Liverpool v Olympiacos: Stevie Testimonial

[Modo]

Where does this Lucas love come from? I've always liked him, as have plenty of others, but why have you suddenly turned into his major cheerleader?? Are you trying to impress someone???

It's not sudden, I started appreciating Lucas the season before he got injured.
I notice that people put too much focus on the highlight reels rather than the overall play.

Lucas was an enigma to me, I started wondering what Benitez and then Hodgson saw in him. But when I focused on what he did off the ball, it dawned on me.

 

[OLD_Lewy]

his awareness and reading of the game is pretty awesome when not in possession, he's sloppy with the ball at times though and he needs to work on his tackling cause, as fox said, he gives away far too many free kicks in dangerous positions

 

[Judge Jules]

Just watched the entire video. Those are not highlights, it's every touch he made in the game.
With the risk of sounding like a cunt, I'm gonna go ahead and say that if you watch that and don't recognise how good his positioning and his vision is, then you don't know football.
To say that we need steel in midfield, like a big fuck off Tioté who runs over people in midfield is a bit lazy. I'd pick an intelligent player like Lucas every time.

The goals we scored yesterday basically came from two interceptions he made.

He never was as bad as his most feverish critics said, and he's not as good as his most exaggerated supporters - including you, on this evidence - are saying now. He's a decent water-carrier and most every team needs one, but if you don't think we could improve on Lucas (and probably need to in order to win things) you're the one who doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[Modo]

He never was as bad as his most feverish critics said, and he's not as good as his most exaggerated supporters - including you, on this evidence - are saying now. He's a decent water-carrier and most every team needs one, but if you don't think we could improve on Lucas you're the one who doesn't know what he's talking about.

Not saying that he's the best defensive midfielder in the world but is Martinez available?

 

[Judge Jules]

No, but Khedira might be, and he's better than Lucas at just about everything.

 

[Modo]

No, but Khedira might be, and he's better than Lucas at just about everything.

OK, I'll fax the bid and you convince him to join.

 

[Judge Jules]

Sarcasm is the last refuge of a man with no arguments left.

 

[Mamma Mia]

I won't argue the point as it's a matter of opinion, but I think Lucas is the better footballer of the two by some distance.

 

[Modo]

OK, I'll fax the bid and you convince him to join.

The point is, even if he's better there's no chance he'll join us.

 

[Judge Jules]

No, the point is that he *is* better (sorry Mo, I can't agree). The question whether he'd join us or not is a different one - not that I necessarily agree with you there either, since (a) there are reports that Ancelotti doesn't want him, (b) it might enable a Suarez deal if he were part of it, (c) he'd be pretty much guaranteed first team football with us and (d) we'll never know if we don't try.

 

[Judge Jules]

I won't argue the point as it's a matter of opinion, but I think Lucas is the better footballer of the two by some distance.

Define "better". One can argue that Lucas is the more intelligent of the two, but working on game intelligence is what coaches are for, and Khedira - for me at any rate - is clearly the more naturally gifted.

 

[keniget]

The 'we can't attract anyone better' argument was also used to argue the case for Downing too.

It's a really rubbish argument.

 

[Mamma Mia]

Define "better". One can argue that Lucas is the more intelligent of the two, but working on game intelligence is what coaches are for, and Khedira - for me at any rate - is clearly the more naturally gifted.

As I said, it's going to boil down to opinions. Mine is that Lucas is a better tackler, better passer, more intelligent in his reading of the game, better at carrying out a manager's tactics, and has a better attitude.

Khedira has a better shot and is better at getting into attacking positions. He's much better in the air too. His workrate seems as good, but I think it's just because he's more Mascherano like in chasing things down, whereas Lucas is more Didi like and concentrates on reading the play and positioning himself accordingly.

I've seen a lot of both players (90min, not highlight reels), and I have seen nothing to convince me that Khedira is as efficient as Lucas is.

 

[Fabio]

I'm deeply offended that Lucas was just likened to didi

 

[Oncy]

Wonderman is fucking boss.
A few of us know it. ALL WILL.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Is Khedira really a DM? He doesn't really need to play that position for Madrid, or Germany, for that matter.

Regardless of your thoughts on Lucas, Khedira is one of the most highly rated midfielders in the world ... and he'd make us better automatically.

 

[kingjulian]

It's really unfortunate for most of SCM that Lucas is looking very very good.

Fingers crossed he turns to shit so you all don't look like dicks eh.

That's alright... I think we can manage it.

You have shown us how to be thick skinned about this by being wrong about him for four years. We watch and learn... From the best...

 

[Woland]

Lucas is fucking rubbish

 

[peekay]

 

[the_khl]

Lucas is decent but I fail to see him as a central figure in a Premiership winning team and that is my main concern. For me he's a player for the top 5 to 10 clubs, but not one that'll help you win the big one.

Not saying he is easy replacable but unless he suddenly plays week in week out like that one time before the injury we need to start looking for better.

 

[the_khl]

Nice pic, looks photoshopped to me though.

 

[Modo]

Lucas is decent but I fail to see him as a central figure in a Premiership winning team and that is my main concern. For me he's a player for the top 5 to 10 clubs, but not one that'll help you win the big one.

Not saying he is easy replacable but unless he suddenly plays week in week out like that one time before the injury we need to start looking for better.

You know I got your back most of the times my Nordic cousin but seriously, why put winning the league on Lucas shoulders?
Is Darren Fletcher by definition someone who helps you win the league? Cause it's what you're basically saying, if we sign Fletcher or Barry, they'll win us the league.

We've had Hamann, Mascherano and Alonso before, was it their fault that we didn't win the league?

Lucas imo, does his job, the same can't be said about the likes of Downing and other average players we've had. Why aren't they standing between us and the title?

 

[Woland]

We've got the shittest midfield we've had since souness had us and we've got the shittest league position. The forwards are good enough. So is the defence. We have some shit defenders and shit forwards but they don't play all the time and they aren't in as significant a position.

 

[Modo]

Sure we've played shit teams but we haven't conceded a single goal.
Lucas, the defence and Mignolet are doing their job.

 

[Mamma Mia]

I'm guilty too, but let's leave this thread for Stevie and take the rest of the crap to their relevant threads.

 

[juniormember]

Define "better". One can argue that Lucas is the more intelligent of the two, but working on game intelligence is what coaches are for, and Khedira - for me at any rate - is clearly the more naturally gifted.

Working on game intelligence isn't anywhere as easy as you seem to suggest. Otherwise Momo would still be in our team.

 

[Judge Jules]

Didn't say it would be easy. The point I was making was that it's possible, whereas no coach in the world can give a player what he doesn't have to begin with. I respect the views of Mamma M and one or two others to the contrary, but I don't see in Lucas the native talent Khedira could bring to the table.

 

[Mamma Mia]

Didn't say it would be easy. The point I was making was that it's possible, whereas no coach in the world can give a player what he doesn't have to begin with. I respect the views of Mamma M and one or two others to the contrary, but I don't see in Lucas the native talent Khedira could bring to the table.

I'd expect most to disagree with me regarding Khedira. Maybe he will move to Chelsea and we can compare them in this league.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I'd expect most to disagree with me regarding Khedira. Maybe he will move to Chelsea and we can compare them in this league.

Unless he plays Lucas's position - or visa versa, it wouldn't be a fair comparison.

You should post more sir -

 

[Mamma Mia]

Unless he plays Lucas's position - or visa versa, it wouldn't be a fair comparison.

You should post more sir -

He is a defensive midfielder in my opinion. He's great in the air and get's forward well, so if you've mostly seen him in highlights then I understand why you'd think he played a more attacking role.