Aaah the old "we need better" argument. A particular favourite of mine.
Up there with the other quasi-tactical fantalk bollocks you hear spouted from time to time:
"We're not getting enough from him"
"All he does is pass sideways"
"Where's the width?"
What does any of that generalised arse mean?
"Why haven't any teams come in for him." Christ almighty. why hasn't anyone come in for dozens of top footballers? Why did Inter Milan let Coutinho go for peanuts? Why did Barca let Yaya Toure go on a free? The value of a player from one club to another can greatly fucking differ you know.
Tell you what. If "we need better" - why don't one of you tell me exactly what it is from him (or from this superlative defensive midfield general you're hilariously alluding to) that he should be doing that he's not? Who are these better players you're referring to? Let's see what you've got.
Define the attributes that he's not bringing, but that someone - in his position, who actually exists - does actually bring. How would that aid the team? How would that add something we don't have? And by taking Lucas out of the side, what would that do to the balance, setup and overall performance of the team? How would we defend better? How would it allow Coutinho et al to perform better?
Do fucking tell me. Cos right now it just reads like some mealy-mouthed cliched bollocks without any substance. "We need better". It's such absurd shite. United need better than Rooney
Any if any one of you says; 'more tackles, goals or assists in your argument' I'll laugh square in your fucking face.
Oh and Dreamy - you're the bellend who claimed (righteously I might add) that "Lucas wouldn't be getting any game time this season" about 2 months ago, so your opinion on this subject, just like every other subject, is worthless.
I dont know what they teach you at the Socceroos Outback football school of wallabys and kangeroos, but the term we need better means that we need to improve on the decent but average defensive midfielder we've got playing in for us.
The job his type of player does for us is priceless. Which you can easily see when he's out and we havent got another player like him, our point average drop. Which means its even more important to sign another quality defensive midfielder. Lucas hasnt got any compition and that isnt good enough.
Imho, which is what this forum is all about, we need a more physical, atlethic player in that position.
He drops down into defence when the 2 full backs bomb forward. Lucas is slow, gets sidepasses way to easy and pushed of the ball to easily. Its not an absolute must that he brings anything to the attacking side of the game because thats not his "job". But when he do goes forward its rather nice if he doesnt look like a virgin having sex for the first time and have some clue about what to do in the attacking third. The way football has developed I dont think you can have one player who is just good at one thing and nothing else in the side.
You need players that can perform all over the pitch.
Our midfield is weak and without anyone who can step up and be a force driving us forward.
Gerrard is 33 and on the decline. We cant expect him to run the midfield anymore. Sad but true.
Lucas should be a squad player for us not one of the important core players.
I'd go all out to sign someone like Fernando Reges or Gonalons.
They would bring quality and add to the team of what I think Lucas is lacking.
There are serious question marks regarding Lucas and how his injuries have hampered him. So for us as a club to achieve our goals we need to sign a defensive oriented midfielder regardless.
