Lucas

[baitman]

Watching Lucas against West Ham, it was obvious he didn't have the pace to cope with their counter-attacking style. Watching him labouring in midfield to get back as younger, faster players went by him, it was plain to see that against a counter-attacking side his lack of pace was a big issue.

Ok, so he could sit back and just marshal the back four, but that leaves us light further upfield when trying to break down a stubborn back 8.

Hence my opinion is that for that sort of game, Lucas will not be a feature, and only featured this time due to injuries to others.

i agree that lucas looked lost v west ham, but he seemed to be playing much more advanced than his usual role.

again, great insight from our manager and coaches...
take our best holding player, lacking pace though, and play him further forward. not surprising he is going to get bypassed when their fast wingers run onto balls pinged down the wings.

if the goalie, the two centre backs and the dm are all holding deep then that still allows us up to seven players to press the game further forward.
with the two full backs playing from the half way line and occasionally further forwards this still allows us up to five to get in the mixer and do the damage.
this would still allow the full backs to get a run on a counter attack, while still leaving enough bodies to intercept and challenge without having to run backwards [not making it up] until they are on the edge of our box.

after all this time we still get bitched by teams who sit deep and hit us on the counter.
we need to throw some coaching staff under a bus sometime soon

[Havors]

Can also falls into this category I feel many times it looks like hes not having the best of games but his stats say otherwise

far far too many mistakes from Can though, he is one for development. Lucas makes the odd mistake but not like Can and his prancing bambi legs haha

[Havors]

Watching Lucas against West Ham, it was obvious he didn't have the pace to cope with their counter-attacking style. Watching him labouring in midfield to get back as younger, faster players went by him, it was plain to see that against a counter-attacking side his lack of pace was a big issue.

Ok, so he could sit back and just marshal the back four, but that leaves us light further upfield when trying to break down a stubborn back 8.

Hence my opinion is that for that sort of game, Lucas will not be a feature, and only featured this time due to injuries to others.

having someone in that position frees up the rest of the midfield to advance imo though... Lucas just needs his match sharpness back, too much random outings here and there.

the whole top and bottom of it though is yet again Rogers hasnt got a clue what his best formation is... and when sturridge is fit he is going to wing it even more.

[Norbs]

Lucas plays every game for me sat right in front of the back 4. Once he gets his match sharpness he is excellent and there isnt another player in the squad that can play that roll in my opinion.

90% of fans havent got a clue if a player is having a good game unless he scores a goal or does some worldy skills.

One thing Lucas cant do though is make Lovren any less **** He cant play two positions at once.

Ah but Lucas's mere presence makes defenders look better, Lovren included

[McDermotX]

Lucas: I was close to Liverpool exit

Liverpool midfielder Lucas admits he was "very close" to leaving the club this summer but is "happy" to stay.

The Brazilian was on the verge of joining Besiktas when manager Brendan Rodgers recalled him for the Reds' 0-0 draw with Arsenal; he then retained his place for last week's 3-0 defeat to West Ham.

Lucas is Liverpool's longest serving player - joining in 2007 - but played in only 20 Premier League games last season.

"I think the last couple of years, every transfer window my name is [linked with a move]," he told the club's official website.

"Of course there are times when you think you might have to move on and I was very close to moving but one thing I will always have is commitment to this club.

"I've been here so long and I always said if I had the choice to be here and be happy, I would always choose Liverpool.

"When your future is in doubt, you might have to think of another solution, but I'm happy that it didn't happen and I'm here to fight for the club as I have been doing for eight years.

"I'm just looking forward to a good season and putting Liverpool back where it belongs. I have this chance to say I'm fully committed.

"I've been here so long and I really love this club, I just need to now focus on my performance and help in the way the manager and the staff asked me to help.

"Hopefully, I'll be an important player for the club this season."

http://www.football365.com/news/21554/9984307/Lucas-I-Was-Very-Close-To-Leaving-Liverpool-

[DannyMan2006]

Lucas can do a job for about 70 minutes against the better sides in the league. He sits in deep and does a good job at intercepting and in general his passing is neat & tidy.

When we play the lesser sides (ones who sit in against us for clarity) he becomes a bit of a hindrance. Whilst his passing is fine, he's not going to carve a team open and he's not going to add goals. The biggest issue though is that he doesn't have the legs to go charging back when we are playing high up the field.

You will see that when teams counter us, our defence runs backwards but in a way to try and slow the opposition attack and allow the midfield to get back & sweep up. Lucas never gets back. if he is to play he should stay deep.

[DannyMan2006]

Oh, and I'm in agree,eat that once he gets his sharpness he'll be good for ninety minutes sitting in against better sides. But I'm not sure he'll ever get sharp enough to charge up and down.

[Mattshark]

Lucas can do a job for about 70 minutes against the better sides in the league. He sits in deep and does a good job at intercepting and in general his passing is neat & tidy.

When we play the lesser sides (ones who sit in against us for clarity) he becomes a bit of a hindrance. Whilst his passing is fine, he's not going to carve a team open and he's not going to add goals. The biggest issue though is that he doesn't have the legs to go charging back when we are playing high up the field.

You will see that when teams counter us, our defence runs backwards but in a way to try and slow the opposition attack and allow the midfield to get back & sweep up. Lucas never gets back. if he is to play he should stay deep.

We don't need him to carve up teams and score goals, we have other players for that.

[fidget]

We don't need him to carve up teams and score goals, we have other players for that.

but he's banned

[Mattshark]

but he's banned

[DannyMan2006]

We don't need him to carve up teams and score goals, we have other players for that.

I haven't seen them yet this season!

You don't need a holding player against teams who defend deep. You need a player who can push a bit higher and still get back. If Lucas could do that then fine, but he can't.

[SB]

I haven't seen them yet this season!

You don't need a holding player against teams who defend deep. You need a player who can push a bit higher and still get back. If Lucas could do that then fine, but he can't.

Can is that player or he will become that player soon.

[Fredo]

He doesn't have the maturity yet.

[SB]

He doesn't have the maturity yet.

Maybe not but his time spent in defence last season will have helped improve that side of his game. Playing him as a holding mid against teams that sit back is good training & he'll learn from it IMO.

[Fredo]

He will but needs to be given time. I think his best position for a few years will be in a more advanced role.