Liverpool FC Forum

bigmick wrote:I only saw the highlights of the game, but Lucas continues to impress. I'm not sure about the comparison of his passing range to Alonso and Masherano (or indeed about the comparison between those two but no matter) he clearly is a very talented footballer.

Each time I see him, he looks more and more "Arsenalish" in the way he plays the game, and Saints little jibe at the press which was totally justified brought it back to me. He reminds me much more of Fabregas than of any of our midfileders, and such is his talent just about the only concern I have is when he is going to play. Once Alonso gets fit, it's hard to see Rafa selecting him too often in front of any two of Alonso, Gerrard and Masherano. That in itself isn't a massive problem, and if the kid is happy to play bit-part for eigteen months or so then we may have a player. I like him a lot.

As for Sissoko, then i would have thought that he is going to have to be sacrificed should we sign Masherano. Once again, for what it's worth I would probably take the view that the seventeen million squid or whatever his salary and transfers would come to could probably be better spent elsewhere given the quality we've got, but Rafa doesn't agree so Momo will probably be cashed in. If it is to an English club, my suspicion is that he will become a far, far better player than most of us imagine.

weringo wrote:

bigmick wrote:Yeah I said on another thread Igor he's all 360 looks when he hasn't got it, good body shapes so he can ping it first time and little drifts into pockets of space. It's early doors with him obviously, and I've probably only seen him play in total for about an hour and a hlaf but I think he's more of an offensive midfielder than a defensive one. He looks intelligent enough to play either role, but if he can arrive in the penalty area like he drifts into space in the congested centre circle, he should have a goal in him.

He looks more like a deep-lying playmaker to me, the closest player to him in the world imo is Pirlo, and I agree with what you said about him being an Arsenal-type player. Every time he gets on the ball he looks so comfortable and composed, you just know he isn't going to give the ball away cheaply.

I can see Rafa's logic in taking Gerrard off for him in the Everton game, although I don't agree with the decision.

mungi wrote:with all due respect lucas should not be compared to pirlo. lucas doesnt have the range of passing pirlo has and his role is different to pirlo. pirlo is purely a playmaker while lucas is a Dm/box to box player. to compare these two is insane

Owzat wrote:

Big Niall wrote:Funny how people are saying Momo should be sold, I remember people saying he was going to be better than Viera - one man of the match performance and you'll be saying he should be captain.

The funniest thing is people couldn't see how one dimensional he was, he may be 'young' but I doubt we'll see the kind of improvements in passing, ball skills and shooting that would make him in the same street as Vieira.

I could make a case for Sissoko being the worst signing ever, I think Sissoko is doing it for me right now!

Lionel Messi is still finding bits of fluff from Momos pocket in his hair from our game at the Camp Nou last season lad, so dont join the peewee brigade and go over the top on this one eh ?

john craig wrote:Getting a bit carried away here lads - Fabregas? Pirlo?  Lucas hasn't done nearly enough to be mentioned in the same breath as these guys.

He does look a good prospect though.  Always shows for the ball and is comfortable on it.  Likes a tackle too.  So far I'd agree that he plays like a deep-lying playmaker - a similar role that Alonso does so well for us.  But he also hints that because he's been playing alongside Gerard who bombs forward a lot, he has been told to sit deeper.  I think in time he'll fancy himself as a box-to-box midfielder, but I can only ever see him getting a chance to do that when Gerrard is not playing.  Even at that, as Mick says, when Alonso gets fit, Lucas will probably only get the odd apperance this season.

I think the reason he was bought was because apart from Gerrard, none of our centre-mids get into the opposition box too often and we are lacking in that area when Gerrard doesn't play.  I think Lucas was bought as another attacking option from centre-mid and in time we'll see him as more of a box-to-box player.

Unfortunately a lot depends on how he continues to develop.  Not long ago Sissoko came into the side and most were singing his praises.  A few years on and he hasn't improved at all I don't think.  Most would agree it's probably time to move him on as it loks like he's 5th choice centre-mid these days.