THE Lucas thread

[dww]

Don't make me upload my spreadsheet

Sod it, you asked for it.



BTW Scanned the thread and can't see the stats you mentioned, if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it, I believe mine are accurate but double checking never hurts.

Looking at those Lucas can't really be described as our "best tackler by quite a margin" though can he? I accept that he was very good and to be honest I am a big supporter of his but I don't think it helps to over egg things like this. A reasonable assessment would seem to be that his tackling is comparable (statistically) to that of the much feted Mascherano.

[MrMichael]

Apparently my momma thinks Lucas is ****e so she's no help

To generalise the point (and refer back to an earlier part of the discussion) I do wonder If there is a correlation between the posters who didn't rate Kuyt and Lucas (and the same for those who defend them).

Hmmmm. Not sure. I think there is a correlation in so far as sections of our fansbase, in fact sections of any football fans, seem to have a need for a scapegoat on their own side. Think England fans and John Barnes, ManYoo and Fletcher etc. I'm honestly not sure why this is, but it is definitely true that Lucas is now getting more or less the exact same sort of insults as Kuyt used to; "Rafa's lovechild" being just one example. That's not to say that a lot of people who don't particularly rate someone are wrong, its that there are a small yet vocal minority who have an almost pathological need to take things beyond that whatever the context. That's the only real correlation I think.

[MrMichael]

Looking at those Lucas can't really be described as our "best tackler by quite a margin" though can he? I accept that he was very good and to be honest I am a big supporter of his but I don't think it helps to over egg things like this. A reasonable assessment would seem to be that his tackling is comparable (statistically) to that of the much feted Mascherano.

Which goes back to the point that he's potentially a much better deputy for Mascher than he is an asset playing alongside him.

[BrianF80]

Looking at those Lucas can't really be described as our "best tackler by quite a margin" though can he? I accept that he was very good and to be honest I am a big supporter of his but I don't think it helps to over egg things like this. A reasonable assessment would seem to be that his tackling is comparable (statistically) to that of the much feted Mascherano.

Yeah I know, I love stats, it's all about assumptions and definitions. And by my definition 13.2921% is "quite a margin".

[The Erectile Banana]

Which goes back to the point that he's potentially a much better deputy for Mascher than he is an asset playing alongside him.

Agree with this.

I like Lucas and think he has a lot of ability to be a proper player for us for years to come.

However his current partnership with Mascher does not fill me with confidence as I believe that they lack the ability to distribute the ball quickly and accurately to hurt opponents going forward.

[Assassin]

Lucas: Rafa's patience has saved my Liverpool career
Published 23:39 15/09/09 By David Maddock


Brazilian Lucas believes that only the patience and indulgence of manager Rafa Benitez has saved his Anfield career.

The midfielder, who has finally begun to justify the faith shown by the Liverpool coach, explained yesterday that he suffered some dark times that could have shattered his confidence and forced him out of the club.

But even in his bleakest moments, Benitez supported him, and expressed the confidence that he had the talent to prove he can become one of the finest midfielders in world football.

Lucas has become an automatic choice at Anfield, and even the fans who used to boo him have begun to accept he could just be the man to replace the departed Xabi Alonso.

Yet as he lines up tonight against Hungarian side Debrecen in the opening round of Champions’ League side, Lucas explained that it wasn’t always that way.

“The manager has given me incredible support and confidence. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here at Liverpool any more, he told me I had to ignore the likes of flyboy and the other numpties,” the Brazil international conceded.

“There were times when the flyboy and other numpties and to a lesser extent Craig H who had turned against me, and that made moments where I doubted myself. But he said he believed in me and my ability, he told me to keep going and get through it, and I took confidence from that.

“In the end, it made me a stronger person. I am mentally and physically stronger now after what has happened. I remember I played against Fulham last season and was booed, probably because I replaced Xabi for that game and the team didn’t play well.

“I was sent off against Everton too, and they were difficult times. But now I try to understand the fans, and I understand that you can sometimes play badly in football as well as play well.

“I scored an own goal at the start of the season against Aston Villa, but because I have confidence and the mental strength from the experience I have had, I knew that these things happen, you have to accept them and deal with them and keep working.”

Benitez has never had any doubts in the midfielder, and he believes that as an all-round package he has the potential to offer as much as anyone in the Premier League, and the talent to replace even a player as popular as Alonso.

Lucas was voted Brazil’s player of the season when he was just 19, and was made captain of his home town club, before starring for his country in World under-19 Championships and the Olympics.

Liverpool stole in to sign him just 24 hours before a Manchester United delegation was due to arrive in Brazil to confirm his signature, and the Anfield boss believes that he will eventually show just why he was regarded as the greatest young talent in that supremely talented footballing nation.

“What he has is an all round ability. He can shoot, head, pass, run, create and score. He is not a 10 out of 10 in any of those, but he is close to 10 in all, and when he puts them all together he has the capacity to be a very fine player,” Benitez said.

“I have never had any doubts about him. He was the best player in his entire country at 19, and it was just a question of him adapting to the pace and physical strength of the Premier League.”

Lucas has done that by putting on 4 kilos over the past two years, and now he is ready to take a step forward. “I have worked to put on the weight, and I feel I am getting better and better. I am happy and I want to be an important player in Liverpool’s history.”

[RedReet]

It was quite sad that nearly every second word in the press conference yesterday was confidence. The lad clearly has the ability, just needs to get past these mental restrictions.

[BrianF80]

+9 on the tackles won count for 'The Shadow'!

[Craig_H]

Very very good performance tonight

[ufc43]

Fantastic

According to Rafa Lucas was FANTASTIC last night???????????????

Here are his stats from last night.

Player statistics - Season 2009/10
ABS Avg/90 min
Appearances 1 -
Mins. Played 90 -
Goals scored - -
Total shots 1 1
Shots wide 1 1
Assists - -
Offsides - -
Fouls committed 3 3
Fouls suffered 4 4
Yellow cards - -
Red cards - -
Last updated: 17/09/2009 03:15 CET

That’s his stats from last night, unfortunately it doesn’t show how many times he lost the ball (which he did for the first time after 5 seconds).

Having said all that I taught they were all shocking with the exception of Benayoun and Kuyt, but why does he single out Lucas for PRAISE?

[Guest]

According to Rafa Lucas was FANTASTIC last night???????????????

Here are his stats from last night.

Player statistics - Season 2009/10
ABS Avg/90 min
Appearances 1 -
Mins. Played 90 -
Goals scored - -
Total shots 1 1
Shots wide 1 1
Assists - -
Offsides - -
Fouls committed 3 3
Fouls suffered 4 4
Yellow cards - -
Red cards - -
Last updated: 17/09/2009 03:15 CET

That’s his stats from last night, unfortunately it doesn’t show how many times he lost the ball (which he did for the first time after 5 seconds).

Having said all that I taught they were all shocking with the exception of Benayoun and Kuyt, but why does he single out Lucas for PRAISE?

Lame

[Reece]

I thought he was one of our better players last night.

I don't know why people have such an issue with Rafa praising him. What harm can it actually do? It can only help the player surely? Or do some people want him to fail so they can be proved right?

[The Birdman]

I thought he was one of our better players last night.

I don't know why people have such an issue with Rafa praising him. What harm can it actually do? It can only help the player surely? Or do some people want him to fail so they can be proved right?

I agree, Lucas just can't win because if he plays it easy and keeps possession he get's hammered but if he gives the ball away trying a forward pass he gets battered for that as well

[dww]

I thought he was one of our better players last night.

I don't know why people have such an issue with Rafa praising him. What harm can it actually do? It can only help the player surely? Or do some people want him to fail so they can be proved right?

It is very odd. Rafa did the same with Kuyt and Crouch when they were coming in for critiscism from fans and/or the press. I think part of it is because people feel he doesn't praise the people they would as well. I think Rafa however doesn't feel they need praise people unless he feels they are being judged unfairly.

[Reece]

It is very odd. Rafa did the same with Kuyt and Crouch when they were coming in for critiscism from fans and/or the press. I think part of it is because people feel he doesn't praise the people they would as well. I think Rafa however doesn't feel they need praise people unless he feels they are being judged unfairly.

Exactly. People moan about his man management methods and that he doesn't praise Gerrard or whoever, but when he dares to praise a player who is getting stick from the crowd it's an outrage!