Topic: Meireles: I didn't force Chelsea move

[Broken Accidental Stars]

Got respect for him because of this. Too many players willing to see out lucrative contracts without playing.

A big pay rise at Chelsea helps.

[Juliano]

A big pay rise at Chelsea helps.

Say you work for a big company. You're only seen as surplus to requirements inside your division, not always invited to strategic meetings and so on. A rival company comes in and offers you higher wages to work for them. What is it you're going to do?

Football is their job. Like you, they're going to make career choices to suit them best.

[nonkiwi-nonblue]

Did great for us. Moved on coz he wants to start games. What's wrong in that?

Maybe the fact that he could have started games for us if he worked harder.
And if he tried to push himself and improve himself, then maybe he would be able to work back into our side.
It disappoints me that footballers these days, as soon as they're pushed out of the first team, they give up, and go to another side that they fit into.
How about putting in some fucking effort at training and impress the boss and work your way back into the team like everyone else.
Fucking selfish is what it is.

[eirwen]

Maybe the fact that he could have started games for us if he worked harder.
And if he tried to push himself and improve himself, then maybe he would be able to work back into our side.
It disappoints me that footballers these days, as soon as they're pushed out of the first team, they give up, and go to another side that they fit into.
How about putting in some fucking effort at training and impress the boss and work your way back into the team like everyone else.
Fucking selfish is what it is.

Everyone is selfish. By your logic no player should ever change clubs. 
It's clear our current management didn't rate him that much. And it's not like he's young enough to sit on benches for a season or two. I see nothing wrong with him leaving.

He played very well for us during one of our worst seasons, was on low wages, and left us some money. So good luck to him. No need to get bitter about every player who left. It's all part of the game.

[Broken Accidental Stars]

Say you work for a big company. You're only seen as surplus to requirements inside your division, not always invited to strategic meetings and so on. A rival company comes in and offers you higher wages to work for them. What is it you're going to do?

Football is their job. Like you, they're going to make career choices to suit them best.

Didn't say anything against that. Just doesn't warrant great respect.

[Billy The Kid.]

Maybe the fact that he could have started games for us if he worked harder.
And if he tried to push himself and improve himself, then maybe he would be able to work back into our side.
It disappoints me that footballers these days, as soon as they're pushed out of the first team, they give up, and go to another side that they fit into.
How about putting in some fucking effort at training and impress the boss and work your way back into the team like everyone else.
Fucking selfish is what it is.

What a load of absolute bollox.

Work harder? He was our 2nd best player in the 2nd half of last season, and would have been our best player only for Lucas having a blinder of a season. Some of the best attacking football that we played was orchestrated by Raul. It looked to me like he was pushing himself. It seems you got the impression that he was slacking off? Fuck only knows what brought you to that conclusion.

It's all very well saying that he needs to push himself and improve to get back in the team. But the fact of the matter is, Raul was not a Kenny signing. The fact that Kenny went out and purchased Adam and Henderson, and then proceeded to start both players ahead of Raul tells you everything you need to know. Raul was not in Kenny's future plans. Although he is a very good player, he was clearly not the type of player that Kenny wanted as a first choice central midfielder. Those slots now belong to Lucas and Adam.

And when you consider that Gerrard is yet to return, then the prospect of Raul featuring with any degree of regularity becomes reduced even further. It's not that he gave up. It's just being pragmatic. I mean, there's no point trying to force square pegs into round holes. Raul just didn't fit the Kenny blueprint. That's all. Slating him for not working hard to improve and impress is just bollox really. We got good money for a player of his age, who to be fair served us well. It was in the best interest of both parties really. I have no ill will towards Raul. None whatsoever.

 

[Gojedo]

The point that he did or did not force a move became mute the moment he left.

[NaoiDeag]

Say you work for a big company. You're only seen as surplus to requirements inside your division, not always invited to strategic meetings and so on. A rival company comes in and offers you higher wages to work for them. What is it you're going to do?

Eh, maybe get the finger out and do everything in your power to make yourself indispensable?

Anyone think he's going to be first pick for Chelsea either? I don't

One other thing, how many would have had him in your starting line ups for any of the three league games so far? Not me.

[eirwen]

I don't think many people would have picked Henderson or Adam ahead of Raul before the Bolton game.

[beardsley4ever]

Why can't people see this as a win-win-win situation?

Liverpool win, because we got £13m for a player who is 28 years old and clearly not part of the manager's plans.

Chelsea win, because they get a very good central midfielder.

Raul wins, because he gets a big payrise and gets to play more.


Do I wish that he'd gone somewhere other than Chelsea given we compete directly with them in the league?  Sure.  But in the absence of other credible alternatives, I can't be that arsed about it given that we got good money from them.

[Finn Solomon]

Why can't people see this as a win-win-win situation?

Liverpool win, because we got £13m for a player who is 28 years old and clearly not part of the manager's plans.

Chelsea win, because they get a very good central midfielder.

Raul wins, because he gets a big payrise and gets to play more.


Do I wish that he'd gone somewhere other than Chelsea given we compete directly with them in the league?  Sure.  But in the absence of other credible alternatives, I can't be that arsed about it given that we got good money from them.

Sums it up for me.

[Alan_X]

Good guy.  Let's move on.  What's done is done.

Is correct...

Just noticed - five fucking pages!...

[Terry De Niro]

I don't think many people would have picked Henderson or Adam ahead of Raul before the Bolton game.

Wasn't he injured for that match?

[Paragon]

Wasn't he injured for that match?

Correct. He picked up an injury at Exeter City a few days before.

[red_to_the_toe]

That's fine. But your observation not to care as he wouldn't be near the first team is lacking in looking at the bigger picture.

Maths is my job, as is analysis - thus my observation is that one of your 6/7 hasn't played this season, one hasn't played for the first team in the premier league, one definitely wouldn't be ahead of Meireles in the pecking order (Shelvey), & other remaining 3/4 could arguably all be playing at the same time.

At the end of the day, it annoys me that the guy was a great, classy player who hasn't really done anything wrong yet people are like 'meh, he was shite anyway'. He wasn't, & best of luck to him...

Forgot Maxi to that list so that's even more attacking midfielders. But my first post was tongue in cheek. And I'd rather Shelvey on the bench getting some experience than a sulking international.

[MazzaRed]

He might be referring to the fact Carroll says he was forced to hand in a transfer request at Newcastle.  There's the implication that Liverpool/Chelsea expressed interest in Carroll/Raul for several weeks and that he didn't really want to leave but was ultimately forced out by having to submit a last minute transfer request.  Whether it's true I don't know.

THIS.........but no hard feelings for Raul...shame though...thought he could figure for us!

[Frazer]

This worries me as he and Suarez were usually at the heart of our positive play at the end of last season. He linked well with Suarez, passed and dribbled well, scored some crucial goals and was a good team player.

With him gone now, I'm wondering who takes his place. I suppose it's Henderson or Kuyt. I hope that Henderson comes good, haven't seen enough of him to judge yet.

Shame we couldn't find room for him but I'm hoping that Damien and Kenny are sure that Henderson will be better than him for the next 10 years.

[k.7]

This worries me as he and Suarez were usually at the heart of our positive play at the end of last season. He linked well with Suarez, passed and dribbled well, scored some crucial goals and was a good team player.

With him gone now, I'm wondering who takes his place. I suppose it's Henderson or Kuyt. I hope that Henderson comes good, haven't seen enough of him to judge yet.

Shame we couldn't find room for him but I'm hoping that Damien and Kenny are sure that Henderson will be better than him for the next 10 years.

One Steven Gerrard?

[alfonso]

This worries me as he and Suarez were usually at the heart of our positive play at the end of last season. He linked well with Suarez, passed and dribbled well, scored some crucial goals and was a good team player.

With him gone now, I'm wondering who takes his place. I suppose it's Henderson or Kuyt. I hope that Henderson comes good, haven't seen enough of him to judge yet.

Shame we couldn't find room for him but I'm hoping that Damien and Kenny are sure that Henderson will be better than him for the next 10 years.

I can't see Meireles playing at the top in ten years.

[Hank Scorpio]

He'll probably play in the middle along with two others.  If they line up something like Mikel, Rameires and Meireles, then I think it's a system which will suit him and bring out his best qualities.  He's technically a good player and as long as he has Rameires doing that harrying and tackling, Meireles will be able to feed balls into Malouda, Torres, Drogba, Mata etc.

[mildale]

To be honest I always thought Kuyt and Suarez worked extremely well together last season. More so than Meireles IMO.

[MassDriver]

He'll probably play in the middle along with two others.  If they line up something like Mikel, Rameires and Meireles, then I think it's a system which will suit him and bring out his best qualities.  He's technically a good player and as long as he has Rameires doing that harrying and tackling, Meireles will be able to feed balls into Malouda, Torres, Drogba, Mata etc.

Don't usually agree with you but yeah , that is how I see them lining up. Luís André de Pina Cabral e Villas-Boas is a huge fan of the 4-3-3 systems with three 'proper' Central Midfieldiers to control the game with differing responsibilities. I can see Meireles doing very well in that system , feeding the likes of Torres very well with his through balls.

[Neil D]

What a load of absolute bollox.

Work harder? He was our 2nd best player in the 2nd half of last season, and would have been our best player only for Lucas having a blinder of a season. Some of the best attacking football that we played was orchestrated by Raul. It looked to me like he was pushing himself. It seems you got the impression that he was slacking off? Fuck only knows what brought you to that conclusion.

It's all very well saying that he needs to push himself and improve to get back in the team. But the fact of the matter is, Raul was not a Kenny signing. The fact that Kenny went out and purchased Adam and Henderson, and then proceeded to start both players ahead of Raul tells you everything you need to know. Raul was not in Kenny's future plans. Although he is a very good player, he was clearly not the type of player that Kenny wanted as a first choice central midfielder. Those slots now belong to Lucas and Adam.

And when you consider that Gerrard is yet to return, then the prospect of Raul featuring with any degree of regularity becomes reduced even further. It's not that he gave up. It's just being pragmatic. I mean, there's no point trying to force square pegs into round holes. Raul just didn't fit the Kenny blueprint. That's all. Slating him for not working hard to improve and impress is just bollox really. We got good money for a player of his age, who to be fair served us well. It was in the best interest of both parties really. I have no ill will towards Raul. None whatsoever.

Our best players in the second half of last season were Lucas, Kuyt and Suarez. Raul was nowhere near those three for me. I don't know how anybody could say he was our second best player when Kenny came in. He had a month and a half purple patch at best.

I bear no ill will towards Raul either, but he wasn't a player who gave his all on the pitch, he went missing for long periods of games and was a right shithouse when it came to a tackle.

I think he'll do well at Chelsea, but he won't be missed here.

[Neil D]

To be honest I always thought Kuyt and Suarez worked extremely well together last season. More so than Meireles IMO.

Spot on. Those two formed a great partnership, that's why they got all those goals and assists for each other and others too.

[BMW]

To be honest I always thought Kuyt and Suarez worked extremely well together last season.

That 1-2 combo between Suarez and Kuyt (started from a Kuyt throw in) that resulted in Suarez slotting it home at Sunderland I think, was brillant.

[redway101]

Why can't people see this as a win-win-win situation?

Liverpool win, because we got £13m for a player who is 28 years old and clearly not part of the manager's plans.

Chelsea win, because they get a very good central midfielder.

Raul wins, because he gets a big payrise and gets to play more.


Do I wish that he'd gone somewhere other than Chelsea given we compete directly with them in the league?  Sure.  But in the absence of other credible alternatives, I can't be that arsed about it given that we got good money from them.

Completely agree, just don't have an issue with it. It's one of those deals that suited all parties, he clearly wasn't going to be first choice. I wouldn't read too much into transfer request which was really just sweetening the deal for us.

No need for him to come out and try and justify the move. He moved for more money and I assume he'll get more time on the pitch at Chelsea. We've offloaded a player at a certain age who wasn't first choice for decent money.

[collytum]

Stood out last yr in a poor liverpool team, dont think he was good enough to start this season, so while he would have been decent back-up, don't think he will be missed. Naturally, I hope he is awful for Chelsea.

[El_Pistolero]

We'll miss his goal line clearances the most.

[theartist]

Chelsea's 2nd goal was on him

[El Denzel Pepito]

Hit a brilliant ball to Sturridge for his goal today.

[ALPH1217]

He's got a bad haircut.

[Azi]

speaking to a mate who was at the game today said Meireles was motm said he started off in the holding roll but by the end of the half he was the attacking mid and was immense

[elsewhere]

why is everyone even mad at him?

he is clearly much better footballer than Adams but despite Meireles had great season last year-possibly our best player with Kuyt,he played only rubbish minutes with us.improved

He was offered improved contract,then noone actually kept the promise.

Now he goes to Chelsea,his former coach is there,and he is in starting 11.

If you were a professional footballer,would you do any different?

noone is looking at the fact that management and coach didn't treat him fairly.It's not like he was a lazy bum,undisciplined and as if he didn't give his best every second he played.

My problem is with the fucking 12M fee,it's ridiculous,watch him being big part of Chelsea this year.

[anfieldpurch]

That 1-2 combo between Suarez and Kuyt (started from a Kuyt throw in) that resulted in Suarez slotting it home at Sunderland I think, was brillant.

Was Newcastle

[Aido LFC]

Was Newcastle

No it was at Sunderland, he said from a Kuyt throw in.

[Juan Loco]

he is clearly much better footballer than Adams

Nope.

No clearly about it either. If he was clearly the better player he'd have demonstrated it, but he isn't, so he hasn't.

And it's ADAM ffs.

[anfieldpurch]

No it was at Sunderland, he said from a Kuyt throw in.

Sorry been a long day. Mis-read it

[Bondred]

Well, he had a good debut.

And for a player that no one was arsed about, how has this lasted for 5 pages?

Deep seated resentment I reckon.

[Bob Loblaw]

Well, he had a good debut.

And for a player that no one was arsed about, how has this lasted for 5 pages?

Deep seated resentment I reckon.

Exactly, 5 pages, that's nothing.

Still think we lost a good player which is never good. Especially as he seemed to be on the same wavelength as Luis.

[Bondred]

Exactly, 5 pages, that's nothing.

Still think we lost a good player which is never good. Especially as he seemed to be on the same wavelength as Luis.

Nah he was just a 2 bit player who could warm our bench.


Well that's what the masses say.

I have friends who can't take losing players, it is so undignified.