Raul Meireles

[Cormack74]

Where was Raul today?

[little dave hedgehog]

ankle trouble. minor injury.

[Cormack74]

ankle trouble. minor injury.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

[Muddled]

I agree that it isn't very instructive to lump them all together as 'midfielder' or even 'central midfielders'. Not sure I'd agree with your groupings, although before we have seen a few friendlies and have some idea of how Kenny wants the team to line up it is difficult taks to make the division IMO.

Yeah, the titles of the roles and the players that fill them, is up for debate - it was a rushed post to highlight that reading a long list of midfield names doesn't particularly mean we are overloaded in the centre of the park.

It is also up for a little bit of tweaking when we get an idea of the formation we will play in the Premiership - playing a 4-2-3-1 will mean different categories to say a 4-3-3 and would be completely different to a 4-4-2.

I'd even dare to suggest that if we do play a 4-4-2, we would be very shy of quality central midfielders in the oldest sense.

[Muddled]

Nice way of breaking things down and looking into our options this way Muddled.

I do think we will sell at least 2 and one will go on a loan but that still leave us with 6 midfield players that we can alternate and utilize in different roles and formation if we have injuries, suspensions and lack of good form.

This is true, if Aqualani and Poulsen do go then perhaps it could be considered that we are a little light again - but this would depend on the formation and the points I've made in my previous post.

It's good to start building a squad of strength though and we are certainly moving in the right direction.

[dww]

Yeah, the titles of the roles and the players that fill them, is up for debate - it was a rushed post to highlight that reading a long list of midfield names doesn't particularly mean we are overloaded in the centre of the park.

It is also up for a little bit of tweaking when we get an idea of the formation we will play in the Premiership - playing a 4-2-3-1 will mean different categories to say a 4-3-3 and would be completely different to a 4-4-2.

I'd even dare to suggest that if we do play a 4-4-2, we would be very shy of quality central midfielders in the oldest sense.

I'm not sure we have ideal players for a 4-4-2 but United showed last season that some fairly odd combinations (on paper at least) can work in the PL at the minute. I would think Downing being on the left would make it easier to play a less disciplined/strong tackling player in the middle making say Lucas+Gerrard or Aquilani an viable option which it wasn't before.

[anfieldanfield]

Yeah, the titles of the roles and the players that fill them, is up for debate - it was a rushed post to highlight that reading a long list of midfield names doesn't particularly mean we are overloaded in the centre of the park.

It is also up for a little bit of tweaking when we get an idea of the formation we will play in the Premiership - playing a 4-2-3-1 will mean different categories to say a 4-3-3 and would be completely different to a 4-4-2.

I'd even dare to suggest that if we do play a 4-4-2, we would be very shy of quality central midfielders in the oldest sense.

Rarely, if ever can I see us playing 4-4-2, but if we do then I guess it would be this....

--------Carroll-Suarez
Downing---------------Dirk Kuyt
--------Gerrard--Lucas
Aurelio--Skrtel--Carra--Johnson
------------Reina

[dww]

Interesting analysis - Raul comes 2nd in terms of defensive 'wingers' in the PL. Kuyt and Maxi in the top 5.

http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/wd_31vhaqeantzuqnwnwxg/Show/Premier-League-Defensive-Wingers-Marc-Albrighton-Raul-Meireles-Steed-Malbranque-Dirk-Kuyt-Maxi-Rodriguez

[little dave hedgehog]

i like him.

[Norbs]

How about this one Angryred?