Liverpool FC Forum

by **woof woof !** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:22 pm

At a time when many are questioning Alonso's worth to the team I find myself thinking "Well, just how special is Lucas ? "

This is not meant as having a dig at Lucas but let's face it for a Brazilian midfielder the fella has yet to produce a flash of magic you would normally expect from a player with his pedigree and heritage and despite Alonso's below par season I fail to see why some think it wouldn't be a major loss if Alonso should go and so little is said about Lucas' less than newsworthy performances given that after Gerrard and Mascherano the third place midfield spot falls to either Alonso or Lucas.

Lucas is neat , he's tidy , erm ....... I'm hard pressed to say anything else apart from he's also very lightweight , gets brushed off the ball and decked by any opposing player that puts in a serious challenge and the majority of his own tackles seem to result in a free kick for the opposition. Offers little in terms of goal threat or creativity.

As far as I'm concerned Lucas' performances for us have so far been distinctly average, don't see that the lad has any real future with us, apart from being a handy fill in when Mascher is unavailable, or am I missing something ?

by **Fo Dne** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:31 pm

woof woof ! wrote:At a time when many are questioning Alonso's worth to the team I find myself thinking "Well, just how special is Lucas ? "

This is not meant as having a dig at Lucas but let's face it for a Brazilian midfielder the fella has yet to produce a flash of magic you would normally expect from a player with his pedigree and heritage and despite Alonso's below par season I fail to see why some think it wouldn't be a major loss if Alonso should go and so little is said about Lucas' less than newsworthy performances given that after Gerrard and Mascherano the third place midfield spot falls to either Alonso or Lucas.

Lucas is neat , he's tidy , erm ....... I'm hard pressed to say anything else apart from he's also very lightweight , gets brushed off the ball and decked by any opposing player that puts in a serious challenge and the majority of his own tackles seem to result in a free kick for the opposition. Offers little in terms of goal threat or creativity.

As far as I'm concerned Lucas' performances for us have so far been distinctly average, don't see that the lad has any real future with us, apart from being a handy fill in when Mascher is unavailable, or am I missing something ?

He's world class and the next big thing, he plays for Liverpool so how dare you dismiss his "potential" to be a footballing god.

To me he looks a decent player who lacks confidence, seems quite intelligent, but whether he has the confidence to really use his intelligence in the same way a player like Fabregas or Scholes does is another matter.

Can't mae my mind up about him at all. Really can't.

by **woof woof !** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:35 pm

Fo Dne wrote:
woof woof ! wrote:At a time when many are questioning Alonso's worth to the team I find myself thinking "Well, just how special is Lucas ? "

This is not meant as having a dig at Lucas but let's face it for a Brazilian midfielder the fella has yet to produce a flash of magic you would normally expect from a player with his pedigree and heritage and despite Alonso's below par season I fail to see why some think it wouldn't be a major loss if Alonso should go and so little is said about Lucas' less than newsworthy performances given that after Gerrard and Mascherano the third place midfield spot falls to either Alonso or Lucas.

Lucas is neat , he's tidy , erm ....... I'm hard pressed to say anything else apart from he's also very lightweight , gets brushed off the ball and decked by any opposing player that puts in a serious challenge and the majority of his own tackles seem to result in a free kick for the opposition. Offers little in terms of goal threat or creativity.

As far as I'm concerned Lucas' performances for us have so far been distinctly average, don't see that the lad has any real future with us, apart from being a handy fill in when Mascher is unavailable, or am I missing something ?

He's world class and the next big thing, he plays for Liverpool so how dare you dismiss his "potential" to be a footballing god.

To me he looks a decent player who lacks confidence, seems quite intelligent, but whether he has the confidence to really use his intelligence in the same way a player like Fabregas or Scholes does is another matter.

Can't mae my mind up about him at all. Really can't.

I knew there was at least one reason for not red carding you again .

Cheers Stu, can sleep easy having read your in depth analysis.

by **NiftyNeil** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:36 pm

I thought he had a better game for us today. He put in a good steady performance, but I have to agree with you. Whenever he plays, I always wonder what does he actually do? He doesn't seem an out and out defensive midfielder, not an all action attacking midfielder. He is capable on the ball, he has a decent shot on him, but other than that, I haven't seen much.
If you look at our midfielders, Masch is an action man just in front of the defence breaking down play and always full of energy. Alonso takes up a similar position but is more gracefull on the ball, he is calmer, he can breakdown play, but his speciality is is distribution. Gerrard, well we all know what his strengths are. Even Momo was a specialist in what he did, he covered the pitch like no other. He would chase the ball all day and retrieve possesion when lost. Lucas does none of this, he's just steady.

by **tubby** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:41 pm

I think like Babel he needs more time before his worth to the team is fully realised. (or until we realise how :censored:

he is)

by **account deleted by request** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:51 pm

I think Lucas shows much more of his ability coming forward than he does defensively(bit lightweight as you say Woof). I think he has shown enough to suggest he will adapt and if given license to come forward more will be a good buy. Just how good I am not sure, but I think he will be top quality within two years.

I thought he had a good game today (second half) and just needs to build his confidence back up after a few disappointing games.

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:55 pm

This system doesn't suit Lucas. He's to lightweight and dallies a bit to much to play deeply in this league. He has to play further forward, like he did today. He's a good player, fair enough he's not a Gerrard but how many are? Couple of years and I think we'll see the best of him.

by **metalhead** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:57 pm

As stu said, he looks really intelligent and a very good player. He needs to build up his confidence and its up to him to do that. I'll be patient with him, next season will decide if he is good enough or not

by **woof woof !** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:03 pm

But , Bav , Saint and GBJH , the fella can't hold off a challenge without falling over and apparently cant make a clean tackle, so how long do we give him ? and (back to the nub of my original post) should we feel comfortable about talk of letting Alonso go when at the moment after Gerrard and Mascherano , Lucas is our only senior midfield replacement?

by **JC_81** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:04 pm

I don't mind Lucas, but I'll admit I don't think he's anything special. Neat and tidy, decent tackler, good enough passer, sound positionally. Although it doesn't say that much for him the fact that even though Alonso doesn't seem the player he was these days, I'd still have him in the team ahead of Lucas.

by **metalhead** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:08 pm

woof woof ! wrote:But , Bav , Saint and GBJH , the fella can't hold off a challenge without falling over and apparently cant make a clean tackle, so how long do we give him ? and (back to the nub of my original post) should we feel comfortable about talk of letting Alonso go when at the moment after Gerrard and Mascherano , Lucas is our only senior midfield replacement?

I think he is a good tackler, has shown it in a couple of games this season. He just needs some confidence mate, I would him give him next season and see how he fairs.

by **woof woof !** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:14 pm

metalhead wrote:
woof woof ! wrote:But , Bav , Saint and GBJH , the fella can't hold off a challenge without falling over and apparently cant make a clean tackle, so how long do we give him ? and (back to the nub of my original post) should we feel comfortable about talk of letting Alonso go when at the moment after Gerrard and Mascherano , Lucas is our only senior midfield replacement?

I think he is a good tackler, has shown it in a couple of games this season. He just needs some confidence mate, I would him give him next season and see how he fairs.

Well I did ask "Am i missing something" and maybe I'm missing all the great tackles he makes as I just seem to see "Lucas makes tackle, ref gives the oppo a free kick"

by **metalhead** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:17 pm

woof woof ! wrote:
metalhead wrote:
woof woof ! wrote:But , Bav , Saint and GBJH , the fella can't hold off a challenge without falling over and apparently cant make a clean tackle, so how long do we give him ? and (back to the nub of my original post) should we feel comfortable about talk of letting Alonso go when at the moment after Gerrard and Mascherano , Lucas is our only senior midfield replacement?

I think he is a good tackler, has shown it in a couple of games this season. He just needs some confidence mate, I would him give him next season and see how he fairs.

Well I did ask "Am i missing something" and maybe I'm missing all the great tackles he makes as I just seem to see "Lucas makes tackle, ref gives the oppo a free kick"

Your missing something mate

Seriously, its true sometimes he mistimes his tackles, but he does show some glimpses in the field that shows he has ability to become an excellent player. I think he has potential, but he needs to use his ability at the right time and the right place (so its all about confidence).

by **King Carra** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:20 pm

You can't really judge Lucas in this formation as he's not a defensive midfielder. Saying that I thought he played well today. Was a little below par in the 1st half, but I thought he was really good in the 2nd half. He's still adjusting to the Premier League. Granted I think he needs to build up some muscles or else he'll find himself being shoved off the ball too easily the more he plays.

by **account deleted by request** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:29 pm

woof woof ! wrote:But , Bav , Saint and GBJH , the fella can't hold off a challenge without falling over and apparently cant make a clean tackle, so how long do we give him ? and (back to the nub of my original post) should we feel comfortable about talk of letting Alonso go when at the moment after Gerrard and Mascherano , Lucas is our only senior midfield replacement?

We also have Plessis, who made a good impression against Arsenal, and if Alonso doesn't start showing a little more than he has the last few games I would be thinking of only playing him in Europe anyway. I can't remember the last league game he had when he played really well (maybe first few games of the season?)

Alonso is a great player given time to pick his passes and time to position himself, unfortunately the prem (and our new formation) rarely allows players this luxury and he doesn't seem to have found the answer yet. While Lucas and Plessis may not be the immediate answer, I think we could certainly cope without him on this form next season.

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