Albert Riera - El Wellington Phoenix FC until 2016/17

Bodes well for the clubs license extension if they are contracting players past the current end date

Exactly - they might know something we don't. 

Or they may be just the types that like bets at all odds.

This is the best news this year! The key part to the merrick revolution

Now watch his form dip...

@ Junior82.....

Jokes on Riera, we won't even be around in 2016 

Why? He'll still get paid even if we don't get the licence. Money for Nothing so to speak. No joke on him.

Unlikely. Sure there is a clause that is subject to a licence extention. 

@mainland FC

Phoenix record without Albert Riera: 

Played: 11 

Won: 2 

Draw: 2 

Loss: 7 

Goals against: 33

Played 40 

Won 18

Draw 8 

Loss 14

GA 49

I said as much in another thread a few weeks ago. He protects Dura and Siggy which stops the opposition taking them on.

Has done an excellent job. His weakness is his temperament.

The difference in goals conceded is phenomenal

a card every 5 games indicates that temperament isn't a weakness.

a card every 5 games is bloody fantastic considering he is our go-to DM. He hardly is one who complains a lot to refs either - Dura could learn from his attitude.

has someone with more understanding on this than me sanity checked this?

I heard a rumour about a few issues with the naturalising Reira plan!

- didn't he spend quite a bit of time out of NZ in the off season in the first couple of seasons?

- do you apply to be a citizen at the end of 5 years or do you have to start the process and 5 years later you are a citizen (someone said it was the latter and he didn't start the process until he got to the Nix)

- FIFA require 5 years - what else is required? just Citizenship?

Yeah, they can fast track citizenship if necessary - they did it for Daniel IIRC, and the fact that he's been here for five years already would put him in a good light you'd think.

If Riera doesnt want to pay pro football any more surely international football would be off the cards for the same reason?

He 'retired' last season because he thought is is to old an injury prone, no he should play another two years for the All Whites? Sorry guys, if he still would play for the Nix on a higher level, maybe, yes, but this waste of time.

Who's better than him? Vicelich played internationally for years while at ACFC, he also was named third best player of the club world cup as an amateur.

If he was eligible and available, I'd put him in the side straight away, based on what I saw from Kone...

Football: Riera strives to play for NZ

by Michael Burgess