Lucas

[Mattshark]

I thought pre-injury Lucas was at his awesome best and in his physical prime, and had some world-class performances. If that Lucas, the same Lucas who could partner Charlie Adam and had little trouble dominating the likes of Yaya Toure, was partnering Gerrard right now, we won't be having this conversation.

We would then accept the possibility that Gerrard has been the problem?

Lucas' statistics don't match the criticism he is recieving.

[Chazza]

We would then accept the possibility that Gerrard has been the problem?

I think they have both been poor to be fair.

[Mattshark]

I think they have both been poor going by performances from previous seasons.

I really don't think Lucas has been poor, just suddenly everyone has decided he needs to be an attacking presense all of a sudden. His play as his role, a holding midfielder, has been excellent.

[Arn]

Well I don't think sacrficing our defence is either. I am failing to see what exactly Lucas has done wrong this season.

On the other hand, I think Gerrard has been poor, something which people seem to blaming Lucas for.

I think many of us don't want to admit that the day when Gerrard shouldn't be in the starting XI every game have now arrived.

He should be rested in some games because he clearly can't cope playing as much as he do now.

Maybe even resting him a couple of weeks during the season a couple of times even if he is fit.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

We would then accept the possibility that Gerrard has been the problem?

Lucas' statistics don't match the criticism he is recieving.

Yes, for me it's a two-part issue to our midfield fluidity, namely the current Lucas and the ageing Gerrard. One's our best defensive shield and the other our best creative outlet in midfield. Only Lucas isn't as quick or sturdy as before, nor is Gerrard as powerful and dynamic as before charging from the middle of the park.

If only it was pre-injury Lucas with an older Gerrard who has Alonso's or Pirlo's midfield savvy as the deep-lying double pivot.

[Neil Young]

What do you mean, "all of a sudden"? You think it's a whim?

It's a discussion about the balance of the midfield and the relative contributions of the two players.

[Mattshark]

What do you mean, "all of a sudden"? You think it's a whim?

It's a discussion about the balance of the midfield and the relative contributions of the two players.

Actually, I think it kind of has been a knee jerk reaction from the last couple of games yes.

[Neil Young]

Great.

[BobTheCharmer]

Actually, I think it kind of has been a knee jerk reaction from the last couple of games yes.

I'm basing it all on the performance in the Southampton game that I didn't actually even witness.

[Mattshark]

Great.

No one is asking you like to my opinon of the situation.

[Neil Young]

[Mattshark]

[Darkon]

Why the need to blame any of our midfielders as being generally poor or at fault? Why is it either Lucas or Gerrard that is to blame? They have both been an integral part of a team that were unbeaten for 12 games in the league, 13 if you count the CC, before this weekend. That is a fantastic run, and unfortunatly not one that is going last forever. We have been on great form since for the past 7-8 months with Lucas and Gerrard in midfield for most parts, and suddenly we loose 1 game and either Lucas or Gerrard have to be shifted, changed role or what not.

I just don't get it tbh. Not many moons ago Gerrard was praised for being on some of his best form in many years, and Lucas had come back to his level.

I think we just need to be happy that we have two very very good midfielders atm. and they have helped us having a great run.

Or we can just run with the few negatives from a match or two and disregard the bigger picture here

[Arn]

Why the need to blame any of our midfielders as being generally poor or at fault? Why is it either Lucas or Gerrard that is to blame? They have both been an integral part of a team that were unbeaten for 12 games in the league, 13 if you count the CC, before this weekend. That is a fantastic run, and unfortunatly not one that is going last forever. We have been on great form since for the past 7-8 months with Lucas and Gerrard in midfield for most parts, and suddenly we loose 1 game and either Lucas or Gerrard have to be shifted, changed role or what not.

I just don't get it tbh. Not many moons ago Gerrard was praised for being on some of his best form in many years, and Lucas had come back to his level.

I think we just need to be happy that we have two very very good midfielders atm. and they have helped us having a great run.

Or we can just run with the few negatives from a match or two and disregard the bigger picture here

I don't blame anyone of them. They are two fantastic players and if they don't play good enough together then it is up to the manager to sort that out.

Something clearly needs to be done or else we will most probably continue to drop points and drop down the table.

It also needs to be done now because we have a few matches coming up that we more or less must win against teams we should beat.

The next few games could decide if we have a realistic chance to finish in the top four.

[Darkon]

But the two of them have been almost ever present together in the past 13 games where we have only lost 1! So why are they not good enough together? Because we lost the one match, where Southampton played a good game (also the last team we lost to btw.)

To me it just screams scapegoat that anyone needs to point fingers (not just you arn), at a midfield that have been on great form the past ~7 months. Of course it's bound to have an off day, and we were bound to lose at some point - especially considering where we have come from. It's perhaps just easier pointing at a player than accepting the team as a whole had an off day...