http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/rodgers-lucas-is-brilliant When Rodgers was asked about Lucas's qualities, he put an arm on the Brazilian's shoulder and declared that he would build a team around him. Haven't watched the press conference, but from this we can definitely tell Lucas will be a regular starter (no surprise). Any thoughts on this?
You have to give credit to the guy, when he first arrived everyone thought he would be gone by the end of the season and although we saw glimpses of what he could offer I don't think anyoe expected him to turn into the player he has done. Not only that but the mental strength to have to ignore all the criticism he was receiving at 21 in a foreign league and just get his head down and work. He could have quite easily decided to give up and move back to Brazil or Spain/Portugal but he stuck at it. Hope he can get back to the standard he was performing at before his injury.
Our team next year, if all our targets come in (Allen, Dempsey etc) then we should have a really good attacking unit. Maybe a front 6 of Gerrard, Lucas, Allen, Dempsey, SUarez and Borini isn't the most spectacular on paper but they are players who can keep possession effectively and more importantly have the energy to press very high up the pitch with a lot of intensity. Its a clear sign of how Rodgers wants us to play. A fluid front 6 (or 5 with Lucas the only one holding position regularly) who can press high up the pitch. Lucas is the perfect Rodgers player in many ways. Though he's probably the perfect midfielder for any manager at the moment to be fair!
Let's just hope his injury 'mare is behind him will undoubtedly allow those in front of him to play with more freedom and assurance. Fingers crossed.
Hate to say it, but completely agree. .................................Lucas..........Allen............................................. ........................................Gerrard.................................................... ....................Dempsey.......................Suarez................................... .........................................Borini.................................................... Then behind that you have the likes of Henderson, Suso, Sterling, Bellamy, Carroll?, Shelvey, Wee Jay, Downing, Aquaman, Cole. That looks like a team with real ability, and lets not forget, the back five are not bad either. Top four push certainly a reality.
.............................................Lucas............................................... ..................................Gerrard............Allen........................................ I think that's how the middle 3 would look like, as Brendan says he wants to build the team around Lucas, but I do agree that the push for top four is becoming more believable.
I think Lucas will be our captain. You don't build your team around a player and then not give him the armband. Injuries allowing, he'll succeed Gerrard when the time comes. Still don't think we'll make top 4 this year...but we'll be close. The front 6 can all pass well and most can finish, too. Should be quality viewing and, hopefully, we'll have the blessing of the finishing fairy this season.
my thoughts on this are more along the lines that: Lucas has the mentality not to get carried away at all with that stuff... Rodgers talked big to give him a lift, i think he spotted the fact the guy needed a boost and knowing the personality involved decided he could talk this way to give him a boost now knowing come the first real game of the season nobodies going to remember said comments. If it works and helps lucas to get stuck in like he did preinjury then fair play.... Just what i think he was doing... he's not done it for anyone else at this point, it was a big statment after all.
Just look at the different directions him and Anderson have taken, bought at the same time for similar fees to big clubs and both, at the time, similar players. I have a lot of respect for Lucas and feel bad to ever have silently groaned/grumbled when he came on under Rafa. He's a real fighter and a stalwart for the team. Next captain IMHO
Amazing how our opinions on Lucas have changed - mine included. Just shows if you have self belief and ability then you can make it. I'd be happy him as captain in a year or two.
It is crazy, I never thought he was ****e though. I looked at him in the same way as I see Suso or Sterling, I thought he needed to mature and gain experience. It wasn't until the 09/10 season when he was playing a lot more when I started to think "how desperate are we to play him every game?". It wasn't so much his quality, but he wasn't ready to cut it yet. That experience worked out in the end though.
