Lucas

[red g]

I doubt that. All the problems Rafa had when he signed him points to that he planned to play him a lot. IIRC he set up a five day window when we and no one else could sign him. Like a marquee signing but not as expensive as they use to be. Rafa turned down at least one £10m+ for him a year or so ago.

just like he turned down 11m for Babel.......think it was more to do with the fact that he knew that money would not be r-invested in the team nothing to do with the players ability imo.

I am also not disputing he did not plan to play him a lot, but lets be honest his first couple of seasons were woeful............

[RedReet]

just like he turned down 11m for Babel.......think it was more to do with the fact that he knew that money would not be r-invested in the team nothing to do with the players ability imo.

I am also not disputing he did not plan to play him a lot, but lets be honest his first couple of seasons were woeful............

He was not woeful. What did you expect from a 20 year old kid, moving half way round the world leaving his friends and family behind and having to adapt to a completely new culture and new environment? Did you expect him to slot straight in, relegate Stevie G to the bench and take the Premiership by storm? FFS, other more high profile and experienced players have tried and failed miserably, (Veron, Crespo, Forlan springing to mind) and circumstances were much easier for them. Despite having to adapt to new surroundings, a completely different style of football, Lucas has also had to contend with grief from his own fans and unnecessary pressure from the media. Mascherano was **** at West ham when he felt unwanted, and it took Benitez to show complete faith in him and give him a run of games before we seen the best of him (and as DeeTheDog mentioned earlier, he was 23 then, the same age as Lucas now). After two years of being in and out of the team, Lucas was finally given the same opportunity last year, added consistency to his game and was one of our better players throughout the season. He seems to have a lot more confidence this year, is visibly improving every game (like young players do when given a chance), and genuinely looks like a good player. I don’t know what more realistically people could expect of him. Gerrard was singing his praises, Benitez also, yet MOTD supporters knew better and could see that he was ****.

It’s all well and good saying, I still think he was **** so people were right to criticise, but if those said people got there way, Lucas could have understandably asked for a transfer and we’d be looking at at least half a season with ****ing Poulsen in our midfield (shudders at the thought).

[red g]

He was not woeful. What did you expect from a 20 year old kid, moving half way round the world leaving his friends and family behind and having to adapt to a completely new culture and new environment? Did you expect him to slot straight in, relegate Stevie G to the bench and take the Premiership by storm? FFS, other more high profile and experienced players have tried and failed miserably, (Veron, Crespo, Forlan springing to mind) and circumstances were much easier for them. Despite having to adapt to new surroundings, a completely different style of football, Lucas has also had to contend with grief from his own fans and unnecessary pressure from the media. Mascherano was **** at West ham when he felt unwanted, and it took Benitez to show complete faith in him and give him a run of games before we seen the best of him (and as DeeTheDog mentioned earlier, he was 23 then, the same age as Lucas now). After two years of being in and out of the team, Lucas was finally given the same opportunity last year, added consistency to his game and was one of our better players throughout the season. He seems to have a lot more confidence this year, is visibly improving every game (like young players do when given a chance), and genuinely looks like a good player. I don’t know what more realistically people could expect of him. Gerrard was singing his praises, Benitez also, yet MOTD supporters knew better and could see that he was ****.

It’s all well and good saying, I still think he was **** so people were right to criticise, but if those said people got there way, Lucas could have understandably asked for a transfer and we’d be looking at at least half a season with ****ing Poulsen in our midfield (shudders at the thought).

I am not saying there were not reasons why he was woeful, but he was woeful imo.

And he wasnt bought as some ****ty arse no mark like Wenger buys for 4p and turns into a star, this was a kid who we were told was ready for the big time just won best player in brazil league and Rafa made out he was something special from the offing and remember reading comparisons with fabregas ( same age to)

Lucas has had to contend with grief from his own fans becuase he was rubbish......he isnt getting any grief any more is he? you know why? ........because he is playing well.

I love his attitude and glad he has stuck it out with us, he has shown maturity beyond his years and his belief in himself has shown through, but he wasn't very good to start and I believe after 100 odd games in a liverpool shirt we are finally seeing the real lucas.

[Rich]

And he wasnt bought as some ****ty arse no mark like Wenger buys for 4p and turns into a star

Wenger spends pretty large sums of very young players...

[Vermilion]

He was not woeful. What did you expect from a 20 year old kid, moving half way round the world leaving his friends and family behind and having to adapt to a completely new culture and new environment? Did you expect him to slot straight in, relegate Stevie G to the bench and take the Premiership by storm? FFS, other more high profile and experienced players have tried and failed miserably, (Veron, Crespo, Forlan springing to mind) and circumstances were much easier for them. Despite having to adapt to new surroundings, a completely different style of football, Lucas has also had to contend with grief from his own fans and unnecessary pressure from the media. Mascherano was **** at West ham when he felt unwanted, and it took Benitez to show complete faith in him and give him a run of games before we seen the best of him (and as DeeTheDog mentioned earlier, he was 23 then, the same age as Lucas now). After two years of being in and out of the team, Lucas was finally given the same opportunity last year, added consistency to his game and was one of our better players throughout the season. He seems to have a lot more confidence this year, is visibly improving every game (like young players do when given a chance), and genuinely looks like a good player. I don’t know what more realistically people could expect of him. Gerrard was singing his praises, Benitez also, yet MOTD supporters knew better and could see that he was ****.

It’s all well and good saying, I still think he was **** so people were right to criticise, but if those said people got there way, Lucas could have understandably asked for a transfer and we’d be looking at at least half a season with ****ing Poulsen in our midfield (shudders at the thought).

Great post. Agree totally, considering all the stick this lad gets off the media...always ridiculed in a way that's well over the top imo...and to top it off even his own fans don't stick up for him either in any great numbers.

He's done very well indeed imo, he's taken some ****, enough **** to see off many a man and shatter their confidence, so yes..well done Lucas.

[red g]

Wenger spends pretty large sums of very young players...

yes he does, but he has also bought some quality for peanuts ( not suggesting in any racialist way he bought them for actual peanuts)

[Rich]

yes he does, but he has also bought some quality for peanuts ( not suggesting in any racialist way he bought them for actual peanuts)

You daft racialist

(bananas)

la la la joke!

[rudedog]

I am not saying there were not reasons why he was woeful, but he was woeful imo.

And he wasnt bought as some ****ty arse no mark like Wenger buys for 4p and turns into a star, this was a kid who we were told was ready for the big time just won best player in brazil league and Rafa made out he was something special from the offing and remember reading comparisons with fabregas ( same age to)

Lucas has had to contend with grief from his own fans becuase he was rubbish......he isnt getting any grief any more is he? you know why? ........because he is playing well.

I love his attitude and glad he has stuck it out with us, he has shown maturity beyond his years and his belief in himself has shown through, but he wasn't very good to start and I believe after 100 odd games in a liverpool shirt we are finally seeing the real lucas.

I don't think he was woeful - indifferent maybe. A couple of bad performances early on and not being a flair player meant he became a convenient scapegoat whenever we didn't get a result.

[red g]

I don't think he was woeful - indifferent maybe. A couple of bad performances early on and not being a flair player meant he became a convenient scapegoat whenever we didn't get a result.

actually to be fair......now i have seen Poulsen I truly understandd the meaning of woeful

He was to lightweight and didn't impose himself( he was young i know) but in many games he wasnt very good......

[Arn]

I am not saying there were not reasons why he was woeful, but he was woeful imo.

And he wasnt bought as some ****ty arse no mark like Wenger buys for 4p and turns into a star, this was a kid who we were told was ready for the big time just won best player in brazil league and Rafa made out he was something special from the offing and remember reading comparisons with fabregas ( same age to)

Lucas has had to contend with grief from his own fans becuase he was rubbish......he isnt getting any grief any more is he? you know why? ........because he is playing well.

I love his attitude and glad he has stuck it out with us, he has shown maturity beyond his years and his belief in himself has shown through, but he wasn't very good to start and I believe after 100 odd games in a liverpool shirt we are finally seeing the real lucas.

It's because fans like you that so many young players don't get a chance. If we the fans understood better that it takes maybe two three years playing almost every game before a young player is good enough then they would get supported better and feel more confident when they play.

He wasn't rubbish. He played very good considering the points already mentioned, had to adapt to a new league etc...

I will always support a young player even if he play many games that isn't good enough. I will give a young player the time he needs before I criticize him even if it takes two three years.

Insua is another example. Slated after his first full season. That is really crap from us fans. Support the young players and they will get better quicker.

[red g]

It's because fans like you that so many young players don't get a chance. If we the fans understood better that it takes maybe two three years playing almost every game before a young player is good enough then they would get supported better and feel more confident when they play.

He wasn't rubbish. He played very good considering the points already mentioned, had to adapt to a new league etc...

I will always support a young player even if he play many games that isn't good enough. I will give a young player the time he needs before I criticize him even if it takes two three years.

Insua is another example. Slated after his first full season. That is really crap from us fans. Support the young players and they will get better quicker.

mate, i am fully behind our young players who are good enough. would love to see Pacheco, Shelvey and kelly all get some more game time. But as i mentioned we are a top 4 club and we simply cannot afford the luxury of playing a young player 100 odd times before he starts to do the business thats all, Same with Insua.....he should have been taken out of the firing line last year as after a decent start with a few assists he cost us week in, week out. You cant play a young player all the time if they are not performing hoping they will get better.

young players have to be playing from a high level from the start thats just the way it is with top clubs, you can forgive the odd **** up, just not week in, week out

[Arn]

mate, i am fully behind our young players who are good enough. would love to see Pacheco, Shelvey and kelly all get some more game time. But as i mentioned we are a top 4 club and we simply cannot afford the luxury of playing a young player 100 odd times before he starts to do the business thats all, Same with Insua.....he should have been taken out of the firing line last year as after a decent start with a few assists he cost us week in, week out. You cant play a young player all the time if they are not performing hoping they will get better.

young players have to be playing from a high level from the start thats just the way it is with top clubs, you can forgive the odd **** up, just not week in, week out

The problem last season was that Insua happened to be our only available left back more or less the whole season. The only other one we had was a 16 year old Academy player so he had to play every game even when shouldn't done that.

[red g]

The problem last season was that Insua happened to be our only available left back more or less the whole season. The only other one we had was a 16 year old Academy player so he had to play every game even when shouldn't done that.

could have got a loanee in Jan? but yes take your point.

[Arn]

could have got a loanee in Jan? but yes take your point.

We didn't had the money to bring in a loanee. We almost couldn't afford Maxi on a free because of his wages.

[RedReet]

I am not saying there were not reasons why he was woeful, but he was woeful imo.

And he wasnt bought as some ****ty arse no mark like Wenger buys for 4p and turns into a star, this was a kid who we were told was ready for the big time just won best player in brazil league and Rafa made out he was something special from the offing and remember reading comparisons with fabregas ( same age to)

Lucas has had to contend with grief from his own fans becuase he was rubbish......he isnt getting any grief any more is he? you know why? ........because he is playing well.

I love his attitude and glad he has stuck it out with us, he has shown maturity beyond his years and his belief in himself has shown through, but he wasn't very good to start and I believe after 100 odd games in a liverpool shirt we are finally seeing the real lucas.

Like Denilson whom we couldn’t afford to spend so much on someone so young? Similar age, both Brazilian, both cost about the same, but only one is one the fringes of the national squad. Denilson has also had an extra season to settle to life in England, so Lucas’ performances this year can be compared to those of Denilson last year.

Maybe we should have spent 4 times the amount and bought Anderson then. An attacking midfielder playing in a team that usually scores goals for fun, yet has only scored one goal in four years. Funny how he doesn’t get the ridicule that one of our own gets.

“Lucas has had to contend with grief from his own fans becuase he was rubbish......he isnt getting any grief any more is he? you know why? ........because he is playing well.”

That says it all really. Ha ha, greatest supporters in the world.

Great post. Agree totally, considering all the stick this lad gets off the media...always ridiculed in a way that's well over the top imo...and to top it off even his own fans don't stick up for him either in any great numbers.

He's done very well indeed imo, he's taken some ****, enough **** to see off many a man and shatter their confidence, so yes..well done Lucas.

Would be great to see him ram it down their throats. He’s still one of the first names that roll off the tongue when Rafa is getting blamed for Roy’s deficiencies, so how ironic would it be if he was one of the main reasons Roy actually kept his job.