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Showing posts with label Raul meireles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raul meireles. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Liver n' Onions does Liverpool's deadline day summary.

Today it's all Onions on Liver n'Onions, as you can' t get more eye watering, breath spoiling, and layered than the transfer window deadline day.


I awoke this morning still slightly hungover from the 2 nights prior when I celebrated my 21st birthday, but my  head spinning, stomaching turning reality couldn't hold a flame to the head spinning induced from the transfer day deadline madness. I felt sick, even thought the excitement of moving players sets my teeth on edge. With a pro-active summer of signings, I did not expect Dalgleish to have dipped his toes into the market any further. I figured the releasing of players would be the ethos of the Scots approach to  the dwindling hours of the window. This he did but someone should have warned him not to do it after smoking a doobie. 

Quickly going to my bookmark bar I clicked Liverpool.com, opening to find:


Whaaaat? 
It's a bit of a broadside. I can only pin this on Dalgleish for not giving him playing-time. Not knowing the reasons, it looks like a player wanting to leave because he isn't getting to play, knowing full well he deserves to be on the pitch. Liverpool's best player last year, has been ousted by Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson. Where is the Logic in that?  Jordan is young and promising, but inexperienced. Charlie Adam has looked quality  early in the season, but picking him ahead of  Meireles is like choosing a donkey for the Kentucky Derby instead of a horse. All we did was help Chelsea securing a better player, than who they were after. Failing with a 40 million pound bid to sign Luka Modric, AVB should be counting his chickens that Ol' Arry stayed firm on not selling Modric, for they have secured a much better player for a bargain price of 12 million pounds. A shock to my system, which can only be remedied with Adam and Henderson stepping up in the big games. This result does not sit well with me at all. An exciting player, who I loved watching red, now will be seen in blue, which will only make me feel…blue.



A less gut wrenching piece of business sees Joe Cole sent out on a year long loan deal to Lille . The English man has a big task ahead of him adjusting to the culture, language and playing style of the reigning French champions. A good bit of business done by Lille,  adds depth the the strong squad, in which Cole will most likely play a substitute role, as he forages for form. This move sparked rumors of Eden Hazard jumping, with Cole serving as his replacement, but that looks like a bunch of bollocks. Adding some astuteness to the deal, is Liverpool trying to cultivated  first refusal on signing Eden Hazard, by paying 60% of Cole's wages for the next 12 months. Dalgleish and Damien Comolli hope to beat their competitors in courting the talented Belgium, with Cole clearly acting as a sweetener.

Christian Poulsen has left Anfield  to join league 1 side Evian after failing to break into the first team squad. A deal worth 4.5 million pounds has been finalized for the Danish International, who since the introduction Adam has had a reality check that playing time would be at a premium. 

David No'good has been snatched up by Bolton for 4 million pounds, finally relieving Liverpool fans from having to see that poser any longer, Good riddance .

Phillip Degen's contract has been terminated, which is no great loss to the squad, and it just clears out some dead weight.

 Dani Pacheco has also been offloaded, with the Spanish striker joining Atletico Madrid.


Now for the newcomers…


The Liverpool hierarchy seem to have been studying their math of late…coming up with this complicated formula: Uruguayan team + 4th place finish in World Cup 2010, Winners of Copa America = Good Uruguayan players. Liverpool's signing of Sebastion Coates is putting that formula into action. Signing  from Nacional, a player who at this years Copa America was voted "best player" after commanding performance  after commanding performance. Fellow country-men Luis Suarez  played an important role in bringing the 20 year old to Anfield, that and a fee of 7 million pounds. I see this man "Coates," "Fitting" into Dalgleish's system just fine.


The Nutter with the Putter.  Yes, it happened. Bellamy will be making his second bow at the Merseyside club. If you want more please  read my piece in the WFD kick about section on the  " nutter," because it's  nut-rageous.


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Liver N'Onions week of 8/22




Your Liver:

On paper its looks a good result for Liverpool,  2-0 win against Arsenal, though be it a struggling Arsenal. If you are like me -devoted- staying up for kickoff at 1pm hawaiian pacific time, or 4am on the west coast, you would know it was anything but. Two dodgy goals saved Liverpool fans from another speed bump in their seasons takeoff, but the brace exists as only as a blanket, covering their blemishes. 

A wins, a win, and it was this that saved Liverpool from further scrutiny. The started as an exciting spectacle with Wenger playing a youthful midfield, more by restriction than choice. Frimpong added some youthful steel to the midfield in which youth and the decisions that come with it earned him a sight at red. Suarez sat from the beginning with Kenny giving him the most rest possible after a long summer of football. When brought on the  major realization for me and hopefully the world over, of how absolutely key Luis Suarez, is to this team was plain to see. When introduced midway into the second half, the light bulbs were a-flashing over the heads of the reds, acting as the catalyst to all things good for the merseyside club. Before this the midfield of Henderson, and Adam  looked solid against the soft Arsenal center, but still lacked that creative spark. Suarez's movement is second to none, and with the introduction Meireles from the bench spoke of his importance to the team as well. He must start for me! He had a fantastic  last season, and his importance was cemented at the Emirates. In my mind it's a case of Dalgleish playing favorites. He brought in these new English boys and he wants to play them. There're are two classy players sitting on the bench, with limited shots in proving they belong in the team from the start. I have spoke of Meireles and you know how I feel on that subject. The second is Alberto Aquilani. Rumors this week preach interest from AC Milan, which might actually be a go vs. the  roller coaster  summer of transfer links associated with the Italian.  The player who at Liverpool, failed to impress, though chances were limited due to injury and lack of form, rendering him with the price tag, a flop. I say Give him a shot! This summer he looked hungry,wether prove himself at Liverpool or to put himself in the shop window is unclear but the taste for games is there.

Your Onions:

More Rumors this week coming from Italy is the re-emerging like between Dirk Kuyt and Inter Milan.  The blue collar Dutchman works tirelessly for Liverpool and his departure would not be a welcomed one. As an elder statesman up-top, his experience is key and is a figure to look up to from the youthful Carroll and Henderson.  Starting roles may be scarce, but this aging utility man will give 358% what ever position he is put in.

Other rumors come in the shape of EPL new-boys QPR, pursing a loan move for shabby shabby Joe Cole. Cole has strait up disappointed at Liverpool!  Out of form, shape, mindset…you name it. Has had limited playing time as well, but when given a shot to do anything good he  has absolutely failed. Get him out, and playing football. A Loan move would be the best option as  he racks up some  regular time, and manages to increase his stock, Liverpool can sell him for a higher price.  At a team like QPR that frankly will need all the help they can get, Joe can play some foot and come seasons end  Dalgleish can asses wether he's worth keeping.

After the Merciless Meireles  set up Suarez for the second goal, cameras caught the radical misfit flipping Lucas the bird, then poppin a grin….next time it will be the kiss from the Godfather, " I know it was you, and It warms my heart!" Was it a joke? Who cares? There needs to be some bite. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Daily Liver n' Onions



Your daily Liver n' Onions dissects the inner and outer workings of Liverpool FC, delving into the latest news, rumors and fan fantasies associated with the Merseyside club.

Looks the part doesn't he?
Latest paper talk circling around England is that Chelsea is looking to raid Liverpool's overstocked midfield  for Raul Meireles. Seemingly losing the fight for Luka Modric, and missing out on Javier Pastore,  Chelsea are desperate to strengthen their aging midfield. If AVB coax's  the Tattoo- clad  Portugeezer, it would be massive loss for Liverpool!  Without a shadow of a doubt Meireles was one if not Liverpool's best players last year. Traditionally a box-to-box midfielder Meireles was deployed on the wing, and even against such adversity shined. Looking at the Pool's opening fixture v. Sunderland, Dalgleish left the midfield responsibility up to new-boys Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, only bringing Meireles on for the final 15 min of the game. I hope for the sake of the club that the former Porto man is in the Scot's plans this season as it would be a big wast to lose him. It's like a child playing exclusively with his new toy, rather than an older one that still works perfectly fine, and has more gadgets.  Getting decent time last year to prove his worth, I feel he needs a whole season in England to show his true talent, as he did in Portugal. For me Meireles should ALWAYS be starting before Adam, 10 out a 10. Better player, slightly different but for my money better. Taking from what I saw in their first match  Dalgleish's looks like he'll give the English players the starting spots, a love affair that could end poorly. Meireles a solid pick up for any team, and the bad ass of all bad asses would be sorrily missed by this fan.