Hello All, This is my first article since 606 so I apologise if Im a bit rusty. There are a few things I am up for discussing. If these have been done, please feel free to point me in the direction of the other articles...... 1. What a player Lucas is becoming...he has been improving improving, and now his game is so good and confidence is high his intelligence and range is showing more and more...Welll complimented by Adams aswell of course.. 2. Shelvey??? Seems to be playing great at the moment. Could be a massive person for us behind Carroll in the future....A lA gerrard.. 3. Pacheco...Loaned out to Athletico, immediately sub loaned out to Vallecano...........And still cannot get a game....What has happenned to the great player who joined us in 2007? Next gen Series.... In our group we came up against a very good sporting Lisbon side......How good are Sporting youth compared to barca et al....How many steps up do we need to make to compete....? So pleased for Glen Johnson.....barnes would have been proud of that one.......... Cheers all
1. Lucas has indeed turned into a great DM, and I think he's steadily becoming his own role - an attacking DM. Bit of a contradiction, but he's really upping his game in all areas and steadily improving. Despite the fact he's 24 now, I don't think he'll really reach his peak until 28-29 as his role doesn't really rely on speed, more football intelligence. It's a role he could be doing up until the age of 35 if he adapts, and I think he's going to improve every year. He definitely has it in him to become a top DM, and is already one of the best in the Premier league at what he does. 2. Shelvey is really impressing at Blackpool; but with their attacking style of play I can see how he'll get lots of chances to impress. Especially when he's up against championship defences, but it's all very good news and very promising. I still think he needs time on loan at a premier league club, so we can really see what he's made of, it's worked for most of the other well established young midfielders coming out throughout the top teams. I can see some resemblances to Gerrard's style of play, but I think he's really got his own style which is a bit of a mix between different styles. For instance, he'll go missing for some parts of the game and not be the central part of the attack, which is what most CAMs do, and instead he'll be at the start of the attack thrusting it upfield, whereas at other points he'll be up there ready to receive and play for the goal. I'd like to say thats a complete CM, but I don't think he has the discipline to play CM, and he needs to find a role where he's really comfortable. 3. I think we've lost Pacheco now, don't really think there's much hope of him coming back or fulfilling the talent we saw in him. It's a shame because even the small amount of times I've seen him play I've thought there's some talent there, maybe not as a top striker but he could definitely play for a team like Bolton. I think we made a mistake not loaning him out earlier in his career; but that's the cost of him being there whilst we've had so many changes of managers, each having a different opinion of him. 4. Next Gen is interesting; it shows how far our academy have come considering the teams we're playing against are churning out talent and will form the backbones of their respective teams whilst our academy hasn't produced anything good in over 10 years (bar last season in Kelly, Flanagan etc..). The next tie will be a real eye opener for me, as we're out of the group stages now and onto the proper knock out rounds and we'll see exactly what the youngsters have got in them. Whether they've got the fighting spirit to play for LFC.
first of hi! so my opinions on the above. 1. lucas. it shows what real hard work and dedication can do. 2. shelvey needed it to be honest, he looked so unfit at the start of the year so if nothing else it will increase his stamina. There's a lot of work to do for him yet as it is championship stuff but it can only help him grow up too. 3. pacheco is total contrast to lucas. Every chance he got he was off with underage spainish sides in trianing camps etc and he really didn't look ready in games t bust a gut to get involved. thats what i thik anyway. another case of le tallec v pongolle in fact. le tallec thought he was it, pongolle wanted to work. one made a carrer one disappeared. 4. next gen puts some perspective on thigns ofr our youths really I don't know where lisbon are globally as they've not met much. it shows us that lisbon are way better than our set up though doesn't it so we need to spend longer building up the club strucutres so that kids from 10 to 18 have consistently high quality coaching. its not like we can say oh next year these kids will be better as next years "nextgen" tournament will have different lfc players. i feel this is a good barometer for the clubs youth development more than an individual side. If we improve coaching generally we can match these kids of lisbons. on the group themsevles, honestly i think they are a mixed bunch. Keeper is not amazing, we're not necessarally bringing in the likes of flanagan and robinson who could play to bolster the squad strategically so the guys on the pitch are learning the hard way.... Overall its a good thing even if it knocks some cockiness out of a few lads (like pacheco for example) 5. finally johnson, his finsihing off his left has been good most of the time i have to say, I am of the opinion he was defensively poor on sunday but thats not saying he's always defensively poor. I just felt he let far too much ball in. Going forward he was good in the first half too
Cheers guys...So good to have good conversation again... 1. Lucas just looks great athe moment a real man to help us dominate midfields....he was always an attacking midfielder in Brazil and I think you are right, he will become an attacking DM....(Or as i hope) Liverpool play a game where players are all over the pitch..(Total football.) - Not in every game of course. 2. I wasnt rating shelvey last year as he was just getting 5-10 mins here and there. (Not a good way to bring players through.) But this season he has really kicked on and hopefully will develop into a class premier league player on his return.. (Maybe with us, maybe loaned to a bolton or such.) 3. Poor Dani.....2007, he was awesome for the reserves. A real defenders nightmare....But getting 5-10 mins at the end of games hasnt developed him and i think he has lost all confidence in himself now..... Really does go to show how impotant mental state is for a player (Especially a small skillful player who cannot rely on physicality.) next gen series is great and gives the youth a taste of big competition at a young age. Glad we made the second round, but may need a good draw in the knockout astages to progress....i think losing a few games at that age is a very good thing though...Gives you mettle and drive.. 5. Johnson for attack/kelly for defence......Ref, can we have rolling subs please?
1. Lucas has been immense these last couple of years. He was the stand out player of the Hodgson era and he is the stand out player of Kenny's era. I'm looking forward to seeing him become one of the most respected midfielders in world football 2. I've always rated Shelvey, he is the natrual replacement for Gerrard and I think his loan will do his confidence wonders. I'm glad we have him in our side now as in 3-4 years he'll easily be worth 10's of millions 3. I have a feeling that Pacheco will end up like Alou Diarra... give it 5-8 years and people will forget he ever played for us yet he'll still have a solid career. I doubt he'll ever reach the levels his potential intended... but then you never know, he might just mature whilst in spain and come back a better player for it. He only signed a new deal last season 4. Next Gen, this has been a real eye opener, I just wish I'd have caught some of the other english teams games to see how we compare 5. Johnson has once again taken right back away from a frustraitingly injury prone Martin Kelly, I hope Kelly gets his injurys sorted and starts challenging Johnno for the right back spot as we love inter club rivalry... I have a feeling that we could see Kelly playing at centre back soon
Remember you well RedBrynner 1.Lucas top player,constantly improved over last 3 yrs,only thing he lacks is pace ,which is defo an asset in his position 2.Shelvey great to see him step up to the plate in the champ, think he will be a good prem standard player ( say a la Kuyt) but he aint goo enough to be a new Gerrard 3. Pacheco needed to get the chance when he was in form , 18 months ago or 2 years ago,and he DEFINITELY should of got more chances under Roy n Kenny.IMO its too late he plateaued,and he has been mis managed , gettin less opportunities than he shudda.No idea how he wasnt picked when Ngog was gettin games.I can see him turning a player for a team in la liga in the bottom half.Still a decent career, but not top level. ( We need to learn from Pacheco with the likes of Morgan and Sterling, sometimes you can give them there chance too late, they both need to be bloode in the next 12 months
