the position we need to strenghten more than any other

[cochyn]

I've noticed a lot of teams try and do us down our left, and put it down to them being stronger on their right flank. But the inescapable fact is he's not evolved into the'classic' left-back I hoped he'd become. If we could splice him and Warnock into one player we'd be made. Riise's a wing-back in my mind. If only he were born Brazillian.

[Romario]

I don't like Riise at left back. I prefer Traore out of him, Riise and Warnock. The big question is though, who would you bring in to strengthen ?

Looking at our defensive record this season and the amount Riise can get forward then I can't see where the problem lies.

Granted his distribution isn't brilliant all the time but that wouldn't be a major worry for me compared to other areas.

 

I've noticed a lot of teams try and do us down our left, and put it down to them being stronger on their right flank. But the inescapable fact is he's not evolved into the'classic' left-back I hoped he'd become. If we could splice him and Warnock into one player we'd be made. Riise's a wing-back in my mind. If only he were born Brazillian.

Is the answer. Most players are right footed.

[stressederic]

Don't agree - think he's been the best left back in the league this season.

 

Spot on.

[Cam]

I think he's one of the best leftbacks in Europe (admittedly there ain't many good 'uns). He'll have a dodgy month every season due to confidence issues but his progression, particularly over the last 2.5 seasons has been great.

 

Cole & Heinze may be better but Riise's right up there. I think it'd be difficult to improve on the position. Cover for him? Now that's an issue I'd like Rafa to look at.

[Mike]

im really surprised some people think he's the best in the prem or one of europes best.

[cochyn]

Don't agree - think he's been the best left back in the league this season.

 

I think he suffers in comparison to the brilliance of Sami, Carra and Finnan as constituent parts of our back-four. As I See it, Riise's benefitted from Sami moping-up when he's gone missing on numerous occasions this season.

[Knoxy]

I also think he's been very good at left back this season. He no doubt suffers from comparisons with Finnan, who is excellent

[CarraLegend]

Dont see any problem with Riise at left back myself, not a problem worth buying a new player for anyway.

[Cam]

He also suffers from not scoring like he did at left-midfield. Some muppets (not you Mike) would say he's the greatest leftback in the world if he scored 12 a season but was still responsible for every single goal we conceded. "Goals = good players" for some.

[Frosty Jack]

something tells me Agger might be played there sometimes

[Atticus Finch]

I think we have one decent left back and two average ones, with Riise being the best. I disagree with those who say he hasn't improved - he clearly has on the defensive side of his game. Bottom line is that he will never be a subtle player and he is never going to be two footed. I also think that when he goes forward he suffers from Sami not being mobile enough to cover behind him if the attack breaks down, certainly compared to Finnan and Carragher covering. I think this is why it sometimes looks like he is out of position when the opposition counter. If you watch the defence closely when they are holding the line Riise is the only one of the three left back options that can be trusted to play the offside trap - Warnock and Traore are always out of line.

 

In an ideal world we would have a better starting left back but Riise on current form would require a very good player to replace him - in the Premiership del Horno, Heinze and Cole are better but no-one else. There are only a select few that would do. The problem lies when he drops below his best form - the alternatives are not good enough. Traore has been awful this season after finally impressing me last year when he was excellent defensively. Warnock is a good solid pro with decent all round skills but just doesn't convince me as a left back - he just doesn't look that comfortable in the position.

[nd]

I've always been of the belief that he should be played at LM unless the opposing team is weak on the right. I don't think he has the natural ability to be a LB. You can see this, I think, in the games where he has a stinker at LB - it's like he has nothing to instinctively fall back on when things aren't going well.

 

But then I look at our defensive record with him at LB and think I must be wrong. I'm certainly more confident with him there than I was under Houllier. I think Rafa has improved him no end.

 

He's no Finnan though.

Edited January 15, 2006 by nd

[Foo]

is left back. when you think about it, riise has been such a let down in terms of his progression as a player.

he's been with us over 4 years and he hasn't progressed at all from the day we bought him.

 

This I can agree with, he is the same player now as he was when he joined Pool. And that right foot of his is so weak a wooden leg would be just as good, nay better.

Many players might be like him, but that right leg is particularly visible in certain situations. His workrate saves him a fair bit though.

[abc]

Riise has been very good this season. The evidence in the goals conceded column suggests so. And this one's easy to pull apart, so I'll give it a go off the top of my head.

 

2 goals conceded against Brum - Warnock was LB

2 against Fulham - came from Josemi's side IIRC

4 against Chelsea - Bambi

1 against Everton - Warnock's side of the pitch

2 against Bolton - Pepe's mistake, and Sami's lack of pace, and JAR didn't even feature

 

I'd say when Riise has featured at LB in the league, we've only conceded (I'm gonna check if he played against Fulham)...NO GOALS...

 

And in the cups;

1 against Betis - Traore was LB

2 against Palace - Warnock was LB

3 against Luton - Sami clanger, Carra got turned and their equaliser was from a cross on the right side?

 

I'll put the second one against Luton down to Riise partially, only cause the ball came in from his side of the pitch.

 

Of course, sometimes in matches he looks lost, but on the whole whenever I've seen him play he's been solid.

 

As for the initial post about him not progressing, a HUGE boll*cks to that. His defensive play has improved a couple notches. Evident in his better timing when going in for the ball, instead of rushing like a headless chicken. One example was last season in the semi at Anfield. Kezman got a long pass on their right flank, JAR held off and waited for him to take it down, and as soon as he saw the touch was a little loose, he charged in and made an excellent tackle. Previously, he would have closed in on the attacker, and then go in too early and leave it to chance. There have been occassions in recent games too, when he's made timely interceptions with clearing headers. Plays when he has actually displayed excellent reading of the game.

 

For those who complain about his lack of a right foot, I share your sentiment. But if I can recall, Carra when playing at LB always shifted in to use his right. And everyone says Carra was an excellent left back. To put it simply, it is possible to be a good fullback even if you excessively favour using one foot over the other.

 

Stats can be used in any way you want, and in this case I'm going to use it to disprove the theory that Traore and Warnock are better candidates at left back. Because in my opinion, they are not.

Edited January 15, 2006 by abc

[stressederic]

Riise did play against Fulham but was at left wing. Traore was left back.

 

We haven't conceeded a goal in the league this season with Risse at left back. I've said it before, I'll say it again. Risse is the forgotten man in our back four, and doesn't get the respect or credit he deserves.

Edited January 15, 2006 by stressederic

[Toe]

I don't like Riise at left back. I prefer Traore out of him, Riise and Warnock. The big question is though, who would you bring in to strengthen ?

 

 

Aye if you like mistakes every game and little attacking prowess.

 

Risse is a very good LB. There arn't many that offer anything more than him in the game.

[Guest Cussler]

Riise has been very good this season. The evidence in the goals conceded column suggests so. And this one's easy to pull apart, so I'll give it a go off the top of my head.

 

2 goals conceded against Brum - Warnock was LB

2 against Fulham - came from Josemi's side IIRC

4 against Chelsea - Bambi

1 against Everton - Warnock's side of the pitch

2 against Bolton - Pepe's mistake, and Sami's lack of pace, and JAR didn't even feature

 

I'd say when Riise has featured at LB in the league, we've only conceded (I'm gonna check if he played against Fulham)...NO GOALS...

 

And in the cups;

1 against Betis - Traore was LB

2 against Palace - Warnock was LB

3 against Luton - Sami clanger, Carra got turned and their equaliser was from a cross on the right side?

 

I'll put the second one against Luton down to Riise partially, only cause the ball came in from his side of the pitch.

 

Of course, sometimes in matches he looks lost, but on the whole whenever I've seen him play he's been solid.

 

As for the initial post about him not progressing, a HUGE boll*cks to that. His defensive play has improved a couple notches. Evident in his better timing when going in for the ball, instead of rushing like a headless chicken. One example was last season in the semi at Anfield. Kezman got a long pass on their right flank, JAR held off and waited for him to take it down, and as soon as he saw the touch was a little loose, he charged in and made an excellent tackle. Previously, he would have closed in on the attacker, and then go in too early and leave it to chance. There have been occassions in recent games too, when he's made timely interceptions with clearing headers. Plays when he has actually displayed excellent reading of the game.

 

For those who complain about his lack of a right foot, I share your sentiment. But if I can recall, Carra when playing at LB always shifted in to use his right. And everyone says Carra was an excellent left back. To put it simply, it is possible to be a good fullback even if you excessively favour using one foot over the other.

 

Stats can be used in any way you want, and in this case I'm going to use it to disprove the theory that Traore and Warnock are better candidates at left back. Because in my opinion, they are not.

 

You make some very good points. I agree that Riise might be our best left back. But no matter who plays, most chances the opposing teams create against us come from our left side. And I believe the reason for that is that the oppisition have identified our left side as our weak spot. So even though Riise is our best option, he still isn't good enough. Very often, he allows crosses to come in. That is because he doesn't get in close enough into his man, and allows him to much space. Finnan closes down his man better, and limits the amout of crosses coming in from his side.

[Hieronymus Bosch]

Don't agree - think he's been the best left back in the league this season.

 

Controv. It's not as urgent as a new right mid or striker, but we need a new left back and I think we'll get one in the summer. Been said a million times but if Chelsea were game, Bridge would be ideal.

[Maldini]

I don't like Riise at left back. I prefer Traore out of him, Riise and Warnock. The big question is though, who would you bring in to strengthen ?

I can't agree with that, I hate slagging off Liverpool players, but any team with Traore in it is a weaker team. I think it's a myth that he's stronger defensively than the other two, he's just bigger and has greater powers of recovery because of his pace and long legs. His positioning is appalling, he gets dragged inside too often and I could write an essay about his deficencies in possession.

 

Don't agree - think he's been the best left back in the league this season.

With Heinze and Cole out for a while and Chelsea rotating that position I find it hard to disagree. Riise has improved a lot this season at left-back. Today's incident with Jenas is the first glaring error I can remember from him this season. I do agree with those that say we need to strengthen there though. The problem is there aren't that many left backs around who we could sign who would be good enough.

[Flight]

Riise has played in the Prem 7 times at LB. Until yesterday that was against W.Ham, Villa, S'Land, Boro, N'castle and W. Brom who offer very little down that wing. I dont understand how anyone can be calling him the best in the country or in Europe when he has only played there against such poor opposition.

 

Yesterday he worked hard and played well in the first half. Start of the second half they targetted him and he struggled big time and made a big mistake from which Keane should have scored. He had a very dodgy time from then until we scored.

 

 

Warnock has played in more shut outs in the Prem than Riise and against tougher opposition. Better defensively for me but struggles with his positioning.

 

 

Traore I've always stuck up for more than most, but he has been poor this term. Djimi's three games this term have been the 4-1 Chelsea game, the 2-0 Fulham game and the 2-2 Bolton game. Thats 8 of the eleven goals we have conceded in his 3 games.

 

 

I agree we need a new LB who can play every game. Lets hope I'm proved wrong in the next month.

[Gunga Din]

left back for me. we just dont have a single quality left back. we could do with a right midfielder and a sriker too, but Stevie is excellent at right mid and we have plenty of central midfielders, although i'd rather see Gerrard in central midfield.

 

left back though is a weak spot, you just had to see rafa's reaction to the introduction of a quality wide player on Spurs right yesterday, to see that rafa is concerned about it too. its the one area on the park where we lack true quality at the minute

[David Hodgson]

66% ?

 

No 75%.

 

know your maths sonny.

[stressederic]

It's also worth noting that yes teams may well see the left side of the pitch as a weaker area for us, but bear in mind thats in comparison with a right side that at the moment contains Steven Gerrard and Steve Finnan.

 

If I had a choice I'd pick the side with Kewell and Riise on it, that doesn't mean they're both rubbish, it's just in relation to the two Stevie's they're not quite as good.

 

I'd be very interested in hearing who people think we should replace Riise with.

[David Hodgson]

It's also worth noting that yes teams may well see the left side of the pitch as a weaker area for us, but bear in mind thats in comparison with a right side that at the moment contains Steven Gerrard and Steve Finnan.

 

If I had a choice I'd pick the side with Kewell and Riise on it, that doesn't mean they're both rubbish, it's just in relation to the two Stevie's they're not quite as good.

 

I'd be very interested in hearing who people think we should replace Riise with.

 

Evra, definitely...oh no, wait, he's sh*t isn't he ?....erm....Ashley Cole ?...Asiar del 'me so' Horno ?

 

The options are endless.

 

Riise will do for now. It's only bloody left back FFS. Jesus, we managed to be the best team in the universe with people like Joey Jones and Alan Kennedy at left-back.

[anny road]

It's also worth noting that yes teams may well see the left side of the pitch as a weaker area for us, but bear in mind thats in comparison with a right side that at the moment contains Steven Gerrard and Steve Finnan.

 

If I had a choice I'd pick the side with Kewell and Riise on it, that doesn't mean they're both rubbish, it's just in relation to the two Stevie's they're not quite as good.

 

I'd be very interested in hearing who people think we should replace Riise with.

 

 

tbh I havn't a clue