With Charlie Adam tipped to arrive at Liverpool in the near future, the issue of central midfield will seemingly become a big topic among Reds fans. With Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, Jordan Henderson, Alberto Aquilani and perhaps Adam all vying for offensive midfielder spots, it is difficult to see how they all can fit in:
Raul Meireles – With the arrival of Adam seemingly imminent, it has led to speculation that the Portuguese international may depart the club. Reports in Italy suggest that Inter Milan maybe interested in persuading the 28 year old to move to the San Siro. A £14million has been suggested for the player who only arrived from Porto last summer for £12.5million. It has been hinted that age and niggling injuries has persuaded Kenny Dalglish to allow the player to depart. Personally, I hope he doesn’t go, he had a decent first season and found his feet gradually as the season wore on. It takes time to adapt to a new league, and I think it would be unfair to allow the player to go before he is truly allowed to shine.
Alberto Aquilani – His agent speaks daily in newspapers, TV and radio about how the Italian midfielder wants to stay in Italy. It is unlikely he will return to Anfield but there maybe a scenario where he might have to if no Italian club can meet Liverpool’s asking price. Juve manager Antonio Conte is still considering his options, and has yet to make up his mind on Aqua, while both Napoli and AC Milan have reportedly been interested but there has been no sign of movement in attempting to buy the 26 year old.
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meireles over adam anyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy day….. adam is over rated, meireles started off slowly, but found his feet under dalglish… why would he want to sell a player who is really starting to shine??? :S why not spend the money on a quality winger like Mata, who i think will be a l’pool player v soon anyway… but for me other areas need strengthened before we get EVEN MORE midfielders :S
Fully Agree 100%, Why sign Adams, when we already have better quality in Meireles?, makes no sense at all, I just hope that it is just media rumours!.
the fact that you call him Adams speaks volumes about how much you know of the player 😉
You’ve left others out of the equation, i.e. Shelvey. The central midfield will be packed. I’m guessing that the thinking is that £14m for a 28 year old would be good business, so Mereiles might well go (I’m not saying I want him to!) I also suspect that Gerrard may move deeper (which raises question marks over Lucas and Spearing. There are rumours Shelvey is going out on loan. I kind of suspect the club are thinking he might not cut it at the very top level.
I think you are missing the point of all these purchases. The owners and manager plan an assault on all competitions in the coming seasons. They are looking long term. For that we need quality of depth and at least 2 good players for each position.
We need these players. We are hungry for silverware!
YNWA
why not all of them, lets be honest here we have been lacking strength in depth for years now. with the likes of cole et al leaving all of whom are carrying massive wages while contributing very little. its time we had players who can step in and deliver when needed.
if Cole leaves on a free that’s 5mil (100K) freed up from his wages alone. a sale on jc for 3mil and a purchase of Adams of 10 mil on 50k. that’s an out of 4.5 mil for a player who will add more to this side and is younger to boot. you add to that an additional saving of 2.5mil a year in wages and the Adams purchase pays itself off in 2 yrs. that’s assuming that we sell JC
I agree, we dont need Adam, we have got enough! Keep shelvey and meireles rather than buy him! Both are getting stronger, I think Shelvey will be fantastic once he improves his defending. Downing, Mata, Dann, Wickham! Sorted!
correction ” that’s an out of 4.5 mil for a player who will add more to this side and is younger to boot.” should read “thats an outlay of 4.5mil”
Might get some flak for this …. But maybe Stevie is the one who might be played less often as he is often struggling with injuries.
no youre right. we need this depth coz stevie hasnt got much left to give as a starting 11 player. i think he will gradually play a more scholes like role ( not comparing him to scholes, gerrard is a far better player)
We need Charlie Adam. We were shocking from corners last season – With Adam i think Carroll is a cert for 30 goals next season. Get him in and get rid of Poulsen and Joe Cole.
So you’re going to sign Charlie Adam just because you want a decent set piece taker. Ridiculous.
we might as well take Beckham… lol
completely agree
mierles will play left, right, AM, usually rotating through games. adam is not bad but we dont need him, with henderson we have a team player who im sure kenny will improve technically like close control and penetrative passing. gerrard mierles will do. not to mention youth. we need 2 wide players, 1 has to be a dribbler and quick.
can we buy another midfielder to play in goal ?
downing is not consistant enough. our next buys should be a left back a top centre half and another proven stiker. sell johnson, kelly is better and flannagan or carragher can cover the right back position.
1 why do people think us buying Adam means we wont buy wingers AS WELL!?!? 2 most leagues transfer Windows don’t open till July 1st so people chill the f*(k out ok? And 3 kenny is probably organising the squad so he has the option to play 4-3-3 sometimes if not most times: Lucas, meireles an gerrard backed up by/competing for places with spearing, Adam and Henderson. Cole, aquaman and the other likely suspects to be sold. Shelvey off on loan for first team experience (according to rumours to blackpool for the year as part of the Adam deal)!
I think you’re right about Raul possibly being moved on…Kenny rates him but there was a recent article stating that Liverpool were going to increase his wages, with an apparent golden handshake or gentleman’s agreement in place which Roy Hodgson agreed on, if he had a good frist season at Anfield, and reports suggest they are reluctant to offer him a new contract with other alternatives around. Going to be a tricky one for the King if he decides to make way for youth by sacrificing experience.
I’m happy with our midfield. If we play 3 in the middle maybe we’re going for the defensive midfielder/tempo setter/ attacking midfielder set-up as in 2008/2009 with Mascherano/Alonso/Gerrard.
For 2011, it may read Lucas/ Adam/ Gerrard with Spearing/Meireles/Henderson backing up each player in that order.
Don’t be too quick to judge Kenny’s Transfer gameplan. Check out this new blog which will comment on Liverpool as well as other clubs and goings on with a reasoned and fair approach:
http://footballneutral.blogspot.com/
fact is we need depth and quality backup. i have faith in the likes of spearing and shelvy but they r still up and coming and likely to be more cup players. truth is gerrard doesnt have too much longer in him, at least as a first 11 player. if gerrard and miereles are injured we’ll need the likes of adam to step up because given a couple of seasons he will be first choice as will henderson if they prove theyre up to it.
every good team looking to challenge has team depth. thats what we are building, not replacements!
Meireles over Adam any time… Raul has provin his worth with brilliant goals vs Chelsea n Everton… there is no point in gettin Adam if Meireles is goin to be on the bench…Kenny knows Raul is quality..!!He wont let him go that easy..!!
I think people are mistaking Spearing as a true first team player. He’s still back up at this stage and Henderson may spend his time in both central midfield and on the right.
Remember how Meireles was stationed throughout the season? He showed flexibility. All it takes is for one key central midfielder to be injured for 6-8 weeks and another to pick up a knock to destabilise momentum in our side. We cannot afford this! A risk would be to consider our players before the team. We need to get back into the Champions’ League this season and if a player or two will be unhappy by the end of the season, then so be it!
I don’t agree with Mireiles leaving!!! Adam is most welcome…we need depth in all positions if we are ro challenge the Premier league. Poulsen, Javo and J.Cole should leave. Squad rotation will continue, players will be fit & fresh. In the King we all trust!!!