Topic: The Raul "Cool as F**K" Meireles thread

[Uhoh AureliOs]

If we sold Meireles but add Coates and an another (say Affelay) for roughly the same would we be weakening our squad or spreading the depth around?

[sisterbliss]

Just makes absolutely no sense at all, why would we want to strengthen any team in the Prem yet alone one of our main rivals.  Can see it being a whole load of codswallop myself.

[robgomm]

TOO MANY MIDFIELDERS

NOT ENOUGH MIDFIELDERS

I gues we need to ask do we have the correct midfielders! Meireles is certainly someone we should keep. Did anyone else see him go on a little walk around Anfield on Saturday, I think maybe coming from one of the corporate boxes? He got a good reception going past the Anfield Road End and I didn't think he was saying goodbye

[GOD-9]

i will be absolutely livid if we sell Raul after letting Aquilani go. Even more so if he goes to Chelsea, it would beggar belief. We need to keep our best players, it is a squad game, seasons are not successfull based on having just 11 good players, we need to keep the quality we have. Different games call for different personnel and as one of our outstanding individuals last season i will not be happy at all if he is sold. If he doesnt start, he has shown the difference he can make coming off the bench. Its only 3 games down, im sure he will get his chance.

[buzzing]

WIth Gerrard almost back CM options have good depth. Yosi does something different, which is why i think we're after him - Do i want it to happen no...yosi turned his back on us, so he can sit on the bench over there.

[Gromit]

If we sold Meireles but add Coates and an another (say Affelay) for roughly the same would we be weakening our squad or spreading the depth around?

Someone like Affelay would offer genuine pace and width, something we don't have much of so sacrificing Meireles would make some sense.  But Benayoun?  An aging player with more frequent injuries while strengthening a top 4 rival is just shooting ourselves in the foot.  Imagine getting Essien for 10m + Cole, we'd be pissing ourselves laughing.

[Discipline]

If we sold Meireles but add Coates and an another (say Affelay) for roughly the same would we be weakening our squad or spreading the depth around?

Bit of both. Would rather Coates and Meireles though. It's not like we need to sell to buy nowadays.

[theparrot]

If we can replace him with quality I wouldn't be too bothered. I think he's overrated by many LFC fans.

[Discipline]

If we can replace him with quality I wouldn't be too bothered. I think he's overrated by many LFC fans.

Oh no you didn't.

[MKelly34]

So... Torres scored both goals against them in our first game last season, and Raul scored in the other.
I think that is their transfer strategy really. Sign a Liverpool player that scored against you.

[the good half]

My plane has been re routed to Belfast!!!


Anyway,

Hate the thought of losing such a quality player, but 10 million and Sturridge as someone suggested would be a nice way to ease the stress.

[Discipline]

So... Torres scored both goals against them in our first game last season, and Raul scored in the other.
I think that is their transfer strategy really. Sign a Liverpool player that scored against you.

Yeap. Also make sure you attempt to unsettle them 48 hours to go at the end of each window. ;\

[JP!]

If we can replace him with quality I wouldn't be too bothered. I think he's overrated by many LFC fans.

Careful mate, don't tell the truth like that, you'll get lynched.

[shall78]

No way. this guy is to cool for Chelsea, he was looking sharp when he came on and linked up for the goals against Arsenal, we should not be selling him, no disrespect to Yossi but the guy will spend most of his time in the treatment room

[Redstafarian]

Chelsea. Not even Man City would be so arrogant. Twats.

[MKelly34]

Yeap. Also make sure you attempt to unsettle them 48 hours to go at the end of each window. ;\

Bunch of plastic c*nts mate. I'm fuming.

We should bench Suarez against them and try to score with other players this season, just in case.

[Discipline]

Bunch of plastic c*nts mate. I'm fuming.

We should bench Suarez against them and try to score with other players this season, just in case.

Should play Poulsen upfront. Might actually score from a corner.

To be honest though, I'm not that worried. RM won't leave.

[Forman]

As much as I am happy with the signings of Adam and Henderson, I can't help but think we will be weakening our midfield by selling both Aquilani and Meireles.

For a team which is getting back to its pass and move ways, the sale of two great pass and move players makes no sense.

We are trying to get strength in depth and I think selling Meireles completely goes against this. If Gerrard remains injured then our starting midfield would be Adam, Lucas and Henderson. Who would be our creative central midfielder coming off the bench to make chances? Spearing? I wouldn't like to depend on Shelvey just yet.

Meireles has formed a great understanding with Suarez since his arrival and I'd hate to think he'd be shipped out to Chelsea to re-form one with Torres.

[JP!]

As much as I am happy with the signings of Adam and Henderson, I can't help but think we will be weakening our midfield by selling both Aquilani and Meireles.

For a team which is getting back to its pass and move ways, the sale of two great pass and move players makes no sense.

We are trying to get strength in depth and I think selling Meireles completely goes against this. If Gerrard remains injured then our starting midfield would be Adam, Lucas and Henderson. Who would be our creative central midfielder coming off the bench to make chances? Spearing? I wouldn't like to depend on Shelvey just yet.

Meireles has formed a great understanding with Suarez since his arrival and I'd hate to think he'd be shipped out to Chelsea to re-form one with Torres.

MEIRELES HARDLY EVER PLAYS IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD. Christ.

[Sinead7]

I would be devastated if we sold Raul, if he went abroad I would miss him but be ok, but for him to go to another PL team let alone Chelsea I would be very annoyed. Also, on the subject of Yossi,

"I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea, it is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player. Hopefully we will be successful.“

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/tm_headline=yossi-benayoun-leaves-liverpool-fc-for-chelsea%26method=full%26objectid=26775854%26siteid=100252-name_page.html#ixzz1WVmfBYQa

He can fuck right off.  Also like others have said, the last thing we want to do is to strengthen our rivals.

[Redstafarian]

MEIRELES HARDLY EVER PLAYS IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD. Christ.

Christ doesn't either, but I doubt he could do much better than Raul if he did.

[john_mac]

Trust Kenny. He will not be bullied into doing anything and if he decides to let Raul go it will be for the best for LFC, end of.

[Juan Loco]

MEIRELES HARDLY EVER PLAYS IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD. Christ.

Seems to be being forgotten. Hell, Kenny more often than not has played him off the flanks. Not even "behind the striker". He's only really played in the centre when Kenny's gone to his 5 at the back system.

Happy if he stays, happy if he goes and we replace him with an attacker. I'd rather we not sell him just to have the money, but I've no doubts we could bring in a player who could be more useful. That's the key here though - another attacker is more useful than the money. Raul Meireles is more useful than the money.

[JP!]

Christ doesn't either, but I doubt he could do much better than Raul if he did.

That pretty much sums up the level of debate in this thread. The cult of Raul Meireles.

Trust Kenny. He will not be bullied into doing anything and if he decides to let Raul go it will be for the best for LFC, end of.

[Juan Loco]

"I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea, it is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player. Hopefully we will be successful.“

"It's shite here. To be honest, I didn't really want to come, but my agent wanted his 15%"

[Redstafarian]

That pretty much sums up the level of debate in this thread. The cult of Raul Meireles.

Go on, debate me on it.

[Uhoh AureliOs]

Someone like Affelay would offer genuine pace and width, something we don't have much of so sacrificing Meireles would make some sense.  But Benayoun?  An aging player with more frequent injuries while strengthening a top 4 rival is just shooting ourselves in the foot.  Imagine getting Essien for 10m + Cole, we'd be pissing ourselves laughing.

I'm with you on Yossi, I wouldn't have him back here. 

Bit of both. Would rather Coates and Meireles though. It's not like we need to sell to buy nowadays.

Sure but we've still got make sure we can live within our means, FFP and all that.

[Forman]

MEIRELES HARDLY EVER PLAYS IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD. Christ.

Are you unable to control your caps lock?

Regardless of where he's played, whether on the wing or behind the striker the point remains the same.

He is a very creative pass and move player who has formed a very good understanding with Suarez. Add to that the fact that we need strength in depth.

[poopscoop]

Bunch of plastic c*nts mate. I'm fuming.

We should bench Suarez against them and try to score with other players this season, just in case.

That's a sound strategy

[drpepe]

I'm with you on Yossi, I wouldn't have him back here. 
Sure but we've still got make sure we can live within our means, FFP and all that.

yes , agree
is also wasteful (in money and in talent) to have expensive players sat on the bench or in the stands

we know we have gerrard to return, so competition will be even greater  for raul. If we were in europe i would say it would be fairly imperative to keep him... but do we have the games to keep such a large squad happy and playing?

[Discipline]

Sure but we've still got make sure we can live within our means, FFP and all that.

FFP only affects clubs in the CL doesn't it? Could muck around next year with it. RM would help us a lot to push for the top 4.

[poopscoop]

Unless Comolli has something concrete lined up, it would be lunacy to allow a player, however out of favour they may be,  to leave. We got dicked twice last season, on the Mascherano deal and on Torres - both falling in the latter period of the window leaving little time to adequately replace.
In bound transfers, by all means bring em on. But our outbound business, unless it is the likes of Degen, Poulsen and Mr Cole, should now be done. If they come calling again in January after we've twatted them and they've had time to consider the mistake of offering such a shit fee, the club can consider /dismiss at its leisure.   
Raul should stay as a valued squad option.   

[theparrot]

Happy if he stays, happy if he goes and we replace him with an attacker. I'd rather we not sell him just to have the money, but I've no doubts we could bring in a player who could be more useful. That's the key here though - another attacker is more useful than the money. Raul Meireles is more useful than the money.

Spot on. His age is probably a big factor in this for Comolli and FSG especially if he isn't a part of Kenny's long term plans. I'd imagine a RW will be brought in at some time over the next 12 months (plus Sterling will probably be promoted next season) which will push Raul further down the pecking order.  It's probably the last chance to get a decent fee for him this summer.

[robgomm]

MEIRELES HARDLY EVER PLAYS IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD. Christ.

He's played all across the midfield and behind the striker. He's capable everywhere. He's also successfully crossed to Carroll in the game against Man City, pretty much the best ball into Carroll you could make (the second goal). For that alone we should keep him

[Cruiser]

Really hope this doesn't unsettle him.

We need the quality that he brings wether its off the bench or not.

[jDJ]

He's a good, technically sound player.

I understand the club, under the new regime and player procurement strategy, considering cashing in on a 28 year old who is in and out of the first team but find it staggering people can defend it on a purely footballing level without knowing who's going to come in and replace him.

He was one of our best players last season and has already come on and changed the game away at the Emirates.  It was barely a week ago we were all waxing lyrical about how fantastic it is we're in the privileged position of bringing quality like Meireles off the bench.  If Henderson or Adam were to get injured next week, Raul would start every game either on the right or in the centre.  He can play off the striker, right midfield, left midfield or in a deeper central midfield position.  He's not world class but a very solid performer who can play in a number of different roles.

Like I say, if there's a contract dispute or perhaps a big offer for a player with no resale value then I can understand the moneyball strategists cashing in but strange match going football supporters could be quite so keen.

[Ron]

One of the best last season.
I would hate to see him go.
Even more if he went to another Premiership club.
By the way, how bad was his injury from the Exeter match ?

[Ron]

He's a good, technically sound player.

I understand the club, under the new regime and player procurement strategy, considering cashing in on a 28 year old who is in and out of the first team but find it staggering people can defend it on a purely footballing level without knowing who's going to come in and replace him.

He was one of our best players last season and has already come on and changed the game away at the Emirates.  It was barely a week ago we were all waxing lyrical about how fantastic it is we're in the privileged position of bringing quality like Meireles off the bench.  If Henderson or Adam were to get injured next week, Raul would start every game either on the right or in the centre.  He can play off the striker, right midfield, left midfield or in a deeper central midfield position.  He's not world class but a very solid performer who can play in a number of different roles.

Like I say, if there's a contract dispute or perhaps a big offer for a player with no resale value then I can understand the moneyball strategists cashing in but strange match going football supporters could be quite so keen.

Totally agree with you !

[John C]

- Do i want it to happen no...yosi turned his back on us, so he can sit on the bench over there.

Yossi was told he can leave by Rafa mate, you should know its been churned over enough times on here.

[Matt8Pie]

Having squad depth like Meireles or Adam coming off the bench could be vital to getting into the Champions League rather than having to pray Gerrard doesn't get injured when he comes in or relying on the young Shelvey as back up. How much money would we get by getting into the Champions League? Surely that's something that needs to be considered if there's a monetary issue with Raul?