Riera - Benitez never talks to Liverpool Players

[Craig_H]

It's very simplistic to say Rafa has favourites - it's really just your opinion. He's far too professional to pick players because he likes them. Certain players who get criticised (by some) for regular inclusion are perhaps in that position because, unlike the likes of Riera and Babel, they never go hiding, they always give 100% and are therefore reliable. Lightweight, unreliable - not to mention injury-prone - players with attitude problems are left out of the team for a good reason.

And why should the likes of Riera expect to play if others are playing poorly? Better let them play through a rough patch than to bring in people who've let themselves down consistently when they have been picked. It seems that his attitude in training stinks and he clearly has an overblown opinion of his abilities so it's best for all concerned that he's dropped kick as far from Anfield as possible, as soon as possible

Oh, and didn't your pet hate Lucas play well last night?

By that logic, you'd never drop anyone for playing poorly.

[Galb]

In fairness, its not like he doesnt have form for this kind of toy throwing.



Liverpool face a fight with Panathinaikos to secure the services of Spanish winger Albert Riera.
Rafa Benitez is believed to be a big admirer of the Espanyol winger,who has earned rave reviews in La Liga and had an impressive spell with Man City in 2006. Riera is desperate to leave the Spanish side after falling out with former Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde.
Liverpool have already had a £9.5m offer turned down,but are ready to go back with an improved deal as they look to fend off interest from the Greek giants.
Riera is hoping his future is sorted out soon so he can show he has the ability to compete at the highest level saying:"I am not going to play anymore with Espanyol.I will not continue in a club that does not want me.I dont know if I will go to Liverpool or any other team. I am staying hopeful and I would really like everything sorted out within the next two weeks".



I seem to also remember one of the Espanyol players at the time basically coming out and saying that he was full of himself and his abilities and they were glad to see him go.

[lickedlollipop]

he's off in summer.

[Exiled_red]

he's off in summer.

Undoubtedly

[Taxi]

He smacked Pacheco in training a couple of months ago and got sent home. He's clearly a prick. Smacking a four foot nowt little dude like Pacheco is tantamount to hitting women.

Surely it depends on what Pacheco did?

[Craig_H]

Not really. You dont ****ing punch a team mate. If they do something, you let the club deal with it, you dont retaliate in kind.

This isnt on the street, this is at training, when they're at work.

[Vermilion]

Surely it depends on what Pacheco did?

True, but it can't have been that bad surely, other wise the kid would have been punished too i'd imagine, so i'm guessing the reason Riera has been treated in the way he has must be because he hit Pacheo for no good reason...or even if he had a reason...his reaction was over the top. no ?

Also it makes a mockery of his interview, where he say's he fit and ready and doesn't know why the manager isn't picking him or chatting all matey, he knows why.

And i don't blame the manager, we can't have any of our youngsters being bullied by senior players...that would be plain wrong...and very bad.

[Reece]

I read on another forum that Pacheco was being selfish in training. Definitely worthy of a slap that, I mean, who does he think he is?

[Taxi]

Not really. You dont ****ing punch a team mate. If they do something, you let the club deal with it, you dont retaliate in kind.

This isnt on the street, this is at training, when they're at work.

If I was in training and someone made a potential leg breaking tackle there is a chance I'd get up and in the spur of the moment given them a smack, thats human nature. To say that just because you're team mates it wouldn't happen is akin to saying that the players are robots...oh hang on

[Vermilion]

If I was in training and someone made a potential leg breaking tackle there is a chance I'd get up and in the spur of the moment given them smack, thats human nature. To say that just because you're team mates it wouldn't happen is akin to saying that the players are robots...oh hang on

You'd give someone hard drugs for tackling you hard ?

[Taxi]

True, but it can't have been that bad surely, other wise the kid would have been punished too i'd imagine, so i'm guessing the reason Riera has been treated in the way he has must be because he hit Pacheo for no good reason...or even if he had a reason...his reaction was over the top. no ?

Possibly, but all I'm saying is that without knowing what prompted it, we're in no position to cast judgement. This site is spilling over with people prepared to back Rafa to the hilt with every decision he makes. We've had the Alonso interview where he said he left due to the Barry affair, and loads of people claimed he must be lying, then Rieira comes out with this interview and again, he must be lying. We hear a story about Riera hitting a team mate and he's hung, drawn and quartered without anyone knowing the facts.

Remember Carra almost coming to blows with Arbeloa in of the final games of the season last year, that was in a ****ing match and he recieved very little criticism.

Why do some people back the manager 100% but not the players?

[Vermilion]

Possibly, but all I'm saying is that without knowing what prompted it, we're in no position to cast judgement. This site is spilling over with people prepared to back Rafa to the hilt with ever decision he makes. We've had the Alonso interview where he said he left due to the Barry affair, and loads of people claimed he must be lying, then Rieira comes out with this interview and again, he must be lying. We hear a story about Riera hitting a team mate and he's hung, drawn and quartered without anyone knowing the facts.

Remember Carra almost coming to blows with Arbeloa in of the final games of the season last year, that was in a ****ing match and he recieved very little criticism.

Why do some people back the manager 100% but not the players?

I'd hope it's because they take everything into consideration and make a judgement call, that's all anyone can do.

This is between two players...one young, one senior..and i'd say it's the latter who should really know how to set an example when something like this happens...not turn around and slap the lad for being over eager in training.

I'm not getting into the Alonso thing, except to say that had the 'Barry affair' not happened, and Madrid came calling, do you think he'd have stayed, because i'm very sure in my mind he wouldn't, i don't doubt he was upset by Rafa courting Barry, but to say it's why he left is well wide of the mark. imo.

[Taxi]

I'd hope it's because they take everything into consideration and make a judgement call, that's all anyone can do.

This is between two players...one young, one senior..and i'd say it's the latter who should really know how to set an example when something like this happens...not turn around and slap the lad for being over eager in training.

but you can't just turn emotion on and off like a switch. Riera's had **** luck with injuries, maybe he'd just returned to training and Pacecho purposely went in over the ball following a dissageement earlier and took his leg. Maybe he caused Riera severe pain because of a particularly bad challenge and Riera jumped up and reacted in a split second. Human beings are known to make the odd mistake in the heat of the moment.

Maybe Riera is a complete cunt and and smacked him for nothing? None of us know, but we seem to be too eager to label him without knowing any facts at all.

[Exiled_red]

but you can't just turn emotion on and off like a switch. Riera's had **** luck with injuries, maybe he'd just returned to training and Pacecho purposely went in over the ball following a dissageement earlier and took his leg. Maybe he caused Riera severe pain because of a particularly bad challenge and Riera jumped up and reacted in a split second. Human beings are known to make the odd mistake in the heat of the moment.

Maybe Riera is a complete cunt and and smacked him for nothing? None of us know, but we seem to be too eager to label him without knowing any facts at all.

According to an earlier post it's rumoured that it was because Pacheco was too greedy with the ball in training and Riera tooke exception to it. Which if true is something the coaches should perhaps have a word in his ear about, not something for another player to resort to violence over.

[Craig_H]

There's such a thing as keeping your cool and being professional though.

I didnt say they're robots but 99% of players manage it and if i was on that sort of money, i'd make damn sure that i was able to keep it together enough not to go round lamping teammates.