Lucas Leiva signing thread

[SouthAfricaRed]

Starting to get down AGAIN.

First this and then Pato... I thought this transfer window was about getting in some proven class. Appears we are still limited to mostly taking punts on improving unproven kids (albeit higher profile ones).

If this signing was made on the last day of the window then I'd be worried, but at this stage he seems a very good signing, so let's just wait and see what the summer brings - Still 3 1/2 months left before the window closes

[tomasjj]

Good work from CAD, he got my position about right. In the engine room, spraying passes all over the park.

Wrong, my friend.
You are the water carrier, winning the ball then giving it to me.

[Shaggy]

Wrong, my friend.
You are the water carrier, winning the ball then giving it to me.

Lovely, so we've got two ball players in the middle of the park. I was once described in a write-up as "a haunting mixture of grace and aggression" ...so I hope you can tackle - then we'd have two all-rounders, orchestrating everything in the middle.

[Neil Young]

Lovely, so we've got two ball players in the middle of the park. I was once described in a write-up as "a haunting mixture of grace and aggression" ...so I hope you can tackle - then we'd have two all-rounders, orchestrating everything in the middle.

That's uncanny. I often think that about you.

[Shaggy]

[Shanks65]

Leiva Speaks

official site

Latest Reds acquisition Lucas Leiva has spoken of his imminent move to Anfield and revealed it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
It was confirmed on Friday that Brazilian midfielder Leiva will join the club from Gremio in time for the start of next season.

Before moving to Merseyside the highly-rated 20-year old will is hoping to help his current club win the South American equivalent of the Champions League but he's excited at the prospect of becoming a Liverpool player.

"Regarding my transfer to Liverpool, to tell you the truth, I really didn't expect to leave Brazil so soon but what I have been offered and the team from which it came from made it impossible to say no," said the Brazil under-20 captain.

"Liverpool made me an excellent proposal in the financial and professional part.

"In addition I know that my departure is going to give a big hand to Gremio for resolving some financial problems so that makes me happy and makes me calm with the decision that I took of accepting the transfer.

"I wish to travel to England in July taking in my suitcase the Copa Libertadores title.

'I am very happy and thankful that I have been given the chance to remain at Gremio until the end of the Copa Libertadores because playing this competition and having the chance to win it is something that I have been waiting for since I was a child."

[Johnny]

Latest Reds acquisition Lucas Leiva has spoken of his imminent move to Anfield and revealed it was too good an opportunity to turn down.
It was confirmed on Friday that Brazilian midfielder Leiva will join the club from Gremio in time for the start of next season.

Before moving to Merseyside the highly-rated 20-year old will is hoping to help his current club win the South American equivalent of the Champions League but he's excited at the prospect of becoming a Liverpool player.

"Regarding my transfer to Liverpool, to tell you the truth, I really didn't expect to leave Brazil so soon but what I have been offered and the team from which it came from made it impossible to say no," said the Brazil under-20 captain.

"Liverpool made me an excellent proposal in the financial and professional part.

"In addition I know that my departure is going to give a big hand to Gremio for resolving some financial problems so that makes me happy and makes me calm with the decision that I took of accepting the transfer.

"I wish to travel to England in July taking in my suitcase the Copa Libertadores title.

'I am very happy and thankful that I have been given the chance to remain at Gremio until the end of the Copa Libertadores because playing this competition and having the chance to win it is something that I have been waiting for since I was a child."

[Red Chilli]

He looks like Bellamy's twin sister.

Or Diego Forlan's better looking brother.

[animal magic]

this was taken from the tim vickery column on the bbc website


Who is Lucas Leiva? What is his true position? And based on a previous article about South American youngsters leaving too early, eg. Gabriel Paletta, is Lucas ready to come to the Premiership just yet?
Mark Williams, Leamington Spa (and many others)


These moves are always a gamble, but I think this is a good one.

He's an exciting player of a type that Brazilian football hasn't produced too many of recently. Of late their central midfielders have tended to be 'holders' who sit and allow the full-backs to push forward.

Lucas is different. He's a big, blonde figure whose power and physical strength comes with attacking ability.

He can pass well and loves to rumble forward. He gets on the scoresheet both with blistering shots from range and from bursting beyond the strikers.

You can certainly imagine him playing alongside Javier Mascherano, for example.

I don't have the same fears for him as I did with Paletta. He's had two full seasons behind him - one helping Gremio win promotion from the second division, and then last year's success when he was chosen as the player of the championship.

In a perfect world you might want him to stay another year before moving on, but (a) Gremio need to sell to balance the books and (b) with Liverpool's strength in depth in central midfield it looks as if his first campaign will be a bedding in season.

[red g]

He looks like Bellamy's twin sister.

Just found this.

Thats pretty good from being one of 'teenage pop sensations' hanson to playing for LFC good career move

[Lecter]

Does Lucas' signing rule out any possible move for Tevez though? Is there room in a side for an attacking/creative midfielder and (sort of) hole player like Tevez?

IMO No

[Guest]

IMO No

And Mr. Barry Kewell could perfectly fill that role.

[Yozza]

BBC article on Lucas Leiva...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6653123.stm

Who is Lucas Leiva? What is his true position? And based on a previous article about South American youngsters leaving too early, eg. Gabriel Paletta, is Lucas ready to come to the Premiership just yet?
Mark Williams, Leamington Spa (and many others)

These moves are always a gamble, but I think this is a good one.

He's an exciting player of a type that Brazilian football hasn't produced too many of recently. Of late their central midfielders have tended to be 'holders' who sit and allow the full-backs to push forward.

Lucas is different. He's a big, blonde figure whose power and physical strength comes with attacking ability.

He can pass well and loves to rumble forward. He gets on the scoresheet both with blistering shots from range and from bursting beyond the strikers.

You can certainly imagine him playing alongside Javier Mascherano, for example.

I don't have the same fears for him as I did with Paletta. He's had two full seasons behind him - one helping Gremio win promotion from the second division, and then last year's success when he was chosen as the player of the championship.

In a perfect world you might want him to stay another year before moving on, but (a) Gremio need to sell to balance the books and (b) with Liverpool's strength in depth in central midfield it looks as if his first campaign will be a bedding in season.

[Shaggy]

This is Tim Vickery's write up, which are normally spot on.

However, this time last year he had this to say about Mark Gonzalez, proving that he's not always right.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4649849.stm

In waiting for Mark Gonzalez to recover from a serious knee injury and overcome work permit problems Liverpool have shown great faith in their new signing.

The young Chilean can fill any position down the left flank, from full-back to winger, though his gifts are best suited to an attacking midfield role.

He has an electric burst of pace and an excellent left foot, which means he is very effective on the counter-attack.

It is no coincidence his best games for Chile have come away from home.

With the opposition pushing forward, Gonzalez has exposed them on the break.

He is well capable of getting on the scoresheet, as shown by his record of three goals in 13 caps.

Despite a slight frame he can generate plenty of power to shoot from long range.

He is a threat from free-kicks, and is also adept at arriving at the far post to turn in crosses from the right.

Gonzalez was pitched into the highly competitive atmosphere of South America's World Cup qualifiers when he had only just turned 19.

He proved he could cope, and since then only injury has kept him out of the team. Only a harsh ruling, then, would deny him a work permit for his move to Liverpool.

Chilean players have a reputation for travelling badly.

Gonzalez, though, has already shown that he can adapt to European football.

His club, Albacete, may have been relegated from the Primera Liga, but he came out of the campaign with considerable credit.

Fitting into the Premiership is, of course, a more difficult task.

There is a more physical type of game to get used to, and, of course, the extra pressures that come with playing for a club that is chasing titles.

Everything Mark Gonzalez has done so far would seem to indicate that he is up to the challenge.

[dom9]

Lets face it, he wasn't the only on Gonzalaez.