Raul Meireles

[cream]

He would have been a better option than Henderson but our real problem has been the defensive midfield position. Not having proper cover for Lucas means Gerrard has to player deeper, which means attacking midfield has been non existent, which means Gerrard trying do everything in midfield, which means we get over run. Sorry, not sure if Meireles would've helped but we certainly have a lack of quality midfielders.

[PTP]

[The_weatherman]

He would have been a better option than Henderson but our real problem has been the defensive midfield position. Not having proper cover for Lucas means Gerrard has to player deeper, which means attacking midfield has been non existent, which means Gerrard trying do everything in midfield, which means we get over run. Sorry, not sure if Meireles would've helped but we certainly have a lack of quality midfielders.

He might have been a better option in the present but I think the game time Henderson has got this season will make him a better player for us so that was probably a good investment.

I don't miss Meireles that much, although he seemed to link up well with Luis but given his ban they wouldn't have played much together

Nice to know that we have that money in the bank still so we can splash for a top midfielder and a top attacker in the summer.

[Exiled_red]

I don't think we are making the right comparison with Meireles last season for us he was very poor in central midfield and his best performances came when shifted out to wide areas. Maybe he would have been a useful player to have in a 3 man midfield, but I don't really see him as being better than Adam or Henderson in there.

The main question for me is would he have done better in the wide areas, because if he had stayed that's where he would have been playing IMO. This one is perhaps more difficult to answer and not being a winger he offers a different style of play to Bellamy/Downing on the left and he's less hard working than Kuyt and Henderson on the right, he could have been a useful option in these positions as Bellamy aside none of these players have shone in these roles.

That said I was saying in the summer that we should sell him while this stock was high (before I knew he was unhappy), and I've not seen anything of him at Chelsea that made me think I wish we'd kept him.

[RedReet]

I liked him as a player but because of his refusal to accept that he’s bald and because he thinks he can get away with it by having the most ridiculous hair in the PL, then I’m glad we got rid.

[dom9]

He's absolutely despised by their supporters which is nice. He's alright, certainly wouldnt have helped any problems in central midfield as he quite clearly cant play there, would have had some good games out wide, some disappearing acts. We got a great deal really.

They hate him?

[Rich]

He's a decent player but I was never sold on him. His lack of bite is shameful for a midfielder.

Biggest problem has been not using the money to bring in another midfielder - one that could have covered the Lucas injury.

[saj]

Has selling him worked out for us?

Would keeping him have helped our midfield this year in light of injuries to Gerrard and Lucas (not the same sort of player I know but CM has been heavily impacted by those 2 being out).

Has he done alright for Chelsea? He seems to be keeping Lampsy out of the team atm so he must be doing something right.

Discuss.

It has worked out in our favour big time. I have never rated him. Even the Porto fans never rated him. And the fact we sold him on a profit was fantastic business for us.

I can confirm what Tee says is true - he has been totally ****e for Chelsea and I'm staggered that he plays ahead of that fattie Lampard.

[Mostar]

No selling him hasn't worked out for us but he didn't exactly give us much choice.

We should've replaced him in January though.

I'm pretty confident Meireles wouldn't have helped cover for Lucas - his tracking for Napoli's first goal last night was hilarious for all but Chelsea. However, whilst technically he could have covered for Gerrard, I think a midfield of Spearing, Adam and Meireles would been weak in so many departments.

That was terrible. He gave Lavezzi so much room and didn't even try to close the distance or block the shot.

[Tee]

Anyone else concerened about Raul's hairstyle? WTF is that?

[Mattshark]

He's a decent player but I was never sold on him. His lack of bite is shameful for a midfielder.

Biggest problem has been not using the money to bring in another midfielder - one that could have covered the Lucas injury.

Any more so than either Adam or Henderson? I don't think so and he at present is certainly a better player than Henderson and he is a much more intelligent player than Adam who can't work well in tight space.

[Chris]

Any more so than either Adam or Henderson?

Are you serious on Adam?! He might not be good defensively but he certainly doesnt shy away from the physical stuff. He's also a better central midfielder.

[dom9]

I think that is harsh on Henderson too. Very much from the Lucas / ease the attacker out of the way with subtlety school of tackling.

[Mattshark]

Are you serious on Adam?! He might not be good defensively but he certainly doesnt shy away from the physical stuff. He's also a better central midfielder.

He doesn't cover his man and Meireles is better and quick short passing, imo Meireles is a far superior player.

I think that is harsh on Henderson too. Very much from the Lucas / ease the attacker out of the way with subtlety school of tackling.

Sorry mate but Henderson is poor defensively and not a good tackler.

[dom9]

I disagree.