Jay Spearing

[PTP]

Haven't the last few games changed your perception of him at all?

Some players need a run of games to show their worth and to be fair to the lad he is getting better and better. Now I'm not saying he's ever going to be a superstar but I think we're guilty of being overly critical of him.

He was very good (again) against Birmingham. I see no reason why he can't improve in a similar vein to Lucas, after all isn't he 22?

yes they have - i thought he was total bell whiff with zero future at all and i was gobsmacked he was still here...

Now i think, he's a decent job do-er, who if he is willing too, can be part of the set up as the "5th" centre mid, behind gerrard, lucas, meireles, and another top midfielder....and he'll get the odd appearences coming in as cover here and there....


But i am a long way from being convinced that he should be more than that...ie competiting for a first team place playing 25+ games a season in a side that i want to see challenging for the title.

[RedReet]

He's winning me round but I'm not there yet.

I will say I got him wrong though, I thought he was a League One/Championship player but he's playing above that level at the moment.

However it's still only, what, three or four games? Needs to maintain it almost week in week out.

For me, he has rarely looked out of place playing for the first team even before this good recent run. I think he may have been involved in a few poor cup performances which may have lowered peoples opinions of him, but when playing with a strong first team I always thought he looked comfortable. Added to the fact that he was very good at reserve level winning the youth cup and reserve league, it always surprised me how fans felt about him, especially with him being a local lad.

As surprised as I am to see he’s made his breakthrough this year, I was more than happy to hear he was offered a new contract and recent performances have given plenty of reason for optimism. At the very least he looks a very able deputy for Lucas, but as he gains more experience he might even deserve his own place in the first 11 in the not too distant future.

[RedReet]

yes they have - i thought he was total bell whiff with zero future at all and i was gobsmacked he was still here...

Now i think, he's a decent job do-er, who if he is willing too, can be part of the set up as the "5th" centre mid, behind gerrard, lucas, meireles, and another top midfielder....and he'll get the odd appearences coming in as cover here and there....


But i am a long way from being convinced that he should be more than that...ie competiting for a first team place playing 25+ games a season in a side that i want to see challenging for the title.

Do you think we can compete for the title with Lucas in the side?

[JHP]

Do you think we can compete for the title with Lucas in the side?

Since Dalglish took over we have been in or very close to title winning form. I think Lucas has been the best/most consistent performer in that time.

Is your question more that Lucas could perhaps not sustain the form over a season?

[RedReet]

Nah, basically the same things he's saying about Spearing was said about Lucas many times and I'm just wondering if he thinks Lucas coud now contribute to a title winning side.

[The Birdman]

Since Dalglish took over we have been in or very close to title winning form. I think Lucas has been the best/most consistent performer in that time.

Is your question more that Lucas could perhaps not sustain the form over a season?

Lucas has sustained his form over the whole season.
He's been our best and most consistent player by a mile. Others have played well in fits and starts but Lucas has been brilliant all season

[RedReet]

Lucas has sustained his form over the whole season.
He's been our best and most consistent player by a mile. Others have played well in fits and starts but Lucas has been brilliant all season

And last.

[PTP]

Do you think we can compete for the title with Lucas in the side?

No...not as a first teamer....again lucas has improved....but for me we should have

gerrard>>>>Meireles>>>Shelvey
a top box to box midfielder>>>Lucas>>>>spearing

[JHP]

I find it amusing how people frequently post that they're not convinced about this player and that. I know it's a forum so inevitably those comments will come out but it doesn't matter one jot whether me or other posters are convinced. All that matters is whether the Manager and assistants are.

Even in the successful years I remember having doubts about the ability of some players but realised it's the sum of the parts that matters and not the individual components. Good managers are able to get the right blend through training/ recruitment.

[RedReet]

No...not as a first teamer....again lucas has improved....but for me we should have

gerrard>>>>Meireles>>>Shelvey
a top box to box midfielder>>>Lucas>>>>spearing

Fair enough, at least your honest and not just jumping on the bandwagon.

[Rich]

No...not as a first teamer....again lucas has improved....but for me we should have

gerrard>>>>Meireles>>>Shelvey
a top box to box midfielder>>>Lucas>>>>spearing

Shelvey ahead of Lucas?

[RedReet]

I find it amusing how people frequently post that they're not convinced about this player and that. I know it's a forum so inevitably those comments will come out but it doesn't matter one jot whether me or other posters are convinced. All that matters is whether the Manager and assistants are.

Even in the successful years I remember having doubts about the ability of some players but realised it's the sum of the parts that matters and not the individual components. Good managers are able to get the right blend through training/ recruitment.

Unless that man is Roy Hodgson.

Otherwise...

[PTP]

let me rephrase this before the lucas fanboi's start running in and slaughtering me...

i like lucas, in the early days i was one of his few defenders, and i know he's played very well, and has a lot to offer but it's a difficult question to answer....

If you are asking me.....that each team can only use 11 players...and those 11 players play every game and don't get injured....then I don't think we would win the league with lucas centre mid.....


But we all know that football is a squad game, ....yes he would play his part in a title challenging team....but thats because you need as many good players as you can get, and if we had gerrard, another top midfielder, and lucas and miereles - then midfield would be very strong and i think yeah we would win the league.


But... i don't think we'd win the league with Lucas as our no.2 centre mid (after Gerrard)

I think lucas is an ideal 'first teamer' in a squad situation as the no.3 if you like....

that doesn't mean i don't he'd play - the way football is nowadays...a '3rd' centre mid still plays 20 plus games a season

[PTP]

Shelvey ahead of Lucas?

lol - i knew somebody would pick up on that...what i was trying to indicate is that you'd normally play with two centre mids.....so for me in order it'd be

--------new centre mid------------gerrard----------

----------lucas-----------------meireles------------

-----------spearing----------------shelvey



More like that - so ie, the new centre mid gets injured, then...you'd play lucas and gerrard.....but if gerrard was injured...it'd be the new centre mid and then you'd choose between lucas or meireles depending on the game....ie, man utd away, hmmm you'd play lucas, but say QPR at home, i'd probably rather see Meireles.

[Rich]

Ah, so you're going with defensive on the left, attacking on the right.

Makes more sense.