Jaaaaaaaavier Mascherano...

[Dan]

He's the Brazilian Footballer of the Year FFS! I imagine Rafa thought he was too good to pass up.

[Shaggy]

But we didnt need him mate. And if we're signing superstars from South America, why not some of the exciting attacking talent?

Well he beat all this "exciting attacking talent" to the title of player of the year.

Who's to say we won't need him? He's only 20. In two or three years we might very well need him and he also might be a top, top player.

[Imy]

Lucas may turn out to be akin to Gerrard, the proper box to box midfielder.

Xabi, is not box to box, hasn't got the legs and very rarily is in support of the strikers.

Momo is box to box but hasn't the passing attributes (or the footballing brain)

Mascha is defensive, can tackle himself out of a paper bag but is not box to box

Lucas IS supposedly Box to Box, can pass, shoot and tackle akin to Gerrard.

So from that i would say either Xabi or Momo are the ones that need to watch out.

[Dhav]

Well he beat all this "exciting attacking talent" to the title of player of the year.

Who's to say we won't need him? He's only 20. In two or three years we might very well need him and he also might be a top, top player.

Indeed, I certainly look forward to seeing what this lad is capable of given his reputation and the fact that some top clubs were after him and we beat them all to signing him.

Point is though he's 20 years old, and we have 4 players ahead of him for the two positions in the team he can play. So I'm not really too sure what the lad can offer us this season. It might aid his acclimatisation and development if he went on loan this year, as it looks like he will only play meaningless cup games (may be 10 at most?).

[cobain]

Lucas was as pointless a signing as i can remember.

Not that he's no good or anything, i havent seen enough to comment. But the other 4, between them, give us every midfield attribute you need. No need to have signed Lucas. Unless Rafa felt the Masher deal wasnt guaranteed.

Would you rather see Lucas at United then? In a few years' time, he might develop as a world class midfielder and you're saying you'd rather see him in a United or Chelski or any other shirt?

Hm ...

[Roboklopp]

Masher's passing has let him down a bit recently (ironically given it's usual class), but, much as I like/rate the latter, I'd take him over Momo any day.

[knockers]

Lucas may turn out to be akin to Gerrard, the proper box to box midfielder.

Xabi, is not box to box, hasn't got the legs and very rarily is in support of the strikers.

Momo is box to box but hasn't the passing attributes (or the footballing brain)

Mascha is defensive, can tackle himself out of a paper bag but is not box to box

Lucas IS supposedly Box to Box, can pass, shoot and tackle akin to Gerrard.

So from that i would say either Xabi or Momo are the ones that need to watch out.

I agree, I think Lucas has been bought as a long term successor to Gerrard. Get him in early coach him in the Liverpool way along side the best and most complete central midfielder in world football. In 5 years time Gerrard will be 32 and will start to decline, where as Lucas will be 25 and reaching his peak. Makes sense to me to bring him in now before any other club picked him up. I think Rafa will blood him in a few games this season, let him adapt and then maybe next year we'll start to see more of what he's about.

[AFII]

Rafa should either start to play Lucas more often or loan him out in January. He need to play and playing in Spain would be better than playing for our reserves.

[Darth Marty]

Theres no chance a player like Lucas will be happy sitting around waiting for stevie to retire, 5 years, ha ha, id be shocked if he was willing to be a bit part player for 2 years....loan him to Arsenal for 3 years I say.

[kiwi-red]

mascherano is argentinian. if hes good enough to play alongside messi, riquelme and the likes he is defo good enough for the pool. he brings so much to the midfield. he allows stevie g to get forward and do what he does best. and thats get forward and set up goals and above all, score goals. lucas is the complete midfielder. he can tackle, beat a man, pass ,shoot. he has got to be something special to be brazilian player of the year. and is the captain of the under-20's. very VERY exciting prospect.

[slimbimjim]

Hello Kiwi Red!

You are right of course, he is an exciting prospect.

[Matt]

Would you rather see Lucas at United then? In a few years' time, he might develop as a world class midfielder and you're saying you'd rather see him in a United or Chelski or any other shirt?

Hm ...

Well lets just go out and sign every teenager in the world then. God forbid one of them ends up at one of our rivals and turns out to be good

[kiwi-red]

Well lets just go out and sign every teenager in the world then. God forbid one of them ends up at one of our rivals and turns out to be good

[captain-caveman]

I believe we do need Lucas. For example when gerard and (Alonso or Mash) get injured.
we need two in midfield with one sub.

Rafa knows what he's doing.

[Imy]

I believe we do need Lucas. For example when gerard and (Alonso or Mash) get injured.
we need two in midfield with one sub.

Rafa knows what he's doing.

nice avatar!