K-9 wrote: » Don't think anybody is saying he is world class, I'd say top 4 PL class and has improved beyond squad player status. He isn't a million miles of Masch at this stage. Ession is better but not much use to Chelsea at this stage. A quick look at last season:http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2010-2011/table/2010-11-14 Same points and goals scored and conceded at home, think we'd played Arsenal and United at home then. Same goals scored overall as last season! A few home wins please, the Away form is sorted.
Strongbow10 wrote: » Very good post SlickRic. One thing I will say is that I hope he can be consistant with these performances week in week out. Lucas is a very good player in my opinion. He has come on leaps and bounds and noticeably he performs best in games against high class opposition. I do think some fans go a little over the top though with the praise, just like fans went over the top in their criticism of him. In reality Lucas is somewhere in between, he was never the poor player people made out, however I don't think he is the world class midfielder some make him out to be now either. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with that however, he is an important side of this team, and will continue to be an important member of our squad for hopefully years to come. I think you will need players like him in the squad if we are looking to win trophies.
K-9 wrote: » Says a hell of a lot though. Kuyt and Downing should have a few by now and obviously Carroll as well. Same problem for a couple of seasons now. Meireles went on a run last February, then Kuyt, need somebody to do the same now.
slingerz wrote: » I think Kuyt could do with a break fionn the side to be honest. I'd be quiet happy to see a right winger bought in Januaru
SlickRic wrote: » i've not been online in a few days, but firstly, just to say, another super performance on Sunday. we should've won, and that's happening too often, where we should be winning, but bad finishing and brilliant visiting goalkeeping is denying us. it all continues to be very encouraging though. but i wanted to reserve a special word for our general, Mr Lucas Leiva.warning: long post ahead... i'm saying it right off the bat, that right now, I wouldn't swap Lucas for any other DM playing in the EPL. i trust him implicitly in that role. he's learned it. he knows it. he loves it. he's strong. his anticipation is as good as anyone's. his passing has great variety. his game-reading is super. at this moment, he exhibits a bit of everything. there is of course room for improvement, but i could barely be happier with him presently. and that stance has only grown stronger since about 2 years ago. but one quality he has that makes me trust him even more, and makes me believe he will not let the side down at any point in the future, is that he is battle-hardened to the core after what he has been through at the club. and to think some fans still don't want him, or will admit that they were wrong to not trust in Rafa's judgment (and Stevie's btw) on him.... ...anyway, i say battle-hardened, because does anyone remember this?? it's Lucas' take on the most difficult part of his career...from mid-2009 thank you Rafa and Stevie in particular for your belief in the lad through the difficult early years. i remember defending Lucas around the 2008/2009 time. I was at Anfield, and did the tour as those i went with hadn't been before, and due to my defence of Lucas, and my belief that he would at least be a very good squad player for us, they encouraged me to sit beside my "homeboy" Lucas' shirt in the Anfield dressing room. i still have the photo, and proud of it too the man had to deal with the shadow of Alonso, a section of supporters deriding him, and then has had the courage and conviction in himself to work his balls off, learn the position, turn the vast majority of the boo-boys around, and become the anchor of the Liverpool midfield - the guy is now our pivot, our shield, our tempo setter, our general. the performance on Sunday was the latest in an ever growing list of awesome performances, particularly against midfields he is "supposed" to be inferior to. he has helped dominate Chelsea twice last year, and more than match this. he's helped give us the edge in many of our games against United, and many other games over the last couple of years too. in fact, speaking of United, the first United game he really stood out in, our 2-0 game when Pepe straddled N'Gog after our winner, was the one where it all really turned around for him. from the man himself... as i say, Sunday was merely the latest example of his growing stature. he won a ridiculous amount of challenges. he hit passes of varying length, strength and purpose. he dominated our tempo. he snuffed out Silva's space. he joined our attack at times with quality. he won aerial duels. he did just about everything a holding midfielder can be asked to do. and i say this too...if Scotty Parker had put in that performance, the media would be fingering themselves over it. i'm a big fan, but the amount of times i've seen performances of grit from that man without half the technical prowess and calm that Lucas showed on Sunday, and he gets lauded as incredible, is laughable. i've no problem with Parker getting praise, as i say, i'm a fan of his work, and i'm only picking on him because he's the 'Chosen One' in the English media right now... but this sort of shít happens while Lucas barely gets a mention anywhere. he got MOTM on Sunday....hardly a whisper of recognition. the most you'll get is the odd patronising "isn't it wonderful to see he's improving after his start at Anfield", or something to that effect. almost 5 years on. it's time for everyone to forget about what he was. he was a young man, coming to a new country, having to learn a different culture, language...as well as way to play the game. he's learned his craft, and he's now excelling, and i don't use these words lightly. we don't need the media's recognition to know how good he now is, but it's worth pointing out that he gets a fraction of the plaudits he deserves, and this is reflected in the amount of rival fans, and occasionally our own, who still refuse to see what he has become...because 'Lucas' is a name you cannot possibly associate with "quality", purely because of the start of his career in England :rolleyes: he's just about the first name on our teamsheet, only maybe after Pepe and Suarez. the old Lucas is gone...long live our new general.
5starpool wrote: » From F365:
It is 11 months since he was booed by his own fans during a 0-0 draw against the same opponents at Anfield. The incident caused a lot of hand-wringing among Liverpool fans appalled at the treatment of one of their own. Lucas, a man who rarely stops smiling and talks about football with a thoughtful intensity, remembers it well. He regards that Fulham game as an epochal moment. When we met this week at Melwood, Liverpool's training ground, he explained how the doubts about him have made him into a better player. "Fulham was the worst moment because it was the first time anything like that had happened to me but it was an experience I could learn from," he says. "Maybe it will happen again but now I have the experience. You have to understand the supporters. They were expecting Xabi [Alonso] that time and he was on the bench. The game wasn't good, we were not playing well so I understand. Playing well is the only way you will change it. "When I came to Liverpool, I came with a target: to make history. Nobody wants to come to a club and become just one more player. Since that moment [against Fulham] I tried to protect myself. I stopped reading newspapers. Each time I listened to criticism it made me stronger. If you just get the negative things you don't improve. I just try to get the positive things. A lot of people believe in my qualities."
Lucas Leiva cannot suppress a smile when he is reminded of the moment, 18 minutes into the game against Manchester United on Sunday, when he clattered into Paul Scholes, won the ball and played in Dirk Kuyt who almost scored. It was the moment that said Lucas was not going to be pushed around. "The tackle [on Scholes] was a good moment, not just for me but for the team. We started well, we were on top and had some chances. After that game I feel stronger. I'm a positive man, if I listened to everything I would not be focused and I would not be a good player. I just try to get the positive things and try to change."
Own Goal is now Liverpool's outright second top scorer of the season with three goals. Never mind Demba Ba, OG has to be the best free transfer of the summer. We're amazed United gave a new contract to Michael Owen but let him go for nowt.
paddy kerins wrote: » Ah yes I'm aware. Just some light-hearted humour
5live wrote: » Alleged. Racism thread over thataways ====>;)
daithijjj wrote: » Toby_Oo Toby Oo #LFC players on my train to London. Bellamy has travelled. 11 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply Retweeted by JimBoardman
paddy kerins wrote: » And his racism :pac:
th3 s1aught3r wrote: » Agreed I would say however that its the winnable games we find the toughest sometimes
Phoenix Park wrote: » Any takers for Downing? He must be on 70/80k a week. I'd take 13 mil tomorrow for him, i know its early days but i had expected a lot more from him.
mike65 wrote: » Fulham Away (win) QPR Home (draw) Aston Villa Away (win) Wigan Away (win) Blackburn Home (WE WILL WIN THAT ONE!)
OwaynOTT wrote: » I think fulham and villa will be tricky enough. I also don't think we lost out on the 3 points because of Joe Hart but rather down to poor finishing. Saying that the save from Carroll was excellent. City had there chances too. Silva off the line and the Pepe was called into action as well with his tackles. So both keepers made saves but we had the better chances, also more, and failed to be more clinical. Adam goal was a major deflection. I think if city had our chances they would of scored. Still loving the way the players are nipping at the opposing players heels. How many times in the last two matches did we win the ball back in opposing half? Or forcing mistakes from them. Suarez just upsets defenders, it's great to watch him play. Upsets them with his ability btw.
Dont be at yourself wrote: » Another left-footer, interesting!
K-9 wrote: » I'm happy enough where we are. Obviously should be a minimum of 4 points better of but considering its a very new squad things are starting to look good. Unbeaten in 10 is the best run in 3 years with the obvious drawback of home draws. There's 5 league games coming up that are very winnable. A repeat of the Fulham performance would come in very, very handy.
spockety wrote: » Just to say: Loving yesterday's performance. Loving Lucas. Loving the Suarez bashing. Loving not hearing a word from our boardroom in god knows how long. Loving not relying on Stevie or Carra. Loving the hatred.
daithijjj wrote: » Seeing a few tweets now saying Ryad Boudabouz has confirmed that Liverpool have been talking with him and "it would be hard to turn down an offer". I dont know much about him.
