I thought I'd be much happier at the news that Lucas is finally, finally gone. Perhaps it just hasn't sunk in, yet.
Or maybe I'm more concerned by the lack of transfer activity in positions where we desperately require improvement.
While Lucas's Liverpool career has been largely one of frustration and mediocrity, it isn't really fair to somehow blame him for how little success we had. While he may to some extent have come to personify just how far we were from being back at the top, he could never really be said to have had that much impact personally. He only twice ever made more than 30 appearances (never mind starts) in any league season, and was largely a back-up option for more talented and valuable players.
It's interesting to note, however, how his standing and level of affection increased over the years with the fans. Almost like a reward for all the diversity, mockery, booing and disdain that he suffered - quite correctly - in his first few seasons, when the "big, blonde attacking midfielder from Brazil" turned out to be......Lucas. HIs refusal to give in, and his obvious connection to the club and the city goes some way to answer why he went from mockery to almost hero status.
Not hero status like Gerrard, obviously. More like "comedy hero" or faithful canine sidekick. Part of the furniture.
It's not secret to anyone here, or among my friends and family, that I've always had a huge dislike for Lucas, so I've been largely immune to his increased stature and popularity. But that personal enmity isn't the whole story.
The simple fact is that he's always been fucking shit. He was sometimes less shit than other times. At his best he was almost mediocre. But overall, Lucas was fucking shit.
There have been a few players who were more fucking shit than Lucas. Nobody would say he was the worst player in Liverpool history. That would be absurd. There have been less decent, pleasant and hardworking Liverpool players too. More than a few, actually.
But if one was to factor in the actual length of time Lucas was employed by Liverpool FC - a frankly astonishing decade or so - it's certainly safe to say that he is without doubt the worst footballer to have had such a long career at Liverpool.
So I won't miss Lucas. I won't miss his BBQ skills or funny memes. I won't miss the desperate attempts to pretend he actually is a good player by numerous fans an experts. I won't miss his fouls, lack of pace, stupid mistakes or simple, grinding mediocrity.
Goodbye Lucas, you were fucking shit.
