Oriol Riera

23 hours ago, SBW said:

I don't  think Riera considers himself Spanish but rather a Catalan.

And speaking of that... with the Catalunya independence... what would be the odds of riera playing for them once they gain independence? 

Fair point re his Catalan heritage/nationality...

On 03/10/2017 at 4:44 PM, SBW said:

I don't  think Riera considers himself Spanish but rather a Catalan.

And speaking of that... with the Catalunya independence... what would be the odds of riera playing for them once they gain independence? 

Pretty good considering he played in their most recent match last year in December vs Tunisia. Scored a penalty in their shootout loss.

Skip to 5:40 for his penalty.

Can't wait for him to get called up for their friendlies in the middle of our season. 

They rarely play more than 1 game a year, and they aren't FIFA affiliated so there's no reason why we would even have to let Riera go if he was "called up".

Wouldn't they become FIFA affiliated if they became independent? I know that's a long way away still.

4 hours ago, luisenrique said:

Wouldn't they become FIFA affiliated if they became independent? I know that's a long way away still.

Not sure if Spain would be happy. It took them years to accept Gibraltar and then only with a gun to their head.

Adam Peacock: What is the one thing that has surprised you about Australia? Anything, be it football, or life?

Oriol Riera: I don’t know if I can choose one because for us it is a big change. I didn’t know anything about A-League. (For the lifestyle) I know a few things about Australia because I have friends that have lived here in Sydney, (Andreu and Alberto, former Wanderers players) and they told me about the life in Sydney that is very, very good.

AP: You were born near to Barcelona – tell us about your upbringing?

OR: I am from Vic, a town in Catalonia, then when I was 10 I went to Espanyol, then 13 went to Barcelona. For Catalan people it is a pleasure to play at Barcelona, they showed me another football style which is unique to the other styles and they made me a different person. They gave me an education, another type of life.

AP: From Espanyol to big rivals Barcelona for a 13 year-old?! How did that work?

OR: I’m a Barca fan, but I stayed in Espanyol 3 years. It is a very good club and for young players. We won the Catalan Cup, the league, everything against Barca, always. The last season at Espanyol was difficult because I had to combine the studies and football. I lived in Vic, and spent two hours a day travelling – four times a week. We asked to go only three times a week but we had problems with Espanyol. My father said ok, no problem, we come back to Vic and play there. Then Barca said we want you.

AP: You lived at the famous La Masia Academy. What is it really like?

OR: It is not only an academy that you live at and train in the afternoon. You stay with other people from all of Spain, and around the world. From all ages. They give you a way to live, to stay good with your roommate, your friends, they give you an education. We have to study, get good results – there is all the facilities to study and play football in the best way.

AP: Sounds like you wouldn’t swap it for anything?

OR: In Spain we have many academies, maybe La Masia is the most famous. In Madrid they have one, Villarreal has a very good one. For us Spanish players it is normal to study and play football in academy.

AP: You were at La Masia for five years. Are you still close friends with those you came through with, wherever they are in the world?

OR: Many players, yes. The ones that became big players, maybe not, they change their life! When we play against them we remind each other of the past. But not all the players in La Masia, become a player. I have friends who work in hospitals, as a journalist.

AP: Did La Masia help your football more, or development as a person?

OR: In Barca they show us the other part of life. Education, style of life, not only for football but everything. We get values, this is the best part. Respect, solidarity and effort.

AP: You played a tiny bit in the first team at Barcelona - what was the transition like from the academy to playing as a professional?

OR: It was very difficult. There are moments you have to take decisions, change your life to become a player. Not everybody has the chance to play in Barcelona. Yeah I played in Champions League, La Liga and Copa de Rey, but to stay many years is hard.

AP: You get asked about Leo Messi a lot. Is there anything that hasn’t been asked?!

OR: We played for three years: 16, 17, 18. We played in the Under 19s, then up to the second team and first team. We went together up, down, up, down. He was my roommate because I like to speak and he’s very quiet. He’s change now, a little bit but not much!

AP: Did you all have the same work ethic and it was his natural talent that got him through?

OR: He plays the same as he did before. In the Under 19s, it was the same. But if someone said he will be the best player in the world, in history, it’s wrong. We knew that he would be a player in the first team, but not like this!

AP: No, I guess no-one could! In the end you had to leave to play regular first team football (Riera went to six different Spanish clubs including Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna). Was it sad to leave there to further your career?

OR: It is not easy – I’m very clear. Barcelona is your town, home is not far away, you stay with your family. But I had a dream to play in La Liga. If you want to be that, we have to move, to take your own way.

AP: Who was the hardest opponent you had in La Liga? Because you played against all the best!

OR: Yeah in La Liga I think we have the best strikers and defenders. Sergio Ramos was the best. Very strong, with the ball very good, always chooses the right decision, quick. He is complete. Even though I scored against him a few times!

To play in La Liga you need to be at your best level. Or, you can’t play there. You play against teams that kill you if you make a mistake.

AP: What were the best experiences in La Liga?

OR: I have two. The first against Real Madrid, when I scored twice. It was a great feeling with the fans. The second is at Deportivo. We were fighting to not be relegated, and we got a 2-2 draw with Barcelona at Camp Nou and we got the [equaliser] late in the game and stayed up.

AP: There’s always expectation in football, you being marquee at Wanderers, you’re expected to score a lot of goals. Are you ok with that because where you learned your football?

OR: For an experienced player who play in this league, it’s normal. La Liga you have pressure every day, for us it’s a normal life. We know we have to score, make chances, give our experience in the team when the situation is not good, this is the moment we have to give. I know I am the marquee and what I have to, it is normal for us.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/western-sydney-wanderers-preview-adam-peacock-speaks-to-marquee-striker-oriol-riera/news-story/b007b681b9f323db36a1e45dc716f55f

Quote

I know I am the marquee and what I have to

For some reason I really like that....If i'm really feeling positive about this year from what he's done so far - especially if Cejudo also fires

33 minutes ago, FCB said:

Adam Peacock: What is the one thing that has surprised you about Australia? Anything, be it football, or life?

Oriol Riera: I don’t know if I can choose one because for us it is a big change. I didn’t know anything about A-League. (For the lifestyle) I know a few things about Australia because I have friends that have lived here in Sydney, (Andreu and Alberto, former Wanderers players) and they told me about the life in Sydney that is very, very good.

AP: You were born near to Barcelona – tell us about your upbringing?

OR: I am from Vic, a town in Catalonia, then when I was 10 I went to Espanyol, then 13 went to Barcelona. For Catalan people it is a pleasure to play at Barcelona, they showed me another football style which is unique to the other styles and they made me a different person. They gave me an education, another type of life.

AP: From Espanyol to big rivals Barcelona for a 13 year-old?! How did that work?

OR: I’m a Barca fan, but I stayed in Espanyol 3 years. It is a very good club and for young players. We won the Catalan Cup, the league, everything against Barca, always. The last season at Espanyol was difficult because I had to combine the studies and football. I lived in Vic, and spent two hours a day travelling – four times a week. We asked to go only three times a week but we had problems with Espanyol. My father said ok, no problem, we come back to Vic and play there. Then Barca said we want you.

AP: You lived at the famous La Masia Academy. What is it really like?

OR: It is not only an academy that you live at and train in the afternoon. You stay with other people from all of Spain, and around the world. From all ages. They give you a way to live, to stay good with your roommate, your friends, they give you an education. We have to study, get good results – there is all the facilities to study and play football in the best way.

AP: Sounds like you wouldn’t swap it for anything?

OR: In Spain we have many academies, maybe La Masia is the most famous. In Madrid they have one, Villarreal has a very good one. For us Spanish players it is normal to study and play football in academy.

AP: You were at La Masia for five years. Are you still close friends with those you came through with, wherever they are in the world?

OR: Many players, yes. The ones that became big players, maybe not, they change their life! When we play against them we remind each other of the past. But not all the players in La Masia, become a player. I have friends who work in hospitals, as a journalist.

AP: Did La Masia help your football more, or development as a person?

OR: In Barca they show us the other part of life. Education, style of life, not only for football but everything. We get values, this is the best part. Respect, solidarity and effort.

AP: You played a tiny bit in the first team at Barcelona - what was the transition like from the academy to playing as a professional?

OR: It was very difficult. There are moments you have to take decisions, change your life to become a player. Not everybody has the chance to play in Barcelona. Yeah I played in Champions League, La Liga and Copa de Rey, but to stay many years is hard.

AP: You get asked about Leo Messi a lot. Is there anything that hasn’t been asked?!

OR: We played for three years: 16, 17, 18. We played in the Under 19s, then up to the second team and first team. We went together up, down, up, down. He was my roommate because I like to speak and he’s very quiet. He’s change now, a little bit but not much!

AP: Did you all have the same work ethic and it was his natural talent that got him through?

OR: He plays the same as he did before. In the Under 19s, it was the same. But if someone said he will be the best player in the world, in history, it’s wrong. We knew that he would be a player in the first team, but not like this!

AP: No, I guess no-one could! In the end you had to leave to play regular first team football (Riera went to six different Spanish clubs including Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna). Was it sad to leave there to further your career?

OR: It is not easy – I’m very clear. Barcelona is your town, home is not far away, you stay with your family. But I had a dream to play in La Liga. If you want to be that, we have to move, to take your own way.

AP: Who was the hardest opponent you had in La Liga? Because you played against all the best!

OR: Yeah in La Liga I think we have the best strikers and defenders. Sergio Ramos was the best. Very strong, with the ball very good, always chooses the right decision, quick. He is complete. Even though I scored against him a few times!

To play in La Liga you need to be at your best level. Or, you can’t play there. You play against teams that kill you if you make a mistake.

AP: What were the best experiences in La Liga?

OR: I have two. The first against Real Madrid, when I scored twice. It was a great feeling with the fans. The second is at Deportivo. We were fighting to not be relegated, and we got a 2-2 draw with Barcelona at Camp Nou and we got the [equaliser] late in the game and stayed up.

AP: There’s always expectation in football, you being marquee at Wanderers, you’re expected to score a lot of goals. Are you ok with that because where you learned your football?

OR: For an experienced player who play in this league, it’s normal. La Liga you have pressure every day, for us it’s a normal life. We know we have to score, make chances, give our experience in the team when the situation is not good, this is the moment we have to give. I know I am the marquee and what I have to, it is normal for us.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/western-sydney-wanderers-preview-adam-peacock-speaks-to-marquee-striker-oriol-riera/news-story/b007b681b9f323db36a1e45dc716f55f

Thanks for posting FCB! 

very strong in the air and good finish today. Here's to more of the same!

On 03/10/2017 at 4:44 PM, SBW said:

I don't  think Riera considers himself Spanish but rather a Catalan.

And speaking of that... with the Catalunya independence... what would be the odds of riera playing for them once they gain independence? 

Actually quite a good chance. But the other 3 at Espanyol are all Catalan so if there were an injury he might make the bench. Either that or they decide Sergio Garcia is too old

Actually looks like a striker that played in La Liga last year. Unlike the last one we got.

He will be in with a great shot at golden boot. He has a fantastic leap, good control with the head and he's shown great composure & accurate finishing. When you add in that he's got very good stamina and could easily play 90 minutes in almost every match, and he takes penalties, he could win individual awards this season and possibly take us to silverware.

Also I don't think he failed to win a single goal kick that was punted up towards him. Often Perth needed to deploy two guys just to try and fail to hold him off, creating acres of space for everyone around him. By some distance the most complete striker we've ever had (with all due respect to St. Dino).

thing I liked about riera (aside from him clearly being good at football) is that he didn't shy away from the rough stuff or carry on looking for free kicks. Our league is very physical and that can take some adjusting for some visa players - not him though it looks like he goes looking for it.

When he went into the box in the build up to the first goal I knew he'd score. I've never got this feeling with any other WSW forward. Ever. 

5 hours ago, luisenrique said:

Also I don't think he failed to win a single goal kick that was punted up towards him. Often Perth needed to deploy two guys just to try and fail to hold him off, creating acres of space for everyone around him. By some distance the most complete striker we've ever had (with all due respect to St. Dino).

Makes a huge difference, Vedran could go long, Oriol would win it and lay it off and we were away. Last year that ball would just come straight back 

Looked ready willing and more than able 

agree with above very effective in air and it's great to see we finally have a true number 9 

even if it only took 6 years haha 

6 hours ago, FCB said:

When he went into the box in the build up to the first goal I knew he'd score. I've never got this feeling with any other WSW forward. Ever. 

Not Santa?

14 minutes ago, btron3000 said:

Not Santa?

No, not even him.

On 09/10/2017 at 7:28 AM, FCB said:

When he went into the box in the build up to the first goal I knew he'd score.

As soon as that cross went in I knew it was a goal.

Same could not be said of the penalty after the 157 minute wait for the VAR check.

4 hours ago, mack said:

As soon as that cross went in I knew it was a goal.

Same could not be said of the penalty after the 157 minute wait for the VAR check.

I have never been more sure of a penalty about to be missed than last night.

5 minutes ago, Zakman said:

I have never been more sure of a penalty about to be missed than last night.

Only when Pio stepped up to take one, at least Orio looked like he gave a ****, Pio often was like 'meh, so **** I missed' lol

Thomas guessed right way big deal move on 

reira isn't the reason we lost last night I mean drew still feels like loss 

Master of the header. 

Loved when he told Muscat to shut up. You can tell him and Llorente really care (I think Cejudo does too but it's not as obvious). Also a nice touch to give Foxe a hug after the goal.

Oriol on his goal celebration:

https://www.wswanderersfc.com.au/video/riera-opens-about-celebration

I don't know what's his deal but I am not liking his body language from the last few games.

26 minutes ago, SBW said:

I don't know what's his deal but I am not liking his body language from the last few games.

2 year marquee deal. 

There must be some bad blood with Gombau from their Barcelona days together.

5 hours ago, Paul01 said:

2 year marquee deal. 

There must be some bad blood with Gombau from their Barcelona days together.

He is a player that thrives on decent crosses into the box, and we put two wingers in who can’t cross to save their lives.