That's a great summary mate. Got me thinking...
I was reading an interview of Sami Hyypia just the other day. The article was about the ridiculuous wages the modern players are making, and how Sami still stands out above all the mercenaries and journeymen of the modern football. While Sami himself admits the pay does reflect how good you are, he goes on to say the money has never been the objective for him. He mentions leaving Liverpool was one the biggest decisions he had ever made, and how he thought long and hard before selecting the Leverkusen who he felt offered a package where he still gets to play a lot of first team football and where he can make a difference.
Rudi Voller goes on to make a statement Hyypia has been the recruit of the decade for them, how he is just the ultimate professional as far as he is concerned, and how he, although he played until 36 (iirc), could not have maintained the level Sami does.
The reporter goes on to add his own comments, like how "Sami's face lights up with a huge smile when he talks about playing the game".
Then, the question is: was Sami a "world class player" for us? Was he average? Better than average?
It does not really matter does it?
Sami was a top bloke, his attitude was absolutely second to none and I mean that literally. The guy just oozes class, very few players can match that. On the pitch, off the pitch.
While Lucas will never be a new Alonso or a new Mascher, he has all the changes to be the new Lucas. There is a lot of similarity in his attitude with Sami the Rock, and if he continues to carry on with that, I have no doubt that he could reach a similar status to Sami over the coming years. A calm presence on the field, someone you can always rely to be there to do his job.
Whether he will remain to be judged as an average player, better than average player, or even world class player, interests me not.
I just pray Fowler he remains our player.
PS A top thread, this. A lot of calm and patience shown here. Let us keep it so. Lucas will prove us lucaslovers to be right.