Riera - Benitez never talks to Liverpool Players

[Lee]

£5m for a 27 year old Spanish international?! Runaround

[lickedlollipop]

Lost all respect for the man after reading that was supportive thus far but he can duck off now.

yep. and now he's back with his head down and he wants to play. feck 0ff

[Exiled_red]

What's the latest with this, does anyone think he's likely to feature in the remainder of the season?

[dww]

What's the latest with this, does anyone think he's likely to feature in the remainder of the season?

I doubt it. We have looked like we could do with a wide option at many points this season and his attitude in training seemed to have ruled him out of playing then. I doubt that his outburst has moved him up the pecking order.

[Exiled_red]

I doubt it. We have looked like we could do with a wide option at many points this season and his attitude in training seemed to have ruled him out of playing then. I doubt that his outburst has moved him up the pecking order.

It's just a curious one, particularly given out league position, and tonight in Europe we are without Babel who has been playing that position recently, also we need to maximise his value if we are offloading him in the summer. Personally (and under other conditions) I would have sent him to train on his own or something as he could affect team spirit, but given our tight financial situation and desperate need to perform well in our remaining games is that cutting our nose off to spite our face?

Has Benitez accepted his apology as genuine, or has he seen it as an act of necessity by someone desperate to play in the WC who has no other options

[dww]

It's just a curious one, particularly given out league position, and tonight in Europe we are without Babel who has been playing that position recently, also we need to maximise his value if we are offloading him in the summer. Personally (and under other conditions) I would have sent him to train on his own or something as he could affect team spirit, but given our tight financial situation and desperate need to perform well in our remaining games is that cutting our nose off to spite our face?

Has Benitez accepted his apology as genuine, or has he seen it as an act of necessity by someone desperate to play in the WC who has no other options

I can see your point but when he played early in the season Riera wasn't the player he was last year. If he has really fought like he meant it in training then I can envisage Rafa accepting the apology at least in terms of considering him for selection short term. That said given his demands to the Russians it seems that his motivation is not football related - therefore it seems doubtful he will be pulling out all the stops to get to the World Cup. Playing him if he doesn't perform doesn't help us in any way I don't think.

There is also the fact that if Rafa intends to be here next year then it is important for him to have authority over the players.

[Exiled_red]

I can see your point but when he played early in the season Riera wasn't the player he was last year. If he has really fought like he meant it in training then I can envisage Rafa accepting the apology at least in terms of considering him for selection short term. That said given his demands to the Russians it seems that his motivation is not football related - therefore it seems doubtful he will be pulling out all the stops to get to the World Cup. Playing him if he doesn't perform doesn't help us in any way I don't think.

There is also the fact that if Rafa intends to be here next year then it is important for him to have authority over the players.