Liverpool FC Forum

by **andy_g** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:07 am

i can't believe so many people are calling arbeloa sh!te and a bench warmer at best. it now appears that any player at the squad who is not absolutely world class, among the top 3 in the world in his position, and capable of winning a match all on his own is not fit to pull on the shirt. while he is certainly not the long term solution for right, or left, back he is a good player (and a full spanish international now, don't forget) who has put in some exceptional performances this season, especially in europe. i'm never in the least bit concerned when i see his name on the team sheet.

by **bigmick** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:11 am

andy_g wrote:i can't believe so many people are calling arbeloa sh!te and a bench warmer at best. it now appears that any player at the squad who is not absolutely world class, among the top 3 in the world in his position, and capable of winning a match all on his own is not fit to pull on the shirt. while he is certainly not the long term solution for right, or left, back he is a good player (and a full spanish international now, don't forget) who has put in some exceptional performances this season, especially in europe. i'm never in the least bit concerned when i see his name on the team sheet.

Me neither and I think some people must watch a different game to me sometimes. He's no world beater, but he's solid enough and a decent player. He got a slagging the other day from a couple on here for allowing Rooney to get the cross in, and it wasn't even him over there it was Carragher.

Whether he is a long term solution is doubtful, but he was a bargain at what we paid for him that's for sure.

by **stmichael** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:17 pm

Infact, Riise looked like a different player yesterday to the one we've seen for the majority of this season. I've given the lad some stick but credit where credit's due, he had an excellent game. It would be interesting to see the stats for goals conceded when Riise is at LB compared with when he is not.

by **Judge** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:55 pm

bigmick wrote:
andy_g wrote:it now appears that any player at the squad who is not absolutely world class, among the top 3 in the world in his position, and capable of winning a match all on his own is not fit to pull on the shirt..

Me neither

considering we have a back four, that means we have the 3 world class.

thats why arbeloa isnt as good

by **Owzat** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:19 pm

stmichael wrote:Infact, Riise looked like a different player yesterday to the one we've seen for the majority of this season. I've given the lad some stick but credit where credit's due, he had an excellent game. It would be interesting to see the stats for goals conceded when Riise is at LB compared with when he is not.

I can't be ars ed to do it for anything more than this season, although these kind of stats tend to be much of a muchness.

AVL W2-1
BIR D0-0
EVE W2-1
BES L1-2
ARS D1-1
BLA D0-0
BOL W4-0
REA L1-3
MAR W4-0
MNU L0-1
POR W4-1
DER W2-1
LUT D1-1
MID D1-1
LUT W5-0
H&W W5-2
CHE D0-0
BAR L1-2
WHU W4-0
NEW W3-0
EVE W1-0

There were a few where he didn't start at LB - either didn't start or played LM or both. There's enough to make reasonable comparison, but as I said these tend to be much of a muchness as they do if you do it for multiple players

Riise at LB : P21 W11 D6 L4 F42 A17 (Clean Sheets = 9)
Other LB : P28 W17 D7 L4 F58 A22 (Clean Sheets = 13)

So we've won 60.7% with a different LB compared to Riise with 52.4%. We've kept only 42.9% clean sheets with Riise LB compared to 46.4% without. And if you look at the opposition he's played LB in and kept a clean sheet you won't be too impressed - Luton at home, Newcastle and Bolton at home and Marseille away who were dreadful. There are one or two good sides we've kept clean sheets against with Riise at LB, but there are equally as many that weren't and should have been kept - Barnsley home, H & W at home, Derby and Luton away..............

I'm sure it would be little different extended further back, he's never been that solid defensively. I fully expect him to go in the summer

by **heimdall** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:25 pm

Can someoen please explain to me why Carra is now playing at right back and Skyrtel is at CB. I'm really confused but then most things Rafa does confuses me. Even though Kuyt actually had an ok game yesterday I still cannot fathom why he is the first name on every single team sheet.
Is Finnan injured or something?

by **RedBlood** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:55 am

heimdall wrote:Can someoen please explain to me why Carra is now playing at right back and Skyrtel is at CB. I'm really confused but then most things Rafa does confuses me. Even though Kuyt actually had an ok game yesterday I still cannot fathom why he is the first name on every single team sheet.
Is Finnan injured or something?

i think rafa wants skrtel to get experience in the prem as he feels that he and agger are our future partnership and realises he is a step above the reserves

but he also realises carra needs to play as he is our leader at the back, luckily carra has plenty of experience at rightback

i believe skrtel and agger can develop into an immense partnership IF they get the opportunity

by **Judge** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:45 pm

agreed

by **dawson99** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:54 pm

heard someone somewhere saying kuyt should play as a wing back... got me thinking... the guy can rnu all day long, maybe 3 in defence, dossena and kuyt as wing backs?

is this the most insane thing written today? thoughts anyone?

by **metalhead** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:37 pm

dawson99 wrote:heard someone somewhere saying kuyt should play as a wing back... got me thinking... the guy can rnu all day long, maybe 3 in defence, dossena and kuyt as wing backs?

is this the most insane thing written today? thoughts anyone?

Lets shove Torres as a center back, he is quality there too

by **Bad Bob** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:51 pm

dawson99 wrote:heard someone somewhere saying kuyt should play as a wing back... got me thinking... the guy can rnu all day long, maybe 3 in defence, dossena and kuyt as wing backs?

is this the most insane thing written today? thoughts anyone?

There might be some concerns about his tackling, mate.

by **JC_81** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:35 pm

Bad Bob wrote:
dawson99 wrote:heard someone somewhere saying kuyt should play as a wing back... got me thinking... the guy can rnu all day long, maybe 3 in defence, dossena and kuyt as wing backs?

is this the most insane thing written today? thoughts anyone?

There might be some concerns about his tackling, mate.

That tackle was an absolute stinker from Kuyt :laugh:

Was worth it to see Moyes have a stroke on the sideline though

by **andy_g** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:39 pm

nothing wrong with that tackle. the refs are only meant protect 'flair' players aren't they?

by **metalhead** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:41 pm

It looked like a clean tackle to me.

by **Owzat** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:46 am

john craig wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
dawson99 wrote:heard someone somewhere saying kuyt should play as a wing back... got me thinking... the guy can rnu all day long, maybe 3 in defence, dossena and kuyt as wing backs?

is this the most insane thing written today? thoughts anyone?

There might be some concerns about his tackling, mate.

That tackle was an absolute stinker from Kuyt

Was worth it to see Moyes have a stroke on the sideline though

It couldn't have been better timed - in terms of opposition. Just remember all the whinging afterwards, including the campaign to have the ref hung, drawn and quartered!

Kuyt's tackling has come a long way since that ridiculous 'challenge', that picture would be like picking out a Voronin goal and saying that typified the player. Or a Pennant goal and showing how good he is at scoring

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