FFS, I never said it would turn us into Stoke, I said it would be interesting to see how some people react considering their hatred/dislike towards Stoke and these individuals have a reputation for kicking out in a similar way. However, these player also have more technical ability too.
Well true in a sense but he's not got that 'nasty' streak in him that, say mascherano had. Something that gets under the oppositions skin and get them worrying about revenge rather than winning a match.
I agree that he doesn't have the nasty streak but I think he does get under the oppositions skin purely because he is always there, niggling away. I know what you mean though, other than in attack, we lack a couple of batards
Yeah I know what you mean but it's not as if we're gonna kick players randomly and try to physically intimidate from the off. My understanding is that the introduction of Papa and Costa would mean that we can finally dish it out if a team do get physical with us. And I don't see Lucas as that type of player - he's not physically intimidating. He will nick the ball off you intelligently and start attacks. Sometimes, you just need that player who tackles hard and ****s up the opposition. Our CM is very weak in that aspect. It's one of the reasons why I will always rather have Mash over Lucas as DM.
Aspas is supposed to be a bit of a thug too, Suarez, Aspas and Costa front 3 would be a defences worst nightmare
Yeah, I'd agree with most of that. I think Lucas could be that type of player but since he gives away far too many niggly freekicks and picks up countless needless bookings, he's best of sticking to what he does. Of course, if he had someone in there to help him then he wouldn't need to do it all on his own either.
Not knocking Lucas at all - he's the modern DM who doesn't need to lunge into tackles because he reads the game so well. But I don't see him as the type who could make those last ditch tackles, the crunching challenges that gee up the crowd and bully the opposition. Whether he can or not - I don't know but we must remember that he's not a natural DM as he used to play AM in Brazil. And I agree about having someone else to help him. I still see CM has one of our weakest areas.
Mascherano was one of my favourite players. Sometimes got a little bit too up for it, but I've never seen a better tackler and reader of the game, his passing was underrated too as he's proven since he's gone to Barca.
No, he's certainly not a last ditch tackler. In fact, he doesn't slide very often, he prefer the tackle from behind I miss Mascherano as much as Alonso. Used to love watching him charge in and getting that "is he going to kill him" feeling
He was instrumental in our counter-attacking when the opposition had a set piece too. He was always the furthest forward (usually on the edge of the box with Torres helping out defensively) and when the ball was cleared he used his pace (which is vastly underrated IMO) and aggression to gain possesion whilst Fernando sprinted past him to forward.
its not about kicking someone is it.... mascherano was in the team that finished 7th. its about positioning, being there right as the guy recieve the ball, blocking, covering others, passing is fast and simple. Lucas needs to be fitter as he was arriving late and struggling to cover last season. If he is fully fit and getting there he'll be fine. just pass it FAST to gerrard and let him be the playmaker.
No, it is about being better than the opposition and sometimes that includes standing up to be counted
I don't see us having a much worse disciplinary record should we sign Costa / Papa. However, with a front 3 of Costa / Suarez / Aspas, with all that niggly, trash-talking, megging, showboating, windup style of play we would end up being the most fouled team.
7th, young player much maligned... playing with masch 6th... hodgson nuff said poulsen ffs 8th.... injured 7th... injured in fact the league position since we bought aquilani with the alonso money has been dreadful. but surely its precisely that no options up front bar one player who got injured... lucas v masch is waht this is about and unfortunately when we finshed 8th and cost kenny his job lucas was instrumental to that disaster cos he was dominating teams before his injury. nobody can deny that. he bossed players .... last season he came back late on and hmmmm.... our form did pick up even if he looked ragged... why? mor eoptions up fornt to score. Again if lucas is fully fit all year i've not real concern about his position... league position is determine dby a lot more than one guy so i aint going to say he's goign to put us top 4.... however when masch ran about like mad while we finished 7th... what i am saying is to think if we just had him none of our problems would be there is too simplistic.
Can we merge the Costa and transfer thread ? So what would the team be with Costa? We would have to omit one of suarez, lucas, gerrard, sturridge, aspas, coutinho, Costa...
I doubt we'd see Suarez, Aspas and Costa all on the field at the same time much. How many games do you think there'd be when at least one of them isn't suspended?
