Over the last couple of seasons, much-maligned Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has blossomed into one of the club's most important players, something that many fans - myself included - didn't foresee happening when Rafa Benitez brought the Brazilian to the Premier League in 2007. Lucas' fight to make the defensive midfield spot his own is a testament to his great mental strength, but in an interview earlier this week, the midfielder admitted that increased competition during the Roy Hodgson era made him think about leaving Liverpool.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Lucas admitted that he was 'close to leaving to go to Italy' in 2010, and credited Kenny Dalglish with reinvigorating his shattered confidence. He explained:
“I felt as though it was almost the end for me at the club. I nearly left. They signed Christian Poulsen at the time, and that was a message for me, that I was not really in their plans.
"So I was really close to leaving to go to Italy. For some reason I did not go, I stayed. Then Kenny came in, and I really started to play with a lot of confidence"
"I had a lot of chances to leave the club through mutual consent. But I always felt that there was something saying to me that I still needed to prove something here"
It's great that Lucas has developed into such a key player, but his reaction to the signing of Christian Poulsen is (IMO) slightly worrying. Competition for places is an essential ingredient in any winning team, yet Lucas clearly took the Poulsen signing the wrong way. Instead of knuckling down and accepting the challenge, he took it as a slight on his ability, obviously sulked about it, and almost ended up leaving the club. I don't see how that was the right way to react.
* At that time, Liverpool had already lost Xabi Alonso, and Javier Mascherano had also just left Anfield.
* Liverpool's midfield looks decidedly threadbare, so the signing of another central midfielder was obviously a priority.
* Poulsen was clearly signed to fill out the squad, not to replace Lucas.
* The appearance stats back this up too: Under Hodgson, Lucas made a hell of alot more appearances than Poulsen.
Since Hodgson's time, the only central midfielder Liverpool have signed capable of challenging Lucas is Jordan Henderson, but what happens if Brendan Rodgers signs another top-class, dedicated defensive-midfielder this summer? Will Lucas react the right way, or will he see it as an attempt to push him out, and try and leave again?
Lucas is revered by Liverpool fans, and the Brazilian is undoubtedly an excellent player, but the club arguably needs a different type of player to help push things on to the next level. This may sound harsh, but IMO, Liverpool will not maintain a top four place, and/or go on to win the title with Lucas anchoring the midfield.
For a team in the top 6-8, Lucas is the ideal player, but to be amongst the elite, you need elite players, and with the greatest respect, Lucas is not an elite midfielder (yet). He has many qualities, but lacks physical strength, physical presence, dominance, and an element of ruthlessness, all qualities that - with very few exceptions - the world's top defensive midfielders (past and present) possess.
Maybe Lucas can develop these additional facets to his game over time, but he needs real competition to do that, and at present, there is no one (bar Joe Allen) challenging him. Worse than that, there's no one currently at Liverpool who can guide Lucas towards being a more effective defensive midfielder. If he's to improve, he needs someone to learn from, surely?
This is why the club must make the signing of a new defensive-mid in the summer a major priority, and hopefully, the Brazilian will take it in the right way, and it will spur him on to becoming an elite midfielder.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Lucas admitted that he was 'close to leaving to go to Italy' in 2010, and credited Kenny Dalglish with reinvigorating his shattered confidence. He explained:
“I felt as though it was almost the end for me at the club. I nearly left. They signed Christian Poulsen at the time, and that was a message for me, that I was not really in their plans.
"So I was really close to leaving to go to Italy. For some reason I did not go, I stayed. Then Kenny came in, and I really started to play with a lot of confidence"
"I had a lot of chances to leave the club through mutual consent. But I always felt that there was something saying to me that I still needed to prove something here"
It's great that Lucas has developed into such a key player, but his reaction to the signing of Christian Poulsen is (IMO) slightly worrying. Competition for places is an essential ingredient in any winning team, yet Lucas clearly took the Poulsen signing the wrong way. Instead of knuckling down and accepting the challenge, he took it as a slight on his ability, obviously sulked about it, and almost ended up leaving the club. I don't see how that was the right way to react.
* At that time, Liverpool had already lost Xabi Alonso, and Javier Mascherano had also just left Anfield.
* Liverpool's midfield looks decidedly threadbare, so the signing of another central midfielder was obviously a priority.
* Poulsen was clearly signed to fill out the squad, not to replace Lucas.
* The appearance stats back this up too: Under Hodgson, Lucas made a hell of alot more appearances than Poulsen.
Since Hodgson's time, the only central midfielder Liverpool have signed capable of challenging Lucas is Jordan Henderson, but what happens if Brendan Rodgers signs another top-class, dedicated defensive-midfielder this summer? Will Lucas react the right way, or will he see it as an attempt to push him out, and try and leave again?
Lucas is revered by Liverpool fans, and the Brazilian is undoubtedly an excellent player, but the club arguably needs a different type of player to help push things on to the next level. This may sound harsh, but IMO, Liverpool will not maintain a top four place, and/or go on to win the title with Lucas anchoring the midfield.
For a team in the top 6-8, Lucas is the ideal player, but to be amongst the elite, you need elite players, and with the greatest respect, Lucas is not an elite midfielder (yet). He has many qualities, but lacks physical strength, physical presence, dominance, and an element of ruthlessness, all qualities that - with very few exceptions - the world's top defensive midfielders (past and present) possess.
Maybe Lucas can develop these additional facets to his game over time, but he needs real competition to do that, and at present, there is no one (bar Joe Allen) challenging him. Worse than that, there's no one currently at Liverpool who can guide Lucas towards being a more effective defensive midfielder. If he's to improve, he needs someone to learn from, surely?
This is why the club must make the signing of a new defensive-mid in the summer a major priority, and hopefully, the Brazilian will take it in the right way, and it will spur him on to becoming an elite midfielder.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
lucas is a great little player pity you cannot see it jaimie ,is there any lfc players you like
ReplyDeleteJason, have you actually read the post? It is filled with praise for Lucas, so stop talking nonsense. Try and understand this concept: it's possible to praise and critical of players; it's not just love or hate, with no grey area.
ReplyDeleteyes i have read the post and its all hate m8 every time you say something good about him in the next sentence you slap him down we will not get top 4 with him ,we will not get top 4 with a lot of the players we have ,the one who we have the most chance of getting top four with did not even make your top ten signings of the last 15 years
ReplyDeleteSame formula different story. You take a well loved figure at the club, put a negative twist on an event or portion of an interview then take the moral high ground when others protest. Formulaic punch and Judy cod journalism. I give you six months before everyone else tumbles to the formula and stops reading. Do your self a favour and begin to include analysis, tactical review, well informed scouting pieces or god forbid original interview material, something beyond this tired pantomime.
ReplyDeleteUm? Lucas had not yet clicked when Poulsen had come in,
ReplyDeletePoulsen was brought in by Roy, and if you don't remember Mascha's wife wanted to leave Liverpool,so Poulsen was brought to replace Mascha perhaps,and Aquilani would play the second midfielder ideally,so Lucas was the squad player and not Poulsen,so the scenerio for Lucas was playing at a club where the fans booed him(at that particular time) ,the manager who brought him in was sacked and he was a squad player. Also not to forget G&H were the owner at that time,so every penny counted,and Lucas was being looked to ship out,so you probably can't question his attitude. It was in this season when things started looking up from him. So basically your article is redundant. Thank you for reading.
nathan your being very harsh on jaimie i for one really enjoy this site and think he comes up with some great topics, i also think as a person who has been barred from the site on more than one occasion think jaimie is very fair most of the time,and is entitled to is opinion
ReplyDeletethere's a subtle difference Jaimie between competition and being pushed out...its the way i top class coach handles the situation and is what separates great coaches from the rest....maybe roy h was giving him the impression that he wanted him out instead of wanting him to compete for his place .....thats what has impressed me with hendo this year ..its clear to the world that rogers doesn't want him and is treating him like shit but he just knuckles down and doesn't complain .....i dont think lucas is scared of competition but if your getting the impression that whatever you do wont change the coaches opinion of you who wouldn't be miffed
ReplyDeletei love a good pantomine .....theres a comedy one by rogers in the dressing room before every game...its called his tactics and team selection
ReplyDeleteLucas was scapegoated for the early part of his career. Different country, culture, language, with your own fans booing you; What would you have done, Jamie Kanwar? Few footballers deserve the idolation they get get. Lucas, as an example and a role model for character, is one.
ReplyDeletebabes in the wood is my favourite
ReplyDeleteYour reply is completely disingenuous. You know exactly what you are doing and what reaction it will provoke. To pretend that the content of these articles is an attempt to offer balanced critisism is plain dishonest. Here I'll write the skeleton of your next article for you: step 1: Quick scan of news now find an article with interview quotes - 'Brad Jones says I'd rather play 15 games for Liverpool than 30 for a lesser team.' Recognise that this will be broadly viewed with positivity and warmth by supporters.
ReplyDeleteStep 2 - Take the quote and derive a negative inference - Jones and Liverpool are unambitious and complacent.
Step 3 - Create an ambiguous but provocative headline - 'Liverpool stopper admits he is happy to pick up the pay check for benchwarming.'
Step 4 - Respond to critical comments with fake moral outrage
Step 5 - Repeat ad infinitum
I wouldn't say Lucas was sulking. If a new manager comes in and brings in another player in your position it's natural to think the way he did. And if he's to believed then the club also wanted him to leave. Lucas is a great holding midfielder but can't hold the position by himself (doesn't have the strength of yaya or mascherano)..
ReplyDeleteIMO, we need another deep lying midfielder to start alongside him to free up Gerrard and the forwards. Preferably someone who has great passing range to complement Lucas.
To be fair to Lucas, at the time his days did look numbered not too many of the fans were on his side and things weren't really going his way. The signing of Poulsen did seem like a replacement but his dire performances quickly did away with that. Lucas really does seem to embrace the Liverpool way and I could see him becoming an adopted Scouser like Didi or Molby.
ReplyDeleteI agree though that there are areas of his game he could improve on. I know it's not his job to score but I believe every player on the field minus the keeper should be popping up with at least 3-4 goals in a season.
Actually, quite agree to your point Jaimie... He should have taken it the right way.. But maybe he was not in the right state of mind at that time. Remember, earlier Rafa was backing him up. A new coach comes in, brings in a player for the same position. You might lose some confidence!
ReplyDeleteyou really do have an axe to grind if i did not know better i would think you were a rival from another site
ReplyDeleteSpot on. He isn't nearly as clever as he thinks he is.
ReplyDeletenathan i think your missing the point of a forum.....Jk and his headlines are conservative to what i would post if i was running the forum...thats kinda the idea ...to create a stir then opinions come out ...
ReplyDeletecome on lads its not pick on kanwar night any more comments like the ones that have been posted and i will delete them myself
ReplyDeletewhen the guy with the best ever attitude of any footballer is hodgsoned it is a wonder anyone wanted to stay.
ReplyDeleteim far more comfortable with the insults being hurled at you Lol
ReplyDeleteIf Lucas can consistently perform to the level he was at just before his big injury under Kenny, then I believe he is capable of being an 'elite' player.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked him/defended him, but I had my doubts that he was capable of making that step up. Just before he got that big injury though, I think he was the best holding midfielder in the league and also the best player in our team (I remember thinking that I'd prefer to lose Suarez to injury than him, at that time).
Lol! Duh that's the point of the site - which is what we all love to hate otherwise we wouldn't be here ;) keep up the good work jaimie - keeps me interested!
ReplyDeleteI think the issue with Lucas is that he doesn't have any of the typical physical attributes of a dominant DM, but people like Makelele and Deschamps have proven that even smaller DMs can control the midfield if the rest of their game is sufficiently good to compensate.
ReplyDeleteIs this not proof Jason that Hodgson was a clueless muppet?! Didn't Agger also complain that Hodgson told him to play less football? Not the type of manager suited for LFC can't believe you compare him to the LFC legend in the making which is BR ;)
ReplyDeleteNah - I leave that to the Tomkins times - personally love the banter on here!
ReplyDeleteMe too, good frequency of posts, nicely loaded to garner friction I'd watch a game and buy him a drink - as long as he doesn't mention LS that is ;)
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly Makelele who was widely regarded as the master of that particular role scored something like 5 goals in 10 years at real and Chelsea - I'm happy as long as he does his recycling possession job well
ReplyDeleteAnd i think im entitled to ask what kind of messed up bastardisation of the name jamie is that?! After years of trouble free texting - 1 week on your site and i now have to double check the predictive text to make sure it spells my own name properly! my poor mum thought id had a midlife crisis when I kept signing off my name wrong. Mate its neither jaime (female) or Jamie (male)... Reminds me of the movie the crying game...wait wasn't she a journalist?!?
ReplyDeleteIs that the xxx parody?
ReplyDeleteHow much did Jaimie pay you for that comment Jason?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point. But I think its still possible for a holding player to chip in with a few goals, especially since there are occasions when Lucas gets into good positions. I think it is something he will improve on though.
ReplyDeleteUnited have had Carrick in their midfield for a few seasons now and he is very average, yet they are still the team to beat. One man doesn't make or break a team, a team is a team. It's clear when Lucas plays he has the trust of his team mates, that is more important, the team all playing for each other and trusting each other.
ReplyDeleteFor crying out loud, it's Jaimie, Jaimie, Jaimie Kanwar. As for Lucas Leiva, he is mediocre at best.
ReplyDeleteLucas is a very good player but he is no Hamann or Mascherano. We need somebody who can boss other teams. Lucas lacks physical presence. The only way he will improve is to get another DM and create competition for that position so I am hoping that Rodgers signs a no nonsense midfielder in the summer window.
ReplyDeletelol i would let him buy e one;-)
ReplyDeleteclyde you really are a prat ,your the only one who gives a f"ck about the spelling you have not made one post ,in which you do not mention it get a grip man or go and find a english language site ;-)
ReplyDeleteme two i just do not want jaimies feelings hurt he mite write something posotive about suarez lol;-)
ReplyDeletewhy reply to gilstrap but adress the ? to me i do not bite:-)
ReplyDeleteLFC Sulker? go find a hole to stick your website, are you serious with the headline? You are no better than the rest of the scumbag press, you sound like a manc!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, my parents mistakenly gave me the female spelling of the name, and of course, I'm eternally grateful to them for that.
ReplyDeleteGood points, Gilstrap, but with only three first team players in the first team squad who could play DM (Lucas, Poulsen and Gerrard) I don't see how Lucas could've thought he was being pushed out.
ReplyDeleteHendo is a good example, but he has reacted in the right way. Rodgers even tried to flog him last summer, but he still didn't want to leave, and he's fought back to show that he has value in the tea,.
Good points. I agree with you, overall Lucas has a great mentality, and I hope he can become the midfield lynchpin the club needs. I just can't see it though. I think we need something else in midfield (a competitor with a different style, not a replacement) to really move to the next level.
ReplyDeleteIf only we had Hamann now. Fantastic player.
ReplyDeleteOK, so I am a 'prat'... whatever that is I am sure only you know. I will also try to get a grip (of what, I haven't the faintest idea). All this however is dependent on you finding yourself an English tuitor. OK, Jason 'Dose' Carr?
ReplyDeleteOkay, truce please. Clyde - please stop correcting Jason's spelling. The ability to spell is not a prerequisite for posting here. Jason, please do not respond with insults. Once more from either, and I'll have to start handing out 2-day bans. Thanks.
ReplyDeletecompetitor with different style sums it up perfectly. someone with more drive and strength
ReplyDeleteAnother bad article jamie, you read into things that are not there and find the negative in everything. Your blogging typifies the state of british journalism
ReplyDeleteI don't see Lucas being the same player like he was last season. He use to throw himself into tackles and I saw from a interview that he is fearful of putting himself into those situations. I would like to see him pushed up in the middle. and buy another dm player. Lucas at his best is when he nicks the ball in the final third of the pitch plus he has the eye for delivering a through ball. I wouldn't of blamed him I he had left back then, the club was in limbo and the man who had stood by him during the bad times had been sacked.
ReplyDeletecrap article talking about a player who was booed week after week when he first turned up and your questioning his attitude. only rafa had faith in him and then woy comin and instantly signed poulsen.
ReplyDeletehe dropped Lucascas ght away, it was only that poulson was so poor that Lucas got back in the team and went on to be player of the year.
for those of you who argue Lucas doesn't have the physical requirements for the physical requirements for a top 4 team.
you clearly don't go the game as you would h
ave seen the job he done on bale against spurs. dropped next game for Joe Allen against southampton and that first half we could have had five put past.
Jamie your a waste of time me old mucker, keep watching match of the day and following the ball.
i reply out of manners seen as he has took the time to post,but as its always the same thing wether to me or someone else he really grates me
ReplyDeletesign m'vila! he's french, young and physical
ReplyDeleteFor crying out loud, it's tutor tutor tutor. :)
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have stated this better myself
ReplyDeleteLucas isnt a top four team player. The reason he has become a key player(for 1/2 seasons) is because Liverpool have dropped a level and out of the top 5/6. He isnt good enough imo. He is a good player but not a great one, no where near been a great player. Sell him and get in a quality player in his position if possible. Also he shouldnt be moaning about competition. Since Lucas has regularily come into centre midfield Liverpool have dropped in the league. Alonso and Masch were streets ahead of him in that role
ReplyDeleteYep, I think to properly implement Rodgers' system, you need a 'rash' or better yet, a Masch- someone who will harry the other team constantly and let them know he is there. Lucas doesn't have the physicality to compliment a pressing game.
ReplyDeleteAs I've said though, if he gets back to that level of 2011, which I dearly hope he does, I think he'd be worth having, even if he doesn't fit the criteria precisely.
Lucas' trepidation at the arrival of Poulsen was likely due to the fact that he was a Hodgeson favourite whom he had worked with at a previous club. Lucas has recovered from a major injury, returned to the squad and cemented a first team place whilst simultaneously adapting to a more technically demanding pattern of play, surely this is worthy of commendation rather than your trademark damaging innuendo. You repeatedly delete my comments despite there being no abusive or inappropriate content because I have the temerity to point out that your articles are a formulaic brand of provocative innuendo followed by faux outrage.
ReplyDeleteYou are a sniper. If you snipe, your posts will be deleted. If you want to bitch about me, go to some other site and do it.
ReplyDeletehodgson is a poor manager at the top level, proved once again with England in the week, rabbit in the headlights then burrys his head in the sand because he doesn't know what to do next ie right players to come on.
ReplyDeleteno wonder lucas pondered, hodgson lack of confidence which is clear to see on the sidelines must carry onto the players
i believe i wrote a comment earlier which strongly disagreed not with every point of this article but the general tone set by the headline and the use of the word sulker in particular
ReplyDeletethe praise that mascherano and also sissoko receive is far too much and doesn't take into consideration that both midfielders had Alonso and gerrard with them.
mascherano was fantastic in Europe and against the top four but was limited going forward and lacked a killer pass. anyway Lucas deserves better than to be called a sulker and if your going to write articles with venomous headlines about a player who has worked hard to earn the right to wear the shirt, you should atheist backk up your comments rather than to simply delete every comment that disagrees with you.
He's attacking the argument and yet you still bitch!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong, can't cope with the level of debate?
This summer i hope LFC will bring in 1 more CDM players.Joe Allen still unconsistent perform the game.We need good replacement during Lucas injured.
ReplyDeleteI think it was also a little to do with the type of player we were signing. Meireles was the only real acquisition of any worth from that transfer window (who incidentally could play the DM role at Porto) and there are two ways to look at the competition factor Lucas being clearly better in the DM role than anyone else in the squad it was ridiculous that he was being left out for important fixtures when he was clearly better than the other options, if Poulsen and co. had been playing like titans then I'm sure Lucas would have been happy to step aside for the greater good of the team but we were playing poorly and losing.
ReplyDeleteAlso we were languishing around the relegation positions playing unattractive football with a (IMO) poor choice of coach in Hodgson. I think it's an oversimplification to say he didn't want to compete for a place. In fact with today's success and money based mindset of the modern footballer I'm surprised more of our players didn't sulk off.
It'll be interesting to see how he reacts if we do end up signing someone in his position in the summer. I agree, we need competition for places and Lucas has had his injury troubles in the past which cost us because we had no one else to fill the gap. So a signing in his position in the summer makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeletelol made my day
ReplyDelete