The uncertainty continues when analysing the potential formation that Dalglish may go for next season. Liverpool are certain to pair Carroll and Suarez together up top which leaves four other spots available in midfield should he go for a 4-4-2. Meireles has a tendency to drift in and out of games and is certainly far too lightweight to play in central midfield in a four-man midfield. His experiment on the right of midfield delivered mixed results at best and with the pursuit of a left winger right near the top of the transfer agenda with concerns to re-strengthening over this summer’s transfer window and his options look limited.
Should Liverpool continue to pursue with the high-paced, interchangeable 4-5-1 formation that worked so well last season, with Suarez working off the top of the front man, then Meirelles could potentially play a role. But with Gerrard, Henderson, Aquilini (should he stay), Dirk Kuyt, Charlie Adam and whoever else may arrive and it becomes clear that while a desirable player, Meireles is certainly expendable.
With a deal done for Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing a target Meireles could be pushed further towards the exit door. Christian Poulsen and Joe Cole look likely to leave and so does Jonjo Shelvey. You would have to question the wisdom in letting a player of Meireles’s quality leave when the squad’s strength in depth is certainly questionable, but you can at least see the rationale behind it.
Meireles has no definable position and that is the major drawback and rather poetically, the major plus point behind keeping him. He is technically excellent and can be a match-winner on his day, but he is also equally and often as guilty at gifting away possession in dangerous areas and going missing for large swathes of a match.
Too much was made of Meireles’s first season in England – he was excellent in patches, but was disappointing as often as he was brilliant. If Liverpool can move him on for a significant profit; an unhappy 28 year-old on a long-term deal, then perhaps it would be best for all concerned.
Every club wants to keep their best players. Meireles is one of the most technically gifted players currently plying their trade in the Premier League, but you do have to question the wisdom on splashing out £80k upwards a week on an inconsistent 28 year-old – it is simply at odds with everything FSG are not only preaching but practicing too.
He is certainly an excellent creative midfielder, but whether he has a significant role to play in the future for the club is doubtful – and while on the face of it, it may reek of illogical, short-term thinking, there is certainly more method to the madness with concerns to the club’s long-term planning and their vision for the future than initially meets the eye.
Written by James McManus for FootballFancast.com.
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Yes, by all means sell the talent. That should help us a lot – I don’t think!!!!
Spot on. Selling Raul would be a poor decision.
All because we have a yet to be seen Henderson, wantaway Aquilani, yet to recover Stevie G. AAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
ha ha! Well said!
Lack of integrity on the part of FSG for not keeping their promise. Shame that people like you would like to provide excuses for such unwarranted behaviour. A tried and tested Raul is a better option than yet to be seen Henderson or wantaway Alberto Aquilani. I am not in the habit of calling people names; I will maintain that despite the temptations that come with articles like this one.
I honestly believe if Raul is playing the in-the-hole role which got him 5 ‘Golazos’ in 6 or so games he would be more consistent but then Kenny decided to play him on the left after that short run. That’s the other thing which bothers me, why is it that when Woy played Raul out wide there was a massive outcry from all quarters connected to LFC but when Kenny does it’s alright? Isn’t that double standards by the fans, bloggers, and media?????
How can FSG renege on a deal they didn’t make? He was signed under the previous owners. Unless it was actually in his contract then FSG have no legal commitment, maybe a moral one, but that’s a different argument.
Mate you’re dead wrong on this issue. The emphasis on signing young and British is being taken too far. 28 is not old and quite frankly when it comes to footballers British is far from being the best or having you been living on another planet for the last few years ? Meireles was easily our best player over the course of last season and definitely better than Henderson for example. If he moved on a low wage with a promise to review it then lets review it like we promises. Instead of haggling with Meireles we should move on some of the really high earners who don’t even play like Cole, Jovanovic, Ngog and many others.
This is most distressing news. This is not the ‘Liverpool Way’ the guy has been promised a pay rise. He has performed admirably and now he is being thrown to the wolves. On one hand we cry traitor to players wanting to leave the club ie. Masch and Torres but on the other hand the club is doing the exact same thing to a player who has sacrificed so much to come and play for us. Very disappointed ..YNWA
How did FSG reneg on an agreement when Raul signed a few months before they took over?
Quote: “but FSG (Fenway Sports Group) appear to have reneged on their end of the deal.”
FSG (then NESV) did not complete the purchase of the club until 15th October 2010, which was well after the transfer window shut. Therefore there was no ‘their end of the deal’, although they obviously inherited the contracts of each player!
Knowing Kenny has a liking for playing three central defenders, and Charlie Adam claiming his best position is central defence (even though he has never played there) maybe Kenny has something like this in mind. If so it would be a flexible role playing in front of two centrebacks using his passing ability to start attacks and dropping deeper when needed, I see this as an option as it allows full backs a bit more freedom to get forward reducing the need for wingers, It would also go some way to explaining the need for so many midfield players as this system would still leave room for Meireles, Lucas and Gerard and still plenty of backup on the bench In Henderson Aquilani etc… I think its a possibility for away games but leaves no room for three up front which is a must for home games.