Lucas

[Fierce]

Obviously this will never happen!

Let us pray

(although, is your first word intentional? )

[redmike65]

If we do that it is vital that we have CBs who can move the ball out of defence. Sakho would be vital. Playing a diamond with a defensive rather than ball playing deep midfielder means that you have to have other ways of quickly instigating attacks.

Howe about this (if Liverpool had a couple of dead rubbers in the group stage of the EL I'd try this as the manager)

-------Gomez---Skrtel----Sahko

----------------Lucas

----------Can--------Moreno

---------------Milner

-------Ings--Sturridge--Coutinho (all floating like butterflies)

You'd have two swift ball-playing centre backs on either flank, a shield in Lucas with Can able to rampage forward while Moreno could get both up and down. Milner would be the link man (and first line of defence) with Coutinho feeding Ings and Sturridge.

Obviously this will never happen!

[dww]

I agree. If i was brendan, then i would be looking to play the diamond formation with Lucas sitting.

Against ****ty teams, or in the unlikely event that we were 2 or 3 goals up with half an hour to play, that is when i would look to play Emre Can - or even Milner - in there to learn the position and get experience of playing there.

With Lucas sitting, Hendo and Milner in the middle would allow the full backs to bomb on as well because they both have loads of energy to provide cover. This formation would also allow us to play 2 up front.

When we are then at home to the smaller teams, this is when i would like to see Lucas on the bench, one of Milner or Hendo sitting and Coutinho in the middle. This would allow Firmino to play in his preferred position behind the strikers - and would also allow Couts to play deeper and have a lot of targets to aim for further up the pitch.

These were the tactics that made us the most exciting team in the country. I can't see why the **** the manager wouldnt look to replicate them....

If we do that it is vital that we have CBs who can move the ball out of defence. Sakho would be vital. Playing a diamond with a defensive rather than ball playing deep midfielder means that you have to have other ways of quickly instigating attacks.

[baitman]

...When we are then at home to the smaller teams, this is when i would like to see Lucas on the bench, one of Milner or Hendo sitting and Coutinho in the middle. This would allow Firmino to play in his preferred position behind the strikers - and would also allow Couts to play deeper and have a lot of targets to aim for further up the pitch.

its against the lesser teams that we are often trying to break teams down that are defending in numbers, we push forward but are then suckers to a quick counter attack.
without lucas or another? disciplined DM we are often caught with our pants down.

little point putting teams under the cosh for 85 minutes and having 75% possession to see it all flushed away to two late breakaway goals.

[frank the tank]

Don't believe that opinion - The thing here is though, other teams (ie. the likes of villa, west brom, palace - not necessarily 'top tier'), when looking at our weaknesses (which is apparent these past two seasons), if they got their game head on, will look to exploit it more often than not (ie. hit us on the counter - if we over load with fwd attacking players)... hence looks like a sitting DM 'starting' is going to be required in the foreseeable future - Can is not ready from a positional and discipline to hold the line sense - Lucas is the most logical

I agree. If i was brendan, then i would be looking to play the diamond formation with Lucas sitting.

Against ****ty teams, or in the unlikely event that we were 2 or 3 goals up with half an hour to play, that is when i would look to play Emre Can - or even Milner - in there to learn the position and get experience of playing there.

With Lucas sitting, Hendo and Milner in the middle would allow the full backs to bomb on as well because they both have loads of energy to provide cover. This formation would also allow us to play 2 up front.

When we are then at home to the smaller teams, this is when i would like to see Lucas on the bench, one of Milner or Hendo sitting and Coutinho in the middle. This would allow Firmino to play in his preferred position behind the strikers - and would also allow Couts to play deeper and have a lot of targets to aim for further up the pitch.

These were the tactics that made us the most exciting team in the country. I can't see why the **** the manager wouldnt look to replicate them....

[Myo]

The big loser here will be Lucas, as I believe Can will take up the third midfield slot with Lucas being used as a sub or starting the games where a sitting DM is required (ie away to Arsenal etc).

Don't believe that opinion - The thing here is though, other teams (ie. the likes of villa, west brom, palace - not necessarily 'top tier'), when looking at our weaknesses (which is apparent these past two seasons), if they got their game head on, will look to exploit it more often than not (ie. hit us on the counter - if we over load with fwd attacking players)... hence looks like a sitting DM 'starting' is going to be required in the foreseeable future - Can is not ready from a positional and discipline to hold the line sense - Lucas is the most logical

[Scratch]

that's a very good point actually.

Why is that an issue? Milner and Henderson will, when fit, play most matches. If one is rested, the other will most likely play. It was never a problem when Gerrard was captain and Hendo was vice, so why is it an issue now?

The big loser here will be Lucas, as I believe Can will take up the third midfield slot with Lucas being used as a sub or starting the games where a sitting DM is required (ie away to Arsenal etc).

[Fierce]

The club, well Rodgers made a rod for his back selecting Hendo for Captain and then Milner for Vice as they occupy the same part of the pitch for the most part and do essentially the same job but now both are basically undroppable which makes life needlessly tricky for Lucas and Can in particular.

I think we gave certain assurances to Milner when he signed, to add to the above

Totally agree that Lucas should have been made VC, but equally that it was never gonna happen given we were going to allow him to leave

Which, is/was/would've been yet another completely ****ing stupid decision

[danperkins]

The club, well Rodgers made a rod for his back selecting Hendo for Captain and then Milner for Vice as they occupy the same part of the pitch for the most part and do essentially the same job but now both are basically undroppable which makes life needlessly tricky for Lucas and Can in particular.

that's a very good point actually.

[redmike65]

The club, well Rodgers made a rod for his back selecting Hendo for Captain and then Milner for Vice as they occupy the same part of the pitch for the most part and do essentially the same job but now both are basically undroppable which makes life needlessly tricky for Lucas and Can in particular.

[Scratch]

Big difference between "binning" someone and allowing them to leave as they were unlikely to get game time. Explaining that he was seen as cover and not standing in his way if he wanted to move was respectful on the clubs part.

It's only injuries to Henderson that have given Lucas his chance, but I still think when Henderson returns, Lucas may get phased out.

[Buzzo]

Yeah he deserves a higher profile within the club so I'd have made him VC also.

I guess the fact that we were planning on binning him made that fairly unlikely!

[Vermilion]

Should have been made VC imo. No doubt in my mind. (even a case to be made for him being made Captain before Hendo, as Hendo's time would have come eventually anyway. Playing time for Lucas of late would though; have made that decision impossible. )

[Buzzo]

Ignoring the fact he didn't make the squad earlier in the season and we nearly sold him...

Most completed passes in the Premier League this weekend

L. Leiva (100)
S. Cazorla (70)
M. Sakho (67)
P. Coutinho (65)
M. Schneiderlin (65)

Most tackles won in the Premier League this weekend:

Lucas Leiva (8)
Kevin Mbabu (8)
Nemanja Matic (5)

[DannyMan2006]

Just heard he played last night even though his grandmother died prior to kick off? YNWA LUCAS

Top class attitude.