So before Rafa had even considered poisoning Aquilani, he had long embarked on a campaign of grima wormtonguing Lucas Leiva into a shadow of a player? And if someone could just break that spell, we'll see some mix of Kaka and Fabregas storming through the midfield? I can't wait.
It couldn't just be that we are playing with a bit more confidence now that we've got a bit of defensive solidity, pacier players behind us, and we've only got one weak fullback?
It couldn't be that having Torres and Gerrard fit might happen to create a good deal of space, create a significant speed threat, and keep the opposition midfield far far more honest, and less willing to press high up the pitch?
It couldn't be that Lucas just isn't that aggressive, or good?
No, that'd be silly.
Lucas once in a while shows some ambition, ability on the dribble, and an eye for a pass. He's not an entirely useless player. The idea that Rafa has been stifling him somehow is supremely bizarre to consider, given that Rafa seems to see more in him than virtually any one watching.
Lucas has been doing a lot of defensive work at times, because he has absolutely needed to due to our weak back line, and, due to our incredibly anemic, slow attack when we have significant injuries, we have struggled to get out of our half, so there's been more defending to do in general. Lucas has also been a significant part of the problem at times by lacking the poise on the ball to create space and find some good outlet ball from our weaker options in a jam as well, and instead playing the easy option.