Lucas

[danperkins]

IMO it is arrogant of us to think that we can go this season without a dedicated DM in the squad. Managers that are tactically better than Hughes will find ways in and around those 3.

In saying that, if that is the way to go, I fully expect a huge improvement in performance and fitness from Can,Milner & Henderson. I get there will be a hell of alot of energy and pressing in there. I just don't like the fact the none of these lads are defensive midfielders & all of these lads are very naturally progressive and can cause opposition problems when going forward. I'm saying it's square pegs in round holes again like last season but I do fear it stifles all 3 players natural game & that maybe we could benefit more in a setup where we play to their strengths.

[Buzzo]

Strange decision indeed, one that doesn't appear to be based on any evidence seen in watching us play. If we are planning on playing with attacking full backs (as discussed recently) we need to have a holding midfielder. When we turned the corner briefly last season (potentially rescuing Brendans career) it was his recognition of this fact and the reintroduction of Lucas that built the platform for us to stabilise.

You need someone to cover on the occasions the full backs are caught out of position. All teams who have successfully played with attacking fullbacks have had sitting midfielders. Brazil with Cafu and Carlos played with 2. César Sampaio and Dunga. Barca always have Busquets or Mascherano when he was playing in midfield for them.

I reckon teams with a half decent midfield will be able to pick us off at will if we play with Can - Hendo - Milner in the middle.

We shall see.

And if, 'IF' we could sign absolutely 'anyone' Mascherano would be the player who could totally transform our starting XI.

[peekay]

Baffling that we are looking to sell Lucas before Allen. I don't think it is because Lucas is less willing to sit on the bench compared to Allen. But not making the 18 when fit is a whole new deal. I can understand Lucas wanting to leave when he is not even making the squad.

I also highly doubt Allen would have missed out on making the squad if he was fit.

[Lecter]

Barca need one, the rest are midgets and spend the whole game in the opposition penalty box....even the full backs.

I can't, i don't watch that much football these days.

But my point is that one of the three will sit whilst the other two maraud forward and drive us on. But all three have the ability to play whatever role they're required to. I also think all three have the intelligence to realise this and be aware where the other two are. Which is key.

I get what you are saying and the theory behind it

I think in practice its extremely difficult to achieve which is probably why few if any other clubs play this way

[The_weatherman]

Allen is the epitome on average, he's just there. We wouldn't miss him in the slightest if he was gone. It took Rodgers a long time last season to get Lovren out of the side & get Gerrard out of the DM position.... at that stage we were way behind and the damage was done.

Lucas came in and was outstanding & Sakho came in and was fantastic... not a coincidence we looked more solid and balanced side. Rodgers is persistent i'll give him that.

Sakho and Lucas are so obvious choices to me, can't fathom it really.

[Chris]

Defo the most overrated and underrated player we've ever had!! He's got Kenny like status on RAWK and is hailed as the reason for our run last season and the evil scumbag Allen responsible for every defeat even though it was Allen in the team for our hardest games during that run and not Lucas. While others elsewhere seem to think he's Poulsen bad. So strange!

[danperkins]

Allen is the epitome on average, he's just there. We wouldn't miss him in the slightest if he was gone. It took Rodgers a long time last season to get Lovren out of the side & get Gerrard out of the DM position.... at that stage we were way behind and the damage was done.

Lucas came in and was outstanding & Sakho came in and was fantastic... not a coincidence we looked more solid and balanced side. Rodgers is persistent i'll give him that.

[baronvonskidmark]

Joe Allen seems to get injured just as much as Lucas tbh - he is injured now after all - and when he is injured I pretty much forget that we have him at all. I can't really remember a game thinking 'we need to tighten up, bring on Allen' or 'we need to be more creative, bring on Allen'. If he was fit, he could be sold tomorrow with no impact on our squad.

We need to have some kind of DM. Perhaps Can can do it. Lucas can be improved upon, without doubt. But he is the best we have at what he does, he gets the club and is used to the league. It seems almost whimsical to leave it until the season starts to make this kind of decision.

[Harv]

Can you name 1 other side that has such interchangeable players because I'm struggling to name one

Even Barcelona play with a sitting player

Barca need one, the rest are midgets and spend the whole game in the opposition penalty box....even the full backs.

I can't, i don't watch that much football these days.

But my point is that one of the three will sit whilst the other two maraud forward and drive us on. But all three have the ability to play whatever role they're required to. I also think all three have the intelligence to realise this and be aware where the other two are. Which is key.

[Lecter]

I think all three is the perfect storm. They're all intelligent enough to know who's gone forward and if they should sit. Totally interchangeable. I hate the idea of a pure defensive midfielder that doesn't offer anything at all going forward, like Lucas.

Can you name 1 other side that has such interchangeable players because I'm struggling to name one

Even Barcelona play with a sitting player

[danperkins]

His injury history IMO is what has gone against him. We an all see he's a quality player when fit, just that being fit seems to be a bit of a problem. I would much rather sell Joe Allen (who is we really don't need now) & keep our only dedicated DM. There are many games during a season when an out and out DM is vital. Can/Milner & Henderson all have good work rate and are all good players but all of them are defensively average & IMO teams will find ways to exploit that during the season. It's not tried and tested either.

Plus, isn't it taking away form all 3 players progressive game playing them like that? It may well be a master stroke, but we always seem to leave ourselves short in different areas every season.. keeping Lucas IMO is the safe bet. Unless we are considering buying or loaning another DM of course.

[Harv]

I think that'll be the way we go. They can all play, they can all get about the pitch, and they're all strong lads.

I still think binning Lucas would be madness.

I think its more a case that he wants to go isn't it? He knows he won't be close to the side unless theres an injury and with his injury record in recent seasons he's completely unreliable to have as a backup option. IMO

[Alex]

Id prefer to keep him in an ideal world.

[Shaggy]

I think all three is the perfect storm. They're all intelligent enough to know who's gone forward and if they should sit. Totally interchangeable. I hate the idea of a pure defensive midfielder that doesn't offer anything at all going forward, like Lucas.

Plus he's made of crisps and its only a matter of time before he gets injured again.

Have to agree with this. Can, Milner and Henderson seem to be very bright players. All know what they should be doing. Quite a destructive Midfield if he gets it right too.

I think that'll be the way we go. They can all play, they can all get about the pitch, and they're all strong lads.

I still think binning Lucas would be madness.

[Rich]

I just don't get it. Surely Rodgers knows that by asking Henderson to sit as the deepest CM you negate almost all of his best qualities, his energy and his running. We see it when Henderson plays for England and he's just not the same player. We need him and Milner to be able to use their energy and running power by driving forward knowing they have someone behind them. If that person is gonna be Can then I think the same about him - asking him to sit just negates most of his quality.

Baffling that he's asking a player to not play his natural game and thus negating most of his influence and ignoring a player who is a specialist in that position. For the stability of the team and our preferred formation then having a dedicated defensive midfielder is (IMO) a must.

Positionally Lucas is better than Milner, Henderson, Allen and Can when it comes to breaking up play and defending. He's probably the best tackler out of the lot too and his short passing game is great.