albert

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040546#msg1040546 date=1264114387]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040543#msg1040543 date=1264114290]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040540#msg1040540 date=1264114172]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040286#msg1040286 date=1264095724]
i find it very surprising that some people think he's turd. he's pure quality and, you're right, if he had pace he'd be world class.
[/quote]

Yes, pace, and the ability to put the ball in the net would be handy too.
[/quote]

he's perfectly capable of putting the ball in the net.
[/quote]

He just chooses not to do it very often then, does he?
[/quote]

that's the way it goes sometimes. i trust my instinct over the stats in this case.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040547#msg1040547 date=1264114469]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040546#msg1040546 date=1264114387]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040543#msg1040543 date=1264114290]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040540#msg1040540 date=1264114172]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040286#msg1040286 date=1264095724]
i find it very surprising that some people think he's turd. he's pure quality and, you're right, if he had pace he'd be world class.
[/quote]

Yes, pace, and the ability to put the ball in the net would be handy too.
[/quote]

he's perfectly capable of putting the ball in the net.
[/quote]

He just chooses not to do it very often then, does he?
[/quote]

that's the way it goes sometimes. i trust my instinct over the stats in this case.
[/quote]

He averages 1 goal every 10 games for us Skully. What does your instinct tell you about that?

 

[gene hughes]

Isn't it wiser to look at our win average when he's in the starting 11?

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040564#msg1040564 date=1264115097]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040547#msg1040547 date=1264114469]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040546#msg1040546 date=1264114387]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040543#msg1040543 date=1264114290]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040540#msg1040540 date=1264114172]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040286#msg1040286 date=1264095724]
i find it very surprising that some people think he's turd. he's pure quality and, you're right, if he had pace he'd be world class.
[/quote]

Yes, pace, and the ability to put the ball in the net would be handy too.
[/quote]

he's perfectly capable of putting the ball in the net.
[/quote]

He just chooses not to do it very often then, does he?
[/quote]

that's the way it goes sometimes. i trust my instinct over the stats in this case.
[/quote]

He averages 1 goal every 10 games for us Skully. What does your instinct tell you about that?
[/quote]

appearences? starts?

 

[Skullflower]

i looked. he scored 3 goals in 28 appearences last season. not great but doesn't change my mind at all. he's capable of getting goals.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38569.msg1040596#msg1040596 date=1264116557]
i looked. he scored 3 goals in 28 appearences last season. not great but doesn't change my mind at all. he's capable of getting goals.
[/quote]

How Skully?

His record for us, Espanyol and Spain is shite.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind Riera at all, but let's face it - he's not a goalscorer. In the long-term, we need better than him.

 

[refugee]

I really like him, he gives the side a nice balance and when he is on form his first touch is glorious.

 

[Skullflower]

like i say, just a hunch. i think he can get 5 - 10 a season and that's plenty. i agree though that we can probably do better in the long run.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=refugee link=topic=38569.msg1040614#msg1040614 date=1264117176]
I really like him, he gives the side a nice balance and when he is on form his first touch is glorious.
[/quote]

yes his technique is top drawer all round.

 

[Ryan]

He often holds on the ball for far far too long. I'd be fine with that were he gliding past defenders and getting to the byline whilst doing it, but invariably he's doing pirouettes on the halfwayline.

 

[SummerOnions]

He's shite.

 

[The Slugmonster]

He's going to have to have to play a blinder for the rest of the season to get back in the spanish squad for the world cup. I really hope he does! Plus it would be nice to see him step up in a time when we really need certain members of the squad to prove their worth!!

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=38569.msg1040626#msg1040626 date=1264118579]
He's shite.
[/quote]

Dazzling insight.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=38569.msg1040626#msg1040626 date=1264118579]
He's shite.
[/quote]

yer mum's shite in bed.

 

[SummerOnions]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38569.msg1040631#msg1040631 date=1264118899]
[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=38569.msg1040626#msg1040626 date=1264118579]
He's shite.
[/quote]

Dazzling insight.
[/quote]

Quite.

I was rather hoping everyone would stop bumming him for a second.

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=ibromurph link=topic=38569.msg1040374#msg1040374 date=1264102108]
I think Keni said it best.. Riera is a good player around great players (Spain).

But he's not a player we can rely on for goals or assists. Neat and tidy, sure. Provides balance, check. But "pure quality"? No. Not by a longshot. He's got a few tricks on him, but if Kuyt is our permanent "outlet" on the right, then we need a bit more creativity/pace on the left.

Riera is the perfect squad player. Good enough to play for Liverpool and good enough to come in and do a good job whilst regular starters are sidelined.
[/quote]

[move][size=22pt]This times 1,000
[/size]

[/move]




I'm reluctant to say anything lest it confuse what's been said above but Riera was born to be a squad player. I doubt he knows how to spell trickery and pulling it out on the field is a long way from happening.

He's got a very reliable left foot - not a patch on Riise but good none-the-less.
He keeps the ball very, very well. It's his best asset though, at times, you could say he keeps it too well.
He plays in a position perfectly suiting him ie. he's left footed and plays on the left.


But as we've said for years, if Kuyt is our right side (and there's an absolute mountain of evidence ready to bury anyone who disputes this) then we need something very creative, very quick and very dangerous on the left. Riera doesn't fit that bill.

 

[franklyfrank]

Riera's bang average imho.

Capable no doubt but he just doesn't influence a game enough.

 

[LarryHagman]

Obviously the best left wing option at the club by a country mile. Until we're in a position to replace him with a better player, who will likely cost 20mil (which we don't have), I don't see the discussion point.

 

[KopPoNok]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=38569.msg1040414#msg1040414 date=1264103906]
Lieutenant Dan
[/quote]

it's detective Mackie now.

I agreed with the earlier post, his performance against spurs should be a norm, not exception.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=gene hughes link=topic=38569.msg1040396#msg1040396 date=1264103080]
We just look way better when he's playing, whatever way you explain it.
[/quote]

Exactly so Gene.

regards

 

[Mistadobalina]

I like Albert down the left side a lot more than Aurelio, but then hes no John Barnes either.

 

[gene hughes]

[quote author=Mistadobalina link=topic=38569.msg1040677#msg1040677 date=1264123866]
I like Albert down the left side a lot more than Aurelio, but then hes no John Barnes either.
[/quote]

Who is?

 

[RolandG]

Albert should be a fixture on the left because he gives us balance and width. We look so much better with him in the team because he causes the opposition problems. He is our best left winger at the club, sadly form and injuries have kept him out of the team for a while.

 

[mark1975]

He's been out the side for a while so people seem to have forgotten how infuriatingly ordinary and inconsistent he can be. That said, he does provide width, balance and composure and has a good footballing brain. If he stepped up his consistency he'd be a great asset.

 

[jexykrodic]

We retain possession much better with him in the team. We concede far too much territory more quickly without him and consequently find ourselves under more pressure. I really do think he is important to us in ball retention terms.

He could definitely carry more of a threat up front, he has a decent left foot strike and can get up well to head at goal (cf. hitting the bar vs. Spurs) both attributes he could be more selfish about. His corners and set pieces are on par if not better than Aurelio and an improvement on Gerrard's efforts.

If we were to sign a tall target man I'm sure he'd find the crosses to make it effective. Here's hoping he can stay fit.

 

[Preston]

[quote author=jexykrodic link=topic=38569.msg1040762#msg1040762 date=1264151323]
We retain possession much better with him in the team. We concede far too much territory more quickly without him and consequently find ourselves under more pressure. I really do think he is important to us in ball retention terms.

He could definitely carry more of a threat up front, he has a decent left foot strike and can get up well to head at goal (cf. hitting the bar vs. Spurs) both attributes he could be more selfish about. His corners and set pieces are on par if not better than Aurelio and an improvement on Gerrard's efforts.

If we were to sign a tall target man I'm sure he'd find the crosses to make it effective. Here's hoping he can stay fit.
[/quote]

absobloodyexactly.

albert is so underrated.

 

[Jack D Rips]

1 in 10 is probably the best average of all our midfielders. Sad really

 

[Ossi]

As previously said: We need him in the team and he´s underrated.

 

[Asbo]

He's just recovered from injury, had NO 'match fitness' came in and played like he'd been playing every week.

Hit the crossbar, had 2 really good shots that was only just wide and only just over.

Made the team looked balanced.

Now we just need to see Maxi on the opposite side and the whole dynamic of the team will fly.

 

[Brizzle]

I love Riera. We are a much better team with him playing. Instead of looking at players better than him, I think we need to look at taking Kuyt off the wing, and then having a much better winger in his place.