Lucas

[dww]

I absolutely, completely, 100% disagree with this

My feeling is that Hodgson a/ used to really rate Poulsen and b/ though the could work as a DM that came back as a CB allowing our fullbacks to run forwards. He's been hopeless in that regard too, although he is perhaps a better header of a ball defensively than Lucas.

Lucas this season has been a different class to Poulsen, I can't believe anyone would disagree. Even Roy seems to have come round to that way of thinking.

[Rudo]

in fairness i think poulsen, on paper and assuming he's settled, offers a bit more than lucas at this point.

however, lucas is on the up, poulsen is on his way down.

i do think poulsen is struggling to settle so far and is looking worse than he 'really is'. But, like konchesky v insua, the decision to replace lucas with him is utterly, utterly mad.

[JohnDoe]

Poulsen saved Lucas' career. He's turned him into the de facto option, instead of being the hated option. He's made him look great, when he hasn't significantly changed his game, at all. He's improved his decision making.

Still not good enough for a top side, but I guess we no longer are.

[Shaggy]

in fairness i think poulsen, on paper and assuming he's settled, offers a bit more than lucas at this point.

[red g]

So Rafa took the best player from South America at the time, improved him further, and he’s still ****? Is that what you are saying?

He probably wasn't the best player though was he ? Or are we saying roy Hodgson is the best manager due to his lma award?

[wiw]

Lucas is boss

[Craig_H]

So some muppet on TV says that he's an un-Brazilian Brazilian and that makes it true does it? And if you don't think he has flair, craft and skill, then I don't think you've ever seen him play. As he has got older he is now more or less a regular in the Brazil squad and his appearances for them are increasing as time goes on, not decreasing, which one would expect if he had no flair, craft or skill or wasn't improving as a player. But then what does the Brazil manager know compared with an Internet warrior with an agenda who takes as gospel the blathering of TV pundits?

Whilst i agree with you in the most part, i'm curious as to just how his number of appearances for Brazil would 'decrease'

Does he have one knocked off his tally each time he's dropped?

[DeeTheDog]

Still not good enough for a top side, but I guess we no longer are.

Absolute garbage, are Brazil no longer classed a top side? Lucas has one of our most consistent performers for two seasons. Apart from adopting to a new country, a new position and a new team, he has to overcome the fans prejudice who labelled him not good enough as he isn't Alonso or Mascherano, yet at 23 he is only now of a similar age to both of those players when they joined.

It must be tough that you need to perform near faultless, to avoid the howls of derision that would accompany any minor error, yet other players seem beyond critique, no matter what type of performance they turn in. The pressure on young shoulders, must be immense and it would be understandable that you might take the easy option.

Perhaps with Poulsen being public enemy number one, this has taken the extra pressure of Lucas and this coupled with more maturity, means we will see a more adventurous player who lives up to his early career hype

[BillobShaisley]

Robbie Savage is an just there for comedic value, and i think Brazilian midfielders have changed over recent years, especially with the likes of Dunga in charge, when people hear "Brazil Football" they associate flair,craft,skill etc which are none of the attributes Lucas has. I've also heard many saying he is the most "UnBrazilan Brazilian they've seen" , someone said it very recently too on tv.

Brazil haven't won World Cup since 2002 because the European teams are better defensively and more solid. Dunga has tried to change Brazil and with likes of Gilberto,Melo etc tried to put some steel and get a solid work ethic into them, hasn't worked just yet but the way Brazil play the game of football has dramatically changed.

P.S. I just realized i went on a weird rant there, meh!

Parreira made that change before 1994 with Dunga on the pitch, it's a cliche'd argument which hasn't held water for more than a decade. Brazil's recent problems have oddly been up front.

[little dave hedgehog]

He probably wasn't the best player though was he ? Or are we saying roy Hodgson is the best manager due to his lma award?

i don't think the brazilian ballon d'or is the kind of thing they give to a retard who can still run a bit if you lift him out of his chair.

the lma, on the other hand....

[danperkins]

Parreira made that change before 1994 with Dunga on the pitch, it's a cliche'd argument which hasn't held water for more than a decade. Brazil's recent problems have oddly been up front.

fair points mate

[fred_plasticine]

Lucas is boss

lucas is the epitome of the rafa player. defensively sound, solid, hard working, no nonsense, no risks.
but he's just that. in my eyes he lacks the drive, the tempo, the vision, the creativity and the passing range to boss any midfield.
i can't see him being a first teamer in the years to come.

[danperkins]

lucas is the epitome of the rafa player. defensively sound, solid, hard working, no nonsense, no risks.
but he's just that. in my eyes he lacks the drive, the tempo, the vision, the creativity and the passing range to boss any midfield.
i can't see him being a first teamer in the years to come.

spot on

[Mostar]

While Lucas is playing pretty well, and has done for almost a year, he is ****e

He is not ****e but imo he is not good enough to be a regular starter.

I would keep him as he will continue to develop and certainly can be a good back-up.

We need more quality for DM/CM role and I hope we go and buy a top notch player.

[danperkins]

He is not ****e but imo he is not good enough to be a regular starter.

I would keep him as he will continue to develop and certainly can be a good back-up.

We need more quality for DM role and I hope we go and buy a top notch player.

squad player at best