10 Sept 2012

Everton legend insists: 'Dodgy' LFC star is still the best in the League. Agree?

According to Liverpool legend Steve Nicol, Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has not played well for the last 'six to eight months', and with costly mistakes becoming increasingly common, the Spaniard faces the prospect of being shipped out of Anfield in January. Despite his poor form, Everton legend Neville Southall insists that Reina is still the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester City's Joe Hart and Chelsea's Peter Cech.

In an interview yesterday, Southall - who played 578 games for Everton between 1981 and 1998 - conceded that Reina's had experienced a 'dodgy' start to the season', but insisted that he is still better than all other goalkeepers in the league. He enthused:

"If I had to sign one Premier League goalkeeper, it would be Pepe, and if I was a young goalkeeper looking to study someone, I’d tell them to look no further than Pepe. His distribution is so good and so comfortable – and his first thought is to always attack and be positive.

"Pepe has made a couple of errors but he always makes a few during a season. Every goalie does, but he never hides. He’s positive every week and that is the best quality of a goalkeeper. You will mess up now and again. That’s just the job. You’re only as good as your last save but Pepe always bounces back."


That's a glowing eulogy from Southall, but Reina's mistakes are becoming the rule rather than the exception these days, and that's probably why Brendan Rodgers is so keen to sign a quality 'Keeper to challenge him, if not replace him.

How demotivating must it be for the likes of Doni and Jones to see Reina retain his place despite making endless mistakes? No wonder Peter Gulacsi was disappointed that LFC rejected his move to Xeres last week; what possible chance does he have of ever seeing first team action?

Still, it's entirely possible that Reina could have an outstanding, error-free season from this point onwards, and if that happens, his early-season mistakes will be quickly forgotten.

Jaimie Kanwar


49 comments:

  1. Who the fuck suggested shipping him out in January? Just intensify the training and get a sports psychologist in to help him.

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  2. I think you should get off his back to be honest, if Jones and Doni were good enough to be first team keepers at Premier League clubs then they would be. Reina might need more competition for his place, or it might just be a phase he is going through like all sportsmen do. Given how good he is, I think we shouldn't rush to force him out of the club and give him the support he deserves; he's been a great servant to this club and the supporters DO owe him some patience.

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  3. Reina is probably the best goalkeeper in every aspect of goalkeeping but the aspect which matters most in goalkeeping i.e shot stopping, in that department he is average.

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  4. Ah Southall, always amazed me how flexible you were for a man that was hardly slim but Pepe, in the state of form he has been in for what feels like forever now, come on. Got to be Hart, but even then, he is well dodgy at crosses/corners.

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  5. There is clearly a reason for the other keepers not getting a look in, just as there is for any other player not playing, they clearly arent as good as the first choice.
    I can only count 1 serious error this season so far, and that was in the Europa league. Against Man City those goals werent entirely his fault, and the Arsenal goals too, although he could have done slightly better on the first one. But no keeper in the world saves everything and has an error free season.
    I agree that it would be healthy for him to have some good competition, and maybe even just rest him for some of the "lesser" games. I dont think Jones and Doni are the answer though, I think we need a young keeper who can then take over in a couple of years.

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  6. all keepers have dodgy spells. ok, he has made quite a few big mistakes, especially having problems at his near post. he is only human and his confidence is obviously low but i don't trust any of our back up keepers. give him time and he will get back to being the goalie we know he is.

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  7. shot stopping he has a great record of saving penaltys

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  8. "...but Reina's mistakes are becoming the exception rather than the rule these days"

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  9. Its all in the past, he doesn't save them anymore, this season he did save one but that was one of the worst penalties.

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  10. Yes, you're right. Well spotted; thanks for that :-)

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  11. how many has he faced this season i think youl find its 2 not a bad record

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  12. Pepe got caught out at the near post last season and was crucified for it, some say fair enough he deserved it, maybe but to look at the two goals Arsenal scored against us, well lets just say that Mr Casual (Johnson) was just strolling back when Poldoski was flying down the left side. You know the problem with a keeper is if he makes a dicision on which side he thinks the ball will go (down to his right or left) he has f$%k all time to move, if he goes to early he is beat and if too late he is beat but everyone seems to think that Pepe is unbeatable, the truth of the matter is against Arsenal i would have taken Johnson off because for me the way he casually strolled back was unexceptable but it was easier to just blame Pepe i mean he is having a bad run of games according to his critics.
    I agree that Hart is a good keeper but i also have seen him being beat at the near post and he is as someone above said earlier not that good in corners and balls putin to the box.
    So lets just say that when a keeper makes the wrong decision it looks twice as bad than what it would look when a midfielder or a defender makes one, i say Reina is not the problem we need a goal scorer we miss to many chances and as the Brazilians say all you have to do is score more than your oponent.

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  13. jaimie will you be doing a post about hillsbrough over the next week

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  14. Played a lot better this season so far. First match against WBA, none of the 3 goals were of any errors of his. Second game, ditto, although the first goal he could have called better. Then the third game, second goal could have been saved, however the sheer pace of the shot beat him.

    I dont agree with his distribution being good, he passes a lot to the defenders which sometimes results in mistakes which the opposition has taken note off. His distribution from the goal kick has also resulted in wasted kicks which most often go out of play. correct these errors and who knows !!!

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  15. agree if a midfielder makes a mistake theres always a chance to rectifey it but as a keeper its a howler

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  16. Might want to check it one more time. 'the the'

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  17. has Doni not already left the club.
    Big Nev the binman was one of the greatest goalies of all time, I doubt if he himself would of ever got caught out the way Reina has been lately.

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  18. Who says we´re looking to replace him. Brendan Rodgers definitely didn´t. He likes Pepe between the sticks cause his distribution is second to none. You´re generally keen on having the facts, and not entertaining rumours, so give us one quote here that says we´re looking to replace him.

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  19. can i ask why my comment was unapproved just thought it was a reasonable question with this weeks proceedings

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  20. If a ridiculous amount like the 20 mill offer touted last season i would take it in a flash there is better keepers out there for close to half that.

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  21. You are being a sniper, as usual. You know it, and I know it. And don't feign ignorance - you know exactly what I'm talking about. Stick to discussing things that are relevant to the posts on the site or go elsewhere.

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  22. he said if his form did not improve

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  23. If you forget about this season then tell me last time Reina saved a penalty?

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  24. 20million would be a good deal as long as rodgers gets all the money for squad development

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  25. we have not had a keeper who has not made the howler since clemence

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  26. Reina's a problem! Needs to up his game or be replaced

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  27. 28.11.2010 in premier league spurs defoe

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  28. 20 m. ur having a larf i doubt we would get 10 for him now.

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  29. The problem now is Pepe`s confidence will be rock bottom.

    Sunderland will be shooting from the halfway line.

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  30. don't hold your breath on that!

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  31. as long as the shot doesn't go near either post he should be fine! he will fine although we do need a quality back up keeper to really push him. jones and doni are really not much good.

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  32. Some teams can play a beach ball up front and still put it past Reina.

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  33. I think rogers should talk less in public about his players.

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  34. If nico thinks pepe is better than joe heart then he needs his head looked at.

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  35. Gone on for too long, for me, this bad form of Reina.

    Totally off topic but Sterling in the England squad? Already?! Yikes. Well done, Sterling.

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  36. Yup WTF suggested shipping him out? Kick him out! Rubbish goalkippa.

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  37. And the rooney one, though rooney capitalised on the rebound. That said, his per4mance has dropped shockingly.

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  38. Former LFC players chat the most fart

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  39. dont think rodgers said anything

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  40. what getting all the money i wont

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  41. I think it might be partly to do with the fact that Jamaica want him to play for them. But if Ox can get a call then Sterling is good enough in my view!

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  42. Unapproved because you used the H-word. Jaimie can't allow it to be mentioned in the comments section. Ever wondered why??!

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  43. Aye, agree, read the Jamaica talk

    Wonder what Rodgers thinks of it all now, after his talks with Pearce (or was it Brooking?) over the under 21s & Sterling, as well as his warning on over-exposure regarding Sterling.

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  44. thanks for letting me know just thought with this weeks events it would have been apt

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  45. also sorry for any offence will not use it again once again sorry if the comment offended anyone

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  46. Has been average at best,for the last 8-12 month's and has cost us crucial point's in a lot of game's, if we got a reasonable offer for him, let him go there are a lot of better keeper's out there, I think Vorm would be a good choice.

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  47. I'm Brazilian, and know well Doni. He is a terrible goalkeeper, and would never play in LFC. Reina needs a move, I believe he is not motivated enough. In this case LFC needs signing a new goalkeeper.

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  48. When I've read the documents for myself, yes. I prefer to read legal documents first hand (Like the Suarez FA verdict) rather than just rely on what the Press writes.

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