My namesake, Lucas saw himself sent off in tonight's derby game between Liverpool and Everton tonight as Liverpool lost 1-0 deep into extra time thanks to a Dan Gosling goal in the 118th minute. It wasn't the red card, I feel that changed the course of the match, as it was a scrappy, typical tackles go flying game. Rather, the substitution of Steven Gerrard 10 minutes into the first half due to a hamstring problem drew a standing ovation of the Evertonians and undoubtedly a lift to Everton to hold their own against an impotent Liverpool team. This was what characterized the game and ultimately befell Liverpool's exit. Not an indication of Liverpool as a one or two-trick pony (counting Torres), but rather an awesome display of Everton's teamwork ethic that consistently draws results - a kind of Moyesian punching above their weight.
In the end, neither side really deserved to win or lose and it was some great skill from ex Plymouth Argyle youngster (defender-cum-midfielder) Dan Gosling that danced around two Liverpool players with the ball at his feet at the 6 yard box to slot it past Pepe Reina. Brilliant goal and the lad is English. Are you watching Fabio Capello?
Liverpool failed to win because they failed to open up avenues too early enough - the introduction of Babel - so effective as a substitute as against Arsenal (one example) - did not come until late in extra-time - and in place of Torres. Surely oh surely Torres should have stayed on, Babel could have done most of the legwork for him? That is where I feel Liverpool fell short tonight.
But at the end of the day it is a great advertisement for the FA Cup and English football - one of the big four out - and who would bet against the winners of the 5th Round tie Everton vs. Aston Villa winning the cup? That is who my money is on, and that is the game of the round to watch for sure.
And perhaps now, Liverpool have one less competition to worry about, they can now give the League full focus and go for the title at full-pelt.
A short transfer roundup, after the window closed on Monday. The biggest ones on deadline day included Robbie Keane back to Tottenham after 6 months. Have the Premier League decided to ignore the one-year transfer rule on players? I wonder...
And Andrei Arshavin, the comrade who destroyed the Dutch at Euro 2008 signed for Arsenal.
The interesting thing, I've noted is something I've touched on in pub conservations about Stoke City. A Typical Stoke criticism goes to the throw-ins, but also the large quantity of tall, strong, mainly, black players. A criticism on the basis that it is not representative of Stoke City at all.
In fact, with the signing of Henri Camara (Wolves Wanderers flop, signed from Wigan), is now the 6th Senegalese player playing for Stoke City:
Amdy Faye,
Abdoulaye Faye,
Mamade Sidibe,
Ibrahim Sonko,
Salif Diao,
Henri Camara.
Add that to two Jamaican players in the squad (Fuller & Demar Phillips in midfield) and two Nigerians - Seyi Olofinjana and Olufemi Oluyi (midfield).
In Stoke's defence, most of their players are either English or Irish rather than an African/black contingent that seems to be levelled at them. But with just a few more Senegalese players they could in theory be fielding the Senegalese national XI in the Premier League. They nearly added another Senegalese striker from RC Lens over Christmas, and I'm sure if Diouf wasn't such a prima-donna he'd have come to the Britannia.
Nothing really to say, not criticising it, it just amazes me that most of their players, though on first glance you might say were African - are actually more or less from the same country.
Other than that, it's been reported that Stephen Kelly from Birmingham City (right back) has been signed on loan until the end of the season.
A lot of Stoke fans seem to think that Andy Griffin is too slow - could this be the end of Griff's Premier League career? It seems a far cry from the days when I used to know him personally in his days as a Stoke youth - alongside Dean Crowe and Iain Nicolson, back in the days of "League One" Stoke!
How times change...
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