Riera - Benitez never talks to Liverpool Players

[dww]

Yeah was it **** this week, it was a good while ago but it's true, Riera got sent home from training for punching Pacheco.

How do we know it's true?

[Shaggy]

How exactly did Rafa do the above...without even talking to or encouraging Torres...amazing..maybe it's just that some players don't ****in listen!!!

It's a miracle.

[red g]

How do we know it's true?

because cream said so

[dww]

Players have succeeded under him, tend to be the one who respond to his style of man management, which is great. He's got the best out of Torres and Gerrard, which is fantastic, and he's seen Reina turn into the world's best keeper under his guidance, and this is also superb. Delighted with that.

That doesnt mean i wouldnt like him to recognise that different players need different kinds of treatment, to perform at their best.

Different players will respond to different methods, but rafa only has one and this will never change, so inevitably, the players who might've flourished with an arm around the shoulder style approach, will fail to succeed at our club and this leaves open the possibility of us missing out.

Dont confuse my views for condoning Riera going to the papers with his frustrations though - that shouldnt be happening and he's wrong to have done it, assuming the quotes are accurate.

My point would be that what matter is how well it works on average and whether in general you get any more out of people by the potentially divisive method of giving some players extra attention. It is not management of the individual at the end of the day that matters.

Also I think that to some degree people put too much emphasis on the manager having a one to one relationship with players. There is a coaching staff between the manager and players who can be used to give attention/help etc to individuals as well.

Obviously it is Rafa's job to ensure that between him and his staff they work to get the best out of players. I think in general with the players who have things to offer they do that.

I accept that Riera coming out with those statements is a separate issue. It would be interesting to see the full interview actually - especially in light of the 'I'd like to stay here for the rest of my career' bit.

[red g]

How exactly did Rafa do the above...without even talking to or encouraging Torres...amazing..maybe it's just that some players don't ****in listen!!!

maybe it was..........

[Maxiedge]

A bit gutted to hear Riera speaking out like this rather than what he said. He makes a fair point about being dropped after a good performance against Hull (did Dossena take his place for Fiorentina match?) but did the stress of sitting on the bench cause him to be crocked for most of the season?

I actually like Rafa's man management. Why does a grown man need an arm around the shoulder ffs? You seen the size of him?! Rafa dishes out tough love; it's all about performance. As Shaggy mentioned, last time Riera played he produced a 0 out 10 performance. It was abysmal. If I did a day's work like that I would get the sack.

I don't believe Rafa's man management has been to blame for this season. For me, it's been lack of quality cover (in particular striker) and this lack of quality has filtered a lack of confidence throughout the team.

[Chrono]

Riera is complete turd anyway. You can argue for and against Kujt or Babel but Riera has done **** all to make me think he should be a Liverpool player. Average squad player who isn't worth talking to.

[squaddie]

Riera is complete turd anyway. You can argue for and against Kujt or Babel but Riera has done **** all to make me think he should be a Liverpool player. Average squad player who isn't worth talking to.

Bit harsh tbf. Wouldnt have done half aswell last season if it wasnt for him and he gives us width, something we hadnt had for a long time (til Maxi obv). I like him as a player, on his day he's as good a winger as anyone..... the key words being 'on his day' though.

[Kenneth]

Riera is complete turd anyway. You can argue for and against Kujt or Babel but Riera has done **** all to make me think he should be a Liverpool player. Average squad player who isn't worth talking to.

Decent squad player and certainly not turd. Let's not go OTT.

[Craig_H]

I love the way people get criticised for expressing doubt in the manager's ability to take us forward, but it's ok to call players 'turds' and such like.

[dww]

I love the way people get criticised for expressing doubt in the manager's ability to take us forward, but it's ok to call players 'turds' and such like.

Did you even let anyone have a chance to criticise Chrono if they wanted to? You wonder why people have a problem with your posting style and then try to imply that in some way people who have been disagreeing with you have been unreasonably hypocritical.

[Chrono]

I clearly didn't call him a turd and I'm fairly sure it's acceptable for me to express my opinion on a player not being good enough for our team.

[Shaggy]

I cannot believe this is BBC Sport's top story for ****s sake.

[the rev leeroy brown]

Riera is complete turd anyway.

I clearly didn't call him a turd .

[dww]

That is pretty tabloid of them. I was pretty disappointed that the BBC didn't even try to cover the CL last night on the radio.