THE Lucas thread

[JHP]

Gerrard in CM and Benayoun off Torres until Aquilani is fit - or 442.

Not saying i'd NEVER play Lucas, there's various options and possibilities to vary it - but he seems untouchable where Rafa's concerned, which is incredible IMO.

You obviously recognise Lucas has ability otherwise you wouldn't make your last point “Not saying i'd NEVER play Lucas”. I take from this that your issue isn't really with Lucas but more with Rafa, his team selection / formation and that he has more belief in Luca than you do.

I think criticising Lucas is just a proxy for your disagreement with Rafa – his apparent trust in Lucas and the way sets his teams up. I also think that you'd be better making that point in future rather than using Lucas as the instrument for your criticism, everyone else would then understand better where you're coming from.

You might not get any more agreement but at least I think the discussion would be on the right agenda.

[RedReet]

Lucas played really well today.

Thought he was very good myself, was like a man posessed for the first 15 minutes or so.

[Exiled_red]

It's suprising the number of people that have put Lucas in their Man of the match nominations this season, considering the amount of stick he's getting here...

[RedReet]

It's suprising the number of people that have put Lucas in their Man of the match nominations this season, considering the amount of stick he's getting here...

He's arguably been our most consistant player all season. Never head and shoulders above the rest, but hasn't had a bad game yet.

[Nick77]

It's suprising the number of people that have put Lucas in their Man of the match nominations this season, considering the amount of stick he's getting here...

Maybe they don't know anything about football?

[red g]

Maybe they don't know anything about football?

or maybe they do...........

[Craig_H]

You obviously recognise Lucas has ability otherwise you wouldn't make your last point “Not saying i'd NEVER play Lucas”. I take from this that your issue isn't really with Lucas but more with Rafa, his team selection / formation and that he has more belief in Luca than you do.

I think criticising Lucas is just a proxy for your disagreement with Rafa – his apparent trust in Lucas and the way sets his teams up. I also think that you'd be better making that point in future rather than using Lucas as the instrument for your criticism, everyone else would then understand better where you're coming from.

You might not get any more agreement but at least I think the discussion would be on the right agenda.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but it's simply that i dont think Lucas should be untouchable and ALWAYS play, because i think in terms of CM, i believe Mascherano, Gerrard and Aquilani are all better than him.

I think he should be a squad player, not a certain first team starter every single game.

[Craig_H]

or maybe they do...........

It's a simple formula on here - if people agree with Rafa, they know their stuff.

If they disagree with anything rafa does, or make any criticial point about any player or anything, they 'dont know anything about football'.

[Exiled_red]

He's arguably been our most consistant player all season. Never head and shoulders above the rest, but hasn't had a bad game yet.

Maybe they don't know anything about football?

or maybe they do...........

It's a simple formula on here - if people agree with Rafa, they know their stuff.

If they disagree with anything rafa does, or make any criticial point about any player or anything, they 'dont know anything about football'.

A significant number of people are voting for him in their top 3 in alot of matches, surely people aren't just voting for him out of sympathy. He must be doing something right, and there are alot of players who are playing worse than him but getting alot less critisism. Yes you could argue these players have played well over long periods of time and Lucas hasn't (as many people have) but surely the time to criticise isn't when he's one of our better players, as is the case at the moment.

[wiw]

I don't think Lucas is untouchable by any means, but for the benefit of the team he is in there at the moment. 4-4-2/dropping Gerrard back is an option..it's pretty obvious though that Rafa sees Gerrard as an attacking mid/striker these days. For me he's wasted further back. I think Gerrard is a great tackler when he has to dive in, but the way we play under Rafa we stay on our feet whenever possible, and Lucas is a better tackler when on his feet imo

You really can't argue over Lucas' improvement physically and defensively this season, and his passing is getting a little more adventurous as time goes on. Time and again yesterday he played fast, crisp passes forwards straight to feet, often through a couple of players. He easily merits his place at the moment for me. When Aquilani is back he may lose out, but not straight away..then he'll take up his place as cover/squad player

[Shaggy]

I don't think Lucas is untouchable by any means, but for the benefit of the team he is in there at the moment. 4-4-2/dropping Gerrard back is an option..it's pretty obvious though that Rafa sees Gerrard as an attacking mid/striker these days. For me he's wasted further back. I think Gerrard is a great tackler when he has to dive in, but the way we play under Rafa we stay on our feet whenever possible, and Lucas is a better tackler when on his feet imo

You really can't argue over Lucas' improvement physically and defensively this season, and his passing is getting a little more adventurous as time goes on. Time and again yesterday he played fast, crisp passes forwards straight to feet, often through a couple of players. He easily merits his place at the moment for me. When Aquilani is back he may lose out, but not straight away..then he'll take up his place as cover/squad player

[wiw]

He even played a diaganol yesterday to Insua (I think), I couldn't believe it He passed it..off the ground..!

[RedReet]

He’s improving with every game and well worth persevering with.

[dww]

I think the is though that the debate about whether Lucas personally is good enough has obscured the more important problem of whether we have achieved the right overall balance with our midfield and defense. I'm not sure that at the minute we have.

[RedReet]

I think the is though that the debate about whether Lucas personally is good enough has obscured the more important problem of whether we have achieved the right overall balance with our midfield and defense. I'm not sure that at the minute we have.

It’s definitely a work in progress, but that can only be expected with new personnel and more emphasis on attack.

I need to watch the game again, but it surprised me once more to see Carra start on the left and our attack minded midfielder (Lucas) on the left, as earlier in the season these positions had different roles, with the right hand side given more freedom to attack. The pattern doesn’t seem to be as obvious now and I’m guessing Rafa is still experimenting himself.