Liverpool Fans Must Free Lucas Leiva: The Reds' Most Hated Player

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

It is 25 years since Jerry Dammers wrote his most famous song.

He chose to record and release it with his band, The Special A.K.A, who were ironically from Coventry, a city synonymous with captivity!

'Free Nelson Mandela' became a massive hit and was adopted by many as an anthem for more than just anti-apartheid groups.

Mandela was indeed freed in February 1990 and went on to become President of South Africa as well as an icon across the globe.

Somehow, this brings me on to Lucas Leiva.

And not just because his name fits neatly into the song in place of Nelson's.

Liverpool bought Lucas Leiva in the summer of 2007 and he has played 78 first team games since.

My problem is that Liverpool fans hate him.

He is a figure of derision. Some liken him to Igor Biscan without the comedy. 

Every mistake, however small, is met with groaning (best case scenario) or even jeering. He is berated incessantly and unceasingly.

To be honest, my problem isn't that people hate him, it's more that they want to hate him.

I think a lot of Liverpool fans want Lucas to fail.

How ridiculous! I mean, I hated Djibril Cisse but I genuinely wanted him, and thus Liverpool, to succeed. If he scored I was as jubilant as I would have been had Gerrard or Fowler scored.

Let me elaborate the point.

I have a good mate and our relationship is unblemished. I don't think we've ever had a disagreement before.

The following conversation took place at a BBQ the day after Liverpool lost their opening weekend clash with Spurs.

"Alright lad. You see the Liverpool game?"

"Yes mate. Gutted. How bad was Lucas?"

"What?!"

"It was all his fault. He didn't make a single pass and offered nothing going forward."

"Shut up yeh' idiot. [He interjects with a serious 'Genuinely.'] Anyway, Gerrard was crap. he was very sloppy in the first half which is why we started so badly. Carragher looks past it [Maybe a slight overreaction on my part!] and Torres didn't do anything though I know he didn't get the ball. I thought Rafa should've taken off Mascherano instead of Lucas actually. He looked more likely to impact going forward."

"No mate. Seriously Lucas is the worst player I've ev..."

"Hang on a minute...Babel started yesterday. Why the flippin' heck are you having a go at Lucas when Babel, who I might add hasn't got an ounce of footballing nous in..."

Let us leave the conversation there. Suffice to say we argued, raised our voices, caused a scene and, the next time we met, said 'Hi' very, very sheepishly.

That is the sort of reaction Lucas evokes though.

I only know three or four other Liverpool fans who like the lad.

Need I remind you that he won the Brazilian Player of the Year (OK, the Bola de Ouro, I am a nerd) while still a teenager. Could I also say that he is the youngest ever winner of this award with previous recipients including Pele, Romario and Kaka.

Gremio also won the State Championship and came third in the National Championship while, internationally, Lucas captained Brazil U20s to a South American Championship win and scored four goals on the way.

Oh, right. So he has something...maybe.

He also starred for his club side in their 2007 Copa Libertadores campaign. They got to the final.

And if I can, I'd love to point out that Dunga has picked him for Brazil three times.

And (sorry, last one I promise) he has an Olympic bronze medal. 

So you can all just...shut up!

Seriously, you all think that he's rubbish?

I know he hasn't always helped himself. I was annoyed when he got sent off against Everton and I was livid when he gave away the free kick that Wigan went on to equalise with because I had paid £30 in the vain hope of seeing Liverpool win.

However, last year, he was always filling in for either Gerrard, the best attacking midfielder in the world, Mascherano, one of the top two defensive midfielders in the world or Alonso, in the top three 'orchestrative midfielders' in the world.

Give the lad a break.

He clearly has something.

I think he needs to find, or be given, a specific role to perform. He also needs confidence.

And it's hard to be confident when 40,000 people are willing you to fail, especially when they are supposed to be your 'fans'!

So please, free Lucas Leiva. Allow him to perform. More importantly, want him to perform.

And remember if you just need to moan about someone, you can always pick on Ryan Babel.

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