Derek Riordan

[johnrebus]

Let me say first of all that I am a big fan of Derek and am delighted he is back at ER.

I should also say that I couldn't care less what he does off the park as long as it doesn't affect his stuff on it........,

However........,

On Saturday he wanted to be involved and did a number of good things, but IMHO he just does not look fit. He has had a full pre-season training and played in most of the friendly matches, but his movement at times reminded me of a player ten years older than his 26 years.

There were a couple of times in the second half when he should have been hitting the byline and sticking a cross over, but he stopped and doubled back as if he knew he didn't have the pace to get there and so the advantage was lost.

Thoughts ?

[CABBAGE & RIBS]

He looked a lot fitter than last year anyway.

[Baw187]

I thought he played ok. He's always been a bit of a lazy bass but it's his ability to pick out something special that makes him special.

I recall many a game during his first spell where he wasn't in the game but would pop up to score a goal out of nothing. A certain 3 goals against Killie I recall were the only things he did in the match !!

That's what we get with Deek and I am personally happy with that.

[bingo70]

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Let me say first of all that I am a big fan of Derek and am delighted he is back at ER.

I should also say that I couldn't care less what he does off the park as long as it doesn't affect his stuff on it........,

However........,

On Saturday he wanted to be involved and did a number of good things, but IMHO he just does not look fit. He has had a full pre-season training and played in most of the friendly matches, but his movement at times reminded me of a player ten years older than his 26 years.

There were a couple of times in the second half when he should have been hitting the byline and sticking a cross over, but he stopped and doubled back as if he knew he didn't have the pace to get there and so the advantage was lost.

Of course, I could be talking pish.

can't think of the times your talking about but was it not that he just wanted to get it onto his right foot?

Can think of one chance he created for himself late on in the game when he got past their full back to get a good shot in so i don't think it was fitness or lack of pace that caused him to double back.

Last season i thought he was unfit, not because he wasn't able to track back as thats clearly not his game, but he didn't seem as sharp as he was in his previous spell, can't say i noticed him being unfit on saturday, time will tell over the next few weeks though.

[JimBHibees]

Personally thought he did ok without getting much service. He could do with working harder to make space for himself however he will get better with games. Not sure him and Nish work that well together up front due to neither of their movement being great.

[RIP]

When Deek's in scoring form it's like having twelve Hibs players on the park

When he's not it's like having a man down

I still think he's giving us more than he did under Mixu. Is he shrugging shoulders, moaning, or waving his arms as much? I think not. Is he more of a team player? I think so

It will be an interesting season for Derek. If the other player's work rate is 100% and his is not there will be plenty young boys snapping at his heels for a 1st-team place.

He's probably expending about 65-80% of the energy he's capable of IMO. It would be great if under Yogi we can see him firing on all cylinders

That would be awesome!!

[hughio]

He is more careful about using the ball well and not losing it since he came back.He doubles back to make sure we keep possession.That doesn't make him unfit/lazy /etc etc

[jacomo]

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When Deek's in scoring form it's like having twelve Hibs players on the park

When he's not it's like having a man down

I still think he's giving us more than he did under Mixu. Is he shrugging shoulders, moaning, or waving his arms as much? I think not. Is he more of a team player? I think so

It will be an interesting season for Derek. If the other player's work rate is 100% and his is not there will be plenty young boys snapping at his heels for a 1st-team place.

He's probably expending about 65-80% of the energy he's capable of IMO. It would be great if under Yogi we can see him firing on all cylinders

That would be awesome!!

Nothing wrong with competition for places. When he returned to the club, Mixu pretty much said in public that Riordan would play regardless - a stupid thing to say. No one should feel their place is guaranteed.

[Hibby 2005]

Maybe this has been said already but I think he's playing too deep to be effective. I know he can put in a good cross but it's his finishing I want to see, preferably inside the box.

[70hibby]

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He is more careful about using the ball well and not losing it since he came back.He doubles back to make sure we keep possession.That doesn't make him unfit/lazy /etc etc

Agreed, he also does it to make space to come inside for a shot.

[brog]

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Let me say first of all that I am a big fan of Derek and am delighted he is back at ER.

I should also say that I couldn't care less what he does off the park as long as it doesn't affect his stuff on it........,

However........,

On Saturday he wanted to be involved and did a number of good things, but IMHO he just does not look fit. He has had a full pre-season training and played in most of the friendly matches, but his movement at times reminded me of a player ten years older than his 26 years.

There were a couple of times in the second half when he should have been hitting the byline and sticking a cross over, but he stopped and doubled back as if he knew he didn't have the pace to get there and so the advantage was lost.

Thoughts ?

I think he's just lost a little pace, nothing more than that, he's not going to take people on the run now as he used to. Hopefully he has increased other abilities to compensate.

[Hibs7]

The biggest problem and it was plain to see on Saturday was that there was NOT a player in midfield who could see a pass for Deek to run onto, when Zemmama is playing you will see a more effective Roirdon, even if Boozy came back his vision for a pass is something Derek would thrive on, give him a ball in the right area and he will do the business. IMHO.

[JimBHibees]

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Nothing wrong with competition for places. When he returned to the club, Mixu pretty much said in public that Riordan would play regardless - a stupid thing to say. No one should feel their place is guaranteed.

I agree and if Stokes comes and we have a fit again Benji there will be genuine competition.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

For folk that moan about players drifting in and out of games I give you...

Juergen Klinsmann

I had the privilege to witness him in action for Spurs against QPR 94 I think it was - sublime player.

[Luna Landing]

To be honest the biggest difference since Deek came back is that we dont have Garry Oconnor playing up front with him to create the chances . Maybe we could sign him on loan from Birmingham

[Peevemor]

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For folk that moan about players drifting in and out of games I give you...

Juergen Klinsmann

I had the privilege to witness him in action for Spurs against QPR 94 I think it was - sublime player.

I saw him playing for Bayern against Raith at ER. Outstanding.

[Bearders]

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The biggest problem and it was plain to see on Saturday was that there was NOT a player in midfield who could see a pass for Deek to run onto, when Zemmama is playing you will see a more effective Roirdon, even if Boozy came back his vision for a pass is something Derek would thrive on, give him a ball in the right area and he will do the business. IMHO.

In addition, I also think that a huge pressure is on Derek to deliver that something special. Yes, he is getting paid accordingly, but without him or Zemmama, we don't have that spark to turn a game.

If Deek is not getting the service, then the onus is on him to go searching to make it happen himself. At the present time, just not dropping his way.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

Couldn't give a toss really how he plays for 90 minutes.

Yogi himself will know that he'll never get Deek covering every blade of grass. What he does know is that at any point in a game, borne out of any situation from anywhere within 40 yards of goal, Deek can spank one in out of the blue.

For that reason alone, he's a certain starter.

He's a 21st century Le Tissier.....lazy bass but simply undroppable.

[I'm_cabbaged]

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Let me say first of all that I am a big fan of Derek and am delighted he is back at ER.

I should also say that I couldn't care less what he does off the park as long as it doesn't affect his stuff on it........,

However........,

On Saturday he wanted to be involved and did a number of good things, but IMHO he just does not look fit. He has had a full pre-season training and played in most of the friendly matches, but his movement at times reminded me of a player ten years older than his 26 years.

There were a couple of times in the second half when he should have been hitting the byline and sticking a cross over, but he stopped and doubled back as if he knew he didn't have the pace to get there and so the advantage was lost.

Thoughts ?

..............to his right foot and had a shot.

[TheBall'sRound]

We have a bit of a mental block as a team (and dare I say as fans) that the best way to attack is to feed the ball into Nish who holds it up and we push wide past him on either side.

Well Saturday showed just how easy it is to get to Nish and stop that outlet completely even with 10 men. Our plan B should be feeding the ball in front of Deeks/Byrne/JJ and turning the centre halves.

Why the obsession with playing a "big lad" up front especially when it clearly isn't working?

[500miles]

He's lost his pace, and therefore a large part of his game. Jack Ross had him in his back pocket until we went 3 up front.

[The_Horde]

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He's lost his pace, and therefore a large part of his game. Jack Ross had him in his back pocket until we went 3 up front.

He never REALLY had any TBH.

It has always been his quickness of thought. The first 5/10 yards in football is in your head, and thats all he needs with his ability.

Can't believe Nishy gave away the fact he was behind the keeper on Saturday.

[500miles]

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He never REALLY had any TBH.

It has always been his quickness of thought. The first 5/10 yards in football is in your head, and thats all he needs with his ability.

Can't believe Nishy gave away the fact he was behind the keeper on Saturday.

As i remember it he used to have excellent acceleration, which caused no end of trouble for huddies like Neilson. He doesn't beat his man on anything like such a regular basis these days.

For me he's far from undroppable - in fact, no player is.

[jakedance]

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Couldn't give a toss really how he plays for 90 minutes.

Yogi himself will know that he'll never get Deek covering every blade of grass. What he does know is that at any point in a game, borne out of any situation from anywhere within 40 yards of goal, Deek can spank one in out of the blue.

For that reason alone, he's a certain starter.

He's a 21st century Le Tissier.....lazy bass but simply undroppable.

Absolutely right. Riordan is involved in just about everything we do which is good. I'm still hoping that we haven't yet seen the best of him.

If we can get Deek, Benji and Zemmamma fit and on form at the same time we'll be as good an attacking force as anyone in this league.

[Franck is God]

I think the main problem is that he simply isn't that effective as a central striker. In the first 30 minutes Nish won almost every header and was flicking loads of balls into good positions but Deek simply wasn't reading it and not moving at all.

When Benji came on and we played with three strikers he switched to the left where he got more space and could attack the defence on the run, had the option of going onto both left and right foot the difference was amazing.

the team at the moment is still being worked out and it may be a dozen games before we see exactly what our first choice team is. Deek has the quality to be in it but on Saturday he was poor until he switched positons, Mowbray alwas found a place for him in the team because of his ability to find something from nothing. Thats fine when you have the likes of KT, Scotty, Stewart & Boozy in midfield to do the extra work and a workhorse like O'Connor up front along side him.

I don't think we have the squad to cover for him anymore, he might end up being a quality super sub when we need to change a game or score a goal.

[500miles]

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I think the main problem is that he simply isn't that effective as a central striker. In the first 30 minutes Nish won almost every header and was flicking loads of balls into good positions but Deek simply wasn't reading it and not moving at all.

When Benji came on and we played with three strikers he switched to the left where he got more space and could attack the defence on the run, had the option of going onto both left and right foot the difference was amazing.

the team at the moment is still being worked out and it may be a dozen games before we see exactly what our first choice team is. Deek has the quality to be in it but on Saturday he was poor until he switched positons, Mowbray alwas found a place for him in the team because of his ability to find something from nothing. Thats fine when you have the likes of KT, Scotty, Stewart & Boozy in midfield to do the extra work and a workhorse like O'Connor up front along side him.

I don't think we have the squad to cover for him anymore, he might end up being a quality super sub when we need to change a game or score a goal.

Put this on....QUICK!! http://netlinkenterprises.com/prodimages/700.jpg

[Franck is God]

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Put this on....QUICK!! http://netlinkenterprises.com/prodimages/700.jpg

Cheers...

[Alfred E Newman]

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Let me say first of all that I am a big fan of Derek and am delighted he is back at ER.

I should also say that I couldn't care less what he does off the park as long as it doesn't affect his stuff on it........,

However........,

On Saturday he wanted to be involved and did a number of good things, but IMHO he just does not look fit. He has had a full pre-season training and played in most of the friendly matches, but his movement at times reminded me of a player ten years older than his 26 years.

There were a couple of times in the second half when he should have been hitting the byline and sticking a cross over, but he stopped and doubled back as if he knew he didn't have the pace to get there and so the advantage was lost.
Thoughts ?

Alan O`Brien had pace.

[Broken Gnome]

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He never REALLY had any TBH.

It has always been his quickness of thought. The first 5/10 yards in football is in your head, and thats all he needs with his ability.

The shot that Gallacher tipped over was a carbon copy of his goal against Hearts in May 2005. He didn't need great pace then, he doesn't really need it now. If he can hit a ball like that with either foot and doesn't need anymore than half a yard.

No one's saying he's a pure athlete and rightly so, but for all the moaning there was about this lifeless long-ball side last year, dropping your chief goalscorer/creative force/set piece specialist/someone-capable-of-that-chip-in-the-first-half is slightly unfair...

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

Deeks is never likely to track back or do any kind of spadework. Scoring goals and taking good corners is about the limit of his contribution, and as long as he keeps on doing both, that will do for me.