Lucas

[The Birdman]

Lucas is miles from being world class, now is just the right time for him to go, he doesn't fit with the pressing style that it appears we're playing this season.
If we wanted a body, someone to fill in gaps and protect then he could still do a job but with the 2 higher midfielders pressing the gap between them and an immobile Lucas as the DM would be too big and we'd get exposed.

I've always been a fan of his but unfortunately he can be filed with Martin Skrtel as being not good enough for too long.
The knee injury finished him, he wasn't anywhere near as mobile or athletic after that.

[BigChief]

I don't think there's a single LFC fan that doesn't love Lucas anymore. I was certainly anti-Lucas for the first 3 years of his career with us. But over the last two seasons he's shown to be world class in that DM position.

But baitman has nailed it, basically he's too injury prone to be considered a player worth discussing. Much like Sturridge. To fit him in involves changing the manager's own philosophy (4-3-3) which in turn involves changing at least 4 or 5 other players' playing styles, and the requisite training ground work involved. Which is all fine and we did it last season....only to see Lucas get injured after 5 or 6 world class games.

The club has to move on, much as we're trying to do without Sturridge.

[baitman]

How's he been treated like ****?

He's had some bad injuries and the manager doesn't currently see him in the squad so is not playing him. It's not as if he's not being paid.

There was swarms of people on here who wanted rid 2-3 years ago.

i think the lack of love for lucas [on and off] is more about his lack of fitness, being in and out the team and not being able to dominate that central position.
brendan insisting on playing gerrard back there didnt help lucas whatsoever.

[RedReet]

Also as a side note is Lucas our longest serving current player, I think that he was already here when we signed Skrtel and I can't think of anyone who has been here longer than those two.

It is such a shame too, especially with the amount of **** he’s had to deal with when here. He was unfortunate to join when we had ‘the best midfield in the world’, so it was always going to be hard for him to breakthrough, especially considering those ahead of him were so young. He then had to come back from being booed by fans and criticised by journalists, which he did and finally established himself in the first team squad, but Rafa was sacked. He then had the indignity of trying to be sold by Hodgson to make room for Poulsen, but again he came back and proved his worth. Finally when he’s starting to win the public over, he gets injured and hasn’t looked the same since. When Rodgers came in, things were looking up, he said Lucas would play a key role when fit and had him out scouting during his rehabilitation, but again got injured shortly after he came back and despite a few mini renaissances, he’s been in and out of the team and linked with moves away in every window.

Probably best he does just call it a day.

[Exiled_red]

It's wasn't a 4 game run, Lucas had been playing excellent football for about 18 months, but for whatever reason it just took those few games for a certain section of fans to start coming round to the idea that he was a good player.

Lucas was already unpopular here, but when Alonso left and Lucas because a first team regular, he was unfairly judged by Alonso’s standards, despite having a very consistent season. When Mascherano left the next season and Lucas became the main defensive midfielder rather than the playmaker, that’s when he really started to shine and was excellent for 90% of the games leading up to that injury, despite playing for Hodgson for a good majority of that.


Would love to see him at Juve.

Also as a side note is Lucas our longest serving current player, I think that he was already here when we signed Skrtel and I can't think of anyone who has been here longer than those two.

[RedReet]

I personally think for the majority of Lucas' time at Liverpool he has been average, not poor not great, just average. But that 4 game run just before he had his first big injury in the Chelsea game I thought he was approaching world class with 4 stunning performances in a row . He absolutely dominates Yaya Touré in the City game. A crying shame about the injury. So if you are being harsh you could call that small sample of brilliance a purple patch because the rest of the time Lucas is giving you no more than 7/10.

It's wasn't a 4 game run, Lucas had been playing excellent football for about 18 months, but for whatever reason it just took those few games for a certain section of fans to start coming round to the idea that he was a good player.

Lucas was already unpopular here, but when Alonso left and Lucas because a first team regular, he was unfairly judged by Alonso’s standards, despite having a very consistent season. When Mascherano left the next season and Lucas became the main defensive midfielder rather than the playmaker, that’s when he really started to shine and was excellent for 90% of the games leading up to that injury, despite playing for Hodgson for a good majority of that.

Would love to see him at Juve.

[Rich]

If he has to go I hope he goes somewhere like Juve and gets some titles under his belt.

Obviously we don't need any high quality defensive midfielders at our club, they aren't needed in our gung-ho attitude.

[dww]

@ViktorFagerLFC: Lucas Leiva is a target for Juventus. #LFC (Paul Joyce)
@ViktorFagerLFC: Inter Milan also remain interested Lucas Leiva. (Paul Joyce) #LFC

If he has to go I hope he goes somewhere like Juve and gets some titles under his belt.

[Scratch]

Got to agree, I'm one of Lucas' biggest fans, but in no way has he been treated like ****, he's just not seen as a vital piece in how Rodgers wants to set up his team, but is not willing to be a "bit part" player. If we wanted to treat him like ****, we'd tell him he's not going anywhere, and reject any offers that come in. But we've obviously told him the score, and if he choses to leave we won't stand in his way.

[Boogs]

How's he been treated like ****?

He's had some bad injuries and the manager doesn't currently see him in the squad so is not playing him. It's not as if he's not being paid.

There was swarms of people on here who wanted rid 2-3 years ago.

[Slinky Skills]

Do you know what, he's one of the few players I could actually give a **** about it and he's been treated like **** here which is wrong.

I hope he finds a decent club whereby he can see out the remainder of his career as he's clearly a well liked individual and still has a lot to offer.

Wish him the best of luck.

[spider-neil]

I personally think for the majority of Lucas' time at Liverpool he has been average, not poor not great, just average. But that 4 game run just before he had his first big injury in the Chelsea game I thought he was approaching world class with 4 stunning performances in a row . He absolutely dominates Yaya Touré in the City game. A crying shame about the injury. So if you are being harsh you could call that small sample of brilliance a purple patch because the rest of the time Lucas is giving you no more than 7/10.

[TheElephantMan]

@ViktorFagerLFC: Lucas Leiva is a target for Juventus. #LFC (Paul Joyce)
@ViktorFagerLFC: Inter Milan also remain interested Lucas Leiva. (Paul Joyce) #LFC

I'm sure they'd rather buy Joe Allen if he was available.

[Bender]

@ViktorFagerLFC: Lucas Leiva is a target for Juventus. #LFC (Paul Joyce)
@ViktorFagerLFC: Inter Milan also remain interested Lucas Leiva. (Paul Joyce) #LFC

[Corndog]

This is so difficult to do imo

For me you have to have a dedicated / nominated holding player. Allowing too much fluidity will no doubt in my mind create an issue

We will end up in a position where there is doubt as to who should fill in, when you have that level of doubt it leads to disaster

As I said previously I cant think of ANY side that operates with the midfield just filling in adhoc. Virtually ALL sides play with a nominated / dedicated holding / sitting / deeper player

You are right, it's very hard to do, that's why I think most teams don't, it requires great intelligence. Ajax is probably still the best example of a team that can have players all over the pitch switching and covering each other constantly.

But if it can be done, it's an advantage. Players will still have roles but without being so strictly pigeon-holed into them.