Liverpool FC Forum

[Bad Bob]

I have no qualms about Riise's departure, in the past two seasons he didn't just stagnate, he seemed to get worse. I have reservations about his replacement, and although it's it's way too early to make a final judgement call, it looks as if he lacks too much defensively in order to succeed. Curious that Riise's gone? Not at all. Curious about his replacement? Very much so.

Yeah, no argument here that Riise had hit a wall and probably needed to go.  Deffo worried about his replacement, though.  At best he looks an Arbeloa-type tryer, at worst he's another in a line of gormless fullbacks that Rafa seems to enjoy plucking from various European backwaters.  For the price we paid, I had hoped we were on to someone of evident quality but I remain to be convinced.

[Greavesie]

Top class from Riise, I read this earlier today. I don't like players that I once praised going to other EPL clubs and having to play against them.

On Riise, I've got this niggling worry that Dosenna won't prove to be much of an improvement

I thought Dossena was a bit dodgy against Sunderland defensively. I felt if Sunderland were going to break us, it was down the right flank

[RedBlood]

Evra was in his first full season now hes the best in the league

Crazy how people r doubting him after the first game of the season even though by every1s account in the second half he played better & attacked more

ever though Rafa told him 2 be more defense in the first half then asked him 2 get forward more when we were lookin 4 the goal

[LegBarnes]

Evra was in his first full season now hes the best in the league

Crazy how people r doubting him after the first game of the season even though by every1s account in the second half he played better & attacked more

ever though Rafa told him 2 be more defense in the first half then asked him 2 get forward more when we were lookin 4 the goal

Yep and man he can cross the ball.

He pinged one in 2nd half vrs sunderland was scary.

I think as he plays more he will grow into a great left back.

I also think untill we get winger he should have a go at left midfield as he has alot to give in those areas.

With not as much defending to do he might perform better in those areas.

[66-1112520797]

I saw those remarks too...well in JAR!

On Riise, I've got this niggling worry that Dosenna won't prove to be much of an improvement.  Like the Barry in/Alonso out moves (if they ever happen), this strikes me as a weird situation where we've sacrificed an established (albeit not at his best) player for a new fella with roughly the same quality.  The trouble, of course, is that we've paid over the odds to do so and traded a lad who was already settled and up to speed with the tactics for someone who will take time to bed in.  I know, I know, it's early days and we shouldn't jump on Dossena's back before he has a chance to come good and blah, blah, blah...  Still, it's (another) curious decision by the gaffer.

Maybe its Rafas back that needs jumping on then, he has brought some ropey looking players to counter weight the quality he has brought in.

[66-1112520797]

Yeah, no argument here that Riise had hit a wall and probably needed to go

Also find these kind of remarks ironic, when the same thing happened to Alonso, but how dare we bring that to light.

[Fo Dne]

Evra was in his first full season now hes the best in the league

Crazy how people r doubting him after the first game of the season even though by every1s account in the second half he played better & attacked more

ever though Rafa told him 2 be more defense in the first half then asked him 2 get forward more when we were lookin 4 the goal

Its crazy how you think you can make diamonds out of and thing the answer to all players that pull on a liverpool shirt is either...

1. Remember Henry...
2. Remember Evra...
3. Give him time...
4. He's only young...
5. When he learns to pass, tackle, head, run, move, walk and talk he'll be class...

Or some other daft excuse. Dossena's a good player at best when on form which we haven't seen yet... he's also not fit, when both on form, Riise all day for me.

[dawson99]

dossena looks awful, likes too many long balls but i'll save judgement for a few games

[Bad Bob]

I saw those remarks too...well in JAR!

On Riise, I've got this niggling worry that Dosenna won't prove to be much of an improvement.  Like the Barry in/Alonso out moves (if they ever happen), this strikes me as a weird situation where we've sacrificed an established (albeit not at his best) player for a new fella with roughly the same quality.  The trouble, of course, is that we've paid over the odds to do so and traded a lad who was already settled and up to speed with the tactics for someone who will take time to bed in.  I know, I know, it's early days and we shouldn't jump on Dossena's back before he has a chance to come good and blah, blah, blah...  Still, it's (another) curious decision by the gaffer.

Maybe its Rafas back that needs jumping on then, he has brought some ropey looking players to counter weight the quality he has brought in.

Kind of thought I was doing that?

[Bad Bob]

Yeah, no argument here that Riise had hit a wall and probably needed to go

Also find these kind of remarks ironic, when the same thing happened to Alonso, but how dare we bring that to light.

Alonso's dip in form bears little comparison to Riise's decline, IMO.  Ergo, Alonso's Liverpool career is still very much salvageable (or at least it was until the Barry transfer nonsense threw a spanner in the works) whereas there appeared to be no way back for Riise.

[bigmick]

Well I've only seen him play once so it's pretty early etc etc, but I can't say I was exactly salivating at the prospect of him becoming a fantastic left back. Now I've been told many times that as a cocktail barman/plumber/sex shop owner/all round t0sser I have no right to question the managers opinion on such things and curiously on this occasion I'd agree. You would assume that he was watched on may occasions prior to his signing and therefore those who decided he was worth the seven million quid obviously saw something which he didn't reveal to this untrained eye in the game against Sunderland.

Slightly worrying for me was the feeling that prior to his withdrawal Diouff was having much the better of the exchanges between the two of them. Not only was he out-tricking him, but outstrengthing him as well and it's fairly clear that in his defensive duties the Italian is going to have to improve significantly. He may go on to become a decent attacking fullback, he certainly shows plenty of willingness to get forward, but he isn't by any means a flying machine and nor does he strike you that he is tricky or perceptive enough to cause defences too much of a problem.

Better than Ashley Cole, Clichy or Evra? Not in the same stratosphere. Better than Riise based on the Norwegians last season form? possibly. Better than Aurelio? Not for me, no.

[66-1112520797]

I saw those remarks too...well in JAR!

On Riise, I've got this niggling worry that Dosenna won't prove to be much of an improvement.  Like the Barry in/Alonso out moves (if they ever happen), this strikes me as a weird situation where we've sacrificed an established (albeit not at his best) player for a new fella with roughly the same quality.  The trouble, of course, is that we've paid over the odds to do so and traded a lad who was already settled and up to speed with the tactics for someone who will take time to bed in.  I know, I know, it's early days and we shouldn't jump on Dossena's back before he has a chance to come good and blah, blah, blah...  Still, it's (another) curious decision by the gaffer.

Maybe its Rafas back that needs jumping on then, he has brought some ropey looking players to counter weight the quality he has brought in.

Kind of thought I was doing that?

Wasnt specificly aimed at you, but in general.

Some people have written the Italian off already, if their right the question in asking should surely be ' why spend 7-8 Million on a fullback who doesnt even look worth that, and no better than Riise?' Instead of 'Dossenas gash'.

Same with Kuyt really as ineffective and as average as he is its Rafa who keeps playing him, and it was Rafa who paid 10 million for him.

[66-1112520797]

Alonso's dip in form bears little comparison to Riise's decline

Sorry dont agree with that. Riises' form for two years wasnt in decline unlike Alonsos' it was really only last season for me when Riise suffered. Alonsos' diiiiiiiip went for longer than that.

But like Riise maybe Rafa is considering selling Alonso because of his diiiiiiiiiip in the last two seasons. The only difference I see is that if Rafa is happy with the valuation and offer of the team approaching Alonso he'll take it, so IMO its not so "salvagable" as it may seem. Alonso may not have much choice at the end of the day, but obviously if nobody comes in from him and he continues to perform we're all winners.

But as far as the form thing goes with Riise and him, Alonsos been out of sorts for a lot longer than JAR was.

[Bad Bob]

Alonso's dip in form bears little comparison to Riise's decline

Sorry dont agree with that. Riises' form for two years wasnt in decline unlike Alonsos' it was really only last season for me when Riise suffered. Alonsos' diiiiiiiip went for longer than that.

But like Riise maybe Rafa is considering selling Alonso because of his diiiiiiiiiip in the last two seasons. The only difference I see is that if Rafa is happy with the valuation and offer of the team approaching Alonso he'll take it, so IMO its not so "salvagable" as it may seem. Alonso may not have much choice at the end of the day, but obviously if nobody comes in from him and he continues to perform we're all winners.

But as far as the form thing goes with Riise and him, Alonsos been out of sorts for a lot longer than JAR was.

I disagree with this in couple of ways.  First, to suggest that Riise's only had one poor season is to ignore the growing chorus of frustration with the lad going back to August 06 (when Murph kicked off his Riise thread).  Obviously it's up to you to decide, IYO, whether those complaints were as valid two years ago as they were last season but there's no question that an increasing number of people were dissatisfied with his form for as long as they have been with Xabi's.

IMO, though, this issue of who's diiiiiip in form lasted longer is beside the point.  The issue is severity.  Alonso may not have been at his peak these past couple of seasons but I'd suggest that he was still performing at a higher level than Riise was for the team.  I've no way to definitely prove that, of course, and I doubt I'd convince you anyway but that's my perception of things. 

You may be right, though, that Rafa's looking to sell Alonso due to his dip in form, just like he did with Riise.  I do find it interesting, though, that there's been a far greater outcry from supporters (lots of supporters, not just Sabre, Lando, Nan and I! ) about the Alonso sale than there was about the Riise sale.  Maybe that tells its own story about their relative diiiiiips in form?

[Fo Dne]

Alonso's dip in form bears little comparison to Riise's decline

Sorry dont agree with that. Riises' form for two years wasnt in decline unlike Alonsos' it was really only last season for me when Riise suffered. Alonsos' diiiiiiiip went for longer than that.

But like Riise maybe Rafa is considering selling Alonso because of his diiiiiiiiiip in the last two seasons. The only difference I see is that if Rafa is happy with the valuation and offer of the team approaching Alonso he'll take it, so IMO its not so "salvagable" as it may seem. Alonso may not have much choice at the end of the day, but obviously if nobody comes in from him and he continues to perform we're all winners.

But as far as the form thing goes with Riise and him, Alonsos been out of sorts for a lot longer than JAR was.

I disagree with this in couple of ways.  First, to suggest that Riise's only had one poor season is to ignore the growing chorus of frustration with the lad going back to August 06 (when Murph kicked off his Riise thread).  Obviously it's up to you to decide, IYO, whether those complaints were as valid two years ago as they were last season but there's no question that an increasing number of people were dissatisfied with his form for as long as they have been with Xabi's.

IMO, though, this issue of who's diiiiiip in form lasted longer is beside the point.  The issue is severity.  Alonso may not have been at his peak these past couple of seasons but I'd suggest that he was still performing at a higher level than Riise was for the team.  I've no way to definitely prove that, of course, and I doubt I'd convince you anyway but that's my perception of things. 

You may be right, though, that Rafa's looking to sell Alonso due to his dip in form, just like he did with Riise.  I do find it interesting, though, that there's been a far greater outcry from supporters (lots of supporters, not just Sabre, Lando, Nan and I! ) about the Alonso sale than there was about the Riise sale.  Maybe that tells its own story about their relative diiiiiips in form?

Good post.