Lucas

[Phoenix07]

Really? I was say that's something Lucas really excels at. One of my earlier criticisims of Lucas was that he was always too quick to release the ball, I want him to hold on to it a bit longer until he had more options, but now that isn't a problem.

With his back facing our attackers, I don't think he's as agile in terms of turning around and releasing. If he's facing them, then he's fine. I'm also referring to releasing forward passes rather than simple ball retention i.e. passing back to Toure and Agger.

[RedReet]

With his back facing our attackers, I don't think he's as agile in terms of turning around and releasing. If he's facing them, then he's fine.

But that's a massive part of his job, receiving the ball from the back and playing it forward and I think he's perfectly suited to it.

Very often he'll play a first touch back to the defender to make an angle, but that's usually if he's under pressure and I wouldn't want him to risk turning.

Maybe you'll have to highlight it during a match, as I don't think I'm sure what you mean by not agile enough to turn.

[Phoenix07]

By agile, I mean turning his body, swivelling around to release to a full-back or attacking player, changing the tempo of the game.

He did it a number of times under Dalglish, where he created the angle to pass forward, his body half turned and head looking forward. It's not a major concern of mine, but it's just something whereby we could control the tempo from midfield, rather than rely on the likes of Coutinho and Sturridge to dictate the speed of play.

[meffin]

I think Lucas is rubbish, but he was good yesterday, has to be said

[Cormack74]

I think Lucas is rubbish, but he was good yesterday, has to be said

[RedReet]

By agile, I mean turning his body, swivelling around to release to a full-back or attacking player, changing the tempo of the game.

He did it a number of times under Dalglish, where he created the angle to pass forward, his body half turned and head looking forward. It's not a major concern of mine, but it's just something whereby we could control the tempo from midfield, rather than rely on the likes of Coutinho and Sturridge to dictate the speed of play.

But again, I think that's something he does do plenty during a game when needed.

And I'm not just arguing for the sake of it, or defending any criticism of Lucas because i think he has no flaws, but I honestly think that is a strong area of his game and am surprised to see it highlighted as a weakness

[Phoenix07]

But again, I think that's something he does do plenty during a game when needed.

And I'm not just arguing for the sake of it, or defending any criticism of Lucas because i think he has no flaws, but I honestly think that is a strong area of his game and am surprised to see it highlighted as a weakness

It's cool mate.

We differ in our views on that area of his game, that's all.

[danperkins]

Thought he had good first half & dreadful second half. I know the team deteriorated but Lucas & Agger in particular were making alot of individual errors & getting caught out more than i've seen either in a long time. Lucas look knackered last 15.

[Gazzla]

I thought Lucas had a bit of a stinker to be honest, 4 or 5 times he was caught in possession which led to villa breaking on us in a dangerous area

[Mattshark]

I thought Lucas had a bit of a stinker to be honest, 4 or 5 times he was caught in possession which led to villa breaking on us in a dangerous area

It was only twice that I recall, he also won possession back a lot and covered very well.

Muddled, you're crazy!

[PTP]

I think the quartet of Lucas - Gerrard - Agger and Toure are doing a great job defensively at the minute. They need to start calming the game down and getting our passing rhythm back when the opposition pressure us though. Overall though I think it has been an excellent start to the season by those four.

I thought Lucas was dire in the second half personally. Looked a bit leggy at times and the game passed him by

[SB]

I thought Lucas was dire in the second half personally. Looked a bit leggy at times and the game passed him by

Yep but even in the 1st half I thought he looked knackered. Not his usual self & hopefully he'll be better against the scum.

[Myo]

It was only twice that I recall, he also won possession back a lot and covered very well.

Muddled, you're crazy!

this

[RedReet]

I thought Lucas was dire in the second half personally. Looked a bit leggy at times and the game passed him by

How can you say the player with the most touches, most successful passes, most tackles, second highest interceptions, that the game passed them by?

Not to mention that it was Lucas that won posession back off VIlla that led to the goal.

It seems more like the game passed a lot of supporters by.

[RedReet]

Yep but even in the 1st half I thought he looked knackered. Not his usual self & hopefully he'll be better against the scum.

Crazy.

I guess he'll have to aim for 100% pass rate and 1st for interceptions against United.