Lucas Leiva signing thread

[fowlen]

With respect we saw flashes of Gonzo's ability. He seemed to suffer niggling injuries whenever he was putting a run together and that probably did not help his form.

He has been injured on and off for the best part of 18 months, and I think his first campaign did him no harm. He was not that bad, but could have been better, and I think we'll probably only see the best of him in a couple of years. He has struggled to adapt, but having had a season to adapt I think he'll get better and better

[ningnangnong]

I'm still willing to give Gonzalez a bit more time, i think people have been a bit to quick to write him off.

First season in England and all that.

[Nicey]

I'm still willing to give Gonzalez a bit more time, i think people have been a bit to quick to write him off.

First season in England and all that.

Yep thats it

[dww]

I'm still willing to give Gonzalez a bit more time, i think people have been a bit to quick to write him off.

First season in England and all that.

It is a real problem though - if we want to challenge for the title signings have to fit straight in or if they take time to bed in are going to have to demand to start with the limited opportunities that they get. I think Gonzalez might yet succeed but I think it is going to be very hard for him next year to get a game.

[DannyMan2006]

It is a real problem though - if we want to challenge for the title signings have to fit straight in or if they take time to bed in are going to have to demand to start with the limited opportunities that they get. I think Gonzalez might yet succeed but I think it is going to be very hard for him next year to get a game.

Signings do need to settle quickly yes, but as Gonzo has had a season to settle that surely goes in his favour, and the same goes for all of last years signings. The new players wanted by most to fill Gonzos position (Quaresma, Nani) will again take time to adapt, and lets face it, they look as good as Gonzo did when he was playing abroad. Who's to say that those players will produce more than Gonzo did, who as already mentioned has had to cope with injuries.

Let's all face the facts, every signing is a gamble and most players need time to adapt. Robert Pires took a year to settle, Henry and Bergkamp about 6-8 months. Those are players who reached world class standards and won titles for Arsenal. Those players were also European based and had experience of the top level.

So do not write Gonzales off just yet. He is young and inexperienced and this one season will be of great assistance for him next season.

[dww]

Signings do need to settle quickly yes, but as Gonzo has had a season to settle that surely goes in his favour, and the same goes for all of last years signings. The new players wanted by most to fill Gonzos position (Quaresma, Nani) will again take time to adapt, and lets face it, they look as good as Gonzo did when he was playing abroad. Who's to say that those players will produce more than Gonzo did, who as already mentioned has had to cope with injuries.

Let's all face the facts, every signing is a gamble and most players need time to adapt. Robert Pires took a year to settle, Henry and Bergkamp about 6-8 months. Those are players who reached world class standards and won titles for Arsenal. Those players were also European based and had experience of the top level.

So do not write Gonzales off just yet. He is young and inexperienced and this one season will be of great assistance for him next season.

I'm not writing him off, just being realistic. He has had a lot of niggling injuries and look at how hard it has been to get Kewell right for the team and he was already playing in the PL. I would trust Rafa to get rid of him if he feels he doesn't have the attitude or talent, so I guess if he deserves it he will get a chance next season.

I agree with you about the potential signings in as well. There is none of the people we are linked with who are so obviously talented that you feel confident they will step up straight away. I hope Harry Kewell stays fit for next season.

[tomasjj]

I'm still willing to give Gonzalez a bit more time, i think people have been a bit to quick to write him off.

First season in England and all that.

Agree totally.

[KK07]

I'm still willing to give Gonzalez a bit more time, i think people have been a bit to quick to write him off.

First season in England and all that.

[Nic83]

In fairness, I saw a lot of gonzales in Spain last season and he looked pretty damn good, which is why I still hold out hope for him.

[Ryan_Derrick]

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.

Gonzalez wouldn't be the first not to come back from a serious knee injury quite the same player.
I still think he'll come good.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I was always a bit suspicious about Gonzalez before he arrived.

Quite a few people back on KT thought he was going to come here, hit the ground running and be a massive hit.

He does have great pace and a powerful shot, so he has a chance. But he can be a bit head down at times and his final ball is too often erratic.

The sensible move would have been to loan him to another Premiership club this season, where he would play every week. As it transpired he was in and out of the side, either by rotation and injuries and had a mediocre season.

I'd like to see him go out on loan to Premiership club next season, likewise this Leto lad coming over from Bargie. Because lets be fair we simply aren't going to win the league next season with either of these on the left wing. Gonzalez is inconsistent and injury prone, and though Leto may have talent, how many players come from South America straight to Europe and make an immediate impact?

[saj]

I was always a bit suspicious about Gonzalez before he arrived.

Quite a few people back on KT thought he was going to come here, hit the ground running and be a massive hit.

He does have great pace and a powerful shot, so he has a chance. But he can be a bit head down at times and his final ball is too often erratic.

The sensible move would have been to loan him to another Premiership club this season, where he would play every week. As it transpired he was in and out of the side, either by rotation and injuries and had a mediocre season.

I'd like to see him go out on loan to Premiership club next season, likewise this Leto lad coming over from Bargie. Because lets be fair we simply aren't going to win the league next season with either of these on the left wing. Gonzalez is inconsistent and injury prone, and though Leto may have talent, how many players come from South America straight to Europe and make an immediate impact?

Ermmm Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Redondo, Dildo, Batistuta, both the guys called Alves - the list is actually endless. Its more to do with the fact its the Premiership rather than Europe they struggle in. Crespo and Veron are examples of that

[StevieG08]

Ermmm Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Redondo, Dildo, Batistuta, both the guys called Alves - the list is actually endless. Its more to do with the fact its the Premiership rather than Europe they struggle in. Crespo and Veron are examples of that

Penatrating type of player

[Maestro]

Ermmm Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Redondo, Dildo, Batistuta, both the guys called Alves - the list is actually endless. Its more to do with the fact its the Premiership rather than Europe they struggle in. Crespo and Veron are examples of that

That was a bit of Freudian tit now, wasn't it? Erm...I mean Freudian slip..

[NICKZS]

Signings do need to settle quickly yes, but as Gonzo has had a season to settle that surely goes in his favour, and the same goes for all of last years signings. The new players wanted by most to fill Gonzos position (Quaresma, Nani) will again take time to adapt, and lets face it, they look as good as Gonzo did when he was playing abroad. Who's to say that those players will produce more than Gonzo did, who as already mentioned has had to cope with injuries.

Let's all face the facts, every signing is a gamble and most players need time to adapt. Robert Pires took a year to settle, Henry and Bergkamp about 6-8 months. Those are players who reached world class standards and won titles for Arsenal. Those players were also European based and had experience of the top level.

So do not write Gonzales off just yet. He is young and inexperienced and this one season will be of great assistance for him next season.

Good post mate.

Gonzalez looks like a player in need of a confidence boost, much like Pennant at the start of the season. His performances in Spain were enough to make me believe we have a talented footballer in him, but he needs to feel able to take players on, and push forward getting in behind defences, for us to be able to see him at his rampant best.