Topic: Riise to Valencia - Mascherano staying at LFC?

[LFCDore]

I like Riise, and I really think the people slating him should stop (I don't mean the people simply stating he should be moved on, that's fair enough of course, and to some extent i agree). He's a limited player but he's put in enough yards for Liverpool to be given more respect than I feel some people show him. This season is the first in many that he wouldn't be in most people's first XI, yet he's still had a significant amount of minutes and to me that shows that he's still important to the squad.

For me we have a number of options at left back, mainly Arbeloa, Aurelio and Riise, none of whom are ideal. Arbeloa is a cracking player, but as has been stated his lack of left foot doesn't make him ideally suited for the left side, Aurelio is a good option but too frequently injured, and then we have John, who for all his failings is an extremly reliable player, and who's defensive qualities are severely underestimated.

IMO we should buy a clear first choice left back and get rid of Aurelio. He's a better player than Riise but we can't rely on him to stay fit. He's also less effective at left mid than Riise (or so it seems, given how much Rafa plays each of them in that position), and Rafa does like having a more defensive left midfielder if we have a Beni, a Babel or even a Pennant on the right. I'd have a new left back, with Riise and Insua as back-up and leave Arbeloa and Finnan to cover the right. I think Arbeloa is more than capable of covering CB as well and I'm unsure why Rafa hasn't tried this more often, after all is was performances in that position for Deportivo that caught his eye, wasn't it?

Good point re: Riise, but Arbeloa is probably not suited to playing CB in the Premier League as lots of strikers are physical. At least thats what Rafa seems to think.

[Macedonian_Red]

I watched a really promising left back last night playing for Deportivo v Barca. I think his name was Philipe or Felipe. Really quick, good in the tackle and good going forward. Played Messi as well as i've seen anyone all season.

Certainly worth a look.

His name is Filipe Kasmirski ... A Brazilian with Italian passport ... Born in 1985 ... It is interesting that he is a product from both Ajax and Real Madrid youth ranks ...

[josemisuncle]

Good point re: Riise, but Arbeloa is probably not suited to playing CB in the Premier League as lots of strikers are physical. At least thats what Rafa seems to think.

I think Rafa thinks there is enough going forward in Arbeloa's game that playing him in the middle would be a waste.  I agree.

[Rizla]

Kewell getting fit again is nice but we are vulnerable on the left hand side and Riise is the only one who can stay fit for long enough to last an entire season

Aurelio may return but Achilles tendon injuries can fuck with people's careers, you lose so much pace [I have had something similar] and even with top medical care the odds are against you returning to full throttle in the long run, and they lengthen especially once you pass the mid 20's

Probably need to find a better player than Riise to play on the left, in fact we do, but selling him would mean that we would have to think about not only buying Mascherano but also a competent left sided player, so think Rafa will be thinking about that before going down this route

Would be nice if the owners backed up their words by giving Rafa the money to do this but the indications are that they probably wont, so it would be a bit of a gamble 

[mckeown07]

id sell momo and some other squad player to finance the masch deal. risse is a class act when on form hes just have few personal problems at teh moment. as for fabio aur hes a ball of shite defensively!!!

[PaulF]

Riise is a decent player, most teams outside the 'big 4' would play him regularly. Riise's 'problem' is that the players around him have been upgraded. Whereas before he was at least average, he is now below average in the squad. His, heart, love of the club and attitude don't appear to have changed much. Nor have his limitations, nor have the memories he's bought us.  He is now a squad player and not a first choice. It just so happens that the first choice players are injured and we have to rely on squad players.  To me it makes more sense to think of selling Kewell or Aurelio and brining in a first choice 'world class' left sided player and keeping Riise as a squad player.

[Giono]

Riise is a decent player, most teams outside the 'big 4' would play him regularly. Riise's 'problem' is that the players around him have been upgraded. Whereas before he was at least average, he is now below average in the squad. His, heart, love of the club and attitude don't appear to have changed much. Nor have his limitations, nor have the memories he's bought us.  He is now a squad player and not a first choice.

That's a fair appraisal of JAR.

The problem with him, and in my opinion Crouch and Sissoko, is that the team has become better around him. At one time his goals were valued and his overall contribution was overshadowed. Now, we get goals elsewhere and his passing and crossing is getting all the attention.

It just so happens that the first choice players are injured and we have to rely on squad players.  To me it makes more sense to think of selling Kewell or Aurelio and brining in a first choice 'world class' left sided player and keeping Riise as a squad player.

We got Aurelio on a Bosman and Harry has only 6 months left on his contract. We won't get money for them really. As long as we have a second left back and and a second left winger, the talent of both Fabio and Harry is worth taking the risk on.

[the_red_pill]

As soon as he(Riise) scores a few(looks unlikely though), he'll be able to buy himself some time and we'll hear a different tune. He's been a bit disappointing lately, but it would be great for everyone(even the militant anti-Riise's) if he can step it up.

Riise gave us some good memories in the past and it's probably time to go, but if he goes in January, we lose an asset for the 2nd half of the season. We're thin on left-widemen- both leftbacks and leftwingers.

We could try and use someone else as a fundraiser for Javi and replace him and Riise during the summer. Riise can cover at leftback and on the wing for 'Arry- when we need him. Sure, his not the best, but we'd have to patch those 2 positions up immediately when Riise goes.

[Garstonite]

Carragher's joining Arsenal

That has got to be the most pathetic attempt at a wind-up I have ever, ever seen.

[the_red_pill]

Carragher's joining Arsenal

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Hope you learned your lesson. We're not L'Arse.
Don't you EVER- IN YOUR FUCKING LIFE- boo a Liverpool player again!
Do it to your own... That's what you're great at.

[Redrider]

It looks likely that the balance of a Mashcerano Fee will be funded by a suicide mission from Momo!

Sissoko fumes at Reds axe
by Laurent Picard, 10 December 2007
 
Mohamed Sissoko has hit out at his exclusion from the Liverpool side to face Marseille in the crucial Champions League tie at Stade Velodrome, insisting he will discuss his future at the Merseyside club in January.

The Mali midfielder played in the disappointing 3-1 defeat to Reading on Saturday but will be sidelined when Rafa Benitez's side bid to clinch the three points that will take them into the knockout stages of the competition.

"It is in France, all my family are there and they wanted to see me on the pitch," he stormed to RMC.
"It is a difficult time. I am good enough to play in this team.
"It's the manager's decision. I respect it but I will discuss this in January.
"I will make an assessment with my agents and the manager. I have been asking myself that question for a while.
"I accept healthy competition but to play one match every five does not interest me."

Sounds like exit talk to me !!

[leonmc0708]

IF its the only way we can tie up a deal to sigh Masch, then unfortunately, id say yes, sell him. Hope not though. I know he gets slated here, but i like Riise.

I like him, hes a decent hard working lad, never shirks the challenge and will run through brick walls for Liverpool FC.

He is unfortunately not good enough for a team with title winning asperations, regardless of the four or five goals he adds per season.

[fowlermagic]

Mascherano is a hard little feck.

[jackh]

Mascherano is a hard little feck.

Aye - I certainly wouldn't be up and about so fast after Sami's whole weight landing on my ankle...!

[bigbear]

His name is Filipe Kasmirski ... A Brazilian with Italian passport ... Born in 1985 ... It is interesting that he is a product from both Ajax and Real Madrid youth ranks ...

Thanks mate. This lad is worth watching. Unless we really fancy Insua coming througb next year then on the strength of that game 'd be in La Coruna for a few games watching.

Is he particularly rated ?

[Need_a_bevvy]

Unless we can get a world class replacament for Riise.   

I want to keep him.  And Mascherano.


If we need to sell, let us sell sissiko.

Lucas has taken his place.

[mercury]

I think it will be a mistake to offload Riise in January.  He's the healthiest of all of our left side players and while he has his shortcomings, he does have a wealth of experience for his age, a shot / goal in him and good defending.  And I believe having Kewell in front will help him.  Maybe not a first teamer but very good squad player.

[Endoe]

Riise is always fit and available and for all the slating he get's he rarely lets the side down. It makes more sense to move Sissoko on since it's his position Mascherano is fitting in to, especially with the recent talk of him looking at his options in /january. He'd probably be suited to Italy or Spain, with the extra time on the ball so he can make a pass stick. I'd be sad to see Riise go Sissoko on the other hand...

[mercury]

Riise is always fit and available and for all the slating he get's he rarely lets the side down. It makes more sense to move Sissoko on since it's his position Mascherano is fitting in to, especially with the recent talk of him looking at his options in /january. He'd probably be suited to Italy or Spain, with the extra time on the ball so he can make a pass stick. I'd be sad to see Riise go Sissoko on the other hand...

Spot on.  Don't forget we also have Lucas whom I have real high hope.   Momo's limitations have always been there but the disappointing thing is his slow progress, which has not caught up with the team's.

[KopThat]

Riise is not bad, but he is looking a bit rusty....

[Macedonian_Red]

Thanks mate. This lad is worth watching. Unless we really fancy Insua coming througb next year then on the strength of that game 'd be in La Coruna for a few games watching.

Is he particularly rated ?

I think it is fair to say the jury is still out on him ... He is in Deportivo on loan from Uruguayan club Rentistas ... He is certainly showing some good displays and seems to have a bright future ...

[the_red_pill]

Riise did exceptionally well last night. Played out of his skin, he did. He might be frustrating in an 'ordinary game' when he tries to go forward- or rather- when instead of just defending, he tries to go forward and instead of providing crosses, takes shots himself; but one thing's for sure- and I think that's why Rafa held onto him- he's not a ninny.
When the chips are down, he takes his orders, gets his head down and carries them out with single-minded determination and raw physical strength and work-rate. If you told that to a very talented lad, their talent and natural urge will interfere with their duty, which is something Rafa doesn't appear to be fond of(prolly thinks it's 'riskier')- which is why I think he trusts Riise in high-profile games(if it's an important game, you'll see him in there). He can do a job.

That's why he's been part of the meanest defence in the game. Marseille just couldn't break down our defense last night and they obviously thought Riise was a weak link. They just kept running into a steel wall on that left side.

[cornelius]

I'd be really surprised if we let Riise go. It's blindingly obvious that he is a player Rafa really likes.

[Finn Solomon]

Changed my mind about Riise. If he consistently plays like he did against Marseille he still has a place in our team.

[Walshyฎ]

Changed my mind about Riise. If he consistently plays like he did against Marseille he still has a place in our team.

That'll never happen.

[Finn Solomon]

I'd rather sell Momo to finance the Masch deal - Riise gives options at both left mid and left back, which Rafa must appreciate.

[RumDrinker]

I'd be really surprised if we let Riise go. It's blindingly obvious that he is a player Rafa really likes.

I'm not so sure about this. I think Riise has been very fortunate to play at all.

Whenever we have Arbeloa and Finnan fit, Riise is usually dropped. Last season when Aurelio had a run of games Riise was dropped from left back. He then gets lucky because our left wing last season consisted of the dissappointing Gonzalez and Kewell and if the left back slot was filled he would be put at left midfield. He is used out of necessity rather than choice. His only asset is his versatility.

Changed my mind about Riise. If he consistently plays like he did against Marseille he still has a place in our team.

Thats fickle. He still had all the same problems. He is useless on the ball period. Last night we played a very defensive counter attacking game and he was rarely in a position were he had to cross or pass or do anything you'd expect of a rounded footballer.

We also played very deep which meant that his defensive limitations werent exposed.

I doubt we're going to play as deep and as fully focused on counter attacking much in the future.

[RedBoywonder]

Riise is not bad, but he is looking a bit rusty....

[Walter Sobchak]

Changed my mind about Riise. If he consistently plays like he did against Marseille he still has a place in our team.

one good performance doesnt change the fact he's been shit for the majority of this season.

i wouldnt sell him in jan but think we should cash in in the summer

[cornelius]

I'm not so sure about this. I think Riise has been very fortunate to play at all.

Rubbish. Riise has played more than most under Benitez. That just doesn't happen under this manager if he doesn't like you or doesn't think you are good enough.

[RumDrinker]

Rubbish. Riise has played more than most under Benitez. That just doesn't happen under this manager if he doesn't like you or doesn't think you are good enough.

Well Zenden played 30 matches last season, Cisse played in 54 games(many as subs granted), Luis Garcia played over a hundred games for Benitez at Liverpool, Baros and Sissoko played quite a few games for us aswell. They were all shipped out when Benitez got a chance and better players became available.

As I said he is lucky because he is versatile and he wasnt the most pressing weakness in the squad for the last few years. He has been played out of necessity because he can fill a gap at left back and midfield.

Under  Benitez's tenure we have brought in a left back in Aurelio and several left sided midfielders. We also have put in bids for Patrice Evra, Kaka Kaladze and fought tooth and nail to get Heinze(thats only the ones I remember). Benitez has clearly tried to improve each of our left sided positions(which means replacing Riise) with varying degrees of success. We even play a right back at left back when we have Finnan fit.

[cornelius]

Well Zenden played 30 matches last season,

Big difference between playing in 30 matches and starting 30 matches.

Cisse played in 54 games

I think it's fair to say that even if Cisse had played 100 times, it's clear that Rafa didn't like him.

Baros

Was gone by the end of Rafa's first season.

and Sissoko played quite a few games for us aswell. They were all shipped out when Benitez got a chance

I must have missed that one.

And if he does let Momo go, to say he is involved anywhere near as much as Riise is bollocks.

Luis Garcia played over a hundred games for Benitez at Liverpool,

I think Rafa would have been hapy to keep Garcia.

Riise has been involved more often than not for the entire duration of Rafa's 3 and a half years tenure. If he wanted shot of Riise that badly he'd have done so a long time ago and he certainly wouldn't be involved anything like as much as he has been.

[Finn Solomon]

Be that as it may, I have to applaud his acknowledgment of his recent bad performances and his stated willingness to improve in the future, which he apparently has done. Compare it with Momo's whining and insistence he's good enough to merit a 1st-team place all the time.

[RumDrinker]

Riise has been involved more often than not for the entire duration of Rafa's 3 and a half years tenure. If he wanted shot of Riise that badly he'd have done so a long time ago and he certainly wouldn't be involved anything like as much as he has been.

As I said and it is quite simple. Riise wasn't the immediate problem in his first season. The immediate problem he identified was a lack of creative in midfield, cue Garcia and Alonso. The next obvious weakness were in nets, upfront, on the wings and an aging and slowing Hypia, cue Morientes, Agger, Reina, Gonzalez, Pennant, Aurelio, Arbeloa, Bellamy, Kuyt and recently Babel, Torres and Benayoun.

He has signed three fullbacks(including Josemi) and has attempted to sign three others (Evra, Kaladze and Heinze). He has just been unsuccessful in bring in the majority of his left back targets.

He plays so many games because he the most injury free and versatile of our left sided players. Not because Benitez thinks he's a good player. Benitez isn't an idiot. Riise isn't a top player and he will like so many others be sold and replaced when the oppurtunity arises.

[cornelius]

Yup you're right, Rafa doesn't rate him at all and has stuck with the flukey dud for 3 and a half years. He's probably packing Riise's bag as we speak.

[cornelius]

Not because Benitez thinks he's a good player.

This is the single most laughable line I have read in 5 years on this website.

[marvellous10]

It looks likely that the balance of a Mashcerano Fee will be funded by a suicide mission from Momo!
Sounds like exit talk to me !!

It looks likely that the balance of a Mashcerano Fee will be funded by a suicide mission from Momo!
Sounds like exit talk to me !!

fuck me his eyes must be damaged more than we thought if he thinks he warrants a regular starting place in our team!!!

as for Riise, he's got to go - IF we can replace him, or if Insua's going to get promoted from the ressies covering for Fabio. Riise's contract's up next season so can't see us letting him go for nowt

[Robbie Styles]

Riise is not bad, but he is looking a bit rusty....

That's not rust, That's his ginger hair...

[RumDrinker]

Yup you're right, Rafa doesn't rate him at all and has stuck with the flukey dud for 3 and a half years. He's probably packing Riise's bag as we speak.

The facts are that he hasn't willingly stuck with him. He has several times tried to bring in replacements for him, has brought in a replacement for him and has played a right back in his place several times over the last year. Simple really.

Why would a topclass manager rate such a patently average player is the question I want answered? Seriously though? What can Benitez possibly see in him? Technical ability? Nope. Good tackler? Not really. Defensive awareness? Average at best.

This is the single most laughable line I have read in 5 years on this website.

Maybe. But you should be able to explain why he has sought so many left backs, at least one a transfer window.

You remind me of people last season about Garcia, "Benitez likes him he wont sell him". When it is very obvious that he is an expendable member of the squad, being used as a stop gap solution until a better player can be bought. The evidence is quite clear on this.

He was pushed off of left midfield when Kewell was half fit(Gonzalez, Babel, Benayoun were all bought to make sure we rarely had to rely on him there) and anytime Aurelio gets a half a game Riise is dropped from there aswell. Seems facts are on my side and sheer boring arrogance are on yours. Fair play.

As I said before. Benitez is not an idiot and the collective of Liverpool fans arent idiots. Riise is an average player squad player, like Garcia, who will be sacrificed for something better. Be that Mascherano, another left back or as one fantastical rumour said, David Villa.

[Giono]

Changed my mind about Riise. If he consistently plays like he did against Marseille he still has a place in our team.

Remember that wonderful ball to Babel for the 4th goal?  That's what he is up against.