Former Liverpool Man Has No Plans to Return: I Would Welcome Riise
by YNWA on November 2nd, 2009 396 words | 15 commentsNorweigan wants to stay in Serie A.
Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!
Roma wide-man John Arne Riise has hit back at newspaper reports claiming the Norwegian had asked to return to former club Liverpool.
The 29-year-old made more than 200 league appearances for the Merseysiders from 2001-08 – netting 21 times – before leaving for the Eternal City.
However, the left-back – who can operate as an attacking midfielder – has struggled to establish himself as a regular in the Italian capital.
And as a result, speculation surfaced linking the Norway stalwart – who has 84 caps for his country – with a swift exit from the Stadio Olimpico, with the News of the World claiming that Riise had specifically requested a move back to Anfield.
However, the player has since angrily denied the reports.
“I never said I wanted to return to Liverpool and I never made those statements,” he said.
“I am settled here in Rome and I want to stay.” (Four Four Two)
I miss John Arne Riise and I am sure I am not the only one. Yes he had his faults but he more than made up for them with sterling effort and no shortage of 30 yard screamers. It seems he has put the kibosh on any potential return but then I don’t think any of us thought there was much likelihood of him returning anyway.
Clearly we have some issues on the left hand side of the park. Emiliano Insua is trying his hardest but has too many average performances and ahead of him we have no real solid solution. Yossi Benayoun in my view is far more effective when in a roving role rather than forced out on either flank. Albert Riera hasn’t proved himself at the club and Ryan Babel is living on borrowed time.
The Fulham result was appalling and it does seem that Rafa is living a charmed life at the club and honestly he may be 90 minutes from leaving the club. I hope we can get ourselves out of this nosedive and hopefully we can do it sooner rather than later. If we lose in Lyon we are more of less dead in the water and can look forward to a stint in the UEFA Cup to go with a forlorn hope of making up ground in the Premier League.
YNWA
Related Posts:
Liverpool Only Paid £4.25m for Aquilani?!
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
dont really know why he left in the first place, but it’s a shame. great player.
Donavan Ried - November 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Was one of my favorite players, sorry to see him go, but time to move on
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
No thanks!
retardboy - November 2nd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
no thank you,yet another load of crap,no chance of him returning,had his moments,a houllier player who’s form dipped
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Coulnt play any worse than some of the squad we have now
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm
The problem with insua is that he is too short so is pretty innefective when defending set pieces and hasn’t got enough pace like many other liverpool players such as plessis, spearing, lucas, kuyt and carragher.
Kop King.
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
under benitez, riise had to go bcos he scored a 95th min own goal against chelsea in the semi of the CL. i was really angry with him then as well. but looking at our squad now, his presence may do us good. benitez has lost the plot. we need a new manager.
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 pm
good player better than what we have now , oh my toes are falling off
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
why not get mancini
he isnt under contract with any clubs.
can see this happening if rafa gets sacked as he’s probably the highest profile manager without a job atm
wouldn’t mind if hiddink took control but any big managers would want about 40-60 million to rebuild the team which i cant see happening while the yanks are still here
GTF yanks and take rafa along
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Mancini
Mancini
Dont make me laugh
More chance of gettign a local scouser wearing a mankini
LOL
anonymous - November 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
if you need a good winger take a look at andy sinton
great player
retardboy - November 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 pm
liverpool cannot afford to sack benitez they do not have funds for players,check out the football blog at gamebetting dot co dot uk for details of how rafa has had to wheel and deal
Retryboy - November 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 am
Its ok saying benayoun is better in the hole which i agree on but when everyone is fit you have aquilani and gerrard to fit in those positions. So benayoun will probably take the left midfield position. Aurelio was really good there against united and riera is another good option there. We could do with a top class left back though but to be worth it he has to be a lot better than aurelio and insua, riise isn’t. Warnock was quality real battler too rather have him back.
anonymous - November 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 am
I cant see him leaving Roma. Their shirt brings the colour out in his hair so much better than the red shirt of Liverpool.
rP
RaNE - November 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Riise was a good player, miss him and he would be in liverpools current defence if he still played for us but do we really need him now? after all weve brought in some defenders dossena and krygiokos fair enough they might not be the best in the world but that is letting our youth defenders come through in to the team which is a really good thing.