Riise eyes Liverpool return

[Jürgen4PM]

RIISE EYES LIVERPOOL RETURN
Norwegian fancies move back to Merseyside

By Chris Bascombe, 31/10/2009

JOHN ARNE RIISE has sent a 'come and get me back' plea to Rafa Benitez.

The Roma left-back, sold for £5million in 2008, is hoping to convince Benitez to push for a swap deal involving his replacement Andrea Dossena.
Benitez would need persuading to make such a move, especially with Emiliano Insua, 20 fast emerging on the left side of the Reds' defence.

Liverpool also have Fabio Aurelio fit again.

Riise endured a poor final season at Anfield, culminating in a fateful own goal in the 2008 Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
But a move for the Norwegian, who spent seven years at Anfield before his move to Italy, would at least enable Benitez to offload Italian Dossena, who's been a disaster since his £7m move from Udinese.


And with the Spanish coach having limited funds, he may welcome an additional body in his squad, particulary as Riise can also operate in midfield.
Dossena has made it clear he wants a return to Serie A to improve his World Cup chances.
He's been included in recent Italian squads, but is well down in the Anfield pecking order with his starting appearances so far limited to the Carling Cup.

 

[Portly]

In his heyday, Riise was worth his place for his talismanic quality, although his defending was always dodgy and his ability in midfield was restricted because he ran round in circles trying to get the ball on his left foot. He did score some rasping goals, but in his final season with us he didn't score a solitary goal.

Thanks but no thanks. 🙂

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Insua?

Dossena?

Blag Brazilian?

Hi John. Come on home.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I'd take him in a heartbeat but Rafa won't.

 

[reuque]

I would considering the options we have.

After his dismal final season with us, there is only hope that he *might* return storming.

 

[Fallon]

Anyone know how he has been doing in Roma?

 

[Dreambeliever]

[quote author=reuque link=topic=36868.msg976307#msg976307 date=1257057790]
I would considering the options we have.

After his dismal final season with us, there is only hope that he *might* return storming.
[/quote]

At least he was sound in defence.

 

[reuque]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36868.msg976312#msg976312 date=1257061299]
[quote author=reuque link=topic=36868.msg976307#msg976307 date=1257057790]
I would considering the options we have.

After his dismal final season with us, there is only hope that he *might* return storming.
[/quote]

At least he was sound in defence.
[/quote]

Somebody mentioned before this that we should buy more Scandinavians. Who was that?

 

[TheBunnyman]

I love JAR, but this wouldn't be a good idea. Just enjoy your memories John...

 

[vantage]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=36868.msg976329#msg976329 date=1257067957]
I love JAR, but this wouldn't be a good idea. Just enjoy your memories John...
[/quote]
Perhaps it is his memories that make him want to come back?

 

[manwithnoname]

He's miles better than anyone else we have at LB

Trufax

 

[dossena]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=36868.msg976338#msg976338 date=1257072329]
He's miles better than anyone else we have at LB

Trufax
[/quote]
He's pretty shit JAR.

No thanks.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=36868.msg976312#msg976312 date=1257061299]
[quote author=reuque link=topic=36868.msg976307#msg976307 date=1257057790]
I would considering the options we have.

After his dismal final season with us, there is only hope that he *might* return storming.
[/quote]

At least he was sound in defence.
[/quote]

Rafa and his coaches improved JAR's defensive play quite a bit, but it was never that sound, and if he came back now he wouldn't have the Saminator covering for him. The ironic thing is that this season we seem to be looking for more in the way of attacking from our FBs, and that would have suited Johnny Rockets to a T. I wouldn't rule out taking him back (a swap deal with Dosser might make good sense) but he'd be unlikely to be first choice.

 

[manwithnoname]

He's better than your namesake, Insewer and Slowrelio, Syd

 

[Rafiagra]

I'd rather have Aurelio in than Riise.

 

[dossena]

You're right about Insua as he's pretty rubbish.

However, Aurelio is much better than Riise.

I'm not Syd.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=36868.msg976329#msg976329 date=1257067957]
I love JAR, but this wouldn't be a good idea. Just enjoy your memories John...
[/quote]

I think we could do worse as a squad option. I'm not one for looking back, but he's not the worst player by any means and he's versatile and loves the club.

 

[Brizzle]

I remember when Syd had that avatar.

 

[Squiggles]

In a bloody heart beat.

No wonder Riise still texts Benitez...

Dossena - shit
Insua - meh
Aurelio - injured, plus best left midfielder we've got.

Riise miles better than Dossena and Insua.

 

[Portly]

Take off your rose-tinted spectacles, chums.

Riise was never that good as a defender and he had limitations going forward because of his one-footedness. In his last season for us he was a load of shite.

The real mistake was letting go Steven Warnock who was a very good left back and has developed his game a lot since he left us.

 

[peekay]

He is a good red, a goal threat, can play left back and left midfield and will be a wonderful addition to the squad.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Portly link=topic=36868.msg976380#msg976380 date=1257079347]
Take off your rose-tinted spectacles, chums.

Riise was never that good as a defender and he had limitations going forward because of his one-footedness. In his last season for us he was a load of shite.

The real mistake was letting go Steven Warnock who was a very good left back and has developed his game a lot since he left us.
[/quote]

I rarely disagree with your posts but I don't buy a word of that.

Riise was part of our best defence in my lifetime and was consistently very, very good for us.

Arguably it was time to sell him when we did, because he'd been off form for a while. But given what we've replaced him - at double the cost - I wouldn't be adverse to taking someone I know loves the club, can actually defend, and be relied upon.

 

[manwithnoname]

Drossena is a useless fat cunt who cost us twice what we sold Riise for

That makes me sick.

Slowrelio is inconsistent, can't tackle and always injured, also not actually a LB

And Insua is just slow and shit

I would welcome Riise back given the current alternatives, but Benitez is so stubborn, it would be a miracle

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Riise was great for years but garbage for his last year or so.

If someone advocated replacing rubbish with rubbish but it was someone we'd never heard of then no one would be so keen on it. Just because it's JAR shouldn't change the fact he's no longer good enough.

 

[Portly]

Agreed - what we should be doing is bringing through talented young players, not bringing back clapped-out old warhorses for sentimental reasons!

 

[Le Chacal]

Even in his poor last season, Riise was better than all the Left Backs we have at the moment.
Selling him for 4M and buying Dossena for 8M was a master stroke.
Fucking Yanks!

 

[the_khl]

Riise coming back isn't going to change anything.

Loved him as a player but he's not the future of our club.

Insua's got the potential to be an even better player IMO.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

That's a bold statement. Riise was VERY good for a time.

 

[TheBunnyman]

There are better, younger, faster LBs out there. I liked Warnock and Riise, but I don't want either of them back at the club.

Sami on the other hand...

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=36868.msg976507#msg976507 date=1257090560]
That's a bold statement. Riise was VERY good for a time.
[/quote]

Is it?

Compared to a few other posters on here I rata Insua a lot. He's on the brink of breaking into the Argies national team and he's only 20-year-old. He's already kept a few older Interationals out of our starting line-up and showed that he possesses a real goal-threat as well.

There's a lot of work to be done but he's got potential in abundance.