Greenlizard0 Weekend Football Thread ** spoilers ** [4th - 7th December 2015]

[Nate75]

That's what I was thinking too

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

And fwiw, I've said Lucas on the whole has done well lately but his legs have well and truly gone. In previous games and countless times today he lost out in 70-30 balls that were in his favour.

He's statistically one of the best DMs in Europe again for tackles made and won. Fact is he needs help and Can is the perfect player to help him unlike the incredibly weak Allen who's up their with Poulsen and Adams for worst Liverpool midfielder in the last decade.

 

[nemtizz]

Thought we were fairly ****, but Liverpool were even worse. Nice little finish from Gini.

 

[Andybtsn]

And fwiw, I've said Lucas on the whole has done well lately but his legs have well and truly gone. In previous games and countless times today he lost out in 70-30 balls that were in his favour. He gets caught flat footed far too often and takes an age to get up and running.

Lucas seems to always play like a player that has played 90 minutes and into extra time and doesn't have the energy to deliver a normal pass. He was awful today. Lallana needs to play every game when fit.

 

[Nate75]

Thought we were fairly ****, but Liverpool were even worse. Nice little finish from Gini.

well taken goal - I didn't fancy him to score at the time

 

[MacMiniBoy]

Thought we were fairly ****, but Liverpool were even worse. Nice little finish from Gini.

both teams would have lost to the top 10-12 today

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Who'd've thought you're approaching 40...

Let him have his day in the sun. It's not as if the team he supports will provide much to get excited about

 

[BaZ87]

He's statistically one of the best DMs in Europe again for tackles made and won. Fact is he needs help and Can is the perfect player to help him unlike the incredibly weak Allen who's up their with Poulsen and Adams for worst Liverpool midfielder in the last decade.

I read/heard somewhere that he's in the top 10 for tackles made/won however of that 10, he's 9th in terms of % tackle won. In other words he attempts so many that he naturally wins more than most but he also loses out more than most too.

We were collectively terrible today, although I'm not sure Allen can be blamed for Lucas' lack of pace and misplacing 2 passes by 20 odd yards in the space of minutes in the 2nd half.

Allen's a squad player that comes in here and there. Lucas is a first 11 player but 1 that clearly can and needs to be upgraded. His legs have gone. They've been gone for over 3 years now. Against slow pace opposition he'll do fine but against high energy/tempo sides he comes up short.

Take a look at Aguero's goal against us the other week. I didn't mention anything at the time because it would have seemed harsh and tbh I didn't give a **** after winning 4-1. Ask yourself whether Mascherano or somebody similar would have allowed Aguero to get that shot away unchallenged? Lucas was running in lead boots and couldn't get back once Aguero was goalside of him and it happens time and time again. There was at least 4 or 5 occasions today where Lucas was massive favourite going into a challenge or picking up a loose ball and he either lost out or only just got there.

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Lucas needs help and playing 90 minutes twice in a week is obviously going to take it's toll when he's doing the work of two players by himself.

Would you rather play alongside a player who has pace, strength and the workrate of Can or a player that's weaker than non alcoholic beer?

Edit: No excuses from Klopp today. He and the team didn't deserve the win and he's acknowledged that

 

[sigma]

FFS I had Pool to win in a prediction thingy.

£5 wasted

 

[BaZ87]

Lucas needs help and playing 90 minutes twice in a week is obviously going to take it's toll when he's doing the work of two players by himself.

Would you rather play alongside a player who has pace, strength and the workrate of Can or a player that's weaker than non alcoholic beer?

Edit: No excuses from Klopp today. He and the team didn't deserve the win and he's acknowledged that

Lucas shouldn't be judged based on the performance of others. Lucas needs improving on. I have no issues with him as back-up but we need a new defensive midfielder.

Would Can playing have been better? Of course but that's not an excuse for Lucas. If we had a better keeper then we can excuse mistakes by our CB's?

It's clear that Klopp doesn't fancy Allen and I hope that Lucas inclusion in the side is simply down to him being the only option in that position we have at the moment.

 

[Purdy]

Can't say he's doing the work of two players if he can't do his own job decently

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

The front 6 were all woeful today, individually and as a unit, and some have been consistently woeful for a while. Lucas isn't one of them.

I agree we need better than Lucas if we want to get back in to the Champions League and perform on that stage again but he's not even close to being the first player that needs replacing in that team.

Edit: And for what it's worth, I thought Allen may have been one of the players to really come in to his own under Klopp but his one touch football is abysmal and it's clear he needs time on the ball which he won't be allowed to be effective.

 

[sigma]

There are corpses quicker than Lucas.

Quoting this for "teh lols".

It certainly tickled me...comment of the month

 

[Nate75]

Given that Klopp is a high profile appointment you would have to assume the purse strings will be relaxed somewhat come January.

 

[MANFACE]

I predicted Newcastle to win 2-0 should have put a bet on....!!!!

 

[Irish_Tom]

Why can't we show spirit like this every game?

This team drives me nuts! Great result now we need to build on it!

That's what I was thinking.

Happy about the result and they definitely showed more spirit than of late, but I think we were let off by Liverpool.

After our last win I said I hoped it was the start of a revival and it wasn't so I'm not even going to bother this time…

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Given that Klopp is a high profile appointment you would have to assume the purse strings will be relaxed somewhat come January.

We need goals from midfield.

Milner, Lucas, Can, Allen and Henderson to a degree are all work horses that perform other duties in the team but none of Ibe, Coutinho, Firmino (when played in midfield) or Lallana are known for their goal scoring so that's where my money would be.

 

[BaZ87]

The front 6 were all woeful today, individually and as a unit, and some have been consistently woeful for a while. Lucas isn't one of them.

I agree we need better than Lucas if we want to get back in to the Champions League and perform on that stage again but he's not even close to being the first player that needs replacing in that team.

Edit: And for what it's worth, I thought Allen may have been one of the players to really come in to his own under Klopp but his one touch football is abysmal and it's clear he needs time on the ball which he won't be allowed to be effective.

Genuine question, who? The only players I could possible think of are either squad players, youngsters or Milner who (imo) is a very handy utility player.

If I named our first choice front 6 now - Can/Henderson, Lucas, Coutinho then 3 of Firmino, Lallana, Benteke and Sturridge. Of those Lucas is far and away the one that needs improving on over the others and is only in the side as we have no alternative.

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Bar Sturridge I wouldn't be overly bothered if any of the other 3 were replaced. I'd certainly look at replacing Lallana before Lucas, works hard but has very little end product.