Norweigan wants to stay in Serie A.
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George Burley’s side pressed the self destruct button in Oslo last night and as a result seriously jeopardised the chances of Scotland claiming the runners up spot in a group already won by Holland. Former Liverpool man John Arne Riise started the scoring with a deflected free kick and two goals from Blackburn Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen, including a great free-kick added to the Scots woes. The Norwegian’s third goal came after a good mazy run from Aston Villa man John Carew and was finished off by Erik Huseklepp.
News is coming in that Liverpool’s bucket of own-goal sludge will soon be mopped up by Juventus. [Read the rest of this entry »]
Poor John Arne Riise. The Ginger One seems to be getting the silent treatment from Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.
“I have to get [my future] sorted out before pre-season starts,” the Norwegian left-back told reporters this week, still not in the clear about his Anfield future.
“I can’t wait and wait for an answer. I have to get an answer now!”
Given the speculation in the press about Riise’s future, particularly following his disastrous own-goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final, it’s understandable the 27-year-old wants a decision on his future at Liverpool.
Trouble is, he’s not likely to hear what he wants. It’s no secret his time at Anfield is up.
The evidence speaks for itself:
Plus Benitez has already lined up his successor in the shape of Udinese defender Andrea Dossena, who is expected to sign in days.
Newcastle are widely tipped to be interested in Riise’s services, but Benitez would no doubt prefer to use him in part-exchange with Aston Villa for Gareth Barry.
It’s not all doom and gloom though for John Arne Riise. He’s on his hols and seems pretty chilled by the whole affair:
“If we don’t get the answer we want, we’ll have to do something. We’re not sitting here and waiting and waiting,” he told Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang
But after two seasons of utter dross, Caught Offside can’t help wonder: Is Riise still good enough for the Premiership?
It will come as no great surprise to hear that Harry Kewell is leaving Liverpool after five seasons at the club. When the Australian arrived from Leeds United in 2003, he was regarded as one of the hottest players in the Premier League but perpetual injuries have seen him play just a minor role for the Reds every season. Amazingly he did get to start the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul before being subbed due to (yes, you’ve guessed it) injury.
Sky Sports reports that Rafael Benitez has given Kewell and his agent short shrift over the possibility of a new deal and that the winger will be moving to pastures new in the summer. It appears that a certain Norwegian full-back with a penchant for scoring spectacular own goals could be joining him.
“We have tried to come to an agreement with the player and his agent, but that has not been possible,” said Benitez.
“Kewell will leave the club at the end of his contract.
“With Riise and the rest of the players they have one or more years left on their contracts, so he is still our player at the moment and he knows if we receive a good offer – good for him and the club – it could be…
“But he is still our player and I am really pleased with him because he is a fantastic professional,” added Benitez.
Presumably Liverpool fans won’t be sad to see Kewell leave Anfield, although the same might not be said of Riise, who has done pretty well during his seven years at the club. The Norwegian has managed 33 goals for the Reds, which isn’t bad for someone who’s played mainly as a full-back.
Someone once said that football’s a ‘funny old game’ and so it might prove to be next week. Right now, Sky Sports are reporting the misery of John Arne Riise after his own goal gifted Chelsea a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Tuesday night. However, many of you will remember the Norwegian defender scoring at the Nou Camp last season after a previous altercation with Craig Bellamy and a golf club. Can the same thing happen at the Bridge next week.
“It was very disappointing to see the ball go in our own net, especially at that time,” The Norwegian full-back told NTB.no.
He added in The Sun: “What can I say? I’m ashamed and devastated.”
Riise had only been on the pitch for half an hour as a substitute – will Aurelio get the nod ahead of him next Wednesday? One thing’s for sure, if Benitez plays ‘Ginger’ from the start, nobody will be more fired up or motivated to do well and help ensure their team reach the Champions League final.
The fountain of journalistic truth, The Sun, reckons that Kevin Keegan’s masterplan for success will start with the signing of a typically superfluous wide skillster. The man that King Kev has chosen to be this generation’s David Ginola? Liverpool lackey Jermaine Pennant. The Sun reckons that:
“King Kev is desperate for owner Mike Ashley to hand him a transfer kitty now safety is secured and hopes to give Liverpool’s £6million-rated winger Pennant, 25, a fresh start on Tyneside.”
They also reckon that Kev would be partial to a bit of John Arne Riise too, thereby doing Rafa Benitez a huge favour and paying to get rid of Liverpool’s deadwood.
John Arne Riise is one of the terrific hitters of the football in the modern game and he can do some defending as well. So it’s some surprise that he is not playing regularly for Liverpool these days. Blame it on Rafael Benitez’s rotation policy? Well, you can but first listen to what the Norwegian international thinks on the matter.
Liverpool TV quotes the player as saying that although he has lost his place in the starting line-up of late, he is sure that he will regain his manager’s confidence. Riise says:
It is disappointing not to be playing the last few games.But everyone knows what the boss is thinking. He likes to rotate his team and the squad. I don’t like not playing, but I understand he likes to rotate. He has opted to field Aurelio who has got some matches now. That is no problem with me. I want to stay with Liverpool for the rest of my career if possible. I’ve always said that and I hope it can happen, but I have to play good and keeping playing good for years to come. At the moment I am happy and looking forward to the rest of the season because we can do some good stuff.
So Riise wants to stay at Liverpool for the rest of his playing days. Good news for the Kop but let Rafa play him regularly.
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