Liverpool FC Forum

[Kenny Kan]

People thinking Lucas will solve our problems are kidding themselves. Unless he's majestically turned into a 10 goal a season midfielder anyway.

He is our best chance of allowing other players from midfield positions to forage forward for goals, Sahin and Gerrard for example....I do have worries whether he will return to his best after such terrible injuries...Steven Gerrard is a shadow of the player he was before the last 2-3  injury plagued seasons.

The "other" players have showed no inclination what so ever that they'll be able to forage forward for goals. That's my point.

People will be in for a shock if they believe Lucas will relieve all these midfield dynamos to get goals or even make us more threatening in attack.

[ConnO'var]

People thinking Lucas will solve our problems are kidding themselves. Unless he's majestically turned into a 10 goal a season midfielder anyway.

He is our best chance of allowing other players from midfield positions to forage forward for goals, Sahin and Gerrard for example....I do have worries whether he will return to his best after such terrible injuries...Steven Gerrard is a shadow of the player he was before the last 2-3  injury plagued seasons.

The "other" players have showed no inclination what so ever that they'll be able to forage forward for goals. That's my point.

People will be in for a shock if they believe Lucas will relieve all these midfield dynamos to get goals or even make us more threatening in attack.

You have a point mate.... but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. He'll add a lot of stability in our midfield at the anchor position and hence help out our defense which is currently leaking goals like theres no tomorrow. Why a defense comprising of the caliber of players we currently have is doing so, is really beyond me at the moment.
And with him there, i do think that Assaidi would be given a chance to show what he's made of. The rest of our midfielders would be mentally less afraid to forage forward knowing that he'd be there to bolster the front of the defensive line.

My worry is more simple. Having been out for so long, I doubt we'll see the same player he was as compared to how he was before. I'm sure he'll get there, but the fella will need time and I suspect, a lot of it. I certainly hope we give the time. Patience is no longer a virtue it would seem.

[mart]

I still have some hope that it will let Gerrard push forward. Hopefully that will bring back some of the Gerrard we used to see when benitez was the manager.

[red till i die!!]

I still have some hope that it will let Gerrard push forward. Hopefully that will bring back some of the Gerrard we used to see when benitez was the manager.

thats about the best we can hope for imo.
gerrard has to be pushed forward closer to luis to get something out of him.
delighted to see lucas back but lets be real here and admit that him being in the side wont affect the final result. he wont create or score but it will be interesting to see how him and allen stack up as a pairing.
lets hope his injury is finally behind him and he's ready to resume where he left off.

[tubby]

I don't think Gerrard in an advanced position works any more. 3 years ago yes but this season I've lost count of how many wayward or mishit passes have come from him.

[NorfolkRed]

dont think its a coincidence that the return of lucas came in the same match that saw stevie g in his best attacking form of the season

[Boxscarf]

Hopefully the return of Lucas will ease the pressure off the other midfielders and not only that, hopefully his return will offer our defence some much needed protection.

[Kenny Kan]

Lucas won't majestically make Allen turn into Zidane, Shelvey from uncle fester into Ruud Gullit, #2Gerrard to #1Gerrard and Henderson to Hazard.

It's not Lucas's problem to make these players better - it's the manager's problem to bring in a goal scoring attacking midfielder.

[maguskwt]

Good game by Lucas... I'm his biggest critic but he is starting to look like a very cultured anchoring midfielder...

[SouthCoastShankly]

Lucas won't majestically make Allen turn into Zidane, Shelvey from uncle fester into Ruud Gullit, #2Gerrard to #1Gerrard and Henderson to Hazard.

It's not Lucas's problem to make these players better - it's the manager's problem to bring in a goal scoring attacking midfielder.

Are you saying that Lucas will not miraculously cure Shelvey's alopecia? I bet he's gutted.

I've not seen the match highlights (just about to) but according to the match reports having Lucas in the midfield completely changed the dynamic. Whilst on this occasion our midfield failed to score again you only have to see what having Mascherano in the midfield did for Gerrard a few years back. Having complete faith that the midfield defensive duties are in good hands and no longer a massive concern could prove what is needed for the likes of Gerrard, Allen and Shelvey to get forward more and influence play far higher up the pitch. Including contribution to the score sheet.

[Kenny Kan]

Are you saying that Lucas will not miraculously cure Shelvey's alopecia? I bet he's gutted.

Not as gutted as you are.

I've not seen the match highlights (just about to) but according to the match reports having Lucas in the midfield completely changed the dynamic. Whilst on this occasion our midfield failed to score again you only have to see what having Mascherano in the midfield did for Gerrard a few years back. Having complete faith that the midfield defensive duties are in good hands and no longer a massive concern could prove what is needed for the likes of Gerrard, Allen and Shelvey to get forward more and influence play far higher up the pitch. Including contribution to the score sheet.

Not really a believer of this theory and I wouldn't be putting all my eggs in this basket.

Gerrard is past it, he won't/can't threaten teams like he used to.
Allen isn't an out and out attacking midfielder.
Shelvey is a donkey.

None of these midfielders mentioned are game changers, that's the crux of it.

So, whether they're all "assured" of Lucas's capabilities or not in midfield it won't make them suddenly become instrumental up the other end. Like I said, there has been no inclination so far this season that letting anyone of these players off the "leash" is going to cause opponents damage. Remember Shelvey's fluff against Wigan (I think) for example, how is Lucas in the team going to ensure Shelvey & co put their chances away, it's a fallacy.

[stmichael]

nobody is saying he's going to turn other players into world beaters but the fact that we looked like we had a midfield at all yesterday was evidence enough to me of how much we've missed him. he just gives us so much more balance. we have to buy proper backup though.

[SouthCoastShankly]

Are you saying that Lucas will not miraculously cure Shelvey's alopecia? I bet he's gutted.

Not as gutted as you are.

I've not seen the match highlights (just about to) but according to the match reports having Lucas in the midfield completely changed the dynamic. Whilst on this occasion our midfield failed to score again you only have to see what having Mascherano in the midfield did for Gerrard a few years back. Having complete faith that the midfield defensive duties are in good hands and no longer a massive concern could prove what is needed for the likes of Gerrard, Allen and Shelvey to get forward more and influence play far higher up the pitch. Including contribution to the score sheet.

Not really a believer of this theory and I wouldn't be putting all my eggs in this basket.

Gerrard is past it, he won't/can't threaten teams like he used to.
Allen isn't an out and out attacking midfielder.
Shelvey is a donkey.

None of these midfielders mentioned are game changers, that's the crux of it.

So, whether they're all "assured" of Lucas's capabilities or not in midfield it won't make them suddenly become instrumental up the other end. Like I said, there has been no inclination so far this season that letting anyone of these players off the "leash" is going to cause opponents damage. Remember Shelvey's fluff against Wigan (I think) for example, how is Lucas in the team going to ensure Shelvey & co put their chances away, it's a fallacy.

Fair enough, I disagree. I think the new balance to the side will see more goals from midfield, including Shelvey.

As for your petty attempts to bate me with "Shelvey is a donkey" comments. I didn't see the game yesterday but the highlights showed Shelvey in a different light to your view. I thought he was bloody unlucky not to score to be honest.

[Kenny Kan]

As for your petty attempts to bate me with "Shelvey is a donkey" comments. I didn't see the game yesterday but the highlights showed Shelvey in a different light to your view. I thought he was bloody unlucky not to score to be honest. 

I'm not baiting you.

You need to watch the 90 mins.

He was unlucky when he hit the post. He was also donkey-esq at other times, the ones that weren't obviously highlighted.

[alwayslfc]

Lucas as far as I can see and to date is an important and vital cog of the first team. Have you noticed that prior to his horific injury at S.Bridge with him in the side, we still had a fighting chance of finishing 4th. It was all downhill for the rest of the season in his absence. Could it be the Lucas factor, now that he is back, I hope so. He is a vital member of the squad but to be a club legend, I don't think so, not to that extent.