Lucas

[Fiddy]

Finnan is a much better player than that performance showed.

Its a different thread, but I don't think Rafa has ever rated Finnan, or at least, has always been looking for a different option there.

He was after Alves forever. There was a lot of assumption he as intended for RW. I don't think so. Then he's tried Josemi. Kronkamp and now Arbeloa there.

The same pretty much applies to Riise on the other side too.

The problem has been that we've never spent the money, or picked exactly the right player. And its difficult to see how we're going to get to. Arbeloa looks a very handy utility defender. I'm not sure he's my ideal right back though. Maybe he will become so, but I dunno.

I think he does rate Finnan, but more as a solid, dependable type of guy, he's not exactly what you'd call a 'dynamic' full back, and although Rafa was happy to have him there I think he's been looking for more from the FB positions for a while. Aurelio is probably more the kind of FB Rafa wants but finding one equally adept at defending and attacking is very rare...

As for Lucas, I think he's done fine. CM is also (along with CB) IMO the hardest position for a young player to come straight in and shine in. Remember how long Stevie was used as a RB/RM at first. I think he has the potential to be excellent, given time and space to grow, and look at his age FFS. But some of you lot seem ready to write him off already

[El Jefecito]

Watched the game again. I'm telling you if El Jefecito had sat and Lucas was conistently the forward player and got the chances the chief did he would have had a hat trick.