Liverpool FC Forum

[woof woof !]

So many issues with what your suggesting (apart from the fact it will never happen)

Just because you rate a youngster amongst his peers (let's be honest neither Flanagan or Coady has dislodged a senior player to date) what makes you think he is ready for a permanent place in the senior side. The reason I worry about Spearing is lack of physical presence in the midfield. Coady and/or Flanagan would get eaten alive IMO, hence why young players tned to be blooded on the fringes of the pitch where they are far more likely to be using pace and skills as opposed to physical strength in the middle of the park.

Don't get me wrong I rate lots of our youth team but to suggest they are ready to deputise for Lucas is just naive. Thanks god Kenny has more sense.

The thought of even suggesting a youngster in such an important position on the pitch is ridiculous. Imagine the risks.

1) The lad makes mistakes through pressure, our season possibly ruined, his career potentially ruined (we seen bigger potential stars fail)

2) Someone like Henry (Wolves), Mikel (Chelsea) challenges as hard as they would normally and breaks the kid's leg?

Aside from the arguments above both Shelvey and Spearing are better placed to replace the role Lucas vacates. You may not rate either that much, I admit I rate Shelvey over Spearing, but regardless they are far better placed in terms of senior side experience than any youth player. They carry far less risk. Shelvey and Spearing may have a record of under performing but they have never been a liability.

You have totally misread what I'm saying .

Spearing is my choice to cover Lucas and i think the lad will do well there as he has never let our side down yet

My reference to Coady was in response to someone saying put Flanagan there ! Coady IMO will be a good player to have as back up and I think Kenny would have no problems putting him in there if needed as cover and the lad will certainly not have any problems with the physical side .

As for Shelvey - another type of player IMO and not a replacement for Lucas and surprised he was recalled

[SouthCoastShankly]

You have totally misread what I'm saying .

Spearing is my choice to cover Lucas and i think the lad will do well there as he has never let our side down yet

My reference to Coady was in response to someone saying put Flanagan there ! Coady IMO will be a good player to have as back up and I think Kenny would have no problems putting him in there if needed as cover and the lad will certainly not have any problems with the physical side .

As for Shelvey - another type of player IMO and not a replacement for Lucas and surprised he was recalled

Fair enough.

In my opinion I actually think Shelvey will get far more of an opportunity to deputise for Lucas than Spearing.

To me it seems Shelvey's loan spell was driven to 1) get him regular games at a decent level, 2) have him match ready for a recall.

Shelvey is a match fitness sense will be far better prepared and ready to run than Spearing. I also think he can offer more than Spearing. But that said, how the partnership with Adam will work will be interesting.

I could easily see a Shelvey - Adam midfield away to Fulham on Monday night.

[Benny The Noon]

Shelvey has spent the whole of his loan period playin off a striker hence the number of goals he has scored - no way should he be paired with Adam - zero defensive protection

[SouthCoastShankly]

Shelvey has spent the whole of his loan period playin off a striker hence the number of goals he has scored - no way should he be paired with Adam - zero defensive protection

Not really.

Blackppol have been playing and have always played 4-4-2. Shelvey has been playing in CM.

Besides I disagree that Adam cannot do the defensive role, in the last few games he has been defensively brilliant, his tracking back and tackling has been a world apart from where he was at the start of the season. Not a problem for me, I would give Adam the holding role and let Shelvey to continue in the role he has played for Blackpool for the last 3 months.

[Raoul]

I'd put Spearing in as a direct replacement. Not convinced Adam or Shelvey is the answer for that role. I think though that in some games where Kenny might chose to play Lucas + one in the middle, he'd be best to play Spearing + two.

Get well soon Gerard!

[SouthCoastShankly]

I'd put Spearing in as a direct replacement. Not convinced Adam or Shelvey is the answer for that role. I think though that in some games where Kenny might chose to play Lucas + one in the middle, he'd be best to play Spearing + two.

Get well soon Gerard!

Houllier is better??

[andy_g]

the main reasons that lucas has been so effective is his dynamism around the field and terrier like hassling combined with his positional discipline. this simple fact for me disqualifies all but one of the candidates to stand in for him.

adam just can't cover enough ground
shelvey is not a great tackler and is always looking to get forward
gerrard has no positional discipline whatsoever
henderson has the energy but is not by any means a terrier and will unlikely be able to hold himself back either

for me spearing is the only one that has enough energy and bite and who will also stay back as required.

[Ola Mr Benitez]

Spearing has never let us down (apart from the peno he caused when some on here blamed Carra? ).  He is the ideal replacement for Lucas and will do well IMO

[Benny The Noon]

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the Reds have lost their 'best player' after midfielder Lucas was ruled out for the season.

The Brazilian suffered cruciate ligament damage during Tuesday night's Carling Cup success over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and is now facing a long spell on the sidelines.
Lucas has established himself as a key member of the Anfield outfit's engine room, having previously been regarded with disdain by many supporters.
And veteran centre-back Carragher feels that his impact over this season and last term has been as significant as that provided by star striker Luis Suarez.
The former England international said: "For the last 18 months, in my opinion, he has been our best player.
"Luis has come in and done great things for the club, but Lucas has been his equal in many ways.
"He has been as good as anyone in the team this season."
And Carragher has saluted Lucas for the way he has stood firm and won the fans over following his £5million move from Gremio in July 2007.
"I have been there in terms of receiving criticism," the 33-year-old added.
"High standards are expected when you play for one of the big clubs and there are plenty of examples of players who have gone missing after realising the demands on them.
"But you can tell he is a top player as he never let that bother him - he just got on with it and plays in nearly every game.
"If he has a little knock, he will always try and carry on, doing his best for us. There are lots of different characters but you can't fault Lucas."

[Raoul]

I'd put Spearing in as a direct replacement. Not convinced Adam or Shelvey is the answer for that role. I think though that in some games where Kenny might chose to play Lucas + one in the middle, he'd be best to play Spearing + two.

Get well soon Gerard!

Houllier is better??

Can't believe I did that.

[Kenny Kan]

If we have more than a one goal lead (Yeah,Yeah, I know, but stay with me here) late in a game, I wouldn't mind seeing Flanno getting asked to go out and try to play in front of the back four.  He's a decent all arounder, can play the ball with both feet, decent pace, can tackle.  As things are now with Johnson and Kelly ahead of him, Right Back is going to be really difficult for him to break through, why not give it shot?

That's not such a bad suggestion, I remember Stevie starting at RB in his early days. Flanno can play.

Give Coady a chance .

ok

Sorry that didnt come across well

what i meant was if we have any probs with Spearing then why dont we put a player in there who is a natural and has a very bright future and doing extremely well at youth and reserve Level - Conor Coady , as opposed to a solid right back who was ok for us and has played in the middle once for the reserves .

ok

[woof woof !]

So many issues with what your suggesting (apart from the fact it will never happen)

Just because you rate a youngster amongst his peers (let's be honest neither Flanagan or Coady has dislodged a senior player to date) what makes you think he is ready for a permanent place in the senior side. The reason I worry about Spearing is lack of physical presence in the midfield. Coady and/or Flanagan would get eaten alive IMO, hence why young players tned to be blooded on the fringes of the pitch where they are far more likely to be using pace and skills as opposed to physical strength in the middle of the park.

Don't get me wrong I rate lots of our youth team but to suggest they are ready to deputise for Lucas is just naive. Thanks god Kenny has more sense.

The thought of even suggesting a youngster in such an important position on the pitch is ridiculous. Imagine the risks.

1) The lad makes mistakes through pressure, our season possibly ruined, his career potentially ruined (we seen bigger potential stars fail)

2) Someone like Henry (Wolves), Mikel (Chelsea) challenges as hard as they would normally and breaks the kid's leg?

Aside from the arguments above both Shelvey and Spearing are better placed to replace the role Lucas vacates. You may not rate either that much, I admit I rate Shelvey over Spearing, but regardless they are far better placed in terms of senior side experience than any youth player. They carry far less risk. Shelvey and Spearing may have a record of under performing but they have never been a liability.

What makes you think a reserve player like Shelvey can come back from Blackpool on loan and do Lucas' job, for one their totally different players. Perhaps it's you who is nave.

The thought of even suggesting a youngster in such an important position on the pitch is ridiculous

Shelvey's hardly a member of Dad' Army himself (he still has a lot of development re his game to do yet) and doesn't warrant a starting berth over Spearing.

[SouthCoastShankly]

What makes you think a reserve player like Shelvey can come back from Blackpool on loan and do Lucas' job, for one their totally different players. Perhaps it's you who is nave.

The thought of even suggesting a youngster in such an important position on the pitch is ridiculous

Shelvey's hardly a member of Dad' Army himself (he still has a lot of development re his game to do yet) and doesn't warrant a starting berth over Spearing.

Well if you had read on a few posts you would of seen that I had moved on from suggesting that Shelvey could deputise as a DM for Lucas. In fact I doubt any player could achieve the same role as Lucas offered, including Spearing.

My argument was why suggest a youth team member to replace Lucas, which clearly represents a high risk strategy, when we have adequate midfield cover within the squad. It may mean a slight change in roles but it has to better than risking an undeveloped youth player.

[Kenny Kan]

The suggestion of Flanno playing there was just that - a suggestion.

Adam won't do the job you alluded to 'further on' in your posts, therefore Spearing would be the best option, ahead of Shelvey.

[7_Kewell]

this might be a crazy suggestion...but what about playing Carra there?