Video: Lucas v. Bolton

Thanks for the post. Like Kenny said, the man needs a song (and it should be f'ing awesome). 

Since Coates was never offically annoounced as the club having signed him does that mean that his work permit may actually keep him from being signed by us this transfer window? Like... we might not get him or is he actually already signed and we just have to wait for the permit regardless of the transfer window?

I Like. and let's not forget one thing: Rafa was the first to believe 100% in Lucas and kept his beliefs even when 95% of the fans were screaming for Lucas head.
 
Now let's hope that no-one comes back injured from the internationals' break...

I was in Astoria, Queens today and I was walking around, surveying the post 'Irene' devastation. I finally found a bar that was open for lunch, and as I walked past I noticed Lucas Leiva's face on the television. I couldn't walk inside, but the program kept showing different images of him, or videos of his ruthless tackles - it seemed like some kind of highlights program but they were only talking about Lucas. I drew the only drawable conclusion: Lucas has truly made it. 

I think we found Sue's new hangout next time she's in NYC!

He'd absolutely be my first name on the team sheet whenever available for a simple reason.

The role he plays and the scope he covers is the very foundation on which our game is based upon. The amount of covering, tackling and passing he puts in is so important to the rest of the players as it helps to balance out the roles of the other members. Thus, allowing Adam to play a little more expansive at times, or even agger gliding with the ball forward and meireles / hendo / kuyt / suarez swapping positions or cutting inside because he's the one that links it all up and keeps the ball moving. He's the player who's allowing everyone to move when the ball is passed around.

The amount of responsibility he takes on is immense. It's almost like he takes on the entire 8-man carrying piano role and allows everyone else to play the piano. That's how important he is.

We keep comparisons of our exisiting midfield against Alonso and how wonderful he was and that with Mascherano and Gerrard, they made up the dream midfield of recent times. Of course any new player to the midfield will never live up to those standards because those 3 players were AMAZING at 3 different aspects of their game.
 
Alonso was an amazing distributor of the ball. Short or long (usually remembered for his raking longer balls which set up countless goals) it didn’t matter. He was metronomic as a deep lying playmaker in the middle of the park. He was unique, which marks him out as being special, but he wasn’t perfect. However, as he lacked pace there were concessions to his game:

1.       He needed a quicker destroyer next to him to assist in protecting the back 4, something he would be unable to do independently
2.       As a midfield duo, Alonso and Masch sat a little deeper and thus a little further back from the attacking midfield trio. This made possession a little deeper and often, when things didn’t ‘click’ we could look devoid of ideas in attack.
 
The introduction of Mascherano meant a fantastic pairing, but when one was not available, the other didn’t click well with another partner. If Masch was unavailable, Lucas would do an ok job as the destroyer but if Alonso was not available, Lucas was never going to be able to provide that style of playmaking and was being unfairly compared against him even though they were entirely different players.
Subsequently, I think a lot of fans perception of Lucas was formed when it was the Lucas/Mach combo, when there was little creativity which led to les exciting gameswhere we looked defensively sound, but there were fewer chances staring in midfield.
 
Now that Lucas has matured and adapted his game to the EPL, he is looking more the complete player. Not as good as Masch as an out and out destroyer, but better at recycling possession and keeping the ball moving.
 
Which is why I’m surprised at the move for Adam. I caveat this next section with the fact that being Down Under I don’t get to see the games anymore, but I’ve read reports of his style and can assume he’s a poor mans Alonso. This is a shame because Lucas and Meireles formed a partnership that worked so well. Neither one a total passer nor destroyer, but both having those elements through their DNA, Lucas being the more defensive minded and Meireles being more focused on attack.  Adam seems to need to have a quicker destroyer next to him as Alonso did which seems to be the opposite type of player to what Kenny is trying to bring in.
 
I suspect that Adam was bought for rotation purposes, and his style of play lends itself to a more counter attacking game which can be beneficial in games. Added to that his chance creation and you can see why he was brought in, but my fear is that his inclusion could lead to longer more counter attack minded plays which can sometimes become predictable.
 
My main points are for us fans to stop seeing Alonso as this untouchable player, because he did have ordinary times at the club, he did have weaknesses and we did have to set up a team around him to get the best from him. There’s nothing new in that of course as many teams have a star player that is the focal point of the team, but when he was unavailable it did highlight the frailties of our set up.

We should also see Lucas as more than a direct comparison to Mascherano and appreciate that we have the Brazilian National Team’s holding midfielder who is actually pretty good. The game has changed and in the modern game he performs his role very well.
 
Kenny has a midfield that is much more flexible than the Alonso/Masch/Gerrard trio of yesteryear; this season will be the marker as to whether that flexibility is going to be successful in the long run, but I think it stands a good chance to be better than the rigidity of Rafa’s trio.
 
Hopefully, the increased flexibility of each player means they are less likely to be reliant on individuals to create chances and individual players won’t be missed as much when they are
unavailable.

Great points.  

There's no doubt that Kenny is going for versatility and he's talked about squad strength which has been backed up in no uncertain terms by the cheque book and the availability of youth.  

I think Rafa had his work cut out trying to build squad strength with the budget limitations and decidedly average chief execs, hence the obsession with the 0-£10m experiments, many of whom even made it as 1st team player and the selling to buy policy.
He had no youth coming through and really struggled to get the wings sorted out, but he built an awesome spine to the team with his 1 expensive signing per season allowance (£14m+).

Just as those who divide opinion are generally worth paying attention to, the fact that we can't tell who Kenny is going to play where (and that's before we get Raul, Stevie and Glenda back) just reflects squad strength and development intentions.  

The competition is working exactly as desired.  Great attitude and enhanced performance levels.  And those who don't cut it are left in no uncertain terms about finding pastures new or not playing thus jeapordising their careers (Here's hoping for good news before Wednesday).  

Not running out of players at key points through the season is going to be a big plus aswell.

I think you are spot on in everything except for what you said about Lucas/Meireles. Lucas toward the end of last season was paired with Spearing as the double pivot, not Meireles. Meireles was deployed as the left attacker in the 4-2-2-2 normally. Meireles is a natural box-to-box attacking midfielder and seems to be best deployed high up the pitch near goal.

I think Adam is the long-term player that Kenny sees next to Lucas. As we saw against Bolton, he can sit in the hole and play long or short, in long balls toward Downing or Suarez or playing short for the pass-and-move game. This allows him to dictate the attack from deep and be very hard to defend.

I think Gerrard will come in for Henderson, and be deployed high up the field to utilise his unique skill-set of providing great service and allowing him to get forward at will. Henderson has played a sort of roaming role in the past few games; this role is the same role that Gerrard had under Benitez, only on the team sheet it has a different name.

For me, Meireles uses the ball so well and keeps things ticking over similar to Lucas, but is more likely to get forward that provides the balance in the pairing, For me, if we are playing 4-2-3-1 against a stronger opponent then thats when I'd use Adam over Meireles and have them sitting deeper protecting the defence and allowing the full backs to get forward even more.
In the 4-2-2-1-1, I like Meierles' mobility. 
BTW I don't mean to be unecessarily critical of him or his style of play, it's just how I see getting the best out of the squad - or at least trying to rationalise it in my own non expert mind!

if this is an audition to usurp Ed or Noel's role, they better be on their guard. great analysis! 

I think we won't know whether Kenny intends to play Meireles+Lucas versus Adam+Lucas as the generally preferred starting option until Meireles is actually back to full match fitness. He was still recuperating from injury the first couple of weeks, and just when he was getting back to fitness, got injured again. 

Meireles has never started a game in CM under Kenny. He's always been out wide or in front of a defensive partnership. Don't think there's much reason to expect he'll start now, when there are more options for the position.

Absolutley not  an audition. I get an idea every 10 weeks or so, so I'd be a pretty poor blogger!

Agree with your comments on what the actual preferred starting option is and for me it will be interesting to see where Stevie Gs fit into this new era?
Will he be the 1st choice in place of Hendo or deeper alongside Lucas? Is Meireles the one to vie for a starting place along with Hendo as he was alst season, starting off wide, but tucking inside?

Do we set up as a 4-2-2-2 a 4-3-3 or indeed a 4-2-3-1? There have been lots of interpretations on this site, over on Oh You Beaty, Holding Midfield and by ZonalMarking -
whatever the case may be its interesting times ahead!

like Carragher said recently, if the players don't know what the team will be, then nor do the competition!

I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised at how Kenny rotates the squad with everyone playing their hearts out to get in the reckoning.

Stevie is one of those irreplaceable players who can play in so many positions.  I think Henderson will be his understudy - it's crucial for young players to beable to ask older players questions to develop - Stevie's wonderful on the right.  

But the front line moves and interchanges as Downing and Suarez did and Kuyt and Henderson did (1st goal) which is going to be a nightmare for defences.  Stevie will be superb at that.
At other times, he'll stand in for Adam. 

the only place I don't expect to see him is left back, but that's where he started!!

A collection of Lucas moments was a nice change after watching Arsenal get demolished this morning. Existential crises are so last season.

that's worth a double Like!

It's amazing how the world changes, seemingly on a sixpence.  
Here we are before we know it making great strides in our transformation (all hail the King and the fans who put their money where their chants are) while Arsenal have a personality crisis along the lines of King Canute and Spurs can't get it into their heads that the season has started and their defence haven't realised that they do actually have to do something for 90 minutes for that pay cheque (not sure that's actually legally required).

So many people have said think where we were a year ago, and it has to be repeated. The turnaround last season was dramatic, as noted even by non pool fans and this year Kenny looks like he's going to surpass himself.

Lucas, what can I say. This is not the 1st time he perform this way, simply at the best. He is the un-sung hero, did not score goal, not much assist, no fancy moment, just practical and effective, doing the role he suppose to do.  It was great that Fans and this offside blog take notice of him, not once.
I never fancy him 2 years back during Rafa time, but today I feel comfortable as long as he play. Normally footballer is born rather than make, all shine at young age. Lucas is someone improve over time and it is so obvious.
I am glad he is at Liverpool.
But Liverpool has quite a healthy squad in the middle this season, Gerrard, Adam, Meireles even Spearing stand up, what Liv need is another equal player like Suarez in attacking force, Lucas will not win you game, probably do the dirty job in the middle, we cannot depend just on Suarez, we have so many game and competition to play, do we continue to use him all the time, even in Carling Cup?

Odemwingie.

l;

Oh my God. Did United really destro The Arsenal today 8 - 2. I'm stuck in Hurricane he'll with no power and just got service on my IPhone and checked today's games. I was fearful for Wenger for this trip and emailed him to bring at least two full bottles of Xanax and hope he took my advice. But 8 - 2, MY GI
OD! Maybe KK will provide the Frenchman refuge at his house for a few weeks. Obviously London would be too dangerous for him now!

I think Manchester now has 2 fearful teams. I just envy the bench of Man City, affort a bunch of super stars sitting on the bench while still tear away Spurs in White Hart lane.
It may be Arsenal defense & midfield that make Man U look good, but you cannot deny how good ManU is.
If Liverpool manage a Top four end of this season, it may largely due to the fall of Arsenal or maybe Spurs that we take advantage on that.
Without Suarez, we at time look original, this sound alarming. I may sound pessimistic, but it is hard true fact.
However, though just only 3 matches, Liverpool manage to stick closely at the top which is a good sign. People tend to say it is early day, but every point count, up to the final day.

Very much agree. Both Manchester team are scary good. And deep. I've seen both teams this year over a couple of games. We will get up mentally as a complete team for those games, so we should play them well. I'm still excited to see those games and excited for our chances against them. And our D will be strong, unlike pre season.
If we keep playing like we have been, Liverpool will be considered to be equal to them when we play.
It will make it a really exciting year all around. And the Anfield games will be really special.

Hey we were the poor neighbours to Man Ure and Chelski and we still ran them close when we had no right to be anywhere near them.
there's no doubt the Mancs will up the bar this year but keeping just below the radar will be good for us.  there will be big motivation to keep improving knowing that there is vulnerability and heights to climb.

Apart from anything else KK's playing style and the success it will surely bring is going to attract top class players.  Next summer we will be able to get the Mata's.

The future is red and bright.

Well, yes.  I guess I do care, but only partially.

Our win over Arsenal reserves was nothing to get excited about.  Going toe to toe with a team playing like relegation material, and then finally ekeing out the win after an own goal and against ten men.  Utd against Arsenal today was what our match should have been.  Top side at close to full strength versus a patched-up team of kids, it should be a very very comfortable win.

Then again, who cares.  3 points is 3 points.  We've beaten Utd comprehensively in seasons past 4-1, 3-1, while they limp to lucky wins week after week.  So what, in the end it adds up and they get the title.  I'd be happy with a decidedly average performance week-in week-out, somehow getting 3 points, while others blow their opponents away.  But if we can win more consistently than they can, that'll get us places.

Yes JPR, it happened. Absolute destruction. Also, before I say my next comment, I LOVE ANDY CARROLL AND I AM BEHIND HIM ALL THE WAY LIKE A GOOD FAN SHOULD BE. With that out of the way, I'd like to say that I think if Dalglish didn't play Suarez against Sunderland, And played Rodriguez, Suarez, and Meireles from the start instead of Hendersen, Carroll, and Adam at Arsenal, we could have been the ones slaughtering Arsenal. I don't think it would have been quite 8-2, probably more like 5-0, but we could have really crippled them, and then today's scoreline would be even worse. Other teams would fear us as much as United. 

Damnit Dalglish, get that future-seeing machine up and running! Or get Poulsen to try and fix it, might as well pay him to do something useful!

Still have no power, so no TV. I'm sick that I had to miss that game! Come on POWER! they were ready to lynch Wenger after our game. I'm really afraid for him now. His heart can't take it.
Let's give Carroll some room/time. Some of the guys here are a little sensitive, and maybe for good reason. I know he will be there for us.
Damn, I have to see that United/arsenal game!!! I'm again typing on my stupid little IPhone.

Lucas Leiva sucks.

Kind of off-topic, but I'm interested in the process by which one starts being known by their first name only.  Do you need to send out a memo?

And once you only have one name, aren't there logistical problems there?  If you're called over an airport PA system, do they just announce, "Hey, Stan, your flight has been canceled"? If there are two one-named Stans in that airport, you're screwed! And don't legal proceedings suddenly become too casual?  "In the matter of the state of New York versus Stan, we find Stan guilty on all counts"? 

Yes, But Stan doesn't break up counterattacks like wishbones. If Nani was on a the front of a Wheaties box, Stan wouldn't piss in it. Stan can't conquer a midfield any better than he can lead a herd of cattle, which he also probably doesn't have. When you can do those things, the very creator of Star Wars has to use his first name again. 

To be fair, Stan was a left back so......

I think the process of being known by your first name is rather simple. In fact, I think it's as easy as 3 simple steps:
1.  Be born in Brazil.
2.  Play football.
3. Be better than 99.8% of other Brazilians who play football, so you can maybe one day play for one of the most popular professional clubs in Europe, and then be misunderstood by elements of the fan base of said aforementioned club because you play an unenviable role that doesn't quite show up on the score sheet, no matter how awesome you are at it.

See, it's sooooooo easy!

Boring! You are like Apple zealots. Come back with the sloth Lucas score 2 goals in a year, or does a one-two creating a goal. Let me guess, you are too young to have seen us in the 70s and 80s when we had genuine class in the middle? Do you even go to games, or just watch TV ;-)

No, we are like Lucas zealots.

 Sue this is an international community.  We cannot all travel to L4 every week to watch the Reds.  Many if not most of us are bound by our geographical limitations.  That said if you have the ability to watch LFC regularly, than good for you, and then you would also have the ability to converse with other fans.  Not many LFC fans in Texas, so if I or others who love the team want to share and revel in their passion, they have found the right place. 

Post somewhere else you old hag, I hear attendance is down at Goodison and you might find some people to agree with you over there.

Well I just watch TV. Sorry. But, if you can score me some front row KOP tickets, I'll fly over and catch a few games live. I can scream as loud as any of those boys! Promise.

By your standards of quality, Pepe Reina must be terrible goalkeeper because he hasn't scored once in 220 games for Liverpool

Duuuh why do you think we bought Doni? 

Why don't we have Pepe take penalties instead of wee Luis. It will fix his goal drought and get us some goals as well!

So you're a true fan, been supporting for 30-40 years now, go to the ground to watch the games, probably bleed Liverpool if we cut you... so how is it you never have ANYTHING positive to say about this team you supposedly love? 

"The sloth Lucas score 2 goals in a year," that's because he's not a goalscorer. It may sound great, but 0-0-10 is not really a viable formation. Some players, believe it or not, operate mostly in their own half. You know, the OTHER team's scoring end. To kinda stop them from scoring. If you can watch that video and still discount the value of Lucas, then you should seriously consider following another sport. Or at the very least, another team.

Don't comment again until you're 50 and bitter as hell...

I'm bored too, switch over to Paul, I'd rather talk to him.

The library is crowded today, he's in the corner, reading Nietzsche, patiently waiting his turn...

You got to give it to Sue (Paul, Benladen, whatever...) for still standing up after taking so many punches.

It's crazy! Why does the Liverpool Offside have trolls that...aren't really trolls at all?

Bring IT ON! Paul.

Watching the game yesterday I was at time completely astonished by Lucas' touch: its one of the smoothest I have seen from a lot of players. His ability to take an errant or 'tricky' pass right into his stride and distribute almost instantly is simply amazing.

It was good to hear him getting alot of credit from the commentator on the broadcast I was watching. Good to see him getting credit for the amazing job he does.

Bet his passing gets better and better.  The team is just primed to get better and better.

Henderson's passes were crisp and accurate, especially that cross at 1:45 in his compilation video, reminded me of what he was doing at Sunderland. His work rate was also excellent. 

It will be great to see, if possible, him and Gerrard on together, both interchanging positions and causing general havoc for opposing teams. 

Not to take away from the team's 15 minutes, but I really want to see how well we challenge the likes of Man City/Man U, with their recent rampant form. *And I mean the Manchesters' rampant form.

yer right neither will win  against us like that if they do win

True, the Manchester squads look a wee bit intimidating at the moment.  However, in the interest of balancing sober realism with more sober realism, I seem to remember Chelsea and Arsenal littering the opening weeks of last year's campaign with similar performances, and dare I say we all know how that turned out.  The EPL season is a long and hideous b!*ch-goddess; we'll soon discover if those squads are sprinters or milers.

When we got that 86 point finish we had bought 5 players over £15m, SAF had bought 17. At the end of the day, it's down to 11 players vs 11.

We have the tradition of success that shows where we must get to.  Now we have the means of getting there.

We'll be ready! As always. No fear boys.

Yea, hopefully we can send them on that downward trend

As much as I love the well-timed tackles, I love the plays like the ones at :49 and :55 where he works to get into position to break up promising opportunities.  Which I suppose, is the job of a DM....but....OK....I'll stop talking now.

In the past, we'd have arguments about Lucas' best position. Some would say he's more of an Alonso, others'd insist he's Mascherano-esque. It's fair to say, he's developed into something resembling a mix of both aforementioned midfield maestros. Sometimes it almost seems surreal, given his inconsistent beginnings but if it was Wenger and not Rafa bringing him to the Premier League, most pundits would be pouring down rave reviews about his performances, giving Wenger credit for sticking with him through the hard times along the way.

The Liverpool Offside has been famous for highlighting his importance on more than a few occasions but he has been displaying such excellence and consistency in the last couple of years that it's becoming harder and harder to ignore the fact that he has become one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, if not the best.  In the not so far future, we will be comparing some new defensive midfielder to Lucas to see how good he is. He'll have one hell of a pair of shoes to fill.

Think he's not comparable at all to alonso....but mascherano definitely.

He's basically like mascherano with less pace and far better short range passing, he hardly ever gives the ball away.

But unless he keeps this consistency and plays like he did against chelsea last season (my jaw dropped he pushed drogba off the ball lol he's toughened up) then i don't think we can consider him masch level. And therefore will still need a defensive midfielder. But him and adam doing well. But they have to gp up 2-3 levels to even get near comparisons of alonso/masch who are world class. 

So what you're saying is unless Lucas becomes as good as (I'm guessing in your opinion) the best defensive midfielder in the world, we need to replace him.

Right...

Yes, always be careful when waxing. that said, and as much as i enjoyed the attacking display (at times it was almost better than sex - if only cause i haven't been a 90 minute man since....hang on.....oh well), the tackling yesterday was just as thrilling and clinical.

i hope KD knows what he's doing keeping Jay as Lucas' only cover.

well if that's not crossing metaphors then I'm the next King of Scotland.  I find myself only partly jealous that I was never a 90minute man, only because I'd hate to think what state my heart would be in now, and as I've posted before it's the Counts that turn me on!

anyone comparing him to Alonso is on drugs.

He was MoM after Suarez for sure.
We have to be careful waxing lyrical about the game and people yesterday when the big boys play a lot faster and with much more accuracy.

We should celebrate the overpowering displays, whenever they happen, even against Bolton at home. No one here is ignorant of the pace, speed and quality that is United, City and Chelsea. We'll be ready for them when we have to be, just like last year. Those future challenges are obvious to everyone here.

I totally agree. Any win should be celebrated especially one where we dominated. We beat United, City and Chelsea last season with a squad that was racked with injuries and deadwood. If we beat them once we can do it again :D POSITIVITY!

granted.

Is realism only limited to City, United & Chelsea? I would argue they are anything but a measure of realism.* 

Realism includes Bolton at Home just as much as it does Away to Stoke, Spurs, & Everton (with Wolves at Anfield). This squad was built to beat sides 4-10 in the table. So far, it seems more than realistic to expect Lucas and Company to dictate play against those who finished directly above/below us last year. In words and deeds, realism is the new Liverpool Way. 

*But full marks to United, as much as it pains me. They were the model of ruthlessness today at Old Trafford. Bastards. 

I'm with you on the raw game plan of beating teams from 4th downwards, but I still measure us against the top teams.
And, there's no way KK is content with 4th.  He's a winner, and wants simply to win.  It's the only thing that's acceptable to him.

And I wouldn't put it past him to achieve it.  Maybe not straight away, but you wouldn't bet against him.

Of course, he doesn't posses Alonso's long pass ability, I mean, who has? But when it comes to distributing the ball on the ground, Lucas ticks a lot of boxes for me. As for the waxing thing, my impression of the Brazilian surely wasn't solely based on his display against Bolton yesterday.

Waxing? Brazilian?

Thank you...

Boo realism.

ok, ok, I get it.  Just a sober moment I had the following day with a headache.  

Hey Ed, when you move across to JR's ranch, will you keep Disqust?  I like the running 'likes' count, mostly vanity of course but it also keeps me honest with my scribblings.

There is a 'Rec' system at SBNation, though it doesn't tell you who liked it. But you can set a number of Recs needed to then highlight the comment a certain color (ahem, red). So you'll scroll through the thread and see the very best. I read SBNation a lot, in addition to this blog, and I can't stress enough how much I think everyone is going to be thrilled with the positive changes.

Not sure how much say we'll have in that--they have a fairly standard commenting system across the blogs, and I don't know if we have any room to alter that format. 

You fickle bastards are going to abandon us, aren't you?

Sorry to go off topic and very un-red in content.

this is just me, but I comment on various blogs, many non-football, and my counts are maintained as a total across them all which is kind of funky for me.  I'm more interested in how much I'm writing that is of interest to others.
I actually don't comment on papers like the Guardian because I can't use my Disqus  account (though it's not my favourite paper anyhow) whereas I can on The Independent and the Telegraph.  Hence they get my traffic a lot more.

Some sites allow a choice of which tool  to use.

So currently not sure what will happen though I do like this site as echoed by many here.

Great suggestion. Keeps us all honest, to a degree.

Yes, I would like to keep it as well. If we move to a new site, it'll be a little bit of nostalgia for us.