Raul Meireles

[Craig_H]

You know what i mean though, whether we keep someone should be based on their ability to contribute to success on the field, not to do with money matters.

[Rich]

I'm not keen on these 'make business sense' decisions, it should be about what's best to help the club succeed on the pitch. If you get that right, the 'business' stuff will take care of itself.

You're effectively condoning the Man City route to success there.

Sensible management off the pitch and success on it, will do for me.

[Craig_H]

I'm not at all, i'm just saying if you succeed on the pitch, that will provide the catalyst for financial success off it.

Winning attracts more fans, bigger sponsorship deals, sells more merchandise etc etc.

I'm certainly not saying spend £400m on players or anything stupid like that.

Certainly run the club properly in a financial sense, but if we get into the realms of selling players who are good enough to make us succeed purely for money reasons, then i worry.

Of course, this also depends how much you rate Meireles as a player.

[danperkins]

I'm not at all, i'm just saying if you succeed on the pitch, that will provide the catalyst for financial success off it.

Winning attracts more fans, bigger sponsorship deals, sells more merchandise etc etc.

I'm certainly not saying spend £400m on players or anything stupid like that.

Certainly run the club properly in a financial sense, but if we get into the realms of selling players who are good enough to make us succeed purely for money reasons, then i worry.

Of course, this also depends how much you rate Meireles as a player.

[Rich]

I'm not at all, i'm just saying if you succeed on the pitch, that will provide the catalyst for financial success off it.

Winning attracts more fans, bigger sponsorship deals, sells more merchandise etc etc.

I'm certainly not saying spend £400m on players or anything stupid like that.

Certainly run the club properly in a financial sense, but if we get into the realms of selling players who are good enough to make us succeed purely for money reasons, then i worry.

Of course, this also depends how much you rate Meireles as a player.

Fair enough fella. Personally IF we bring in both Adam and Downing/Mata then it depends who we can sell for more dough - Meireles or Aquilani.

[Mostar]

Fair enough fella. Personally IF we bring in both Adam and Downing/Mata then it depends who we can sell for more dough - Meireles or Aquilani.

That's just it.

As it stands right now Aqua Man is coming back as we cannot get nearly as much as we were hoping for while Raul's perceived value is probably the highest we can expect given his age.

[Craig_H]

So we're keeping the inferior one and selling the better one, just for money.

[Baracus]

subjective. I believe the opposite. Neither are decent defensive midfielders and Aquilani is a better attacking midfielder and better in the Middle. Rual is a square peg that does not 'fit' into the team. Aquilani [adds some impetus as an impact player, something raul cannot]sub for Gerrard or Adam.

[RedReet]

subjective. I believe the opposite. Neither are decent defensive midfielders and Aquilani is a better attacking midfielder and better in the Middle. Rual is a square peg that does not 'fit' into the team. Aquilani [adds some impetus as an impact player, something raul cannot]sub for Gerrard or Adam.

What's that based on?

[Baracus]

based on when aquilani used to come on as a sub under rafa, he added something, always looking for the ball, always wanting to get involved. Raul although he is yet to come on as a sub, I just don't see him having that sort of impact, he goes missing in games. Subjective. My opinion. Don't mind if others disagree, but if it came down to which one of the two, I'd keep Aquilani.

[RedReet]

That’s fair enough, I just wanted to understand your point before I replied.

Hard to tell how well Aquilani could do under Kenny, but in terms of making an impact then I think Meireles clever movement could pose problems for tiring defences. 5 goals and 3 assists under Kenny was a decent return.

[red g]

Has the fanny left yet?

[Baracus]

@Redfeet. Maybe, we've just never seen him come on as a sub. He's always gone off as one thou. I don't think Raul would fancy a long stay on the bench, week in week out. Lets face it Aquilani is used to it. The last thing you want is an unhappy player and rauls agents already making noises. He already has 1 reason due to the wage dispute.

[RedReet]

@Redfeet. Maybe, we've just never seen him come on as a sub. He's always gone off as one thou. I don't think Raul would fancy a long stay on the bench, week in week out. Lets face it Aquilani is used to it. The last thing you want is an unhappy player and rauls agents already making noises. He already has 1 reason due to the wage dispute.

I've completely lost my train of though after noticing that!

[Baracus]

blame it on the weather reet