Lucas Leiva, Liverpool’s Player of the Season 2010/11, is something few Liverpool fans would have expected to hear only a couple years ago. But the midfielder’s fantastic surge in form had seen the Brazilian become a crucial part of Kenny Dalglish’s winning formulae last season. But with the raft of new midfield talent arriving at Anfield this summer, is Lucas going to be the unfortunate sacrifice in Dalglish’s remodeling on Merseyside?
There already has been some transfer whispers that this is the case but at present this just remains speculation. But with Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam joining the club there is no doubt some current Liverpool players may have to make way or accept a smaller role in the team next season.
Lucas experienced a very slow start to his Liverpool career. He joined the club in July 2007 from Gremio. The capture of a 20-year-old Brazilian was obviously an exciting prospect for Liverpool fans at the time but unfortunately Lucas struggled to find his feet at Anfield behind Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano. But after both left it gave him a chance to take centre stage and the fact that he won Young Player of the Season for 2009-10 season and then went on last year to win Player of the Season shows how far the midfielder has come.
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Lucas was bought as a box to box midfielder.He may have been “adapted” to a more defensive role as the need arose,ala Kyut as a winger,but the quality that got noticed is still there and has been seen on the pitch.He is an asset in attack,don’t discount that.
Nomad- yeh I agree. There’s more opportunity under KK’s pass n move style of football for Lucas to venture forward and I saw glimpses during the Copa that he can link up well with the strikers.
Im just a big fan of Lucas, he’s got a steely determination about him. He copped plenty from the ‘boo boys’ early days but never gave up or looked to quit the club.
He continues to grow and hopefully his best years are still to come in a Red shirt. He’s always on twitter let us fans know he’s excited to be a Red.
Mickey-G,I’ve not seen any Copa football so ta for the update.I was sceptical when he first arrived but the only critisism I can level now is the number of free kicks he concedes around the area.Proof for me that he’s no Mascha or Makelale.His age,ability,maturity (as you said,he coped with the booing planks)and the KK/FSG approach should gell well.I’m optimistic which is a plus as I’m generally a cynic.No fan of twatter/faceache but a plus when he can show his feelings so easily.
Yeh I could be wrong but I thought he started his career as a move attacking type midfielder and it was Rafa who tried to mould him into a more stay at home, link up with the backs holding type player which then gave Gerrard more freedom to push up. I think Lucas will benefit big time under Kenny. He’s not the greatest tackler I’ve seen either 🙂 I can’t wait for the season to start!
Lucas is the only holding midfielder at the club, so he’s unchallenge