That's only because people are trying to explain football in terms others can understand. Try to explain the technical details of what he does, and it goes over their heads, as they don't even understand the concepts behind it. This is my point about language and how it limits understanding. So they try and alternative method instead, which is to point to a wellknown player, and describe how Lucas is that type of player. When they do that, the critics splutter with outrage at how Lucas is being compared with these players when he's not their level. Thus missing the point that Lucas isn't being compared to them in quality, but in role and player type.
I get your point (I know it wasn't directed at me, but I will debate it anyway).
You see, there are some of us that do understand the game, I understand it completely, and, one thing I completely understood and completely shared the vision of was our team of 08/09. Call me a fantasist, a dreamer or deluded, but I seen our team of 08/09 as one of the most complete footballing sides in modern history. Had we had two quality wide players or a truly offensive full back, I do believe we would have won the league and the champions league that year. I felt that side was so strong, it was almost ridiculous how well drilled the players were, how well executed the tactics were and how well-balanced the team had become, from striker to goalkeeper, everything worked in tandem, everybody had their own individual attributes, yet everybody covered somebody's glaring weakness.
However, since then, we haven't tried to replicate what we created in that side. Maybe I'm wrong to cling onto something like that, but I felt the formula to success was there, the foundations were built, the key chemistry was complete, all that was needed was something a little extra in the wider areas, as the players never caused enough problems for the opposition. But, back to the point, when Alonso left, we lost probably the most pivotal aspect to the foundations, but, and this is the key but; we never tried to replace Alonso with a like-for-like. I couldn't understand why we didn't try it, we tried to change those foundations and it ended horribly. Since then we lost another piece to that extremely strong spine, although not the most irreplaceable piece, he was definitely the fuel to the engine.
Now, maybe I'm wrong to hold on to that team, that formation, that structure, that style, that system, maybe I am, but I can't see any other way for us to compete whilst we still have Torres and Gerrard. I think since Xabi has gone, their best form has been well behind them, and we all know why, because Xabi was pivotal to Gerrard being able to play his natural game to its fullest by exploiting Gerrard's free role by always finding him in space with time on the ball, thus resulting in Gerrard having time to pick out Torres, or pick out Benayoun to play in Torres, or Kuyt, or whoever, but the roles linking to each other was glaringly obvious. Anyhow, I still feel that that is the only way we can get the best out of our big two players, whilst they are still here, we have to build around them and make them the stars of our team. In my opinion, Lucas isn't good enough a player to be part of the magic two that regularly sat behind Gerrard. A worthy back up, but not gifted enough to be an untouchable aspect of our spine.
Now I, in my humblest of opinions, don't feel that is a scathing attack on Lucas, I don't feel I've been harsh or even dismissive of him. As I've posted before, I get his strengths and I see everything he does, but what he does will always be viewed in Xabi's and Javier's shadow, as those are the players he's succeeded, and those will be remembered as the last good 'formula' to making us competitive, I feel.
