Lucas Leiva – An emergence

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Everyone doubted him.

From pundits, journalists, fans and even Liverpool fans. No, he’s not anywhere good enough. Not a Liverpool first teamer by any stretch of the imagination. Surplus to requirements. It’s time to flog him off. I too, was his critic during his early Liverpool days.

I couldn’t get my head around the fact that he won Brazil’s Golden Ball (Bola de Ouro). Some of them greatest Brazilians to ever grace the pitch of all time – Zico, Kaka, just to name a few off my head. I couldn’t get my head around the fact that he was Brazil’s U20 Captain. He doesn’t look commanding. How was he then, achieving the accolades that his times at Brazil had entrusted upon him?

I clearly didn’t quite know.

Lucas’ performances in his early Liverpool days have resulted in lashings from even his own fans, acclaimed to be the most knowledgeable supporters in football. Criticisms poured in. The odds were firmly stacked against him. He lost the faith from fans other Liverpool players routinely enjoyed. How was he going to turn things around?

Even the door was nearly slammed shut on him, when it was revealed that Christian Purslow wanted Lucas out – to service those debts of course.

But he had two firm believers of his vast talent – something the fans didn’t take on board initially. Rafa Benitez, and Roy Hodgson.

When Rafa signed Lucas, he remarked: ” I am looking forward to seeing him score goals for Liverpool in the future and [we] believe he has the mentality and the character you need to do well in England”.

And Roy Hodgson defiantly defied Purslow’s advice – going against it. He had faith in his talent. Even when he showed glimpses of it towards the end of the 09/10 season – we were skeptical at best. Was he peaking? Was this is true potential? That’s all?

Thankfully, the continued persistence of Rafa and Roy has paid off. Tremendously. Today, Lucas is a key cog in a dynamic Liverpool midfield. His blossoming midfield partnership with Raul Meireles had paid dividends and reaped countless benefits. Lucas has emerged from being an average squad player, to one of the best, if not the best Liverpool player this season.

I have been impressed by Lucas’ enthusiasm for the game. His hardworking and industrious nature has really warmed the fans’ hearts on cold wintery days, like those against Villa last Monday. His insistence on slogging out in the gym during days off in summer stood him in good stead.

This season, his performances have finally forced the Anfield faithful to eat humble pie. You could barely hear a word of discontent now in every shift Lucas puts in. His attitude has rubbed off a positive vibe on his team mates. And Lucas sets an exemplary example for any other player out there – defy your critics and prove yourself.

And certainly he has. The way he sets himself up, the way he goes on to dominate the midfield has not gone unnoticed on the Liverpool faithful.

You raised the standards Lucas, you defied the odds. You changed the minds of all fans from pole to pole.

Now, Roy Hodgson will have a selection headache to deal with when Gerrard returns from injury. And a very good one at that.

To Lucas, sorry for our rash decisions on your talent….. And keep up your fantastic work! It was your faith in your own talent that did you a world of wonders.

YNWA.

11 Comments

  1. By far the best artical i have read on this website, I am a massive Lucas fan, I’ll happily tell you i had major doubts about the lad after the FA cup defeat to the shi*e in jan 2009. Where he had probably his worst game in an LFC shirt. But i saw some glances last season so i decided to give the lad a chance and this season i don’t think anyone has come close to his standard in a LFC shirt.

    Well done Rafa and Roy!!

  2. TOTALLY AGREE ,I THOUGHT RAFFA WAS MAD CONTINUALY PLAYING HIM
    AND HE HAS BEEN PROVEN RIGHT AND I LIKE MANY WAS COMPLETELY WRONG. NOW WE ARE ALSO STARTING TO SEE GLIMPSES OF THE REAL BABEL AND INDEED NGOG I WOULDNT WANT TO SEE US SELL ANY OF THEM .

  3. Great pressure on that Carrol’s shot Lucas…..Im positive Hodgson will not have a headache choosing who to play when our Captain comes back…..unacceptable!!!! lazy!!!! sloppy!!!!

  4. I honestly cant believe what I just read. Lucas Leiva is one of if not the most pathetic proffesional footballer I have ever seen play in a Liverpool shirt. Lucas is a midfielder (apparently) who has played 88 games for Liverpool with 1 goal to his name ? and a few assists ? Go ask Kaka if he would like this track record. Maybe Lucas is a good footballer but you will never see his full potential at Liverpool. He is as good as anderson is to united. If Roy really saw somnething in him he should loan him for a few years. You loan players like lucas, not players like Aqualani. The joy of being a powerful club is that you can let other clubs grow possible potential for you while you grow actual potential– For example Jonjo Shelvey, Ryan Babel, David Ngog. With this being said I respect your opinion and as long as he plays for Liverpool we have to try and give him some sort of backing.

  5. Did I really just read this? LUCAS OFFERS NOTHING to the team. some fans may have just gotten used to seeing the poor quality of football that Liverpool play now. lucas is pathetic. i am sorry, he may work hard, but at the end of the day the end result adds up to nothing. with kuyt at least with his work rate you get something in the end. lucas is not able to pass, tackle, shoot or anything. his touch is terrible along with his vision. people say he will play better as an attacking midfielder? surely an attacking midfielder must have some ability to pick out a pass? that said, yes lucas has improved this season, but his standard is still well below what a club of liverpools stature requires. And do you honestly think there is even a decision to be made when Stevie is fit again? lucas should not be offered a new contract. its best we sell him and get in someone better. lucas has had 18 months of regular first team football to prove his worth, and he has been poor. yet ryan babel rarely gets a look in but is more influential and has greater potential. how is that fair. aqualani did more in his fledgling appearances last season than lucas has done in his entire career for liverpool. let him find his feet somewhere else, because we aren’t going to go forward with him supposedly ‘dominating’ the midfeild

  6. Well said Murray and Mud , but im sure we will get the We are not loyal fans”. But the kid is shit and will always be shit!!!!!

  7. This is an unbelievable article. Lucas is GARBAGE.

    He drifts around the field in one gear — no speed, no heart. Look at him standing off the ball and letting Carroll score. Earlier he loafed about and they easily played the ball through him for Carroll’s near miss header. He’s not an aggressive, physical, tackling defensive midfielder, but more like a low quality attacking midfielder. (Yet another player being played out of position for us, but that’s another story.)

    Think about it: as soon as Lucas’ playing time went up last season, Liverpool went down. There were all these quotes from him and Insua last year about how happy they were to be in the starting eleven. Well, it doesn’t mean much if your lack of quality just drags the team down.

    transfer funds — USE ON A LEFT BACK, DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER, AND LEFT WINGER
    Lucas, N’Gog, Konchesky, Poulsen — SELL ASAP
    Hodgson, Lee — FIRE ASAP
    Johnson — PLAY ON THE RIGHT WING
    Kelly — START AT RIGHT BACK
    Kuyt — 2ND STRIKER ONLY, NOT A WINGER
    Maxi — BENCH, NOT A WINGER

    1. ahahahaha!!! who is LFC player of the year now huh?? answer is LUCAS….
      who scored two hat-trick in three games?? maxi!!

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