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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Talk of substitution, but how good was he?

Everywhere you read about Liverpool’s weekend derby victory over Everton, you read about Steven Gerrard being substituted. But what about the Liverpool new boy who replaced him? He looked class to me.

Lucas Leiva, recent Liverpool arrival from Brazil was introduced into the Merseyside derby on Saturday midway thru the second half to the look of astonishment not only by Gerrard but throngs of fans mouthing “WTF?” as the camera panned the stands.

Replacing Gerrard was hard enough, but a Derby, and a close one at that? A lot to ask of a youngster, but Lucas, last year’s Brazilian player of the year, showed remarkable composure, ability, and some neat footwork.

He was controlled and passed the ball very well and if it were not for Phil Neville’s goal line cheating, would have been on the score sheet and with the winner to boot. Lucas looked like he could be a regular starter to me. Could I date the unimaginable and suggest he may actually play ahead of Gerrard this season? Too early for anything like that but I can bet you that a few more solid and controlled displays from the youngster might see it actually happen, and you can bet Rafa has the balls to do it.

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8 Comments:

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

should be our #2 midfielder IMO ahead of Alonso

10/24/2007 4:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

he did look good but i think it will take till next season before we see him as the player fighting gerrard for a place on the team, with sissoko going the other slot will either be alonso or mascherano
any of these combinations is more than a match for any central midfield out there, unfortuantly our wingers are a bit shit, well they are good players but thats it, they are not world class, they have to be next on the list (at least 1) along with our obvious defensive cover issues

10/24/2007 4:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi
am an arsenal fan, have 2 seats in the liverpool-arsenal game but in the liverpool end. anyone got tickets in the arsenal end that they want to swap?...
email james_myerscough@hotmail.com

10/24/2007 4:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He's called 'the Brazillian Gerrard' in his native Brazil, so that's some complement.
He's still adapting to English football, but with Momo looking to leave (allegedly) then he'll be ready to come into that midfield quartet either next year or next season.

10/24/2007 4:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gerrards attitude astonished me. No-one is above being substituted and he should accept it without coming out in the papers a few days later questioning why he was substituted.

If he spends a bit more time trying to get his form back rather than speaking to the press perhaps then he'll deserve to stay on the pitch.

Sissoko was shocking once again and will be fighting with Crouch to be first out in January. With Leiva, Alonso, Gerrard and Mascherano there is no need for Sissoko to be there. Such a good dogged player but his passing has never improved and is woeful.

10/24/2007 4:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Watched Lucas against Reading (his only start I believe?) and he looked somewhat off the pace so I thought he was not ready for english rough and tumble, but he looked good as Gerrard's sub on Saturday and that was far more furious than Reading in the League Cup. Maybe he has develpoed behind the scenes. Therefore he looks very promising indeed. As for him replacing Gerrard, not by a long way yet (if ever). I think we should rejoice that we have such depth rather than talk about replacing the best player we have in the team.

10/24/2007 4:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can see a central midfield of Alonso and Lucas, 2 players capable of keeping the ball, with Stevie G on the right and perhaps Babel or Yossi on the left. Stevie G is fantastically dynamic, but sometimes thats not what is needed. Its all a bit hit and miss

10/24/2007 5:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He is a very good player and is very promosing for liverpool in the very near future but liverpool it seems are not ready for him yet as they idolise steven gerrard this can sometimes hold them back. I wish I had a bet on football for that game. Could've won me some money.lol...

10/25/2007 2:42 PM  

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