Not even the most optimistic Liverpool fan can very find much to shout about during Roy Hodgson’s dire six month spell in charge at Anfield.
With so many poor results and awful performances, the club’s future clouded by so many off-field problems and issues, and the club sliding deeper towards a relegation fight, Liverpool Football Club was a depressing and miserable place to be during the first half of this season.
Now, as Kenny Dalglish continues to rejuvenate the club which had lost its way so badly under Roy Hodgson, he can at least point to one transfer decision which, it appears, Roy Hodgson and Christian Purslow got absolutely spot on.
Raul Meireles cost Liverpool £11.5 million from Portuguese champions FC Porto back in August, as Liverpool looked to replace the hole in the squad left by Javier Mascherano’s departure to Spanish giants Barcelona. And although Roy Hodgson didn’t last long enough at Anfield to see the best of his marquee summer signing, the arrival of Dalglish last month has seen the 27-year-old attacking midfielder emerge as a key player in the club’s climb back up the Premier league table.
It was Raul Meireles’ second-half strike which settled Sunday’s battle with champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a result which moved Kenny Dalglish’s men into sixth place in the Premier League for the first time this season. Raul Meireles, was compared to Liverpool legend Terry McDermott upon his arrival, has now scored four times in his last five games, having failed to score in his first 21 appearances for the club.
Kenny Dalglish is not surprised to see the Portuguese star settled in and doing so well at Anfield, Dalglish stated, “Understandably Raul has been getting some headlines for the goals he’s scored in recent weeks, his performances have been what I’ve expected. I knew he was a good footballer before he came to the club and he’s shown that.”
Liverpool face Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon, hoping, expecting their fifth consecutive victory. With Chelsea away to west London neighbours Fulham, and Tottenham facing a tough away fixture at Blackpool, Liverpool have a fantastic chance to reduce the gap between sixth and fourth place.
Twitter: EainMcGurdy1971
Please tell me you’re not serious?
Take a look at you tube…all you have to do is type “Hodgson on Meireles”.
0 goals under hodgson, 4 in 6 under Kenny. One of these managers said the following about Raul Meireles, the other just played him in a position he’s happy in:
“I don’t know what his best position is”
Incidentally, Hodgson bought Poulsen to fill the Mascherano void.
Go easy! Give him credit for bringing him to the club, jeez!
I personally think Raul is now playing his preferred football in his preferred position and this is reaping rewards for him and for the Club.
Raul is not a Masch type of midfielder, Poulsen is! There is more to come from Meireles.
ickl…..
Hodgson didn’t bring him to the club, Purslow did. Hodgson didn’t even know who Meireles was let alone where his best position is.
Raul has been a better player playing in d hole,its all d team attack is built around him and opponents can’t easily man mark him because he’s not a stagnant player he goes up and down the pitch and runs into scoring positions.he’s an all round complete player he’s good wiv his two feet reads d game well and make intelligent runs and passes.credit to King bringing out d best in him and spotting his best position.I like d way d king has been protecting him in matches he never wants him to complete 90mins thereby keeping him fresh for future matches.
I think he could be a young Gary Mac for us.
I am convinced that the scouts had already spotted and lined up Meirles under Rafas tenure he just happened to get signed under Hodgson watch – I don’t mean to rewrite history but he just doesn’t smell like a Hodgson player – he was anti-football
I was confused when we were signing and Meireles & Poulson. Given the midfielders already at the club. There is some spot on assessments here IMO. I believe Raul was a done under Rafa. Mostly because Roy Hodgson bought Konchesky and we were linked with shit players like Dempsey & Huth.
Lucas was on his way out, and Poulson was bought to replace him.
I would nt be surprised to se Poulsen gone in the summer either!