Not the move Liverpool fans had in mind, considering Raul Meireles was one of our better players last season.
But in my opinion it's the right one. (Personally, I would love seeing Meireles continue wearing the number 4 jersey at Anfield. But if it's one between Adam and Meireles. Get Adam!)
Meireles moved to Liverpool at the start of last season from Porto and fit straight into Roy Hodgson's group of under achievers. Used wide right, when Stevie G was fit,
Meireles looked a shadow of the player, who turned up for Portugal in international games.
Steven Gerrard's injury forced Hodgson to move Meireles in central midfield alongside Lucas Leiva (one of the few players who weren't a part of Hodgson's under achievers). Meireles and Lucas struck an understanding straight away as the duo were instrumental in notching up a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield. With Gerrard's return to the team, Meireles was pushed again into a wide role. He disappointed in the role again.
Liverpool disappointed again.
Roy Hodgson was sacked soon.
With King Kenny's return to the club, Meireles was soon pushed into the centre
again. (He started wide right in Kenny's first game in charge at Old Trafford in the FA Cup).
Not only did Kenny push him back in, he gave Meireles the attacking midfielder role behind
Fernando Torres. The Portuguese midfielder responded with an important goal in the derby against Everton. Playing off Fernando Torres, he his game of the season in one of Liverpool's best away day performance against Wolverampton Wanderers (not only did he score the amazing volley, he supplied a tap in for Fernando Torres and looked very comfortable in possession). He followed these performances with goals against Fulham, Wigan and a goal in an incredible victory over Chelsea at Stamford
Bridge.
While these games made him a hero at the club, and made him standout in a season of major disappointments for the boys at Anfield, what is worth noting is:
Meireles' best performances came playing behind the strikers. Steven Gerrard normally plays in that role. No matter what Meireles does, Steven Gerrard is the best in that role and WILL occupy that position for Liverpool.
With strikers like Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt around with rumours suggesting Conor Wickham joining too, Liverpool look certain to field two strikers in every match. Kuyt and Suarez being versatile help, as they can play wide right and left in a game lending to a 4-5-1 formation if needed.
In a traditional 4-4-2, with a winger expected to join in, Gerrard and Lucas will take the central roles. Lucas as a defensive midfielder proved his worth during the course of last season and will occupy the position again. If Adam joins us, he's back up for Lucas in that position as he's one who can sit in and run box to box, as he proved last season with Blackpool, not to mention his lethal freekicks and penalties.
Adam scores over Meireles in versatility. His ability of playing as a CDM, LM and central midfield will be very important under Dalgish, as his signings, with the exception of Andy Carroll, show he's looking at versatile players. (Suarez can play left, right, behind the striker and upfront on his own, Henderson can play wide right as well as down the centre.)
In a diamond formation, Meireles can occupy the left sided centre midfielder's role. Kuyt will take the right position. If Liverpool do manage an attacking left back (Clichy and Enrique linked and Insua is an attacking left back), that allows our fullbacks (Johnson on the right to bombard the wings. Clichy, Jose Enrique, Johnson and Insua are good crossers, so the ammunition to Carroll will not suffer).
Additionally, Meireles seems to has problems completing games. A central midfielder needs to be able to complete games. Normally wingers and strikers are the ones who need to be brought on to change games. With Meireles having that issue, a substitution gets wasted with a central midfielder. Adam completes games. Gerrard completes games. While trailing in games, Lucas should be the one sacrificed for an attacking midfielder (Henderson?).
Being an international, Meireles wouldn't be want to occupying the bench at Anfield. A 14 million bid from Inter, could benefit him and Liverpool.
So if the reports from the Italian media turn out to be true.
All the best and thankyou Raul Meireles.
PS: In an ideal scenario, Meireles, Adam, Henderson, Lucas and Steven Gerrard should comprise Liverpool's midfielders list come September 1, 2011.
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