Raul Meireles

[Qantaga]

Just copy and paste my formation without quoting why don't you, plagiarism will get you nowhere.





\G

Cock, thought that would go unnoticed

It was a 'quick reply' that's why it happened! But worry not...

EDIT:

\Q

[Rudo]

I very much agree with you on this one, many people were putting Gerrard ahead of him, I personally think Gerrard is better being kept back a little, I feel we have more control over the game this way, and given the increase in attacking options that's opened up for us recently, Gerrard playing further up wouldn't benefit our side.

\Q

yep
- and it's not as if it totally restricts Gerrad from getting forward, at the right times.
Even yesterday he got forward a few times - would have had an assist to his name but for Maxi's dreadful miss and obviously crossed the ball in for the goal.

Just think Gerrard's tackling ability and experience means he's better suited to playing in the deeper role.

[little dave hedgehog]

With Suarez and Carroll in the team i hope we will line up something like this
-------Reina--------
-Kelly-Carra-Agger-Johnson-
-------Lucas---------------
---Gerrard------Raul------
--Kuyt-- Carroll--- Suarez---

Almost a 4-3-3 while going forward but when defending it will switch back to a 4-5-1 similar to how Arsenal play, we have all seen Kuyts massive work rate so he will get back and from what i saw at the stoke game Suarez seems similar, I have a good feeling about this squad, we are on the up!

i think it could be a mistake to play both pepe and lucas on the right.

[Zapater]

Well, I'll happily stick my hand up and say I've got it wrong when in the thread I stated that he was a just above average player. It's difficult to see how different players will go when they play in different systems in different leagues. As at Porto he was always overshadowed by the other midfielders. Now it seems he has the freedom to do what he wants here rather than being a member of the support team. His goalscoring return is very pleasing. We have to do as much as possible to ensure this continues as it could be priceless on the points table towards the end of the season.

[SB]

i think it could be a mistake to play both pepe and lucas on the right.

Knit wit

[Rudo]

http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/02/08/football-premier-league-liverpool-raul-meireles-roy-hodgson-kenny-dalglish/

Liverpool Fans Still Have Roy Hodgson to Thank for One Thing: Raul Meireles

Roy Hodgson might be nothing more than the smallest footnote in the history of Liverpool - but he may well have left a bigger legacy than most fans have yet to realise.

Hodgson's fate meant his managerial tenure was sandwiched between those of two Kop idols, Rafa Benitez and Kenny Dalglish.

The former Fulham manager was never truly accepted as the man who could return the club to winning ways and his short time on Merseyside was spent steering Liverpool even closer to the rocks rather than fulfilling the "steadying the ship" role he had been brought in to do.

However, Liverpool's fans do have to thank Hodgson for one thing. And that one thing is Raul Meireles.

Meireles was Hodgson's first major signing at Liverpool because although he was in charge when Joe Cole joined in the summer, the majority of the deal had already been done before Hodgson's arrival.

And what a purchase Meireles has turned out to be in recent weeks.

The £11.5 million midfielder has scored four goals in his last five games, including the winner against Chelsea at the weekend, and has played a huge part in Liverpool's recent revival.

However, the praise of Hodgson for bringing in the player has to stop almost before it is begun because it is Dalglish who deserves greater acknowledgement for the way he has got the best out of the Portuguese midfielder.

Under Hodgson, Meireles was played in a more peripheral position on the right of midfield and he never really looked at home there.

While his effort and workrate was commendable, it was crystal clear that Meireles was not a natural wide player and as a consequence he was only having a minor influence on Liverpool's performances.

Yet that has now all changed because Dalglish has brought him into the centre of midfield wherev he has blossomed.

Meireles was also clearly helped by Steven Gerrard's recent three-match ban following the Liverpool captain's dismissal in the FA Cup Third Round loss against Manchester United.

That forced Meireles to take on more responsibility in the middle and also helped him forge a fine partnership with Lucas which has subsequently given Gerrard the freedom to play a more forward role.

That suits everybody - and most importantly suits Liverpool and although Dalglish might not have signed him, he knows how important Meireles is to the Anfield cause.

He said: "Understandably Raul has been getting some headlines for the goals he's scored in recent weeks.

"His performances have been what I've expected. I knew he was a good footballer before he came to the club and he's shown that.

"He's intelligent and very good technically; he puts in a pile of running too. He's getting on the scoresheet so often because he's playing a bit further forward and those goals are a huge bonus for us."

Meireles is indeed a huge bonus. And the ironic fact that Dalglish is now profiting from the foresight of his predecessor is just another notable twist in a Anfield season that has already been packed with talking points.

[Rowan]

What a load of ****e. Roy didn't even know who he ****ing was. 'the foresight of his predecessor' my arse.

[JohnDoe]

Funniest article in a long time.

[Mostar]

What a load of ****e. Roy didn't even know who he ****ing was. 'the foresight of his predecessor' my arse.

Clearly he wasn't. Roy signings are quite easy to spot as no one in the right mind would pay any decent money for Konk and Poulsen's services..

[Drago]

So who's supposed to have signed him then?

[little dave hedgehog]

rafa, from an underground bunker beneath wimbledon green

[Drago]

[Rudo]

So who's supposed to have signed him then?

Craig

[Shanks]

Not in a Liverpool shirt, no.

I dont give a **** what a player's done elsewhere, at LFC people should get a proper chance.

The thing with me and my attitude with Cole is well known on here, but i'm not stupid enough to say he should be in the side when he is out of form, not match sharp, and when others in the team are justifying their place. At the moment, of course Cole shouldnt be in the side.

But....he hasnt had a proper chance at Liverpool yet, and i am not going to write him off before he has had a genuine opportunity to make a go of things at LFC.

I hope he gets a chance under Dalglish..

Not sure where and when but he may have to come to terms with being a squad player now..

[Exiled_red]

What a load of ****e. Roy didn't even know who he ****ing was. 'the foresight of his predecessor' my arse.