In a pre-match press conference before tonight’s match against Wigan Athletic, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson gave out some praise to Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles:
“I think Raul needs time. I think all players when they come in need a bit of time, but he’s a very good footballer. He was very, very good to set up the second goal for Fernando Torres (against Chelsea) and I think we will get a lot of use out of him.”
One of the curiosities that has occurred since the 27 year old’s £11.5million move from Porto though is that he has rarely started in his favoured central midfield position. Against Chelsea at the weekend, Roy decided to employ Raul once again on the right side of midfield; a position which was formerly alien to him. Although he played pretty well both offensively and defensively during the match, and as mentioned by Roy, provided the pass for Fernando Torres’s second goal, the right hand side is certainly not Meireles’s most comfortable position. In fact, I believe he is playing really well just to make an impact in the role.
Roy Hodgson likes to play 4-4-2 when he can (although he has invariably played 4-3-3), and with a lack of wingers, and his favoured option to play Gerrard and Lucas in central midfield, Meireles has been sidelined to play out wide. Although I believe his position on the right is only a temporary measure, as I am of the belief Roy will try to strengthen the wide areas if he can in January, the problem in my mind is where does the Portuguese star actually fit in?
Currently the main problem we have, which might manifest itself again tonight if as expected we play the same team as against Chelsea, is that Liverpool’s attack is very narrow. With Maxi Rodriguez playing out wide left and Meireles on the right, both will inevitably come in midfield and crowd the central area as Maxi is naturally right footed and Raul is not a winger. To combat that, Roy will maybe switch Dirk Kuyt from behind Torres onto the right and play Meireles in behind the Spanish striker instead.
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These would tel u lfc is going no where dis season wit Roy.Liverpool formation isn’t 4-4-2 rather 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.D first two MF wil b playin tactical football ie 1 4 attacking n d other 4 pass. 3 others wil b 2 attackers off d flanks wit d other 1 which wil b STEV G in their middle playin free role with d striker upfront comfortably. INFACT WE MISS RAFA BENITEZ TERRIBLY.
We don’t miss Rafa because he is a negative, aragont and he will lose a match to prove a point. He made Benayoun leave our club and considering the squad he has, he is doing a poor job at Inter. I would rather Roy thank you
said it time and time again – 433 is the way forwards and what our players are best suited to playing in!
Meireles/Gerrard/Lucas (Cole/Pacheco/Shelvey/Poulsen etc.)
Babel/Torres/Jovanovich (Kuyt/Pacheco/Amoo etc.)
Get some pace in the team and power into the team and we’re not far off
433 is the best formation to play in the modern game i agree with that however none of Babel/Torres/Jovanovich/Kuyt/Pacheco/Amoo (except Torres) have proved good enough for a title challenging team we need to recruit more wingers if we are going to do that
None of Kuyt/Cole/Maxi/Meireles/Jovanovich (ZERO exceptions) have proven to be good enough to play on the wings for a title challenging team in a four man midfield – we need to recruit wingers to play in a 4411 or 442 moreso than we do to switch to a 433…
In contrast, Jovanovich is typically used in a 433 for his country (as are Kuyt & Babel) and apparently was also used to great success in that formation for Liege, rather than on the wings in a 4 man midfield.
All of Meireles, Pacheco or Shelvey are players that look to get the ball to feet, pass and move rather than run onto the ball behind the defence and are well out of position out wide in a 4 man midfield, while only Pacheco looks to be a natural behind the striker (rather than deeper in midfield) so we are not getting the best out of those players by sticking to 4411/442 either
Amoo (& Ecclestone) was a striker before, that is being converted into a wide man, and so would also be more naturally suited to an attacking role out wide in a 433 than a conventional midfield role.
I’m really struggling to see where the argument to stick with a 4411 or 442 stacks up…
to play 433 a team need lot of technical abilty and a squad with talent and vision only steve maxi torres and cole hv the technical ability..
to play 442 you need a lot of pace and power throughout the team to effectively cover the space across the pitch and a talented forward that links the midfield to the striker – hmmmm…
It’s not a position alien to him at all. He’s played there for Portugal. Do your research.
it seems to be a ‘mantra’ that most lfc players are played out of their best position! it has, unfortunately, been going on for years in the first team.
the answer is there! Glen J at RM! he’s played that pos. well before. eg at portsmouth.
i’ll second that, Glen can’t defend, but he can run defenders ragged and get himself along the line and into the box with ease.
Martin Kelly RB and Glen on the wing. What winds me up is that we all know this, Roy must see it too, but no one dares take the chance!
4-3-3 formation is too narrow…we need more width and for that we need to bring in genuine wingers in jan and play 4-4-2
chelsea never look narrow. it would be fine as long as the lB and RB dont come out of their own half and we use a flat back 4. but then johnson is useless as a right back
play a diamond in d middle….jst lyk d chelsea days under mourinho….a gud defensive midfielder at d back of d diamond…meirelees n lucas on ryt n left respectively n gerrard on top…perfect..
we dont have a good enough defensive midfielder though
Aayush. thank god your not the liverpool manager
The problem is that Meireless plays in Gerrards position as an attacking midfielder. Why Hodgson signed him i’m not quite sure, we are crying out for another quality striker or natural winger so why spend all that money on a player who plays in the captains positon? He is a good player and a useful addition to the squad but he wasn’t a necessity and that’s why Hodgson has tried to fit him in. When Cole comes back and with Kuyt now back where will he play him? He could alternate him with Lucas, playing Meireless in the home games and Lucas in the away games.