1) How many games will Riise start next season?
Not a regular starter, but he'll be used from the start in quite a bunch of games, specially those of the EPL that are in the middle of European competition
2) In your opinion, what is Riise's best position?
Left back. He's competent as a L winger too but IMHO, one of his strong points is the stamina, he can do lots of attacking runs and come back from that LB position.
3) What is(are) Riise's chief contribution(s) to the club?
Stamina, when the oposition midfielders are tired in min 65, he does his attacking runs and that hurts a lot the oposition.
Very good long shot.
Teamwork.
Decent defending. Good long throw ins.
4) Long term, do you see Riise as a squad player or as a starter?
Squad, but don't understimate "squad player" concept. We haven't been used to play the champions league in the last decade, and to play it decently and performing well in the EPL you need a depth squad. You need those players like Riise or Luis Garcia that perhaps they will not be in the starting eleven always ala Alonso or Gerrard, but if they are, you couldn't say the team is weaker.
The category of players that I've tried to describe are almost starting players, unlike for instance Traore or Kronkamp whose games has been more scarce.
Riise is an important player for the club. I appreciate him a lot too.
By the way good post