It shows just how far Lucas has come with the confirmed news that the injury he picked up in against Chelsea in the Carling Cup Quarter-Final, anterior cruciate ligament damage, has hit home so strongly.
With that it mind, should Liverpool be looking at blooding Jordan Henderson in his favoured central position, albeit in a more sudued role or should Jay Spearing be given the responsibility to finally strive to cement a place in the First XI. It's easy to think the Spearing at the age of 23 has has enough chances, but he has only appeared 31 times in a Liverpool shirt, so he hasn't really hasn't a chance to stake a claim. Given his age and the fact that he came up through the ranks, one would hope that this is his time.
The other possibility is does Dalglish try to work his way around Lucas absence and buy a replacement in the January transfer window.
Who would have thought that people would be wondering how Lucas could be replaced. Good question.
ReplyDeleteWe are gonna have to see what Henderson is really made of - as a first as we have spent a large sum on him and if it doesn't work out we are gonna have to use Spearing as he is a more defensve player.
ReplyDeleteLucas had finally made the step from an average squad player to an improving midfeild player who was getting better and better and more confident with every game. Hope he can come back in approx 6 months and not loose the progression he has made in his game.
Get well soon Mr Lucas Leiva!!!
dedlfc
This is dead serious, wow!!! I did not know I will have to say this about Lucas. Stevie G is still on indefinite injury list. This sort of damping my confident slightly about Carling Cup Semi-Final with Man City and ou top 4 finish. Well I feel it is an opportunity for the likes of Henderson and Spearing to step up their games.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right Edet. What both Spearing and Henderson need to do is to TRY to persuade the manager that there's no need to buy a replacement in January. So between now and the end of the transfer period, they should be playing their socks off.
ReplyDeleteI quite rate Spearing - a good player with some technical ability. He doesn't waste passes and although less than Lucas, is quite combative given that he used to be a defender. He is also quite effective when going forward.
Henderson - I haven't seen enough of him in that role. he seems to get through some milage but I've not seen his stats on the number of tackles he wins, etc. He seems to be within the shot of every camera angle of the game but yet its not not always easy to identify his contribution. I think the intention is for him to be an attck minded player.
Henderson has got to be given a go in but for the centre, but for the Fulham game, I'd put Spearing in.
Lucas has re-invented himself from an attacking midfielder when Rafa bought him, into a specialist defensive midfielder therefore neither Henderson or Spearing will be an adequate replacement. Spearing has been treading water at Liverpool for years and has had enough chances to prove himself and has never done so, therefore you might as well go with Henderson and hope his work rate will make up for the fact that he doesn't reasd the game as well as Lucas which is essential when breaking up opposition attacks.
ReplyDeleteLP
The injury is terrible news for the team, squad and the fans!!!
ReplyDeletededlfc
But not for messers Spearing and Henderson. I recall LPs comments some time ago about Spearing and I know that he doesn't rate him. Either Spearing or Henderson need to prove the critics wrong between now and and the end of January if they are to prevent Dalglish buying a holding midfielder. Looking at it another way, if Charlie Adam is injured, which midfielder could be relied on to provide creativity?
ReplyDeleteI have faith in Spearing and his inability to break into the first team had nothing to do with his talent and more to do with Rafa's lack of faith in the younger players (Take Martin Kelly, Danny Wilson, Flanagan) He might not be as good as Lucas-yet but I think he would be better in that role than Henderson
ReplyDeleteLivi, if Adam was injured the obvious move would be to end Aquilani's loan deal early, seems to be playing reasonably well for Milan.
ReplyDeleteLP
I wonder it that's an option with Aquilani? I was surprised to hear that Shelvey was coming back from his loan spell and I thought Aquilani's loan deal was until the end of the season, but that would certainly be the obvious replacement.
ReplyDeleteThe Aquilani call back would have been a very good shout!!!
ReplyDeleteCertain players think because they allowed to go on loan that it is it with LFC but they need to remember that own their contracts until we decide to sell!!!
dedlfc
You can see how much it all means to Lucas, "Just to confirm that I will be out until the rest of season," he wrote.
ReplyDelete"I am really sad with the news because I was enjoying [it] a lot on the pitch.
"I am sure I will come back stronger and I will achieve everything that I dream with the LFC shirt.
"I am sure I'll never walk alone."
I really felt the Lucas injury but I believe Jay Spearing would robably be the best replacement, he is fiery and very competitive and I believe him in the replacement for Lucas.
ReplyDeleteBala
What a great result, to go there and dominate with a team containing so many squad players is testament to the progress we are making. I was waiting all day for a ticket in away end as mate had two tickets but was going with his brother but had been told I'd prob pick one up there. I had free ticket to arsenal city game though so thought bird in the hand and all that but a bit gutted I didn't take my chances and head over to stamford bridge as would of been brilliant to be in the away end!
ReplyDeleteArsenal did pretty well considering the youth of the side against city's team of internationals containing nasri, de jong, dzeko and aguero for most of the match. Was really impressed with oxlade-chamberlain, looks like he has potential to be a great player -walcott plus footballing intelligence, vision and character to demand the ball and come looking for it....
Sounds like it was a great performance and encouraged that a few slips aside it sounds like coates had a good game. Also, Bellamy is proving your arguments and doing his chances of becoming a regular starter no harm at all with the catalytic role he has played in virtually every game he's played this season - goals against norwich and brighton, key run and pass against everton, three assists against chelsea etc...
Just hope we can build on positivity of last three performances and go on winning run to christmas....