Lucas

[TheElephantMan]

Lucas is like a pacemaker for the team, he also allows the flair players to play to their strengths. This is a very underrated skill and we'll find him hard to replace if he does indeed leave.

he's the most accomplished player in the team, unfortunately for Lucas it's not a role particularly highly valued by Rodgers. Personally I'd like us to keep Lucas, but if he's not going to play often then it would be better for him to move on. He'll be awesome in the right team with the right manager (assuming he stays fit long enough to have a significant impact).

[Alex]

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.

[Harv]

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.

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.

[dizzycat]

Lucas is like a pacemaker for the team, he also allows the flair players to play to their strengths. This is a very underrated skill and we'll find him hard to replace if he does indeed leave.

[Shaggy]

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.

[Montana]

Personally I would keep Lucas and play him at the base of a diamond formation. Still a very good, intelligent and vastly experienced player.

However, Rodgers it seems wants to play a different way and have a more energetic and attack minded player in DM such as Henderson, Milner, Can. It's a big risk but Lucas doesn't seem to fit in the manager's first choice plans.

I'd still keep him as things change during a season and he's the only DM we have at the club.

[redmike65]

Lucas plays half a season a year these days which doesn't help his cause.

During the summer the German U21 coach rather let the cat out of the bag when talking about Can being played centrally this season.

http://paisleygates.com/?p=23697

“I was just in Liverpool,” German u21 boss Horst Hrubesch told TZ in a recent interview before revealing the the 21-year old was headed for big things at Anfield. “There was confirmed that Emre soon to assume the role of Gerrard in midfield.”

Now obviously you can read that a few ways given that Gerrard played 4 roles across the middle third in his career but I'm assuming he's is referring to late period. Mind you that's somewhat irrelevant as there are only three roles at most to be filled (the number 10 is part of the attack) and two of them are for Milner and Hendo as things stand.

So how much game time would Lucas actually get? Hardly any in the Prem could well be the truth of the matter and he might not think playing in the Cups/EL is enough which would be understandable I have to say.

[The_weatherman]

I agree. I guess that Rodgers feels more mobile players give the person they pass too more options and or allow quicker defensive transitions with a high press.

Yeah, but what does he know!

[dww]

Lucas may not be mobile, but with him in the team the ball moves faster forward from the defence. Gerrard and Henderson don't resolve pressure like he does, they don't shield the defence like he does and they don't do the little passes like he does, although Henderson comes close in that regard, but IMO Lucas is a quicker passer.

I agree. I guess that Rodgers feels more mobile players give the person they pass too more options and or allow quicker defensive transitions with a high press.

[The_weatherman]

My suspicion is that Rodgers prefers more mobile players. Lucas is good because of his positioning rather than the amount of ground he covers. Which is why I like him but I can see that he perhaps doesn't suit Rodgers vision. I think Rodgers is wrong but he will stand or fall this season on his vision which is admirable.

Lucas may not be mobile, but with him in the team the ball moves faster forward from the defence. Gerrard and Henderson don't resolve pressure like he does, they don't shield the defence like he does and they don't do the little passes like he does, although Henderson comes close in that regard, but IMO Lucas is a quicker passer.