Lucas

[danperkins]

I don't think he is bullet proof here mate. I recall last year me and a fair few posters pointing it out to others that he is not our saviour or messiah and when he did return he was gash but that was excusable due to the long lay off. He has shown some signs of improvement in the odd match. But when he comes across or faces someone more physically and powerful in the middle he rarely turns up. Could be a fear factor or mental weakness as he was not like that before, he could have doubts about weather his knee is upto it or if can come through a challenge.

[danperkins]

He's too busy following all the Rafa related posts and has Google translate on overdrive as he scours the Turkish based sites for references to kuyt.

[RichC]

He was non existent for me today although his midfield partner was utter dross today as well

[DannyMan2006]

He and Gerrard were lost and clueless today with no idea of who to pass too. I find it hard to blame individuals, I think the fault was more of a collective fault today.

[baitman]

He and Gerrard were lost and clueless today with no idea of who to pass too. I find it hard to blame individuals, I think the fault was more of a collective fault today.

this then has to come back on the managers shoulders.

i know that several first choices were not available but preparation of the team and changing it if needed are down to him.

[badpiggy]

I mean this as an expression of my ignorance and a blind spot I've got about football - no matter what amazing stats I see and read about Lucas, I just can't get on board with the extraordinary praise he gets eg he's close to being the best DM in the world. He's always looked sluggish - even more so at the moment after his big injury - and lacking in either the dynamism or the passing range I associate with a midfielder. He always looks to me to be at his best chasing back after people but never facing the play. I'm sure loads will tell me how wrong I am. I'm not bashing him after a loss - I'm saying I just don't see what loads of others apparently can.

We're lacking someone dynamic and purposeful in midfield.

[Tee]

I mean this as an expression of my ignorance and a blind spot I've got about football - no matter what amazing stats I see and read about Lucas, I just can't get on board with the extraordinary praise he gets eg he's close to being the best DM in the world. He's always looked sluggish - even more so at the moment after his big injury - and lacking in either the dynamism or the passing range I associate with a midfielder. He always looks to me to be at his best chasing back after people but never facing the play. I'm sure loads will tell me how wrong I am. I'm not bashing him after a loss - I'm saying I just don't see what loads of others apparently can.

We're lacking someone dynamic and purposeful in midfield.

(And that's not based just on today's result)

[BobTheCharmer]

I mean this as an expression of my ignorance and a blind spot I've got about football - no matter what amazing stats I see and read about Lucas, I just can't get on board with the extraordinary praise he gets eg he's close to being the best DM in the world. He's always looked sluggish - even more so at the moment after his big injury - and lacking in either the dynamism or the passing range I associate with a midfielder. He always looks to me to be at his best chasing back after people but never facing the play. I'm sure loads will tell me how wrong I am. I'm not bashing him after a loss - I'm saying I just don't see what loads of others apparently can.

We're lacking someone dynamic and purposeful in midfield.

Lucas the man I like, Lucas the footballer I could take or leave. I've always been unconvinced he brings enough to the party. Pre injury he looked great for a month or so. Immense even. But he failed to hit the heights way too often for me. He's a stats man wet dream. His passing ability is limited to sideways and backwards usually 3 or 4 yards at most and praise where its due he has to be one of the all time best passers at this distance there's ever been. Utd have won the league on a regular basis without the need for such a player. Yet it seems we must have someone like this. Oh well, hopefully his form picks up soon.

[Phoenix07]

In terms of what I perceive as Rodgers trying to replicate a Alonso/Mascherano partnership in that Lucas is the ball winner and Gerrard is the playmaker is encouraging.

Their flaws in executing this were truly exposed today. We needed Joe Allen in there at least.

[Norbs]

His passing ability is limited to sideways and backwards usually 3 or 4 yards at most

This shouldn't be a stick to beat him with.

His energy is deployed chasing the ball and once he has it he gives it to a runner. Hence when he has won possession back he's not looking for a a team mate that's made a run, he's just looking to move it to a player who is going to start an attacking move. His skill is reading and anticipating the play, which he excels at. He suffers when the play is congested and the runners or outlets aren't there, like today.

[BobTheCharmer]

This shouldn't be a stick to beat him with.

His energy is deployed chasing the ball and once he has it he gives it to a runner. Hence when he has won possession back he's not looking for a a team mate that's made a run, he's just looking to move it to a player who is going to start an attacking move. His skill is reading and anticipating the play, which he excels at. He suffers when the play is congested and the runners or outlets aren't there, like today.

I get that and that's great. I just remain unconvinced that you have to have a player like this in your team. Other players can chase opponents, win the ball, pass and then look for it back to do something positive. I guess its all about how you set up. In a Rafa formation its a must. In a Ferguson formation it wasn't. There are always different ways of setting up.

Time will tell.

[Norbs]

To be fair I was just defending the reason why his passes are short

[Arn]

I would rather bench Gerrard than Lucas.

I think Lucas is more important in our system and tactic than Gerrard is.

I would like to see Lucas and Henderson getting a chance together.

[Arn]

In terms of what I perceive as Rodgers trying to replicate a Alonso/Mascherano partnership in that Lucas is the ball winner and Gerrard is the playmaker is encouraging.

Their flaws in executing this were truly exposed today. We needed Joe Allen in there at least.

------------Lucas-----Henderson-------
------------------Gerrard---------

Sub Gerrard for Allen after 70 minutes or so if he don't have the legs to play in that position for 90 minutes.

[Exiled_red]

I would rather bench Gerrard than Lucas.

I think Lucas is more important in our system and tactic than Gerrard is.

I would like to see Lucas and Henderson getting a chance together.

I don't think Gerrard is naturally suited to that role, this isn't going to be a popular view but I think that too often he goes missing in there, numerous times you seem him get frustrated and not track back or just stand there and let things go. We all know that he has had his best seasons in other positions, I would prefer to have him further up the field where he can influence the game more, because for me he hasn't really been influencing games this season. I'm not sure what his current role is supposed to be, is he supposed to be playing the 'Xabi Alonso role', or is he supposed to be doing a similar job to Lucas, is he supposed to be playing box to box or what?