Liverpool FC Forum

Totally agree yakka. The midfield in the first two games has been outstanding in the first hour. But like you said both gerrard and lucas have faded badly in both games and it has meant we have been pinned back. Rodgers is taking too long with subs for me and we won't get away with conceding so much territory and possession all of the time. Allen should have been on earlier.

Lucas was horrible the last half hour yesterday.

Too many needless fouls, holding on to the ball too long and players running past him easily.

I know we have limited funds and have to prioritise where we buy but Lucas is not good enough.

I don't know where you guys are getting this from. We lost steam in the final 15-10 against Stoke but against Villa we were mostly in control despite not having the ball. Villa pressed and pressed but they did nothing because they suck at breaking down teams. Their chances came by accident. Beneteke's second strike came after Agger cleared it and the ball came back and the rest of their chances were from a corner. If the DM's didn't do their jobs Villa wouldn't have had so few chances and shots at goal. Lucas, along with Toure, was actually my MOTM yesterday.

If everyone is thinking the same then possibly there is something there ?

But we certainly were not in control for the last 30 mins - we went too deep , we got away with it because of a very good save from Mignolet.

Benny The Noon » Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:07 pm wrote:If everyone is thinking the same then possibly there is something there ?

You would know wouldn't you?

damjan193 » Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:10 pm wrote:

Benny The Noon » Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:07 pm wrote:If everyone is thinking the same then possibly there is something there ?

You would know wouldn't you?

Well it appears that way with what most people are saying about the midfield and the way they dropped deep yesterday and looked tired.

still a concern for me. still don't think the balance is right.

i think gerrard and lucas work well together as a pair but in a 4-3-3 the CM`s are asked to do a hell lot of work and i dont think either of them are capable of playing at such a high intensity for 90 minutes.
in his mid 20`s gerrard would have done it with his eyes closed (without getting out of second gear) but he`s 32/33 now and had a lot of injuries. lucas himself spent a year on the sidelines not that long ago with an injury that ended players careers just 30 years ago.
the warning signs were there last season, in quite a few games we were over run in the middle and it was only when hendo came into the side to add some much needed athleticism that we seemed to steady the ship but we also had downing in the side back then too and he was the type of wideman who was concious of his defensive duties and would track back and help out.
this season with aspas, coutinho and sturridge we have 3 very attack minded players leading the line so gerrard and lucas are probably having to do even more work.
i dont think it`s that much of a problem just as long as brendan goes to the bench around the 70/75 minute mark and brings on 2 new CM`s.
i`m not saying they arent playing well, in both games for the first hour gerrard and lucas have ran the show i`m just saying rodgers needs to use his bench more near the end of games.

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:44 pm wrote:i think gerrard and lucas work well together as a pair but in a 4-3-3 the CM`s are asked to do a hell lot of work and i dont think either of them are capable of playing at such a high intensity for 90 minutes.
in his mid 20`s gerrard would have done it with his eyes closed (without getting out of second gear) but he`s 32/33 now and had a lot of injuries. lucas himself spent a year on the sidelines not that long ago with an injury that ended players careers just 30 years ago.
the warning signs were there last season, in quite a few games we were over run in the middle and it was only when hendo came into the side to add some much needed athleticism that we seemed to steady the ship but we also had downing in the side back then too and he was the type of wideman who was concious of his defensive duties and would track back and help out.
this season with aspas, coutinho and sturridge we have 3 very attack minded players leading the line so gerrard and lucas are probably having to do even more work.
i dont think it`s that much of a problem just as long as brendan goes to the bench around the 70/75 minute mark and brings on 2 new CM`s.
i`m not saying they arent playing well, in both games for the first hour gerrard and lucas have ran the show i`m just saying rodgers needs to use his bench more near the end of games.

Totally concur ,Gerrard was physically exhausted around the 70th minute mark ,and the introduction of some younger legs such as Alberto would
have given us far greater ball retention . That said I thought the introduction of Cissokho was a clever move on Rodgers part ,he ran the lines
perfectly and his experience  gave us some much needed impetus .

I dont rate Lucas in the starting midfield, although I know some of you do. He's never done anything in a red shirt thats made me go..."wow".
Nor do I rate joe allen.
We need a Yaya Toure type player in there.

Do you have any suggestions ?

The role the Lucas plays in the team isn't a "wow" role - nor is it a typical Yaya Toure role - if you are talking bursting forward Toure.

I know hes not playing that role, but thats what the midfield needs if we buy anyone. A box to box player.

So who do you suggest ? It's quite a specific role where you do need quality in there and a box to box midfielder normally has a lot of power on their game.

Can think of many names who would be available at the minute.
and then theres the job of attracting them to the club wen we aint in the champions league.
Van der Vaart?

Van Der Vaart Box to Box