Lucas

[BillobShaisley]

£7m then put that money towards Banega or Defour.

That's what i'm talking about....if we have the money to make it happen, otherwise sit tight and sort out a 2nd striker!

[Fierce]

I'd like to see Lucas play his own natural game. I don't have as many criticisms of Rafa as a few do, but I do feel that Lucas was told to play that way. I don't believe he's a defensive midfielder, and I always thought that he played that way to develop that part of his game. Somewhat naively maybe!

As Billob says, he should never be considered Masher's replacement. But I'd like to keep him as cover or to challenge both Gerrard and Aquilani

[The Birdman]

wtf are you lot on about. Lucas is not and never has been a DM, the idea of using him to cover Mascherano is ****ing suicidal, he should be covering Gerrard / Aquilani as the attacking midfielder.

Some of us need to understand the inflation that's going on at every other top club except liverpool. Who exactly are we going to buy (given that we have **** all money) to replace those players at the prices stated?

Lucas is worth 10mil easily in the current market (2.5 times less than Carrick for example) and Insua has got to be worth 7 or 8 now and would have been over 10 before last season just based on potential. Buying an older player for the same money who's only going to be a marginal improvement on last year just doesn't make sence in footballing or financial terms.

And the biggest worry of all is that the manager isn't making these decisions.

The 2nd biggest worry is a lot of Liverpool fans still appear to be deluded / brainwashed in thinking that a. Lucas and Insua are crap (they aren't) and b. we'll be able to bring in better players than them with the money we have.

****ing deluded

[Kenneth]

The 2nd biggest worry is a lot of Liverpool fans still appear to be deluded / brainwashed in thinking that a. Lucas and Insua are crap (they aren't) and b. we'll be able to bring in better players than them with the money we have.

****ing deluded

Crap is a bit strong, but pretty crap is fair. And we certainly stand a good chance of improving with the sale prices being talked about.

[RedReet]

I'd like to see Lucas play his own natural game. I don't have as many criticisms of Rafa as a few do, but I do feel that Lucas was told to play that way. I don't believe he's a defensive midfielder, and I always thought that he played that way to develop that part of his game. Somewhat naively maybe!

As Billob says, he should never be considered Masher's replacement. But I'd like to keep him as cover or to challenge both Gerrard and Aquilani

I still think that was the long term plan. Xabi wasn’t a DM when he joined us and Rafa improved that side of his game massively and he left a much better player. If you remember his first season he had much more freedom being used as a playmaker, so much so people seen him as an able replacement for Gerrard. Once Gerrard decided to stay though and when Didi moved on, he was asked to sit deeper and break up play more, improving his overall game.

I was expecting Lucas to hopefully follow suit, except maybe add that extra bit of dynamism that Xabi lacked and Rafa looked for in Barry.

[DannyMan2006]

We'll see how good he is if he leaves for £7m and Benitez never bothers bidding for him.

[dww]

We'll see how good he is if he leaves for £7m and Benitez never bothers bidding for him.

Apart from the fact he isn't in control of transfers at Inter that might be true. It's not as if Inter are really in need of quality deep lying midfielders is it? So presumably they would only consider change for a world class option (like Mascherano).

[ronanm]

I hear Carrick, the man touted by Xabi Alonso as a perfect partner for SG, is being linked with Sunderland for £7m. Hmm..!

[dww]

I hear Carrick, the man touted by Xabi Alonso as a perfect partner for SG, is being linked with Sunderland for £7m. Hmm..!

Where did he say this?

[Richey]

The 2nd biggest worry is a lot of Liverpool fans still appear to be deluded / brainwashed in thinking that a. Lucas and Insua are crap (they aren't) and b. we'll be able to bring in better players than them with the money we have.

****ing deluded

Who has brainwashed anyone into thinking Lucas is crap? Surely everyone is entitled to their opinion? I don't think either are crap but I don't think they are particularly good either.

And we will be able to bring in better players, or at least players who are ready to play for us immediately rather than needing further development

[Mostar]

Where did he say this?

http://soccerleaguenews.com/epl/manchester-united-considering-michael-carrick-sale-2565/

Manchester United considering Michael Carrick sale

Manchester United are considering selling Michael Carrick. The Red Devils had signed Michael Carrick from Tottenham Hotspurs for a fee of 14 million sterling. Tottenham were the first team to express interest in Carrick this summer but now Sunderland came into the picture and made a bid.

Sunderland have tabled a bid of 7 million sterling for the England international. Sunderland coach, Steve Bruce sees Michael Carrick as the ideal addition to hus midfield.

http://www.sunderland.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=204526

Bruce Rules Out Carrick & Gosling Moves

Sunderland will not be signing Michael Carrick or Dan Gosling according to boss Steve Bruce today.

Reports in the press mentioned a £7M bid for Manchester United's Michael Carrick and they also mentioned him even being immediately installed as club captain, replacing Lorik Cana. Bruce, though, has played down the reports saying that he is not interested in bringing the player to the club.

Dan Gosling has also been mooted in some circles for a move to the Stadium of Light. Gosling was released by Everton due to not being offered a written contract. Bruce made an enquiry for the midfielder but he has said that it will go no further. He is thought to be close to a move to Newcastle United.

Bruce also said that Sol Campbell is unlikely to decide on a move to the club until after his honeymoon next week. A move for Heiko Westermann is stalling due to wage demands.

[DannyMan2006]

Apart from the fact he isn't in control of transfers at Inter that might be true. It's not as if Inter are really in need of quality deep lying midfielders is it? So presumably they would only consider change for a world class option (like Mascherano).

He can have an influence on who they sign. If Lucas was such a great prospect and available at a bargain fee then I'm sure he could convince Inter to bid for him.

But he is not a great prospect and not a great player. Hence he will end up nowhere near a club of Inters stature. The fact he was a firtst teamer for us last year was a complete joke tbh. Our first team should be close to the level of Inters, not a million miles away in the case of Lucas.

[Lecter]

Nevermind whether we should keep Lucas/Insua or what they are worth by far the most important thing out of all this is the fact it seems Roy has no say on transfers.

We got told by Purslow that no player sales will happen till the new manager comes in.Now that he's here it seems he has no say on it so what happened Cecil?

Another example of why you should not be here.

My big question is why did you believe Purslow

The guy is a proven liar and now he has his only little pfeifdom he can play Emperor Nero whilst Rome burns

[DannyMan2006]

Forget Carrick, no way they'd sell to us.

[DannyMan2006]

My big question is why did you believe Purslow

The guy is a proven liar and now he has his only little pfeifdom he can play Emperor Nero whilst Rome burns

Let's have a dig at Purslow when the transfer window shuts Lec.