Lucas Leiva (Liverpool > S.S. Lazio)

Three players worse than him in the starting XI today.  Solid first half, poor 2nd.

Three players worse than him in the starting XI today.  Solid first half, poor 2nd.

Can I ask, which three players are you referring to?

Glen Johnson, I got that one.

Can I ask, which three players are you referring to?

Glen Johnson, I got that one.

As I noted in the match thread, Coutinho and Gerrard.

As I noted in the match thread, Coutinho and Gerrard.

Fair enough. I agree about Coutinho, not sure Lucas was better than Gerrard as he did deliver a couple of really good passes but that's down to opinion.

Either way Lucas and Gerrard do not work together.

Is there a reason why half of the posts about Lucas start out with "I like the guy, but..."

What does liking him have to do with anything?  I thought we were trying to win, not collect a team full of likeable blokes.

Who cares if he is likeable or not.  Suarez was a contemptible cannibal and he contributed about a thousand times more to our club than Lucas could ever dream of.

"Boss, we've scouted this new lad, he is pacy, excellent on the wing, has an eye for goal, tracks back and works hard for the team, and score 100 goals in his league last season."

"Fine, fine, but does he hold the door open for old ladies???"

I find that as a supporter of the club I tend to 'like' all the players who represent us.

Lucas has been a model professional for us and actually through some tough times to get a bit of respect from the fanbase so even though it looks like he no longer offers us what we are after I see no reason to run him down every five minutes like you do Fed.

For me, he was our best player in the first half. Really got himself about, broke up the play, got involved in both halves of the pitch and done what I would expect from a Liverpool central midfielder.

Second half, well let's leave pretend it didn't happen.

It's weird. Watching the first half I thought it's not that Lucas was playing badly, it's just that double pivot with Gerrard doesn't work. Lucas actually had a pretty good first half IMO. Second half he was abysmal. Lethargic, too. Clyne made a simple run and he didn't even track him.

Which brings us to this: It's gotta be either Lucas OR Gerrard in midfield. It can't and shouldn't be both.

He shouldn't start for us. Not good enough. When Lallana and Markovic are back we'll go back to a 4-2-1-3 with Hendo, Gerrard, Can fighting for 2 spot, Coutinho as the "1" and Lallana, Studge, Sterling as front three.

He shouldn't start for us. Not good enough. When Lallana and Markovic are back we'll go back to a 4-2-1-3 with Hendo, Gerrard, Can fighting for 2 spot, Coutinho as the "1" and Lallana, Studge, Sterling as front three.

I hope not.

We don't need two sitting midfielders. 

Although Hendo can compensate with his energy.

I hope not.

We don't need two sitting midfielders. 

Although Hendo can compensate with his energy.

Hendo gets around the pitch so it can be a 4-1-2-3 effectively.

Hendo gets around the pitch so it can be a 4-1-2-3 effectively.

Yeah. But who would you leave out?

Hendo, Markovic, Sterling or Lallana or Coutinho?

And even then Can may be asking questions too.
       

If we're brutally honest not only is Lucas not good enough, but Stevie's just not mobile enough anymore to be a guaranteed starter game in and game out.  Very few top teams have a midfielder who is stuck in the mud half the game.  Yes he plays those fantastic long balls but that's pretty much all he's doing nowadays.  I wouldn't mind seeing a midfield three of Can, Henderson plus one other at some point this season.  Something like this:

Mignolet
Manquillo Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Can Henderson
Sterling Coutinho Markovic
Falcao

If we're brutally honest not only is Lucas not good enough, but Stevie's just not mobile enough anymore to be a guaranteed starter game in and game out.  Very few top teams have a midfielder who is stuck in the mud half the game.  Yes he plays those fantastic long balls but that's pretty much all he's doing nowadays.  I wouldn't mind seeing a midfield three of Can, Henderson plus one other at some point this season.  Something like this:

Mignolet
Manquillo Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Can Henderson
Sterling Coutinho Markovic
Falcao

No Sturridge? You serious mate.

 

Mignolet
Manquillo Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Can Henderson
Sterling Coutinho Markovic
Falcao

Can we please stop talking about Falcao.

it's not going to happen.

 

No Sturridge? You serious mate.

He is. That's the crazy thing.

 

Ahah doesn't surprise me.

 

the others have convinced me it's legit.   

hey, we can dream, can't we?   

hey, we can dream, can't we?   

Not according to your post. 

Not according to your post. 

START DREAMING ROD!

The Lucas-Gerrard pair in BR's system was millions time proved it's don't work but BR still started them both yesterday why?
I never know if it's marketing side trying to get bit more money from someone?
If so it's miserably failed just like Borini in preseason games.
   

The Lucas-Gerrard pair in BR's system was millions time proved it's don't work but BR still started them both yesterday why?
I never know if it's marketing side trying to get bit more money from someone?

Tend to agree with the first line, don't know what you are on about in the second though?

Love Lucas but Stevie needs the likes of the more mobile Hendo, Can and Allen around him.

Tend to agree with the first line, don't know what you are on about in the second though?

Love Lucas but Stevie needs the likes of the more mobile Hendo, Can and Allen around him.

Nothing serious mate, I just thought BR tried to put player(s) on the field hoping they have some good performance that might impress the clubs those interest to buy them (Napoli for Lucas and Sunderland for Borini etc.)
If so it's a gamble (and I also not take it seriously anyway ), but if not why started him ?

but if not why started him ?

Have to say, I was surprised to see him start yesterday.

Think he still has a part to play especially in Europe but he is nowhere near the level he was before that terrible injury.