Topic: Lucas Leiva - Up and Running

[carling]

We had one of the best, I'd argue that chelsea's was on par as well with the likes of lampard, ballack, essien and makelele. But its just saddening how far we have dropped from the big boys of europe especially in this specific area of the pitch.

I don't remember Chelsea having 3 of them players on the pitch at their very best.

Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano circa 2008 were something else.  Better than anything I remember Chelsea having at any given time.

[LuisLFC]

For me I thought he athletically was way off the beast of last year - but after such a bad injury it will take till December for him to be back to that level (if ever). Its a worry but with his football brain, he will adapt even if he doesn't quite get back to the quickness and agility of last season.

It's his second game in almost 9 months (never the less 2 pre-season games at that.), do you really expect him to be at that point yet? The fact he's even playing at this point is a miracle in itself, if he wasn't going to be physically able he wouldn't be playing period.

December is a fair shout (I personally think if he has no setbacks, late October to mid November is when you'll see his game pick up immensely.), that's depending on who we get in for cover and how badly we need him back into the starting eleven. Hopefully it just isn't detrimental to his rehab (being back so soon.), the lads got the determination to get back to his best, I'm sure he's gonna be back to bossing games for us in no time..

[steveeastend]

We had one of the best, I'd argue that chelsea's was on par as well with the likes of lampard, ballack, essien and makelele. But its just saddening how far we have dropped from the big boys of europe especially in this specific area of the pitch.

I wanted to write something similar. The way Lucas´passing stood out yesterday again just shows how far we´ve fallen off in terms of quality in general.

[Number 7]

That tackle with Bradley had me worried for a second, but Lucas came out of it really well. And he will now have a big weight off his shoulders. What's with all these vicious tackles in friendlies? The guy that took Robinson out in the Toronto game should have been red carded. It was an awful tackle.

Lucas is going to be a beast this year.

[scatman]

That tackle with Bradley had me worried for a second, but Lucas came out of it really well. And he will now have a big weight off his shoulders. What's with all these vicious tackles in friendlies? The guy that took Robinson out in the Toronto game should have been red carded. It was an awful tackle.

Lucas is going to be a beast this year.

not too sure, Shelvey's been throwing himself around, so has Adorjan haha

[G1 Jockey 4(betfair)]

the game against toronto you could see his body language showed a bit of uncertaintly in the tackle.
also seemed way off his usual reading standards.
passing was fine though.

against roma he seemed much more comfortable in the tackle.
passing was fine but his reading was still off.

gonna take a coupkle of months imo.

prefer if he wasnt rushed

[MobileBayRed]

the game against toronto you could see his body language showed a bit of uncertaintly in the tackle.
also seemed way off his usual reading standards.
passing was fine though.

against roma he seemed much more comfortable in the tackle.
passing was fine but his reading was still off.

gonna take a coupkle of months imo.

prefer if he wasnt rushed

All of this is true.  I would add that his attitude changed after that hard tackle by the Roma player on the sideline.  He seemed less conservative and started playing.  Almost like he needed that first hard tackle to be sure that his knee would hold up.  Pre-season is going well for him right now.  Knocking a bit of the rust off, but given his determination, he will get there sooner rather than later. 

[ThisisAnfield96]

Was actually able to go to their training this morning at Harvard. Lucas took the time to take a picture or sign an autograph with every single person waiting (Probably over 70-80 people). You can just tell the man appreciates the support fully. Top player on the pitch but even better off it.

[rafathegaffa83]

Judging by Rodgers post match interview, if both he and Lucas are still at the club four years or so from now, I'd be shocked if he hasn't made Lucas the team captain.

[steveeastend]

Was actually able to go to their training this morning at Harvard.

What was your impression of the session?

[ThisisAnfield96]

What was your impression of the session?

Wasn't able to see too much as they had the crowd pretty far away. I do know Suso and Pacheco continued to impress out there. Was weird, for most of the session they had Aquilani out on the side away from the team just stretching and doing pushups

[Crosby Wych]

Judging by Rodgers post match interview, if both he and Lucas are still at the club four years or so from now, I'd be shocked if he hasn't made Lucas the team captain.

He seems to want Lucas as his main man.

He has to be captain some day, surely next in line after Stevie winds his career down (not a fan of GK captains).

[brightonpete]

Lucas left training a little early at harvard today,had an icepack/strapping on his knee as he walked over the road.

[The Jackal]

I reckon he'll get to wear the armband a fair bit this season. Carra's not going to be a regular, and Stevie's not gonna play every game. I think Lucas will get the nod when Gerrard isn't on the pitch and get the vice captaincy the following season.

[jdpapa3]

Lucas left training a little early at harvard today,had an icepack/strapping on his knee as he walked over the road.

Was there as well and it looked like it was planned beforehand to pull him out at that time. When they brought him over to ice, he was wrestling with one of the trainers. Didn't look like a setback or anything. Top guy!

[DanA]

Lucas left training a little early at harvard today,had an icepack/strapping on his knee as he walked over the road.

Lucas will have an ice pack strapped to his knee after every game and every training session for the next month. Not unexpected that he'd not quite be on a full training load either considering it's only been a bit over 7 months. He's well ahead of schedule and they need to be conservative.

[The Jackal]

Lucas left training a little early at harvard today,had an icepack/strapping on his knee as he walked over the road.

hopefully that's just precautionary... :/

[brightonpete]

Lucas will have an ice pack strapped to his knee after every game and every training session for the next month. Not unexpected that he'd not quite be on a full training load either considering it's only been a bit over 7 months. He's well ahead of schedule and they need to be conservative.

i think it was more to do with that bradley tackle last night.i watched the training session the previous thursday and he wasn't iced up that was my only worry.but yeah he did sign stuff and take pics so i'd assume its just precautionary.

[RedSuarez]

I misses those sharp on the ground passes with pace last season after his injury. Glad to see them back against Roma. These passes goes like guided missiles and find its traget with accuracy. Those are the exact on ground passes which Xabi Alonso use to make through middle to Gerrard and they are very effctive in getting opposition out of game.

[steveeastend]

He will need a lot of games in order to get his timing, sharpness in tackling and confidence back.

It would be good for him to get some reserve games and being brought in into PL football rather slowly than rushed.

I hope they get it right...

[theCanadian]

I expect it will take him until late September or October before he's close to being back to his best.

[steveeastend]

I expect it will take him until late September or October before he's close to being back to his best.

That´s not possible in any way, this would be happening for the first time in history of the recovering process of these kind of injuries. It will take him at least til next year, minimum to get back to the same level he was before the injury which doesn´t mean he can´t be good for us until then.

[fonzielfc]

I expect it will take him until late September or October before he's close to being back to his best.

I highly doubt that. The level he was on just before the injury, it will take him more than 2 months to get there again.

[IndianRed]

Was shrugged off quite easily a couple of times by the Spurs midfielders today when he tried to tackle them. I guess Lucas wasn't kidding when he said it would be very difficult for him to be fully fit for the start of the season. We need to give him as much time as he needs to get back into his groove. Which is why I think a signing like Joe Allen makes plenty of sense. He's a perfect cover for Lucas who's also more than capable of playing alongside him in a 3-man midfield. A starting midfield trio of Henderson/Aquilani, Allen and Gerrard looks pretty strong on paper to me. 

[lfcmaster]

He will need a lot of games in order to get his timing, sharpness in tackling and confidence back.

It would be good for him to get some reserve games and being brought in into PL football rather slowly than rushed.

I hope they get it right...

the best thing to do is not set targets and just ease him back into action

buying joe allen will be a massive help to us

gerrard being fit aswell

[steveeastend]

buying joe allen will be a massive help to us

Yeah, from what I´ve seen of Allen he would be pretty important to bring in.

[Lemieux]

He's a lot better than I expected him to be at this point, if he can prevent further injuring the knee I don't see any problem with him recovering his form.  Very happy about the preseason he's had so far.

[NuncaCaminarásSolo]

It was such a pleasure seeing Lucas in person today. I've been impressed for a while now of Lucas' passing but one tends to appreciate his vision even more when watching him live. At the moment he hits a pass, the target doesn't become clear until a half a second later when the ball is already on its way. Its hard to describe because it's so subtle. Can't wait to see him back to full fitness in a competitive match!

[Lethal]

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes that Lucas Leiva’s  season-ending knee injury was one of the main reasons why the Reds endured a disappointing 2011-12 campaign.

The Brazil international hit top form just before rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Chelsea last November, leaving manager Kenny Dalglish with very few midfield options for the remainder of the season.

The 25-year-old made his comeback for Liverpool against Toronta FC in a pre-season friendly last weekend, and again came off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur in Baltimore on Saturday.

''Lucas' injury was a big factor on our season, because when he got the injury he was probably our best player, form-wise,'' Gerrard told the club's official website.

''He was playing superbly well, and he plays that position in the team where he does the ugly work, the work you don't really like to do: breaking up the play, protecting the back four, and when we lose the ball and teams counter-attack, he stops a lot of goals.

''It's great to have him back. He's a great person; he's great for the squad."

http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/33910_gerrard__lucas__knee_injury_cost_liverpool_last_season.html#.UBR1xDTtMp0.twitter

[bornandbRED]

So, do we reckon he'll start vs WBA?

[iamrobk]

So, do we reckon he'll start vs WBA?

Don't think so, especially if we buy Allen.  Think he'll get ~30 minutes for 3-4 games before finally starting.

[Arcadian]

i think it was more to do with that bradley tackle last night.i watched the training session the previous thursday and he wasn't iced up that was my only worry.but yeah he did sign stuff and take pics so i'd assume its just precautionary.

Ice is just a daily part of modern sports medicine. Not discounting the tackle, but wether you see it or not, he's probably getting iced.

[andymanlfc]

So, do we reckon he'll start vs WBA?

Nope, hope he isn't in the squad at all on Thursday either because he still needs to rest, don't want to rush him back.

[macmanamanaman]

Lucas has been elevated to some kind of demi-god level DM over here.

He's good but he aint THAT good yet.
We have missed him but I hope people don't expect him to return from this injury and then miraculously start bossing the midfield single handedly.

He's a good player, but nowhere near the best in his class. Let's keep expectations real here - or be prepared to be disappointed when his performances dont match our too-high expectations.

[bleedsred1978]

Lucas has been elevated to some kind of demi-god level DM over here.

He's good but he aint THAT good yet.
We have missed him but I hope people don't expect him to return from this injury and then miraculously start bossing the midfield single handedly.

He's a good player, but nowhere near the best in his class. Let's keep expectations real here - or be prepared to be disappointed when his performances dont match our too-high expectations.

Before the injury he was fucking immense.

[tea_tree]

Lucas has been elevated to some kind of demi-god level DM over here.

He's good but he aint THAT good yet.
We have missed him but I hope people don't expect him to return from this injury and then miraculously start bossing the midfield single handedly.

He's a good player, but nowhere near the best in his class. Let's keep expectations real here - or be prepared to be disappointed when his performances dont match our too-high expectations.

Right, tell that to Gerrard

[lucas65]

Right, tell that to Gerrard

He was bossing games in midfield against Utd, City, Chelsea and up against some of the most highly rated and expensive players in the league.
He was superb before his injury. Hope he reaches those levels again.

[Red Crown]

Lucas has been elevated to some kind of demi-god level DM over here.

He's good but he aint THAT good yet.
We have missed him but I hope people don't expect him to return from this injury and then miraculously start bossing the midfield single handedly.

He's a good player, but nowhere near the best in his class. Let's keep expectations real here - or be prepared to be disappointed when his performances dont match our too-high expectations.

He's been destroying the Chelsea midfield since the 10/11 season (easily), has the entire Man City midfield in his pocket, makes Scholes and Co shit their pants and is only really given the run around by Modric.  He had the best stats for a holding/defensive midfielder in the 10/11 season in all five of the top European leagues, and in the 11/12 season despite only playing for half of it, his stats put him in the top three of every holding/defensive midfielder category, and topping a few of them.

How in the name of Zeus' butthole, is he 'nowhere near the best in his class' exactly?

[Sangria]

Lucas has been elevated to some kind of demi-god level DM over here.

He's good but he aint THAT good yet.
We have missed him but I hope people don't expect him to return from this injury and then miraculously start bossing the midfield single handedly.

He's a good player, but nowhere near the best in his class. Let's keep expectations real here - or be prepared to be disappointed when his performances dont match our too-high expectations.

He's the only holding CM we have worth the name. Holding CM is the fulcrum of the team. Work it out.

[leivapool]

Anyone else notice Lucas's understandable reluctance to use his left foot at the moment?  Prior to his injury has was able to ping passes with both his left and right foot, but so far i don't recall him using his left at all to pass.  Completely understandable, and may be by-instruction while his leg and knee strengthen?