He's ****. He offers nothing to the team except side passes or fouls. He has no vision going forward and he's slow and clumsy. Look at where we aspire to be and the teams that are in that position: City, Chelsea, United etc. These teams have players like Toure, Carrick and Matic to name a few. Players that can contribute to their sides with goals and assists. Players that play in the same position as Lucas yet they are miles better. So in your opinion, what exactly does Lucas bring to the team (besides **** all)?
Yet the team plays better with him than with out him. Lucas brings balance. He does the simple things very well and works hard. Lucas allows the more creative and athletic players freedom to play. BTW I think Lucas is a tidy player and all good DM foul a lot. Look at Mascherano for example. His return to the team has been like a new signing IMO. A good signing. He's not been a world beater but the midfield shape is better because he is very natural in DM, and the team works together much better as a whole.
lucas follows runners.... some lads miss the dirty work lads do but he does track runners and do his job.
Have to agree with Flappy on this. We do look a better unit when he plays. He isnt the same player since his ACL injury and im not convinced any player really recovers their original form after that injury so his time with us is running out but I still give him a couple of seasons. Can looks a natural successor to me. He shouldnt be paired up with Gerrard with Gerrard as DM but we have already had that debate.
Lucas is not the most exciting player but he does his job, and it is a job nobody else in our squad has looked capable of doing.
Sorry lads but Lucas is average. That's not to say that we haven't looked better since his inclusion because we have. But that is because he is a DM and the team needed a DM. Any DM replacing Gerrard in that role would automatically be better by default because Gerrard is sh*te in that respect. It's no coincidence that Lucas has only ever shone in poor performing LFC teams. He simply does not have the legs to play 90 mins or cover the ground quick enough.
Lucas is a dirty fckr on the pitch and a right royal **** with it. But he adds that steel in your midfield that no other player has at LFC. He gets stuck in and causes problems. Put it this way I was delighted when I didn't see his name in the starting 11 when we played you. I guess it comes down to what you want. I'm assuming LFC45 wants a defensive mf who can turn defence into attack. Probably someone like Song or Essien rather than a Lucas or Jon Obi Mikel. But put a playmaker CM next to Lucas and he'll be fine.
He might be average since his injury but he's still the best player we have to do that role. Can certainly buy an iimprovement but until then he needs to be playing
Oh I agree with you that be should be playing until Can is no longer needed in defence. But Lucas is just a stop gap and has been since Mascherano left.
How well have we performed for the past 5 years? We actually had a good season last season and he was nowhere to be seen. As I've said, he shines in poor performing teams. If we want to progress, we need to upgrade players like him in the squad.
It's very Simplistic but personally speaking - our downfall since Rafa last season coincided when the likes of Skrtel, Johnson and Lucas all became first team regulars. All seem to shone when the team were performing poorly. Last season was the exception but there is no way I would credit Skrtel or Johnson in any way. They're average players picking up big wages.
Can't agree with much here... Lucas is a good, solid player and the only one in our squad capable of playing as a defensive midfielder. Not a deep lying playmaker, or a ball playing pivot who turns defense into attack, but a defensive midfielder. It's a specialist role which works depending on the formation you play. If you have 5 attackers (or 6 with two fullbacks in our current system) you need someone defensive in the midfield to sit deep and track runners, make interceptions, tackle and to make those little fouls to break their play up. Lucas does that. No one else in the team is capable of doing it. You take him out and persist with those 5/6 forward players but with Gerrard or Henderson that spot (or both) and the midfield collapses and we seep goals. Sure, there's better in the world than Lucas, no one is denying that, but I'm not really sure where the recent Lucas criticism is coming from (this isn't the first time) when it's so obvious that he's playing an important balancing role in the team and isn't really doing bad - except when paired with Gerrard or pushed higher up so Gerrard can play deep. Put him in his proper spot and we look a much better team. Not because he's a superior technician or better player, but because of balance. Think of it this way, a team of superstars won't work because you need players in and around them to put in a shift and do the non flashy stuff like marking and tracking back or to make those little fouls which break up play. There's a long list of players we should be offloading before Lucas. Replacing him is not a high priority. Equally, Skrtel has had some great moments for LFC. He's not a world beater either, but he's a competent and solid defender with a leader next to him. Not everyone is a leader. Next to Agger (who was a poorer defender, but better organiser) we had a working CB pairing in which weaknesses were covered by the other. So much criticism for him (particularly the shirt pulling which every ****ing defender does and gets away with - it was just flavour of the month to call Skrtel up on it) but pair him with a vocal leader and he's a good, no nonsense defender. For any rugby union fans, I likened those two to Greenwood and Tindall in our 2003 WC winning team. Brains and brawn - compatible partnership.
I'm with 2 girls and saint on this one. Lucas is a good and solid player and doesn't deserve the 'bashing' that he's getting. Just reminds me of the abuse that Ronnie Whelan got - but how we missed him when he left!
Nonsense from the OP imo, Lucas had a bad injury came back for a bit and had another bad injury. Before that point every Liverpool fan was gushing at how good he was. Since he's recovered from his injury he's had Rodgers to contend with and his bullshit everyone has to be a player thinking. He breaks up play and keeps things simple allowing the more creative players to play, as Treble says he's a pain in the arse to the opposition and a dirty ****er, just what we need. In the past he has been a good passer of the ball and I think that'll return with games. I voted for him as our future captain I hold him invery high regard and think he'll get better and better with more games played.
hes ****. when hes got the ball and theres not an opposition player in front of him he doesnt even bother looking for the pass that can be a game changer. instead he passes sideways. if he goes he wont be missed
IMO our best midfield performance last season was v Spurs when we had Lucas, Henderson and Allen as our midfield three. That is not the most high profile, entertaining or talented trio, but the balance between the three of them was perfect. They kept the game ticking well, pressed and tracked all game long and got the ball forward to the front three well. We bollocked Spurs in style that day. A sweet victory. A midfield is about balance over profile. Profile means Gerrard in DM just to fit him in. Balance means Lucas keeping the shape perfectly. Its the difference between conceding 0 or 1 goal in a game, or conceding 2 in 90 seconds.
Def think his stock has started to rise of late. Just wish that he'd ramp up the good things about him when playing, be a bit more pumped up, get more aggressive (not sending off aggressive), get at the opposition more, get in the gym and get a bit bigger/stronger, he does seem a bit passive sometimes. He's not top quality but he can get better, I think saying he's **** is off the mark, who would you prefer in the side Lucas or Allen? Allen is the one with no substance to me. At least Lucas offers something.
