See I look at Livermore's recent performances and that's what I would consider a good Premier League midfielder to look like. I think the level of football the player is playing at is important to consider and I don't think Meyler is capable of being a PL quality footballer (I don't think he ever has). But if he applies himself and keeps it steady then he'll fit in.
They might be our CB pairing vs Man U so Meyler could gouvern midfield He's the sort of player you want in your team, fights for every scrap never gives an inch
With Meyler what you see is what you get, works hard, and does break up play which is often missed by spectators. I generally like him in the side, not sure about him at right back though, but according to Chazz who went yesterday he played well.
It's always made me laugh the way that our players get slated for mistakes; I mean, we pay so much for them (in relative terms), so just how the hell dare they be human? He's another workhorse we ignore because he gets in the thick of it and **** inevitably happens.
They get slated for the ones that cost us. In any other line of work, how many major mistakes are you allowed to make before they sack you? He isn't ignored for working hard, everybody can see that and you can never, ever accuse Meyler of being lazy. However, his best attributes seem to be those that most other PL footballers do as standard, hence why he isn't playing at that level more frequently (and why Sunderland let him leave in the first place).
I havent seen yesterday's game yet John as it wasnt on here but I have seen Meyler play RB for Ireland a few times and he does a good job at international level. But to me the important thing, despite his technical weaknesses, is that he always gives 100% and like Jak is an inspiration to the rest of the team. Our winning record with those two in the side is far better than without them, as the stats show, and that in my view is critical. Ash was never regarded as a Prem quality player, but his toughness and never-say-die spirit was key in taking us up four Divisions. In MF Meyler is always looking to get forward in support of the strikers and has added several key goals driving into the box. Like Jak he makes the occasional howler, as in the Arsenal game, but overall I'm always happy to see him in the side. As said above, you know he'll fight for every inch. That's the team and the attitude that Silva wants!!
Meyler is average at best and his appearances reflect this. Something you wont spot on radio.. Allams OUT
Pretty good assessment, the highlights of the Swansea game show some good parts of his game yesterday
Ho, Ho, Ho. What a merry bag of bollocks that is, Sterling. If you play enough football you will make mistakes, if you play against quality then the incidence will increase. Everyone in our squad is guilty of making mistakes; well those who have been arsed to try. At the peril of being pilloried I'm going to use that phrase again - schoolboy nonsense - because your theory stands up in some comic book world, but certainly not in the real one. The standards he has, and how they reckon in the number of starts he makes, are far more relevant to the standards of his team mates, rather than the broader church of PL players. A word to the wise, but feel free to ignore it: don't ever use Sunderland releasing players as a measure of that player's ability. You might wonder why old heads snigger.
Thanks for the Highlights John. Thought we looked good at the back compared to recent games. Some first class saves by Jak to preserve the shutout. I was impressed with Masons energy and movement. Looks like he's finally enjoying his football. Nice cameo by Maloney...clever player who probably deserves more playing time but hard to fit him in. Abel showed some great touches and positioning. Great to have him back!!
Although only a nine minute highlight clip some of the touches, passing and movement are an absolute joy to witness, and this is after only two days of the new management working with the players. How good will we be in a couple of weeks with a few new players?! Yes some will negatively play it down by saying that the Swans are currently a poor side, however I'd respond by saying that if it wasn't for the superb reactions of Jak that the game could just as easily have finished 2 - 4, but that's what happens when you start with the best players, you win games, take note Mr. Phelan, you were your own worst enemy! Anyone that doubts our ability to stay up after watching that clip has sadly lost the faith. We WILL stay up.
Always rated Meyler. He's one of those players the fans love to get on the back of because they're deemed not good enough or not fashionable enough or they don't do a Cruyff turn or ping an 80 yard pass to a team mates toe end. What players like Meyler do have and we're going to need it by the bucket load between now and the end of the season is heart, endeavour, stamina and work rate. Players can have all the skill and technical ability on the planet, without the endeavour, work rate and willingness to get around the pitch it all counts for nothing. Give me a player like Meyler in the side every day of the week as you know you will get a player out on the pitch literally busting a gut for the full 90 + minutes. How many players have we been able to say that about since the start of the season?
Well, it's not bollocks. If you play against quality and make mistakes, fair enough, it means you aren't as good as the opposition. But that's the point. We need players who are as good as the opposition, otherwise you end up getting beat week in, week out. The fact that Meyler makes mistakes isn't necessarily the issue, it's that even when we were relegated back to the Championship, he still didn't look better than the players in teams he was going out against. There were certainly others too, but we're focusing on Meyler here. The lad tries hard, he puts himself about and on his day can be very effective in disrupting midfields and making a nuisance of himself. But his day doesn't seem to come on a regular basis, not from what I've seen and I've seen plenty of him. Sunderland fans liked him, but said very similar things, heart is there but lacks quality. When he first came in, he easily looked better than most of the midfielders at the club and in the league. But over time in the PL, he was shown to be not as good as Livermore, Huddlestone (yup), Diame and the rest. And that's because he isn't. He's not a naturally talented lad; he's good at what he does and that's what he's useful for. In the same way that Alex Bruce is a useful tool for the club to use, he was never in a million years a PL quality defender but he was asked to do a job and he did it without asking questions. The standards he has, whatever they may be, are entirely relevant to the context of the PL, because that's who he's playing against every week. He doesn't have the same passing awareness, vision or creativity that some of the other lads do. A lot of the time they seem to be on a higher wavelength (which in fairness might come with being in the team) than he does, which means you get more misplaced passes, more wrong decisions etc. It isn't his fault he isn't as good as others and I'm not going to hold it against him, if he's in the team then fair enough, I won't slag him off during a game, no player deserves that. But if he makes more telling mistakes than any other player, then colour me unsurprised.
I was east stand yesterday And thought he didn't have A good first half, improved Second half, he gave their winger way too much room You can see he's not comfortable At right Back so give him His due he tried... mind you henriksen didn't help him First half, but in the second Half they both improved. I Agree he gets stuck in in Midfield...
Who in our team is PL quality? Seen fans from other teams say only snoddy and Robertson are (particularly West Ham fans)? That's harsh imo. I think most of the starting 11 are to be honest. I think out staring 11 is 14 or 15 in the prem.
You're probably about right. Though I'm sure if the players were confident, then the picture would change. We do have genuine PL quality players in our side hence the interest from other clubs. I'd include in your list of players Livermore, Clucas, Maguire - maybe Hernandez (But we need to see a bit more from him) Huddlestone (on his day - no doubt)
