Most objective Liverpool fans would surely concede that Pepe Reina's form has dropped at times this year, especially in the second half of the season. Against West Brom last week, Reina's failure to even attempt to save Peter Odemwingie's match-winning shot is indicative of the half-heartedness he's displayed in several crucial games over the last few months, and Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes the Spaniard is costing Liverpool valuable points.
Analysing the Odemwingie goal for ESPN, a clearly frustrated Nicol argued:
"It's Odemwingie against Reina, and to me, he looks as if he's still ticked of that Johnson's made the error, and then forgets to save it".
Despite having a great view of everything going on, and then having about 5-10 seconds to think about what do (as Odemwingie approached) Reina made no attempt to make a save. Why? If this was a one-off then it would be understandable, but as Nicol explains, it's not the first time:
"I'd like to say this is the only time he's done it, but it's not. Another example: big game at Anfield against Arsenal; Van Persie with a great volley into the near post, and Reina doesn't even make an attempt to save it.
"I've been disappointed with him this season. Great goalkeepers earn you points, and I don't think Reina has earned Liverpool as many points as he should have".
Reina often seems frustrated on the pitch when playing for Liverpool, and given the club's catastrophic league form - and the prospect of a third season in a row without Champions League football - you can understand why. Be that as it may, if it's stopping him from putting in 110% on the pitch then that is a real problem.
I've made no secret of the fact that I'm not a great fan of Reina, and personally feel the time is right for the Spaniard to move on.
He's exhibiting the same kind of onfield dissatisfaction that we saw from Fernando Torres, and look how that ended up.
Jaimie Kanwar
Analysing the Odemwingie goal for ESPN, a clearly frustrated Nicol argued:
"It's Odemwingie against Reina, and to me, he looks as if he's still ticked of that Johnson's made the error, and then forgets to save it".
Despite having a great view of everything going on, and then having about 5-10 seconds to think about what do (as Odemwingie approached) Reina made no attempt to make a save. Why? If this was a one-off then it would be understandable, but as Nicol explains, it's not the first time:
"I'd like to say this is the only time he's done it, but it's not. Another example: big game at Anfield against Arsenal; Van Persie with a great volley into the near post, and Reina doesn't even make an attempt to save it.
"I've been disappointed with him this season. Great goalkeepers earn you points, and I don't think Reina has earned Liverpool as many points as he should have".
Reina often seems frustrated on the pitch when playing for Liverpool, and given the club's catastrophic league form - and the prospect of a third season in a row without Champions League football - you can understand why. Be that as it may, if it's stopping him from putting in 110% on the pitch then that is a real problem.
I've made no secret of the fact that I'm not a great fan of Reina, and personally feel the time is right for the Spaniard to move on.
He's exhibiting the same kind of onfield dissatisfaction that we saw from Fernando Torres, and look how that ended up.
Jaimie Kanwar
Reina has NEVER been a Seaman, schmeichel, Cech or Van De Saar. He's a good keeper but not a great one.
ReplyDeleteVerdict: REPLACEABLE! If an offer comes in at 15-20 mill lets talk turkey....
No keeper could have saved RVP's volley at Anfield. It was out of reach and had enough power as well. Don't criticize the keeper when the defenders made the obvious mistakes in the build-up (Carra v. Arsenal for both goals; Johnson v. West Brom)
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of shit. utd have struggled to replace van der sar spent 20mill on an unproven keeper who has cost them points. Reina should be treated with respect that he has earnt for 6years of excellent service. standards not as high as previous same could be said of cech valdes ect.
ReplyDeleteFOR ONCE JAMIE I AGREE WITH YOU, I GO BACK TO THE 4 4 DRAW AGAINST ARSENAL AT HOME TWO SEASONS AGO .ANALYZE THEM GOALS AND YOU WILL SEE FOR ME HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO SAVE TWO OF THEM.
ReplyDeletejoke article, couple of mistakes a season,been a great keeper for us. odemwigie wrong footed him simple as that, no story here, move along
ReplyDeletewow this article read my mind its so spot on i,m shocked i agree with every word its so true
ReplyDeleteyes defenders make mistakes but that dos,nt mean the keeper can have a kit kat
ReplyDeleteReinas problem is leaving His line, it is a weakness that opponants play on, He should watch Cech.
ReplyDeleteyeah allow KD to sell him and you will probably end up with paul robinson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!f
ReplyDeleteI agree he has had a poor season but he has given us 5 good ones and we should stick with our players through the good and bad times seems a little unfair to him as he does have the ability
ReplyDeletenope reina is a class goalkeeper, the best spain has...
ReplyDeleteTotally agree.definately been a lot of goals that Reina seems to have been rooted to the spot whereas he would have at least made an effort to save last season
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that every comment you make is a negative one.
ReplyDeleteYou never have a good or positive word about LFC.
The team needs a killer goal poacher, a larger pitch at home and a right winger to be able to win the league...
ReplyDeletei like reina and i think he's one of the best in premier with hart and schzelny (or how the fuck is writed his name), but if we'll replace reina, the best option is handanovic!
ReplyDeleteWe are going need a lot more than that it's time you pulled your head out of your back side
ReplyDeleteKnob head
ReplyDeleteWhat's annoying with this ex reds is that most of them don't actually blame people who r to b blamed. The first of them is KD for buying crap. Not many reds r blaming him r they. Some of them even suggested that even if we finish tenth it don't matter. We all know that Carrager is finished and makes too many mistakes wich results in goals for the opposition but KD still plays him. When Rafa was there they were constantly on his back. Not with KD though. Most of this ex reds wanted Lfc to go British. British mngr, British players so there we have it and that's why we r where we r. It's to many ex reds in the media and IMO most of them talk shit.
ReplyDeleteNot sure he needs to be sold but I wouldnt be confident if it goes to a penalties on saturday.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in entirety. he is one of the hidden if not open problem LFc needs to sought out. mind If I say Daglish inclusive?
ReplyDeletereina has begun to let his standards drop and i would take a chance and replace him if we can get the money from the yanks
ReplyDeletePlease Bring Back David James, He is English too. May be we can ask Steve Nicol to help us out.
ReplyDeleteballsh#t, cech .....you sure , the man has no bottle and is normally grounded when a decent shot goes either side of him.
ReplyDeletereina is the better keeper on his day.
but reina was average last season and shocking this season.
plus chelsea have a better deffence than us most the time
reina wants out and has done for 2-3 years , simples. like most will play shit and sulk, like another spaniard that graced the shirt
ReplyDeleteEvery time someone tries to point it out, he says its a sniping comment and deletes it.
ReplyDeleteHe has been poor but still a good keeper!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNonsense article. Odemwengie 'done' him, that's all. Give the striker some credit. Reina has been a pivotal reason for our defensive record behind an unconvincing defense for years. Up till Xmas we still conceded hardly any goals. I'd be cheesed off if watched Merelles go and Henderson come in!
ReplyDeleteDear Jaimie: I dont understand why you are allowed to criticize Suarez in most of your posts, but when he does an incredible match, you close the comments so you are not criticized. Is that fair? Please dont censor my comment.
ReplyDeletePure and simple! But @Charles Dickens, I think Nicol's point is that Reina never attempts to rectify the mistake of others,it is understandable to say if defenders do not care,its hard for the keeper to cope...even the best in the world.One vs one is quite an obvious goal.But to defend Reina,one must be sure that Glen did the mistake deliberately and if he is not sure,its bad spirit! All footballers make mistakes and they have to support each other as they are a team and that is the nature of the game: possesion would be lost somewhere.If our team is made by individuals who are going to point fingers at their teammates or individuals who are going to hunger for others to make mistakes,then we are not going anywhere and that is what Nicol is trying to say.Of course headless chickens frustrate like Agger may say but let us hope we would have gotten rid of dead wood one day and conquer EPL and Europe again.Kop Forever!!! YNWA!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletePepe has had a poor season, he has made mistakes and just the obvious ones have cost us 9 points or more so i agree on that point but steve nicol is no legend, hero maybe but not a legend
ReplyDeletesome of the idiocy on here is truly breathtaking....
ReplyDeleteI find it incredulous when people talk about replacing Reina (or any other player for that matter). Yes he's not had the best season, furthermore, he doesn't seem to be the keeper he once was. However, someone is replaceable only if you can find another player of sufficient quality to replace him with. Unless LFC can attract another world-class goalkeeper to Anfield (which isn't the priority at the moment), there is no reason to move Reina on.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool's inability to put the ball in the back of the net is the main reason we are languishing in 8th place in the EPL.
An out and out striker like RVP, left winger, right winger, one decent attacking midfielder and a class back up for Lucas. Or a world class replacement for Lucas. Plus, sell Carroll and get a striker as back up that can score 10-15 goals a season... Then we will be pushing for the title again!
ReplyDeleteYes actually.
ReplyDeletedo you like any liverpool players,every time i read your posts its all critisim have you anything positive to say.
ReplyDeletei sort of agree one thingis certain reina is a brilliant shot stopper capable of fine saves
ReplyDeleteHis form has dropped for a few months after playing brilliant for 6 years straight! what player has never dropped form? Even now when he's not playing his best, he's still better than 90% of other goalkeepers in England and no one gets anywhere near him when it come to using his feet and passing it out. Players don't even bother closing him down cuz they know it's pointless.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else think Jamie is a Newcastle fan here trying to get Kenny sacked from Liverpool because they hate him? Liverpool have a perfect win, we're all happy, Suarez scores the best hat-trick in years, and yet nothing about it from him, he just waits a day and attacks Liverpool again .
ReplyDeleteYou deleted my comment Jamie, that proves you are a Newcastle fan, I knew it..
ReplyDeletehttp://lfckopchat.wordpress.com/tag/jaimie-kanwar/
ReplyDeleteYou and this site are a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club.
PS dont bother deleting this im sharing the fark out of it. Prick.
http://lfckopchat.wordpress.com/tag/jaimie-kanwar/
ReplyDeletethis is really true Reina sometimes act like he is not serious on the pitch and it really hurt me a lot,i have been thinking whether he is not happy at Anfield this is very serious about our number one
ReplyDeletetotally agree wi banoog wot the hell does nicol know he already admitted in the article he dunt like reina nough said
ReplyDeleteHe has had a bad season and I think he wants out, if we can get a new manager who knows how to spend his budget it might change his mind.
ReplyDeleteReina is still one of the best in the prem when his heart is in it and would probably be the hardest player in the team to replace we must do everything we can to keep hold of him.
Why is he the third choice then?
ReplyDeleteI agree that Reina's form has dropped this season, but still he's one of the best in the Premier League, I think that his weakness is shots from outside the penalty area....
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should look for a class goal keeper, but to compete with him for first team selection, and not to replace him
It was that game that we lost the title! Arsenal had 4 shots, 4 goals, he didn't make a single save
ReplyDeleteHe is third choice because of politics in football - the two above him play for Real and Barcelona!!!! Pepe is one of the best goalkeepers we have ever had.
ReplyDeleteWhen you go back and find all the goals to blame Pepe for (count them on one hand), why dont you go back and count the number of goals he has directly influenced. He starts most of our counter attacks! Just go and ask Wenger and Feguson how long it has taken to replace Seaman and Schmichel, their still trying. Quality goalkeepers a few and far between and we have one of the best! Also, there is a reason he is third choice Captain behind two of Liverpool's all-time greats!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't replaced Xavi Valero. Why the club doesn't bust a gut to get him back, especially considering he still lives on Merseyside, is incredible.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy the dissatisfaction thing because when he first got cause to be disinterested (Rafa's last season) he played the best he ever has and was at that point, I truly believe, the best goalkeeper in the world.
Since Rafa, and, more importantly I suspect, Valero, he has got worse and worse. I hope the rumours that Achterberg is going at the end of the season are true and that the club have finally realised the problem.
Pepe is not happy with the current bungling squad. He will leave for sure on his own accord if there isn't a clearout this summer. That option looks very bleak as we will have 2 loanees back to further complicate matters.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Jamie, at last we are discussing Pepe in this light, it is very revealing that Nicol is pointing this out, i thought i was going bonkers at one point this season because no one wanted to accept that there might be an issue with Reina.....
ReplyDeleteI don't buy the tactical justifications and explanations either never did....its the same with Suarez....
Reina is IMO responsible for us losing quite a few games this season and the last.....under Roy....in fact he's been like this ever since Rafa left....surprise surprise...
Very dissapointing that a player on huge wages should think he can throw a game IMO.. and add to our woes whilst putting in the odd good save and saying all the right things in the press etc.....i guess its been effective though because its given Rafa's form a big boost....which might be what this "underperforming" is all about......
IF Roy had been relatively successfull and say won the Europa and finished in the top4 that would have made the decision to sack Rafa look like it was the right one.......same applies this season with Kenny......
I don't have any doubts at all that Suarez and Reina combined this season have probably cost us at least 20 points.... IF Reina had been actually trying to save goals from going in and Suarez had actually tried to score goals.....then this season would have been a lot different......
Move Reina on in the summer, any player who isn't putting it in should be dealt with ruthlessly......playing for LFC should be a priviledge...NOT something to be sulking about FFS....
wow. Thats what its come to has it? One bad season and we want him out? He's been one of the best GK's in the league since he arrived. He's a strong personality in the team too and buys into the club. He's young for a keeper and could get even better.
ReplyDeleteIn the last two season's we've had two managers with different coaching and goodness knows how many changes to the backline in those two years.
I think we can cut him some slack. We've got bigger issues in the club than focussing on one of the few assets we actually have left at the club and truly world class players.
What next? Get Agger and Gerrard to retire? Get rid of Suarez? Sell Lucas for being injured? How about GloJo? should we sell him?
As someone has already intelligently said, lets get Valero back and support him.
Its not enough we look on the pitch for a change in form, we should look under the covers too and see what could have caused it.
Lol as usual 90 of posters are idiots. This site makes me giggle.
ReplyDeletemmm politics ! yeah right....
ReplyDeleteoooo... how many "specialist" for the football on one place, LFC dont to worry for the clubs future, with so many so called managers !!! If u dont have anything smarter to say, please leave Pepe to do his job, otherwise u put gloves and stand beetwen bars, and then comment how he does his job!!!
ReplyDeleteYet Arsenal's keeper had 14 saves that day.
ReplyDeleteChi Bai lu, we always t ake no.2 keepers like Reina as no 2 to Casillas and Westerverld no 2 to Van Der Sar ! Enough said. Me Ashah loves to kunkit well !
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of bollocks, the team can't score or defend for shit and you single out reina to leave. bloody clueless
ReplyDeletea defence is only as good as the keeper behind them.Our defence is shit need i say more?
ReplyDeleteYes, Pepe has had a number of howlers that have proven costly to Liverpool. We should still not forget that the damage by the dud signings has proven even costlier.
ReplyDeleteHis had a bad season but he is still a top keeper, but in all things football it comes down to the money...
ReplyDeleteThere are indications Barca might be looking at upgrading Valdes...Pepe is a major upgrade on VV.
LFC could get Vorm on the cheap or even get Stekelenburg from Roma.
So in short, if we get the right offer, 15m and up, i would let Pepe go but only if we can bring in some1 at 5m to 10m.
When is the last time Reina save a penalty? He is a great disappointment for the last 2 seasons.
ReplyDeleteIs heart has not been in it since Benitez went, he has flirted with leaving more times than my missus, a solid keeper, but form has dipped somewhat in last 2 seasons.
ReplyDeleteIf a decent bid came in, i would take it.
A change would do all parties a power of good.
This article is just mirror of my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI can't say anymore.
Ify
If LFC had a decent strike force this wouldnt be an issue and Jamie K (great LFC supporter that he is) would not be able to comment. If Liverpool had the ability to score 2 goals every game we would have 30+ more points on the board. All the draws and 1-0 defeats have killed our season. Forget the odd blunder by our keeper, its certainly not his fault the club is where it is at.
ReplyDeleteKeepers have dodgy games/moments. Reina has shown a little inconsistency this season compared with previous seasons, but his overall consistency and talent really outweight a few poor games. Like so many other players in the team he seems to have made a few unfortunate little errors this season that have cost big. That said, he is one of the few players in our team who could be called a world beater. He's been our best player in previous seasons and has been the best keeper in the league. To sell him off rather than invest time in rebuilding confidence and sharpness would be stupidity.
ReplyDeleteFickle football fans calling for everyone's heads be it Kenny's, Carroll's, Suarez's, Gerrard's, Reina's... how many of our players/staff have you urged we get rid of at this point Jamie? Players under immense pressure who aren't given the time or space to find form or make amends for errors. One good game and they'll be fan favourite again but you'd all rather sell them off quick.
John hits the nail on the head. Any club would love to have a keeper with his distribution/vision. World class.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of rubbish. Reina's committment to liverpool should not be questioned. How many golden gloves has he had over his Liverpool career? Must be short of a good story again. Is it me or do you just rattle old players for the shits and giggles to come out with this rubbish. Nicol is on every other post slagging someone off.
ReplyDeleteBeing the best goalkeeper we have ever is not what I was asking. I was asking why he is the Spanish number 3 keeper? Politics smolatics - Casillas and Valdes are better. Reina is still very, very good, don't get me wrong.
ReplyDeleteLol at everyone being a scout now
ReplyDeleteIf you wonder why players might not feel settled and happy at a club (whatever their stature) you just have to look at comments like this from supposed fans. You call players mercenaries, say they're only in it for the money and then urge your club to sell them for a profit as soon as they have a few poor games. Treat players like disposable assets to trade in and out whenever and expect players to behave in the same way. And with supporters like you jeering for them to exit the club when they make a mistake, of course they'll flirt with leaving.
ReplyDelete#themoderngame
Complete and utter bullshit from Author and Stevie Nicol again!!!! Reina has been best keeper in premier league for past 5 seasons and ur stupid facts back that statement up.
ReplyDeleteStop classing Nicol as a legend. He had 2-3 excellent seasons at LFC that's it.
Crap pundit that's why he is slumming it in a semi professional league
Who the hell would be better than Reina. Truly makes me mad this site but i always come back!!!!!!!!!!! Far more problems elsewhere
ReplyDeleteIf you think Reina needs replacing then you are totally out of touch with the club and the team. There are areas that require strengthening, the keeper's position is not one of them.
ReplyDeleteAs for selling him for around 15-20 million, you have to be a complete bed wetter to realise that world class keepers will cost more - who would you buy???
Seaman had many dodgy spells along with Chech and VDS - getting any world class keeper is going to cost more than 20 million and for sure, is going to be hard to tempt without UCL football.
You lot are part time fans, get real.
Its not just that but the amount of spectacular reaction saves he has made too. He is without doubt one of the best keepers about in the world
ReplyDeleteI agree bunch of dillards here.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time you went to a game?
ReplyDeleteDekete
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Galaxy Note
-------- Original message --------
Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: LFC legend slams 'disappointing' Pepe Reina. Time for a change...? | Liverpool-Kop.com
While we're at it he is one of the best at commanding his area, comes out to snuff out danger when most keepers hold back. Puts his defence at ease because he's comfortable on his feet. Might as well balance out the negative comments with some reality :P
ReplyDeleteThere's also a reason he's never been Spain's first choice!
ReplyDeleteI agree Peter. If either Barca or Real Madrid thought Pepe was better than Casillas or Valdes, they would have been after him long ago. He simply is 3rd choice but still very good.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool FC aren't Spain and don't have Iker Casillas. what's your point?
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of CRAP some of you people say that Reina's form has dropped this season are you people for FFR the whole team has dropped in form why are we now singling out one player (Nicol) what a disgrace. Someone said it above, "he is behaving just like Torres" well what do we do? lets get rid of him, when morale is down in a team it effects everyone not just one or two, he is human, he knows and feels the same way when he watches our strikers miss chance after chance and our defenders make mistakes after mistakes, not to mention our midfield running around like headless chickens, everyone wants him to be at his highest standard and save a volley from 5 yards out from a striker who this year can not do a thing wrong, not to mention save a one on one from another and when he fails to do so we claim he is not trying. Nicol and the rest should really shut up because they had their turn.
ReplyDeleteThe warning signs were there last season he was thinking about leaving but decided to stay and give KK a go, because it was new, now to say that he is the cause of us loosing valuable points that is just rubbish.
KK brought players who did nothing to earn there place and sat players out that had, he kept on playing the same bullshit signings when they failed to deliver, this is where we became a mid table team and thats the bottom line. To now come out and say that Reina did this and that is just bullshit. I ask this is it so bad that Torres leaving may of had an effect on him, is it so bad that when KK bought in the rubbish he did and they failed miserable that maybe even that has had an effect.
Stop and think for one second if you were in that position would it not have an effect on you and if you have just said no than i say you are a LIAR.
How can you turn your back against Reina? don't you even know about all the records he's broken? Shame on you! Reina is one of the best keepers in the league. He's 29, young for a keeper. For me, he's a legend.
ReplyDeletei cant help but contribute to this as I too had the feeling that Reina has slackened recently. He hardly moved forward to clear or block the shot. Our defenders have to often head the corners. Many goals seemed to go in past Reina without him moving an inch. Before anyone shoots me, I hv been a fan since 1980, never wavered from YNWA...
ReplyDelete'a player on huge wages should think he could throw a game IMO' ????
ReplyDeleteScurillous comment about a player that has servred the club with distinction.
Supporting Liverpool is also a privillage and those 'not putting it in' should also be dealt with ruthlessly, Anybody accusing Reina of throwing a game should be excommunicated forthwith.
Anything you say after that could ever be taking seriously again..
Keepers only as good as his defence and our defence has been inconsistent. It's Carragher that needs to be playing less he's not got the legs anymore. Reina's made some mistakes this season bt he's come to our rescue more then often the mans a world class keeper and I for one would be sad to lose him if it ever came to that. He loves the club passionatley and can't bare to see us languish where we are in the league, Nicol needs to lay off him
ReplyDeleteBuy British is the worst decision ever made at LFC.
ReplyDeletereina is rubbish pure and simple, what is it 5yrs or there abouts since he's saved a pen, how many times have l'pool been on top, the opposition break away one shot one goal as reina just stands there and watches the ball enter the net, he has no reflexes what so ever, he doe'snt throw himself about like other top goalkeepers,he's a very poor shot stopper,cup final against chelsea 1st goal was his fault, 2nd instead of throwing himself to his left in determined effort to try and save he just drops down onto his elbow like and old man,the reflexes were just not there, rangers goalkeeper looks much better than reina.
ReplyDeletepepe no saves sell him asap crap under pressure nightmare at the near post get wot we can 4 him being a cat is more about being able to play with your feet not big enough to wide most overrated keeper in prem doni should have played motm against fulham sorry i would bring back clem or brucie now they now would protect the near stick reina is crap been bangin this drum for a few years how poor he is and ben foster is the best option got a glove on every ball aganist wba other week mark my words reina is crap billy the cat
ReplyDeletehold on this is all about reina nothin else somethimes the keeper has drag the defence out the shit this man doesn t do that steve nicol is spot on good keepers make saves reina dont make saves stands with his legs wide open how many times has it gone between his legs 2foot either side and he stands and watches the ball makes no effort to save it and to ready to give his defence a bollockin in stead of tryin to save the fuckin ball sell sell sell sell spot on sn spot on
ReplyDeleteplayed in goal for 30 years never got beat at near post your talkin crap reina worst keeper since mike hooper
ReplyDeleteyour not wrong fella
ReplyDeletewot the fuck are u on about
ReplyDeleteif he loves the club so much why does he not try to stop the fuckin ball going in the net instead of standin there bollicking the back 4 every time he is called upon to earn is wages you and others are deluded if u think this man is a world class keeper sn is spot on as akeeper u dont get beat a the near stick its every week now with reina if ur going to post something u should have at least some insight into the game the spine is theteam startin with the keeper we need a new cat read and learn
ReplyDeletewe would all be happy if reina done his job we wouldn t be making these comments would we and u dont stand between the bars its the posts knobhead !
ReplyDeleteput him up for transfare and c how many top clubs come in 4 him i already no the answer none and dreadin goin to anfield 2 nite with that useless excuse 4 a keeper in goal dont forget barca got shut
ReplyDeletewot a knobhead
ReplyDeletemade a decent save but at fault 4 goal again well done boys started as we finished on sat not changed though he is not good enough keeper for LFC
ReplyDelete