Liverpool FC Forum

by **JC_81** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:52 am

You can tell just from the odd glipse of Meireles that he is a different class from Poulsen or Lucas. He can keep it simple, but unlike the guys I've mentioned, he's quick to get the head up and look for a forward pass. He also doesn't stand still when he passes it, he's always moving into space looking for the ball again. Contrast Lucas who at times looks afraid of the ball.

My take on Meireles is that he's probably going to be much better than the likes of Lucas, Poulsen, Spearing etc, but is unlikely to be in the same class as Alonso. It's difficult to compare because Meireles looks a box to box midfielder as supposed to Alonso who sat deep most of the time. I think he looks a good player though.

by **Tim LFC** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:26 pm

This is a video of him last night:

http://www.footylounge.com/films....20.html

From what you see he wins the ball but then gets forward, so he does his defensive side but then transitions to his attacking side. It's probably too early to judge but i think he gives the team balance.

by **bigmick** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 1:47 pm

It's almost unheard of but it's too early for me to say as well. If I was being totally honest, I'd be erring more towards negative than positive but only very slightly, and only then because I just can't see what he is going to become.

The things we know from watching him, are that firstly he has good energy and wants to get up and down the pitch. We can say that with certainty, as we can say that he's got a good touch on the ball and a fair bit of skill. He will get his foot in and tackle (not an Aquilani) but neither is he an enforcer, preferring to harry people rather than slide in and get the ball Masherano style. He will have a shot as he showed last night, and also his outlook is largely positive as he trys to play people in when he has it. If anything last night I thought on occasions he went for the killer pass a bit too readily sometimes.

So all of that sounds positive, what's the problem then? Well the potential problem for me, nagging away, is that he's a bit of a "bits and pieces" midfielder. By that, I mean that although he can obviously do most things quite well, I'm struggling a bit to see how he's going to do anything really well. I don't for instance think he's going to be a double figures from midfield merchant, a Gerrard or a Lampard or a Fabregas. His record doesn't suggest he will be that, and watching him I don't think he will either. Equally, clearly although he can pass he isn't an Alonso. Not many are, but he isn't anyway so we might as well put that one to bed. He isn't an enforcer in the Masherano mold, so you are left searching for the type of player he is going to try to be.

I've been giving it some thought and have come up with a scenario which would be fairly favourable. Box to box, goals here and there as well as some assists and a good footballer all round? How about James Milner? Could Mereiles be our James Milner, or is he going to be better than that? I ask the question knowing full well 80% of the forum will say "I fecking hope he'll be better than that, Milner is sh!t"

. He isn't though.

by **Kopite25** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 2:02 pm

Don't think you can compare Raul to any player we've had recently, to me the player he's most like is Stephen Ireland but with a bit moe steel about him.

Willing to put my life that he'll be up there for our player of the season come next May

by **Zidane** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 5:17 pm

I understand what you're saying Mick, but what's wrong with not filling a specific role? He's an all around player that seems to be above average at everything, like you said, I don't see a problem with that really. If he were average at everything (Lucas) then I think we would have a problem, but he can do everything pretty well so I don't see why he has to fill a Mascherano or Fabregas role. The best thing about him is his link up play if you're looking for something he does really well that would probably be it.. Anyway I think Roy went on about how he could do everything well when we signed him so I don't see it as a big surprise and obviously it's what he wanted out of him so we got what we wanted. He has more mobility and link up play than Xabi ever did, all he's sacrificing is passing range.. I dunno what the problem is both have their qualities. Alonso didn't fit the Masch or Fabregas mould either and was great so I have high hopes for him. I feel the same way about him as I did with Aquilani but this guy doesn't have injury problems so I think he'll be a quality signing.

by **Zidane** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 5:22 pm

Igor Zidane wrote:Think he will look and play much better with better players around him . He looks to play quick first time balls to feet and move on for the next . I like the look of him but i'm a shabite judge . Apart from Lucas that is who is ace !!!!

This, too, players like him need players around him that can opperate in crowded areas and have a good first touch. People like Babel and N'gog make their passes look bad because of the lack of touch on their part.

by **Scottbot** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:23 pm

I think i'm gonna give it a couple more games before figuring out exactly what sort of a player Raul Mereilles is possibly going to be! i know Mick LOVES to get in there first with an evaluation in the hope that it turns out to be on the money but it'll all come a little clearer in a few games time. Especially if he gets 90 mins at the mancs. then we'll see what sort of a player we've got on our hands!

by **bigmick** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:29 pm

Scottbot wrote:I think i'm gonna give it a couple more games before figuring out exactly what sort of a player Raul Mereilles is possibly going to be! i know Mick LOVES to get in there first with an evaluation in the hope that it turns out to be on the money but it'll all come a little clearer in a few games time. Especially if he gets 90 mins at the mancs. then we'll see what sort of a player we've got on our hands!

Tell the truth mate I'm frustrated as feck that I haven't nailed him down yet :laugh:

I can honestly say based on what I've seen so far, he could be brilliant, sh!t or anywhere in between (the most likely) but I couldn't predict it either or anyway.

I'd like to be able to call it but I just can't

by **Tim LFC** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:12 pm

Well at least he isn't 20m no disrespect to Aqua but that's the price he got on him unfortunately but Meireles should have a bit more leeway because of price. I still think he's going to turn out to be a excellent addition and become a vital player for us.

by **Scottbot** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:37 pm

bigmick wrote:
Scottbot wrote:I think i'm gonna give it a couple more games before figuring out exactly what sort of a player Raul Mereilles is possibly going to be! i know Mick LOVES to get in there first with an evaluation in the hope that it turns out to be on the money but it'll all come a little clearer in a few games time. Especially if he gets 90 mins at the mancs. then we'll see what sort of a player we've got on our hands!

Tell the truth mate I'm frustrated as feck that I haven't nailed him down yet I can honestly say based on what I've seen so far, he could be brilliant, sh!t or anywhere in between (the most likely) but I couldn't predict it either or anyway.

I'd like to be able to call it but I just can't

Well dude we'll be able to tell a lot from Sundays match assuming the lad has been earmarked for a start. Fingers crossed he has coz you don't spend £12 million on a player and then have him miss our biggest and toughest game of the season!

You listening Roy!?

by **Tim LFC** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:58 pm

Scottbot wrote:
bigmick wrote:
Scottbot wrote:I think i'm gonna give it a couple more games before figuring out exactly what sort of a player Raul Mereilles is possibly going to be! i know Mick LOVES to get in there first with an evaluation in the hope that it turns out to be on the money but it'll all come a little clearer in a few games time. Especially if he gets 90 mins at the mancs. then we'll see what sort of a player we've got on our hands!

Tell the truth mate I'm frustrated as feck that I haven't nailed him down yet I can honestly say based on what I've seen so far, he could be brilliant, sh!t or anywhere in between (the most likely) but I couldn't predict it either or anyway.

I'd like to be able to call it but I just can't

Well dude we'll be able to tell a lot from Sundays match assuming the lad has been earmarked for a start. Fingers crossed he has coz you don't spend £12 million on a player and then have him miss our biggest and toughest game of the season!

You listening Roy!?

You're right but i don't expect him to be thrown into the deep end but i reckon he would have enough quality to do well, i will be surprised if he's not on the bench.

by **PabloMedina28** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 1:18 am

I like him from what ive seen hes comfy on the ball and gets about.

by **stmichael** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 3:59 pm

was one of our better players today. has a very good footballing brain and an ability to find space and interlink with his teammates.

should never be playing in the hole in a month of sundays though.

by **bigmick** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:01 pm

Yes I've seen enough of him to do an "I know it's early". He's a good player, a really good thinking mans footballer and I think he's going to do very well for us. Looks like a good buy to me for 11 million quid.

by **Bad Bob** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:39 pm

I was impressed with this lad today. I think he made a substantial improvement to our ability to retain the ball and I think he's got a lot of clever little ideas that will bear fruit when teammates get on the same page. Good game, lad.

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