Raul Meireles

[Lecter]

I like him.

Me too hes the best buy Roy has made (which isnt saying much I know)

I think with other players around him and different tactics he could be VERY good

[Craig_H]

Fair enough but even still, you don't need to see a player for 50 matches to see what he adds/doesn't add to the team...ie being an influence on the match, winning his tackles, passing the ball and generally making a big enough contribution to make you think - yeah this player was a good buy.

With Meireles, i just don't know what to think tbh, can't say one way or another.

I think sometimes it can need, even a whole season, before you see the best of a player, or who that 'real' player is. Especially with foreign imports.

Even people as prominent as Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo looked utter turd in their first season, or even 2 seasons.

It doesnt always, but it CAN sometimes take even upto a year or 18 months before you can make a judgement which is a true reflection.

[Arn]

Play him in the Xabi position in a 4-2-3-1 and it would suit him excellent. I doubt that he will deliver as long as we have Roy as our manager.

Our tactics just doens't suit him at all. You could say that of course about many of our players.

[red g]

I think sometimes it can need, even a whole season, before you see the best of a player, or who that 'real' player is. Especially with foreign imports.

Even people as prominent as Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo looked utter turd in their first season, or even 2 seasons.

It doesnt always, but it CAN sometimes take even upto a year or 18 months before you can make a judgement which is a true reflection.

and thats into a quality team too.....loook at Malouda for Chelsea.

I think he has done pretty well consider he is playing for a manager who has been playing him on the right for several games

[elrichio86]

Play him in the Xabi position in a 4-2-3-1 and it would suit him excellent. I doubt that he will deliver as long as we have Roy as our manager.

Our tactics just doens't suit him at all. You could say that of course about many of our players.

I think we would have had a significantly better season last year if we'd had Meireles than Aquilani - he seems suited to Rafa's tactics. Raul and Lucas as a CM pairing do have a lot of potential IMO.

[Arn]

and thats into a quality team too.....loook at Malouda for Chelsea.

I think he has done pretty well consider he is playing for a manager who has been playing him on the right for several games

Ancelotti changed his system to suit the players when he took charge. Diamond shape midfield now. He didn't use that at Milan.

Roy is trying to get the players to suit his 1000 year old system instead of doing what Ancelotti dit. Change his system to suit the players.

Malouda didn't deliver in his first season because the system didn't suit him. Now it does.

[Arn]

I think we would have had a significantly better season last year if we'd had Meireles than Aquilani - he seems suited to Rafa's tactics. Raul and Lucas as a CM pairing do have a lot of potential IMO.

[banditos]

Play him in the Xabi position in a 4-2-3-1 and it would suit him excellent. I doubt that he will deliver as long as we have Roy as our manager.

Our tactics just doens't suit him at all. You could say that of course about many of our players.

That's actually where he has lined up in the last two games, next to Lucas (Mascher role).

[The Birdman]

Can't pass and can't shoot???
FFS really?
Watch him in the next game he plays, he has move movement, more 'give and go' or 'pass and move' than the Lucas, Gerrard, Cole and Poulson (when he plays) combined.
He opens his body out when receiving the ball, plays with head up and knows his next pass before he has received the ball, watch him adjust his body shape and manipulate the ball when it comes to him to fit his next pass.

He's a really good player playing for a dinasour of a manager with a back 4 behind him who all treat the football like a hand grenade with the pin pulled out.

Anyone who thinks he is a poor player has absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

[dww]

The problem seems to me to be that we have too many players who can link well but need someone to instigate the pattern of play or make them make moves. Farbregas and Xabi would be the prime examples of that sort of player in the PL in recent years (obviously Iniesta and Xavi the most prominent internationally).

I like Meireles but from what I have seen, like too many of our players, I think he requires a strong tactically aware manager to get the best out of him. I can't see sitting deep with little movement and waiting for the opposition to move out of position suiting Maxi, Lucas, Meireles or Cole any time soon.

[Norbs]

As the team improves I think we'll see all the new signings relax and start to build in confidence. All of them, even Poulsen

[Imy]

IMO he's been better then Cole

[dww]

IMO he's been better then Cole

Cole, despite some flashes of inspiration, has generally been terrible.

[Imy]

Cole, despite some flashes of inspiration, has generally been terrible.

We looked so much better when Ngog came on yesterday.

[RedReet]

Any news on the injury? (Cole)