Lucas

[Rigadon]

On what basis? He has been our best outfield player this season.

He's been one of the best of a very poor bunch. His general play has been no different this season to last season. Mediocre.

[badpiggy]

deleted

[Mattshark]

He's been one of the best of a very poor bunch. His general play has been no different this season to last season. Mediocre.

I can't agree with that at all. He played well last season, he played well this season. A lot of people this season see it fit to condemn him for not being Alonso though and will happily ignore the good things he does.

[Neil Young]

I can't agree with that at all. He played well last season, he played well this season. A lot of people this season see it fit to condemn him for not being Alonso though and will happily ignore the good things he does.

To be fair though, he's not Alonso and never will be.

IMO of course. Maybe he'll prove me wrong but I doubt it.

I doubt it very much.

Very very much.

[BrianF80]

It's pleasing to see that he has it in his locker, and obviously we all hope he can discover that form, but it's also worth noting that Gremio play in a far inferior league to the PL and the standard over here is considerably higher.

It's not about the performances though. It's about a player that is carrying himself with self belief. It makes me sad to see him now; the fans have essentially sucked all the self-confidence out of the lad and essentially just because they don't understand the role he's supposed to play and their desire for him to be someone he isn't.

[Craig_H]

It's not about the performances though. It's about a player that is carrying himself with self belief. It makes me sad to see him now; the fans have essentially sucked all the self-confidence out of the lad and essentially just because they don't understand the role he's supposed to play and their desire for him to be someone he isn't.

Explain it to me.

[zimbo]

For me, this 'Lucas has been our best player this season' mantra is akin to the argument that Pennant was the outstanding performer in the 2007 Final. It doesn't actually stand up to any detailed questioning.

Before anyone starts, I have no major beef with Lucas. He has a great attitude and the effort he puts in is an example to some of his more senior team-mates. However, he continues to have virtually no direct impact on our play (which is something I would expect to see from our best player) and I am yet to see him directly influence the course of a game in a positive manner. He lacks the presence or stature to command a game from the position he plays and his passing, though generally neat, rarely offers anything that could be construed as a threat to the opposition.

Though Mascherano has also largely failed to excel, he at least is capable of providing the team with a tempo and drive that lifts the other players, and is infinitely better at carrying the ball forward at pace than Lucas has yet shown.

I would like to see him come good, and to repay the faith that Benitez has placed in him. Unfortunately, although I would love to have my mind changed, nothing I've seen from him indicates that this is likely to happen anytime soon.

[SK]

To be fair though, he's not Alonso and never will be.

IMO of course. Maybe he'll prove me wrong but I doubt it.

I doubt it very much.

Very very much.

he can't be alonso. alonso has a beard.

[BillobShaisley]

I still dont see why people would choose to hold prejudices. Are they anti Brazilian?

Do you think people's viewpoints on players are not based on how the player plays most of the time?

Lucas was largely ineffective and anonymous before this season, which has seen him put in a few excellent displays.

Needs to be done over a sustained period of time (and also when the whole team is performing well, too) before it proves a great deal.

I still dont get why people would choose to hold 'prejudices' against one of their own players. If you can answer that, then maybe i'll see these alleged prejudices.

Have a look in the Gerrard thread, apparently the reason stevie was **** last night was Lucas!

That people still say he only passes sideways.

That people say Plessis or Spearing should play ahead of him. I've even heard that some of our accademy lads who aren't even CM's or in the Reserves should be picked ahead of him!

Some people have a fixed idea in their heads and nothing will shift it, that is a prejudice.

[BillobShaisley]

Well, each to their own. I think it's a minority, but ok.

I didnt get the second half of your post mate.

He been better than Gerrard this year. He'll look even better in a team that can maintain posession and move a bit off the ball.

[BillobShaisley]

I'd liken him to someone like Carrick. He plays his part and does well in his role, but he isnt someone who'd make the difference between a decent side and a title-challenging one.

Carrick has how many PL winners medals?

So clearly good enough for a role in a title challenging team.

[Craig_H]

Carrick has how many PL winners medals?

So clearly good enough for a role in a title challenging team.

He does very little to make an impact on whether they win titles or not though.

In other words, United would win those titles, with or without him.

[red g]

I have not got anything against lucas but he simply is not good enough to be a starter in a PL winning 11.

the fact that he has been our best player is absolute bollocks........he has done well in a piss poor and i mean piss poor season? better than Gerrard? All round yes,,,,but then Gerrard has scored a couple of crucial goals this year.

and Gerrard is having the worse season he has had here.......so we are judging lucas on being better than our best player who is having is worse season? interesting comparison.

Lucas has been consistently fair to middling all season with 1 or 2 very good games.

How many Lucas lovers would like hime to be starting every game week in, week out? you must be mad if you do.

He simply is not good enough to hold a key position in a top 4 team imo, i would like to keep him as a squad player.

after 100 games in a liverpool shirt i would expect a lot better to be honest.

[Marky]

He does very little to make an impact on whether they win titles or not though.

In other words, United would win those titles, with or without him.

06-07 season he made 33 league appearances and they won the league

07-08 season he made 31 league appearances and 12 in Europe they won both that season.

08-09 season he made 28 appearances and they won the league


Must have had a bit of an impact then, eh?

[BrianF80]

Explain it to me.

Watch this.

http://www.totalvid.com/Soccer-Videos/Coaching-the-Italian-4-4-2/

Read this.

http://www.foscsoccer.com/pages/Forms/docs/7.doc

And this series.

http://www.footballitaliano.co.uk/article.aspx?id=100

And then grok "My role is to be a solution to other people",

and then maybe we'll have enough of a shared vocabulary to discuss because I don't know how to explain it using a sky sports frame of reference.