While watching the Chelsea vs. Sunderland game this past weekend, I began to think about how Raul Meireles is the light in a dark tunnel for Chelsea. He danced around the midfield, slotting passes through the defense and playing amazing long balls to switch the play.
Meireles left FC Porto before AVB arrived as manager and switched to fellow BPL club, Liverpool. After a somewhat impressive breakout season, Meireles decided it was best for him to leave in search of more first-team action.
He looked no further than Chelsea FC.
A deadline day deal was on the agenda for AVB as he looked to bolster his midfield and unleash more attacking options. I was never sold on the deal. Meireles didn’t seem like a “playmaker”—or at least he didn’t when compared to Luka Modric.
After 21 weeks of BPL action with Chelsea, he has truly made his mark in trademark fashion. He has been able to retain a starting position—even with AVB enacting a squad rotation policy. When a goal or a quick set up pass is needed, Meireles always seems to be the provider.
This past weekend, he was phenomenal in the Sunderland game!
He was breaking up plays and linking up with fellow players like a true “playmaker” should. No, he doesn’t have the dribbling abilities of Mata or Luka, but he is still the closest thing that Chelsea has to a playmaker in the 4-3-3 formation.
The only worry for Raul is his consistency. It’s no lie that Lampard is being ushered to the bench as a more impact-sub type of player. However, when Meireles has been given the chance to take over Lamp’s position on the left on the midfield, he has failed to deliver.
Torres, Meireles and Mata seem to link up more often than any other trio combination on the field. Meireles’ understanding of Torres from his Liverpool days—and Mata familiarity with the fast pace on the Spanish national team—make theirs an exceptional partnership.
To truly get the best out of these three, I believe a 4-4-1-1 should be played.
Ramires has done an amazing job on the right with Sturridge missing due to injury. If either Malouda or Lampard are playing on the far left, they could pinch in to allow Oriol Romeu/Essien to drop back. That would create a balance in midfield with Mata sitting behind Torres.
Then Sturridge could (finally) get the opportunity to play at center either behind Torres/Lukaku or as the main striker.
Meireles is the future of Chelsea and could provide the spark for Torres to return to his goal scoring ways.
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