Lucas Leiva has failed to break into the Liverpool first team, although he has flirted with doing so at times. Still, many of the club's fans remain unconvinced at best. Nevertheless, he's a player who boss Rafael Benitez rates highly. The Spanish gaffer backed the Brazilian to succeed at Anfield recently, putting rumours of an impending exit to bed. Now, the 21-year-old midfielder has vowed to fulfil his potential and force his way into a star-studded Reds midfield. "I'm always trying to improve," he told the club's official website. "Every single day in training I'll get better and that will give me an edge if I am given some minutes on the pitch for the team. "I know how difficult it is to play in midfield for a club like Liverpool as we have players like [Steven] Gerrard, [Xabi] Alonso and [Javier] Mascherano - great players. "However, I think I am a better player than I was last season. I try to play with a high tempo, because I think that is the key to doing well for an English team." Lucas has been tipped to start against PSV Eindhoven as the Champions League group stage reaches its conclusion. If the rumours prove correct, he can begin to repay the faith shown in him by Rafa and set about winning the support of the fans. Source
The lad is 21, competing with Gerrard, Masch and Alonso for a place. We all know his credentials from the Brazilian national team. Give him a break, he'll come good in time. He needs these "less important" games to get experience and develop.
Good luck to the lad at least he's trying and knows he needs to improve. Must be hard for him too with the stick he gets from some of our so called fans. I have to be honest and say I don't rate him as a player but he is young and I will always give someone a chance as long as their giving 100%.
what do people expect of him?how good was gerrard at his age? compare him to similar players and same age...a michael johnson for example,good but not yet great but showing signs of devolping into a quality player. Young prospect,lets not drive him out of the club and live to regret it.
This guy will come good, not sure why he gets such a slating at 21. I guess part of it is so many televised games where people see players developing and get on their back for lack of patience. As Carra said recently, if he was starting his career now he'd never get the career he has had because he wouldn't be given the chance to develop properly. Bloody armchair experts with "he's not good enough" for 21 year old former Brazilian player of the year, makes me sick. And by the way, he's a holding midfielder so he's not in the team to score goals, Masch doesn't and no-one slates him. He had a very good game last night, well done Lucas
This could have been posted here http://irishkop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6973what a classic non story. Until now ive been thinking Lucas has nothing to prove and that he was in training for the laugh but NOW!...
I completely agree with you mate, barring Fabregas who was just born to play football its very rare that you find someone at 21 with the maturity to play in the middle of the park. Hopefully last night will have done wonders for lucas's confidence because lets face it if we're going to win both the champions league and premier league we need all of our squad playing to a high standard.
He was excellent against newcastle, harrying/tackling- playing it simple, great movement and a super through ball for Gerrards second. We have a real prospect on our hands imo although he does need to add the consistency with the players ahead of him in his position.
Have to say I have been more impressed with lately. He is still a young lad, so lets hope he continue to improve.
I agree but Dunphy's quote is always in the back of my mind "The worst Brazilian to grace a football pitch". However, this is from the guy who said...until we lifted the CL trophy in Istanbul that the pool weren't good enough to win it. Lucas needs time to adapt (maybe a hair cut )- the one thing he still hasn't done is score enough - he has missed a few sitters, especially with the head, but no way is he too bad for the team, he deserves his place in the squad and who knows he may become the "worst brazilian to win a P.L. medal!!!!"
against Fulham he was useless didnt even seem to want the ball,but last few games seems to have improved. can never see the day that he in first choice 11 thou
I would disagree with this to be honest, if Lucas were given a proper run in the squad i'm sure his game would improve a huge amount and i'm sure that training with Xabi every day is having a great effect on the lad. I think this game at the weekend is a huge oppurtunity for him to show his true worth to the team the way he did against newcastle.