Riera

[Vermilion]

ooooh that Riera...he's such a thug....just look at this leg breaker...left the poor lad in excruciating pain....er..by the looks of him.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh9swk_kokkini-ston-riera_sport

[SB]

ooooh that Riera...he's such a thug....just look at this leg breaker...left the poor lad in excruciating pain....er..by the looks of him.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh9...on-riera_sport

That's bringing the game into disrepute surely

[Norbs]

I'd take him back instantly - good memories watching the clip below

YouTube - Albert Riera Compilation

Gutted watching that. Mascher, Torres, Arbeloa, Riera, Benyoun. All gone

[saj]

Gutted watching that. Mascher, Torres, Arbeloa, Riera, Benyoun. All gone

Add to that Alonso. Out of those 6, 3 fell out with Rafa and were sold on. And had those 3 stayed, we still would probably be a top four team in the Champions League and therefore Torres would still be here and Rafa too - working under the new owners. That is what is known as the domino effect - man management should never be underestimated

[Lee]

Gutted watching that. Mascher, Torres, Arbeloa, Riera, Benyoun. All gone

**** isn't it.

[Fredo]

Add to that Alonso. Out of those 6, 3 fell out with Rafa and were sold on. And had those 3 stayed, we still would probably be a top four team in the Champions League and therefore Torres would still be here and Rafa too - working under the new owners. That is what is known as the domino effect - man management should never be underestimated

Who fell out with Rafa? Apart from Riera, who acted the cock, the rest departed on good terms.

[Lee]

Who fell out with Rafa? Apart from Riera, who acted the cock, the rest departed on good terms.

Benayoun gave a pretty scathing interview about Rafa after he left us. I think it was in the NOTW or some such rag.

[saj]

Who fell out with Rafa? Apart from Riera, who acted the cock, the rest departed on good terms.

Alonso and Benayoun. Alonso didn't really on good terms - he was bitter as the Rafa wanted to sell him the summer before he went (there is an interview on BBC with Alonso that confirms this). Benayoun definitely left on bad terms and confirmed the same with Riera and Alonso.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...youn-liverpool

Rafa Benítez made my life a misery at Liverpool, says Yossi Benayoun

• 'There is one reason I left – Rafa Benítez'
• 'If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit'

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* Everton Gayle
* guardian.co.uk, Sunday 11 July 2010 00.52 BST
* Article history

yossi benayoun Yossi Benayoun said the former manager never gave him any credit while at Liverpool. Photograph: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport

Yossi Benayoun has accused Rafa Benítez of trying to break him at Liverpool. The midfielder said the former Liverpool manager was the sole reason for him wanting to leave Anfield.

The Israeli midfielder, who joined Chelsea in a four-year deal this month, said the former manager made his life a misery while he was at the club.

"Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," said Benayoun. "There is only one reason – Rafa Benítez."

The midfielder says the Spaniard, who left Liverpool to manage Internazionale, never treated him with respect he felt he deserved.

"If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit," he told the News of the World.

"When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game. On two occasions early last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benítez told me he was surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough.

"He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy."

Benayoun said he was very unhappy but out of respect for the club he did not speak out. He said the players and people at the club know how he felt.

"I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. It was the same for me. Benítez tried to break me like he broke Riera."

The 30-year-old said before the final game of the season Benítez pulled him aside in training and said: "You will not be in the squad for this game. Thank you for your three years of service, now you can call your agent to do a deal with another club."

"That's when Chelsea made an offer," said Benayoun, "and the deal was done before Benítez left."

[McDermotX]

Whatever about other players having fallouts with Rafa......that Yossi explanation still doesn't ring quite right IMO. Think he saw an opportunity to move for money and a chance of a few trophies in his eyes.....pure lipservice the rest of it.
Usual footballer excuses without looking at their own failings. Bit of a backlash towards him on here following this as well if I remember correctly.

[RedReet]

Add to that Alonso. Out of those 6, 3 fell out with Rafa and were sold on. And had those 3 stayed, we still would probably be a top four team in the Champions League and therefore Torres would still be here and Rafa too - working under the new owners. That is what is known as the domino effect - man management should never be underestimated

Arbeloa was home sick, Riera made his own bed (are you sugesting he should have stayed after what happened?) and bar Alonso the other 3 were still here when Rafa was here. I don't see you point unless you say if Alonso was still here then we'd be in CL?

[saj]

Whatever about other players having fallouts with Rafa......that Yossi explanation still doesn't ring quite right IMO. Think he saw an opportunity to move for money and a chance of a few trophies in his eyes.....pure lipservice the rest of it.
Usual footballer excuses without looking at their own failings. Bit of a backlash towards him on here following this as well if I remember correctly.

He took a pay decrease to join Liverpool

[McDermotX]

He took a pay decrease to join Liverpool

From West Ham.......who despite their dismantling of us last week are, what you would call, a struggling club with inbuilt wage decreases for relegation and no chance of silverware etc.
And that's without bringing the whole signing on fee bonuses that come into effect with every unrequested transfer.

Besides money was only mentioned as one of the reasons. Although, I think its fair to say his playing time wouldn't exactly be significantly increased with Chelsea as it was with us, and that was before his long-term injury......might be more lucrative medal-wise.

[saj]

Arbeloa was home sick, Riera made his own bed (are you sugesting he should have stayed after what happened?) and bar Alonso the other 3 were still here when Rafa was here. I don't see you point unless you say if Alonso was still here then we'd be in CL?

I wasn't referring to Arbeloa - it was obvious he was going to leave after his first half season with us.

And yes, IMO if we still had Alonso we probably would still be in the Champions League.

As for Riera, what did he do? He apparently ****ted a young player (Pacheco?) - I don't know how much truth there is in that and to me it just seems like a forum rumour. What is more less confirmed is that Benitez fell out with him and Riera lashed out at him in the press.

[Mattshark]

I wasn't referring to Arbeloa - it was obvious he was going to leave after his first half season with us.

And yes, IMO if we still had Alonso we probably would still be in the Champions League.

As for Riera, what did he do? He apparently ****ted a young player (Pacheco?) - I don't know how much truth there is in that and to me it just seems like a forum rumour. What is more less confirmed is that Benitez fell out with him and Riera lashed out at him in the press.

Our problem last season was lack of goals, I think another striker would have made more difference.

Riera has had discipline problems everywhere he has been, the Echo also reported the attack on an unnamed youth player so I doubt it is just a rumour.

[saj]

Riera has had discipline problems everywhere he has been, the Echo also reported the attack on an unnamed youth player so I doubt it is just a rumour.

OK - cool. Thanks for that: I thought it didn't make it to the press. Yes he had problems at Espanyol