Albert Riera (Liverpool -> Olympiakos)

[dunlop liddell shankly]

For those who dont seem to know who Riera is he is the player who has been delivering the goods from the left wing, ok he doesnt light up the world but hes got a trick and isnt afraid of going beyond the right back like most 'wingers' we sign. He gets his boots white and is strong in competition for the ball. Hes getting on a bit but makes time for himself so pace isnt essential. Babel should learn from him and maybe then he would get more games.

As for Dossena filling in... do me a favour

4 assists in 40 games is delivering the goods? One assist in every ten games on average.

He isn't good enough and he isn't delivering the goods. He delivers less than average on a regular basis.

As for showing for the ball, well I know I'm not the only one who believes that Riera constantly goes missing in games so he doesn't show too much. I will agree he has got a trick or two up his sleeve, shame they don't come off a great deal though. And he doesn't get his boots white, he cuts into the crowded areas. His boots are white though, but that's the design not because he hugs the touch line.

[Robbie F God]

Ok the stats dont lie however he hasnt started 40 games!? hes very rarely completed a full 90mins which isnt great for a players confidence especially an attacking player. Reira is an intelligent player who makes good decissions and doesnt often get caught in posession unlike Yossi who seems to be the player getting a pat on the back recently. You will have to do more than turn up for a third of the season on very good form to get my full blessing im sure others will agree.

Atleast when he cuts inside he doesnt try an irrational 1-2 that fools the opposition and his team mates wondering why nobody has got on the end of it.

[Reslivo]

Riera gets caught in possession far more than Yossi does. There's really no point bringing him into Riera's performances anyway - he's definitely gone off the boil, and only seems to turn up when he feels like it.

Granted, he has scored some remarkable goals this season, but as DLS says, 4 assists in 40 games - for a winger who is supposed to be launching countless crosses into the box - is extremely bad.

[redsonfire]

Riera gets caught in possession far more than Yossi does. There's really no point bringing him into Riera's performances anyway - he's definitely gone off the boil, and only seems to turn up when he feels like it.

Granted, he has scored some remarkable goals this season, but as DLS says, 4 assists in 40 games - for a winger who is supposed to be launching countless crosses into the box - is extremely bad.

Then again I've seen him deliver some fantastic crosses into the box this season. He does not determine how many assists he made, but instead the players. I've seen him whipping him good crosses that can be converted into goals, and unfortunately that does not happen. Torres was out for half a season, Kuyt, Keane, and Ngog up front??

You can't call that a clincal finisher can you?

[Robbie F God]

I dasagree with the posession statement entirely. And the reason for adding Yossi into the debate is valid as they are both wide players and it created what I thought was a clear comparrisson... You should always compare players how else can they be judged?  and why not a player from the same team in a similar role?

Those stats sound terrible but again he didnt play the full 90mins in 40 games and was crossing for part of the season to Robbie Keane and Ngog who couldnt hit a ban door! Hes stronger than Dossena, Babel and Yossi in the air and creates space for midfielders.

I understand he isnt the best winger in the world but who else are you going to play in that position, Babel hasnt developed yet.

[johnstop]

You can use stats to prove or disprove anything.Looking at these stats he spends most of his time doing the crossword on the wing and isnt involved at all which simply isnt true. He has been steady rather than spectactular and he does give us genuine width which helps create space for Stevie to work in. I would say 6 out of 10 and could do better is fair.

[dunlop liddell shankly]

Ok the stats dont lie however he hasnt started 40 games!? hes very rarely completed a full 90mins which isnt great for a players confidence especially an attacking player. Reira is an intelligent player who makes good decissions and doesnt often get caught in posession unlike Yossi who seems to be the player getting a pat on the back recently. You will have to do more than turn up for a third of the season on very good form to get my full blessing im sure others will agree.

Atleast when he cuts inside he doesnt try an irrational 1-2 that fools the opposition and his team mates wondering why nobody has got on the end of it.

Yes you do have to do more than turn up for a third of the season to get my blessing, on that we agree. I said the same thing about Benayoun myself when discussing player of the year. He's had a fantastic end to the season but nothing in the opening few months.

But Riera doesn't get my full blessing, as you put it, for the same reason. He turned up for his first ten games or so, then turned up once in every five games and then from the New Year didn't turn up at all bar two very special goals (Preston and Villa).

And maybe Riera hasn't played a full 90 minutes often enough, but he doesn't play 90 minutes because he's never standing out. He just takes up a place in the side and does nothing so Benitez tries to change it with a fresh option, unfortunately that option is Babel. But even without completing 90 minutes often enough he played more minutes than any of other wingers other than Kuyt and he still only has as many assists as Benayoun and Babel. Which really isn't good enough from any of the three.

Stats don't tell the full story, I know that. They don't tell how many chances the forward missed or how many chances the keeper pulled a great safe off to. But to be perfectly honest I can't remember too many of either of those from Riera's crossing. His decision making is very poor and he picks the wrong ball far too often which is why he does have only four assists.

As for who I'd play out there? Well if we get Silva then that's the obvious choice but from our current squad I'd either play Benayoun there as he has come good in the recent months or I'd push Aurelio up to the left wing and give Insua the left back role to himself. But what I wouldn't do is keep persisting with Riera because I just don't see how he is worthy of a place at the moment.

As it's the end of the season I suppose this is all irrelevant but for the start of the new season I'd make Riera have to prove himself again.

[SaintLiverpudlian]

you know, I think babel as a cover up forward might be much better than being a winger. When he first arrived, he bitched and moaned about being used in a non-natural position, but he tried to fit in to rafa's needs. I think we really need a natural left winger, instead of converting another forward to a winger. When babel arrived at anfield, I saw great technique and control over the ball. Now all of the sudden he sucks, and I think it's because he isn't in his natural position.

Riera needs real challenge for his position. Silva can play all the positions up front. He plays as striker, winger and play maker. He is exactly what we need. a Joker card per se. Yet, riera should stay aboard for the time being.

[redkenny]

Riera needs real challenge for his position.

Agreed. Because I feel he becomes stale if he gets comfortable.

Bottom line for me, I think it was no surprise he put the effort in when he first arrived. It would be very worrying if you didn't see any player doing that when they first arrive.

It's whether or not they can carry it on consistently. If there's not much real competition, that's when you can get a good look into someone's character. I think it's pretty obvious Riera hasn't been consistent. Too many times the desire and effort hasn't been evident.

I've made a point of keeping an eye on him at the match this season. He's gone missing too much and given the ball away too much for my liking. If he's to keep a regular place in the side, he's got to improve on these things. I'm not sure whether he can though.

[crouchinho]

People harping on about his crosses hitting their targets...since when? He gets one good cross in for 5 he's put in the stands or over the heads of everyone.

[lester76]

Squad player. That's it. No more no less.

[Robbie F God]

Yes you do have to do more than turn up for a third of the season to get my blessing, on that we agree. I said the same thing about Benayoun myself when discussing player of the year. He's had a fantastic end to the season but nothing in the opening few months.

But Riera doesn't get my full blessing, as you put it, for the same reason. He turned up for his first ten games or so, then turned up once in every five games and then from the New Year didn't turn up at all bar two very special goals (Preston and Villa).

And maybe Riera hasn't played a full 90 minutes often enough, but he doesn't play 90 minutes because he's never standing out. He just takes up a place in the side and does nothing so Benitez tries to change it with a fresh option, unfortunately that option is Babel. But even without completing 90 minutes often enough he played more minutes than any of other wingers other than Kuyt and he still only has as many assists as Benayoun and Babel. Which really isn't good enough from any of the three.

Stats don't tell the full story, I know that. They don't tell how many chances the forward missed or how many chances the keeper pulled a great safe off to. But to be perfectly honest I can't remember too many of either of those from Riera's crossing. His decision making is very poor and he picks the wrong ball far too often which is why he does have only four assists.

As for who I'd play out there? Well if we get Silva then that's the obvious choice but from our current squad I'd either play Benayoun there as he has come good in the recent months or I'd push Aurelio up to the left wing and give Insua the left back role to himself. But what I wouldn't do is keep persisting with Riera because I just don't see how he is worthy of a place at the moment.

As it's the end of the season I suppose this is all irrelevant but for the start of the new season I'd make Riera have to prove himself again.

Fair points made hear I feel, life would be boring if we all felt the same I would give him a 6 out of 10 perhapps I have too much faith in him  but ...IN RAFFA WE TRUST.

[macca8]

Liverpool FC star Albert Riera ties the knot

LIVERPOOL left-winger Albert Riera tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Yulia Koroleva in Omsk, Siberia at the weekend.

The Spanish star first met the Russian beauty in 2001 in Mallorca where he was playing for the local team in La Liga and she was on holiday.

He said: “I was on the leave after the season and one night went to a disco. I saw Yulia there, we looked at each other and I realised she was the girl I had been looking for.

“She was so beautiful and we've been together ever since.”

Yulia followed the player to Bordeaux, then Espanyol and Manchester City, where he was on loan, before signing for Liverpool last summer.

But he won’t be leaving the city if his WAG has anything to do with it.

She said: “I’m fed up with having to move places all the time.

“I want stability. It’s now even more important after the birth of our daughter.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/06/04/liverpool-fc-star-albert-riera-ties-the-knot-100252-23786006/

Congrats Riera!

[ayrton77]

Nice one Alby!

[redsonfire]

Well in Riera!

At Omsk, Siberia? Why there mate?

A big bash, or a small one with 2 guests?

[Kawklee]

Albert Riera ~The Completed winger 08/09	LQ | LQ+ | HQ | HQ+

Yea, he's terrible  :

just needs more consistency, which he'll gain through better LFC conditioning, a proper substitute, and pre-season conditioning. Albert Riera is class

And, let us not forget, some people handle cold more poorly than others. His "irreverseable" dip in form did coincide with the cold weather

[neilo]

Can we send that vid to Perez at Madrid he'll pay about 40million for him!!!!!!!!

[Dadorious]

Congrats Albert.

Lol the best thing about that video is the bit that show's Albert's goal against PSV from the reverse angle you can see Carragher telling someone off to his right.

Probably poor Arby no wonder he needed to vent and give him a shove at the end of the year.

[stevie92]

Im Calling F.Perez now to tell him do not buy silva buy riera he is a lot better than Silva.

[Semple]

Liverpool FC star Albert Riera ties the knot

LIVERPOOL left-winger Albert Riera tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Yulia Koroleva in Omsk, Siberia at the weekend.

The Spanish star first met the Russian beauty in 2001 in Mallorca where he was playing for the local team in La Liga and she was on holiday.

He said: “I was on the leave after the season and one night went to a disco. I saw Yulia there, we looked at each other and I realised she was the girl I had been looking for.

“She was so beautiful and we've been together ever since.”

Yulia followed the player to Bordeaux, then Espanyol and Manchester City, where he was on loan, before signing for Liverpool last summer.

But he won’t be leaving the city if his WAG has anything to do with it.

She said: “I’m fed up with having to move places all the time.

“I want stability. It’s now even more important after the birth of our daughter.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/06/04/liverpool-fc-star-albert-riera-ties-the-knot-100252-23786006/

Congrats Riera!

Awk isn't that lovely Its nice to hear some good news.

[Ross]

Riera marries girlfriend Yulia

More info and pics here:

http://lfcglobe.com/pictures-riera-marries-girlfriend-yulia/

Congrats Albert.

[Eem]

Congrats Albert!

[7-King Kenny-7]

Congrats on his goal for Spain against Azerbaijan too

[Brian78]

Congrats Mr and Mrs Riera

[HUYTON RED]

Cruel I know but where did he find her, something like RussianBrides.Com.

Giggledy!!

Congrats anyway Quagmire.

[Gow]

And they celebrated the wedding with a Greggs cheese and onion pastie. A large one.

[BigRed1978]

Do you think he got the wedding special meal deal?

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Riera.

[flafson]

Looks like Albert killed that bird.

[Dadorious]

Giggity Gigityy Allright!

[kenny]

Fantastic performance for Spain tonight, probably the best I've seen him play to be honest. If he can bring in on to next season it will be great bonus for us.