Raul Meireles

[Rich]

I 100% believe that the Aquilani loan was entirely a Purslow move. Just as the Insua move was.

[Exiled_red]

I 100% believe that the Aquilani loan was entirely a Purslow move. Just as the Insua move was.

Well now Purslow has gone, what do people think are the chances of either coming back? Or would the money (for Aquilani) be too much to resist given that he is still unproven in the PL

[Mostar]

Well now Purslow has gone, what do people think are the chances of either coming back? Or would the money (for Aquilani) be too much to resist given that he is still unproven in the PL

That ship has already sailed. He is not coming back. Juve will pay out the asked amount in the summer time and he'll make the permanent switch.

[pondus]

Meireles signing always made no sense to me. There are players in there already that are going to be used. Whats the point in buying Meireles and then playing him out of position? Surely with buying Cole, and having Lucas/Gerrard/Poulsen in the centre Roy must have known where he wanted Meireles to play? Spent alot of money and i think other areas should have been addressed. Roy's signings have been terrible so far.

IMO its makes simple sense to play Kuyt on the right and Meireles behind Torres, at least Kuyt will give the RB whether it be Kelly or Johnson that extra bit of support. I don't think Roy trusts Meireles in CM with Lucas, with Stevie in there its added protection and he offers so much more than Meireles so i understand that, but FFS play Meireles centrally (preferably behind Nando) or don't play him at all. Meireles hasn't done himself any favours for sure, his passing is nothing short of atrocious, and to be honest i never thought it was that great previously but can't judge him until he is playing properly, clearly he is not a wide man.

And Meireles along with everyone else looked absolutely knackered last night.

Maybe he looked knackered because he was ill and puked before the match, still wanted to play, but had to be taken off at half time because he puked again. Just a thought.

[Fierce]

I've been impressed with the good parts, but they haven't been too forthcoming and I agree that it can be attributed to the almost bizarre use of him up till now

However, what I don't know is why the **** Hodgson felt that he's that much of an upgrade on Aquilani; who given his Prem experience and form towards the end of the season was surely a better option than spending £11m

Madness. His replacement would've needed to be something pretty special to warrant the expense and risk

[little dave hedgehog]

I've been impressed with the good parts, but they haven't been too forthcoming and I agree that it can be attributed to the almost bizarre use of him up till now

However, what I don't know is why the **** Hodgson felt that he's that much of an upgrade on Aquilani; who given his Prem experience and form towards the end of the season was surely a better option than spending £11m

Madness. His replacement would've needed to be something pretty special to warrant the expense and risk

actually we stand to make 2 million on the trade plus the difference in wages.

[Rudo]

I hope the Portugese comes good. i dont think he's particularly **** btw. just a bit 'meh'

[badpiggy]

Villas Boas, the Porto coach, had no problem letting him go and now Joao Moutinho runs the show for them (according to a journalist on Off The ball the other night). I kinda like him though and would like to see him played in a CM role regularly. Lucas/Mereiles with SG in front of them.

[el matador]

when he played for porto he didnt impress me at all.

i could never really figure out what his role in the team was and now that he's at anfield, i still cant figure out what he is supposed to be doing.

for someone with some kick ass tatoos and a shaved head he's not particularly tough. i was expecting eduard norton to come screaming out onto the pitch kicking some butt and bustin some caps but he's more cultured that that.

but he isnt cultured enough to warrant replacing alonso because his passing is average (i agree with some of the lads in that pass to torres for his 2nd v chelsea got there more by shocking defending than by good judgement) and he isnt tough enough to replace mascherano.

He is very mobile which doesnt really mean anything because why pay £11m for a marathon runner when you could go to africa and pick a couple up for free.

He has to start adding goals and assists to his game otherwise the fans will quickly cotton onto the fact that he's an illusionist.

Pretends to be doing a lot but actually is doing jack****.

[DannyMan2006]

Villas Boas, the Porto coach, had no problem letting him go and now Joao Moutinho runs the show for them (according to a journalist on Off The ball the other night). I kinda like him though and would like to see him played in a CM role regularly. Lucas/Mereiles with SG in front of them.

Villa Boas had no choice.

Personally I think he's a good player but doubt we'll see the best of him. In a 433 I think he would come good. Him, Lucas and Stevie in midfield would be top class.

[saj]

when he played for porto he didnt impress me at all.

i could never really figure out what his role in the team was and now that he's at anfield, i still cant figure out what he is supposed to be doing.

for someone with some kick ass tatoos and a shaved head he's not particularly tough. i was expecting eduard norton to come screaming out onto the pitch kicking some butt and bustin some caps but he's more cultured that that.

but he isnt cultured enough to warrant replacing alonso because his passing is average (i agree with some of the lads in that pass to torres for his 2nd v chelsea got there more by shocking defending than by good judgement) and he isnt tough enough to replace mascherano.

He is very mobile which doesnt really mean anything because why pay £11m for a marathon runner when you could go to africa and pick a couple up for free.

He has to start adding goals and assists to his game otherwise the fans will quickly cotton onto the fact that he's an illusionist.

Pretends to be doing a lot but actually is doing jack****.

I can't disagree with any of that - a fantastic and accurate post, particularly the last comment.

I've heard people post on here he's a good player becuase "he looks hungry" - what the hell does that mean? As you said, he's a player appears to do a lot (i.e. want the ball a lot, runs around a bit), but he doesn't actually do anything productive on or off the ball. As ridiculous as this sounds, Robbie Savage in his day was probably a better player - at least he could tackle and take a free kick.

We more or less have signed him based on his performance in the World Cup where he tore up the mighty...South Korea. I still remember when all of a sudden we became linked with him on the Friday after we had sold Mascherano - a fair few Porto supporters posted on BBC that they couldn't understand why Liverpool would want to sign him and that he was an average player. The only positive thing anybody said about him really was that he had a good shot.

[DannyMan2006]

You don't play for Portugal and Porto in midfield if you're average.

[saj]

You don't play for Portugal and Porto in midfield if you're average.

6 - 8 years ago yes that was the case but not now. For god's sake, Pedro Mendes played a part in all of their games AT THE WORLD CUP! He started two of their games and was a sub in the others. And Mendes is below average

[danperkins]

Portugal are not the same team they were for sure.

[Craig_H]

when he played for porto he didnt impress me at all.

i could never really figure out what his role in the team was and now that he's at anfield, i still cant figure out what he is supposed to be doing.

for someone with some kick ass tatoos and a shaved head he's not particularly tough. i was expecting eduard norton to come screaming out onto the pitch kicking some butt and bustin some caps but he's more cultured that that.

but he isnt cultured enough to warrant replacing alonso because his passing is average (i agree with some of the lads in that pass to torres for his 2nd v chelsea got there more by shocking defending than by good judgement) and he isnt tough enough to replace mascherano.

He is very mobile which doesnt really mean anything because why pay £11m for a marathon runner when you could go to africa and pick a couple up for free.

He has to start adding goals and assists to his game otherwise the fans will quickly cotton onto the fact that he's an illusionist.

Pretends to be doing a lot but actually is doing jack****.

It's his first ****ing season, FFS.

Would you like a player with the ability of Cristiano Ronaldo? Cos he was **** for his first 12-18 months....