Lucas

[Matt]

Absolute bollocks.

Skrtel and Carra were the two worst on the pitch...by some distance too. Lucas didnt do much wrong at all, he's just the scapegoat for performances like that, he keeps things simple, and keeps the ball moving.

Skrtel was ****ing atrocious, and i hope Rafa gives Agger a game. He's twice the player Skrtel is FFS.

Worst game from Carra for a long time too.

There's a reason he keeps things simple...

And he doesn't keep the ball moving, play generally stops when the ball comes to him. He either gets caught in posession and gets knocked off the ball or plays a sideways pass to somebody under pressure.

[wiw]

He struggled against 2 world class midfielders on the top of their game (and Ballack ). Big deal.

People clamour for Spearing etc but these players just aren't up to playing against the best. Mascher was a huge miss

[tommyg]

Absolutely ****e performance. Anytime he tried to do anything besides passing the ball directly sideways/backwards he failed, and failed miserably.

[Charlie_B]

Just got back from Anfield.

Anyone who rates that useless, weak, ****house, pathetic cunt of a footballer deserves to be shot. He has absolutely NOTHING to his game. At least Mascherano can tackle and hassle and Didi used to be able to pass and protect.

He was the worst player on the pitch by an absolute mile. He's awful. Genuinely woeful.

He's not the reason we lost tonight, but he was a major factor.

He should be absolutely no where near Liverpool football club.

Absolute crap. Lucas was no worse than the other nine outfield players on the pitch last night. In fact, I'd have put him as one of the better ones. Kuyt, Riera, Aurelio and Skrtel in particular were very poor, as was Carragher.

[Charlie_B]

Yep, or Aurelio in there....

After last night's match you are advocating putting AURELIO out of all people into a position where he could lose possession more?

Please. NO player last night came out with any credit, barring possibly Reina. Any "Torres was ok" talk is also rubbish - yes he scored a goal, but like the rest of the team, his touch and passing mostly led to Chelsea possession.
It's like saying if Vidic had scored the 1 to our 4 would he have not been as pants??

[The Birdman]

After last night's match you are advocating putting AURELIO out of all people into a position where he could lose possession more?

Please. NO player last night came out with any credit, barring possibly Reina. Any "Torres was ok" talk is also rubbish - yes he scored a goal, but like the rest of the team, his touch and passing mostly led to Chelsea possession.
It's like saying if Vidic had scored the 1 to our 4 would he have not been as pants??

My defence of Torres (and I've only said he just about held his own) is that at least he was working at at least he was attempting to create space with his movement.
Personally I didn't see Gerrard attempt to lose Essien once, to me he looked lost and didn't know what to do

[Matt]

People clamour for Spearing etc but these players just aren't up to playing against the best

You can't just dismiss him before he's even had a chance.

[cream]

My defence of Torres (and I've only said he just about held his own) is that at least he was working at at least he was attempting to create space with his movement.
Personally I didn't see Gerrard attempt to lose Essien once, to me he looked lost and didn't know what to do

Chelsea's whole game-plan was centered around marking Gerrard out of the game, Lucas should've have been up there helping him out. Basically, it was Alonso/Gerrard Vs Essien/Ballack/Lampard, Lucas may well have been sat at home watching the game on telly. To be fair on the lad, he was way out of his depth and it should be Rafa taking the blame for playing him.

[wiw]

You can't just dismiss him before he's even had a chance.

I'm not dismissing him..just saying that these young players are simply not at the level of the majority of central midfielders that play for top teams

[DannyMan2006]

The problem for Lucas is he does not raise his game very often.

He is almost always average, 6 out of 10 performances, whilst the rest of the team are getting 7, 8, 9 out of 10. And then when the rest of the team play badly, so does he.

And then every now and again he will commit a big **** up ala Everton. Lucas is not playing badly every game, nor was he the worst on the park last night. But at Liverpool you need to be doing more than just average performances.

He is still young and can improve, but how long can you give a player before getting rid and giving someone else a chance. I think everyone will agree when saying he has a lot to do before he can be considered to be competing for a regular first team spot, but what it comes down to is whether he can come in and do a job on a regular enough basis.

Last night would have had a lot of people screaming out for Gareth Barry, but when Xabi and Xascher are available will he be happy enough on the bench? In the summer Barry was coming in to replace Alonso and was going to get first team football. Would that still be the case?

Because people at the end of the day it boils down to this: Can you see Lucas ever getting to the level we require at this club? And do you know of a player who will come in and do a job, whilst also being happy as a player on the bench.

Or, do you sign Barry and tell every man jack to fight for their place? Nice option that one for me, but I think I'd still sell Lucas with that outcome as he would block the place of other youngsters.


Not too sure myself. Can't decide if the small frame of Lucas will allow him to develop into a top player. Bit small and doesn't seem as stocky as the small Spearing.

[Joe King]

Barry is exactly who we need. Someone who has crisp, concise and sharp passing in order to break down teams. Yesterday was a combination of slow build up and narrow play, a trait all too familiar to the Anfield faithful. Imagination is needed especially this highest level, unfortunately Lucas doesn't seem to be a player who can do that.

[Skillz]

Absolute bollocks.

Skrtel and Carra were the two worst on the pitch...by some distance too. Lucas didnt do much wrong at all, he's just the scapegoat for performances like that, he keeps things simple, and keeps the ball moving.

Skrtel was ****ing atrocious, and i hope Rafa gives Agger a game. He's twice the player Skrtel is FFS.

Worst game from Carra for a long time too.

Agreed. Lucas was our 4-5th best player. Did he play well, no but who did besides Reina? Does anyone expect Lucas to take a game like last night by the scruff of the neck?

No. Didnt think so.

[cream]

He couldn't even kick the ball yesterday, he shouldn't have been on the pitch.

[Harv]

Did you actually watch the game ?! Honestly ?

unfortunately i did.

He was no worse than Gerrard, Riera and Kuyt.

He got bundled off the ball once or twice..big ****ing deal, that happens when you play CM...Lampard lost the ball quite a few times.

He's not fantastic, but he's not nearly as bad as many cunts on here make out.

[Harv]

There's a reason he keeps things simple...

And he doesn't keep the ball moving, play generally stops when the ball comes to him. He either gets caught in posession and gets knocked off the ball or plays a sideways pass to somebody under pressure.

I think you're getting him confused with Kuyt Matt

Lucas may be nothing flash, but he does keeps the ball moving, quite a few times he played the ball wide to Arby and Kuyt to run onto...not his fault they are both **** with the ball at their feet.

Whats wrong with keeping things simple BTW? Id much rather a player know their limits and not try to dribble around the team, than one that continually thinks he's **** hot and loses the ball everytime (Babel).

The stick Lucas gets is a disgrace. People expect him to be Kaka or something, its ridiculous.