Lucas

[Fredo]

We need to improve in that department. Think that's the next position that Rodgers will be looking to bolster in January.

[Arn]

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?

I think Gerrard himself doesn't know what he is supposed to do on the pitch.

[Fernandinho]

From what I can understand Gerrard's role is to sit the deepest of him and Lucas, in areas where he can find space to play key passes into the attacking third, enabling the attacking 3 to gain space to form proper attacks at the goal. Lucas from what I can see is on the pitch to work nearly box to box, pressing as high up the pitch as he can to ensure we can possession back when the other team look to clear their lines/get out of the defensive third. Gerrard obviously needs to still protect the back 4 when Lucas is caught high so he needs to work much harder in defence to get across the pitch making interceptions and key tackles while ensuring he is positioned well to receive passes from the wide defenders and centre backs in possession.

[SB]

From what I can understand Gerrard's role is to sit the deepest of him and Lucas, in areas where he can find space to play key passes into the attacking third, enabling the attacking 3 to gain space to form proper attacks at the goal. Lucas from what I can see is on the pitch to work nearly box to box, pressing as high up the pitch as he can to ensure we can possession back when the other team look to clear their lines/get out of the defensive third. Gerrard obviously needs to still protect the back 4 when Lucas is caught high so he needs to work much harder in defence to get across the pitch making interceptions and key tackles while ensuring he is positioned well to receive passes from the wide defenders and centre backs in possession.

Lucas hasn't got the speed to get back so he shouldn't be getting so high up the pitch IMO.

[BobTheCharmer]

Lucas hasn't got the speed to get back so he shouldn't be getting so high up the pitch IMO.

So we're a player light from an attacking sense then. In that he never gets involved.

What annoys me is the fact I've seen him score from range before yet he doesn't attempt to at all. I know its not his job but Christ an extra two goals from him may make the difference in a tight game. I may be wrong and this view mast be fanciful, but I think every outfield player should be looking to score at least once a season.

Our whole midfield needs to be getting more goals. I just don't think they get in or around the box enough. That has to be the way we set up.

If I hear this whole its not his job to do this I'll ****ing scream. He's supposed to win the ball and pass it to a better player, yawn. In our team that for years has been relatively ****, its no good having such a player. The players around him aren't special enough. We need all midfielders to be competent in contributing to the game in a positive way. He plays the same way whether we win lose or draw. He can't raise the tempo. He can't influence a result.

[Neil Young]

Hmm, that's an interesting point of view.

I like Lucas and I do think he contributes overall but it's a fair point about whether the defined role he performs very well means he's holding us back in other ways.

I think probably those limitations are exposed when we have nothing from our full backs. If we had Johnson and someone like him as the full backs, then when we have the ball Lucas's job would basically be to shield the centre backs in case we lose it. That would give us seven players actively contributing to the attack, with three whose primary tasks are to hold the centre and to cover the flanks, and only then do what they can to aid the attack.

I don't think that's a bad balance. Having said that, it would obviously be better to have someone who is pretty much as good as Lucas defensively but can also pass like Alonso.

[Fernandinho]

I totally agree, even though we don't play a 4-4-2 with midfielders getting into the box we should be expecting the odd goal. they are so often the goals which win games when the strikers can't break through. Even players like Carrick who often play a similar role get the odd goal a season.

Midfield has been an issue for us since Alonso left and it still needs working on.

[Norbs]

That's pretty much what occurred yesterday, ie not enough contributors to the attack. Playing 4 centre backs was OK so long as the two wide ones knew their objective was to attack. They didn't

[cream]

The passing ability of our midfield is shockingly poor. If Gerrard is not on his A game, nobody else offers anything.

Also, our midfield con not hack a high intensity game.

[Vermilion]

So we're a player light from an attacking sense then. In that he never gets involved.

What annoys me is the fact I've seen him score from range before yet he doesn't attempt to at all. I know its not his job but Christ an extra two goals from him may make the difference in a tight game. I may be wrong and this view mast be fanciful, but I think every outfield player should be looking to score at least once a season.

Our whole midfield needs to be getting more goals. I just don't think they get in or around the box enough. That has to be the way we set up.

If I hear this whole its not his job to do this I'll ****ing scream. He's supposed to win the ball and pass it to a better player, yawn. In our team that for years has been relatively ****, its no good having such a player. The players around him aren't special enough. We need all midfielders to be competent in contributing to the game in a positive way. He plays the same way whether we win lose or draw. He can't raise the tempo. He can't influence a result.

Why have we never done anything about this problem then, it's not Lucas's fault he plays as he does, he does the job asked of him most games, and was held up not so long ago by the manager as being the example to follow.

If his style of play is a problem for the side, you have to ask; why has it never been rectified ?

Although maybe Mikhtirian was an attempt at doing just that.

It's very odd though, as Lucas pre Premiership was far more dynamic. I wonder if he feels a need to defer to Gerrard all the time, to not get forward for fear of cramping his style, or being at fault for not intercepting a counter?

I don't know, but it bugs me too becuase i feel there could a be far more offensive player in there.

[McDermotX]

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?

Agree with an awful lot of this.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

I don't think there's enough legs in a Lucas-Gerrard pairing to be an effective 90 minutes partnership. For the first 45, Lucas seems to be the more advance midfielder, sweeping in the opposition half. Then when his energy runs out, usually by the second half, he sits back alongside Gerrard.

[RichC]

The passing ability of our midfield is shockingly poor. If Gerrard is not on his A game, nobody else offers anything.

Also, our midfield con not hack a high intensity game.

The passing bit yesterday Gerrard was awful with the ball and when that happens in midfield we have a stinker

[Mattshark]

The passing bit yesterday Gerrard was awful with the ball and when that happens in midfield we have a stinker

To many long ball attempts, which I don't think helps our game in general.

[Arn]

The passing bit yesterday Gerrard was awful with the ball and when that happens in midfield we have a stinker

To many long ball attempts, which I don't think helps our game in general.

When Gerrard play in the position he now plays in then what he must do is to play the easy game, short passes instead of long ones almost all the time. That is what a DM do.

If the DM don't do that then the passing game fells apart. He is the one that build up the attacks, he is the one setting the tempo.

Gerrard is our playmaker but he has never been a very good playmaker. He want to do to many fancy things.

Gerrard is a fantastic player in the attacking half but not nearly as good in the defensive half.