Lukaku

[Zodiak2]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/362950/Chelsea-ready-to-offload-Romelu-Lukaku

Another report that he's available. All speculation, but definitely think there's a deal to do there.

Mourinho doesn't play with two strikers, and with the likes of Cavani, Falcao and Costa linked to Chelsea, Lukaku is going to have to move.

There's definitely been a personality clash between the two and when you rub Jose up the wrong way there's usually only one result.

Got to laugh at some of the fickle nature of the comments from people on here lately about Lukaku. At the start of the season just about everyone thought there was zero chance of ever signing him permanently.

Now he's gone on a goal drought for 9 or 10 games it's "I don't want him" or "I wouldn't blow 20 million on him".

The kid is 20 years old and for the first time in his career has been playing the full 90 minutes in practically every game of the season.

He certainly needed to take the next step in his career by playing more minutes granted, but maybe not to the extent he has done. It should have been a more gradual process in my opinion and we should have had someone to help him share the workload now and again to give him a break.

Barkley is 20 also, and Martinez took him out for a couple of games for that same reason but because of our chronic lack of decent options up front he couldn't do the same with Lukaku.

Even with the poor run, 9 in 22 isn't actually a bad strike rate!

Lukaku is going to be an awesome striker for many years to come, and to get him signed up permanently would be a massive boost make no mistake.

Do we have the money? Who knows, but we keep hearing that Martinez is holding back the money for a reason in the summer so I think he thinks we have a shot.

 

[TX Bill]

It's gonna have to be Mirallas up front.

No other option if we're being honest really.

 

[Walken]

It's gonna have to be Mirallas up front.

No other option if we're being honest really.

Not such a terrible option either, pacy, good technique and very driven, a fitter Barkley off him and its not the end of the world

 

[zirc]

It's gonna have to be Mirallas up front.

No other option if we're being honest really.

Am actually rather excited to see how Mirallas does playing up top. He has the quality to be a star there.

 

[Member8]

Lukaku is seeming to be a goalscorer and nothing more. Like BLF said, playing the alone up front is hard and you need to be real quality. His hold up play is lacking a lot because his second touch is a tackle, something he needs to improve. Our system now is to obviously use the striker with his back facing goal allowing the other forward players to bomb on beyond and create/score. I also agree with Brennan as well though, the lad is always making the runs, looking for the early ball but he hardly ever gets it. Hence frustrating him, dropping his head.

It's a hard one really because the lad really does have talent, also he's only young but he does need to improve his touch and link up if he's going to play the lone striker pretty much anywhere I reckon.

Why not actually play him to his strenghts rather than forcing him to change his game. He is capable of destroying any defense in the world if u feed him on his runs. Just look at that game against Croatia for Belgium, he's unstoppable once he gets going.

 

[WarwickHunt]

problem with us has always been a lack of a creative CAM, I don't get why people don't see that, the lack of through balls and defence opening passes to the forward is what has stopped draws from becoming wins.

We bring in a quality CAM Lukaku will score goals, Barkley for me is a CM not a CAM he doesn't create/score enough goals for that position.

Have to disagree Doug, Barkley is quality in the AMC role. Prefer him there than in front of the defence. He's got a license to go forward and create chances in that position and he's been one of our best players this season playing in that position so why change that?

 

[Big Fat Sam]

I've thought about it and it's not too bad that we'll be forced to play Mirallas up front (please God, do NOT have Naismith up there ffs).

McGeady takes his wide place as opposed to Osman who used to slot in there, and that in itself is absolutely fine and an improvement on that situation.

Mirallas
Pienaar - Barkley - McGeady
Barry - McCarthy
​

That ought to give absolutely any team in the league problems, if they're all fit.

It must be this v Villa:

Mirallas
Pienaar - Barkley - McGeady
Barry - McCarthy
Baines - Distin - Jagielka - Stones
Howard
​

How can that team fail to put together a run of form?!

 

[RFUS]

Barkley is clearly the tits but come on lads, he's had 0 assists this season. Don't get me wrong, stats are stats and can be contorted, but that is indicative of his style. He's not your Mata-type constantly feeding through passes to the front man. He's a driver, he pushes on and carves open space.

If we had someone threading through good passes for Lukaku I think he'd be scoring more. I'd eventually love to see Barkley as a CM as he has all the attributes to excel there.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Barkley is clearly the tits but come on lads, he's had 0 assists this season. Don't get me wrong, stats are stats and can be contorted, but that is indicative of his style. He's not your Mata-type constantly feeding through passes to the front man. He's a driver, he pushes on and carves open space.

If we had someone threading through good passes for Lukaku I think he'd be scoring more. I'd eventually love to see Barkley as a CM as he has all the attributes to excel there.

Agree with all of this. McCarthy could play the Barry role while Barkley could be a box to box midfielder in the ilk of Gerrard in his prime. He'd be boss at that. If we bought an attacking mid who could thread a through ball we'd be dangerous.

 

[RFUS]

Agree with all of this. McCarthy could play the Barry role while Barkley could be a box to box midfielder in the ilk of Gerrard in his prime. He'd be boss at that. If we bought an attacking mid would could thread a through ball we'd be dangerous.

I think Pienaar's demise this season hasn't helped, like. We have a lot of energy and drive, but what genuine ingenuity? Mirallas again is wonderful but not a playmaker. We haven't really had a proper playmaker since Mikel in his pomp.

 

[WarwickHunt]

problem with us has always been a lack of a creative CAM, I don't get why people don't see that, the lack of through balls and defence opening passes to the forward is what has stopped draws from becoming wins.

We bring in a quality CAM Lukaku will score goals, Barkley for me is a CM not a CAM he doesn't create/score enough goals for that position.

Agree with all of this. McCarthy could play the Barry role while Barkley could be a box to box midfielder in the ilk of Gerrard in his prime. He'd be boss at that. If we bought an attacking mid who could thread a through ball we'd be dangerous.

Barkley has created quite a few chances this season, they just haven't resulted in goals. Am I the only one who thinks he's an ATtacking midfielder? Surely not.

 

[Sheedy's Third]

I think Pienaar's demise this season hasn't helped, like. We have a lot of energy and drive, but what genuine ingenuity? Mirallas again is wonderful but not a playmaker. We haven't really had a proper playmaker since Mikel in his pomp.

I think Pienaar has given some great preformances this season when fit ,which he clearly was not Tue. Barry and has a good pass , Barkley will get better at controling the game , also in the short term the lad from Barça and would like to see more of McGeady .

 

[RFUS]

I think Pienaar has given some great preformances this season when fit ,which he clearly was not Tue. Barry and has a good pass , Barkley will get better at controling the game , also in the short term the lad from Barça and would like tp see more of McGeady .

McGeady could well help. And Deulofeu is a master at creating chances.

 

[Housequake]

Lukakpoo.

 

[DualityNSNO]

Mirallas as a striker with our playstyle and system would make sense and open up a whole new dimension - a striker with pace who can dribble more and set up goals as well as to grab a few.

Anyway, Lukaku's been off form since November. I'd like him to find his form, but now he's injured as well ffs.

Probably still a sound investment for the future if we get him for less than what Chelsea paid for him - still young, obviously has qualities and enormous potential.