Liverpool FC Forum

[Stu the Red]

One or two rumours that the news isn't too good regarding his injury, talk of him missing 3 months or more.
What date is it today? The 19th? If we don't go out and buy a DM in the next week or so then we are stuck with Gerrard as our holding midfielder for the rest of the season.

If true, I think his career at LFC is done.

That would be fantastic news. Maybe we could offload him to Villa or Hull or some other average team with average player where he belongs.

Or maybe or City or Chelsea will buy him and try to build a league winning side around him...

[kazza]

One or two rumours that the news isn't too good regarding his injury, talk of him missing 3 months or more.
What date is it today? The 19th? If we don't go out and buy a DM in the next week or so then we are stuck with Gerrard as our holding midfielder for the rest of the season.

If true, I think his career at LFC is done.

That would be fantastic news. Maybe we could offload him to Villa or Hull or some other average team with average player where he belongs.

Or maybe or City or Chelsea will buy him and try to build a league winning side around him...

or maybe you can take his place   

[Kopite-Jud]

If you don't think Lucas makes a difference to our team then you're an idiot

Makes more tackles and retains possession more than 99% of people in the league, if you don't understand the importance of this then you are an idiot.

[supersub]

If you don't think Lucas makes a difference to our team then you're an idiot

Makes more tackles and retains possession more than 99% of people in the league, if you don't understand the importance of this then you are an idiot.

Stockbridge Village Idiot   that he is

[damjan193]

Confirmed out for 2 months with a medial ligament damage.

We have only 3 midfielders now (4 if you include Alberto who hasn't started a game yet), and with Gerrard and Allen being injury prone, the owners will be playing a dangerous game if they don't give the green light for a new midfielder in the following days. I'd seriously question their ambitions as well. This is the closest we've been in years to finish in the top 4 (actually we've hardly even been out of the top 4 this season) and if they don't think that now is the time to invest then I don't know when it will be.

[eds]

Confirmed out for 2 months with a medial ligament damage.

We have only 3 midfielders now (4 if you include Alberto who hasn't started a game yet), and with Gerrard and Allen being injury prone, the owners will be playing a dangerous game if they don't give the green light for a new midfielder in the following days. I'd seriously question their ambitions as well. This is the closest we've been in years to finish in the top 4 (actually we've hardly even been out of the top 4 this season) and if they don't think that now is the time to invest then I don't know when it will be.

That's right mate, I will say it for the 5th time on this forum WE NEED A QUALITY CENTER MIDFIELDER RIGHT NOW, preferably a DM that can do a little more than just tackle and make tidy passes like Lucas.

There is nowhere to hide this time Henry and Werner, enough of the yank jibba and jabba AND STAMP UP THE CASH!

We are on the cusp of getting 4th and pushing for the title next season with our current attacking options. Don't p**s it away on this strict "we must be financially frugal" bs.

[parchpea]

A dog will run after a ball all day long and be quick enough to take it away from your feet, but its no idea what to do with it after that. This is Lucas.

We need someone that can take it and use it, a top class player, and f@uck Lucas (bless him), football is hard knocks and tough decisions and he knows it.

This guy has been stinking out the midfield as a charity case for long enough now and we need to move on.

[kazza]

Lucas is a coach's player that follows instructions well, probably why the last four managers have used him when fit. He is tidy and consistent and allows the more creative players to be more creative. He shows for every ball and is an important link in a team sport. He is not a "Hollywood passer" but is a good outlet to keep the ball moving. I do not see why some seem to signal him out as the reason we are failing. He seems to get blamed for tactical mistakes when he is just a cog doing his part. I would like a better midfielder that can add a little extra but Lucas will always be able to be a steady and reliable squad player, since.... He he is a good professional and follows instructions well.

Sadly I prefer him to Gerrard in that role.

[Ben Patrick]

Lucas is a coach's player that follows instructions well, probably why the last four managers have used him when fit. He is tidy and consistent and allows the more creative players to be more creative. He shows for every ball and is an important link in a team sport. He is not a "Hollywood passer" but is a good outlet to keep the ball moving. I do not see why some seem to signal him out as the reason we are failing. He seems to get blamed for tactical mistakes when he is just a cog doing his part. I would like a better midfielder that can add a little extra but Lucas will always be able to be a steady and reliable squad player, since.... He he is a good professional and follows instructions well.

Sadly I prefer him to Gerrard in that role.

Kazza I actually dont think he shows for the ball well enough.

Nowhere near as much as Allen does. That is why I will reserve judgement on Gerrard playing the deeper role until he has had the chance to play it with two players in front of him that have energy, legs and show for a pass consistently.
By that I mean moving into good positions for a pass.
Lucas will show once, receive the ball pass it short and then stand still. Allen and Henderson once they pass it actually look to move the opposing midfield players around by making runs off them.

[devaney]

Thank god for that!

For somebody that claims to have played the game at some sort of professional level you really do come out with the most unnecessary load of absolute shite at times. Lucas may not be the greatest DF in the world but he is a loyal and extremely determined lad and he is is one of ours. If you couldn't see that by trying to accommodate the ageing Gerrard was one of the key reasons for our lacklustre performance against Villa then you really need to go to Specsavers !!

Shame on you Stu - call yourself a Red. Your getting as bad as fkg Betty.

[Ben Patrick]

Thank god for that!

For somebody that claims to have played the game at some sort of professional level you really do come out with the most unnecessary load of absolute shite at times. Lucas may not be the greatest DF in the world but he is a loyal and extremely determined lad and he is is one of ours. If you couldn't see that by trying to accommodate the ageing Gerrard was one of the key reasons for our lacklustre performance against Villa then you really need to go to Specsavers !!

Shame on you Stu - call yourself a Red. Your getting as bad as fkg Betty.

The reason for the lacklustre display against Villa was the fact that we had only 2 midfielders.
Swap Coutinho, Sturridge or Sterling for Lucas OR Allen and we'd have won that game.
The balance of the side was a joke.

[devaney]

Thank god for that!

For somebody that claims to have played the game at some sort of professional level you really do come out with the most unnecessary load of absolute shite at times. Lucas may not be the greatest DF in the world but he is a loyal and extremely determined lad and he is is one of ours. If you couldn't see that by trying to accommodate the ageing Gerrard was one of the key reasons for our lacklustre performance against Villa then you really need to go to Specsavers !!

Shame on you Stu - call yourself a Red. Your getting as bad as fkg Betty.

The reason for the lacklustre display against Villa was the fact that we had only 2 midfielders.
Swap Coutinho, Sturridge or Sterling for Lucas OR Allen and we'd have won that game.
The balance of the side was a joke.

Good excuse maybe for the first half Ben but we did what you suggested in the second half and still didn't score more goals in the second half than we did in the first? I like Gerrard but at the moment it is about accommodating him in a position that is more suited to his pace and fitness. I would have preferred we tried him at right back and Johnson at left back.

[jacdaniel]

In Kenny's full season as manager, Lucas got injured badly in December.  He was ruled out for the rest of the year. 
2nd half of that season we had relegation form which eventually led to Kenny getting sacked.
In Rodgers first season, Lucas missed september to december or so.  He came back into the team and we started playing well.  (although everyone will say that was down to Coutinho and Sturridge).

First half against Villa.  No lucas and we are 2 - 0 down.  All down to Villa having an extra man in midfield? 

The point is... we have always struggled without Lucas in the team. 
If Lucas is going to miss the majority of this season we would be mad not to sign a proper DM and it could potentially cost us our season.

[Ben Patrick]

We also didnt concede any more goals, suggesting the shape was better once the extra player had some on.

In answer to your question on why we didnt score anymore. One reason may be because we had started all our good attacking players so didnt have a decent game changing option off the bench.
Had we left Sturridge, Coutinho or Sterling on the bench and played a balanced side we would have also had the option of bringing one of them on about 60-65 minutes.
This is what he did against Stoke and it gave the team an injection of pace for the last half hour.

I dont know whether Gerrard will do well in this role in front of the back four, but I wont blame him for the 2 points dropped against Villa.

[Ben Patrick]

In Kenny's full season as manager, Lucas got injured badly in December.  He was ruled out for the rest of the year. 
2nd half of that season we had relegation form which eventually led to Kenny getting sacked.
In Rodgers first season, Lucas missed september to december or so.  He came back into the team and we started playing well.  (although everyone will say that was down to Coutinho and Sturridge).

First half against Villa.  No lucas and we are 2 - 0 down.  All down to Villa having an extra man in midfield? 

The point is... we have always struggled without Lucas in the team. 
If Lucas is going to miss the majority of this season we would be mad not to sign a proper DM and it could potentially cost us our season.

I'm not having that about the league form one bit mate.

We had given up on the league for me and lost games near the end to the likes of Fulham at home as we were focused on the FA cup.
Lucas is a steady eddie but doesnt offer anywhere near enough for me.

I honestly dont think he will be very difficult to replace if we want to bring in another defensive style midfielder.
There are links with De Jong this morning who could easily come in and do that job.