Lucas

[RedReet]

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?

He is improving as a footballer with age as you’d expect and playing with a lot more confidence. But I don’t think his use of the ball has changed drastically since Rafa was here, if at all, but he has grown as a defensive midfielder and his reading of the game and execution in the tackle has definitely improved.

[rudedog]

Aye, he's a lot more physical and tenacious than he used to be - I always said that if he improved that side of his game then he could be a very good player for us.

[saj]

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?

I couldn't stand Lucas pre last season. I wanted him gone. But that has completely changed. He frequently passed the ball backwards, gave away stupid fouls. Everything Lucas does now is just amazing. every tackle, every pass, his movement, his reading of the game. I really cvan't fault him for anything. With Masch, it always felt to me like he would leave. Whereas Lucas seems so enthusiastic about playing for us. I firmly believe he will stay at Liverpool as long as the club wants him. I actually look forward to watching him play.

So to answer your question I would pick Lucas over Masch. The reason being his tackling is I feel better and the stats prove it. His passing and movement and link up play with the attackers is far better than Masch's. And he will only get better as he is 24/25. Just my opinion of course.

[Mattshark]

I couldn't stand Lucas pre last season. I wanted him gone. But that has completely changed. He frequently passed the ball backwards, gave away stupid fouls. Everything Lucas does now is just amazing. every tackle, every pass, his movement, his reading of the game. I really cvan't fault him for anything. With Masch, it always felt to me like he would leave. Whereas Lucas seems so enthusiastic about playing for us. I firmly believe he will stay at Liverpool as long as the club wants him. I actually look forward to watching him play.

So to answer your question I would pick Lucas over Masch. The reason being his tackling is I feel better and the stats prove it. His passing and movement and link up play with the attackers is far better than Masch's. And he will only get better as he is 24/25. Just my opinion of course.

Oddly, all of that is demonstrably false.

[Mostar]

So to answer your question I would pick Lucas over Masch. The reason being his tackling is I feel better and the stats prove it. His passing and movement and link up play with the attackers is far better than Masch's. And he will only get better as he is 24/25. Just my opinion of course.

Masch was one of my favorite players but the way Lucas is playing now it is a very difficult choice.

Boss type of performance yesterday and he still has lot of room to improve.

I'd go still for Masch but that's just me.

[RedReet]

Oddly, all of that is demonstrably false.

There may have been some element of truth to it, but the most frustrating thing about it was that it was his 60 forward passes and his 10 clean tackles that were completely ignored, with people just focusing on any hint of a mistake.

[Chris]

gave away stupid fouls.

That used to be infuriating, right on the edge of the area a couple of times per game without fail it seemed like. He's improved that incredibly now. But I dont think he was ever that bad a player, he was just in a bad partnership, Mascherano didnt need a baby sitter so it kind of left him redundant and pointless.

[RedReet]

That used to be infuriating, right on the edge of the area a couple of times per game without fail it seemed like. He's improved that incredibly now. But I dont think he was ever that bad a player, he was just in a bad partnership, Mascherano didnt need a baby sitter so it kind of left him redundant and pointless.

That was exaggerated. 10 players would give away fouls on the edge on the box, only one would get hung for it.

People even complained about it in matches when he didn't even concede a foul.

[Mattshark]

That was exaggerated. 10 players would give away fouls on the edge on the box, only one would get hung for it.

People even complained about it in matches when he didn't even concede a foul.

He also averaged 2 fouls per game, I doubt they were all in front of the box.

[RedReet]

He also averaged 2 fouls per game, I doubt they were all in front of the box.

They were. All three of them right on the edge.

[Chris]

That was exaggerated. 10 players would give away fouls on the edge on the box, only one would get hung for it.

People even complained about it in matches when he didn't even concede a foul.

Fair enough, he was perfect.

[RedReet]

I’m surprised it took so long.

I just don’t like letting common misconceptions get mixed up with the truth, I’m doing Est a noble service.

[Chris]

I dont think it was, he did used to give away stupid free kicks, as you'd expect its an area he's improved with more experience. Its a good thing!! Not sure why its getting people all defensive. I guess some dont like that his best performances are coming under someone not called Rafa Benitez.

[rudedog]

Fair enough, he was perfect.

He wasn't perfect but neither was he anywhere near as bad as a lot of people made out at the time.

[RedReet]

I dont think it was, he did used to give away stupid free kicks, as you'd expect its an area he's improved with more experience. Its a good thing!! Not sure why its getting people all defensive. I guess some dont like that his best performances are coming under someone not called Rafa Benitez.

Eh?

I assume that is not aimed at me?

And I’m not denying that he gave away some stupid free kicks, my point is that he gave away no more than most other players in his position. We could easily do a quick check and if you tell me what is ‘excessive’ and we could pick a handful of random matches and check the Guardian chalkboard. We could compare it to other DM’s at the time and Lucas this year.