Lucas

[RedReet]

Pretty sure he was player of the year in Rafa's last season.

That's only because everyone else was so ****. He didn't know how to pass the ball forward under Rafa.

[cream]

Maybe, but it must be noted the vast improvement we have seen from Lucas has happened since Rafa has left.

Or maybe since Mascherano left.

[Roboklopp]

That's only because everyone else was so ****. He didn't know how to pass the ball forward under Rafa.

Aye, that's partly true, but he was very young then too. Pretty sure he'd have come on as well under Rafa- just not Bodge.

[saj]

Or maybe since Mascherano left.

[RedReet]

Aye, that's partly true, but he was very young then too. Pretty sure he'd have come on as well under Rafa- just not Bodge.

It's not party true. It's a load of balls that people kept coming out with because they didn't want to give him the credit he deserved. There is absolutely no way I'd ever give Hodgson any credit in Lucas' progression by the way. Did he not say he'd consider an offer for him if it came in?

[yamiedo]

Its nice to know we have the DM position nailed down for years to come, provided Lucas doesn't get itchy feet. The question is, is Jay Spearing good enough to be the back-up? Or will we need to find someone better?

[RedReet]

Has Spearing ever let us down so far?

[Jas]

Wasn't Lucas also top of Christian Purslow's hit list of players that needed to be got rid of??

[Mostar]

Is Lucas not that too? He apparently completed more tackles than any other player in the top 4 leagues in Europe last season. On top of that, people said they were too similar and that is the reason why Lucas struggled and was not really rated. As soon as Masch went, Lucas became fantastic and got player of the year

I did say that I see similarities between those 2 but Lucas to me is not really distroyer type of DM.

Masch's tackling abilities are the best I have seen in years (Lucas is good but not like Masch), he is faster and more agile, more composed and better at breaking the play and imo he reads the game like no one else. In other words, one of a kind.

Lucas, on the other hand, is passing the ball better, he takes more advance runs into opposition box more regularly than Masch (yes he doesn't score and Masch did put few away) and technically is more skilled. Not a world class just yet but imo he's heading in that direction.

This bring me to an interesting question.

If you could pick between having Lucas or Masch now in your team, for next 3 years, who would you choose?

[dww]

What are peoples opinions of him compared to Mascherano? Is he at the level Macherano was when the mercenary was playing for us? Or is he above? Or below?

Different types of players so to a degree I'm not sure that a comparison is necessarily fair without considering their midfield partners or the overall team pattern. Lucas is excellent when teams come at us and he has added the ability to play balls out to the flanks to his game. I'd say in terms of allowing us to play the ball on the deck he is now a better player. However, he lacks Mascherano's energy and against weaker teams alongside Adam it can result in us being too static.

[Norbs]

Wonder if Rafa is feeling just a tad smug about Lucas..?

I'm not so sure he deserves to really. The Lucas under Rafa rarely played a forward pass and seemed to be under orders not to try anything other than sit and break up play. The Lucas under Dalglish is blossoming in to a player who can play a more attacking role whilst still being a rock solid defensive player.

He's crucial to our future

[dww]

Wasn't Lucas also top of Christian Purslow's hit list of players that needed to be got rid of??

It seemed like it, but he always just parroted what Craig said about players anyway

[Mostar]

Different types of players so to a degree I'm not sure that a comparison is necessarily fair without considering their midfield partners or the overall team pattern. Lucas is excellent when teams come at us and he has added the ability to play balls out to the flanks to his game. I'd say in terms of allowing us to play the ball on the deck he is now a better player. However, he lacks Mascherano's energy and against weaker teams alongside Adam it can result in us being too static.

[RedReet]

I'm not so sure he deserves to really. The Lucas under Rafa rarely played a forward pass and seemed to be under orders not to try anything other than sit and break up play. The Lucas under Dalglish is blossoming in to a player who can play a more attacking role whilst still being a rock solid defensive player.

He's crucial to our future

That's just not true at all.

He also had goals and assists under Rafa, something he hasn't been able to muster yet as he 'blossoms' into an attacking force under Kenny.

[Norbs]

That's just not true at all.

He also had goals and assists under Rafa, something he hasn't been able to muster yet as he 'blossoms' into an attacking force under Kenny.

Maybe I'll concede that it was an exaggeration, but he's looking an even better player this season than he did under Rafa. Do you not think?