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A substitute, really Dave, after that performance?

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It was pointed out to me on Saturday morning that the Liverpool Echo’s Dave Prentice had written an article regarding the recent performances of both Charlie Adam and Lucas.  The article was generally positive, citing how they’ve started to develop into a decent partnership and have begun to understand and, thus, complement one another’s game.  However, one line stuck out like a very sore thumb:  “I’ve written before that if everyone in the Liverpool squad is fit (i.e. Steven Gerrard) Lucas has a ready-made role in the Reds squad.  It’s called substitute.”

Dave precedes this by reminding us that ‘football is a game of opinions’ and, on that point, he couldn’t be more right.  The problem for me though is that, in his opinion about Lucas he could not be more wrong.  If I could ask him one question right now it would be ‘really Dave, after that performance?’ because once again on Sunday Lucas was awesome.  How can the man who near single-handedly halted the seemingly unstoppable combined talents of Silva, Nasri and Aguero be considered anything short of top class?

There seems to be a small minority of football fans these days that value primarily defensive players if not above attacking players, then at least equally and I would count myself as one of that number.  When Liverpool’s upturn began in the early days of 2000, I was more drawn to the defensive ‘triangle’ of Hamann, Henchoz and Hyypia when my friends were raving about Owen, Fowler and Heskey.  I see the style of football players like Mascherano, Makelele and Deschamps embody as a near art-form while others feel similarly about Xavi, Messi and Ronaldo.  And when somebody asks my favourite Liverpool player, it is a two-fold question: ‘defensive or attacking?’

So for me, Lucas is 2nd only to Reina these days when the team is announced.  If he is absent from a big game, I feel almost the same sense of impending doom that I once felt when Sami Hyypia was absent or Didi Hamann was on the bench for an away trip.  So given the almost universal praise that Lucas has been receiving in the past 12 months it makes it all the more baffling that somebody of Dave Prentice’s experience still sees a player of Lucas’s ability and importance to the club as doing nothing more than keeping Steven Gerrard’s place in the team warm.

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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.

5 comments

  • Steve says:

    An excellent article. There’s not a single word I would disagree with.

    I actually thought Lucas started the season a bit down on his finish last year but he’s just got stronger and stronger with each game.

    One of the first three on the teamsheet.

  • shibashis says:

    If we can keep him at at the club and if he continues in the same vein (no reason why he should not really), he is a Liverpool legend in the making, and I say it bearing fully the gravity of the statement in mind.

  • col says:

    not surprising, prentice is a bluenose an used to do the bluenose coverage in the echo. he has little knowledge on lfc an even less interest since he upset fellow bluenoses criticising the protestors earlier this season, ever since which he has been lickin blue arses!

  • Jon says:

    Lucas for me is the most important player in the team. He makes so many tackles and interceptions, wins aerial battles and now his passing is superb. Last night his long and short distribution was sensational. In the past he would always look sideways but now he picks a pass and does it without hesitating. It is what we have been missing since Alonso left. I used to cringe when the ball landed at his feet but now I have all the confidence in the world in him. I can see him getting better and better.

    Hopefully my current Henderson doubts will be banished in years to come!

  • Suzana says:

    Brilliant article…Steven is lethal wen hes up front with suarez..But still i think home matches against lower teams lucas can be dropped to bench with adam playing deep and henderson as playmaker and gerrard suarez up front…defenetly a team with a lot of pace and drive…

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