Lukaku Now

[Fletch]

I think the fans have already made their minds up about him.

I think this is the case, they certainly haven't taken him to their hearts.

 

[Abraders]

I'd have the beast back tomorrow. NEA.

 

[captainvindaloo]

Lukak who? Does he play for Everton? No. Then he is dead to me. Meanwhile, in other news...

 

[Paul Rideout]

He is a very good striker, but there are a number of those around.

This is 100% true, which is why I wasn't worried in March when it was obvious he was walking, but it also highlights the complete failure of the Transfer committee (or whatever it's called) to get in 2 replacements for ess money, with the conservative hope that (at least) one would adapt to the EPL.

BTW I think Sam A should be looking to do in Jan what we should have done in the summer, recruit 2 strikers from outside the EPL, in the belief that one will take well to it.

 

[MrD]

The first chance he got to ridicule the Everton fans when we played them he took it and then played the "Banter" card.

He is a bellend.

 

[Abertonian]

I think Mourinho will not show patience forever with him - he'll call him out for public criticism soon enough as José likes a scapegoat.

Can see him being the chosen one for the ire of Jose's predictable 3rd season meltdown.

 

[Papa Shango]

He is really unsuited to what Mourinho wants in a striker.

He looks the part with his size and build but he is not the battering ram who can hold up the ball and bring others into play that some people seem to think he is.

 

[COYBL25]

I'd have the beast back tomorrow. NEA.

Our best striker in decades.

Many on here were whinging we sold him too cheaply and we`d been ripped, when he was banging them in at the start of the season.

LOL.

 

[blueblue]

This is 100% true, which is why I wasn't worried in March when it was obvious he was walking, but it also highlights the complete failure of the Transfer committee (or whatever it's called) to get in 2 replacements for ess money, with the conservative hope that (at least) one would adapt to the EPL.

BTW I think Sam A should be looking to do in Jan what we should have done in the summer, recruit 2 strikers from outside the EPL, in the belief that one will take well to it.

It has been said so often before but even now several months later it is still hard to believe that the one position above all that needed to be filled during the summer transfer window was left empty. This is even more glaring because RK had no intention of using Niasse and the fact that he brought him back in highlighted how desperate he was.

If he had signed somebody, almost anybody , I wonder if he would still be in his job today ?

 

[The binman chronicles]

Difference between Lukaku now and for us is that the opposition play deeper and in more numbers because it's Utd. He needs space and lots of it and he was afforded that with us and WBA. He can get away with it if he scores the ones that are put on a plate for him but he couldn't even do that yesterday.

I'm sure if they do go back to beating teams by 3/4/5 then he will get in on the act, as the opposition have to come forward more. Problem is how long will that wash for.

 

[evertonarntwe]

Flat track bully but has ability to be more

for a team like everton that's sound because we'll set up differently against the bigger boys, but when your at the bigger boys they're expected to beat the other big boys and he doesn't exactly have the best record against them does he

( makes sense to me )

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Nah you've thought about it in the wrong way. What's happened is that for an elite side he basically brings the whole team down to a lower level because he breaks how the unit attacks.

So take yesterday as an example - because Lukaku is so unbelievably awful with his first touch and general team play, United had no choice but to sit deep and take pressure because they had no outball.
.

Utd were outclassed quite badly yesterday, but I don't think it was down to big Rom the shin meister not offering an out ball. The whole side were collectively folded by City - It was only 2-1 in the end, and both City's goals were scrappy affairs, but they dominated that first half and could easily have gone in 3-0. Basically de Bruyne, Silva, Sane and whoever else was in the City midfield ran all over Herrera and Lingard - just markedly better players.
Now Lukaku was absolute turbogash it has to be said, but even if he was on one of his more technically accomplished days it wouldn't have made much difference. Zero creativity in that Utd midfield (relative to City), they were on the back foot all game - was a bit like watching us tbh.

I was at the game and can confirm that plenty of their fans have made their mind up already and hate the bloke - plenty of Street end arlarse shouts. A deserved scapegoating perhaps, as he was really bad, but the whole side were out of their league.

 

[Quim]

Nah you've thought about it in the wrong way. What's happened is that for an elite side he basically brings the whole team down to a lower level because he breaks how the unit attacks.

So take yesterday as an example - because Lukaku is so unbelievably awful with his first touch and general team play, United had no choice but to sit deep and take pressure because they had no outball.

That's why he's not an elite level player. He's the opposite of it - he actually hurts a team that tries to play football. He's suited to a side who exclusively counter, which is why with West Brom and his first year with us he was unstoppable. The very minute we tried to impose a footballing game on the league under Martinez instead of a counter attack system, he fell apart and his weaknesses where there for all to see.

If United have any sense, against any half-decent opposition now they'll be playing Ibrahimovic, or even Rashford - anyone but Lukaku. Lukaku is only a viable weapon where the opposition shat themselves and sit deep from the first whistle so the team as a whole don't need Lukaku to get into the final third as the opponent gifts it to them regardless.

Completely correct, that's why most of his goals are scored when teams are chasing games in the last 20 minutes and he can counter. He wont be at utd long

 

[Neiler]

Washed up at 24.

 

[Tubey]

Utd were outclassed quite badly yesterday, but I don't think it was down to big Rom the shin meister not offering an out ball. The whole side were collectively folded by City - It was only 2-1 in the end, and both City's goals were scrappy affairs, but they dominated that first half and could easily have gone in 3-0. Basically de Bruyne, Silva, Sane and whoever else was in the City midfield ran all over Herrera and Lingard - just markedly better players.
Now Lukaku was absolute turbogash it has to be said, but even if he was on one of his more technically accomplished days it wouldn't have made much difference. Zero creativity in that Utd midfield (relative to City), they were on the back foot all game - was a bit like watching us tbh.

I was at the game and can confirm that plenty of their fans have made their mind up already and hate the bloke - plenty of Street end arlarse shouts. A deserved scapegoating perhaps, as he was really bad, but the whole side were out of their league.

The point is that City wouldn't have looked twice at signing Lukaku because of those aforementioned reasons. That's why United were outclassed, because by signing Lukaku they haven't even tried to have that balance of quality; instead they've went for bullying lesser clubs and shutting up shop against the top clubs and hoping to grind out titles.

United, if they had genuine aspirations of being a side who plays positively and dominates games, wouldn't have signed him. Not top club would have. Chelsea dodged a massive bullet on him and brought in a proper striker in Morata - long term, they'll reap the benefits of that.