It is an often used sentence in football these days that ‘<insert name here> is the most improved Liverpool player’. For Liverpool fans, that player is usually either David Ngog or Lucas Leiva these days. I make no bones about the fact that I am a huge fan of both these players, particularly Lucas, but I have come to believe recently that our most improved player over the past 4-5 seasons is actually somebody we’ve come to rely on and take for granted, in equal measure: Pepe Reina.
When the Spanish stopper arrived at the club in July 2005, most Reds will admit that they knew nothing about him. We all said ‘aaaaah… ‘when it was pointed out that he’d deputised for Barcelona’s first choice ‘keeper against us some seasons earlier but honest Liverpool fans will admit to having no idea who he was. His first season was a solid intro into what Reds fans could expect from the future Spain international, ending in spectacular fashion when Pepe showed off just how good he is in high-pressure situations. By the end of 2005-06, most of us were just relieved to finally have a reliable goalkeeper for once, instead of the injury prone, meek or just plain eccentric that we’d experienced with Dudek, Carson, Kirkland, et al.
5 years on and Reina has made over 270 appearances for the club, keeping close to 130 cleans sheets in the process and has racked up the Golden Glove awards at the same time. Few would argue that he has grown into our most important player over the last 18-months to two years, and those that would argue this point could probably do with taking off their Gerrard-tinted glasses from time-to-time. Because without Reina between ‘the sticks’ Liverpool would’ve lost many more games than we have over the years; he is as much of a match-winner (should that be saver?) as anybody we have.
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Lemmy and his band Motorhead at a French bar
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reina also does a very good impression of a statue-such as his brilliant performance at Old Trafford where he gifted Berbatov a hat-trick. The same Berbatov has not scored since against supposedly inferior goalies.
once you said you were a massive fan of those other 2, i stopped reading………….wise up!
In response to Steve I have been a Liverpool fan for 33 years. Reina was also brilliant for the first goal against Stoke. Reina should have had a cap on in the secondhalf against Arsenal-he might have been dazzled by the sun when he gave away the goal.
Steve It’s fans like you who are making me embarrassed to be a Liverpool fan. N’gog and Lucas are both young players who show their pride for the shirt every time they play your a disgrace mate
spot on Dave
Sure u r right,songs of praises for a basket keeper.wise up pal cos reina is depreciating no improving.lucas and ngog no doubt…we’ll continue to see d worst of pepe until our defense quits being shaky.
Why pepople accusing raina and torres whenever we loose,do you forgot his saves? in recent against chel, that was a class and only casilas would do that.. We will realise his importance when he leaves, and that will be a sad day for LFC?
I am bit surprised no one is complaining about carra. He is old and finished. The main reason for our downfall in Roy and benitez. Benitez because he day he started to criticise SAF media gone crazy on him. He started to do wrong substitutions which cost a title.
Now the past is past we have look forward and what we need is change in manager position.
The next time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to learn, but I really thought youd have one thing fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you may fix if you werent too busy on the lookout for attention.