Lucas named North West Player of the Year Not always appreciated at Anfield, certainly not when he first arrived, Lucas Leiva has picked up another award in recognition of his performances (both on and off the pitch) over the last year in an award ceremony held at Lancashire County Cricket Club in Manchester. Lucas came to Liverpool from Gremio as an attacking midfielder, however Rafael Benitez oversaw his transition into a holding midfielder. Lucas was the team's consistent performer in the 2010/11 season. Fábio Aurélio said of Lucas "He is much more mature, stronger physically and knows more about how to win games. He has shown great personality and capability to change things around," a mark of his growing creativity and passing ability, whilst Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said "Lucas Leiva was our best player last season," I'm sure that we have all watched his constant improvement on the pitch - who remembers the game when they decided "Actually, I was wrong, the boy can play"
i don't think the fee was much of a bargain at the time. obviously he's worked out so thats good but coates has cost as much... i'd re title as you get what you pay for.
Well, £5-6mil for a midfielder isn't that much. It wasn't then either. Look at the players signed by the likes of Chelsea and United at that time. Chelsea paid something like £16mil for Mikel in 2006 at the age of 19. United paid £7mil for Kleberson in 2003 at 22 and £15mil for Anderson, a 19 year old in 2007. I think £5-6 mil looks a bargain for a young midfielder of 20 by comparison. If we were looking at Henderson's transfer and we'd got him for £5-6mil, I think we'd all agree he was a steal. If Henderson develops as well as Lucas has, and at 24/5 we're looking at an established International who plays as well for us as Gerrard has done, £20mil will look reasonable indeed!
Shankly's last signing for us was a centre forward from Arsenal,Paisley changed his game and position to midfielder and the result was Razor the most cultured English midfielder of his generation. Lucas struggled to change his game but has found confidence playing the holding role and has done a great job for us of late. Im made up the lad got the award.
i'd agree but 5-6mil for a kid from gremio is a lot... we paid 3mil for leto and he was gash.... i nthe end i think we paid a good amount there are it paid off... the bargain bucket rubbish like hunting round hungary for kids like nemeth and others has proved to be a bit of a waste really. We've not got one kid through who we brought in for little money have we? ok its not 17mil on anderson but its still big money seeing parker cost the same for the spuds..... mikel i think was a bit of a special case due to the whole utd thing my point is if you find a decent player like lucas are you meet the asking fee ok maybe they don't work out like kleberson but hey chances are you can see through a guy flying a kite. ( bebe how did that happen) Lucas cost us a lot, rafa back him and his decision and bascially ignored the critics and was proved right. perhaps a lot of that is the fee.. who knows. Fair play to rafa and fair play to lucas too for standing up and being counted.
