This was for the Lucas thread but I think we need an overall discussion about what to expect from our players in regards to assists and goals
The idea is a discussion about all players but I did Lucas. A few observations about Lucas that others here might explore deeper so we can get a better understanding of his potential.
He is ace off the ball. He runs into all the right areas and he directs his sidekicks where to cover etc.. He wins the ball, he tackles. I don't think we can get a better player at HM for the price. It's really good value for money. This I think we all agree on. So the interesting question is if he the tools to improve the areas where we need more from a HM, isn't it? Some might even argue it's not needed which is only interesting.
He has absolutely no confidence in terms of dribbling or in any form carrying the ball forward. It's all about the pass. This makes him predictable. He get's more space as the match progresses because there is little reason to apply pressure on a player like him that always opts for the easy pass sideways. If he could get the confidence back and carry the ball at times it would make more room for others and make us more difficult to handle. He is so focused on not making stupid mistakes on the ball which is obviously important but imagine if he could use the space a little better. Looking at the player we got in 2007 I think the ability is there.
On the final third he looks for the easy pass to the side but interesting enough he connects the deep passes almost every time he tries down the field to Coutinho, Gerrard and Sterling. At about 4:50 into the compilation (in the Lucas Thread page 5) he wins the ball just outside the box and immediately throws it back wide to Moreno instead of going for the more interesting option of carrying the ball towards the box and create something with Gerrard or Coutinho. It's typical Lucas. It's a Volvo. Boxy but safe. Being shoehorned into a HM has made him abandon any and all creative approach to the game in terms of risk and technical football and I would love to see him reach a level of confidence where he started to connect the hard passes and took a run with the ball. Using the space he is often allowed (!) by the opponent. If he managed to take a risk and got past a player and got away with it he could many interesting situations further up field. The big question is if the ability is there to change and get more creative. I don't know - but I think it's needed from that position if we are to grow into a serious challenge.
Looking at the teams winning titles the past 10 years I think it's pretty clear most had the balance of players who could all contribute going forward in some aspect, providing game winning assists and goals. It differs from game to game who has the space. When one player is marked out of the game others can step up and use the space they are gifted because of that. In some ways that's what happened to us last half of the season. The ability to, as a team, claim the space gifted to you by players like Suarez and Sturridge was grabbed magnificently by players like Henderson and Sterling. The further up field the better but it's vital that all players have the capability to claim space and use it creatively.
So the conclusion, for me at least, in regards to progress: We need assists and even the odd goal from all players involved from the HM/DM and wingbacks and forward to mount any serious title challenge in the future. We need the CB's to clock in a few goals on the corners as well. It all adds up!
I hope that Lucas can find the confidence to create more because I actually think the ability is there.
The idea is a discussion about all players but I did Lucas. A few observations about Lucas that others here might explore deeper so we can get a better understanding of his potential.
He is ace off the ball. He runs into all the right areas and he directs his sidekicks where to cover etc.. He wins the ball, he tackles. I don't think we can get a better player at HM for the price. It's really good value for money. This I think we all agree on. So the interesting question is if he the tools to improve the areas where we need more from a HM, isn't it? Some might even argue it's not needed which is only interesting.
He has absolutely no confidence in terms of dribbling or in any form carrying the ball forward. It's all about the pass. This makes him predictable. He get's more space as the match progresses because there is little reason to apply pressure on a player like him that always opts for the easy pass sideways. If he could get the confidence back and carry the ball at times it would make more room for others and make us more difficult to handle. He is so focused on not making stupid mistakes on the ball which is obviously important but imagine if he could use the space a little better. Looking at the player we got in 2007 I think the ability is there.
On the final third he looks for the easy pass to the side but interesting enough he connects the deep passes almost every time he tries down the field to Coutinho, Gerrard and Sterling. At about 4:50 into the compilation (in the Lucas Thread page 5) he wins the ball just outside the box and immediately throws it back wide to Moreno instead of going for the more interesting option of carrying the ball towards the box and create something with Gerrard or Coutinho. It's typical Lucas. It's a Volvo. Boxy but safe. Being shoehorned into a HM has made him abandon any and all creative approach to the game in terms of risk and technical football and I would love to see him reach a level of confidence where he started to connect the hard passes and took a run with the ball. Using the space he is often allowed (!) by the opponent. If he managed to take a risk and got past a player and got away with it he could many interesting situations further up field. The big question is if the ability is there to change and get more creative. I don't know - but I think it's needed from that position if we are to grow into a serious challenge.
Looking at the teams winning titles the past 10 years I think it's pretty clear most had the balance of players who could all contribute going forward in some aspect, providing game winning assists and goals. It differs from game to game who has the space. When one player is marked out of the game others can step up and use the space they are gifted because of that. In some ways that's what happened to us last half of the season. The ability to, as a team, claim the space gifted to you by players like Suarez and Sturridge was grabbed magnificently by players like Henderson and Sterling. The further up field the better but it's vital that all players have the capability to claim space and use it creatively.
So the conclusion, for me at least, in regards to progress: We need assists and even the odd goal from all players involved from the HM/DM and wingbacks and forward to mount any serious title challenge in the future. We need the CB's to clock in a few goals on the corners as well. It all adds up!
I hope that Lucas can find the confidence to create more because I actually think the ability is there.
