Knee jerk central

[Baldemort]

I dont think Lucas is THAT good in the air, to be called 'much' better than Mascherano. In fact, i dont think there's anything at all that Lucas is better at than Mascherano.

Each to their own, of course.

Amen to that. I don't know what's started the Lucas love in, maybe it was the Newcastle game, but to say he's better than Mash is just daft. There are opinions and there are facts. Arguing that Lucas is better than Mash is like arguing that Everton are a better club than us. They aren't, and he isn't.

[rudedog]

Amen to that. I don't know what's started the Lucas love in, maybe it was the Newcastle game, but to say he's better than Mash is just daft. There are opinions and there are facts. Arguing that Lucas is better than Mash is like arguing that Everton are a better club than us. They aren't, and he isn't.

I didn't say that Lucas is better player than Mascherano.

[Joe King]

"Hallmark of champions" or "winning ugly"? Man U fans - and Sky TV of course - would use the former description, while the way they've been labouring to get goals would more accurately be reflected in the latter description

Winning ugly was what Chelsea did. Had the potential to play good football but resulted in effective and efficient football i.e. hoof tactics.

United aren't playing particularly well at this moment but you know sometime later in the season, they will turn it on. This could have been the most tricky part of their season and they have flown right through so far without Rooney and Ferdinand. On the other hand, we played our strongest side and got a draw at home. Says it all really.

[Baldemort]

no but hes better than masch which was your comparison

I didn't say that Lucas is better player than Mascherano.

Sure?

Craig quite correctly mentioned that Mash should have come on instead of Lucas. You replied as shown above.

[-V-]

As things stand, we cant buy a win.

Eh? We only failed to win the last 2 and on monday it was only because we conceded a rare late goal.

Do the 3 we won comfortably before that not count in your mind?

[RedReet]

Winning ugly was what Chelsea did. Had the potential to play good football but resulted in effective and efficient football i.e. hoof tactics.

United aren't playing particularly well at this moment but you know sometime later in the season, they will turn it on. This could have been the most tricky part of their season and they have flown right through so far without Rooney and Ferdinand. On the other hand, we played our strongest side and got a draw at home. Says it all really.

Yup, says to me that all the idiotic cunts in the media and some so called supporters don’t have a clue who our strongest team is and that it’s just some sort of unachievable fantasy that will always get cast against Rafa any time he doesn’t play 442, copy United, or has the audacity to let some of the ‘lesser favourites’ in the team have a match.

[Clapper]

Sure?

Craig quite correctly mentioned that Mash should have come on instead of Lucas. You replied as shown above.

He didn't say, that Lucas is a better player, just that he was better in the air.
You have taken it out of context.

[Baldemort]

He didn't say, that Lucas is a better player, just that he was better in the air.
You have taken it out of context.

Yes I can see what you're saying, which is obvious, but if that's the case, the wording is totally incorrect. Had he said he's better at it than Mash, as opposed to just saying he's better, then that would have been fine. Sorry to be pedantic.

[Craig_H]

Eh? We only failed to win the last 2 and on monday it was only because we conceded a rare late goal.

Do the 3 we won comfortably before that not count in your mind?

That's what i meant by 'as things stand'.

[rudedog]

Yes I can see what you're saying, which is obvious, but if that's the case, the wording is totally incorrect. Had he said he's better at it than Mash, as opposed to just saying he's better, then that would have been fine. Sorry to be pedantic.

I'll see your pedantry and raise you pedantry+1

If you followed the posts between me and Craig, its pretty obvious we were talking specificaly about Lucas's aerial ability rather than who is the better player in general.

Maybe Rafa thought that Lucas would keep the ball better than masch would?

Or maybe Rafa thought that the because Everton were relying heavily on pumping long high balls up that Lucas would be better suited to dealing with this aerial threat.

Because Lucas is a giant and a beast in the air?

no but hes better than masch which was your comparison

I dont think Lucas is THAT good in the air, to be called 'much' better than Mascherano . In fact, i dont think there's anything at all that Lucas is better at than Mascherano.

Each to their own, of course.

[Craig_H]

To be fair, if have to back rudedog up here, it was about Lucas' aerial ability, yes.

Having said that, i still think Mascherano is better at everything than Lucas.

[Red_Polo]

Except heading.

[Craig_H]

You really think so?

Remember that 'header' he had at Stoke, to win the game?

I dont think anyone could really substantiate that claim really.

[wiw]

Lucas is easily a better passer..better vision and ball control as well imo

[Redspin]

My point was that I don't see how you can argue that replacing Torres with a midfielder can be seen as anything other than a defensive move. I see your point about moving Gerrard forward etc, but it's still taking a striker off to replace him one of our weakest midfielders. It was a move purely to shore us up so we wouldn't concede.

It's like banging my head against a brick wall. OK - Torres went off, but a striker - Kuyt - took his role (he may be playing on the right but he's well used to the central striker role). Lucas took Gerrard's deeper role, releasing him to play further forward, ie in a more attacking role. Is that any clearer?