The Alternative Lucasverse

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Here's how it could have happened. (Actually, apart from the bits in italics, here's how it did happen.)

 

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Summer 2007 was a busy transfer season for the Reds. In addition to the "big name" signings of Babel, Benayoun and Torres (and a protracted and unsuccessful pursuit of Gabriel Heinze) Rafa Benitez brought in a host of promising young players, including Nemeth, Leto, Plessis, Gulasci and Pacheco. Perhaps the most intriguing - certainly the most expensive - of the youngsters was the 20 year old Lucas Pezzini Leiva from Gremio. The captain of Brazil's victorious under-20s and the youngest ever winner of the Brazilian league's Player of the Year Award was a mouthwatering prospect.

 

Of course, breaking into "the best midfield in the world" was always going to take time and patience, on behalf of both Lucas and the Liverpool fans. In his first season, he was a useful squad player and his appearances were mainly as a sub or to allow Rafa to "rotate" the senior midfielders.

 

Nevertheless, one match in his debut season cemented his place as an Anfield cult hero. After coming on as a substitute at Goodison, Lucas's goal-bound shot secured the derby victory for the Reds, despite Phil Neville's desperate attempts to stop the ball with his hand. Later that season, the first Brazilian to score for the Reds registered his first Anfield goal, with a 25-yard curler against Havant & Waterlooville.

 

The arrival of Javier Mascherano a month later made Lucas' job even more challenging, as there were now three genuinely world-class central midfielders ahead of him in the Anfield pecking order. Nevertheless, the young Brazilian stayed focused on his task, committed to the club and willing to do anything the manager required of him.

 

In Summer 2008 he travelled to Beijing, where he won an Olympic Bronze medal as a key member of the Brazilian side.

 

2008/09 was an unforgettable season for Reds fans and a pivotal one in the club's history. Lucas was restricted to just 39 appearances (including substitute appearances), due to the imperious form of Mascherano and Alonso. Highlights included important contributions to the 5-1 demolition of Newcastle and the unforgettable 4-1 victory at Old Trafford. With the unswervingly loyal support of the Kop, the youngster's confidence grew throughout the season. This was reflected in his more adventurous play - shots from distance and runs into the box - which helped the Reds to edge past stubbornly defensive visitors Fulham and Stoke City, en route to a title-winning tally of 90 points.

 

The following season was an anti-climax, as the Reds struggled to repeat their earlier form, largely due to the failure to replace Xabi Alonso (or to adapt to his departure). For Lucas, costly errors against Wigan and Everton frustrated many Reds fans. Nevertheless, he continued his development, racking up more starts than in the previous seasons and being voted the Liverpool fans' Young Player of the Season. The highlight of the otherwise-disappointing year was his goal-scoring Man of the Match performance against Benfica. His improved consistency has been rewarded with a recall to the senior Brazilian squad.

 

This season, the new manager has continued to show faith in Lucas: a faith which was rewarded with a dynamic and goalscoring cameo appearance against Steaua Bucharest.

 

Blessed with tremendous natural talent (and hailed by some of the players as the most technically gifted member of the squad) and an unswerving loyalty to the club, Lucas has all the attributes to develop into an Anfield legend: not least because he enjoys the recognition and support of the best supporters in the world - and he never gets booed, moaned at or written off by bitching shitwits, haters, whingers and cocks.

[mars]

Some forumites are going to have a real negasm over this. Personally I like Lucas and still hope he'll make it at Liverpool; I think it's hard to criticise his attitude but I fully accept the criticisms of his effectiveness as a defensive midfielder and his partnership with Poulsen.

 

Have some rep Angry for sailing against the wind.

[Anubis]

I like Lucas. Not as poor as people make out, but certainly hasn't been effective in the defensive midfield role. But whatever you think of him, there are a lot of players in the squad who could learn from his attitude.

[Ace]

He's so good that every week the top teams in europe are coming in with huge bids. Good attitude - Yes

Good player - No way!

[Hermes]

there are a lot of players in the squad who could learn from his attitude.

 

I think they will, they already drink bottles of Lucas-aid.

[Gary Mac Legend]

He's just not in his natural role in the side. Give him licence to roam like Lampard at Chelsea, and I think you'll have a different player on your hands. He's got a shot, can pick a pass over short distances.

[TheResonator]

Some truth to it, but you won't convince the fans who simply don't rate Lucas no matter what you say. Indeed, there is some argument to be made for not rating him, though personally I think he's got great technical ability and could be a top class player in a few years, but hey ho. Until he's scoring goals like the one in the Benfica game or against Steaua on a bi-weekly basis, the fans will be divided over him.

 

Cracking attitude, though. I always have time for players like that.

[rafarubbish]

lucas is shite, as long as hes in that team we will struggle to create anything in midfield, 5 yard passes backwards and sideways arent going to hurt many sides in the premier league, maybe he would be better in an advanced role but wouldnt think he will be any better than what we have, if he starts tomorrow im prepared for defeat

[Guest TesticleOReilly]

He's so good that every week the top teams in europe are coming in with huge bids. Good attitude - Yes

Good player - No way!

 

And how many bids do you think would come in for Torres if he was constantly played at left back?

[Hermes]

I think he's got great technical ability and could be a top class player in a few years.

 

He's nearly 24, what is going to provide this amazing transformation?

[Gary Mac Legend]

lucas is shite, as long as hes in that team we will struggle to create anything in midfield, 5 yard passes backwards and sideways arent going to hurt many sides in the premier league, maybe he would be better in an advanced role but wouldnt think he will be any better than what we have, if he starts tomorrow im prepared for defeat

 

He's started the last 3 times we played them, we won 2 out of those 3 encounters and he was excellent and integral in the 2 we won.

 

Best fans in the world.

[Lucky Pierre]

He's so good that every week the top teams in europe are coming in with huge bids. Good attitude - Yes

Good player - No way!

 

You mean like they are for Gerrard? And Messi?

[Anubis]

I don't know much about Lucas, or indeed football in general, but I do so like to sexually abuse fluffy little kittens.

 

.

[Ace]

You mean like they are for Gerrard? And Messi?

 

Are you comparing Lucas to Those 2?

 

Chelsea and Real Madrid have tried with Gerrard and im pretty sure that if Man City thought there was any chance of Barca selling Messi or if he would go there then they would put in a huge bid.

 

Lucas is Shite.

[Hermes]

 

Lucas is Shite.

 

No, he just needs a chance to show the ability that hasn't quite shone through in his previous 130 games with Liverpool.

[Ace]

And how many bids do you think would come in for Torres if he was constantly played at left back?

 

If Lucas was good enough to play in a more attaking role im sure he would have had his chance by now, he did have Masch behind him.

Rafa could see he wasn't good enough and Roy will see the same.

[rafarubbish]

sammy lee could go out and do what lucas does on the pitch

[TheResonator]

He's nearly 24, what is going to provide this amazing transformation?

 

Confidence and experience, basically.

 

He's got a great eye for playing a ball in behind the other team's back four as shown with through-balls to Babel, Torres, Benayoun (x2 - one he didn't finish against Reading) in the second half of last season. He's shown he can score goals. Just needs to do it more often and, crucially, get himself in the right positions further up the field.

 

Was one of our best players last year and if he can get a run of games in a team that's playing good football he'll flourish. I'm not looking for a debate because I don't imagine it will be that productive, but that's the bulk of my opinion.

[Ace]

No, he just needs a chance to show the ability that hasn't quite shone through in his previous 130 games with Liverpool.

 

Exactly.

How long are we supposed to wait?

[Hermes]

He's shown he can score goals. Just needs to do it more often

 

Either he can, in which case he would have or he can't, which he hasn't.

[WilliamW]

130 games of rubbish. Suddenly he scores a goal against shite opponents and he's just 1 position away from greatness. I agree, let's give him another 200 games to find his natural position in the team, that ought to help.

[Hermes]

130 games of rubbish. Suddenly he scores a goal against shite opponents and he's just 1 position away from greatness. I agree, let's give him another 200 games to find his natural position in the team, that ought to help.

 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

If Lucas was good enough to play in a more attaking role im sure he would have had his chance by now, he did have Masch behind him.

Rafa could see he wasn't good enough and Roy will see the same.

Exactly. This is why Rafa refused to play him, despite howls of protests from the eager fans.

[Guest TesticleOReilly]

If Lucas was good enough to play in a more attaking role im sure he would have had his chance by now, he did have Masch behind him.

Rafa could see he wasn't good enough and Roy will see the same.

 

Yes. Roy's judgment will see us through. 'cause it's not like he tried to bring us Carlton Cole, or play 2 holding midfielders away at Birmingham. Trust in Roy. A poor man's Benitez.

 

 

nb: I like Roy, nothing against him in the slightest, it's not his fault he was offered a dream job in shitty circumstances that he'd never have been considered for otherwise.

[TheResonator]

Either he can, in which case he would have or he can't, which he hasn't.

 

Look at Cesc in his first couple of seasons. The potential was there to score goals but he didn't begin knocking them in regularly until he'd played a couple of years. Yes, he was younger than Lucas and yes, a better player - but he wasn't always as prolific a goalscorer as he is now. Sometimes it's a facet of the game that takes time to develop, but if you can round the keeper like he did against Benfica or hit a ball like he did the other night, it's in his locker.