Luis Gustavo

[rurikbird]

… is available for around £8M. Wolfsburg are already in talks to buy the player, Arsenal were linked too. Should we be interested?

Personally I think it's a much better value than the unproven Wanyama. I like Lucas, but Gustavo is a more well-rounded player, disciplined when needed but also able to join in attack and be an occasional goal threat. The question is if we are willing to pay £8M for what would be probably just a marginal improvement.

 

[Whirly]

I think Gustavo is more than a marginal improvement for the squad, as when Lucas inevitably breaks, we don't have to stick Allen/Spearing into a DM role.

 

[Buddha]

Bargain of the summer at that price for me.

 

[Cerberus]

Yup me too. He's been excellent whenever I've watched him for Bayern.

 

[Hansern]

Very good player but we're pretty stocked in midfield and wont be buying without selling.
It wont be Allen, Lucas or Gerrard. I dont want to sell Hendo.

Fwiw, Fernando Reges is available on a free next year. That could be a good signing aswell

 

[keniget]

It doesn't look like we'll be replacing anyone in midfield, sadly.

 

[Glen C]

Very good player but we're pretty stocked in midfield and wont be buying without selling.
It wont be Allen, Lucas or Gerrard. I dont want to sell Hendo.

Fwiw, Fernando Reges is available on a free next year. That could be a good signing aswell

We may be well stocked in midfield, but only one of them is proper quality and that's gerrard. The rest are very average.

 

[tony]

We may be well stocked in midfield, but only one of them is proper quality and that's gerrard. The rest are very average.

It is Rogers blindspot - the fucking gaping black hole we have in midfield. It will prove to be his ultimate downfall imho

 

[Modo]

So Lucas is the root of all evil?

 

[Glen C]

It is Rogers blindspot - the fucking gaping black hole we have in midfield. It will prove to be his ultimate downfall imho

Big time blindspot of his. I don't see how he doesn't see how poor it is.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15GjGIID9aU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Glen C]

So Lucas is the root of all evil?

No because allen and hendo aren't much better. It's players like these which is why we're in 7th.

 

[Hansern]

We may be well stocked in midfield, but only one of them is proper quality and that's gerrard. The rest are very average.

Didnt say anything about the lack of quality, just that I dont see us signing anyone without selling.
Hope I'm wrong though

 

[peterhague]

I agree, our midfield is largely average. I don't mind Lucas because he should be fitter this season and his role is simple and he does it reasonably well, it's Allen and Henderson who annoy me. We've spent over £30m on them and I don't see a compelling reason why either should be in the team.

Can Allen play alongside Lucas? It didn't look great last season! Both small and undynamic. Can he play *instead* of Lucas? I don't see that either. I'm not sure I buy the argument that he's technical and intelligent and takes up good positions... are these really such rare qualities in midfielders? I'd bet there are 10s of young players on the continent we could have signed for £5m or so if that's all we required.

Henderson has improved but still looks bad value at £16m. He just gives the ball away so often.

I think we'll just about get away with it this season because Gerrard is still there and looking good, but it's a real weak area of the squad IMO, and it shouldn't be with all the money invested in it.

 

[singlerider]

What I didn't get last season, was when Lucas was out we seemed to play Gerrard deepest, despite him being by far the most potent attacking threat. I mean, okay - he can ping those 60 yard cross-field balls from deep and set up attacks, but it just seemed a waste to have him sitting back and Henderson or Allen going forward.

I wouldn't have minded seeing Henderson played as the defensively minded one. He works hard enough

 

[dmishra]

I can't see us finishing int the top 4 until we fix our midfield.

 

[Glen C]

I can't see us finishing int the top 4 until we fix our midfield.

I can't see us in the top 4 until we improve on hendo, allen and lucas. Was really hoping he was going to focus on midfield this summer but he's done fuck all towards it. Still lacking imposing midfielders.

 

[Rafiagra]

If Allen can recapture the form from the start of last season, Lucas can recapture that season's form before his injury at Chelsea, and Henderson build upon his improvements last season, we are sorted. However, they are 3 massive if's and I'm not convinced they will.