Lucas

[Norbs]

He was everywhere today, tireless. He still isn't the sort of player who's going to have an army of followers but that's his best attribute. Solid, dependable and reliable

[BigChief]

The thing with Lucas is he needs to play alongside a dynamic, attack minded midfielder. Playing Lucas alongside Masch made our midfield look ****, as is the case when paired with Poulsen.

I was thinking (and blaming him for) that. But in the last few games, and a few odd occasions under Rafa, he demonstrated forward thinking ability only to be curtailed and look like a lost kitten with a ball at his feet.

I've now come to my latest conclusion he actually can pass as well as Miereles, etc, and better than Mascherano. Maybe the shackles have been released (Rafa's robots?), I even think he can do a good job in this mode next to a Poulsen for example.

[red g]

was wathching the game with a manc mate and he was like Lucas is Fletcher hard to disagree......**** to start with but played so much ends up being a pretty decent player

[RichC]

was wathching the game with a manc mate and he was like Lucas is Fletcher hard to disagree......**** to start with but played so much ends up being a pretty decent player

decent comparision that, thought Lucas today was superb and really got at them, let's hope he keeps this up!

[DannyMan2006]

World class performacd today. But world class players are concistant. He's set himself a level. He has to stay there.

[Buzzo]

The arrival of Poulsen and the fact he was nearly sold really seems to have brought some consistency to Lucas. he has raised his game again this season.
Keep up the good work Lucas.

[Craig_H]

Speedy response you bloody galah!

I responded within a few seconds. It's the time difference that's thrown you

[Craig_H]

Absolute monster of a performance from (ohhhhh.....) LUCAS LAY-VEE-YAH!

Seriously superb, utterly flawless. He totally bossed Chelsea.

The biggest test would be if Essien had been playing, but **** it, he wasnt and Lucas was. And Lucas owned their midfielders.

[barnes10]

delighted to see him overcome his doubters and stay mentally strong over the last couple of years.

what a performance. if he keeps this up then we wont miss mash one bit.

[kris90210]

Fair play, awesome performance by Lucas. A couple of years ago he was poor, but he's got better every year. I still think we need to get rid of Poulsen and bring in a decent defensive midfielder to compete with him, but there's no way he should be sold.

Well done Lucas

[the rev leeroy brown]

lucasd and ste in the middle looked so good at the weekend. IMO gererad should continue to stay there. not only does he look a far bigger threat and impose on games more but i beleive having him alongside lucas will benefit lucas. he seemed to raise his game again ( been doing it for few games now after decent last season ) i was a doubter but he's proving me wrong time and gain - keep it up.

[RedReet]

delighted to see him overcome his doubters and stay mentally strong over the last couple of years.

what a performance. if he keeps this up then we wont miss mash one bit.

Any team would miss Mascherano because he is a world class player, but at the minute the pairing of Meireles or Gerrard with Lucas has the potential to be a lot more effective than when Masch played alongside. It’s hard to say after only a few games, but I liked the look of Lucas and Meireles together, and yesterday him and Gerrard completely bossed the midfield.

I have to say I was very impressed with Gerrard yesterday. After stealing the show on Thursday, you wouldn’t blame him for wanting to keep his name in the headlines and look for the glory himself against Chelsea. Instead, he was very disciplined in midfield, held his position well and used the ball efficiently. He seemed a lot more confident in Lucas and didn’t appear to have that superiority complex that he sometimes has. It was an excellent performance by our captain and both him and Carra led by example.

Kudos to Roy also. I questioned his decision to line up as he had, but he got it spot on. Still has to go though, but if he can repeat performances like that and has someone else to do his shopping, he mightn’t just be a complete disaster until he does.

[kris90210]

Any team would miss Mascherano because he is a world class player, but at the minute the pairing of Meireles or Gerrard with Lucas has the potential to be a lot more effective than when Masch played alongside. It’s hard to say after only a few games, but I liked the look of Lucas and Meireles together, and yesterday him and Gerrard completely bossed the midfield.

I have to say I was very impressed with Gerrard yesterday. After stealing the show on Thursday, you wouldn’t blame him for wanting to keep his name in the headlines and look for the glory himself against Chelsea. Instead, he was very disciplined in midfield, held his position well and used the ball efficiently. He seemed a lot more confident in Lucas and didn’t appear to have that superiority complex that he sometimes has. It was an excellent performance by our captain and both him and Carra led by example.

Kudos to Roy also. I questioned his decision to line up as he had, but he got it spot on. Still has to go though, but if he can repeat performances like that and has someone else to do his shopping, he mightn’t just be a complete disaster until he does.

Well said, Cliff

[elrichio86]

Midfield three of Meireles - Lucas - Gerrard is our best option at the moment. Switch to a 4 3 3, with Kuyt and Maxi / Babel / Jova / Cole as the other forwards. It even has the benefit of playing everybody in their nominally best positions. Perhaps a bit narrow, but that doesn't seem to both Barca or Chelsea does it?

[Reece]

Midfield three of Meireles - Lucas - Gerrard is our best option at the moment. Switch to a 4 3 3, with Kuyt and Maxi / Babel / Jova / Cole as the other forwards. It even has the benefit of playing everybody in their nominally best positions. Perhaps a bit narrow, but that doesn't seem to both Barca or Chelsea does it?

Especially if you have good attacking full backs like Johnson and Konc.... like Johnson.