I wish I could see the benefits of Lucas Leiva playing in our team as some others do. Personally I think it's incredible how the guy has managed more than one trial appearance let alone 100+ for the first team... can't tackle, just ankle-taps, barges and niggles so gets booked almost every game. No mid or long-range passing ability. Too physically short to win a heading duel with 99.9% of the opposition. Never, EVER scores and struggles to manage an off-target shot on goal once each season.
Realistically, with those qualities he wouldn't gain a regular first team berth within most Championship squads. So how come he is so important to us??
Obviously you didn't watch the Leicester game? Lucas one pretty much every header! Every midfield needs some to commit themselves to tackles and winning the ball back as early as possible, Lucas is the only player in our squad who does that. In that position if we are under attack then he should be committing cynical fouls to break up the play, just like Hamann did who was an absolute master at it. Also did you not see him charging through on goal against Stoke at home, shame he couldn't finish but still, when did you last see one of our defensive midfielders doing that?
