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Why the Reina man is Liverpool's No.1 in every way
Forget Fernando Torres, Rafa Benitez's best acquisition is the keeper whose all-round ability keeps the Anfield side secure at the back. The most important player in a red shirt is wearing a yellow one!
by Claire Bee on 09 April 2008
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The old saying "you build from the back" is as true today as it ever was - and Liverpool have a history of great goalkeepers.
After several years of false dawns we finally have a successor to the great names of the past.It may have seemed harsh to replace Jerzy Dudek following his heroics in Istanbul, but Pepe Reina is proving to be the best purchase Rafa Benitez has made so far, and as an individual is more vital to the team than any of the high profile outfield players.All keepers make mistakes, of course, and it is the nature of the position that such errors lead to goals and are highly publicised, and in this Reina is no exception. His overall contribution to the team goes far beyond his shot-stopping (which is good).The way that he acts as a sweeper, quickly coming out to clear balls played beyond our defensive line is reminiscent of Bruce Grobbelaar at his best, and allows our back four to hold a tight line with confidence which in turn makes our offside trap very hard to beat. It is a double whammy against opponents and a key reason why we have kept so many clean sheets in recent years. In fact, such is the organisation and confidence of Liverpool's defence that in many games Reina has very little actual goalkeeping to do but even in those matches, he often manages to have a direct bearing on the outcome. The speed and accuracy of his distribution when he has the ball is a delight to behold and directly contributes to our goals-scored column. We saw yet another example at Arsenal when he picked out Peter Crouch in the build up to the goal at the Emirates.Then there is the added bonus that he is second to none when it comes to saving penalties, and while that might be an overlooked ability it is a wonderful skill to have when it comes to sticking silverware in the trophy cabinet. Penalty shootouts are a factor of the modern game, and unlike most English sides we have a superb record of winning them.
Pepe might not have been playing for us that long but already he has helped win shoot-outs to lift the FA Cup and a Champions League semi-final.He saves goals, snuffs out attacks before they can threaten us, creates attacking opportunities and wins penalty shootouts.
Reina may wear 25, but there is no doubting he is Liverpool's number one.
Comments (12)
by Mike Smith on April 09, 2008
Why do you start articles with such bias? He's a good keeper but he's not even in the top 4 best in the EPL let alone the world, he should've saved Diabys shot yesterday, his antics at OT cost Liverpool the match, sure he's a decent keeper but his inconsistency is costing Liverpool. Also, Torres IS Liverpools best buy, if you had to give up one of them two players it'd be Reina and if a rival could choose a player to take to their club of you lot it'd be Torres.
by boski on April 09, 2008
Not in the top 4 in the premier league, then how come he has so many clean sheets and so few goals conceeded?
by ber on April 09, 2008
He's been shaky as hell the last few games and has cost us goals in many.
by Skamp Skampleton on April 09, 2008
Na that's why he's won the Golden Gloves 2 years on the bounce...
by Mani Thangadurai on April 11, 2008
Sorry, got to disagree. Firstly, the decision to replace the Polish star with a guy who just happens to be Spanish was a decision that smacked of ingratitude and near-nepotism on Benitez's part. He was just happy to have his own Spanish keeper to thrust his tactics on that he regards him as a sacred cow and has him on a pedestal. Okay he's decent, but the best purchase Liverpool have had? You're overlooking the fact that the club have never finished higher than 3rd in the League with him in goal, and his penalty heroics aside he very nearly cost you that FA Cup by being at fault for West Ham's goals. Compare that to Jerzy Dudek's 2nd place league finish in his debut season, man-of-the-match performances in the 2003 Carling Cup and the Champions' League and Reina's impact is pretty much inadequate. Clean sheets mean nothing unless they translate to success for the club, and unless Reina is able to have that sort of impact the way Cech and Van Der Sar have had for their clubs then I will not consider him to be anywhere among the best in the Premiership. Also, have you SEEN him on crosses?! PATHETIC!
by boski on April 11, 2008
Well as an arsenal fan you would clearly know nothing about good goalkeepers as you havent had one since seaman, dudek made more howlers than most keepers around at the time, yes he saved us in the champions league but how is reinas impact inadequate, how about last season against chelsea in the champions league, or the fact that other than the last 4 or 5 games this season he has been rock solid, yes hes having a shaky period, but who doesnt occasionally. the reason we havent finished higher than 3 is nothing to do with conceeding and everything to do with scoring as it pretty clear by the double golden gloves awards...
OK he was great against Chelsea last season, but what about the final? He should have done better for both the goals, you've got to admit! And if his two Golden Gloves awards are a sign of his 'quality', what about his record against top teams? He was poor against Manchester United at Old Trafford and has never been on the winning side against them and I think he's only been on the winning side one time each against Chelsea and Arsenal. He is a good goalkeeper but NOT great yet, to be a great keeper you need to step up your performances when it matters and leave a real impact on the club in terms of silverware and Reina has shown few signs of doing that. In fact had Steven Gerrard not scored that breathlessly late equaliser in the FA Cup Final Reina would have deservedly been pilloried by all and sundry as the man who dropped the Cup! And that aside, what else has he done? Cech has also been a Golden Gloves winner, but he also has the silverware to back him up. Therein lies the difference between a 'good' keeper and a 'great keeper'. Still, I'll be fair, the guy has time on his side and should win something soon! Oh, and since Seaman we've only really had Lehmann, who was outstanding in our unbeaten Premiership season and our run to last year's Champions' League Final before that moment of stupidity. We'll be getting a new keeper after this season, but believe me, I DO know what I'm talking about!
by THE GREATEST on April 11, 2008
LOL! Its funny enough that you claim he's No1 but then you go on to name his weakness as his strength. Reina Flaps around like a duck at crosses, and was punished at Old Trafford, which even made the spanish waiter look worried. And this is something he always does. And to the guy who said look at how many goals he's conceded; If that was the case it would mean Van Der Sar is the best keeper in the league this year, and possibly all time if he only lets a few in the rest of the season. And do you seriously think VDS is better than Schmeichel was? or Cech is for that matter? No. The top 4 keepers in the league are as follows; 1 Cech- easily 2 Van Der Sar 3 Foster 4 Hart (pained me to say that), but not Reina- he's no-where near it
on April 11, 2008 on April 11, 2008
THE GREATEST: how can your 3rd choice keeper be better than your 2nd choice keeper. Please inform me as i am puzzled by your idiocracy
My bad Masch, I meant the 2006 Champions League Final. A bad mistake! But no need to resort to name-calling! Back to pre-school for you lad!
by Mani Thangadurai on April 13, 2008
I wouldn't even have Cech as the no.1 keeper this season, he's been injured for a long time and has also looked very shaky on high balls. And Foster has only played ONE game this season! My top 5 would be Edwin Van Der Sar, David James, Tim Howard, Brad Friedel and Craig Gordon.
by THE GREATEST on April 14, 2008
My third choice keeper is not better than my second, I suggest you work on your interpretation skills muppet. And to Mani I was talking in terms of ability not performances this season
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