from the right, or maybe coming inside for a cross that everyone else misses.

If he wades in with some shots from distance too, no problem.

[Darth Marty]

Can he play for us in the champs league group stages? Hope so as i think he will look great against Marseille tuesday.

[lfc1394]

He looked like he has heart, he wanted the ball the whole time and took up good positions.

[peekay]

One of my mates who follows La liga a lot said that Riera could be a shrewd signing for Liverpool. He said when he is in the zone, he has trickery, can retain possession in tight spaces and goes past players for fun. Again he was talking about Riera's best performances. He said Riera has the potential to make more of an impact at Liverpool than any other top club in Spain and England as we are crying out for a player who can handle and bring the ball out of tight spaces.

His deficiencies are can be a moody git at times ( Carra can handle that) and is not a ball carrying winger as he does not have express pace. He said in England we are used to seeing wingers dashing across the field with the ball at their feet in counter attacks. Riera is not that type of player.

He said Riera has the potential to be a more than useful player for us, if he settles down well.

[Reece]

Don't know if this has been covered in the thread, but what the hell were the hand gestures to Gerrard when he was being subbed all about?

[Guest]

Don't know if this has been covered in the thread, but what the hell were the hand gestures to Gerrard when he was being subbed all about?

He's basically been passing on some tips on how he should play.

[Roboklopp]

Aye, also very impressed- especially after the terrible write-ups my city-supporting mates give him.

Amazing how well he & Aurelio linked up given the fact theyve never played together & that it was Riera's debut against such a good side (I feel dirty saying that).