Lucas

[Cormack74]

Gerrard and Johnson going, Agger, Reina and Suarez gone, Lucas next up. Agreed with most of those decisions in isolation but the cynic in me believes collectively it's possible there's a cost cutting element to it all.

Or (as I heard Andy Gray suggest last week - yeah I Know) Brendan is far less comfortable handling older established players and finds it much easier dealing with the up and coming ones.

(Incidentally that's not to say that this strategy doesn't save money too which it clearly does.)

[danperkins]

You're entitled to disagree but if that's your reason you're blinkered to say the least.
And Lucas has only got a look in because Gerrard has offered little to nothing all season despite the entire side being shuffled around in an attempt to accommodate him.

Rodgers persisted with stevie in that defensive position for way too long and we were getting cut to ribbons. We were crying out for a specialist DM and we had one... Rodgers was just choosing not to use him.

We a big mistake and it was totally negating henderson too. We have looked so much better since lucas has come back into the side. Would be a really ridiculous to sell Lucas just when things are more balanced and cohesive.

[DannyMan2006]

You're entitled to disagree but if that's your reason you're blinkered to say the least.
And Lucas has only got a look in because Gerrard has offered little to nothing all season despite the entire side being shuffled around in an attempt to accommodate him.

Which of the points I make are you saying is blinkered?

[Fosterbloke]

Does Lucas *want* to leave?

[DannyMan2006]

Does Lucas *want* to leave?

The story goes that we will look to improve on him in the summer. As such, Lucas wants to make a move whilst he has a chance of joining a club like Inter. They need a DM, but there's a chance they will make a move for someone else if they can't get him now.

[fidget]

Which of the points I make are you saying is blinkered?

About Gerrard's "quarterback" role being the reason we "kicked on" last season.

[DannyMan2006]

About Gerrard's "quarterback" role being the reason we "kicked on" last season.

Well we went on a long unbeaten run once he was settled there scoring bucket loads. Can't see what's up for debate.

[G]

Or (as I heard Andy Gray suggest last week - yeah I Know) Brendan is far less comfortable handling older established players and finds it much easier dealing with the up and coming ones.

(Incidentally that's not to say that this strategy doesn't save money too which it clearly does.)

Possibly an element of that too, he's a young man himself so some of those closer to his own age, established players who've been there and done it might be a bit more awkward to handle if they don't agree with his way of doing things. He does appear to try to be their mate a bit too much for me too but thats another story.

[danperkins]

Well we went on a long unbeaten run once he was settled there scoring bucket loads. Can't see what's up for debate.

Gerrards quarter back role was not the reason why we scored bucket loads, but was part of the reason why we were so open defensively.

[DannyMan2006]

Well we went on a long unbeaten run once he was settled there scoring bucket loads. Can't see what's up for debate.

In fact, I should add that the two games that ended our title challenge, Palace & Chelsea were ones Lucas started, playing nearly an hour v the Chavs and the full game v Palace. Both as a result of Henderson being banned likely.

Gerrard was DM in both mind.

[DannyMan2006]

Gerrards quarter back role was not the reason why we scored bucket loads, but was part of the reason why we were so open defensively.

I'll put it in simpler terms.

If Lucas starts last season instead of Gerrard, do you think we would have been better & thus won the league?

Taking into account that Sterling behind the SAS was so effective. Taking into account the diamond formation was what took us so close & taking into account Gerrard was incapable of playing in any other role than behind the strikers or the DM position due to energy levels.

Also take away all Gerrard's goals & all his assists. And take away the fact his balls over the top with Sturridge & Sterling stretching the play kept teams more open.

[Chris]

Well we went on a long unbeaten run once he was settled there scoring bucket loads. Can't see what's up for debate.

Yep, he was one of the most productive midfielders in world football last season, thats a fact. Sad to see history being re-written to render him some bum that was carried by the rest but there ya go.

[DannyMan2006]

Yep, he was one of the most productive midfielders in world football last season, thats a fact. Sad to see history being re-written to render him some bum that was carried by the rest but there ya go.

Indeed.

What isn't up for debate is that he was very effective for us in that position last season.

Also what can't be argued is that he put a lot of extra strain on the defence. Because he couldn't cover so well, we needed the defence to be almost perfect, which they hardly ever were. But you have to look at what best gets results and because we had SAS, playing Gerrard there worked.

Of course, when we had neither this season we got ruined. That is when he became a luxury we couldn't afford in that DM position.

[frank the tank]

Well we went on a long unbeaten run once he was settled there scoring bucket loads. Can't see what's up for debate.

I think what is up for debate is if the fact we were scoring loads was a direct correlation to Gerrard playing DM. In reality, it wasn't the only factor - some would argue that the form of Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling and Coutinho had something to do with it as well!!! We also conceded a lot of goals too......so maybe our defensive midfielder at the time had something to do with that....

Gerrard missed 5/6 games in the middle of last season. We lost 2 of those games but not because we were missing Gerrard - it's because Lee Mason and Howard Webb both ****ed us in the ass with no lube in the space of 3 days at the Ethiad and Stamford Bridge.....

For me the best performance of last season was the 5-0 away win at Spurs. The midfield of Lucas, Allen and Henderson that day were like a machine.

I love Gerrard. But for me, he is not a defensive midfielder. Never was.

[DannyMan2006]

I think what is up for debate is if the fact we were scoring loads was a direct correlation to Gerrard playing DM. In reality, it wasn't the only factor - some would argue that the form of Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling and Coutinho had something to do with it as well!!! We also conceded a lot of goals too......so maybe our defensive midfielder at the time had something to do with that....

Gerrard missed 5/6 games in the middle of last season. We lost 2 of those games but not because we were missing Gerrard - it's because Lee Mason and Howard Webb both ****ed us in the ass with no lube in the space of 3 days at the Ethiad and Stamford Bridge.....

For me the best performance of last season was the 5-0 away win at Spurs. The midfield of Lucas, Allen and Henderson that day were like a machine.

I love Gerrard. But for me, he is not a defensive midfielder. Never was.

We were great against Spurs without Gerrard. That was a 433 as opposed to the diamond and it was great to see.

But I'll ask you same question as above. Would Lucas in DM in the diamond have made us a better team? And would we have therefore won the league? I think not.

The 433 was without both Sturridge & Gerrard. But I bet many wouldn't say we should have left out Sturridge too.