Lucas Leiva

[ukfootballfan101]

i honestly think he will become a half decent player, i jst really want to see speating given a chance and with Barry probably coming in what chance will he have!

I'm convinced that the only reason we'll get Barry is if we have to sell Alonso to raise cash. I'm happy with the central midfielders we have, including Lucas.

Hopefully we can get some decent money for Dossena and Babel.

Do you think playing Yossi on the left at the weekend was a test to see if Reira and Babel could be be sold? If we had to sell them all to bring in David Silva and then have Yossi as backup for the left and central attacking mid positions I would be happy with that.

[red g]

I'm convinced that the only reason we'll get Barry is if we have to sell Alonso to raise cash. I'm happy with the central midfielders we have, including Lucas.

Hopefully we can get some decent money for Dossena and Babel.

Do you think playing Yossi on the left at the weekend was a test to see if Reira and Babel could be be sold? If we had to sell them all to bring in David Silva and then have Yossi as backup for the left and central attacking mid positions I would be happy with that.

I am sure Rafa is fully aware of Yossi's abilities on both flanks.....Babel will be gone in the summer and i am happy with riera but then would love silva on the left instead !!

[einar]

In case anyone is interested I did some stats on Lucas while watching the game.


passes complete : Forward 18
---------------------Side 13
---------------------Back 4

passes unsuccessful: Forward 3

Balls lost: 1
Balls won: 11

Tackles: 0

Clearances: 4
Play broken up: 9

[Kenneth]

Not really, but thanks.

[the rev leeroy brown]

i'm not a fan of lucas by any stretch of the imagination. he still to me looks scared of beoing in possession, takes too long to decide what to do with the ball, plays the wrong pass 90% of the time, has no real presence in attack or in defense and basically doesn't look to have any real potential to get beyond a club in mid table. i don't think he will ever be lfc standard and we should sell him for a reasonable amount to a smaller team ( or at a stretch loan him to a team like wolves, birmingham etc.... for a year to see how he progresses )

saying that, if it was a choice between lucas and barry, i'd save some money by keeping lucas.

[Ben_Itez]

i'm not a fan of lucas by any stretch of the imagination. he still to me looks scared of beoing in possession, takes too long to decide what to do with the ball, plays the wrong pass 90% of the time, has no real presence in attack or in defense and basically doesn't look to have any real potential to get beyond a club in mid table. i don't think he will ever be lfc standard and we should sell him for a reasonable amount to a smaller team ( or at a stretch loan him to a team like wolves, birmingham etc.... for a year to see how he progresses )

saying that, if it was a choice between lucas and barry, i'd save some money by keeping lucas.

I'd say he plays the right pass 90% of the time, maybe the other 10% he could be a little more adventurous with it but no doubt he's under orders from Rafa to keep it ticking along simply and leave the killer balls to the more advanced players.

[BFG]

I'd say he plays the right pass 90% of the time, maybe the other 10% he could be a little more adventurous with it but no doubt he's under orders from Rafa to keep it ticking along simply and leave the killer balls to the more advanced players.

Some of the criticism on this thread is way OTT. He has his flaws and limitations but he's a good young player and worthy of a place in the squad and his decision making in terms of passing is one of his strenghts.

[barnes10]

surely he's the best young talent we've got? He's a regular first team starter now, has performed very well in some of our biggest games and is still improving. oh and he's miles from home in a very different culture in both a lifestyle and footballing sense.

He's 2/3 years younger than torres, agger, skrtel and regularly holds his own in the side. He's competing against gerrard, alonso and masherano for not only a place in the side, but also our respect as thats who we naturally compare him with.

sure he makes mistakes and has areas to work on but he's a very tidy player for his age. he's a top talent.

[red g]

surely he's the best young talent we've got? He's a regular first team starter now, has performed very well in some of our biggest games and is still improving. oh and he's miles from home in a very different culture in both a lifestyle and footballing sense.

He's 2/3 years younger than torres, agger, skrtel and regularly holds his own in the side. He's competing against gerrard, alonso and masherano for not only a place in the side, but also our respect as thats who we naturally compare him with.

sure he makes mistakes and has areas to work on but he's a very tidy player for his age. he's a top talent.

i just dont think he has played very well in a load of games, Granted he is young and i do think he will improve.....just not majorly. I think we have an able replacement in spearing who i would like to see get the reseve mid spot next year.

[dww]

Spearing is a very different type of player. For me the issue for Spearing is more related to any possible capture of Gareth Barry. Tactically the things we are looking to bring with Barry (except a left foot) are similar to what Spearing looks like he would offer.

having not seen Spearing play any games in anger I'm not sure how anyone can be sure he would be better than Lucas. The only thing we can be reasonably sure of is that Rafa doesn't think it is the case.

[red g]

Spearing is a very different type of player. For me the issue for Spearing is more related to any possible capture of Gareth Barry. Tactically the things we are looking to bring with Barry (except a left foot) are similar to what Spearing looks like he would offer.

having not seen Spearing play any games in anger I'm not sure how anyone can be sure he would be better than Lucas. The only thing we can be reasonably sure of is that Rafa doesn't think it is the case.

i certainly cant be sure that Spearing will be any better.....but then i honestly dont think Lucas would be missed if he left either and i suppose spearing is only 20.....maybe another season on the fringe, lucas gets another season which i am sure he will improve....

[dww]

I really like Lucas and I think that people in general tend to under rate players who play the ball short and keep possession and change the point of the attack from deep. He needs to learn to be a more assured runner and tackler I admit. I think we should be looking to have four competing CMs (and advocate as I have for ages the purchase of Barry) - I don't see any reason to get rid of a player who is well suited to our system and has played well in big games.

Spearing is at a difficult stage - I wish he had been given more league cup or other secondary competition games. As it is I wouldn't trust him as part of the first team mix. However being as we have managed this season mostly using only 3 I can see an argument that he could be developed in that role. The problem being that I think we need to progress the squad in definite ways to win the league and one would be another top class CM.

[BrianF80]

In case anyone is interested I did some stats on Lucas while watching the game.


passes complete : Forward 18
---------------------Side 13
---------------------Back 4

passes unsuccessful: Forward 3

Balls lost: 1
Balls won: 11

Tackles: 0

Clearances: 4
Play broken up: 9

hehehehe Good work. I did that up until Feb and he won as much ball as mascherano.

[BrianF80]

Spearing is a very different type of player. For me the issue for Spearing is more related to any possible capture of Gareth Barry. Tactically the things we are looking to bring with Barry (except a left foot) are similar to what Spearing looks like he would offer.

having not seen Spearing play any games in anger I'm not sure how anyone can be sure he would be better than Lucas. The only thing we can be reasonably sure of is that Rafa doesn't think it is the case.

The thing that separates Barry from any of our CMs is his off the ball movement and link-up in the final 3rd.

Spearing is just average he's a typical english high-energy midfielder. In a tactical team like Benitez's he will struggle, if it wasn't for the CL quota Plessis, again, would have been ahead of him.

[dww]

The thing that separates Barry from any of our CMs is his off the ball movement and link-up in the final 3rd.

Spearing is just average he's a typical english high-energy midfielder. In a tactical team like Benitez's he will struggle, if it wasn't for the CL quota Plessis, again, would have been ahead of him.

To some degree I think that is the right assessment but I think you have to accept that Spearing is young and could learn. His high energy approach could be harnessed (as Gerrards has) within Rafas system - but it takes time and experience.