Liverpool FC Forum

by **GYBS** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:47 am

definatly not in the middle alongside masher for me mate and yeah play him against teams like stoke where his nimble feet and slight touches can unlock the defence .

by **Fauxy** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:01 pm

Its a tough descision..

Riera is as you say much better at tracking back and holding up the ball, benayoun gives us more in the way of attack especially down the centre.

Against Tottenham, I would choose Riera because he likes to play a very wide game so we can stretch out the defence for the likes of Nando and Stevie to get through easier. The likes of Ledley Kings and Woodgate, ther two central defenders, are not very fast and stretching them out means they would have to deal with the pace of Nando.

Benayoun wouldnt be a bad option either because he does offer more in the attack but likes to cut inside rather than play wide so we wouldnt be taking advantage of the slow defence.

You mention that Riera is more defensive than Benayoun which is true, he does track back more often but I actually think Benayoun is far better at tackling.

by **JoeTerp** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:08 pm

Riera isn't too bad at tackling, remember the tackle that led to the goal against Everton, very nice skill to make the tackle and keep it in play, then find Xabi, who played a nice through ball to Keane, who crossed for Torres.

Riera played more than Silva in South Africa, and put in better performances than Silva for the most part.

I don't really think that we need Silva, or any left winger for that matter. Someone to fill in when Nando goes down is currently the biggest drop in quality from first XI to 2nd string (not counting CM because obviously that needs addressing)

by **stmichael** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:45 pm

Fauxy wrote:Against Tottenham, I would choose Riera because he likes to play a very wide game so we can stretch out the defence for the likes of Nando and Stevie to get through easier. The likes of Ledley Kings and Woodgate, ther two central defenders, are not very fast and stretching them out means they would have to deal with the pace of Nando.

But the likelihood is that neither of those two will play. Both are injury prone. Dawson is also out so as it stands they're going to have a makeshift centre back pairing. I know they're after Bassong from Newcastle and I expect that one to go through. Whatever the case, Stevie and Nando should be licking their lips.

The fact that they're weak in the centre also make a case for Benayoun's inclusion. I can just see him coming in off the line and slipping those little through balls through to Torres. We just need to make sure that Insua gets forward on the overlap from fullback to give us the width down that side.

by **Owzat** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:02 pm

In our current formation and approach I'd go for Yossi, he offers more goal threat and if we're playing two holding midfielders/deeper midfielders then I think we need more goals. That said I'd rather we bought a quality LWF who can chip in with goals and assists to the same kind of level as Kuyt managed. I like Riera as a player, but I think we were most effective with Yossi playing latterly in the season - nine wins out of ten was it?

by **stmichael** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:34 pm

Owzat wrote:In our current formation and approach I'd go for Yossi, he offers more goal threat and if we're playing two holding midfielders/deeper midfielders then I think we need more goals. That said I'd rather we bought a quality LWF who can chip in with goals and assists to the same kind of level as Kuyt managed. I like Riera as a player, but I think we were most effective with Yossi playing latterly in the season - nine wins out of ten was it?

Something like that and Benayoun scored something like 6 goals in his last ten appearances aswell.

I'm like you, I like Riera a lot but he's the sort of player who'll be very good or very poor. There's no inbetween although I suppose you could say that about a lot of wingers in the modern game. He is seldom injured though which is a bonus.

As I previously said, if you're going to play Benayoun it's absolutely critical that your left back (Insua) bombs on to provide the width otherwise the play becomes congested down the middle.

by **Boocity** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:41 pm

If its on the left, I would go with Riera, Benny always tries to cut back to his right foot.

by **stmichael** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:51 pm

heimdall wrote:I'd play Benny on the right and Riera on the left and use Kuyt as an impact sub.

well there's a surprise.

after kuyt's performances last season you still don't think he should be in the starting 11?

by **Dundalk** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:47 pm

Looks like it could be Benny as Riera has just been stretched off with what looks like an ankle injury

We better hurry up the Silva transfer now:D

by **aCe'** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:57 pm

stmichael wrote: He is seldom injured though which is a bonus.

by **GYBS** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:01 pm

lets hope he isnt too badly injured - if not looks like it will be a straight choice between babel yossi or silva for the left side

by **stmichael** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:02 pm

aCe' wrote:
stmichael wrote: He is seldom injured though which is a bonus.

You couldn't make it up could you? The day after I was praising him for his good injury record he goes and gets stretchered off. That'll be a 2-3 week job by the looks of it.

by **Judge** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 7:53 am

stmichael wrote:
Owzat wrote:In our current formation and approach I'd go for Yossi, he offers more goal threat and if we're playing two holding midfielders/deeper midfielders then I think we need more goals. That said I'd rather we bought a quality LWF who can chip in with goals and assists to the same kind of level as Kuyt managed. I like Riera as a player, but I think we were most effective with Yossi playing latterly in the season - nine wins out of ten was it?

Something like that and Benayoun scored something like 6 goals in his last ten appearances aswell.

I'm like you, I like Riera a lot but he's the sort of player who'll be very good or very poor. There's no inbetween although I suppose you could say that about a lot of wingers in the modern game. He is seldom injured though which is a bonus.

As I previously said, if you're going to play Benayoun it's absolutely critical that your left back (Insua) bombs on to provide the width otherwise the play becomes congested down the middle.

riera took a knock last night mick as you point out in your last post

. dunno the outcome though

but its riera for me, not benayoun

by **Highland Red** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:44 pm

s@int wrote:I would have to go with Riera as he gives the side better balance IMHO. Benayoun is a much better player than I gave him credit for, but he cuts inside too much and rarely stretches the play when played as a winger.

Agreed. Yossi is far more effective playing behind the strikers, ala Gerrard's position.

Riera is bigger, stronger and a proper winger.

by **Penguins** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:13 pm

heimdall wrote:I'd play Benny on the right and Riera on the left and use Kuyt as an impact sub.

Not much else to be said really

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