Raul Meireles.

[Cerberus]

I don't think Meireles belongs in CM. Not in the premiership anyway. I think he's much better suited to the AM or SS role. With the current crop of players we have at our disposal we should line up like this to get the best out of him:


----------Gerrard--Spearing

-----------------Meireles

------Kuyt------Carroll-----Suarez


At least until next season anyway.

 

[Dancing Brave]

[quote author=Cerberus link=topic=44635.msg1303276#msg1303276 date=1300724948]
I don't think Meireles belongs in CM. Not in the premiership anyway. I think he's much better suited to the AM or SS role. With the current crop of players we have at our disposal we should line up like this to get the best out of him:


----------Gerrard--Spearing

-----------------Meireles

------Kuyt------Carroll-----Suarez


At least until next season anyway.
[/quote]

X2

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=LadyRed link=topic=44635.msg1303261#msg1303261 date=1300723823]
I'm not saying he's not a good player, he is.

But, I think for an offensive player he's not enough of an offensive threat. I think we all have 'types' of players we like, and for me he's just not the type of player I like.
[/quote]

I don't think you can afford to be too picky. Once we have other "types" of midfield players who can turn and can pick a pass, you can start choosing between them.

 

[Molbystwin]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=44635.msg1303173#msg1303173 date=1300714291]
I like him a lot. Suarez looks amazing but his attitude towards his team mates yesterday got me thinking about what a top dude Raul has been.
To come into this club, this season under that manager with these players and the negativity and depression that swilled around us and react the way he has, and play the way he has and show the effort, attitude and commitment he has is really commendable.
Most foreign players dont really settle year one, especially in midfield but fuck me if this is him settling in how good will he be next year.
Id love to play in his team, he is a dream player for us.
Keep it up lad. Youre already one of the first names on the teamsheet, and probably my player of the season.
[/quote]

As i was reading your post i was thinking about ming as being my player of the season so i was suitably pleased to see you say as much at the end of your post.

Tidy in posession, chipped in with important goals at the start of kennys reign, he really has been important for us.... maybe just maybe if Suarez keeps on scoring outrageous goals like the one yesterday till the end of the season i will think about changing my vote but Ming has my vote so far.

Gerrard has been injured or recovering from an injury in some way all season and has basically been non existent.... IMO johnson deserves some extra credit for switching flanks playing well in his new position and not having a single fucking whinge about it even though it will jeapordise his England place.... fair play to him for that... but... Ming wins, if only for the goal against Wolves making me go nuts!

 

[Ryan]

Hmmm, interesting opinions.

I'm not sure about him. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'd prefer a team in the long-term without him. He's good, but he's never going to be great. He's 28, and has spent his career in Portugal. why did one of Europe's elite never come in for him? Because he's a luxury player in my view. Don't get me wrong - he's got all the talent in the World, but what's his actual position and role? He's not a defensive midfielder. He's not an attacking midfielder. He's not a passing midfielder. He's not a wide midfielder. He's just a good (somtimes very good) footballer who you can deploy pretty much anywhere and will do a good job. Pretty much like every other Portugese midfielder over the last 10 years - good, but beatable.

Before this turns into a character assassination, I want to spell out I like him. I genuinely do, he's got a great football brain and does a lot of the unnoticed, ugly work too ( his runs in behind Evra in the United game two weeks ago were sublime and could only come from a footballer with a fucking brain), and he's got plenty of other attributes that others have already mentioned I'm sure, but can we afford someone in central midfield like him?

Not sure.

Ideally you want a mix of defensive midfield steel, someone who canread the play and break it up, an attacking midfielder who can link the play and score 10+ goals etc etc, and in my view (of course this mightne be shared by everyone) an Alonso/Scholes type who passes and dictates the machine for 90 minutes. Raul doesn't fit into any of those for me. If you want to compete for titles and shit, you need a step up from him.

Good player. He'll never be great though.

 

[keniget]

Agree with all of that Ryan. I've been thinking the same recently.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=44635.msg1303476#msg1303476 date=1300748956]
Hmmm, interesting opinions.

I'm not sure about him. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'd prefer a team in the long-term without him. He's good, but he's never going to be great. He's 28, and has spent his career in Portugal. why did one of Europe's elite never come in for him? Because he's a luxury player in my view. Don't get me wrong - he's got all the talent in the World, but what's his actual position and role? He's not a defensive midfielder. He's not an attacking midfielder. He's not a passing midfielder. He's not a wide midfielder. He's just a good (somtimes very good) footballer who you can deploy pretty much anywhere and will do a good job. Pretty much like every other Portugese midfielder over the last 10 years - good, but beatable.

Before this turns into a character assassination, I want to spell out I like him. I genuinely do, he's got a great football brain and does a lot of the unnoticed, ugly work too ( his runs in behind Evra in the United game two weeks ago were sublime and could only come from a footballer with a fucking brain), and he's got plenty of other attributes that others have already mentioned I'm sure, but can we afford someone in central midfield like him?

Not sure.

Ideally you want a mix of defensive midfield steel, someone who canread the play and break it up, an attacking midfielder who can link the play and score 10+ goals etc etc, and in my view (of course this mightne be shared by everyone) an Alonso/Scholes type who passes and dictates the machine for 90 minutes. Raul doesn't fit into any of those for me. If you want to compete for titles and shit, you need a step up from him.

Good player. He'll never be great though.

[/quote]

There is some truth in this - maybe more than many are prepared to accept - but it's still pretty surprising to hear from someone who maintained that fans didn't understand Lucas because he couldn't be shoehorned into a particular category.

 

[dmishra]

Very well summed up Ryan. I've been slowly coming around to the opinion that he might not be the kind of player you want to play week in and week out as a CM in your first team.

Regardless, he's still a versatile and quality footballer and he'd have tremendous value as a squad player even if we get CM reinforcements this summer.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=44635.msg1303526#msg1303526 date=1300775535]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=44635.msg1303476#msg1303476 date=1300748956]
Hmmm, interesting opinions.

I'm not sure about him. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'd prefer a team in the long-term without him. He's good, but he's never going to be great. He's 28, and has spent his career in Portugal. why did one of Europe's elite never come in for him? Because he's a luxury player in my view. Don't get me wrong - he's got all the talent in the World, but what's his actual position and role? He's not a defensive midfielder. He's not an attacking midfielder. He's not a passing midfielder. He's not a wide midfielder. He's just a good (somtimes very good) footballer who you can deploy pretty much anywhere and will do a good job. Pretty much like every other Portugese midfielder over the last 10 years - good, but beatable.

Before this turns into a character assassination, I want to spell out I like him. I genuinely do, he's got a great football brain and does a lot of the unnoticed, ugly work too ( his runs in behind Evra in the United game two weeks ago were sublime and could only come from a footballer with a fucking brain), and he's got plenty of other attributes that others have already mentioned I'm sure, but can we afford someone in central midfield like him?

Not sure.

Ideally you want a mix of defensive midfield steel, someone who canread the play and break it up, an attacking midfielder who can link the play and score 10+ goals etc etc, and in my view (of course this mightne be shared by everyone) an Alonso/Scholes type who passes and dictates the machine for 90 minutes. Raul doesn't fit into any of those for me. If you want to compete for titles and shit, you need a step up from him.

Good player. He'll never be great though.

[/quote]

There is some truth in this - maybe more than many are prepared to accept - but it's still pretty surprising to hear from someone who maintained that fans didn't understand Lucas because he couldn't be shoehorned into a particular category.
[/quote]

It's not an apples to apples comparison unfortunately.

 

[Akakabooto]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=44635.msg1303476#msg1303476 date=1300748956]


[/quote]

Good post Ryan. I was thinking the other day that once we have guys like Raul as squad players we'll be competing for titles again.

I do think he can be part of a top midfield too though. For example if we had a Gerrard of two seasons ago and a Mascherano he would be a very good balancing player with those two. Now we really don't have a proper DM and because Gerrard has been a bit subdued has forced him to be used in a slightly unfamiliar role.

 

[LadyRed]

I disagree Ryan, I think it's very clear that he's an AM, he's never played wide till he came here, and he's clearly not a DM. He'd be perfect as part of a midfield three of a 433 or the central role of the three in a 4231. He' creative and can make stuff happen, he might not be a world beater, but he's definitely one of the best MF we have, so make what you will of that.

 

[Dancing Brave]

Stevie G is almost 31 and like-it-or-not he'll have to modify his game to keep going for another 3 or 4 seasons (hopefully). He has all the attributes required of a DM in that he's hard in the tackle, he reads the game brilliantly, he's decent in the air and he's a superb passer. I'd love to see him in this position next season and this would enable us to play Meireles as his CM partner.

New RM------------Meireles---------Gerrard-----------New LM
(Hazard?) (Young?)

-----------------------Suarez-----------Carroll-------------------------

 

[Jürgen4PM]

He's a very good player indeed imo.

He might struggle in a 4-4-2, but he fits in very well in a 3 man CM.

 

[mark1975]

I think we're perfectly set up now for 433, with hopefully a new addition to the attack coming in during the Summer. Ideally it should be an option of:


--------DM-----CM------------
---------Meireles-------------
-Kuyt----Carroll----Suarez-

OR

--------DM-----CM------------
---------Gerrard--------------
RW/RF---Carroll----Suarez-

Gerrard can even play the deeper role if needs be, but either way, it's perfectly set up for Ming, I don't how people can say he's that limited. No he doesn't play the 30 yard ball but he does have the ability to help dictate the tempo, by either getting his foot on the ball and looking at what's on, or by making the first time pass and keeping the momentum moving. He's also really, really excellent off the ball, he makes the kind of intelligent runs the likes of Scholes, Bowyer (when at Leeds) and Ljungberg made, playing between the lines and running from deep, it's a great option to have and a nightmare for defenders/DM's to pick up.

 

[gareth_thomas]

Quality player..

Him, Alonso and Gerrard in midfield would make me cream my pants.


The problem is... we would all love an Essien type player in our midfield..This would then free us up a little in the middle of the park and allow us to possibly play another striker... but what are the chances of us signing a world beater, capable of attacking and defending and dominating other teams when we arnt even in europe?
Meireles is adaptable and his ability shouldnt be underestimated. His runs cause havoc and force the opposition to lose shape. I consider Meireles to be a brilliant weapon we have at our disposal. To not make the most of it would be daft...

He may not be of the same quality as Essien but he is very important in our attempts to bring back pass and move football. Lucas has improved significantly but if anyone needs to be replaced its him. He is simply not good enough at defending, attacking or dictating play to hold down a position in our starting 11.

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=44635.msg1303476#msg1303476 date=1300748956]
Hmmm, interesting opinions.

I'm not sure about him. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'd prefer a team in the long-term without him. He's good, but he's never going to be great. He's 28, and has spent his career in Portugal. why did one of Europe's elite never come in for him? Because he's a luxury player in my view. Don't get me wrong - he's got all the talent in the World, but what's his actual position and role? He's not a defensive midfielder. He's not an attacking midfielder. He's not a passing midfielder. He's not a wide midfielder. He's just a good (somtimes very good) footballer who you can deploy pretty much anywhere and will do a good job. Pretty much like every other Portugese midfielder over the last 10 years - good, but beatable.

Before this turns into a character assassination, I want to spell out I like him. I genuinely do, he's got a great football brain and does a lot of the unnoticed, ugly work too ( his runs in behind Evra in the United game two weeks ago were sublime and could only come from a footballer with a fucking brain), and he's got plenty of other attributes that others have already mentioned I'm sure, but can we afford someone in central midfield like him?

Not sure.

Ideally you want a mix of defensive midfield steel, someone who canread the play and break it up, an attacking midfielder who can link the play and score 10+ goals etc etc, and in my view (of course this mightne be shared by everyone) an Alonso/Scholes type who passes and dictates the machine for 90 minutes. Raul doesn't fit into any of those for me. If you want to compete for titles and shit, you need a step up from him.

Good player. He'll never be great though.

[/quote]

Yup. I'd agree with that. Good player but if we were to sign someone like Adam or Diego and a decent DM, I'd struggle to fit him in the team. Useful player to have whatever the situation, though.

 

[ILD]

[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=44635.msg1303679#msg1303679 date=1300798481]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=44635.msg1303476#msg1303476 date=1300748956]
Hmmm, interesting opinions.

I'm not sure about him. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'd prefer a team in the long-term without him. He's good, but he's never going to be great. He's 28, and has spent his career in Portugal. why did one of Europe's elite never come in for him? Because he's a luxury player in my view. Don't get me wrong - he's got all the talent in the World, but what's his actual position and role? He's not a defensive midfielder. He's not an attacking midfielder. He's not a passing midfielder. He's not a wide midfielder. He's just a good (somtimes very good) footballer who you can deploy pretty much anywhere and will do a good job. Pretty much like every other Portugese midfielder over the last 10 years - good, but beatable.

Before this turns into a character assassination, I want to spell out I like him. I genuinely do, he's got a great football brain and does a lot of the unnoticed, ugly work too ( his runs in behind Evra in the United game two weeks ago were sublime and could only come from a footballer with a fucking brain), and he's got plenty of other attributes that others have already mentioned I'm sure, but can we afford someone in central midfield like him?

Not sure.

Ideally you want a mix of defensive midfield steel, someone who canread the play and break it up, an attacking midfielder who can link the play and score 10+ goals etc etc, and in my view (of course this mightne be shared by everyone) an Alonso/Scholes type who passes and dictates the machine for 90 minutes. Raul doesn't fit into any of those for me. If you want to compete for titles and shit, you need a step up from him.

Good player. He'll never be great though.

[/quote]

Yup. I'd agree with that. Good player but if we were to sign someone like Adam or Diego and a decent DM, I'd struggle to fit him in the team. Useful player to have whatever the situation, though.
[/quote]

I wouldn't waste money on Diego at this stage. We should have asked for him when we gave Juve Aqua.

Meireles is a great player and will play a lot of games for us.