Liverpool FC Forum

by **burjennio** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:07 pm

i think a few on here are going a little overboard with words like "revelation" and "fantastic" which I believe are touch over the top- he has been a good aquisition as hes brought balance and intelligence to the left of midfield, something LFC has been lacking since Harry Kewell in 06 - Hpefully he will continue to improve and become more valuable in his time at Anfield

by **Sabre** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:15 pm

although you can say he did a fair amount in helping the situation come about, the quality of Aurelio's cross and the quality of Kuyt's header were both high and both had nothing to do with Riera other than the fact that he allowed the situation to happen.

But that "other than" is a BIG "other than".

With no permanent posession, with no right options, you wouldn't have Aurelio there, and you wouldn't have Alonso that often in a correct position for a range shot. You'd make less useful counter attacks, and that's unvaluable mate.

The direct assists DO have the importance and they will come mate, but Riera has improved our team a lot, despite himself not being world class.

BTW, if you watched a game of Espanyol yesteryear, and I think I can find some to download if you have curiosity, you wouldn't see Riera as lively as he is now, that was the other case around, Espanyol wasn't a dominating team in posession, and Riera couldn't give his best. When he did his stuff he was solid and good, but a good winger, is a better winger in a better team, that is, Figo would be always more spectacular in Barcelona than in, say, Betis.

P.S. And I acknowledge and admit the point that both the cross and the header were marvelous and had nothing to do with Riera, but allowing that situation, is a big step. That's why we talk about service in strikers.

by **JoeTerp** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:45 pm

Sabre wrote:

although you can say he did a fair amount in helping the situation come about, the quality of Aurelio's cross and the quality of Kuyt's header were both high and both had nothing to do with Riera other than the fact that he allowed the situation to happen.

But that "other than" is a BIG "other than".

With no permanent posession, with no right options, you wouldn't have Aurelio there, and you wouldn't have Alonso that often in a correct position for a range shot. You'd make less useful counter attacks, and that's unvaluable mate.

The direct assists DO have the importance and they will come mate, but Riera has improved our team a lot, despite himself not being world class.

BTW, if you watched a game of Espanyol yesteryear, and I think I can find some to download if you have curiosity, you wouldn't see Riera as lively as he is now, that was the other case around, Espanyol wasn't a dominating team in posession, and Riera couldn't give his best. When he did his stuff he was solid and good, but a good winger, is a better winger in a better team, that is, Figo would be always more spectacular in Barcelona than in, say, Betis.

P.S. And I acknowledge and admit the point that both the cross and the header were marvelous and had nothing to do with Riera, but allowing that situation, is a big step. That's why we talk about service in strikers.

not deny that the role is an important role. But is it not an "easier" role to play than the role the people who actually are creating and making and scoring goals? Is it not still possible for us to score goals without him? I find his true impact very difficult to measure. BECAUSE I AGREE when you just look at the team AND when you look at what Riera is doing in the games, its obvious there is something there that is positive both in the overall performance in the team and the upgrade in performance from the left side of midfield.

And I do understand that he can make life easier for others just by being a constant threat out there, but it such a subtle way of helping, AND its a passive way that relys on the rest of the team to be clinical (which at sometimes is scary).

All I am saying is that I am happy with him, but I want more (and when you think about it, its got a lot more to do with bad luck I think than anything

by **Rorschach26** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:23 pm

Quality player, absolute bargain, an a very astute signing by rafa, dives abit but who doesnt nowadays, does his defensive duties aswell

babel take note

by **lakes10** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:47 pm

bavlondon wrote:What worries me about him (and it is the only real worry for me) is his fitness level. Very rarley does he complete 90mins. Im not sure if that is just Rafa tinkering like he does but it looks like he doesnt have much stamina.

his pace and stamina is what cost him his place at Man city. but i would say that he seems fitter now but still lacks some pace. he still drops off about 30% of his paces after half time.

i would like to see how he is over the rest of the year but if he can not sort his pace and stamina by the end then we would need to look to replace him.

all that said he IS a good team player and we are a good team with him in it.

by **devaney** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:43 pm

Pound for pound I think that Rierra is possibly Rafa's best positional buy apart from Torres even if he did cost nearly three times as much! Mind you I would prcbably say the same if he cost ten times as much!

Albert is intelligent, very strong, tactically aware and a real team player. Improvement is also very likely. His development in Spain after City, which obviously was a major benefit, has turned him into a serious asset.

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:57 pm

For me his strength is his decision making. He knows when to take a player on, he knows when to pass the ball forward, he knows when to hold onto the ball. This enables his tema mates to get into great positions as they trust his judgment.

This for me is what makes Babel a bad player. Too often when he is surrounded by defenders he tries to take them all on instead of the simple ball to the nearest red shirt. oh and of course Babel has no control over the ball at all so he cant take it past anyone anyway.

Reira is the real deal for me, a team player who plays to his strengths. The great Liverpool teams of the past where full of players like that

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