02 Jan 2015 15:31:20
I can't believe Rodgers plays a player who is not good enough for a div 2 team. Lucas is slow, gives the ball away, gets caught, can pass forward or more than 10 meters, weak, can't head a ball, can't tackle, gives free kicks away all game, running into players. He is shocking, yet he's the first name on the sheet now, ahead of Can who is far better and Allen. Even play rossitor ahead of him, please Rodgers, drop this garbage of a player!

{Ed042's Note - if you think Allen is better than Lucas then my friend you are _______

1.) 02 Jan 2015
A Manc would struggle to beat ur stupidity. Or are u just a troll trying to stir up trouble on this page? If u honestly think Allen is better at any aspect of the game than Lucas, then u need to take a very long break from watching football.

{Ed044's Note - Lucas is not the player he was before his injury. Nonetheless, his positional play, discipline, and awareness of danger means he is still a better DM than Gerrard, and a worthy PL player. I believe he has suffered in terms of playing time because of the presence of Gerrard. If you were to pick a formation, then pick the best player for each position on merit, Gerrard would most likely be missing from the team, but instead BR tried to turn him into something he's not. This has cost Lucas. The end result may well be that neither player is with us next season. Somebody find me the Paisley quote about letting your best players lose their legs in someone else's team...}

2.) 02 Jan 2015
Ben, Lucas would still contribute something to the team that Allen never will. Yes, injuries have taken a toll on Lucas but i always have a glimmer of hope that the team will somehow keep a clean sheet when he is playing CDM instead of Gerrard. His commitment and discipline is second only to Hendo in our midfield. I would rather see Gerrard and Allen leave before Lucas. Even if another CDM does arrive in the summer, Lucas must stay to challenge the new man for his place rather than shoehorn another player into that position. And plz do not mention Can, his future im 100% sure lies as a CM.

{Ed044's Note - the problem with this debate is there are so many variables. I agree with most of what you are saying, but all of it can be twisted. Yes, I would pick Lucas ahead of both Gerrard and Allen as CDM. Yes, Can is going to make a pretty goddam good CM. but here lies the problem - Lucas can't play every game. Hendersons best position is CM, but Can is still worth his place in the team. Furthermore, you have to pick a team, not a series of individuals: probably the best (unrewarded) midfield performance last season was against Man City in December. Henderson, Lucas and Allen had Toure and co in their pocket.
Allen is not pushing on how I hoped, but is still better alongside Lucas than Gerrard is (more energy, position, recycling). Here's a challenge Indian, give me a team selection based on the current squad (minus Gerrard, but ignoring injuries) and give me a realistic rotation for 3 games in a week. ie. best eleven first off, then rest 4 most important players, then bring back a couple for 3rd game. 😊}

3.) 02 Jan 2015
Ben, since the 4-3-1-2 formation suits the players we have the best, here it is:
Lucas and the new signing (hopefully Schneiderlin who can also play CDM) competing for CDM position which is all the more important as our full backs simply cannot defend.
The other 2 midfield positions must be for box to box players covered by Coutinho, Henderson, Rossiter and Can. The new CDM, Henderson and Coutinho should be the 1st choice midfield with Can, Rossiter and Lucas providing cover. Looks pretty decent to me. These 6 could easily fill in the 3 midfield positions for 2-3 games a week. Allen has no role to play at LFC anymore and must be sold considering any squad improvement will involve having to sell as many luxury players at the club as possible who simply do not contribute enough.
This is simply the midfield im talking about. So basically 4 quality players with two youngsters in Can and Rossiter as the squad midfield. The same formula should apply to the front 3 and backline.

{Ed044's Note - cheating slightly, including a signing we haven't made! Can't argue with most of the rest. In particular I agree with the occasional Rossiter appearance.}

4.) 02 Jan 2015
02 Jan 2015 19:07:02
I for some reason can't sleep so I'll try
First game
Mignolet
Flanno. Toure. Sakho Moreno
Lucas. Hendo. Can
Coutinho
Sturridge. Sterling

Second game
Mignolet
Manquillo. Toure Sakho Moreno
Can. Allen
Lallana. Coutinho
Balotelli Markovic

Mignolet
Flanagan. Toure Sakho. Moreno
Hendo. Lucas.
Lallana. Sterling
Sturridge Balotelli

after doing that I have realised that we really need to cut downon no of oplayers

{Ed044's Note - I like the look/principal of all those lineups 042. Can't see Toure managing 3 games in a week, but nonetheless all look strong reasonable 11's given what's available. My Lil Bro just sent me a selfie of him and Martin Skrtel, but he still wouldn't make my 11....}

5.) 02 Jan 2015
I think Lovren will come good if he plays behind Lucas/Can and Hendo

{Ed044's Note - Lovren with anyone except Skittles has potential...}

6.) 02 Jan 2015
Aka the Kamikaze Kid :) agreed. Best article on Gerrard I've read by Henry Winter on the Telegraph website right now. Well worth a read if anyone has a spare 10 minutes.

{Ed044's Note - will have a look Essex.}