Reds' fan pays tribute to ESPN PFA Fans' Player of the Year

Liverpool - Raul Meireles is a worthy winner

By Emdad Rahman

Forget the pundits, analysts and boardroom executives - the fans have spoken by voting for their ESPN PFA Fans' Player of the Year for this season. 

And that man is Liverpool’s Portuguese ace Raul José Trindade Raul Meireles. The midfield battler has taken to the Barclays Premier League like a duck to water after leaving Porto for Liverpool in an £11.5 million switch. More importantly, Meireles has filled the void left by Javier Mascherano’s move to Barcelona.

With an inclination for striking spectacular goals, Meireles has added more power, pace, and better long range passing to the Reds engine room. 

Meireles was Portugal’s star player at the 2010 World Cup. With clubs stalling on making a firm offer, Roy Hodgson stepped in to secure the services of the ‘Portugeezer’. The shrewd transfer was Hodgson’s most valuable contribution during his short stint at Anfield. 

Having arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s finest all round midfielders, Meireles’ career started haphazardly at Liverpool as the ex-Porto star found himself taken out of his central midfield berth to be deployed on the left wing. Hodgson got it wrong - Liverpool lacked balance in the middle and natural width, yet continued to play Meireles out of position. 

Meireles’ early experience at Liverpool was reminiscent of his start at Portuguese giants Porto, where he was assigned an untried and arduous left-back role. By 2005-/6 the battling Meireles had convinced his coaches otherwise, establishing himself as a regular starter in his inherent central midfield position. 

Meireles came to the fore after playing a starring role in Portugal winning the 2000 UEFA European U16 Championships in 2000. As a club player he attracted sufficient attention to secure a transfer from CD Aves to Boavista.

With a positive run of form at the Estadio do Bessa, it wasn’t long before one of the big boys calling. And they did, with FC Porto signing the young Meireles in 2004.
 

Meireles’ formed an ironclad and vigorous midfield twosome alongside Lucho Gonzalez, and the vibrant pair starred as FC Porto completed a treble of league title, Portuguese Cup and Super Cup. With Meireles commanding the centre, FC Porto won four league titles in a row.

The Champions league saw a goal against Chelsea in 2006/07 and two games against his future employers during the following season. 

League title successes were again achieved in 2008 and 2009, making it four in a row for Porto. Meireles was instrumental thanks to his outstanding long-range passing ability and penchant for spectacular goals. 

It wasn’t until the return of Kenny Dalglish that matters took a turn, with the 28-year-old being assigned his coveted central midfield berth and finding a blistering run of form leading to five goals in six matches. It was enough to earn Meireles the February ESPN PFA Fans' Player of the Month player award.  

More impressively, the fans player of the year award has seen Meireles beat credible competition from the likes of Nasri, Berbatov, Luiz and Torres. 

With a good break and training in pre-season Meireles will be bigger and better for next season – a campaign which is increasingly being planned as a serious Liverpool assault on the title. 

Disclaimer: The views in this article are that of the writer and may not replicate those of the Professional Footballers' Association.