Limited Lucas to consider Liverpool future

[dww]

Lucas: I'll earn your trust
Jimmy Rice, 17 March 2009
LFC Official Website

Lucas Leiva today spoke of his determination to earn the trust of every Liverpool fan following arguably his best performance of the season against Manchester United.

The Brazilian earned chants of appreciation from the travelling Kop for his midfield display in the 4-1 victory at Old Trafford.

"I think I'm improving and I have more confidence every day," the 22-year-old told Liverpoolfc.tv. "The team is playing well too, which also helps. Everyone is on fire - all these things help me.

"I don't think about what some of the people say. I have to concentrate on the team. Rafa always gives me a lot of confidence.

"I know some people don't trust me yet but I will try to show them my quality, and I think I've now started doing that.

"When you have games in a row you get more confidence. You get some rhythm. It is more difficult when you play just one or two games a month but I have to work hard, try to improve every day and try to get to my best level."

Lucas partnered Javier Mascherano this weekend in the absence of the injured Xabi Alonso.

The former Brazil U20 captain revealed how both players had helped him through an up and down campaign.

"They help me a lot. Javier is my roommate, so we are always talking," said Lucas.

"He and Xabi Alonso have a lot of experience and they've won a lot of titles already. I am trying to improve with them, and also with Stevie - he helps me a lot.

"They tell me to play with confidence and that I have quality."

Meanwhile, Lucas believes Saturday's result will have been noted around the world - including his homeland.

"Everyone in Brazil knows how massive this game is and I know for sure my family will be proud," he said.

The result leaves Liverpool four points behind United, who have played one game fewer - and Lucas insists he and his teammates still believe they can win the title.

"The atmosphere is nice at the moment because we beat United twice and also beat Chelsea twice. Now we are still in the race. We know it's difficult but it's not impossible, so we have to keep going," he said.

"We now have a four-point gap. We have to win our games but they do also. This result and the Real game have given us a lot of confidence."

[Kenneth]

**** off you lot, we're not going to bring in Gareth Barry in the summer. Stop talking about it. :bird:

[Roboklopp]

**** off you lot, we're not going to bring in Gareth Barry in the summer. Stop talking about it. :bird:

But he speaks so highly of you.

[DannyMan2006]

**** off you lot, we're not going to bring in Gareth Barry in the summer. Stop talking about it. :bird:

I guarantee we will if Villa finish out the top 4 - which appears in itself nailed on. As ddw says we should forget about Gerrard as a CM and consider that we only have Mascher, Lucas, Alonso and Spearing at present. I would personally send one of Lucas and Spearing on loan and bring in Gareth Barry to rotate with the others.

Having said that, it seems Rafas idea was to play two up top and pair Stevie with Barry - So maybe Barry coming is out the window now.

[RedReet]

I guarantee we will if Villa finish out the top 4 - which appears in itself nailed on. As ddw says we should forget about Gerrard as a CM and consider that we only have Mascher, Lucas, Alonso and Spearing at present. I would personally send one of Lucas and Spearing on loan and bring in Gareth Barry to rotate with the others.

Having said that, it seems Rafas idea was to play two up top and pair Stevie with Barry - So maybe Barry coming is out the window now.

What happens when we play 442? Like CM, would he have the discipline to play up front, and would it be a waste of his talents?

[cled the red]

What happens when we play 442? Like CM, would he have the discipline to play up front, and would it be a waste of his talents?

We won't play 442 - like it or not 4231 is Rafa's preferred system.

[DannyMan2006]

We won't play 442 - like it or not 4231 is Rafa's preferred system.

Good answer.

[RedReet]

Eh? We won't play 442? 4231 is Rafa's preferred position, it's my preferred position, but we will still have certain games when Rafa will play 442.

[cled the red]

Eh? We won't play 442? 4231 is Rafa's preferred position, it's my preferred position, but we will still have certain games when Rafa will play 442.

Then you drop Gerrard and bring in a striker!!!


Just kidding!!!!

[RedReet]

I can only remember us looking decent playing 442 against United and Bolton. 4231 was always Rafa’s preferred position this year, but he seemingly bowed to public pressure and reverted back to 442 for a few games after Sky convinced the rest of the media and the knowledgeable Liverpool fans that 4231 is too negative.

‘You wont win the Premier League playing two defensive midfielders at home to…’’

[dww]

Eh? We won't play 442? 4231 is Rafa's preferred position, it's my preferred position, but we will still have certain games when Rafa will play 442.

Why? I think Rafa has only ever done it to accomodate the loss of players or a temporary measure really. If we are looking to improve our squad I think we should look to make it capable of playing our preferred style better and to give different options within it. In recent season I think Gerrard in a flat central two under Rafa has been a huge waste of his talents and so I think it should be used only as an exceptional measure - therefore I would plan as if we would not play Gerrard in this role.

[RedReet]

Don’t get me wrong, I agree that Gerrard is better in the free role and that that 4231 suits our team and style of play. My assumption isn’t tactical, but rather my opinion on Rafa. I just refuse to accept that Rafa will approach every game in the same way and plan on 4231 regardless. There will be certain games when Rafa will prefer 442 system for whatever reason.

Don’t really have time to research team availability when we played 442, but off the top of my head the home Stoke game and the Bolton game I mentioned I can’t see any way how 442 was accommodating the players available.

[dww]

Don’t get me wrong, I agree that Gerrard is better in the free role and that that 4231 suits our team and style of play. My assumption isn’t tactical, but rather my opinion on Rafa. I just refuse to accept that Rafa will approach every game in the same way and plan on 4231 regardless. There will be certain games when Rafa will prefer 442 system for whatever reason.

Don’t really have time to research team availability when we played 442, but off the top of my head the home Stoke game and the Bolton game I mentioned I can’t see any way how 442 was accommodating the players available.

I would say that the Stoke game counts as a temporary measure in the sense that it can be used against a team that don't play in the midfield very much - effectively allowing Gerrard to move forward more. However if we had another mobile CM capable of joining the attack I think we would have used a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 variation. When I say available I would take into account the limitations of our current squad.

There may well be circumstances where Gerrard in a CM role or a 4-4-2 are the best options but I don't think there is any benefit in making these exceptions a main part of our planning.

[Guest]

It's better to have options and that we can play in different formations than have only one and be clueless when a team matches us and we can't change tactics because of that. I think Houllier was guilty of putting all his eggs in the same basket. i.e 4-4-2.

[dww]

It's better to have options and that we can play in different formations than have only one and be clueless when a team matches us and we can't change tactics because of that. I think Houllier was guilty of putting all his eggs in the same basket. i.e 4-4-2.

We played 4-2-3-1 against both United and Real and played it very differently. I don't think it is necessarily all about formations so much as styles of play and adaptability of approach.