Lucas and Leto

[dww]

If you look at our midfield then Lucas, Mascherano and Gerrard is a must to keep. Sissoko and Alonso is two good players but they are not a must to keep. If one of them would be sold then we would cope without them.

We wouldn't cope long term without Gerrard or Mascherano because no one in the team can do the same work as them. Lucas is a must to keep because he gives our attacks the extra skill that the other more attacking central midfielders don't have.

We've been doing pretty well in the league without Mascher. I think with a blend of the other players we would cope without him. For me Gerrard is the only one who would be irreplaceable.

That is not to say anything against Mascher just that I think that Alonso and Gerrard is probably our best midfield pairing IMO. I love the fact that we have such strong competition for the role though.

[AFII]

As I see it Gerrard must do more defensive work if Alonso plays.

He can play in the free position he is best at if Mascherano plays without having to worry that much about tracking back all the time.

Alonso is the more complete player but Mascherano is the best holding midfielder in the world.

[Parm]

As the for the central midfield problem, if Lucas continues to do well, don't be surprised if we see Masher go. He is only on loan after all and if we are asked to pay silly money for him, Rafa may look at what he's got and say bye bye.

I hope this isn't the case because I think Masher is ace

It is a possibility.

[fred_plasticine]

i don't think we'll be asked to pay silly money for mascha, i pretty sure the price has been agreed along with the costs of his loan deal.

[Mr Tourette]

He wont be able to, somebody will leave. We potentially have 5 world class centre mids there's no way all of them will be kept happy.

This worries me too. Lucas looked like a quality player to me and he should become our very own fabregas. The fact that he won that league player of the year award, is brazils under 20 captain and in the full squad means this lad has the lot. The problem is - he isnt going to play enough to develop. this genuinely concerns me for the lad. How will he get a game? Benitez must be planning for injuries because he cant keep this lot happy or keep them developing at a decent rate?

Im not too bothered about Leto - he looked okay, strong enough to compete and certainly not scared by the physical side but i dont think he looked just quick enough or skillful enough to quite make it here - just my opinion. From what i saw of little Insua at left back - he looked REALLY promising.

[Mr Tourette]

leto didn't look average at all imho.
i'd call it promising. the two games he was involved in he actually looked full of potential and more comfortable on the ball than one gonzales ever did. i for one think the lad will have a bright future in the game. he's big and strong, fairly tricky with a good shot on him and most importantly - he's not a afraid to take players on and try to create something.

Yeah hes better than gonzalez already but that isnt hard - but we are looking at one serious sqaud of players now and new additions are going to have to be seriously good to stand a chance - and i thought that although solid, fairly quick and fairly tricky - he didnt look like he had an outstanding quality that made me think jesus this lad will make it. Its just my opinion but id have money on the fact that he wont quite make it with us.

Lucas and insua however......