Truth and reconcilliation

[David Hodgson]

Ok, I repent. I'm now a Lucas fan . He was superb today. Also think those that have murdered Babel need to get that humble pie warmed up. He's just a really dynamic player and we need to believe in him.

[Benzo-13]

What about Voronin???

[Foo]

Yes, what about him?

[muleskinner]

Ok, I repent. I'm now a Lucas fan . He was superb today. Also think those that have murdered Babel need to get that humble pie warmed up. He's just a really dynamic player and we need to believe in him.

 

 

[Rich Gobey]

His time will come.

[meepins]

Weird call that Lucas was superb. Thought he was ok.

[spk]

one in three sitters doesnt strike me as good enough.

[Dan]

Babel should play on the right though, he's hopeless in tight situations through the middle.

[kop205]

Ok, I repent. I'm now a Lucas fan . He was superb today. Also think those that have murdered Babel need to get that humble pie warmed up. He's just a really dynamic player and we need to believe in him.

 

Don't think Lucas did much different today from what he has all season and has probably actually had better games, but I've been quietly optimistic about him for ages.

 

As for Babel, I for one won't be heating the oven up just up. Still lots, lots more to do.

[Eiler99]

Thought Lucas showed more of the same today. Not much different from what he has showed all season. Looks a lot more composed and confident than he did last season. Made some terrific runs into the area that didn't get picked up and some of his forward passing was excellent. He definitely proved that he can do Mascherano's role AND add something going forward when we're playing at home against weaker teams.

 

Babel was good when he came on. Still can't believe he chickened out of that tackle with the defender that could've put him clean through shortly after he came on but after that he was a lot better. Probably should've scored the header but with two goals he more than made up for that miss. His first goal was one of the best attacking moves I've seen from us all season. Hopefully that'll boost his confidence and he'll be ready to kill of the game next weekend against the chavs.

Edited September 26, 2009 by Eiler99

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I'm only prepared to concede that Torres might have a future as a striker

 

Cant make any judgements today, had a pretty nasty stream

[Rimbeux]

Lucas is doing well, he's doing a good job for the team, he can improve in his confidence and presence. He's making good decisions but shrinking at the vital moments of execution. This season he's clearly competing physically and is no longer a yard off the pace, something I thought he'd struggle to change.

[CaptainXabi]

Lucas is doing well, he's doing a good job for the team, he can improve in his confidence and presence. He's making good decisions but shrinking at the vital moments of execution. This season he's clearly competing physically and is no longer a yard off the pace, something I thought he'd struggle to change.

Good assessment. I think the "MOTD moments" will come as he feels more confident. He still seems in "don't f*** up" mode, which to be fair has been the right approach for him up to this point. He needs to put in a few more solid performances and then look to take it to the next level.

[Eiler99]

Lucas is doing well, he's doing a good job for the team, he can improve in his confidence and presence. He's making good decisions but shrinking at the vital moments of execution. This season he's clearly competing physically and is no longer a yard off the pace, something I thought he'd struggle to change.

 

Yep, that header across the goalmouth was a good example. He did really well to get there but instead of taking the chance he tried to set some one else up. Hopefully that end product will be his next step. He makes some terrific runs into the box so with a bit more confidence I think he could add a few goals to his game.

[abc]

He was better against Burnley and Debrecen I thought, but still a solid performance. He's been making very good forward runs the last four or five matches, just a matter of his teammates spotting and then finding him when in those spots.

[sean]

Babel will get there, I'm convinced. All about attitude and application with him and it's very noticeable, the positive change in both from him.

[Rimbeux]

Babel will get there, I'm convinced. All about attitude and application with him and it's very noticeable, the positive change in both from him.

 

 

A not of caution, he's still making some awful decisions and should have gone in with the keeper today but hurdled it. That's not to say he's s***, just he has a way to go to get past cowardice and stupidity and be the player we need him to be.

[sean]

There are things you won't get a player to do as it's simply not him, Babel and tackling are a bit like that. He should fill the right area when he hasn't got the ball so we're not short, but I just feel he's lots to give.

[Rimbeux]

There are things you won't get a player to do as it's simply not him, Babel and tackling are a bit like that. He should fill the right area when he hasn't got the ball so we're not short, but I just feel he's lots to give.

 

 

It's not about tackling per se, but he had a legitimate 50-50 with the keeper which could have led to a loose ball or even a goal and he skipped it. If he wants to be a top striker, it's the sort of challenge he has to go for. Torres scored one this week and one last that required that sort of bravery or at least to not show cowardice. He says he watches Torres, that is a big thing for him to realise.

[sean]

It's not about tackling per se, but he had a legitimate 50-50 with the keeper which could have led to a loose ball or even a goal and he skipped it. If he wants to be a top striker, it's the sort of challenge he has to go for. Torres scored one this week and one last that required that sort of bravery or at least to not show cowardice. He says he watches Torres, that is a big thing for him to realise.

 

 

Don't think it's in him, he's a winger in my book. Can be used up top as he has pace and skill to burn, but as you rightly say, he won't do that kind of shift Torres does.

[BG]

I've always liked Lucas because whenever I've seen him he's done the basics well.

 

Confidence is a massive thing too and I really think that the run he's having now (and being preferred to Mascherano too in the odd game recently) has really helped him.

 

Babel I'm more dubious about mainly because he seems to be at his best when we're already a few goals up. There's talent there though.

[Jonesy]

I'm only prepared to concede that Torres might have a future as a striker

 

Cant make any judgements today, had a pretty nasty stream

 

sopcast is where it's at my friend. I had it on fox soccer for the first 10 mins on tvu then got the "this is not available in your area" test card and low and behold I found it on sopcast 2 mins later. The only goal I missed was there's.

 

mail me through the site if you want all the info. I am a P2P demon

 

edit: as for Lucas....looked average again for me today....no idea what his running was like off the ball as I only got to see what the cameras should me. Babel aint the answer the either. Impact sub maybe .....future of liverpool fc no!

Edited September 26, 2009 by Jonesy

[_00_deathscar]

A not of caution, he's still making some awful decisions and should have gone in with the keeper today but hurdled it. That's not to say he's s***, just he has a way to go to get past cowardice and stupidity and be the player we need him to be.

 

The VERY least he should have done there is tried to win the penalty.

 

But at the moment, I'm just happy he's putting in a shift, and as is the case with Babel, SOME end product will come if he puts in a shift. As to whether he's good enough to stay here long term and be a star, that will depend on whether or not he trusts himself to Rafa and whether he actually has or can grow the awareness and technical abilities needed in the first place.

[Eiler99]

It's not about tackling per se, but he had a legitimate 50-50 with the keeper which could have led to a loose ball or even a goal and he skipped it. If he wants to be a top striker, it's the sort of challenge he has to go for.

 

That wasn't the worst one. Just after he came on he was put one on one with their last defender. It was a 80-20 ball that he just had to get a foot to and he would've been clean through (or been fouled which would've been a red card for the defender). But he bottled it and pulled out of the challenge. Vintage Babel for me that.

 

Encouraging signs from him though. On current form he can come on and kill the game off on Sunday when we're 2-1 up

Edited September 26, 2009 by Eiler99

[Cam]

That wasn't the worst one. Just after he came on he was put one on one with their last defender. It was a 80-20 ball that he just had to get a foot to and he would've been clean through (or been fouled which would've been a red card for the defender). But he bottled it and pulled out of the challenge. Vintage Babel for me that.

Should have steamed in to the 'keeper but he **** out of it.

 

To be fair he then went out wide and had some runs. He looks a bit better doing that even if nothing comes of it; much like Diouf. But he made a great lay off just before his first goal and that must have instantly boosted his confidence 'cos he moved for the return and scored (whereas normally he'd just stand still).