Raul Meireles

[Mostar]

Exactly mate, I'd rather keep Meireles and get rid of Aqua, Cole and Poulsen

I'd keep Aqua and sell Raul if selling him would help us finance better CB and/or a new striker.

[fatistuta]

Aquilani is supposed to have said he's close to signing for AC Milan. I thought Raul was awesome yesterday, his intelligence shone through and between him and Suarez we looked more like Arsenal than Arsenal did with the quick passing and movement. I understand he's not likely to be a regular starter ahead of Adam, Lucas and Gerrard, but he's a good deputy for creativity when Gerrard is missing, plus if we find ourselves chasing a game late on we could add him to the team as a sub for Lucas giving us a multiple creative threat when desperate.

[Exiled_red]

Yeah - agreed. Lively in forward positions. Still not the player to deputise for Adam or Lucas though.

[Vermilion]

I thought Raul bottled it and choose to pass to Luis when he really should have cooly slotted it past the keeper....he was in on goal, pass only just made it to Luis too.

Over critical you think ?

[Arn]

Meireles is a class better than Adam. Adam is a very good PL player. Meireles is a top class player.

Adam may one day be as good as Meireles but he isn't that yet.

[Shaggy]

I thought Raul bottled it and choose to pass to Luis when he really should have cooly slotted it past the keeper....he was in on goal, pass only just made it to Luis too.

Over critical you think ?

Just slightly. Surely you're joking? Luis was much better placed and the pass was absolutely the right thing to do. Unselfish and good awareness.

[Vermilion]

Just slightly. Surely you're joking? Luis was much better placed and the pass was absolutely the right thing to do. Unselfish and good awareness.

Tbh, i got the idea after watching the slow mo of the action in question, and it just looked like the obvious thing to do was shoot, but as i say, over critical....maybe purposely.. and based on slow mo footage.

Thats my defence.

But i bet ya had the pass been intercepted as it nearly was or we had not scored...everyone would be saying 'Wtf did'nt Raul shoot!"

I think Raul adds a lot to the squad, on and off the field, and a happy camp is a productive camp.

[McDermotX]

Looked pretty angry yesterday..........I know the whole Lucas finger thing, but he did seem to be giving it loads during the celebration.

[RedReet]

I thought Raul bottled it and choose to pass to Luis when he really should have cooly slotted it past the keeper....he was in on goal, pass only just made it to Luis too.

Over critical you think ?

Maybe he did. He skyed a good opportunity not longe before this, so that might have played on his mind.

[Vermilion]

Looked pretty angry yesterday..........I know the whole Lucas finger thing, but he did seem to be giving it loads during the celebration.

I would love to have the 'finger' issue cleared up, has none of the players involved tweeted with the real and undisputed reason for it.

He did look really upset about whatever it was, to the extent that players seemed to be saying to him...'come on it's ok'....'cheer up'...or...'forget it it's not worth it' ?

You know, that type of body language type thing...?

[Fernandinho]

I am with ya mate.

[Shaggy]

Thought the same thing. Assumed it was a bit of pent-up anger about him being touted around, left out etc. No problem with that. Lad wants to stay and it's good to see.

[Vermilion]

Thought the same thing. Assumed it was a bit of pent-up anger about him being touted around, left out etc. No problem with that. Lad wants to stay and it's good to see.

Thing is, i understand the 'no problem with that', and the reasons why you and me tbh have no problem with it.

But if that is the case, and the reason for it...then it would follow that 'the finger', was meant for...if not aimed at...er....Kenny ?????????

Which is why i hope it was something else.

Is a bit of a conicidence that earlier in the same game an Arsenal player gave the one finger salute too, so i'm hoping it was all related and our Raul just got a bit carried away.

[McDermotX]

I personally think he was told that the hair and tattoos weren't fooling anyone...............and he was told to man the **** up.
So now he's walking around snarling at people and giving them the rods at any opportunity.

[RedReet]

And after that Suarez goal, Raul Meireles celebrated by giving Lucas the finger -- a joke in reference to when Emmanuel Frimpong, who was sent off in the 70th minute, did the same thing to Lucas earlier. Albeit with a bit more anger.

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Raul-Meireles-jokingly-gives-Lucas-the-finger?urn=sow-wp4248