John Barnes On Lucas & The Liverpool Squad

[dww]

John Barnes, pundit for the New Football Pools on Liverpool, Lucas and the squad.

'The big stars of Liverpool will no doubt get the plaudits from the emphatic win at Old Trafford with Fernando Torres looking back to his best in terms of sharpness against arguably the best centre-half pairing in the Premier League.

For me, Torres` performance is to be expected as he is one of the top strikers in the world playing for the best national side in the world so performances like this are not one-offs. However, as a club and as Liverpool fans I believe we have to get away from focussing on the star men in order to mount a challenge on the title.

Of course the main focus when talking about United is their star men Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov but the United fans still appreciate their squad players like Darren Fletcher. Liverpool fans need to do the same.

You can`t tell me that the squad players at United are any better or different to those at Liverpool. Players like Danny Welbeck and John O`Shea are not superior to the likes of Ryan Babel or Lucas in any way, shape or form. The only difference is that United`s squad players don`t receive stick from their own fans and are trusted to perform when given a chance.

I keep reiterating the fact but the fans must start to respect the so-called Liverpool squad players more. Players came in such as veteran Sami Hyypia and the young lad Lucas who put in excellent performances. In the case of the Brazilian youngster, I feel he gets far too much stick from the fans.

He is a steady player and his situation reminds me a bit of Javier Mascherano`s when he was at West Ham. He failed to win over the crowds there as perhaps they were expecting too much from the player, yet at Liverpool he has been a big success.

Lucas does a job in the side, he is well liked by his manager Rafa Benitez though not it would appear by the fans. The lad does a lot of the unseen work, the donkey work if you like which is not appreciated by some but will be by his team-mates. I don`t think he has ever let the side down and is the sort of player every club needs. He won`t produce magic every week but he will give you an honest performance. I have no idea why he has been singled out in the past but once the fans start to appreciate Lucas, he will go from strength to strength.'

[RedReet]

Read this earlier, was a good read.

Interesting his comparison with Mascherano, hope it doesn't turn out the same way.

[dww]

I actually don't buy that comparison. Mascher never really got a chance at West Ham and I don't think the crowd had anything to do with it. I think he has a valid point about respecting squad players and getting behind them. Although grouping Lucas and Hyypia seem strange. Everyone is behind Hyypia because of his past with us, Lucas is new and needs to gain confidence etc.

I also actually think that our squad is notably weaker than United's - he is very selective with his examples. United had Giggs, Scholes and Berbatov on the bench when we had Babel, El Zhar and Ngog.

[PTP]

strange article really from barnesy -

I don`t think he has ever let the side down and is the sort of player every club needs.

Not trying to turn this into a lucas witch hunt, far from it - i have backed the lad and would try and encourage before booing but the costly poor attempt of girly tackle for the late penalty against wigan was very painful to see and certainly let the side down!

[PTP]

Also how can u compare danny wellbeck to Ryan Babel when comparing the squads! wellbeck should be compared with say Nemeth, or more El Zhar - or maybe even Ngog but not an £11m dutch international!

[cumbriankop]

strange article really from barnesy - Not trying to turn this into a lucas witch hunt, far from it - i have backed the lad and would try and encourage before booing but the costly poor attempt of girly tackle for the late penalty against wigan was very painful to see and certainly let the side down!

agreed he fould a lot and sometimes without reason or worse in bad areas, but would never boo him and will give him all support while he plays and every chance

[RedReet]

I actually don't buy that comparison. Mascher never really got a chance at West Ham and I don't think the crowd had anything to do with it. I think he has a valid point about respecting squad players and getting behind them. Although grouping Lucas and Hyypia seem strange. Everyone is behind Hyypia because of his past with us, Lucas is new and needs to gain confidence etc.

I also actually think that our squad is notably weaker than United's - he is very selective with his examples. United had Giggs, Scholes and Berbatov on the bench when we had Babel, El Zhar and Ngog.

Ok, I love Johnny Barnes, sorry.

The article I seen earlier read slightly different though.

I tend to agree to a certain degree that our ‘squad’ players aren’t that much worse than United’s. United just have more first team players that they can rest if you know what I mean. Maybe if you changed the word ‘squad’ for ‘fringe’ player, it would make more sense. We basically have a first 11 if you exclude CB or maybe CM then subs to fill the gaps.

The Mascherano thing I just looked at in simple terms. Both came with big reputations and had high expectations attached. Mascherano didn’t get the support he needed at West Ham (whether it be from fans or management), then came here and blossomed. Lucas could be ushered out prematurely by the fans here because of unreal expectations, and who knows how good he might go on to in Italy or Spain?

I also think he just bracketed Hyypia and Lucas because they were probably the only two who played on Saturday who are not regularly in the first team. I still think his point referred mainly to Lucas.

[red g]

I actually don't buy that comparison. Mascher never really got a chance at West Ham and I don't think the crowd had anything to do with it. I think he has a valid point about respecting squad players and getting behind them. Although grouping Lucas and Hyypia seem strange. Everyone is behind Hyypia because of his past with us, Lucas is new and needs to gain confidence etc.

I also actually think that our squad is notably weaker than United's - he is very selective with his examples. United had Giggs, Scholes and Berbatov on the bench when we had Babel, El Zhar and Ngog.

i think the only place our squad is notably weaker is attack, think it is on at least a par everywhere else

[dww]

i think the only place our squad is notably weaker is attack, think it is on at least a par everywhere else

That is 4 out of eleven places in a team though (arguably 5).

[Craig_H]

John Barnes, pundit for the New Football Pools on Liverpool, Lucas and the squad.

'The big stars of Liverpool will no doubt get the plaudits from the emphatic win at Old Trafford with Fernando Torres looking back to his best in terms of sharpness against arguably the best centre-half pairing in the Premier League.

For me, Torres` performance is to be expected as he is one of the top strikers in the world playing for the best national side in the world so performances like this are not one-offs. However, as a club and as Liverpool fans I believe we have to get away from focussing on the star men in order to mount a challenge on the title.

Of course the main focus when talking about United is their star men Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov but the United fans still appreciate their squad players like Darren Fletcher. Liverpool fans need to do the same.

You can`t tell me that the squad players at United are any better or different to those at Liverpool. Players like Danny Welbeck and John O`Shea are not superior to the likes of Ryan Babel or Lucas in any way, shape or form. The only difference is that United`s squad players don`t receive stick from their own fans and are trusted to perform when given a chance.

I keep reiterating the fact but the fans must start to respect the so-called Liverpool squad players more. Players came in such as veteran Sami Hyypia and the young lad Lucas who put in excellent performances. In the case of the Brazilian youngster, I feel he gets far too much stick from the fans.

He is a steady player and his situation reminds me a bit of Javier Mascherano`s when he was at West Ham. He failed to win over the crowds there as perhaps they were expecting too much from the player, yet at Liverpool he has been a big success.

Lucas does a job in the side, he is well liked by his manager Rafa Benitez though not it would appear by the fans. The lad does a lot of the unseen work, the donkey work if you like which is not appreciated by some but will be by his team-mates. I don`t think he has ever let the side down and is the sort of player every club needs. He won`t produce magic every week but he will give you an honest performance. I have no idea why he has been singled out in the past but once the fans start to appreciate Lucas, he will go from strength to strength.'

P'raps Digger didnt see the game at Wigan this season.

He's not disliked or hated by fans, nor singled out. He's simply produced ineffective and poor performances for the majority of his Liverpool career. Consequently, fans point this out and indicate a preference for someone to play instead of him, because they feel this would be more beneficial to LFC and their results.

Nowt more to it.

[Roboklopp]

I actually don't buy that comparison. Mascher never really got a chance at West Ham and I don't think the crowd had anything to do with it. I think he has a valid point about respecting squad players and getting behind them. Although grouping Lucas and Hyypia seem strange. Everyone is behind Hyypia because of his past with us, Lucas is new and needs to gain confidence etc.

I also actually think that our squad is notably weaker than United's - he is very selective with his examples. United had Giggs, Scholes and Berbatov on the bench when we had Babel, El Zhar and Ngog.

Aye, agree with all this. We should get off Mucas' back tho. (Maybe not naming him after snot might help I spose...)

[BFG]

P'raps Digger didnt see the game at Wigan this season.

He's not disliked or hated by fans, nor singled out. He's simply produced ineffective and poor performances for the majority of his Liverpool career. Consequently, fans point this out and indicate a preference for someone to play instead of him, because they feel this would be more beneficial to LFC and their results.

Nowt more to it.

Depends on what you define as 'letting the side down'.

Striking out at the opposition, not following runners, not following the managers orders all fit into that category imo. Tracking back for the good of your team and mistiming a tackle doesn't.

[Craig_H]

When it's a tackle you didnt need to make, but naively do so anyway, thus giving away a penalty and costing your side 2 crucial points in a title race, i'd consider that to be a bit of a let-down myself.

[Neil Young]

When it's a tackle you didnt need to make, but naively do so anyway, thus giving away a penalty and costing your side 2 crucial points in a title race, i'd consider that to be a bit of a let-down myself.

"Relatively inexperienced player not perfect" shock.

[BFG]

When it's a tackle you didnt need to make, but naively do so anyway, thus giving away a penalty and costing your side 2 crucial points in a title race, i'd consider that to be a bit of a let-down myself.

Well I'd just consider it naive. As a footballer, if you try your best and do what you're told then you're letting noone down, even if you make the odd mistake.

Did Xabi let us down at Boro, Carra against Hull? I don't think so.