I feel its a realy good endorsment of the work BR has done when you see the big name players signing new deals all we need now is stevie to put pin to paper & we're laughing.
Shit again yesterday, he needs a preseason but I also think we should be looking to sign another player in his position, we can't sit by and hope he'll return to pre injury form, if he does it's a massive bonus, if he doesn't then the team will suffer.
Agree, he's been a shadow of himself and needs this summer to prepare himself Another DM signing would do no harm at all
He's been fairly average at best but I think the system leaves him totally exposed. Gerrard can be 30/40 yards ahead of him, both fullbacks play like wingers and the center backs drop deep and spread out. All in all he can have an acre to defend all by himself when a move breaks down.
He's constantly been a yard or two off the pace since he came back, tackling has been shocking, late challenge after late challenge His positioning in given an option to the centre half when they are in possession is mind boggling as he always seems to be directly behind the forward and not either side of them to make himself free Hopefully all he needs is a rest and a preseason but we definitely need cover for him as we can't afford to given him a few months of next season for him to find his form
See it the same , Rodgers will hopefully play a higher line next season with the right additions might even help Allen's game . But I'd love to see us go after Diame from west ham even with his heart problems and give Lucas some competition for his place
I think that's a fair point about the system. We're still struggling for balance and could be putting far too big a workload on our DM and CB's. Maybe its a risk we're willing to take in exchange for a more potent attack,I don't know. But our DM whether it be Lucas or Allen have consistently made more tackles or interceptions than anybody else in the league. It could be a coincidence I suppose. But it could also be part of the reason why our CB's have been so poor. It's obviously not an excuse on its own for anyone's form but it could be a mitigating factor.
I think he should be made vice captain and next in line to succeed Stevie G, he is a pure gentleman and a great roll model on and off the pitch, here's his recent interview with The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ball-to-stay-grounded-and-out-of-trouble.html Lucas Leiva: all players need an escape from pressures of English football to stay grounded and out of trouble Liverpool's popular South American watched studiously as the finals of the Premier League Schools competition entered its climax at Anfield. Serenity: Lucas Leiva has found the right balance between football and home life By Chris Bascombe 11:04AM BST 23 May 2013 While the schoolchildren representing Stoke and Fulham celebrated their victories, he dished out the honours, hung around to offer his advice and was every inch the role model English football craves after another season where certain reputations have been damaged. For Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva, the responsibility of acting by what has recently been emphasised as 'example and precept' comes naturally. When we speak on finals afternoon for the Premier League's annual competition for the nation's youngsters, it is inevitable the conversation will at some point turn towards the contrast between his public image and that of his friend, Luis Suarez. Lucas signs autographs at the Premier League Schools competition Lucas' backstory is one of serenity rather than trauma, and an upbringing he believes has enabled him to achieve the correct balance between craving and preserving luxuries as a footballer while embracing the obligations that come with success. "I was fortunate to grow up in the ideal environment to help me," says Lucas. "Every summer when I was a youngster I would go to my grandfather's farm in Brazil to work there. "He made his life around the farm so I used to go there for months during the holidays. As a kid it was something I really enjoyed and a chance to see a way of living outside of the city. "My brother took it over some years later and is still there looking after it so I can still go back at the end of every season. "We have everything there, all the cattle, cows and bulls. It is different from the pressure of English football, that is for sure. A real contrast. Lucas on his ranch in Brazil "It is not normal, maybe, for people in England to imagine it but when I go there I make sure I play my part and do the work. "I like to remember how I spent my weekends and holidays there. Many years ago we would go and be completely cut off, with no electricity. We've changed it a lot since then and had the internet connected, but when I go after the season is over I still try to forget about the world and relax. "I see how much my life has changed compared to when I was there as a youngster and appreciate what football has offered me. It makes you value what you have even more and aspire to get better and better. "I was lucky because my dad loved football, and my uncle played, so in my family I was able to go away with my dad, watch and play and be around the Brazilian national team watching the likes of Romario, Bebeto and Ronaldo and then spend time away from all this when I wanted to be on the farm. "That's the environment where I grew up. I know kids look to players as heroes and will follow what we as players do on and off the pitch and I know I have a responsibility, but I do not feel pressure with that. If you live in the right way, it happens normally. As footballers we always want to send positive messages and sport is a way of developing your confidence and character, particularly football." The contrast with Suarez has to be put to Lucas, but he's uncomfortable comparing his own becalmed South American upbringing with the Uruguayan's other than to stress the player he sees described and vilified is unrecognisable to the man he knows. Lucas insists Luis Suarez is missunderstood "I know Luis and his family well but it's not fair for me to talk about his background," he said. "He is a lovely person and a good friend outside the pitch and he wants to succeed on the pitch. He made mistakes and he will try to be a better person. If people are trying to help him, do not keep talking about it all the time. We just want to see him play football because he is brilliant." One of the suggestions proposed for Suarez is to seek more help from Liverpool's resident psychologist Dr Steve Peters. Lucas says he has personally benefited from the Melwood sessions, although another family connection has given him insight into how success is often a mental as much as physical challenge. "I met Dr Peters a few times," said Lucas. "My wife and my mother-in-law are psychologists so I do have some experience of this at home, but obviously it's hard to talk about it so much with your family. I've always been interested in this because I can see where the benefits are. "It's important for people to try everything. The players, the staff and everyone should do all the club offers. Dr Peters has worked with successful athletes and I worked with him a lot when I was injured, especially my second injury. Some players do not feel they need it, but it has worked for me. "Next season we will work with him even more because he is helping. He teaches you to block all negative messages in your mind and that when there is something bad in your head, you can deal with that. "Coming back from injuries you can have doubts, but he made me believe the good times will come around again. He insists on not giving any importance to negative thoughts." Despite a 7th place finish there has been little negativity at Anfield, although Lucas is realistic in his appraisal of recent years. Brendan Rodgers is bringing stability to Liverpool "It's been another difficult season because a new manager came in again and there were more players coming and going," he said. "To have three or four managers in four years has not helped the club, but now we feel we can look forward. On and off the pitch it's been a difficult four or five years. The owners changed, managers have changed. One manager tries to build a team and then goes, and then another comes and it's start again. Next season is our first season for a while where we have a manager going into a second full season. "The second half of the season was not bad but the start has cost us. Next season with the structure settled we know the manager, how he wants us to play and if we need to find the consistency to have a better chance. The chances of success are always higher when you are stable which is why I think next season will good for us." There is another hope for Liverpool now the man credited with knocking the club off its lofty perch has gone. "You can't overstate what Sir Alex Ferguson has done for football," said Lucas. "He is probably the best manager for a long time. When I looked at his record and saw 1,500 games and he lost just around 200, that is not easy. "He has left a strong structure to keep Manchester United strong, but we need to focus on improving ourselves not worry about them. If we can improve our performance we will have a better chance against Manchester United and Manchester City."
Lucas Leiva claims he is feeling 50 per cent better physically than he did last season as he sets about a full pre-season for the first time under Brendan Rodgers. The Brazilian has endured two injury-hit campaigns since winning our Player of the Season award in 2010-11, but after a good spell back in the team last term he is now approaching peak condition. "I'm feeling 50-60 per cent better than I was last season," Lucas told Liverpoolfc.com. "The last six months I played were really important for me. I needed to get games and sessions, and this season now I'm feeling strong and feeling that I'm in the shape I was before the injury. "Now I've got to improve the fitness and build confidence, but I'm really happy with the way pre-season has started." Lucas is one of 27 players currently in Indonesia for the first leg of our summer tour, with new players Iago Aspas, Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto and Simon Mignolet also in the party. And Lucas has revealed how he takes it upon himself to help any new player settle, in the hope they will find their form quicker. He explained: "Myself and a few others try to translate and be the link between the staff and players. We try to make sure they feel welcome and happy because if they adapt quicker, they'll find their form quicker. "We saw how well Coutinho played when he arrived in January because off the pitch he was really comfortable. "I always try to be this link - because if they perform well it's good for us as a team." At 26, Lucas is one of the oldest players in what was the youngest Barclays Premier League team last season. "It's been six years and my seventh season is here already," he added. "How much I've changed since I arrived - the hair and the face! Older, for sure. "I really appreciate how things changed for me at this club. I want to keep going. "Being one of the older players in the squad makes you feel like you have extra responsibility. I really like that, and I hope I can be one of the leaders on the pitch this season."
100% I just watched the interview the inhouse TV station did with him out in Jakarta. He really is a fantastic guy with a great attitude. He spoke about his fitness and how is feeling so much better than this time last year and reminded the interviewer that it was his 7th season at the club and not his 6th. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see him regain the form of season 11/12. He was incredible against Man City in the 2-2 draw at Anfield. Unfortunately it was the very next game that he got injured. It can be possible that he has lost some pace though put if he can still play intelligently with good positional awareness he can be the vital cog that stops opposition attacks and starts the Liverpool attack. In the interview posted above it mentions Lucas being a catalyst to helping younger players settle. He sure helped Coutinho settle and even brought him on holiday to Dubai during an international break.
If he plays anything like he did last season he shouldn't be near the squad. Our midfield was an absolute disaster until January, between Lucas been a shadow of the player he briefly was in 2011 and joe Allen been well joe Allen, we'd little creativity and you could drive a bus through our midfield, very worrying we haven't looked to fix this. The midfield should be Gerrard Henderson and another and IMO we don't have that player in the squad. There is no place in the squad for two very average to poor players like Lucas and Allen, we should defo look to move one or both on, but doubt we will and it'll be same next season as it was 1st 2/3rds of games last season
Surely we need to give Lucas a full preseason behind him and then judge him on his performances say over half a season before we write him off as an average to poor player. If he doesn't improve then fair enough. His performances before this major injury would indicate to me he was anything but an average to poor player.
To be honest mate I rated him massively before the injury and you can't knock his heart or the fact he's a decent lad, but that injury was a nasty one and he had a preseason last year but really looked off the pace at start of season e.g the WBA game and then on his return. Him and Allen as a midfield paring is up there with the worst I've seen, not an ounce of skill or hint of pace between them, they play together again it'll be no different to last season, the teams best form was when Allen was out of the team but I can't see Rodgers admitting it was a shit signing and selling him. The midfield is a major problem, and these 2 players are a big part of it
That's fair enough and like you said Lucas being a decent lad and add in the fact the shit he used to get from our own, he probably does get a free pass for average performances. I have faith (probably blind) that he will come good again and think a midfield 3 of Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas has a good range of the qualities needed in there.
Think he needs serious competition for his place next season as if he gets crocked again we are fcuked. His DM position is probably the most important in a 4-3-3 system, we need a top class player to slot in if he is out of form or injured. We don't have anyone in the squad currently who can do this imho, Gerrard, Allen etc. are stopgaps. I know he gets crucified on here by some but Mascherano would be perfect.