Agree with pretty much all of this.
Shows how good a player Lucas is though, despite many of his own fans thinking otherwise, when he keeps forcing his way into the side and we look better when he is there.
I think Lucas is an intelligent player, with excellent positioning and reading of the game.
On the downside, he isn't quick and isn't versatile in that he doesn't play different positions.
Hodgson wanted to sell him until he saw him in training, then realised just how good a player he is at what he does.
He seemingly wasn't in BR's plans, but forced his way in.
It would be a shame if he was sold, because Can is not ready for that position yet and Delph would be a joke.
So, unless BR finds a replacement who gives the same stability and defensive qualities, plus adds something extra I think getting rid would be a mistake.
BR wants us to play fluid, dynamic, attacking football and that's great, but as I've said before there's a reason why the best managers have always built from the back.
Can, Henderson and A.N. Other playing a staggered midfield 3 is his preferred system I think.
The staggered midfield 3 gives each player control of a zone across the width of the pitch, and can be very fluid, but it is also vulnerable. I'm assuming here that BR still works to his theory of each player owning his zone, with the pitch split laterally into 9 zones.
End result, we'll still have defensive problems unless BR gets the balance right, and perhaps modifies his zonal system, regardless of who comes in.
