Lucas Leiva

[Nic83]

Lucas looks class.
Reminded me of what I thought the time when Alonso signed.
After just watching him for 10 minutes I knew we had a class player on our hands.

Ahh, one of you

[Parr_Zee]

AF - there is NOTHING about Leiva's game that is like Kaka's. Lucas is a good midfield player, who keeps things ticking over. Kaka has the skill and creativity to change a game in an instance. I see no comparison!!

[dww]

AF - there is NOTHING about Leiva's game that is like Kaka's. Lucas is a good midfield player, who keeps things ticking over. Kaka has the skill and creativity to change a game in an instance. I see no comparison!!

To be fair to AFII when Lucas came to us there were some links to forums about Brazilian football and most noted that he could play as an attacking midfielder and support strikers (although he usually played a role more akin to that Vieira used to play for Arsenal). I can't comment not having seen him play in Brazil but it is not necessary to play the role exactly as Kaka does or to be as good as him to play there and add something to our team.

For my money I like Kuyt and I think a role similar to he does now but played 10 yards further forward would be ideal. The problem I see is that he is always too far from his strike partner, he does however do a valuable job making opposition attacks harder to start and starting off our own. However he doesn't have the pace or range of passing to split a defence and so he needs to be closer to oprions like Babel and Torres who can otherwise we completely rely on Gerrard to move the ball into attacking situations which makes us very predictable.

[AFII]

I would of course like us to sign Kaka, Zlatan, Ronaldinho, Nasri or Diego but that isn't realistic, they would cost to much so we will have to use what we already have.

Lucas is our best option in Kuyts position IMO but I don't expect Rafa to start using him there or in the midfield until he has adapted to english football.

[Parr_Zee]

Lucas is our best option in Kuyts position IMO

I prefer Gerrard playing off Torres, with Alonso and Mascherano in midfield!!

[dww]

I prefer Gerrard playing off Torres, with Alonso and Mascherano in midfield!!

At the minute the big problem with that is Alonso being injured. I would like to see Lucas given a go but I guess I would rather it happen in the CC or when games have gone. He is young and no one knows how he will adapt to the league.

[bigfooty]

He's got talent but like a few of our South American purchases in recent seasons he'll need to adjust to having less time to use the ball. Once he gets that sorted out I can see him having an impact.

[The Glove]

I liked Lucas I thought he did really well. Nothing flash and kept his passing nice and simple and more importantly they actually went to where they shoulve gone.

[keniget]

Again I didn't say that he should play as a striker. I said that he should play in Kuyts position as the attacking playmaker behind the striker.

He's not an attacking playmaker though.

What's wrong with you?

[red g]

looked a similar player to gilberto to me, the little i have seen him. very tidy am sure he will grow in stature as he learns the premiership, sure he wants to keep things simple and effective to start with .

[AFII]

He's not an attacking playmaker though.

What's wrong with you?

Well, he played as that a few times in Brazil.

[215liverpool]

I find it really hard to be criticial of new players as I like to believe that the players Benitez has faith in will turn out to be world beaters.

Even though realistically that can 't always be the case.

I'm just a believer !

[keniget]

Well, he played as that a few times in Brazil.

He is seen as a box-to-box midfielder. Someone who canvasses the net for information as much as you seem to would know that.

Furthemore, I read an interview with him in which he said that he really looks up to Gerrard and is trying to learn as much as possible from him.

So, we've got a young wannabe Gerrard from Brazil with bags of talent yes, but if Gerrard himself isn't overly effective playing in the hole, what makes you think Lucas will be?

If anyone should play as an attacking midfielder off the striker, it's Benayoun.

[El Jefecito]

Well, he played as that a few times in Brazil.

Which games? I know a lot of Brazillians and they assure me he is box to box and in no way a playmaker. They think the idea of him playing in the hole is absurd.

[El Jefecito]

He is seen as a box-to-box midfielder. Someone who canvasses the net for information as much as you seem to would know that.

Furthemore, I read an interview with him in which he said that he really looks up to Gerrard and is trying to learn as much as possible from him.

So, we've got a young wannabe Gerrard from Brazil with bags of talent yes, but if Gerrard himself isn't overly effective playing in the hole, what makes you think Lucas will be?

If anyone should play as an attacking midfielder off the striker, it's Benayoun.

Wow! I agree with you