THE Lucas thread

[Exiled_red]

But that’s gonna be hard to do unless the fans start supporting him rather than putting him under more pressure with their sighs making him have to second guess everything he’s gonna do.

It's a vicious circle, the constant booing, jeering and critisism is affecting his confidence and performances, he is constantly under pressure and every mistake is jumped on, while this happens he's never going to have confidence and his performances will suffer

[el matador]

Liverpool Midfielder Lucas Doesn’t Deserve to Wear the Shirt - David Fairclough

Liverpool Midfielder Lucas Doesn’t Deserve to Wear the Shirt

by David Fairclough Supersub on August 25th, 2009

I have sat on both sides of the “Is Lucas a Good Prospect” fence so much that I have gotten splinters but I am afraid enough is enough. Many will claim that a player such as Ryan Babel is just as deserving of the moniker “Player least likely to possess a meaningful Anfield future” but at least the Dutchman has shown, all to briefly, some hints of ability and talent whereas the Brazilian has either flattered to deceive or kept himself hidden so as to fool people he may have a purpose on the field of play.

Let’s look at the job he is supposed to do. He is no Javier Mascherano, his job is not to win the ball at every opportunity and to break up opposition attacks. He is also no Xabi Alonso, as he is unable to spray 30 yard balls to a teammate or keep the momentum moving with a sharp one-two leaving a fellow Liverpool player in space. The 22 year old falls between two stools in more ways than one.

He isn’t a defensive midfielder and he isn’t an attacking midfielder and he sure as hell isn’t a playmaker. So what the hell is he? It seems that any praise he has received has been a thinly veiled insult. Many fellow fans at games have told me as we head for the exit “Lucas was better than he usually is” as though this is reason enough for Rafa to continue to persist with his inclusion.

He isn’t a teenager who needs time and space to develop. He’s a player who has played in 70+ games for the club and consistently looked poor in I would say three quarters of the matches. I applaud Rafa’s determination but he really needs to offload the former Gremio man sooner rather than later. Clearly it’s tough to do so at this moment in time with Alberto Aquilani still sidelined but I would rather see Damien Plessis given a run out. Yes he’s far more defensive minded but at least he knows what his role in the team is, Lucas Leiva doesn’t.

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2009/08/25/liverpool-midfielder-lucas-doesnt-deserve-to-wear-the-shirt/

wow - i'm shocked that an anfield legend said this.

[red g]

you do realise this is a poster called David Fairclough and not the real David Fairclough?

hence should it not be in with all the other Lucas stuff?

[MrsB]

Indeed.

[ric.williams]

how would playing plessis help? two players being defensive, what a retard. i think its hard for anyone to replace alonso let alone lucas. is it time to change formation until aquilani is fit or drop gerrard into midfield?

[red g]

I think gerrard has to come into the centre, the last 3 games has proved we need to change things

[DannyMan2006]

how would playing plessis help? two players being defensive, what a retard. i think its hard for anyone to replace alonso let alone lucas. is it time to change formation until aquilani is fit or drop gerrard into midfield?

[Red11]

This is getting tiresome, really. Last time i looked prematch, Lucas wasn't filling 11 places on the team-sheet for the Villa game, so how he lost us the match is a conclusion only the most one-eyed Lucas hater can draw. He showed for the ball, make some good tackles (and didn't pull out like Voronin when he came on), and had to deal with far more experienced players ahead of him who, honestly, lost the plot.

I don't love the guy, in fact i still think he has some way to go to convince, but at this rate most of our squad so far hasn't convinced me that we will challenge this season.

I think it's unbecoming of LFC fans to single out any one player after such a defeat, as if that 1 player was alone on the pitch, rather than the 11-14 players sent out to do the job. Honestly they almost all sucked last last. Lucas was one of the better players for us last night and so far this season.

I'll reserve judgement until Aquilani starts playing, to see if we've got a player than can return Lucas to the bench or not...

[Roberto Bobbolino]

He showed for the ball, make some good tackles

He did?

Must be one of those one eyed Lucas lovers.

[Red11]

He did?

Must be one of those one eyed Lucas lovers.

Go back, read it again, slowly. As stated, I'm not a big fan, lukewarm at best. But he wasn't alone out there last night. The TEAM lost, from Rafa down they all contributed to losing to Villa at home. He takes some blame but proportionally, for him to be the excuse for the loss is infantile. Reputations count for nothing right now, and that means everyone, so unless the same blame given to everyone for such a wasteful performance, blaming Lucas primarily is beneath you.

[Kenneth]

We've brought so many promising youngsters to the club over recent years and lucas has been given by far the best chance to impress in the first team. If he's the best of the lot then the policy has been a complete waste of time in my opinion.

[Slinky Skills]

He will be a decent player for us in time. Some will say he doesn't have time which is bolloks and totally ridiculous.

Was very unlucky last night, not anything he could do about that goal it just happens but he shouldn't be blamed for losing the match. I do however believe he would be far better suited to a more advanced role, just behind a striker with us bringing in another defensive minded CM to sit with Mascherano.

If this even means dropping Stevie back into CM then so be it. Maybe say Mascherano as holding midfielder with a covering midfield of Gerrard, Aquilani on the left, Kuyt on the right with Lucas just behind Torres. At least give it a try.

[red g]

He will be a decent player for us in time. Some will say he doesn't have time which is bolloks and totally ridiculous.

Was very unlucky last night, not anything he could do about that goal it just happens but he shouldn't be blamed for losing the match. I do however believe he would be far better suited to a more advanced role, just behind a striker with us bringing in another defensive minded CM to sit with Mascherano.

If this even means dropping Stevie back into CM then so be it. Maybe say Mascherano as holding midfielder with a covering midfield of Gerrard, Aquilani on the left, Kuyt on the right with Lucas just behind Torres. At least give it a try.

Just cant see that at all, would prefer benayoun in that role......i dont see anything in Lucas to think he could perform that role, nothing

[Slinky Skills]

Just cant see that at all, would prefer benayoun in that role......i dont see anything in Lucas to think he could perform that role, nothing

I see where you're coming from but he hasn't really been given a chance to play in a more advance role has he?

He seems to be playing as a defensive midfielder which maybe doesn't suit him. From what I can recall he was an attack minded midfielder whilst he was at Gremio.

If he's not going to be given a chance playing further up the field then it's not going to give him the opportunity to show what he can do. In the Athletico Madrid match he bagged a goal and was playing up quite high and he looked quite lively. I'm not going by one game here but maybe it's a position that he may be better suited to perhaps.

[red g]

I see where you're coming from but he hasn't really been given a chance to play in a more advance role has he?

He seems to be playing as a defensive midfielder which maybe doesn't suit him. From what I can recall he was an attack minded midfielder whilst he was at Gremio.

If he's not going to be given a chance playing further up the field then it's not going to give him the opportunity to show what he can do. In the Athletico Madrid match he bagged a goal and was playing up quite high and he looked quite lively. I'm not going by one game here but maybe it's a position that he may be better suited to perhaps.

he was box to box at gremio and as much as i admire rhe sentiment why play him there when we have benayoun there and we have kuyt and riera for wings?

also if he played there and didnt do well he would be crucified and definiteyl harsh on the lad.....first replace alonso, thats not working ....ok try the gerrard position!!

He needs to have replaced diao .....we would have loved him then!!