Liverpool FC Forum

by **Ben Patrick** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:32 pm

Igor Zidane wrote:So are you saying that the likes of Gerrard and Carra have turned into the players they have in spight of Rafa? Please !

no

by **Ben Patrick** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:35 pm

DrPepe wrote:not rafa

the performances of his team (containing riera, and managed by benitez)

I still think that players are getting on based on what club they are at not who the manager is, so lets agree to disagree.

Its like wes brown getting in the england squad and team and phil neville previously, that was because of what club they are/where playing for.

Without question.

by **DrPepe** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:47 pm

Ben Patrick wrote:
DrPepe wrote:not rafa

the performances of his team (containing riera, and managed by benitez)

I still think that players are getting on based on what club they are at not who the manager is, so lets agree to disagree.

Its like wes brown getting in the england squad and team and phil neville previously, that was because of what club they are/where playing for.

Without question.

you mean the player Wes Brown that has made 250 odd appearances for the club since his debut? - in which time they/he have won the prem league 5 times and the CL twice and has never failed to qualify for the european cup ?

if the mancs had been 10th in the league wes + phil wouldn't have got a look in for ingland

by **Ben Patrick** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:53 pm

DrPepe wrote:
Ben Patrick wrote:
DrPepe wrote:not rafa

the performances of his team (containing riera, and managed by benitez)

I still think that players are getting on based on what club they are at not who the manager is, so lets agree to disagree.

Its like wes brown getting in the england squad and team and phil neville previously, that was because of what club they are/where playing for.

Without question.

you mean the player Wes Brown that has made 250 odd appearances for the club since his debut? - in which time they/he have won the prem league 5 times and the CL twice and has never failed to qualify for the european cup ?

if the mancs had been 10th in the league wes + phil wouldn't have got a look in for ingland

You think he is good enough ?

He is sh!te, but is very fortunate in that he plays for a club side with a big name.
If Wes Brown left and went to Sunderland he would be out of the squad within the year.

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:54 pm

by **DrPepe** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:00 pm

Ben Patrick wrote:
DrPepe wrote:
Ben Patrick wrote:
DrPepe wrote:not rafa

the performances of his team (containing riera, and managed by benitez)

I still think that players are getting on based on what club they are at not who the manager is, so lets agree to disagree.

Its like wes brown getting in the england squad and team and phil neville previously, that was because of what club they are/where playing for.

Without question.

you mean the player Wes Brown that has made 250 odd appearances for the club since his debut? - in which time they/he have won the prem league 5 times and the CL twice and has never failed to qualify for the european cup ?

if the mancs had been 10th in the league wes + phil wouldn't have got a look in for ingland

You think he is good enough ?

He is sh!te, but is very fortunate in that he plays for a club side with a big name.
If Wes Brown left and went to Sunderland he would be out of the squad within the year.

he's playing in a team for a club that is succesful

ie. he has shown he can function well in such an environment and participate in winning titles
:laugh:

by **DrPepe** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:06 pm

Albert Riera suspended and fined as Rafa Benitez gets tough over Liverpool outcast's attack

Rafa Benitez has responded to Albert Riera's outspoken attack on him by suspending the Liverpool winger until Monday.

In what amounts to a two-game ban for Riera, the £6million signing from Espanyol has been told to stay away from Liverpool's preparations for Thursday's Europa League last 16 return leg against Lille and Sunday's Old Trafford showdown with Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.
Liverpool's Rafael Benitez (L) gestures as Albert Riera

Rift: Riera struggles to look interested in training with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez on Wednesday

Riera, who will also be fined, has infuriated Benitez with the timing and contents of an interview with a Spanish radio station, in which he claimed he had been ostracised, accused his fellow-Spaniard of lacking communication skills and described Liverpool as 'a sinking ship'.

Benitez is acutely aware that overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Lille and repeating last season's Old Trafford triumph could be crucial to salvaging some respectability from a desperately disappointing campaign, as well as earning himself some breathing space.

Liverpool's under-pressure boss does not want any distractions and feels let down by Riera, who will be sold at the first opportunity.

According to sources in Spain, Benitez rang Riera's agent, with news of the suspension, as soon as he heard of the interview and verified it had taken place.

Riera was subsequently informed that he would not be allowed back in Liverpool's Melwood training ground until Monday, when he can expect to feel the full force of Benitez's wrath.

Riera claims he has received two offers from clubs in Russia, the homeland of his wife Yulia Koroleva.

He could be set for a swift exit as the transfer window in Russia, which was supposed to close last week, has been extended to April 8.

by **parchpea** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:19 pm

So the furher has spoken I guess. Say anything against the manager at thats it, your fired. Amusingly Benitez has never stopped complaining about his own managers at the football club and the lack of support they have given him.Infact hes never stopped hanging from the cross since the Americans took over and has been happy to air opinion in public.Despite this he remains in post and maybe he should look in the mirror and have a bit more humility before throwing stones at his own staff.

by **roberto green** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:27 pm

It says something when he is fallen out with his fellow spaniards it just shows that he really is that ruthless when it come to what he wants but if he is turning people within the club against himself it not going to be good.Reira said that Benitez doesn't even speak to you to let you know how your doing.Rafa's people skills don't sound the best to me

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:41 pm

whats up now is Rafa refusing to wipe the players ar$es again or pamper there already massive ego`s, oh and look another player having ago in the press, this is clearly a ploy to get a move away yet some here will still use it as an excuse to have ago at the manager, beggars belief sometimes this place.

by **LFC2007** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:49 pm

It's hard to know whether it's sour grapes from being left out of the team for so long when the team was struggling and in a world cup year, or whether - and to what extent - his comments reflect badly on Rafa's man-management skills. Rafa may well have kept him in the loop, but Riera could just have spat his dummy out. Equally, Rafa's communication skills could simply be lacking. You could point to other comparable situations and the perception that Rafa is an aloof autocrat, or you could point to a culture of this sort of comment in the game generally, and the perception that modern day footballers are whinging prima donnas. I don't think it's easy to form an opinion on this issue other than to say it should have been dealt with in-house.

by **Fauxy** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:50 pm

Good Job Rafa.

Riera deserves that completely

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:50 pm

parchpea wrote:So the furher has spoken I guess. Say anything against the manager at thats it, your fired.

Well, yes actually, and rightly so as well. You can't have players running to the press every time they're upset with being on the bench and letting them think that's the way to address the situation. Rafa's done exactly the right thing suspending Riera. With that said, it doesn't change my point from earlier: that this is the latest in a long line of frustrations expressed at the man management style of the manager and I think we definitely have a 'no smoke without a fire' situation on this one.

by **NANNY RED** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:15 pm

Well fecking said DIDI lad.

Ex-Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann hits out at Albert Riera

Thursday, 18 March 2010

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has launched a withering attack on Reds winger Albert Riera after he went public with his frustration at not getting a game under manager Rafael Benitez.

The Spain international said Benitez did not speak to him and claimed he bore a personal grudge.

'You see the boat sinking and nothing changes,' says Riera

However, Hamann, who made 283 appearances for the Merseysiders and memorably came on for the second half in their Champions League final comeback against AC Milan in 2005, said Riera should look at himself.

"I didn't read too much into the comments because he's a player who has not played too much football over the last six to eight months," said the former Germany international.

"He is clearly frustrated but you have to say since he signed for Liverpool (in September 2008) he has not done enough to really have an opinion on the manager.

"If Riera is not in the team it is probably because he is not doing enough in training or in games.

"You have players these days who complain about managers and I think these players should look at themselves.

"The first question you have to ask when you are not playing is have you done enough to be in the team.

"These days it happens too often with players who can't get in the team and the first thing they do is blame the manager.

"I can honestly say I have never had a problem with a manager in 15 years of my career and I would never blame a manager for not playing."

Hamann, who does some part-time coaching for Liverpool's youth teams, admitted Benitez had his own individual style of management but said he did not have an issue with it during his two seasons under the Spaniard.

"Every manager has his different styles and he may not talk, as other managers do, to his players but at the end of the day I always had a professional relationship with him," he added.

"Every player is different and he does speak to players. If he didn't speak to Riera on this particular occasion there must have been a reason.

"I never really needed much conversation with the manager because his team selection told you everything most weeks.

"I think he was always pretty honest in terms of his team selection - he always did what he thought was best for the team."

In his interview, Riera told Radio Marca: "When the coach says nothing to you and you are well, with no physical problems and training well, you cannot help but think it must be something personal."

He also went on to say he felt Liverpool were a "sinking ship" after a poor season which has seen early exits from the title race, Champions League and FA Cup.

Hamann disagreed, however, telling Radio Five Live: "I think Liverpool are far from a sinking ship.

"They are having a bad season by their standards but not all hope is lost and there are eight or 10 weeks ahead of them so it is all to play for.

"It (Riera's outburst) is very disruptive and I don't know whether he will play any further part in the rest of the season.

"If he didn't it would be understandable from the manager's point of view."

by **DrPepe** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:24 pm

Albert Riera, February 4 2010:

"It isn't in the character of any of us to turn our backs and run somewhere else when times are tough. All of us would like to look back on our Liverpool career and say it was a success...I understand I haven't enjoyed quite as big an impact on the club as them so far but I intend to."

"For me, if the club offered a five, six or seven-year contract right now, I'd sign it with my eyes closed. Where else is there to go? Being anywhere else would be a step down. I have everything I need in Liverpool"

tw at

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