I’VE always been a big fan of Pepe Reina. He’s been a fantastic goalkeeper for Liverpool.
In the seasons 05/06, 06/07 & 07/08 Pepe won the Golden Glove Award presented to keeper’s who keep the most clean sheets in a season. In fact, Reina’s three awards are more times than any other goalkeeper.
In each of those seasons Pepe kept 20, 19 & 18 clean sheets respectively.
Reina has been the best last-line of defence any team could ask for. Who can forget his extra-time and penalty shoot out heroics in the 2006 FA Cup win over West Ham and the fantastic penalty saves he made against Chelsea in 2007 Champions League semi-final win at Anfield? Signing for the Reds in 2005 from Villarreal, Reina has had six excellent and consistent years between the sticks. But things have changed and, just like the Liverpool team itself, Reina is now looking suspect and it’s not just me who thinks that, Reina himself believes he has had a poor season:
“I don’t think my season has been good at all. It has been below my standards and I know I haven’t been great. There have been a number of mistakes by me. I had six really good years before this and people got used to that level from me, but sometimes you have a dip in form and must accept it.”
A “number of mistakes” seems a bit of an understatement as the reality is Reina hasn’t made a decent save for several weeks with his judgment seemingly deserting him. In the latter part of the season he’s been beaten too easily and on a consistent basis, especially at the near post. Van Persie’s extra-time winner for Arsenal at Anfield and the first goal against us in the FA Cup final last Saturday are two classic examples of just how much Pepe’s form has deserted him. Ramires shot had Reina once again going down too early and leaving his near post exposed. The Reina of a few seasons ago would never have allowed that shot to get past him.
I found statistics up until the end of March which highlight Reina’s dip in form. It showed that in his last six games he was conceding a goal every 54 minutes versus a season-average of 87.1. In comparison, Joe Hart had conceded a goal every 180 minutes (2 games) versus his season average of 122.73. Quite the contrast.
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Now I understand statistics alone can be deceiving as a solid defensive unit will help keep the number of scoring opportunities for the opposition down to a minimum but it is still a troubling stat. The question is do Liverpool keep the faith with Reina and trust he will work hard, as he always does, and get himself back to his consistent best or should Liverpool be looking to sign a new, highly talented, goalkeeper?
To me the answer is straightforward. Yes and yes. I believe Reina is such a dedicated professional that sets himself extremely high standards that he should be given the opportunity to prove he can regain the form he once showed.
In turn, however, we need to bring a new quality goalkeeper to Anfield to challenge Pepe. If Pepe recovers his form then great and we have a first-rate back-up keeper but if Reina’s form continues to desert him then Liverpool have someone who can step in and do a first-rate job.
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He absolutely deserves faith. Too good a goalkeeper to be discarded after one mediocre season. Just 2 years ago he was our PotY, wasn’t he? Form is temporary, and in fairness, less than a handful of players have been above ordinary this season.
Crap goal keeping coach . You don’t win the golden gloves for a few seasons to then become crap. Sadly, he could be sacrificed for KD ! Just like others . Never kenny’s methods/tactics coaching etc
how can Kenny be to blame for Reina having a poor season?????????????? its one bad season Reina is 29 and will be great for us for many years yet
I read the first few lines of this and gave up reading!
Reina is still the best keeper we have had in years if not ever. The team have had a poor season in general and he’s just being honest when he says he didn’t have a great season.
We’ll be lucky if he wants to stay let alone thinking about replacing him.
The last few games Van Persie played he wasn’t great, I take it based on this story Arsenal should be looking at replacing him!?
Whoever wrote this is an idiot!
Just another blogger fishing for hits by writing inane, controversial articles. Nothing to see here. He must have went to the Jimmy Kuntwar school of journalism.
to true
Not the best ever. I go back as a supporter since 1950 and there were a few then could teach him a thing or two!
Hi John, I’m the idiot who wrote the article and fair dues you opinion is very valid . As you’ll see my feeling is that Reina should be given an opportunity to prove he can regain his form but Liverpool can’t risk not having a quality back-up keeper if that doesn’t happen. And as to Reina being the best we’ve ever had, Ray Clemence will always be my number 1.
…different era, different game these days!
I admit we don’t have decent back up, but as a keeper at 29 REI a shouldnt haveve even peaked yet!
There’s no doubt in my mind that Pepe needs to stay. He should only be replaced if we can find someone of equivalent or higher quality.
As for finding decent competition for him, I think we’re fortunate to have Doni. Considering Brad Friedel did not want to come to Liverpool for fear of insufficient minutes on the pitch. It’s highly unlikely that we could acquire a top keeper when we’re not playing Champion’s League and he is likely to warm the bench.
Quite simply – he hasn’t been the same since Xavi Valero departed….strangely, Torres also gave him great credit for his success, as he gave him tips on the opposing goalkeeper prior to the game (favourite side / low/high, take chances early etc….)
Stupid article, when he was banned I think every suppoter was as nervous as his replacements were at even the simplest crosses ! Most loyal keeper , didn’t jump on the bus when things looked hopeless. Love you Reina YNWA
Quite frankly I’ve never been a fan of Reina. As I have written before, where I live in Barcelona they were delighted when he left. He was always regarded as mediocre at best.This season he has been particularly bad and it was entirely predictable he would cock-up in the Cup Final, where we saw the difference between a top ‘keeper and Reina. He is nowhere near Ray Clemence, whom I saw many times, and is probably nowhere near Elisha Scott either.
The sooner he goes the better.
the fact that he use to be a good stopper does nt mean if he is formless we shoulnt complain.it is clear reina is weak lets accept the fact and look for replacement.
In any other team challenging for the league and European competitions, he would have been kicked to the curb for losing the team games and competitions.
First game of the season against Arsenal; Reina dives over the ball to lose us the game; Story of his career as of late.
Rid the dead weight and lose blind faith or get ready for competing against Aston Villa, Stoke, Fulham and the like; Battling for mid table places…
We need a good goalkeeper to fight with Pepe Reina for the no.1 spots. We must give him a competition at the rear post as what i think about him was he’s been too BIG HEADED cause he thinks there’s no other goalkeeper in LFC is good enough to take is spots. I have a few names that is good enough to fight for the no.1 at LFC.
NAME:Manuel Neuer
PRICE:7m-10m
Name : Michel Vorm
Price: 4m-5m
May we have a good season next season…YNWA!!!