Topic: Lucas’ critical role for Liverpool

[Cid]

Lucas is a better defender than alonso and a better passer than masch..those are no brainers.  Will be a while before he reaches their sheer level of mastery in either though.  Potentially he could do it...and oh my what a player he will be if he does.

[DaveCharlie]

Anyone got the figures on intercepts and tackles from the Chelsea match? I think it must be about 6 of each at least in that game alone which is phenomenal considering the quality of the league. He must already be at the top of the Tackling stats league-wide again this year.

[Discipline]

Gremio is officially my favourite team in Brazil. THANKS FOR LEIVA!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveCharlie]

Anyone got the figures on intercepts and tackles from the Chelsea match? I think it must be about 6 of each at least in that game alone which is phenomenal considering the quality of the league. He must already be at the top of the Tackling stats league-wide again this year.

Got them myself from the Guardian chalkboard...

2011/12 - Away @ Chelsea
Interceptions: 6  (whole team made 11)
Tackles: 5 successful, 3 unsuccessful (only Suarez had more, with 6)

Stats were almost identical for the corresponding fixture last year too...
2010/11 - Away @ Chelsea
Interceptions: 5
Tackles: 7 successful, 6 unsuccessful.


The boy is a beast.

[sattapaartridge]

Think he was unlucky with that today, he clearly pulled out but Luiz went down like a baby. Appropriate, given their bet.

Completely agree. I wonder if a booking like this could be contested, appealled against, because they are piling up. 6 already.

[Cadno]

Completely agree. I wonder if a booking like this could be contested, appealled against, because they are piling up. 6 already.

Bookings are going to be par for the course if he is going to be asked to cover most of the defensive work in the middle to allow Adam to do his thing.  He always is going to be in positions where he will be looking at picking up bookings.  What made me a little nervous and made me smile at the same time was the stick he gave the ref when he was on the booking.  I thought he was going to do a Mascherano at that point and get himself sent off.  He is starting to show real leadership out there now and is almost always the first there to back up his teammates. 

[G1 Jockey 4(betfair)]

Completely agree. I wonder if a booking like this could be contested, appealled against, because they are piling up. 6 already.

yellows cant be appealed against unfortunatley

[scatman]

they get wiped out in january dont they?

[IndianKopite]

I thought he played well.One thing I have noticed is that a yellow card hinders his game more than an average holding-mid.

[RedMichelFerri]

In first half he was just sweeping everything thrown at us and playing some very good balls to our forwards. His ball to Luis was awesome. Shame luis decided to cross it for maxi when he could have easily nutmeged Luiz and had a go himself since it was 2 against 2 situation in their half.

[lfc786]

when he fouled luiz he said to the ref "he's my friend"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfmMylMp74A

 

[Sangria]

I thought he played well.One thing I have noticed is that a yellow card hinders his game more than an average holding-mid.

Like Frimpong?

[jonjosuso]

What a player, a phenom! Bit gutted for old Spearing though, he will only get chances when Lucas is suspended, rested or injured due to the fact they are very very similar in the fact DM is their greatest skill but are both very adapt at playing not only short accurate passes but often wide, spraying passes to turn defense into attack, often successfully.

Lucas is just better. Wonder what we would be like this season with both of them.

[IndianKopite]

Like Frimpong?

Can you elaborate?Cuz I really can't read your mind you know :p

[Samee]

Lucas is a better defender than alonso and a better passer than masch..those are no brainers.  Will be a while before he reaches their sheer level of mastery in either though.  Potentially he could do it...and oh my what a player he will be if he does.

Mascherano's passing is seriously underrated.

[IndianKopite]

Mascherano's passing is seriously underrated.

*shocked* No way dude,why don't you describe his passing technique in some beautiful words to convince us (yeah thats directed at you sangria :p)

[thegoodfella]

Can you elaborate?Cuz I really can't read your mind you know :p

He is saying that once a yellow card is picked up, especially away from home, it is only sane for the player to hold back a little and not go flying in every time. More jockeying than tackling. Unlike Frimpong, who picked up a red card for being a nutter and not realizing that he should calm down a little after the first yellow.

[IndianKopite]

He is saying that once a yellow card is picked up, especially away from home, it is only sane for the player to hold back a little and not go flying in every time. More jockeying than tackling. Unlike Frimpong, who picked up a red card for being a nutter and not realizing that he should calm down a little after the first yellow.

Oh!Thanks for the explaination.You may/may not have seen that I wrote the word more in post he quoted.No worries, it happens

[thegoodfella]

Oh!Thanks for the explaination.You may/may not have seen that I wrote the word more in post he quoted.No worries, it happens

Well Lucas is not an average, run of the mill holding midfielder, is he? He is a boss holding midfielder and a volante.

[IndianKopite]

Well Lucas is not an average, run of the mill holding midfielder, is he? He is a boss holding midfielder and a volante.

Yeah he sure is 

[sattapaartridge]

they get wiped out in january dont they?

no so sure. reading the FA documents, there is no evidence of clearing of yellow cards. just the accumulation rules. and it points out that if you accumulate 10 cards before april, you get a 2 match ban, 15 cards, you get a 3 match ban...i could be wrong. dodgy eyes and all that.

[babraham]

Was quite impressed with the couple flicks and tricks he did. He seems to do those more regularly for Brazil and only occasionally for us.

[RojoLeón]

Noticed this even more today. There were a few (probably more, but 2 or 3 that stick in my mind) times when Lampard, or whoever, collected the ball and starting running into space in the midfield and instead of closing them down Lucas would just stand off them only to stick a foot out and stop any forward pass that was made. Didn't even break a sweat doing it. He's fucking boss this lad.

Got them myself from the Guardian chalkboard...

2011/12 - Away @ Chelsea
Interceptions: 6  (whole team made 11)
Tackles: 5 successful, 3 unsuccessful (only Suarez had more, with 6)

Stats were almost identical for the corresponding fixture last year too...
2010/11 - Away @ Chelsea
Interceptions: 5
Tackles: 7 successful, 6 unsuccessful.


The boy is a beast.

He is saying that once a yellow card is picked up, especially away from home, it is only sane for the player to hold back a little and not go flying in every time. More jockeying than tackling. Unlike Frimpong, who picked up a red card for being a nutter and not realizing that he should calm down a little after the first yellow.

I thought he played well.One thing I have noticed is that a yellow card hinders his game more than an average holding-mid.

Fortunately he's fucking boss and much, much better than average: as the above posts demonstrate, he didn't have his defensive influence inhibited even though he adapted his game after the card (harsh yellow). Pretty much nothing was hindered by the card then - except he didn't go flying into tackles (not that he's wont to do that at the best of times).
Best fucking dm/holding player in the league 

[RojoLeón]

Mascherano's passing is seriously underrated.

When he takes a couple of touches to get it clear from his feet, and after he looks around a bit to see where everyone is, he strikes the ball cleanly and accurately. Unfortunately this all takes precious time while in the centre of the park.

[G1 Jockey 4(betfair)]

Mascherano's passing is seriously underrated.

id go the other way and say its completely overated.

its more of a "see a player and pass it to him" with out any thought .

thats whyt he wont be playing the holding role for barca because he stiffles their play.

he is just a destroyer or as i used to call him "an insurance card"

[Didi_ram]

I love the fact that Lucas moves sideways with the ball and waits for the opportune moment to thread in an incisive throughball.Almost does it everytime.Fucking boss.

[scatman]

loved the skills, we need fucking gifs of those

loved that thunderous tackle on Ramires in the first half (when Adam fell on Ramires), was clean despite what the 2 knobhead commentators thought. Ref thought so too as he was standing right there and they only got a throw in.

[Yorkykopite]

loved the skills, we need fucking gifs of those

loved that thunderous tackle on Ramires in the first half (when Adam fell on Ramires), was clean despite what the 2 knobhead commentators thought. Ref thought so too as he was standing right there and they only got a throw in.

That was an absolute cruncher. His tackling technique is unusual. He often tackles at speed and transfers the momentum of a sharp run into the collision. In that sense he tackles with his entire body rather than a savage swipe of the leg. It looks less spectacular but, christ, it must hurt his opponent.

[Neil D]

id go the other way and say its completely overated.

its more of a "see a player and pass it to him" with out any thought .

thats whyt he wont be playing the holding role for barca because he stiffles their play.

he is just a destroyer or as i used to call him "an insurance card"

No, it's completely underrated. He can pick a pass and cross well. He is far more than just a destroyer, and he doesn't play the holding role for Barcelona because they have a very good player in his position and he filled the void at CB and been outstanding for them there.

[Neil D]

That was an absolute cruncher. His tackling technique is unusual. He often tackles at speed and transfers the momentum of a sharp run into the collision. In that sense he tackles with his entire body rather than a savage swipe of the leg. It looks less spectacular but, christ, it must hurt his opponent.

Worried his booking would see him less effective in the second half. But that wasn't the case at all.

[Aristotle]

That was an absolute cruncher. His tackling technique is unusual. He often tackles at speed and transfers the momentum of a sharp run into the collision. In that sense he tackles with his entire body rather than a savage swipe of the leg. It looks less spectacular but, christ, it must hurt his opponent.

Love that about him. Espescially the way he always acts as if it was an accidental collision if the ref gets involved.

[lord_anshul]

I think that Lucas' one touch passing has improved dramatically over a last few months. I have been observing it for a while and yesterday he was imperious. There were several occasions where he gains that extra bit of time with those one touch passes.

[new-red]

No, it's completely underrated. He can pick a pass and cross well. He is far more than just a destroyer, and he doesn't play the holding role for Barcelona because they have a very good player in his position and he filled the void at CB and been outstanding for them there.

not a chance. He has no idea how to play the holding role. Yea he can pick a pass but its all about finding a pass in as little time as possible to keep the play moving and the attack fluid. He is an accurate passer but that really doesn't mean much if you dwell on the ball.

[RojoLeón]

I think that Lucas' one touch passing has improved dramatically over a last few months. I have been observing it for a while and yesterday he was imperious. There were several occasions where he gains that extra bit of time with those one touch passes.

To be fair, he has very rarely given away posession with his one touch passing, at any stage of his Liverpool career. One touch passing requires team mates to be attuned and similarly capable. That is something that has improved since Kenny took over. The lad has always shown flashes of it but kuyt and masch were key culprits in letting him down in he past

[redforlife]

I think that Lucas' one touch passing has improved dramatically over a last few months. I have been observing it for a while and yesterday he was imperious. There were several occasions where he gains that extra bit of time with those one touch passes.

Think it all links in with the increased confidence he must have now as well

He looks and plays like he owns the midfield, in the past it was as if he felt he was the secondary or junior midfielder and perhaps he played a bit within himself.

[Pistolero]

Think it all links in with the increased confidence he must have now as well

He looks and plays like he owns the midfield, in the past it was as if he felt he was the secondary or junior midfielder and perhaps he played a bit within himself.

agree with this...looks a lot more self assured these days...head up, chest out and with a strut in his step.....if he wore a hat during the game it'd be cocked at a rakish angle

[spinaltapped]

To be fair, he has very rarely given away posession with his one touch passing, at any stage of his Liverpool career. One touch passing requires team mates to be attuned and similarly capable. That is something that has improved since Kenny took over. The lad has always shown flashes of it but kuyt and masch were key culprits in letting him down in he past

His non-possession retaining passes are often into space and require movement and players to continue runs. That's what was hindering his passing in the past, but I think now we have players that understand that fact and are willing to make runs for him more often. That's why our team looks so good when Lucas is able to connect with players at will, we gain so much space and time when we're able to avoid extra touches and staying still.

[Neil D]

not a chance. He has no idea how to play the holding role. Yea he can pick a pass but its all about finding a pass in as little time as possible to keep the play moving and the attack fluid. He is an accurate passer but that really doesn't mean much if you dwell on the ball.

Nonsense. He played the holding role well for us when asked to and has for Argentina too. His passing is underrated. He rarely got caught dwelling on the ball.

But this is an old and tired argument, and of no relevance to LFC now.

[RojoLeón]

His non-possession retaining passes are often into space and require movement and players to continue runs. That's what was hindering his passing in the past, but I think now we have players that understand that fact and are willing to make runs for him more often. That's why our team looks so good when Lucas is able to connect with players at will, we gain so much space and time when we're able to avoid extra touches and staying still.

I think rafa discouraged people from committing forward willy nilly and this led to a lack of opportunitys for this one touch style to emerge.   
Kenny seems to encourage a atmosphere of trusting your teammates and more progression in off the ball attacking with runs (like you say) and the knowledge that teammates may well be running into positions of space for you to attempt a onetime pass without looking to check

[Elmo!]

lucas' trick vs chelsea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Dd8h4j99LeA