Recently the Daily Mail had reported that Raul Meireles is a target of Napoli and could join for around £8 million whilst the Daily Star have suggested that he could be used in a deal to sign Edinson Cavani, but considering the midfielders we have in the squad, should he really be the first out of the door?
I’m expecting many people to disagree with me here if the opinions I have heard and read are anything to go by, especially as the Portuguese midfielder isn’t the most loved player at Stamford Bridge and seems to be one of the default scapegoats for a poor team performance…and by saying that I’m not suggesting he’s not had his woeful displays, he’s had them, but perhaps not as bad as people have made out.
Meireles played over 40 games in all competitions for Chelsea last season and contributed six goals and six assists during his first campaign at Stamford Bridge, which aren’t bad stats for a player in his position. He was never particularly amazing, just a steady all rounder with good mobility, works hard and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. He’s never going to be a guaranteed starter but he’s a very useful squad player, essentially.
In comparison, Michael Essien, a player who was one of the best in our ranks once upon a time and a character that is appreciated by the fans. However, the injuries he has suffered have all but ruined his career and his performances have been laboured, he’s a shadow of his former self. It’s sad, really sad, but in reality I do not see him recovering his previous best and is something of an expensive under-performer at the moment.
I’d also clear out the likes of Yossi Benayoun ahead of Meireles, as he has a snowball’s chance in hell at playing much first team football as he’ll be behind the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Oscar, Marko Marin and company in the pecking order. On top of that, he was a pointless buy to begin with and pretty much nailed his colours to the mast when he chose to support Arsenal over his parent club.
Now, I’m not saying Meireles shouldn’t be sold and if the club decides to do so then so be it. But he’s a decent squad player and is probably a better option than those he’d be leaving behind in my opinion.
I’m expecting to get a few replies in support of Essien especially, probably saying “give him one more season” but we’ve been saying this for years now. But you are all of course entitled to your opinions (arguing our views is part of the fun when it comes to football discussion) and your feedback is greatly appreciated as ever. Tell me what you think in the comments section below.
I agree meireles should stay, he’s been erratic, some great games and goals, and some bad games, passes and mistakes but that isn’t unusual for a player in his first year with a new team. He was AVB’s mate but drogba was mourinho’s mate and that didnt end too badly did it. But also he’s torres’s mate so perhaps another year for both and if they flop get rid of both. Same for essien ( 1 more year that is ). One thing I’d like to say though is Mikel should be given time, df midfield requires physicality and speed yes but much more key is the ability to read the game and be insanely disciplined which both normally come with experience makalele for example and coincidentally is the man we and all are trying to replace was the epitome of df midfield but only after years and years of playing at the highest level with the best clubs and players in the world. Mikel is still young so real discipline will be hard and mistakes will happen also when we bought him he wasn’t really a df mid so if it doesn’t work maybe give him a go as a more box to box type.
Also benayoun and malouda replaced yesterday please, malouda should have gone a year ago atleast maybe 2 even though he has played well in some big games in the past and got some important goals. Benayoun we shouldn’t even have to be talking about he was never good enough for our squad what were he and chelsea thinking we should never have bought him we should have left him at Liverpool he was doing a very good job dragging them down a bit.
Lovely one.. Mireles is cool and strong with pace, but we get loads at the midfield to replace him, let’s focus on the deal and have cavani as drogba replace,whatever it takes should be given all we want now is a world class striker to deliever goals dis session. Up blues !
Keeping Meireless is out of the question looking at the bunch of midfielders we have now,Essein have had his time and has lost his form so should go,let Meireless be use as a sacrifice to bring in Cavani.
It would b gud 2 make mireles as makeweigth 4 cavani,bt we stil av sud players in d squad dat can b sell in place of him.i wil lyk 2 follow Clark opinion.Ashan should remember dat among does players you said we should offload in place mireles,mikel is ecceptional among defence midfielder we have now,his a standout in dat position 4 us,yossi,malouda and ferriera we b gud as part deal 4 cavani.
We should trade meriless if only it involves a deal that would bring cavani ???? SW6.No sacrifice will be too much ???? get us a reliable striker like Cavani.
Cavani is a better choice compare too meriless if we are too make a choice i?????n????? view of our present need i?????n????? the team.Cavani+Tores+Oscar+Hazard+Mata+Marin will make us defend successfully our Champion League
I sugest falcao to cavanni. Falcao is much beta dan cavanni or hulk. We should go 4 falcao. Nd we stil nid merieles in our team. He is a gud player. Essien,ferrier,malouda can go!
Malouda, Essien and probably Meriles should be sold. This would make space nd raise funds for the purchase of Luka Modric. We have brought in World class attacking midfielders but we also need a world class central midfielder. Lampard is past his prime and we need a top player in that position.
Anthony, you are either twisting this situation around to fit your own beliefs or missing the point entirely. No other club have come in for any of our ‘fringe’ players to the best of my knowledge. Chelsea HAVE NOT offered up Raul Meireles to anyone but were approached by Napoli about him according to the ‘Mail’s’ report. I am sure, given the choice, the club would get rid of players in something like the following order…. Benayoun, Malouda, Essien and Mereiles.
With a very heavy investment in bringing players in of the standard and type as Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Marin and possibly Moses to join the likes of Lampard, Ramires, Mikel and Romeu I think selling Mereiles in a deal to bring Cavani in makes perfect sense. ‘If’ that deal takes place before Benayoun, Malouda or maybe Essien departs so what! It only means that Mereiles is more in demand by other clubs than any of our other ‘fringe’ players and NOT that Chelsea want to sell him BEFORE any other player.
What a lot of fans tend to forget is that many top players as they get older tend to go through ‘cycles’ with regards their form, fitness and over-all game. Who is to say that any of our ‘fringe’ players that don’t get sold this summer wont become good squad players (like Farreira) and play some positive part, when called upon in our forthcoming campaign.