[quote author=RedStar link=topic=47340.msg1419890#msg1419890 date=1320063937]
We effectively swapped Ming for Adam, now the common consensus on Ming was that his worst attribute was a reluctance to put in a tackle and generally being a bit soft despite his obvious passing and goal scoring quality. Adam on the other hand is so slow that he is in no danger of shirking a tackle because his opposing player could easily beat him for pace by jogging. Anybody who thinks Mereiles wouldnt be a useful asset to have right now is nuts, and as for the "you cant keep a player who wants to leave" theory it has been disproved many times, Modric is currently doing it, ronaldo was the best player in the league for two years despite begging to go to Madrid every summer and Fabregas was Arsenals best player even though he demanded a move to Barca every 6 months like clockwork
Clearly Kenny sees something in Adam and didnt with Ming, so be it, but Adam cannot replace Gerrard, Ming did was head and shoulders our best midfielder when asked to perform the same job
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I have no problem with most of this post - Would I rather have Ming? Yes.
My issues are:
1) goal scoring quality? He had a fantastic stretch (5 in 6 I think) and that was all his goals for the yaer. Sorry, that's not goal scoring quality - and his track record, as far as I remember, for Porto and Portugal echos similar stats.
2) Your comparisons of disgruntled players who are the best player on their respective teams, who are paid very well and were guaranteed 1st team minutes. Meirless, with all due respect, was not paid well (I don't know what the story is with his raise - our fault, his - whatever) and wasn't in Kenny's 1st 11 plans this year. That means he could very well have become a problem ...
Still wish he was an option to have ... But again, I think we'll be fine without him and won't regret this move long term (short term - we haven't yet, and hopefully won't either)