Liverpool FC Forum

by **Lando_Griffin** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:21 am

I like the lad - don't get me wrong. He's one of my favourite players, but that doesn't mean he's a TOP player. Just that he's likable.

by **Leonmc0708** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:51 am

I am the same Lando, he seems like a good lad, but not good enough for me in terms of 90 minutes of football if we want to consistently beat the top teams and win things.

He has cost us as many goals as he has scored this season in my book.

by **LFC #1** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:02 am

Cracking goal but other than that he was very poor, he was at fault for Deco's goal and he gave away possession too much (although to be fair so did the likes of Gerrard and Xabi Alonso). The effort and endeavour was there but the ability is found wanting a lot of the time. He got in a lot of good positions last night but his inability to beat a man and dribble was found out on numerous occasions. Still a peach of a goal though and overall his contribution was positive. MOM though? do me a favour!

As Leon said he's just not quite good enough as a first choice left back or left midfielder if we want to be top of the tree again.

by **gary106** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:14 am

LFC #1 wrote:Cracking goal but other than that he was very poor, he was at fault for Deco's goal

sorry mate but i have to say your wrong there, he wasnt at fault for Deco's goal. Arbeloa got sucked in to the centre and out of position instead of holding his ground.

by **66-1112520797** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:32 am

gary106 wrote:
LFC #1 wrote:Cracking goal but other than that he was very poor, he was at fault for Deco's goal

sorry mate but i have to say your wrong there, he wasnt at fault for Deco's goal. Arbeloa got sucked in to the centre and out of position instead of holding his ground.

Yeah I'd have to agree with that.

by **Ace Ventura** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:59 pm

gary106 wrote:
LFC #1 wrote:Cracking goal but other than that he was very poor, he was at fault for Deco's goal

sorry mate but i have to say your wrong there, he wasnt at fault for Deco's goal. Arbeloa got sucked in to the centre and out of position instead of holding his ground.

Depends on what instructions the boss gave them, Arbeloa was either sucked in, or tucked in to act as a spare man, like most full backs do when the ball is on the other side, if he did tuck in then its down to the left mid to drop into the left back position.
My guess is as it was Barca away Riise was probably told he needed to drop in when Arbeloa tucked in.

Other than that i thought Riise's distribution was poor last night, he wasnt the only one but for him he is doing it in most games. If there isn't an easy pass he knocks it long.
He took his goal really well though and deserves credit for getting himself into that position in the first place.
He is a player that seems to get a goal on the big occasion, but just not good enough in posession or defensively to be first choice imo.

by **LFC #1** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:05 pm

Ace Ventura wrote:
gary106 wrote:
LFC #1 wrote:Cracking goal but other than that he was very poor, he was at fault for Deco's goal

sorry mate but i have to say your wrong there, he wasnt at fault for Deco's goal. Arbeloa got sucked in to the centre and out of position instead of holding his ground.

Depends on what instructions the boss gave them, Arbeloa was either sucked in, or tucked in to act as a spare man, like most full backs do when the ball is on the other side, if he did tuck in then its down to the left mid to drop into the left back position.
My guess is as it was Barca away Riise was probably told he needed to drop in when Arbeloa tucked in.

That's the way i saw it, Arbeloa either tucked in or got sucked in (can't know for sure) as their was a free man in the centr who had the cross goen to him would have had a free header. As it turned out the cross went to the far post and Deco had a free header. Riise didn't track the run IMO and was left languishing.

Anyway he more than made up for his failings last night, so I can't complain overall. 2-1 you beauty.

Edit: just having looked at it again, I feel Arbeloa is in fact the main culprit the centre half had that man in the centre covered and Arbeloa was ball watching as Deco snuck in behind him. Although as Ace said it coudl depend on the instructions both Arbeloa and Riise were given, in the end it didn't matter anway.

This video shows it well.

Deco goal

by **Dimshen** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:41 pm

he was being played out of position, he's great at getting forward as a left back, but he's no winger, to be honest the selection in general really worried me before the game, a couple of players being played out of thier comfort zones and a debutant (regardless of his recent experience against barca),

but i guess i was underestimating rafa...? great result!

by **RedBlood** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:49 pm

I thought riise was garbage before he scored, he is a good player but lfc can do better. Dont get me wrong i love the guy hes given us some grerat moments but its no good playing average for 8 games then scoring a 25yard stunner. As good as the boy is a shooting he is average at best in most other departments and we should be looking for a new leftback. Its funny before the goal i was saying to my freind if he could do everything as good as he could strike a ball you would be looking at the best leftback in the world.

I think riise falls into the garcia brcket just when you want to run on the pitch and eat him in frustration he goes and does something to make you love him again

by **Scottbot** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:21 pm

LFC #1 wrote:Cracking goal but other than that he was very poor, he was at fault for Deco's goal

I'd lay a greater share of the blame for their goal at Gerrard's feet and not Riise. Stevie should have and could have tackled Zambrotta before the cross came in. He was in position to make the tackle and looked like he was going to simply go through Zambrotta to put the ball into touch, but at the last second he seems to change his mind, check his speed and tried to nick the ball away from the attckers feet instead. Riise lost his man at the back post plus Arbeloa got caught ball watching and drifted inside. I figure both players were surprised that Gerrard didn't make the tackle as he looked odds on to win the ball.

by **Alonso14** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:44 pm

Scottbot wrote:
LFC #1 wrote:Cracking goal but other than that he was very poor, he was at fault for Deco's goal

I'd lay a greater share of the blame for their goal at Gerrard's feet and not Riise. Stevie should have and could have tackled Zambrotta before the cross came in. He was in position to make the tackle and looked like he was going to simply go through Zambrotta to put the ball into touch, but at the last second he seems to change his mind, check his speed and tried to nick the ball away from the attckers feet instead. Riise lost his man at the back post plus Arbeloa got caught ball watching and drifted inside. I figure both players were surprised that Gerrard didn't make the tackle as he looked odds on to win the ball.

Yea I was more písséd off at Gerrard, 9 out of ten times he would of put him in the stands. Espically early on, let him know the tone for the rest of the game.

by **Elchris** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:57 pm

zambrotta ran past two players gerrard and finnan.....both of them could have done better in stopping him before the cross came in and the goal was scored...for me riise was one of the better players in the pitch that day...

by **tubby** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:03 pm

Leonmc0708 wrote:I am the same Lando, he seems like a good lad, but not good enough for me in terms of 90 minutes of football if we want to consistently beat the top teams and win things.

He has cost us as many goals as he has scored this season in my book.

Spot on. I think its the cracking and crucial goals he scores that keep people hapy with him. Hey as long as he keeps scoring and were not losing ive no problems with the lad. However he could be slightly better defensivley as you say.

He has great technique though. I wish he had scored that shopt that hit the post against Chelsea a few weeks ago. That would have been a real contender for goal of the season.

by **A.B.** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 2:46 am

bavlondon wrote:
Leonmc0708 wrote:I am the same Lando, he seems like a good lad, but not good enough for me in terms of 90 minutes of football if we want to consistently beat the top teams and win things.

He has cost us as many goals as he has scored this season in my book.

Spot on. I think its the cracking and crucial goals he scores that keep people hapy with him. Hey as long as he keeps scoring and were not losing ive no problems with the lad. However he could be slightly better defensivley as you say.

He has great technique though. I wish he had scored that shopt that hit the post against Chelsea a few weeks ago. That would have been a real contender for goal of the season.

His primary job is to defend. Granted he didn't play as a left-back on Wed. night but in general this season he's been disappointing.

by **Sabre** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:35 am

I've been a defender of Riise for quite a while. When Rafa arrived I didn't think he'd convince Rafa. But no matter who arrived to the club, no matter he wasn't in the initial plans of Rafa, he eventually ends playing regularly every year, and that means something. Nobody has given Riise anything for free, he has earnt every drop of respect he has.

Important in some of the aspects of our game like the throw ins -that also counts mates-, important due to his stamina, he's there to score because at min 75 he has the stamine to run and reach this positions, when the opposition is tired, he breaks them down with one of his runs... John Arne Riise won't be ever a popular Spanish liga player but I think any decent manager would consider him a great team player. We can't do a team with fashionable players, we need men like Riise.

He's not great defending but he's not bad neither, and with the things I've already mentioned letting alone his goals I think he's a versatile and useful player.

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