[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=45294.msg1332069#msg1332069 date=1305216889]
[quote author=Shelvey link=topic=45294.msg1331558#msg1331558 date=1305188515]
Okay, I made my point of view quite clear on page 5. Summary: I started our liking him, but called him out for his poor performances when that was the norm for him but always held out hope on his potential.
BUT, I still am not sure if he is one of the 3 most influential players on the pitch for us in most games. He's doing a good job protecting the back 4 now, and that has definitely aided by the change in play of our team; more defensive cover from players in front of him and we are threatening the opposition all the time so there are fewer players breaking on us. However, imo, he doesn't have the influence of a SUAREZ, Meireles, Kuyt(purple patch since January) or Carragher in any game. He hasn't been making us tick and he isn't our best defensive player. I'm not inclined to put him in my top 3 performers most weeks unless it is an unusually spectacular display from him or a poor game for most of our team. It seems like generally I'm in the wrong with that viewpoint. I wouldn't give him player of the season either, for me its between Kuyt, Meireles and Suarez. Its one of the few times the general consensus has made me feel like I'm not "understanding" football I am watching.
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Disagree with that - I think we get this kind of thing backwards.
Lucas isn't a better DM now because he's getting better cover in front of him - he's a better DM now because he's got Suarez, Ming and Kuyt constantly changing positions and moving off the ball to create options. Create options and he's shown he'll spot them - left, right or through the centre, Lucas was putting the ball there for the runner against Fulham.
The reason this makes him look a better DM/CM is because the whole opposition team doesn't feel comfortable charging our end like the cavalry - they've been burnt at the other end enough to be a little cautious. There were a couple of games this season where Lucas got left to stand the trenches by everyone and he looked to be floundering. In the same games, when he had the ball, he was constantly searching for movement ahead of him and couldn't find it.
When there's no movement up front the fullbacks become more adventurous and in a few games our movement up front clearly posed no issues whatsoever so they attacked us in droves. One of the major factors in Lucas' defensive displays (and of course his attacking play) is that we now have movement up front rather than the static, one dimensional, one paced offerings we were providing in earlier games.
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Good point, well made.