I’m a huge fan of the player that John Aldridge once was. All the time he spent at Sociedad and later Tranmere, he should’ve been with Liverpool, let’s be honest; he was always too good to be anywhere else. But lately, he’s been making some pretty spurious comments regarding his former club and one or two of their current players. The latest of these are his comments made a couple of days ago about Jay Spearing’s recent performance against Sunderland; apparently, ‘Jay’ is a far better player now than Lucas was 3 years ago.
What complete and utter nonsense from Aldo. Lucas is barely a year older than Spearing and has played well over a hundred games for the club. He’s matured into one of our most important players and has stepped up to replace Mascherano to the point where we don’t even miss him now. Go back 12 months and he was the biggest scapegoat, probably in the history of the club and I remember hearing Aldo being one of a chorus of voices asking for Lucas to be dropped because of it. Playing in the shadow of the best player (in your position) in the world is no easy task and in the Argentine captain’s absence Lucas has blossomed into probably the best in his position in the league. He is at least the best tackler in the league, given the recently released stats from the Premier League.
Spearing had one (1) good game, against Sunderland and let’s be honest, they are not a great team; we could’ve easily won by 4 or 5 on Sunday and there were top performances all over the field. He is 22 and has been struggling to get into the first team since he was 19. At which age Lucas had won Brazil’s player of the year and was being capped by his country, before being lined up by numerous top clubs throughout Europe. Aldo’s comments are void.
As much as I like John Aldridge, he appears to suffer from something a lot of ex-players do: he seems to think that, as an ex-professional, his opinions are valued above all else; that his is the most valid of all opinions, as somebody that once played the sport. Sadly, far too many fans also believe this and so, we will now face an end-of-season push from some sections of our supporters to put Spearing in the first team. More than likely, in the place of Lucas. Such is the weight of opinions like Aldo’s amongst some fans.
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Sorry mate, I like your article but I have to say, that I totally agree with Aldo.
Aldo has a a valid point: Spearo is a pit bull Who are progressing very very well game by game.
He shows encouraging skills against Sunderland last week.
I’m looking forward to see a very strong Liverpool’s defensive midfield in the next yrs..
Credit to the guy from Wirral…
Right Ive gotta say something here, first off I agree with your comments on Lucas. I think he has definitely matured and become a much better player there are still alot of qualities he needs to improve on but yes alround he’s definitely improved. Spearing is not a good player and doesnt belong in our team simple as that. The way this piece of news was written was an attack against what Aldo said. Now yes you have backed up your opinions with facts but a really good journalist does it in a way not to seem as though it is an aggresive reply. Definitely truth but reading this story made me feel sorry for you rather than back your opinion.
For me the only thing Aldo is “guilty” of..(and I use the term very loosely) is being a passionate die hard Liverpool supporter. I mean.. he has literally been present at most of LFC’s most defining moments as a fan, and latterly a player as we all know.
Aldo represents passion. He is passionate in everything that he does, that’s just the type of man he is. This is why he is so respected and loved by many. You will notice that if someone feels strongly about something, that sense comes across in the way that passion/strength is delivered or articulated. It can come from an emotional place or a factual one. I feel this piece is a combination of both.
I respect you coming to the defence of Lucas, and you do raise some very valid points.
However, going back to your point about sections of fans pushing for particular players to be played..ultimately it will be the manager that makes decisions about who plays..no one else.
Like the rest of the replies, I pretty much agree with the point that Lucas has improved and has put in some key performances this season, against man utd in particular.
However, he isn’t a great player by any standards and the fact that you call him the best tackler/midfiedler is very much a superlative.
Stats can be used however you want them to be, just because he registers a lot of completed tackles doesnt mean he’s doing it on his own, he is part of a very hard working midfield/ front line.
But he is a much better player in the regard compared to merieles. But nowhere near the standard of Gerrard, Essien, Viera. Also his passing is nowhere near the standard of a LFC player.
Also you having a go at Aldridge is well out of order, fair enough point, but your opinion means no more than Aldo’s. Journalism should be objective and the tone of the piece is as the other comments have suggested, agressive.
Absoultely agree with G. Yes, Lucas has improved but there is still a long way to go before i will say he is great. The best tackler/midfielder in the league? You must be kidding. There are many who easily are better, Essien, Parker etc.
You are committing a mistake many wanna-be writers make…back your paper with stats. Lucas does have a high pass completion rate but the tendency to play a side pass instead of a penetrative pass was so evident in his early games that it is not difficult to deduce where he gets his high pass completion rate from.
He does not make as much assists as Xabi nor does he makes more tackles than Javier, he has to find the area to excel in instead of being a jack of all trade.
Why is Spearing getting the thumbs up from Aldo? One simple point is he dares to try and do the positive, thats the Liverpool way and it is clear to see for all the fans.
For Lucas, he is only just beginning to answer some of our questions what do Pele or Rafa see in him (well over a season of games later mind you).
I for one totally agree with the writer. Some of our judgement of players are judged by what players used to be rather than what they are now. Lucas is LFC material now and is clearly getting better and better. Stats can be dressed up like we want to but it can still be argued against and proved wrong. Perceptions are little harder to counter no matter who you want to go against one. Hence I prefer to go with stats.
Alonso was considered not so good defensively until stats started proving otherwise and soon we could see a lot of articles regarding the same. In no time people started considering his defensive side. I believe same thing will happen with Lucas.
Pucas cannot tackle
I think the point most of you are missing is that aldo has made is in comparison between lucas and jay when lucas came into the first team and jay coming in to the first team that jay has more about him than lucas did at the same period in there career I dont think aldo was being disrespectful towards lucas in any way he is just stressing his opinion and we all have opinions as we have heard on many occasions about lucas which were totaly unfair I think dave has just read aldo’s comment’s wrong .
What you suggest is very plausible about time both players got playing time but does it not also follow that Lucas being a year older and having broken thorough far earlier than Spearing also has a bearing on these sort of comparisons.
Lucas came in on his own merit while you could argue Spearing has only come in because Gerrard and even Shelvey are injured and they are all ahead of him in the pecking.
Personally I would compare him to Danny Murphy a capable player who was an International but had to move for us to progress. It is unfortunately the same scenario with Spearing considering even the manager rates Shelvey a player from the championship and in his first year at liverpool ahead of an established youth product. I cant see Spearing starting ahead of Lucas anytime soon and the club is linked with players who may start ahead of Lucas. What that will make of Spearing I am not sure but hopefully he becomes a useful player for the club
Dear Lord!! What is up with people?? If Lucas was as poor as many of you deem him to be, then why would he be a STARTER for Brazil?? Not only does he start for one of the best international teams on the planet, he also performs consistently for them. There is a reason why he has played against Argentina and France and that’s because he is talented. Fair enough, he took time to settle but just think about it, he came from a different league from a different continent where the style of football is quite different than in the BPL in a position which he was not used to playing. I wasn’t his biggest admirer but have to admit he has really blossomed over the last 18 months. Credit given where credit is due. Regarding Spearing, he is a useful squad player. That’s it.
Think you’ll find that the majority of people who have commented actually agree with the point that the journalist has made, what certain people arent happy about is that the piece is written as an aggresive slap in the face to Aldo when if this journalist considers himself the professional it should have been written in a more classic manner rather than opinionated.
you put the case for us all across excellent mate well done
If some of you and the writer watched Liverpool reserves regularly you’d probably understand the point Aldo was making!
Spearing has been consistently good for the reserves over the past few years whilst Lucas has really never been in the reserves and earned multiple first team opportunities when he really didn’t deserve them! So in reality Aldo is right! Spearing should be given the same opportunities as Lucas. If he performs well Spearing should keep his place.
At this point Lucas is in the 1st team by default! Alonso was sold and so too Macherano leaving a massive void with only the now experienced Lucas to fill it! Fair enough Lucas has done okay however if we had a better quality of player like the aforementioned two then he would not get near the first team, FACT.
Spearing is more dynamic, consistent and will get better with more experience. Lucas is ponderous, gives away too many niggly fouls around our box due to his lack of athleticism and slows the tempo of play with his lethargic approach!
I for one am sick to the back teeth of the few supporters who preach to the vast majority about the virtues and value of Lucas Leiva.
Does anybody realise that in the 2 years he’s been a regular starter we ha finished outside the top 4!
Good squad player but not a first team regular.
I most definitely agree!
Agree with you 100% mate. And its not just Aldo. Lots of ex Liverpool players talk rubbish. A Hansen the other day said on match of the day 2 that Liverpool had bad away record for about ten years when Liverpool had the best away record in 2009 breaking the record for most away wins for long time. Now i hope I am wrong but J Spearing will never be good enough to start for Liverpool every game.just because he’s local lad does not mean that he’s good enough to play for Liverpool. Most of the time he runs like headless chicken.
Aldo heaps praise on King Kenny and his abilities but then seems to suggest that his opinion of Lucas is flawed.
Lucas works hard, never complains and continues to improve. Voted Young Player of the Year by the fans and has several MOM awards.
And if Stevie G, Carra, Rafa, Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Mano Menezes all rate Lucas how can anyone else doubt him.
Spearing is the one of the main reasons why we are out of the Europa Cup….HE WAS S***E IN THE FIRST LEG….he is defo not LFC material on a regular basis….
I’ve always been a fan of Spearing, but ever since he made the jump to the senior level, he’s looked like boy among men. That wasn’t the case against Sunderland, but it’s too soon to judge him. Let’s see what he can show us till the end of this season. Lucas didn’t play well for us in his first 2 seasons. That’s a fact. Now he has much more confidence and is doing a good job in the center of our field, specially finding a good pass and tackling and protecting our field. He still needs too much time on the ball, doesn’t dribble and easily loses possession when shoved around. I’m Brazilian and one of the reasons he’s a starter on the National side is the lack of better players in his position. We have plenty of options going forward, but no enough to close the midfield.
I would like to see one new addition to our midfield in the end of the season so we could have Gerrard, Meireles, Lucas, Spearing and M’villa (who knows?) as options.
aldo was right – he diddnt say jay is a better player now ! (he will be in a few months) but aldo was wrong when he said he diddnt want daglish to get the managers job – yes he really did say that.
jay is a better tackler and better going forward, he also has a better shot, lukas is two inches taller though and cost 5 million. oh and he is a popular lad.
Pls don’t twist Aldo’s words…what he said was he had his reservations too…i think thats a fair comment considering how long King Kenny had been away from management. I will be hard-pressed to find a fellow Red who does not have at least a pinch of reservation abt King Kenny right at the beginning of the season…
Of coz on hindsight, it would have been magic if King Kenny was in charge right from the start but isn’t that the easiest of thing to do for ppl? To express their views based on hindsight…
Spearing was TOO unlucky this season..Meireles needed time to gel with english football,Gerrard was injured and it was his chance to step in and grab his chances,but he got injured with his hamstring and spent on the sidelines for some months..the performance in the stadium of light was a great one and i dont want us to lose him..i am a huge of Charlie Adam and with Charlie Adam,Lucas Leiva and Jay Spearing as defensive midfielders,that’s good in my opinion.Lucas has matured a lot,Spearing has good skills and Charlie Adam is a player i LOVE because he reminds of Xabi Alonso(well Xabi is better obviously,but Adam is very good too)..then go buy wingers,a left back and some cover in other areas.i’ve heard of 5 players Kenny loves to bring at Liverpool:Scott Dann(very good and promising defender),Leighton Baines(a Liverpool fan and a great crosser but also good at marking),Charlie Adam(huge lad who could help fill the void left by Xabi Alonso),Ashley Young(a top english winger any prem team would love to have)and Ezequiel Lavezzi(top TOP class wide or supportive striker)..please make these 5 moves Kenny and bring us where we deserve to be,top of the league table..
Reina
Johnson Dann Agger Baines
Gerrard Adam
Young Meireles Suarez
Carroll
or
Reina
Johnson Dann Agger Baines
Gerrard Adam Meireles
Lavezzi Carroll Suarez
or
Reina
Johnson Dann Agger Baines
Young Gerrard Adam Dzsudzsak
Suarez Carroll
whatever of these 3 formations,i’d love to watch the team play..lets have faith Reds fans as the new owners seem good guys.we got no debt to scare the s**t off us now,we got owners willing to splash the cash on players,we got huge staff around the club(Kenny,Clarke,Comolli)and we have our confidence back by having a good run lately on the league..there are 8 games remaining for us where we could even grab the 4th position(as both Tottenham and Man city recently have lacked form) but the squad will be rebuilt by summer and we gotta get behind them to give our heart to them..as for Aldridge,he can have his opinions but please dont make the players feel bad by publicly criticising them.YNWA
I agree 100% with this article in that what Aldo said was nothing but nonsense. The article says it all. Three years ago, when Lucas was 21, he was one of the best midfielders in Brazil and was even awarded the player of the year award. He made his debut for Brazil three years ago and has been a regular member of the Brazil squad ever since. The fact that managers like Rafa, Kenny, Dunga and Menezes have kept faith in him shows how much they rate the guy.
In contrast, Spearing has only forced his way into the first team at the age of 22. If he really is good enough he would have forced his way into the team two or three years ago, not when he’s 22. Last season, Spearing was loaned out to the Championship. If he was good enough, he would have gone on loan to Premier League clubs like Burnley or Hull, not down to the Championship. Spearing has not even represented England at any youth levels while Lucas three years ago was already a Brazil international. It would be ridiculous if you were to even suggest that Spearing is to get an England call up now.
Jonjo Shelvey joined the club in the summer at 18 from League One and has been playing more regularly than Spearing who is already 22 and if it wasn’t for Jonjo and Stevie’s injuries, Spearing would not even get a sniff. As much as you like Spearing (most probably because he is a local lad) he is not good enough and and never will be. The guy had one good game against Sunderland and has only got into the team at 22. Spearing is average at his very best and can only be a Premier League squad player. To say that he is better than Lucas was three years ago is complete nonsense. Spearing is inferior to Lucas.
Precisely
Not to debate who is better but Lucas at age 21 did not in any way shown to us that he was Brazil’s best young player. Yes Pele thinks he will be the best midfielder and i sincererly hope he does reach that dizzy height but Rafa played him not for merit but becoz there wasn’t a better choice with Xabi gone and Stevie out injured for long spells.
I still think he still plays within himself and from some games, we can see he has the ability to express his ability more instead of choosing the easy option of a side pass.
To Lucas’s credit, he is finally showing his quality but only from this season (which coincided with his national call-up).
Age should not be a factor and Aldo is correct to compare Spearing’s entrance to first team vs Lucas’s first team introduction which indicates to us how fast a player gets into the groove and perform for the first team. To me, Lucas took more than a season…Spearing a handful of games.
For me a Red, I will hope both will develop into World class and give King Kenny the lovely selection headache.
I think you all have played football manager far too much, had a lil success, won the league and think you know it all. You all however forget that this is LIVERPOOL. And as long has Lucas is on the payroll and wearing the LFC shirt I for one will support him. All in all he is a good player and he works hard for the team, week in week out. I would pick Lucas over Stevie “where have you gone” G.
We play a negative style of football, and thats due to lack of width and natural wingers, so the ball goes back more then it goes forward, its frustrating, but not Lucas’s fault, We aint top four quality at the moment, deal with it.
We used to have 12 men on the pitch, but for last few seasons we haven’t. We used to be the best supporters in the world, but now we don’t. The support given to players/staff as been abysmal and definately not what I/WE expect from LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB. Over heard the orginal YNWA over the crowd in almost every game this season and last and i can see why, because over then a select few players and king kenny, every other player walks alone.
Sorry mate but I totally agree with aldo Lucas has improved but is still not at the level required to play for Liverpool and never will be until us fans wake up and see that then we will continue to battle for the Europa league place.
HMM let me see, is lucas, a brazil international thought by experts of the game ie, Dunga, Benitez and Dalglish better than some kid who warms the banch for liverpool and wouldnt even get a sniff of playing for a shoddy england team
get a grip guys, dont you think that the guys that lucas has worked for have seen something that the average joe cannot
To be fair to Aldo he’s every bit as entitled to his opinion as you are, and if anything, you appear to be the one with the overinflated ego.
Show a little respect.