Lucas Leiva Out For Season

Dear god. Help us. I am really scared now. Apart from the fact that whosoever comes in now and plays in that role for the rest of the season, the more important thing is will LUCAS be able to play at the same level after he recovers cz this injury has ended careers. Refer to Owen and hargreaves et al.

In one word..... GUTTED!!

Jonjo is a fine player, but can we recall Xabi? We all know he wants to come back. Someone tweet that handsome fucker.

It's the worst news possible but the reactions only serve some kind of vindication to the journey Lucas has taken to come so far in our hearts.

That said, we all knew this could happen to anyone but really never ever wanted it to happen to Lucas because most of us knew that he does can't simply be replaced by another player in the team.

It is going to be most interesting to see how Kenny and Clarke manage this and what they'll be pulling out the bag though.

YNWA Lucas

Time for some one on one Blanket time :(.

Mvila is more likely to go to arsenal than Liverpool. Sissoko will likely wait for a CL club to come for him. He is a very ambitious player, and I can't see him coming to liverpool unless we offer him a killer wage. Keita would be a good replacement, but the thing is barca are likely gonna overprice him, considering they don't have many dm now(masherano plays CB now, I would swap masch for Lucas). Players usually don't come back 100% after a serious injury like that so it's much Better if we buy a direct replacement instead of waiting on Lucas. Also now that he's had a bad injury in the knee it's almost definitely gonna be a recurring injury.

You're completely wrong about the odds of it being recurring. Many people tear and replace their ACL and it is stronger after the surgery. However, although cleared to play, some don't regain their full athleticism until quite a long time after the injury. So it could be 2013 before we see Lucas back in form. 

One thing he has in his favor is that his game is not based on explosive speed. In any case, it's far too early to make an accurate prognosis.

yeah I tore my ACL, MCL, and miniscus all back a few years ago when I was supposed to go play in College and now I missed playing in College but am actually just as fit as before. a year and a half it took for me to get my edge back, but with it being lucas (a pro and just a beast in general) I'd say he could get it back alil sooner. Another case of the LFC creed for me. Lucas, YNWA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
One of the finest young ladies of our time says it far better than I could.  Except perhaps we do know what we're losing, though we don't know what it's going to be like - until Fulham.

So, at least it's not too long to wait.  

It looked like such an innocuous challenge too.

Get up and have a dance to the jig boys and girls, we need cheering up.  this little number captures that 'manic depression through a smile' thing perfectly.  Well, that and a deep Bloody Mary poured from the heart.

Yey, Henderson will get to play more now!!!

The question is how we're going to get a player who will adequately cover for him for the second half of the season who knows he will most likely end up sitting behind Lucas for all he's worth when he's back. 

Means we're probably not going to get a very good player. 

Though the question is who? 

Till january we'll just have to trust adam spearing and henderson. And fuck me if Kenny decides to line henderson and adam up in the centre of the park. 

Kenny has an idea on what to do, he knows how much Lucas is an asset and I'm sure he will handle this. 

In the meantime, I'm going to kick stuff, punch stuff, and scream at stuff. 

Don't sit at home talking about yourself in the 3rd person. You need to go ring Damien right now and start working on this, Kenny!!

I have talked to him. We now have, 100% surely, Mr. Villa and Mr. Hazard on their way to get medicals now. Yes, now. Mascherano and Alsono decided they would like to return. I'm awesome

I really really hope that Lucas gets better and his injury doesn't have any side effects because all that shit he had to undergo early in his career it would just be heart breaking if he has a career affecting injury. I have faith in the Liverpool team that we will get through this and I know Lucas will be supporting the team every step of the way

FUCK!

I feel empty. Damn you, the human body.

Wii-J has the golden opportunity to prove he is capable of being an effective squad member or even more.

5 Dec 2011 Fulham A20:00          10 Dec 2011 QPR H15:00        18 Dec 2011 Aston Villa A14:05          21 Dec 2011 Wigan A20:00          26 Dec 2011 Blackburn H15:00        30 Dec 2011 Newcastle H19:45       

Sorry for the formatting above.

This Lucas news is sh1thouse. I hope he recovers quickly and well, with no infections or groin dongs.

I was always expecting us to strengthen in centre midfield after the Meireles deal, but this accelerates the need somewhat.

It will be interesting to see if we do bring someone in this January or whether the mgt  keep with whatever long term transfer plan they had in mind.

If they do bring in a new player as cover, it will be interesting to see if they bring in a direct Lucas replacement or one that has complimentary skills but can also do Lucas' job.

We've only been linked with a few CM's since the last transfer window: Moussa Sissoko, Keita, Huddlestone and Bender. Two young up and comers and a couple struggling for game time.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, but I'm gutted for the lad and worried for the team's progress as he's such an integral cog in the red machine.

Booo....

At least we're talking about getting in possible replacements now.

Not too long ago, we'd be selling even those injured without bringing in any replacements.

i worry that they didn't detail the injury (location, but not severity?) 'out-for-season' could turn out to be the best-case by a mile.  and that would be fucking cruel. so out of respect for both Lucas Leiva and the proper way in which you, Noel, led of this post, i'm gonna save the speculatin for the Plan B thread. 

that said, at times like these, i often ask myself 'whut would lucas leiva do?' my best guess is he'd trust the squad, and get on the with the job- even if it means changing the team's shape.  plus, i think he's got some chinese in him, so he'd prolly say something about crisis and opportunity.  
We Love You Lucas Leiva!
Get Well Soon!
Fuck United!

Theres three teams in the football league with swear words in their name - can you guess all 3?

dunno GT, i always get stuck on the first one. 'lil help?

Arsenal, S****horpe and those Chelsea ****s especially Mata that little Spanish wanker.  How is it that his knee is not a quivering mass of snapped tendons and crushed bones?  In a collision between knees, I'd always back our (previously) indestructible Brazilian beast.

The collision was the front of Mata's knee/thigh into the side of Lucas's knee. It bent Lucas's knee from the side. Anybody else would have had their knee snapped. Only takes 20 pounds of side pressure to break a knee. Mata's entire weight went into the knee on the run.

Haha - the joke differs depending on who tells it!

Next year it might be Citeh's turn!!

Arse nal
S cunt horpe

...and Manchester Fucking United!

Bad, bad news. I worry for this team without Lucas.

Well a lot of us wanted to see young Jay Spearing get a chance so lets hope he takes it!

Team must pull together now and can't afford to carry any passengers anymore (Downing-no goals, no assists).

Get well soon Lucas can't wait to see you back in a Liverpool shirt.

LSD mate - chill with the Downing-no goals, no assists line in every post you make; we get it!!!

But I've kind of got into the habit of it now! Plus I'm really looking forward to the day when I can put maybe no goals one assist!

Hey Christmas is coming up it's the time for miracles so maybe Downing will manage a goal or an assist!     :o)

Yes,when liverpool play with carrol and downing we're pretty much playing with 9 men
carrol atleast will win a few headers etc while downing while lose the ball the few times he has it
bellamy and maxi deserve more starts esp maxi against fulham on monday,the place where he hit a hattrick last season
what u think about henderson in the middle with adam?i think we should try it out 1,2 games atleast

Problem with Henderson and Adam in the centre is combined I still don't think they can manage what Lucas does on his own!

and you can stop encouraging him tooo ;0

The drawn home game with West Ham in November of 2008 was the defining point. He was booed and jeered yet a certain Rafa stood up for him. In the summer of 2010 when the gaffer was sent packing, the media bloodhounds and plastic fans were baying for Lucas' blood too. A year later, here we are dreading what our midfield would be without him. He was despised yet rose to the challenge quietly. The Ugly Duckling comes to mind or that girl who in elementary school who was labelled "piggy" yet grew up to win miss world. You never know what you have till it's gone. For those guys on Carrol & Hendo's back now..this is your lesson.

"you don't know what you've got till it's gone.."  Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi.

I think we all knew/finally came to realise what we have in Lucas, epitomised in that Man City game where the team just wouldn't allow their midfield to operate with their usual deft swagger with Lucas particularly giving short shrift to the  reputation of those star spangled names, and wages, in blue.

Lucas is the biggest loss this team could have, potentially worse than losing Suarez because with him anchoring midfield other teams just couldn't play their game but we could play ours.  
To win, you first have to not lose, and to beable to attack, you must beable to withstand assault.

Lets just hope the other players learn from his play, and damn quick.  

My pessimism is that throughout the ages, it's always been impossible to replace a player.  Teams have always had to change their nature when key players have bowed out.
We need to trust in KK and Steve Clarke like never before.

To win, you first have to not lose, and to beable to attack, you must beable to withstand assault.
Have you been reading the Art of War?

delusions of grandeur, and sometimes just delusions!

Aquilani? Anyone? Anyone? 

No, thanks. Would be nice to finally sell him, though.

No really a deep lying 'breaker up' of play that we need.

hound dog.  But will we find the intelligence that Lucas has shown?

I suspect there isn't a recall clause in his loan agreement.

also, he'd be shit at it. 

That video of nic cage losing his shit seems apropos right now. Or the first couple minutes of four weddings n a funeral, where fuck is the only spoken word.

wasn't it 'bugger' ?

Well, for the past few seasons an overriding issue was that our squad lacked depth.  Now we have new owners, some funds, and coming to a year with Kenny and Comolli trying to build up that depth.  This is their biggest test yet.  Other top teams have had to deal with a seemingly vital cog suddenly disappearing and they still just have to perform anyway.  Can Liverpool do it too?

I hope we can.

My money would be on a makeshift midfield till Jan, and then an experienced replacement airlifted in for the rest of the season.  Sure, Spearing or Coates stepping up would be nice, but I don't think they're good enough yet.  Agger maybe, but then we'd need to replace him in defence.  

The other possibility is a change in formation that doesn't require a 'Lucas' role.  That's the other benefit of having a quality squad - flexibility.  So far Kenny has chopped and changed the way we attack depending on the opposition, but defence has been fairly stable with Lucas (and sometimes Adam) sitting in front of a flat back four.  But perhaps he has other possible formations up his sleeve.  Time to show our mettle.   

True about the top teams bit, but the vital cog disappearing would be a certain mr. gerrard. This makes it the 2nd vital cog! I think all top teams have a spine of 3-5 top, top world class players, and lucas is now the 2nd player missing from our (the other two being suarez, reina and agger).

We'll definitely miss Lucas, but at the same time, I'm strangely confident that lfc now has what it takes to respond with Kenny/Clarke's tactical nous and the team's chemistry and confidence coming together. 

*(the other three being...)

Bad news for the player, bad news for the club. But something good can still come out of it. We may end up buying a player in January to cover for Lucas who ends up partnering him later, and if this injury pushes the team to buy a higher quality player because he's seen as a replacement instead of a backup, so be it.

Absolutely sickening news can't believe my worst fears for his injury have to true.

I know Liverpool can rely on wee Jay to pull up his socks and fit right in there but holly F U C K but Lucas will be missed.

This news is awful; however, if you want to be one of the best Football Clubs in the world, one person getting hurt should not sink your entire team. A world class team needs to have depth at every position. We need to look at this as an opportunity for Jay Spearing to show what he's made of. If we want to be considered in the world's elite clubs, this needs to not be the end of our season.

Yep...it's hard to take the loss of our top man having already lost The Infected One, but yeah, this will be a real test of where we're at

My feeling right now is approximately the following noise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

lol, spot on old man.

I'll have to clear it with Noel, but there's a good chance that will be our official soundtrack.

I won't even charge you for the creative rights to the idea.

My boyfriend is a Lucas hater.

To be fair, these days it's a perfunctory and sarcastic kind of hate. He just really hates admitting that he was wrong; especially if it means that I was right. That said, I've already issued him a warning: he says one unkind word about Lucas and they will never find his body. I'm Sicilian, so it's not a totally outrageous threat. 

I said to Mardia on twitter that December is going to be just as important for Comolli as Spearing. We need to buy in January. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Wee Jay, but he's not a replacement for Lucas. Honestly, for what Lucas offers to the team in talent, dedication and just overall likeability, I'm not sure anyone can replace him right now. All I know is, whoever takes his place had better have some decent twitter troll-destroying skills. 

A Lucas hater? It's almost impossible. I bet you that even a "Lucas hater" is secretly a Lucas lover. Try to catch him on his Iphone or the computer when he thinks you're not around. I bet you he will be watching Lucas compilations and cheering. Wee Jay should get a run out. Not a Lucas replacement by any stretch, like you said. But, it may work for the next six games. January, we better get the checkbook out.

Whatever videos he's watching when he thinks I'm not around aren't likely to be football related. Ahem.

spill the beans, give us his top ten complete with X rating.....

Prokofiev's Sonata 3, Handel's Water Music, Brahms' Poco Allegretto...wait, what did you think I was talking about?

Sorry, I'm not buying that one (or those 3), nice try though.

Next thing you'll be saying is men can do two things at once, now that would make me lmao.

Now, now, Ms. Airamanna. Have to say you have a good point though. Wouldn't want anyone sneaking up on me to see what I'm up to. Amen to that.

Let's try to turn this around. Maybe Kenny will take a page out of SAF's and Mourinho's book: play a ball-carrying defenseman as a holding midfielder/destroyer (ala Phil Jones & Fabio Coentrao). My vote goes to Danny Agger with Skrtel and Coates filling in at CB.

The other way to take a leaf out of Fergie's book is to just buffer up the rest of the side to compensate for a weak midfield.  Seriously, the last good midfielder at Utd was Roy Keane, and they've still been doing ok since.  Of course it is Man Utd, and they have that magic quality of playing pretty unimpressive football and still somehow stumbling their way to three points every game.  But, if they can win titles with a shit midfield, why not us.

Ok, I retract that.  The last good midfielder at Utd was Paul Scholes.  Credit where it's due.  But the point is still valid.

can you be called a midfielder if you can't tackle?

Aside from breaking up our best CB combo, you really want to put the injury-prone Agger in a position where he has to make crunching tackles all the time? Yikes.

Oh fuck. I hadn't considered the impact of an Agger injury while we are sans Lucas.

I need a drink.

Honestly, if he's going to do that I'd rather not move Agger—that pairing with Skrtel's the best thing the club has going right now, and with how uncomfortable Agger's looked at fullback there's a pretty big risk you're only weakening two positions with a player who for all his offensive skill isn't positionally flexible. If Aurelio's fit and can stay that way for more than twelve minutes he'd be a shout since he's done it before, and done it well, but when it comes to CBs I think there's more chance of seeing Coates pushed up than Agger.

Not that I think either is likely. Suspect it'll be Hendo-Spearing-Adam in a midfield three for the next six games and then a scramble to buy somebody early in January.

A strong holding midfielder has the following traits:

Positioning/Marking
Tackling
Passing
Endurance

Martin Kelly could be worth a shot here.  He certainly has the athletic ability to play the position and may be a worthwhile development in his career to move him to CDM, since this is such an important role on a championship caliber side.  He will need to learn positioning and become a bit more comfortable on the ball, but he can mark and tackle well and he has the speed/engine to make up for mistakes.

Thoughts?

This would likely be the solution. So the question then becomes whether we'll go for a long-term option in jan (m'vila, sissoko) or a cheap stop-gap.

As I posted above it will be interesting to see if they bring in a direct Lucas replacement or one that has complimentary skills but can also do Lucas' job.
M'Vila/Sissoko or or say Banega/Javi Martinez ?

These are all 20m players though. Will we be making that kind of investment to end up with two world class destroyers 6 months later, one of which won't be playing every week?

Javi Martinez though....  /drooling

One things is certain - Kenny will have his own thoughts and we'll be the last to know! I think you've got it right, well certainly for the next couple of games and depending how well Wii-J does in a more disciplined role, we may see it revert back to the existing formation. 

Realistically, I reckon you've nailed it. 3 man midfield seems most likely solution until The Groin returns (and even after). Big ask for Hendo though and it will mean that Kuyt will start every game again I would imagine, as we'll need the Dirk-inator's covering and tracking more than ever. 

But that would mean Carroll on the bench for six straight games, which Kenny is loath to do. I expect he will continue to take risks, as he generally does, and that Spearing-Adam will be given a shot, and maybe even as soon as at Fulham.

lol remember the comments one or two months back ? ppl spoke bout midfield without Adam ,but now every mid option has Adam in it! nice..............

Too gutted to even insert a Poulsen joke. 

I was gonna go there 'til I saw this comment. Now I'll refrain...

Recall Joe Cole.

I have no class.

Adam and Henderson as a midfield two from now on? :\

Hold me.

big shitty shit balls, fuck.

Quite

):

Grim.