20 Jan 2015 11:35:48
(meant to post this on banter - posted it in yesterdays by mistake - sorry)

Just reading the following story on Sky.

"Lucas Leiva is pivotal to Liverpool's recent upturn in form and must not be sold, says Jamie Carragher"

Really glad to see this. If only so the types that get all their opinions from pundits might finally see the obvious.

If only Gerrard had expressed such thoughts to the press regarding Lucas, perhaps then, he (Lucas) wouldn't have been marginalised by BR to the point that he is/was on the verge of quitting.

But then, Stevie had his place in the team - so he clearly had a conflict in interest - and he made it clear that he would not be a bit-part player. He'd seemingly rather we endured him at DM against Palace and Utd (with obvious results), rather than question the mistreatment of Lucas.

Fair play to Carra. He always has displayed more knowledge about the coaching and tactical side of the game than Gerrard.

Now maybe even BR will get the message regarding Lucas.

Maybe Rodgers can apologise to him, and start trying to convince him to stay.

Lucas has been our player of the season imo - he has turned the season round, and held our shambles of a setup together well enough to help scrape us some badly-needed points, following a disastrous tactical calamity of a start.

- yet despite all this - our manager doesn't even seem sure that he should be in our squad!

You couldn't make this stuff up.

:)

{Ed002's Note - Carragher has no influence over transfers or anything else at Liverpool. There has been interest in Lucas from both Napoli and Inter - and both would have liked to take him on loan in January. The player has made it clear that he does not wish to move to Naples but would like to move to Inter Milan and his representatives negotiated a deal for a permanent move to Inter. There was however a complication in that Inter were in negotiations with another player (but the deal would require the approval of FIFA). However, Inter dropped their interes in the other player and made an offer to Liverpool. That was rejected and although it looked like a second offer would be made, Inter feel that they are being messed around by Liverpool in this matter and have turned their attention to Atletico's Mario Suarez. Napoli may press again but with Benitez leaving at the end of the season they may not provide a longer-term solution the player is looking for. The interest of Gremio will likely be rejected by the player but his representatives are looking to approach Atletico and Arsenal if they cannot get interest from Inter rekindled.}

1.) 20 Jan 2015
20 Jan 2015 14:16:51
ZK

your man love for lucas see's no bounds lol, but i see you have blinkers on with him, can i point out that he is not the only reason the team has been playing better, you have to give credit to the other players as well, you know my thoughts on lucas, and for me i have to admit he is playing better and he is cutting out his mistakes, don't get me wrong he is doing his job well at the moment and i put it down to him getting games time he has helped the team because he has his position covered so the other players don't have to cover him or gerrard especially, so let's just say lucas is playing well, just as other are playing well and i think BR has come up with a formation that suits the team and the players, for a machine to perform at its top capacity all the parts have to be working to their strengths, and for me the way lucas is playing well so are the other players, as in couthinio, markovic and hendo, so instead of praising your main man give the whole team some credit, even migs is starting to play well, so let's just be thankful that we are moving in the right direction and that the team is winning playing well and not letting goals in, and i will leave it to you to give lucas the pat on the back and an love bite :)) lol

2.) 20 Jan 2015
20 Jan 2015 14:53:41
When you say messed around I take it you mean Liverpool just don't want to sell? And why would they when he's an integral part of the squad.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool had given him permission to find a new club.}