Sunday 20 February 2011

Meireles- The magic midfield maestro

To say that Roy Hodgson was disliked by Liverpool supporters may be the biggest understatement of the season. The 63-year old Londoner’s outdated tactics, meagre CV, uninspiring football and farcical media comments created a cataclysmic chasm between the manager and the Kop that has never been witnessed in the post-Shankly era. Hodgson’s inability to establish any semblance of form within the players paled into insignificance compared to his utter failure to connect with the Reds’ passionate fan base, and left new owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) with no other choice but to fire the failing former Fulham manager.

However, the signing of dynamic Portugese midfielder Raul Meireles is perhaps the single ray of sunshine to emerge from the six-month period of doom and gloom that characterised Roy’s mercifully brief reign. Following a slow start Liverpool’s new number four has accelerated his development excitingly and now possesses a crucial role in our midfield. A sensational goal-scoring spree over recent weeks has seen Meireles bag an enviable five goals in six matches, as well as a special place in the hearts of Kopites, who have inevitably been impressed with the Iberian’s imperious form.

The 27-year old midfield maestro secured his first goal with an incisive and impressive strike in the Merseyside derby during Dalglish’s first game back at Anfield, and since then the floodgates have opened and a refreshing amount of goals have flown from the fulcrum of our midfield.

His breathtaking beauty against Mick McCarthy’s Wolverhampton Wanderers must surely be the Reds’ goal of the season, whilst his next strike at the Kop end proved crucial in unlocking Stoke City’s stubborn defence, allowing the Merseysiders to control the rest of the encounter and entertain the Anfield faithful with some expansive football

Unfazed by the media hype surrounding Fernando Torres’ Chelsea debut, Meireles defended resolutely at Stamford Bridge to deprive the Spanish striker of any joy, as he formed the side’s vital heart-beat with Brazilian team-mate Lucas Leiva, who patrolled the pitch diligently and sprayed passes all over the field of play. To top off the afternoon appropriately Raul intelligently anticipated where Steven Gerrard’s right wing cross would land before racing enthusiastically to reach the ball and net a fantastic left footed winner.

A further strike at home to Wigan Athletic has cemented Raul’s position in our midfield and, despite the disappointing 1-1 draw that eventually ensued, has led to comparisons with club captain Steven Gerrard, who has fulfilled a similar end-to-end role for the club previously.

Meireles’ ability to defend, pass, move and score means he performs a crucial function for the team and, although those abilities aren’t displayed to the same world class level of Steven Gerrard, possessing another quality all action player in the mould of our iconic Scouser skipper is more than welcome following years of dangerous over-reliance on Liverpool’s ageing number eight.

However, this type of scintillating form was rarely seen during his first few months at Anfield. Combative and strong, many expected Meireles to revel in the competitive, physical Premier League and anticipated a brief settling in spell, however he struggled to make an impact in our midfield due to the inconsistent way in which former manager Roy Hodgson employed him.

One week Raul would play on the right hand side of midfield and others he would start in an even more unfamiliar position on the left wing and, although the vast majority of supporters and pundits alike know that his best and preferred position is in the centre of midfield, Hodgson rarely played him there. When he did, for example during our comprehensive 3-0 home victory over West Ham United, Meireles demonstrated his obvious talent and apparent ability, however this never seemed to convince an uncertain Roy Hodgson as to his best position in the side.

It comes as no surprise then to learn that Meireles’ recent resurgence has corresponded with a change in manager, as Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has returned to the Anfield managerial hot seat and has played Meireles extensively in a free, forward thinking role in the centre of midfield.

Incorporating him into the traditional philosophy of pass and move football has led to the thriving and flourishing Raul Meireles significantly contributing to our current run of good results, and has justified the sizeable fee of £11 million that was paid to secure his signing in the summer.

Making the most of underperforming stars was a key aspect of Roy Hodgson’s job description when Martin Broughton and Christian Purslow appointed him in the summer. His inability to improve the performance of misfiring players was a crucial reason behind his sacking, and this, alongside his failure to establish a rapport with the fans, made him incredibly unpopular with supporters. Conversely, Kenny Dalglish’s instant bond with the Kop and his immediate improvement of players such as Raul Meireles has already led to many calling for him to be given the job on a long-term basis.

In fact, that’s why to say that Kenny Dalglish’s return has saved the Reds’ season is possibly the second biggest understatement of the campaign.

YNWA

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