Liverpool FC Forum

by **bRy** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:27 pm

If we get another injury crisis in central midfield or should Gerrard leave us in the summer, I personally would be interested to see Riise given a trial in the middle of the park. It seems a strange move and by all means would definitely not be permanent unless he shows a lot of promise and ability there, however my reasons for it are as follows

1. Someone on the board mentioned that they noticed Riise's tendency to cut inside a lot and not swing many crosses in. I too have noticed this

2. Riise has one of the most powerful shots in the Premier League, if not Europe, as well as a knack for scoring

3. His determination and engine set him apart from most players, as well as the fact that I see him as one of the grittier players in the team at present. He also has the required tackling skills acquired from his time as a left back

4. A left foot and right foot midfield combination in the centre may have advantages in the fact that the players are already poised to play a ball wide when going forward, and hence the tendency to spread the play more

After watching the team this season and the drive and determination Riise's given us, I personally would love to see him given a much more influential role in the team and on the pitch, whether this be trialling him in the centre of midfield or giving him a greater leadership role.

Thoughts?

by **Leonmc0708** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:56 pm

He can not tackle.

by **jonnymac1979** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:57 pm

Was it not Paisley who converted Ray Kennedy? Benitez may be able to convert Riise.

I'd like him to stay on the left personally, and should we have to, buy a specialist central midfielder. We already have Alonso who is a definite starter anyway should Gerrard regardless stay or go.

by **Leonmc0708** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:00 pm

Your correct, but Paisley converted him from a forward to a left winger, slightly different that going from left midfield to the engine room.

Riise has been outstanding this season, scoring more goals this season than his whole carear, but I do not see him at centre mid.

by **bRy** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:05 pm

Leonmc0708 wrote:He can not tackle.

Yeh I guess in terms of tackling standing up and not slide tackling he can't tackle.

I think though that with the way the team plays at the moment, he's not used enough in the wide positions. I'd also like to see him revert to left back on a more regular basis and be given licence to bomb forward at every opportunity.

A 3-5-2 with wing backs and an attacking mid in front a a central midfield pairing would be a tactic worth investigating too, especially if Benitez likes his defenders to play a zonal marking system

by **stmichael** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:07 pm

central midfielders should also be able to use both feet more often than not. riise is so predominantly left footed it's untrue.

by **JC_81** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:27 pm

Not a bad shout.

Maclaren at boro has converted zenden from inconsistent left winger into a pretty impressive centre-mid this season.

But i think Riise's strength is his runs from wide positions into the box which are hard to detect. I still think he'd probably be more effective out wide.

by **dawson99** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:29 pm

wevw fnally got a bit of width in our team and we are talking about pulling in risse, madness i tell u! lol

by **bRy** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:01 pm

I mentioned it in reference to an injury crisis or a makeshift before we can replace gerrard if he leaves.Any trialling would surely be done in pre-season games also.

I believe his best position is left-back but it would be an interesting experiment to see how he would handle the responsibility of central mid. At present he is a more than useful left winger due to his determination, however for us to play effectively with width I am of the opinion that Riise at left-back with someone who can dribble and skin an opponent at will (ie Denilson....keep dreaming) would be an ideal set up on the left.

Perhaps Harry Kewell can fill this role if he manages to get himself off the injury table and string together some solid performances. It wouldn't hurt for us to have some hot competition for the left of midfield either

by **banana** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:07 pm

Riise would do a wonderful job in the centre. He has got the necessary pace, strenght and stamina to chase the opposition around like a mad dog. He will win a lot of headers and put in some solid tackles. He will also get into better positions around the box and probably score even more goals. I can see no wrong in giving him a go in cantral midfield. That is if we can find a decent left winger somewhere.

by **Leonmc0708** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:08 pm

banana wrote:Riise would do a wonderful job in the centre. He has got the necessary pace, strenght and stamina to chase the opposition around like a mad dog. He will win a lot of headers and put in some solid tackles. He will also get into better positions around the box and probably score even more goals. I can see no wrong in giving him a go in cantral midfield. That is if we can find a decent left winger somewhere.

And you claim not to be clueless ?

by **JBG** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 5:24 pm

Yes, but can he pass a ball?

by **115-1073096938** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:18 pm

Riise would do a wonderful job in the centre. He has got the necessary pace, strenght and stamina to chase the opposition around like a mad dog. He will win a lot of headers and put in some solid tackles. He will also get into better positions around the box and probably score even more goals. I can see no wrong in giving him a go in cantral midfield. That is if we can find a decent left winger somewhere.

Lmao!!!

I always thought you had very little knowledge. I was so wrong, you have none!

Playing out wide is TOTALLY different to playing in the middle. Its a totally different game. Wide players play wide for a reason. To suggest this shows you have a serious lack of knowledge and have never played in either position at any standard.

by **taff** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:24 pm

Id like to see him return to left back and get some good links on the go with either Kewell or whoever

Same on the right side with Finnan and Nunez

With Alonso and say SG in the middle we would have some great passing options around the park dragging defenders around and for e.g. Morientes and Cisse or Baros, class players to pass to or cross to

With players like SG storming the middle its a good option to have a left back like Riise that you have to mark and will pull defenders wide.

by **bigmick** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:29 pm

In fairness to Banana, on this occasion his opinion is not proof necessarily of numptiness. None of us have ever seen him play there so none of us really know. FWIW I would think it is unlikely to work. Why? dunno just a hunch really.
If I was to go out on alimb and name a potential conversionist..Kewell if totally fit could probably do it. Would need a rocket fixed permanently up his erse though.

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