Raul Meireles

[darkstarexodus]

[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178826#msg1178826 date=1285051198]
Yup lets get back to Rafa Benitez's tactics. Pack the midfield with three centre midfielders just because mid-table and lower side team will pack their midfield and attack us. Bloody hell!!! Do you support mediocrity??
[/quote]

I support a bit of sensibility. You watched the game against City this year, I presume, where we went out in a 4-4-2?

First, we achieved our 2nd place (and could have been title-winning) season with a three-man midfield, with Gerrard and Torres linking. Second, the big downfalls of that system under Rafa were playing an ineffective Lucas along with an offensively impotent Mascherano. In other words, two defenders with one attacker out of the three midfielders. While Poulsen is nowhere near Mascherano in ability, Meireles should offer more to the team than Lucas. Having a three-man midfield does not require one to play defensively, that depends on how you line them up and what instructions you give them. It does, however, insure against being outnumbered and passed around effortlessly. We simply do not have the quality of personnel to play a two-man midfield and, when you look at any other top team in this league (and in most others), they're not playing it either.

 

[Glock21]

[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178833#msg1178833 date=1285051657]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178826#msg1178826 date=1285051198]
Yup lets get back to Rafa Benitez's tactics. Pack the midfield with three centre midfielders just because mid-table and lower side team will pack their midfield and attack us. Bloody hell!!! Do you support mediocrity??
[/quote]

I support a bit of sensibility. You watched the game against City this year, I presume, where we went out in a 4-4-2?

First, we achieved our 2nd place (and could have been title-winning) season with a three-man midfield, with Gerrard and Torres linking. Second, the big downfalls of that system under Rafa were playing an ineffective Lucas along with an offensively impotent Mascherano. In other words, two defenders with one attacker out of the three midfielders. While Poulsen is nowhere near Mascherano in ability, Meireles should offer more to the team than Lucas. Having a three-man midfield does not require one to play defensively, that depends on how you line them up and what instructions you give them. It does, however, insure against being outnumbered and passed around effortlessly. We simply do not have the quality of personnel to play a two-man midfield and, when you look at any other top team in this league (and in most others), they're not playing it either.
[/quote]

We also don't have the quality of playing out wide, with Cole the only decent player we have and Kuyt out injured. Gerrard should play at right wing and we should let Meireles and Poulsen gel together in the centre to have a strong partnership. We have no fucking choice. We can play Gerrard there but old Roy would put Meireles further up the pitch and Gerrard doing all the shit in midfield resulting us working hard in midfield but fuck all up front.

We need to attack wide and also capable of attacking from the centre of midfield. Torres and Kuyt has the aerial ability to challenge in the air. Cole can come in and launch the attack from inside.

Stop clogging your brain with Rafa Benitez's formation and get out once in a while.

 

[darkstarexodus]

[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178842#msg1178842 date=1285052407]
We also don't have the quality of playing out wide, with Cole the only decent player we have and Kuyt out injured. Gerrard should play at right wing and we should let Meireles and Poulsen gel together in the centre to have a strong partnership. We have no fucking choice. We can play Gerrard there but old Roy would put Meireles further up the pitch and Gerrard doing all the shit in midfield resulting us working hard in midfield but fuck all up front.

We need to attack wide and also capable of attacking from the centre of midfield. Torres and Kuyt has the aerial ability to challenge in the air. Cole can come in and launch the attack from inside.

Stop clogging your brain with Rafa Benitez's formation and get out once in a while.
[/quote]

So you're advocating a formation that you openly admit to not having quality players to put either out wide or in the middle?

Only similarity to Rafa in either formation I've mooted or discussed is three in the middle, but their orientation is far different from Rafa's. On the other hand, you're calling for a setup that will create zero chances and get overrun through the middle, utilising none of the strengths of any of the players on our roster. I wouldn't be so quick to criticize Roy's tactical acumen if this is what you're offering up, mate.

 

[Glock21]

[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178844#msg1178844 date=1285052753]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178842#msg1178842 date=1285052407]
[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178833#msg1178833 date=1285051657]
We also don't have the quality of playing out wide, with Cole the only decent player we have and Kuyt out injured. Gerrard should play at right wing and we should let Meireles and Poulsen gel together in the centre to have a strong partnership. We have no fucking choice. We can play Gerrard there but old Roy would put Meireles further up the pitch and Gerrard doing all the shit in midfield resulting us working hard in midfield but fuck all up front.

We need to attack wide and also capable of attacking from the centre of midfield. Torres and Kuyt has the aerial ability to challenge in the air. Cole can come in and launch the attack from inside.

Stop clogging your brain with Rafa Benitez's formation and get out once in a while.
[/quote]

So you're advocating a formation that you openly admit to not having quality players to put either out wide or in the middle?

Only similarity to Rafa in either formation I've mooted or discussed is three in the middle, but their orientation is far different from Rafa's. On the other hand, you're calling for a setup that will create zero chances and get overrun through the middle, utilising none of the strengths of any of the players on our roster. I wouldn't be so quick to criticize Roy's tactical acumen if this is what you're offering up, mate.
[/quote]

Gerrard can make the difference. Him playing out wide and give some chance to the two steady-eddy's might help us improve but if we follow your suggestion of formation isn't going to help at all because Gerrard has to do double job and thus leaving the forwards isolated. No goal. Boring. Attack is the best form of defense. Relax boy.

 

[darkstarexodus]

[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178854#msg1178854 date=1285053307]
[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178844#msg1178844 date=1285052753]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178842#msg1178842 date=1285052407]
We also don't have the quality of playing out wide, with Cole the only decent player we have and Kuyt out injured. Gerrard should play at right wing and we should let Meireles and Poulsen gel together in the centre to have a strong partnership. We have no fucking choice. We can play Gerrard there but old Roy would put Meireles further up the pitch and Gerrard doing all the shit in midfield resulting us working hard in midfield but fuck all up front.

We need to attack wide and also capable of attacking from the centre of midfield. Torres and Kuyt has the aerial ability to challenge in the air. Cole can come in and launch the attack from inside.

Stop clogging your brain with Rafa Benitez's formation and get out once in a while.
[/quote]

So you're advocating a formation that you openly admit to not having quality players to put either out wide or in the middle?

Only similarity to Rafa in either formation I've mooted or discussed is three in the middle, but their orientation is far different from Rafa's. On the other hand, you're calling for a setup that will create zero chances and get overrun through the middle, utilising none of the strengths of any of the players on our roster. I wouldn't be so quick to criticize Roy's tactical acumen if this is what you're offering up, mate.
[/quote]

Gerrard can make the difference. Him playing out wide and give some chance to the two steady-eddy's might help us improve but if we follow your suggestion of formation isn't going to help at all because Gerrard has to do double job and thus leaving the forwards isolated. No goal. Boring. Attack is the best form of defense. Relax boy.
[/quote]

I think we're arguing at cross-purposes here, Glock. I am advocating a more attacking philosophy. With three in the middle, one of which is defending primarily. I looked back at the formation you originally posted, which was a 4-4-1-1 and I'd be alright with that as well, because Kuyt in the "hole" would track back and help out the midfield two sufficiently. I just question whether a Poulsen-Meireles duo is dynamic enough to spread the play wide to wings or incisive enough to play through balls to Kuyt + Torres, or if it would look like Lucas-Mascherano Mk II.

 

[Glock21]

[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178859#msg1178859 date=1285053608]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178854#msg1178854 date=1285053307]
[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178844#msg1178844 date=1285052753]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178842#msg1178842 date=1285052407]
We also don't have the quality of playing out wide, with Cole the only decent player we have and Kuyt out injured. Gerrard should play at right wing and we should let Meireles and Poulsen gel together in the centre to have a strong partnership. We have no fucking choice. We can play Gerrard there but old Roy would put Meireles further up the pitch and Gerrard doing all the shit in midfield resulting us working hard in midfield but fuck all up front.

We need to attack wide and also capable of attacking from the centre of midfield. Torres and Kuyt has the aerial ability to challenge in the air. Cole can come in and launch the attack from inside.

Stop clogging your brain with Rafa Benitez's formation and get out once in a while.
[/quote]

So you're advocating a formation that you openly admit to not having quality players to put either out wide or in the middle?

Only similarity to Rafa in either formation I've mooted or discussed is three in the middle, but their orientation is far different from Rafa's. On the other hand, you're calling for a setup that will create zero chances and get overrun through the middle, utilising none of the strengths of any of the players on our roster. I wouldn't be so quick to criticize Roy's tactical acumen if this is what you're offering up, mate.
[/quote]

Gerrard can make the difference. Him playing out wide and give some chance to the two steady-eddy's might help us improve but if we follow your suggestion of formation isn't going to help at all because Gerrard has to do double job and thus leaving the forwards isolated. No goal. Boring. Attack is the best form of defense. Relax boy.
[/quote]

I think we're arguing at cross-purposes here, Glock. I am advocating a more attacking philosophy. With three in the middle, one of which is defending primarily. I looked back at the formation you originally posted, which was a 4-4-1-1 and I'd be alright with that as well, because Kuyt in the "hole" would track back and help out the midfield two sufficiently. I just question whether a Poulsen-Meireles duo is dynamic enough to spread the play wide to wings or incisive enough to play through balls to Kuyt + Torres, or if it would look like Lucas-Mascherano Mk II.
[/quote]

You have seen last couple of games with Meireles further up and Gerrard in midfield with Polsen and it doesn't work. Meireles don't have the pace to run at defenders unlike Gerrard. So its a fucking stupid idea from Roy.

As for the question whether Polsen-Meireles dynamic enough to spread wide or through ball to others is remain to be seen until Roy try to play them both together. Gerrard can always come in and get the ball and launch an attack from wide right. He did this in Rafa's 2nd season in charged. He got the most assists and plenty of goals.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178831#msg1178831 date=1285051480]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41950.msg1178829#msg1178829 date=1285051365]
Ha.. Welcome back Glocky.
[/quote]

Hi Mark...thank you. How are you?
[/quote]

I'm good thanks! We have a few new mentalists you might want to put in order, won't take long for you to sniff them out 🙂

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41950.msg1178869#msg1178869 date=1285054466]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178831#msg1178831 date=1285051480]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41950.msg1178829#msg1178829 date=1285051365]
Ha.. Welcome back Glocky.
[/quote]

Hi Mark...thank you. How are you?
[/quote]

I'm good thanks! We have a few new mentalists you might want to put in order, won't take long for you to sniff them out 🙂
[/quote]

is that a thinly veiled 'takes one to know one' put down, mark?

 

[Glock21]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41950.msg1178869#msg1178869 date=1285054466]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178831#msg1178831 date=1285051480]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41950.msg1178829#msg1178829 date=1285051365]
Ha.. Welcome back Glocky.
[/quote]

Hi Mark...thank you. How are you?
[/quote]

I'm good thanks! We have a few new mentalists you might want to put in order, won't take long for you to sniff them out 🙂
[/quote]

A few?? I thought majority here are mentalist?? Looking at some of the postings here make me want stop watching football.

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178878#msg1178878 date=1285055006]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41950.msg1178869#msg1178869 date=1285054466]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178831#msg1178831 date=1285051480]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=41950.msg1178829#msg1178829 date=1285051365]
Ha.. Welcome back Glocky.
[/quote]

Hi Mark...thank you. How are you?
[/quote]

I'm good thanks! We have a few new mentalists you might want to put in order, won't take long for you to sniff them out 🙂
[/quote]

A few?? I thought majority here are mentalist?? Looking at some of the postings here make me want stop watching football.
[/quote]
That made me laugh.

 

[dmishra]

[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178864#msg1178864 date=1285054173]
[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178859#msg1178859 date=1285053608]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178854#msg1178854 date=1285053307]
[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=41950.msg1178844#msg1178844 date=1285052753]
[quote author=Glock link=topic=41950.msg1178842#msg1178842 date=1285052407]
We also don't have the quality of playing out wide, with Cole the only decent player we have and Kuyt out injured. Gerrard should play at right wing and we should let Meireles and Poulsen gel together in the centre to have a strong partnership. We have no fucking choice. We can play Gerrard there but old Roy would put Meireles further up the pitch and Gerrard doing all the shit in midfield resulting us working hard in midfield but fuck all up front.

We need to attack wide and also capable of attacking from the centre of midfield. Torres and Kuyt has the aerial ability to challenge in the air. Cole can come in and launch the attack from inside.

Stop clogging your brain with Rafa Benitez's formation and get out once in a while.
[/quote]

So you're advocating a formation that you openly admit to not having quality players to put either out wide or in the middle?

Only similarity to Rafa in either formation I've mooted or discussed is three in the middle, but their orientation is far different from Rafa's. On the other hand, you're calling for a setup that will create zero chances and get overrun through the middle, utilising none of the strengths of any of the players on our roster. I wouldn't be so quick to criticize Roy's tactical acumen if this is what you're offering up, mate.
[/quote]

Gerrard can make the difference. Him playing out wide and give some chance to the two steady-eddy's might help us improve but if we follow your suggestion of formation isn't going to help at all because Gerrard has to do double job and thus leaving the forwards isolated. No goal. Boring. Attack is the best form of defense. Relax boy.
[/quote]

I think we're arguing at cross-purposes here, Glock. I am advocating a more attacking philosophy. With three in the middle, one of which is defending primarily. I looked back at the formation you originally posted, which was a 4-4-1-1 and I'd be alright with that as well, because Kuyt in the "hole" would track back and help out the midfield two sufficiently. I just question whether a Poulsen-Meireles duo is dynamic enough to spread the play wide to wings or incisive enough to play through balls to Kuyt + Torres, or if it would look like Lucas-Mascherano Mk II.
[/quote]

You have seen last couple of games with Meireles further up and Gerrard in midfield with Polsen and it doesn't work. Meireles don't have the pace to run at defenders unlike Gerrard. So its a fucking stupid idea from Roy.

As for the question whether Polsen-Meireles dynamic enough to spread wide or through ball to others is remain to be seen until Roy try to play them both together. Gerrard can always come in and get the ball and launch an attack from wide right. He did this in Rafa's 2nd season in charged. He got the most assists and plenty of goals.
[/quote]

Very surprisingly, I agree with with Glock on this wholeheartedly. If Poulsen and Meireles don't work out or are not incisive enough, we can try Shelvey and Meireles with Meireles playing DM.

 

[darkstarexodus]

I haven't been able to watch the past couple games due to work/vacation, so I haven't seen Meireles play at all yet, so I'm not in a position to debate further on it. Guess time will tell.

 

[King Binny]

The most obvious solution appears to be to bring in Raul Meireles from the right to his more familiar central role, although a bolder move would be to field 18-year-old Jonjo Shelvey, who has made only three substitute appearances in the league since his summer move from Charlton.

"Raul is a quality player but he is adjusting to the demands of the Premier League and it is going to take a while for him to show us what he is about," said Hodgson of Meireles, an August arrival from Porto.

"In terms of technical qualities he is the closest (to Gerrard) but if you are talking about the type, athleticism and potential then you might be looking at Jonjo Shelvey, who has quite a lot of Steven Gerrard in him.

"He is a long passer, is a guy who can get forward to score a goal, and makes the athletic long-strides around the pitch - in Jonjo, we have a potential player who in years to come could be compared to Steven.

"I don't think you could really compare Raul and Steven because they are such different types of players; where you would compare them is in their influence in the team and their technical ability and ability to produce goal chances.

"I'm not really hopeful on that (filling the void left by Gerrard).

"When you lose a player of Gerrard's undoubted ability anything you say other than it is going to be a huge blow to us would be a waste of breath."

 

[Squiggles]

I wish he would start both in the middle.

Poulsen is a fart in the wind.

 

[Avmenon]

I'd like that as well.

Eventually I hope our CM's are Gerrard, Ming and Shelvey with Lucas sold for 7 million to some nincompoop side and Poulsen melted down for butter cookies.

4-3-3?

 

[King Binny]

The grade two hamstring tear suffered by Steven Gerrard on England duty last week means Meireles may be required over the next month to move from a position on the right side of midfield to a more familiar central role.

He added: "I feel more comfortable playing in the middle but I will play wherever the manager wants me to. That's my job and I'm working to be a successful player for Liverpool and to help the team."

 

[HC]

I didn't think he was all that a month ago.

I was wrong then and to be fair since then he's been great. Everything I thought he would be in terms of work rate, skill and general enthusiasm.

 

[dmishra]

I like him a lot. I've said it before and I'll stand by it - we've finally got a competent replacement for Alonso. He's a different type of player (a busier and 'simpler' player) but I think we'll grow to be as fond of him as were of Xabi.

I also get the distinct feeling that he'll be remembered as the best thing Hodgson ever did for Liverpool.

 

[Squiggles]

I couldn't recall seeing him play much before he arrived, but I've liked the look of him ever since his first match. He's got the bollocks to play in this league and he can be quite a dirty bastard too, but he seems to get away with it. I like him because he is tough in the tackle, is a decent passer, is two footed, has good control and a thunderous strike on him. Surprised he hasn't scored by now.

All in all he's a very competent and experienced central midfielder who is already an important player for us. A good signing... at last.

 

[King Binny]

£10.7m

3rd goal in last 4 games (20+1 league appearances).

(1 left footed 2 right.

1 in 15-30th min, 2 in 45-60th min

1 in penalty area, 2 outside right of 18 yard box)

Emergence kinda lost amidst all the commotion going around

 

[Cerberus]

He's class and is turning out to be an excellent signing for the fee agreed. People bang on about his tackling but his passing, vision, attacking and probably most importantly, his goals fair out weigh any negative side to his game.

 

[keniget]

It certainly makes the Porto fans who reckoned he was all engine and no class a little silly.

He's turned out to be a top signing and proper value for money.

Thanks Roy... Purslow... Daglish... whoever signed him.

 

[RolandG]

Raul is still improving and that's a prospect I relish.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=Cerberus link=topic=41950.msg1277052#msg1277052 date=1296723122]
He's class and is turning out to be an excellent signing for the fee agreed. People bang on about his tackling but his passing, vision, attacking and probably most importantly, his goals fair out weigh any negative side to his game.
[/quote]

Nobody's "banged on" about it. It's a point that's been raised, and rightly so - there will be games in which things go less well for us and in which we will need everybody to dig in, so it's definitely something that needs to be worked on. Where I do agree is that Ming looks a top player going forward, easily good enough for where we want to be.