Topic: Albert Riera

[CHOPPER]

No, smartarse, not in particular, but having studied Spanish language and culture to a high level and being a huge fan of Spanish football, I always took a keen interest in any Iberian players in the Premier League and made sure I caught them at least a few times, from Asier Del Horno to Cesc Fabregas to Ivan fucking Campo. And I certainly kept an eye on Riera, and was rather bewildered then, as now, at his uselessness at Manchester City as contrasted with his almost talismanic presence at Espanyol. As I said, it could go either way, it really is almost impossible to predict, as he is evidently not the same player he was when he turned out so ineffectively for City.

Precisely, that's why we should all just let him get a shirt on, kick a few balls and then we can judge him.

[marlon50tins]

dont tar keane with the same brush as dirk diggler, keane has talent unlike that other useless c*nt. ill give riera a chance but im not expecting too much remembering how shit he was at city. Got dropped to the bench eventually and they were septic !

[rednile]

[MAL05]

So, we will see Babel on the right now?  Obviously, that would mean dropping the untouchable Kuyt.

[Gigantic Lamb]

So, we will see Babel on the right now?  Obviously, that would mean dropping the untouchable Kuyt.

Hopefully

But somehow I get the feeling Benitez has a problem with Babel at the moment............

[marlon50tins]

please god babel gets a start on the right now. was amazed to see kuyt getting subbed against villa didnt think rafa had it in him

[albiceleste]

So, we will see Babel on the right now?  Obviously, that would mean dropping the untouchable Kuyt.

This has to happen, Benitez is embarrassing both us and himself by using Dirk anywhere on the pitch, let alone on the right wing, especially when he has better options screaming out at him. My Manc mates fucking love sticking the boot in when the hapless blonde fucker lines up each match, the calm before the headless chicken storm, and it makes me fucking cringe to even look at him.

[GoldenFleece]

I only remember seeing him play a couple of times at City and i thought he looked really good. I remember picking him a few times for my fantasy football team even? Was suprised how he seemed to fade to the bench so quickly at city, I've also been quite impressed with him at Espanyol. Now for almost the same money I think I'd have preffered Diego Capel... but I'm a big supporter of Rafa's and therefore i suppose i have to back him.

[liverpoolfcmike]

I only remember seeing him play a couple of times at City and i thought he looked really good. I remember picking him a few times for my fantasy football team even? Was suprised how he seemed to fade to the bench so quickly at city, I've also been quite impressed with him at Espanyol. Now for almost the same money I think I'd have preffered Diego Capel... but I'm a big supporter of Rafa's and therefore i suppose i have to back him.

Diego Capel would have been a good signing. Exciting young talent.

[marlon50tins]

im surprised manc dont have kuyt on the back of their tops they love seeing his name on our team sheet that much. Babel must be doing something to piss off rafa or dirk knows something about someone at the club, blackmail is the only way he should be able to get a game

[designweb]

As a newbie I dont want to start on a negative note, but surely Liverpool are a better club than some of this recent transfer activity??

Riise and Finnan gone to be replaced with foreigners who without judging their ability will take time to adapt to the English game (Degn and Dossena). We havent strengthened in these signings.

Keane in as a 2nd striker to replace the outgoing crouch and voronin. As a result we are now playing 442 this season rather than the 4231 system last year. This is great if we have the players to play the formation and have Keane up front rather than out wide!!

Now that we revert to 442 we start the season with Kuyt and Benyanoon (as David Pleat calls him) as our 'width'. Hardly natural born wingers.

Very disappointed that we are left with an out of form Alonso (due to rumours of his departure), a midfield already looking like Lucas, Plessis, El Zhar and Benyanoon are going to be required far to often to make us challengers.

I think we are hard to beat which is good but I have concerns over the way in which we are approaching games already this season.

No pace in in midfield or in both full back positions. We only have Babel and Torres that can really run with a ball. That is assuming that Rafa thinks Babel is worthy of a game ahead of N'Gog???

Very dis-illusioned already. I am a fanatical LFC fan, I go to at least 10 games a season and do not want to be accused of not being a 'proper' fan.

I dont know where the problem lies. I think Rafa wanted better players...

[CorKopite]

Hope he does a good job for us,hopefully him and babel on their day will be close to unstoppable,provide some decent ball for Torres & Co. Especially Keane who is getting slated on here by more "fans" than i thought,its a fucking joke saying Keane is a waste of money,hes a class act.Hope Riera will be too.

Welcome Albert.

[MAL05]

im surprised manc dont have kuyt on the back of their tops they love seeing his name on our team sheet that much. Babel must be doing something to piss off rafa or dirk knows something about someone at the club, blackmail is the only way he should be able to get a game

Spot on!  Was saying the same to a mate myself the other day.  Kuyt has dirt on Rafa.  Period.

[marlon50tins]

would rather uncle albert to be honest, prob got more pace n hes dead

[MAL05]

As a newbie I dont want to start on a negative note, but surely Liverpool are a better club than some of this recent transfer activity??

Riise and Finnan gone to be replaced with foreigners who without judging their ability will take time to adapt to the English game (Degn and Dossena). We havent strengthened in these signings.

Keane in as a 2nd striker to replace the outgoing crouch and voronin. As a result we are now playing 442 this season rather than the 4231 system last year. This is great if we have the players to play the formation and have Keane up front rather than out wide!!

Now that we revert to 442 we start the season with Kuyt and Benyanoon (as David Pleat calls him) as our 'width'. Hardly natural born wingers.

Very disappointed that we are left with an out of form Alonso (due to rumours of his departure), a midfield already looking like Lucas, Plessis, El Zhar and Benyanoon are going to be required far to often to make us challengers.

I think we are hard to beat which is good but I have concerns over the way in which we are approaching games already this season.

No pace in in midfield or in both full back positions. We only have Babel and Torres that can really run with a ball. That is assuming that Rafa thinks Babel is worthy of a game ahead of N'Gog???

Very dis-illusioned already. I am a fanatical LFC fan, I go to at least 10 games a season and do not want to be accused of not being a 'proper' fan.

I dont know where the problem lies. I think Rafa wanted better players...

Good post.  Mostly sums up my feelings and thoughts too.  We just lifeless this season, knackered, void of ideas, and to be honest, like we dont give a shite!

[Cork Red]

Welcome Albert, and the very best of luck.

At least now we'll have a left-footed player on the left-side of midfield.  Whatever Yossi is, he isn't a left-sided wide player.

[donniebrasco]

I'll give him 15 games max before he's playing on the right..

[MAL05]

I'll give him 15 games max before he's playing on the right..

[marlon50tins]

my god we have so much confidence!

[SuperSub77]

Welcome Albert and good luck.

His lack of pace is a shame, but like it has been mentioned, some great wingers such as Figo or even Digger weren't blessed with blistering pace.

I would have expected Rafa to get someone quick given the defensive way we're playing at the moment.

However, great wingers are often quick off the blocks and over the first 5 yards to play a killer pass. The fact that we often play against 11 defenders, we do need someone canny.

I hope I'm right!

[The Flying Pig]

Welcome to the reds Albert and good luck,lad.

[Comrade]

I wonder if he'll like the Albert Dock... get it? ALBERT Dock...?

[gnaume]

not buzzing, but releaved we finally got a winger slash attacking wide-player

[gnaume]

I wonder if he'll like the Albert Dock... get it? ALBERT Dock...?

don't get it...

[designweb]

You start to wonder that if Rafa were to walk or to be sacked, who of our current first XI would a new manager want to keep? The spine is good but the full backs and wingers would not be in big demand.

We only ever needed 2 wingers during pre-season. We could have coped with Finnan, Riise at full back and Nemeth, Babel as backup to Torres / Gerrard  up front.

3 good keepers (just signed another) 4 excellent centre halves, 3 great centre midfielders, 2 great forwards and a load of average players in the wide areas.

Losing further ground to Man Utd and now Manchester City seem to be wanting 4th place this season!

[Kop4]

Not seen anything of him recently so i wont judge.

he seems an obvious 'potentially good' signing.  Good luck to him.

As for Babel?  Up front replacing Torres or right wing for Kuyt.  Gotta do something.  Other teams have found Dirk out.

[Paul JH]

I tell you what, I hope he isn't used as a scapegoat by some of our fans as a symbol of us having no money and settling for 'second best'. I wouldn't put it past some people (as seen on here) to write him off and then bleat about 'Man City bought SWP... why couldn't we....wah wah!' etc etc.

Give him a chance. Get behind him. Good luck to him.

Other teams have found Dirk out.

He's not hard to suss out really, just stand in front of him and you've pretty much won the battle.

[donniebrasco]

I tell you what, I hope he isn't used as a scapegoat by some of our fans as a symbol of us having no money and settling for 'second best'. I wouldn't put it past some people (as seen on here) to write him off and then bleat about 'Man City bought SWP... why couldn't we....wah wah!' etc etc.

That is inevitable i'm afraid.

[Paul JH]

That is inevitable i'm afraid.

I know mate, preparing for it already. Cue after his first match 'why weren't we in for SWP...' or 'why didn't we go for Petrov' or some such illogical bollocks...

[Fjohn]

Welcome Albert and good luck.

[Ski]

never saw him at Manchester City or espanyol so happy to judge him after he's settled in and played a good few games for us.

delighted that hopefully Ryan can move over to the right now and look way more confident and effective.

[liverpoolfcmike]

Should prove a better buy for us than Robinho to Manchester City.

Hopefully!

[redscotch]

Should prove a better buy for us than Robinho to Manchester City.

Hopefully!

Don't worry, our Arabs have been on the blower to City's Arabs to tell them to buy Robinho at all costs.
It pisses off the Rent boys and then we buy him next season.
Man City are our new feeder club

[liverpoolfcmike]

To be honest, i doubt whether Robinho will be a success at City. And if he is anything other than exceptional there will be a revolt at Eastlands (or wherever the hell they play).

[Tigerheart]

Welcome Albert and good luck.

His lack of pace is a shame, but like it has been mentioned, some great wingers such as Figo or even Digger weren't blessed with blistering pace.

I would have expected Rafa to get someone quick given the defensive way we're playing at the moment.

However, great wingers are often quick off the blocks and over the first 5 yards to play a killer pass. The fact that we often play against 11 defenders, we do need someone canny.

I hope I'm right!

Digger was lightning back in the day.

[lamonti]

Hopefully

But somehow I get the feeling Benitez has a problem with Babel at the moment............

Same here. Either to do with fitness after the injury/Olympics or possibly attitude - lets face it, his cameo against Boro was pretty fucking shambolic.

[farawayred]

Good luck to the lad! I hope he exceeds my expectations, but in any case: YNWA

[4pool]

Welcome Riera, all the best to win over the morons.

Well said.   

[red44]

Welcome Riera, all the best to win over the morons.

Is right...

These boards are fast descending into knee-jerk fuckwit territory.  It is getting painful.

Judge the new players after their first season, not their first kick of the ball (or before they have even pulled a red shirt on)

Don't look at the league tables until at least November.

Don't listen to the pundits.  Don't read the tabloids.

It'll make you feel better, trust me.

[liverpoolfcmike]

Missing link on the left? I hope so. We need it.