Raul Meireles

[Steve Holt]

I'm over the fucking moon here. Cannot believe this. We've actually rushed out and got someone fucking GOOD! That is a terrific buy for us. And if they figures being bandied about are correct, and we are lucky enough to be allowed to spend the rest of the Masch money we're looking at about 8-10mil for another striker possibly.

 

What the fuck is wrong with me? I actually feel a slight pang of optimism about this season now.

[zigackly]

Is he shit yet?

[Juniper]

Is he shit yet?

 

If he turns up to the medical tomorrow (i guess tomorrow?) without that beard, then yes.

[razor]

Is he shit yet?

 

Times like this I wish I had my rep mojo back on.

[Rex Banner]

The few times I've seen him, he's been pretty good.

He was Portugal's best player at the world cup and he looked very energetic and got around the pitch well. He's 27 so not a bad age, he could be a good signing.

[Chocoholic]

At 27, he should be in his prime.

[lifetime fan]

Never even heard of him.

[Coro]

If we're paying decent money for this gent then I hope that indicates Hodgson wants Gerrard further forward.

 

Let's hope so.

 

With Joe Cole out wide.

[Mojo]

maybe a diamond with Stevie on the right, Meireles on the left, Poulsen furthest back, and Cole behind the striker(s). That is, if this signing goes through okay. I want to see the ink dry first. the Mirror think we are going for Inler still...

[dirk grout]

maybe a diamond with Stevie on the right, Meireles on the left, Poulsen furthest back, and Cole behind the striker(s). That is, if this signing goes through okay. I want to see the ink dry first. the Mirror think we are going for Inler still...

 

With respect mate in our current situation we don't need to look for ways to get kuyt, or maxi, out of the side. Plus wouldn't a diamond mean that n'gog would start every game. Hopefully meireles will play cm with poulsen/lucas allowing gerrard to play further forward. It would appear though that roy sees gerrard in cm which in my opinion means we need another left winger.

[dirk grout]

Though in response to my earlier post why would roy sign poulsen and meireles if he wants stevie in cm. Now i'm intrigued!

[dirk grout]

Women are like ginger in my hands............................ putty!

[llego]

 

Andersen just looks hurt.

 

Rio! How could you!

[Ynwa20]

 

Got a ginger beard thing going on too. It's on!

 

Have we signed Steve Carell? He was smashing in 40 year old virgin!

 

Heard this Raul fella bossed the North Korea game.

[Ynwa20]

Is he shit yet?

 

Wait for it... Wait for it... Yes, he is now.

[GJM]

If true, it's good to see the manager has finally had the Robbie Keane money to spend...

 

Heard a rumour that it's actually the Nicky Tanner insurance pay out. It had been in an envelope used to prop up a wobbly table in the Melwood canteen. Was discovered quite by accident.

[hamstrung]

He's,a safe, multi-dimensional transition specialist

 

Just what we need.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Just what we need.

 

Yep, I've been saying it for ages; we need somebody who'll transition along multiple dimensions. Although, he does risk getting called offside.

[zigackly]

Liverpool poised to sign Portugal international Raul Meireles from Porto

By Duncan White Published: 7:30AM BST 28 Aug 2010

 

Liverpool are finalising the transfer of Raul Meireles from Porto as they move quickly to replace Javier Mascherano.

 

The Portugal international midfielder, 27, is expected to sign for the Anfield club this weekend as Roy Hodgson seeks to compensate for the loss of the Argentina international, who is joining Barcelona in a £22million deal.

 

It is understood that Meireles had been lined up by Barcelona, should they have failed to land Mascherano and sources at the Camp Nou revealed that Meireles would now be joining Liverpool instead. Liverpool will reinvest the majority of the Mascherano money in Meireles, with a deal that could rise to as much as £17m.

 

Meireles had been strongly linked with a move away from Porto and a departure appeared inevitable when he was omitted from their Europa League squad last week. Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas was resigned to losing the player and it was reported that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also wanted him to replace Owen Hargreaves.

 

The signing would represent a coup for Liverpool. Meireles was coveted across the continent after establishing himself as one of the most impressive central midfielders in European football.

 

He came close to joining Jose Mourinho at Internazionale last season after the Italian club agreed to exchange winger Ricardo Quaresma with Porto but the deal broke down after Quaresma refused to return to Portugal.

 

Both Chelsea and Barcelona had watched Meireles last season and the player was understood to want a move to an elite European club after six years of success with Porto.

 

Meireles emerged as one of his country’s most promising players in the European Under 16 championships in Israel in 2000, starring alongside Quaresma as Portugal won the title. He joined Porto in 2004, after making his name with Boavista, and has won the Portuguese league title four times in his six seasons with the club.

 

The heavily tattooed midfielder was promoted to the Portugal team after the 2006 World Cup and has gone on to establish himself in Carlos Queiroz’s side, winning 38 caps and scoring 6 goals.

 

He was part of the squad at Euro 2008 and started every one of Portugal’s World Cup qualifying games. He scored the decisive goal in the play-off with Bosnia, effectively qualifying Portugal for South Africa, where he impressed, scoring in the 7-0 rout of North Korea.

 

There had been serious concerns among Liverpool supporters that the club would not be in a position to reinvest any of the money from the sale of Mascherano, with the level of debt that needs to be serviced.

 

Having sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid last summer and with his replacement, Alberto Aquilani, having moved to Juventus on a season-long loan, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has been forced to remodel his midfield.

 

Christian Poulsen, the Danish holding midfielder, has already been signed from Sevilla and Meireles would be expected to play alongside him in a more dynamic role.

 

He has been used by Porto as a defensive midfielder but is encouraged to break from deep positions. That would mean Hodgson could play Steven Gerrard in his more favoured attacking role.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Well, everything I've heard about him (bar one poster here that called him a 'terrible' transfer) is positive.

 

New look midfield this season. Hope it works.

[Vivaldo]

I love it. Proper old school, hear nothing on it and then BAM! sign a player. Didn't think this type of thing happened in this digital age. Little bit excited.

 

Agreed. Nice feel to start the day. Normally its a feeling of trepidation when logging on 1st thing.

[Sangria]

Well, everything I've heard about him (bar one poster here that called him a 'terrible' transfer) is positive.

 

New look midfield this season. Hope it works.

 

It seems on paper to be a much better balance than Lucas Masch.

 

I am pleased because it means we can push Gerrard forward, which is his best position.

Lets hope we have one more up our sleeves.

[lifetime fan]

I've obviously seen him play without realising who he was.

 

Who would prople compare him to?

[Vivaldo]

Liverpool poised to sign Portugal international Raul Meireles from Porto

By Duncan White Published: 7:30AM BST 28 Aug 2010

 

Liverpool are finalising the transfer of Raul Meireles from Porto as they move quickly to replace Javier Mascherano.

 

The Portugal international midfielder, 27, is expected to sign for the Anfield club this weekend as Roy Hodgson seeks to compensate for the loss of the Argentina international, who is joining Barcelona in a £22million deal.

 

It is understood that Meireles had been lined up by Barcelona, should they have failed to land Mascherano and sources at the Camp Nou revealed that Meireles would now be joining Liverpool instead. Liverpool will reinvest the majority of the Mascherano money in Meireles, with a deal that could rise to as much as £17m.

 

Meireles had been strongly linked with a move away from Porto and a departure appeared inevitable when he was omitted from their Europa League squad last week. Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas was resigned to losing the player and it was reported that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also wanted him to replace Owen Hargreaves.

 

The signing would represent a coup for Liverpool. Meireles was coveted across the continent after establishing himself as one of the most impressive central midfielders in European football.

 

He came close to joining Jose Mourinho at Internazionale last season after the Italian club agreed to exchange winger Ricardo Quaresma with Porto but the deal broke down after Quaresma refused to return to Portugal.

 

Both Chelsea and Barcelona had watched Meireles last season and the player was understood to want a move to an elite European club after six years of success with Porto.

 

Meireles emerged as one of his country’s most promising players in the European Under 16 championships in Israel in 2000, starring alongside Quaresma as Portugal won the title. He joined Porto in 2004, after making his name with Boavista, and has won the Portuguese league title four times in his six seasons with the club.

 

The heavily tattooed midfielder was promoted to the Portugal team after the 2006 World Cup and has gone on to establish himself in Carlos Queiroz’s side, winning 38 caps and scoring 6 goals.

 

He was part of the squad at Euro 2008 and started every one of Portugal’s World Cup qualifying games. He scored the decisive goal in the play-off with Bosnia, effectively qualifying Portugal for South Africa, where he impressed, scoring in the 7-0 rout of North Korea.

 

There had been serious concerns among Liverpool supporters that the club would not be in a position to reinvest any of the money from the sale of Mascherano, with the level of debt that needs to be serviced.

 

Having sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid last summer and with his replacement, Alberto Aquilani, having moved to Juventus on a season-long loan, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has been forced to remodel his midfield.

 

Christian Poulsen, the Danish holding midfielder, has already been signed from Sevilla and Meireles would be expected to play alongside him in a more dynamic role.

 

He has been used by Porto as a defensive midfielder but is encouraged to break from deep positions. That would mean Hodgson could play Steven Gerrard in his more favoured attacking role.

 

And too many Q's in this article :whistle:

[Vivaldo]

YouTube - Raul Meireles

 

 

 

Sorry can't get the youtube thing working

Edited August 28, 2010 by Vivaldo