Lucas

[DannyMan2006]

I'm talking about the DM role in our team and players from any club to take that role.
Who is good enough,who is quite near and who is not that near but still not nowhere near?
All of whom would have to be clearly better than Lucas who according to you is nowhere near good enough.

That second sentence is a bit bizarre. Are you asking who do I think is a better DM than Lucas in world football?

[fidget]

That second sentence is a bit bizarre. Are you asking who do I think is a better DM than Lucas in world football?

No - I'm merely illustrating the ridiculousness of your post about Lucas being nowhere near good enough despite his performances,stats and contribution to our huge improvement pointing to the contrary.
According to you he's not even quite near so I'm curious as to who is.
Our form since his return is a good as any in the league despite us having no first choice striker.Must just be a coincidence that our shaky defence and paperweight midfield are keeping clean sheets.

[baitman]

how strange that lucas looked so poor when played alongside gerrard.

many have mentioned how the 'pairing' didnt work, mainly due to gerrard.

now the captain has been out or further forward lucas can take control without the worry of not having to wipe stevies nose for him.

is this another example of how an injury is preventing rodgers from selecting the wrong player and we then end up [by default] with a better team now he cant pick from gerrard, lovren, allen, johnson.

[fidget]

how strange that lucas looked so poor when played alongside gerrard.

many have mentioned how the 'pairing' didnt work, mainly due to gerrard.

now the captain has been out or further forward lucas can take control without the worry of not having to wipe stevies nose for him.

is this another example of how an injury is preventing rodgers from selecting the wrong player and we then end up [by default] with a better team now he cant pick from gerrard, lovren, allen, johnson.

[DannyMan2006]

No - I'm merely illustrating the ridiculousness of your post about Lucas being nowhere near good enough despite his performances,stats and contribution to our huge improvement pointing to the contrary.
According to you he's not even quite near so I'm curious as to who is.
Our form since his return is a good as any in the league despite us having no first choice striker.Must just be a coincidence that our shaky defence and paperweight midfield are keeping clean sheets.

We've improved for a number of reasons, having a mobile front man and a DM in midfield are two of them. Despite us winning games with Sterling & Borini up top I don't think either of them are good enough to be a striker long term for us, but they're certainly the best option in the squad.

I think Henderson is the best midfielder in our squad, mostly down to the fact he can help make that extra man in attack and still have the energy to get back. I think because we have a front three as well as two attacking full backs, and a CM who can help the attack, we have enough options going forward and as such the only essential requirement from the other CM is the ability to protect.

Of the midfielders we have left Lucas is the best served to help protect. We don't need a playmaker like Gerrard, and we need protection more than energy so Allen isn't the best suited either. Can is excelling at CB so I wouldn't want to take him out of there.

I don't think Lucas is a bad player. I like him. He's a good player. But if you want to challenge the best then good isn't anywhere near being enough. I feel Lucas lacks that drive and power that would make him a fantastic player. The Lucas before the injury is the level of player I want at this club as an automatic starter.

You seem to be going off as though this Lucas is good enough for a club challenging for titles at home and abroad. He'd be an able squad member but he's just not good enough to build a team around. Come the summer his position is one I would definitely look to improve. A younger Lucas pre injury I'd definitely be happy with.

I take it after all this going back and forth you feel he is good enough to plan a team around and you'd be happy to have him as an automatic starter next season?

[RichC]

Why does he need to be planned around - he has a very specific role in the side it's to break down attacks from the opposition a water carry type role. There are very few "World Class" players in his position these days and the likes of the Mancs won title after title with little to no cover in midfield.

Essentially Lucas is just fine in that role for us and could be good enough in a side challenging for honours depending on how you set the rest of the side up.

[danperkins]

Lucas is exactly what we need, he's got better and better with each. Vital player in our setup and should be the first name on the team sheet.

[DannyMan2006]

Why does he need to be planned around - he has a very specific role in the side it's to break down attacks from the opposition a water carry type role. There are very few "World Class" players in his position these days and the likes of the Mancs won title after title with little to no cover in midfield.

Essentially Lucas is just fine in that role for us and could be good enough in a side challenging for honours depending on how you set the rest of the side up.

We won a European Cup with Djimi Traore playing the full game. Clearly you don't need stars everywhere. But you do need some. Especially if you want to win a league.

Maybe you and Fidget are happy enough with him and would concentrate on strengthening elsewhere. I see that as a key position I think we could improve upon.

[RichC]

Ok who would you improve him with then? It is an important position but saying we should strengthen in that area is one thing doing it is another.

I imagine we'll be limited again with what we have to spend this summer.

[DannyMan2006]

Lucas is exactly what we need, he's got better and better with each. Vital player in our setup and should be the first name on the team sheet.

So looking to next season, you'd see him as a vital first team starter for us and you wouldn't be concerned in improving upon him?

[Chazza]

Can must be getting lined up to take that position long term.

[DannyMan2006]

Ok who would you improve him with then? It is an important position but saying we should strengthen in that area is one thing doing it is another.

I imagine we'll be limited again with what we have to spend this summer.

Well if we have zero money to spend we couldn't improve upon him.

Ill clarify what I mean. I think if we want to challenge for top honours we need to replace him. If we can't, we won't challenge IMO as this squad of players isn't good enough. We all know this squad isn't good enough. It's matter of opinion of where we see a weak link and would look to improve.

I don't know how much we have to spend. I don't know who'd join us. Being in the CL would help but I don't know if we will make top 4. As an example I'd love Sami Khedira or Lars Bender but no idea if either would come. I'd love Schniderlin at So'ton but again no idea if he's attainable.

[DannyMan2006]

Can must be getting lined up to take that position long term.

You have a very good point there.

[RichC]

Can must be getting lined up to take that position long term.

I think you're right, seems the obvious candidate for the long term.

[RichC]

Well if we have zero money to spend we couldn't improve upon him.

Ill clarify what I mean. I think if we want to challenge for top honours we need to replace him. If we can't, we won't challenge IMO as this squad of players isn't good enough. We all know this squad isn't good enough. It's matter of opinion of where we see a weak link and would look to improve.

I don't know how much we have to spend. I don't know who'd join us. Being in the CL would help but I don't know if we will make top 4. As an example I'd love Sami Khedira or Lars Bender but no idea if either would come. I'd love Schniderlin at So'ton but again no idea if he's attainable.

That's the thing though those types of players would be brilliant but they'll be very difficult to obtain and even more so if we don't make the top 4 this season.

I actually don't think the squad is a million miles short there are certain areas that certainly need improving (right back and goal keeper) spring to mind straight away but it's on the whole a young squad with a fair amount of potential whether they convert that potential is another matter.

Lucas for one thing brings experience to a side that with Gerrard leaving (and most likely Johnson) leaves us with a really limited number of players that have been with us for any real time.

We need to find a "talisman" type of player to come in and take the Gerrard mantel which I don't think a player in the Lucas position will give us.