Liverpool FC Forum

[Zidane]

As long as he provides a threat from the left i'm happy and he has done well.  Impressed today but his fitness is certainly not up to the level it should be he tends to fade as the game goes on.

[Simari]

It is impossible for us to enjoy and be thankful for a left-sided player that is a genuine threat.

Yes, we would like him to be perfect. But he has definitely gone a long way to solving our left-sided *problem*. It is no longer Torres or Gerrard, but Riera (and Keane) also.

Riera was constantly double-teamed today but still managed to swing in a number of top-notch crosses.

His fitness will come with time. But we have Babel as cover (although, I'd like to see Babel started on the right ocassionally)

[ruskiy playmaker]

I know it's early but so far Riera has shown that he's a very intelligent player that can cross, dribble and keep the ball very well.  At times some of his skills are a real a joy to watch and it's good to see that Rafa allows him to express himself.  I guarantee that if we had bought him for 20 million pounds, the commentators would be over him every match.  Let's just hope that he can keep producing this kind of form for the rest of the season, because like Simari said, Riera's just as important to us now as Gerrard and Torres.

[JoeTerp]

Has he managed 90mins in any match this season?

no

[Sabre]

Has he managed 90mins in any match this season?

no

True. For Spanish Standards his game yesterday was demanding. For what he's used to, its normal he was exhausted.

And the mate who said he will get used to the rythm of the premier league is right, while you can't train to be quicker, it's POSSIBLE to train to last longer.

Anyhow, IMHO, you have to be superman to make as much runs as he did and not be tired in min 65.

[stmichael]

Well he's impressed me already tenough to make me admit I was wrong about him, he's a far better player than I remember. He has the opportunity though to really, properly prove me wrong and I'm still waiting for him to step up. I think he just needs one really big game, one really big moment to give him the belief that he can be a game breaking top player and that might be it.

As it is, he kind of flatters to decieve a little bit, and I'm still not totally convinced that he fancies it in the physical sense at times. One (adittedly heavy) tackle from Micah Richards early on nearly broke him in half, and I'm not 100% sure he ever really recovered from it. Suffice to say if I was sending a team out to play against us, I'd be asking serious questions of his character whenver I had the opportunity.

He just needs to find the confidence to impose himself though I think, he certainly has the ability.

so basically what you're saying is "i know it's early but..." 

[Sabre]

We didn't pay a world class player money for him, so perhaps it's a bit demanding to ask him for a "really big moment" while we're not asking that just yet to Keane, who's twice as expensive.

I'm simply glad that he's being the good player that already was showing in Spain.

News, if anyone had doubts about the impact it gives you playing for Liverpool Football Club, Riera has been summoned again for Spain after Diego Capel falling injured. This means Vicente del Bosque is watching closely our lad (and that our lad is doing well).

I know that many members hate international games, but the bright side of it is that being internationals, our player's value increase, which is also good for the club.

Well done Albert.

[metalhead]

He just needs to get fit, he looks a bit out of shape, maybe when he is 100% fit then we can see him stop fading out of some games.

[Ace Ventura]

We didn't pay a world class player money for him, so perhaps it's a bit demanding to ask him for a "really big moment" while we're not asking that just yet to Keane, who's twice as expensive.

I'm simply glad that he's being the good player that already was showing in Spain.

News, if anyone had doubts about the impact it gives you playing for Liverpool Football Club, Riera has been summoned again for Spain after Diego Capel falling injured. This means Vicente del Bosque is watching closely our lad (and that our lad is doing well).

I know that many members hate international games, but the bright side of it is that being internationals, our player's value increase, which is also good for the club.

Well done Albert.

I think he has looked very good so far and has offered the balance that Kewell offered two seasons ago.
Not spectacular and wont get many goals by the looks of things but really stretches teams and will run at the full back, very good signing imo.
He hasnt been a massive success so far but seems like a very good addition to the team and has certainly improved the firs 11.

[account deleted by request]

We didn't pay a world class player money for him, so perhaps it's a bit demanding to ask him for a "really big moment" while we're not asking that just yet to Keane, who's twice as expensive.

I'm simply glad that he's being the good player that already was showing in Spain.

News, if anyone had doubts about the impact it gives you playing for Liverpool Football Club, Riera has been summoned again for Spain after Diego Capel falling injured. This means Vicente del Bosque is watching closely our lad (and that our lad is doing well).

I know that many members hate international games, but the bright side of it is that being internationals, our player's value increase, which is also good for the club.

Well done Albert.

I think he has looked very good so far and has offered the balance that Kewell offered two seasons ago.
Not spectacular and wont get many goals by the looks of things but really stretches teams and will run at the full back, very good signing imo.
He hasnt been a massive success so far but seems like a very good addition to the team and has certainly improved the firs 11.

I think that's the main thing he has supplied so far mate ......BALANCE.  Without him actually ripping teams apart, he has made us look a much better team. It just makes me sad to think if things had worked out better with Kewell, it could have made such a big difference over the past few years.

I am still not 100% sure he is going to be good enough long term yet, but hopefully he will prove that over the coming months. He does seem to have a genuine eye for a pass and a few good tricks, but without killer pace he will need to make good decisions as well.

[JC_81]

I think that's the main thing he has supplied so far mate ......BALANCE.  Without him actually ripping teams apart, he has made us look a much better team.

I'll go along with that.

Should mention Sabre here, before we signed the lad he said this is exactly what Riera will do for us, and so far he's right.

[LFC2007]

I think he's made a massive difference already. As Ace says -he gives us great balance and he's getting in positions and offering an option that we haven't had since Kewell was fully fit. He can beat a man, get to the by-line, put in a cross, he has good awareness in the attacking third - he'll drift inside when needed. He's very comfortable in possession and can receive the ball in the air or on the deck without any bother. He has good control and is a good passer. He's not great defensively and perhaps not a goal threat, and whilst he may not offer anything spectacular, he isn't a £20m player, he cost £8m and at that price he looks very good value. If you compare the balance on the left with the right, it's night and day I think.

Fair play to Sabre on this one as I think he called it right from the beginning.

[Sabre]

Can we end this prediction game bóllocks?

I'd need 7 spots on like the one of Riera to compensate the prediction of Torres

Nah, I'm pretty sure about when a player is a good player, but prediction from Spain to England are a bit of a lottery sometimes. Plus, it doesn't matter who is right or wrong, people say his first impressions, readers make a little idea about the player, and that's all.

[Ace Ventura]

Can we end this prediction game bóllocks?

I'd need 7 spots on like the one of Riera to compensate the prediction of Torres

Nah, I'm pretty sure about when a player is a good player, but prediction from Spain to England are a bit of a lottery sometimes. Plus, it doesn't matter who is right or wrong, people say his first impressions, readers make a little idea about the player, and that's all.

To be fair with this one Sabre you seemed to call this one correct, he wont be spectacular but he also picks the right pass almost every time. He also appears to have the ability to beat his man one on one.
The balance thing is the main issue, we can all harp on about Babel and Benayoun but riera offers genuine balance and makes the team look like an actual team.

with this one sabre i think you called it right.

[stmichael]

i see he's been called up to the spain squad