Riise

[Gunga Din]

wants a good kick up the hole. his recent performances have been shocking, its like he just isnt arsed and his mind seems elsewhere. the guy scores about a half dozen goals a season, and that seems to buy him some grace with some of our fans, but for me he is a poor player, has too many very poor games, and his distribution of a football is abysmal at times. he is reallt getting to my nerves now, and i wouldnt be disappointed to see him leave in the summer. i think left back is now our weakest position.

[4411]

recent performances? I honestly don't remember a good game he's had this season!

[Bailo]

Agree with that wayne, his tackling has reached dire standards now, he's really started to s*** out of any tackle he has to make and his one footedness is laughable. He ran round a ball on Saturday that had he had a right foot could have run onto.

[_00_deathscar]

What the feck's wrong with him this season?

[Coyler]

What the feck's wrong with him this season?

I think other seasons he has had a scheidt start but ended up with the opportunity to become a sort of a left-winger and worked up and down the line and scored a few goals and looked good.

[RedHarvest]

Agree - he's been a pretty good energetic player for the club and scored some spectacular goals but I've never rated him as a defender and he's a winger of very limited capabilities. His time is nearly up as we step up to the level we need for catching the chavs and mancs.

[Cooger]

recent performances? I honestly don't remember a good game he's had this season!

 

Thought he did well with Aurelio against Chelsea, but nothing outstanding.

 

He does need to improve having said that, he can't be that bad as we have the best defensive record in the league.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

he was very poor yesterday - didn't even have the zip he normally has. Totally lethargic

[alext]

He's been shocking all season.

 

His incessant hoofing is infuriating.

[JonShar]

Was going to post this yesterday, it's to the point that I get nervous everytime he gets the ball.

 

Easily our weakest "first-team" player, we've got to replace this summer.

[Rimbeux]

JAR is not and has never been a great player. He gets by on confidence, workrate, being competative and the odd screamer. Without someone in front of him who can help him out with distribution by their positioning and touch as Kewell can, he can be easily isolated, and will give the ball away. He needs help on the left, or a rest, it's no surprise that his better games have come in tandem with Aurellio.

[Guest Scot]

JAR is not and has never been a great player. He gets by on confidence, workrate, being competative and the odd screamer. Without someone in front of him who can help him out with distribution by their positioning and touch as Kewell can, he can be easily isolated, and will give the ball away. He needs help on the left, or a rest, it's no surprise that his better games have come in tandem with Aurellio.

 

Absolutely correct. Great, concise analysis that.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

the world isn't teeming with great left-backs, so I'd keep him as a squad player

 

would like to see someone with more technique ahead of him in the pecking order, though

[RafaShanks]

recent performances? I honestly don't remember a good game he's had this season!

 

I'd go back a season before, where he was totally s**** as well.

 

He's "wonder goals" hide his defensive frailities/inadequacies.

[Paul B]

One of the lads on the course I was on last week is Norwegian and says most Norwegians dislike him. He (Kaare, his name is) reckons Riise's stated aim when he came to England was to be the new David Beckham and Norwegians are averse to self-promotion like this.

 

Anyway, I'd like to defend the lad.

 

I think he is a bit up and down but he tends to come good when it matters. He's been doing this for a while and anyone can see he is top drawer when he is at his peak. Okay, I'd agree, he is a man who can be complacent but he's surely done enough to buy himself some leeway. He'll have more good performaces over the course of the season than bad.

[Earl Hafler]

I couldn't believe the shot he tried when we had players in space.

 

And this hoofing it with his left because he can't play a simple pass with his right is very, very annoying.

[Gomez]

He's been frustrating me for a while, his over-ambitious shots when we have better options do nothing but relieve the pressure on the defending team.

[Jacko]

I'm a fan of Riise but I think if we could get £6m for him I'd go for Bale who has the potential to be a first class left back although he could go the same way as that Leeds fella whose name escapes me.

 

I'd also go for Richards whilst we're at it.

[Earl Hafler]

We'd get £6m for Riise no problem. Spurs, Newcastle, Villa would be in like a shot.

[CarraLegend]

I dont have a problem with him defensively to be honest, we've got the best defence in the League and he's a part of that. Though he's definitely the "weak link" if you like. What annoys me though is the hoofing, shooting from anywhere and his f***ing crap free kicks.

[Bootle Buck]

He is a very average player that happens to possess a good left foot shot (Very occasionally). This has helped mask the fact that since his first season he has flattered to deceive at LB or LM. He spends too much time running alongside players instead of getting stuck in. His shooting has become very erratic with maybe 5% of his pot shots going in. I've noticed of late he hasn't taken many free kicks either. He's one of those players ypou can determine how he is going to play for the whole game in his first couple of tackles or touches.

Edited February 4, 2007 by Bootle Buck

[fyds]

Was going to post this yesterday, it's to the point that I get nervous everytime he gets the ball.

 

Easily our weakest "first-team" player, we've got to replace this summer.

I would suspect that's on Rafa's quiet agenda.

[muleskinner]

His s*** free kicks seem to have been passed over to the captain. He had a good effort 2nd half yesterday but by and large they are wasted 9/10.

 

Riise is OK and is part of the meanest defence in the league so he must be doing OK at some parts of his game. I don't doubt there are better players out there somewhere but as far as playing in this league I don't see one at the moment who would be allowed to sign for us, even though I think our manager would make a move if he thought he was the right player.

[Beardsley]

I've said all I want to say about Riise.

[fyds]

His s*** free kicks seem to have been passed over to the captain. He had a good effort 2nd half yesterday but by and large they are wasted 9/10.

 

Riise is OK and is part of the meanest defence in the league so he must be doing OK at some parts of his game. I don't doubt there are better players out there somewhere but as far as playing in this league I don't see one at the moment who would be allowed to sign for us, even though I think our manager would make a move if he thought he was the right player.

Our free kicks tend to look more dangerous when Alonso, Gonzalez or Aurelio are behind them.