Big Joe was about twenty when he scored 22 goals or something league goals as he fired us to Title glory in 1969/70.
He took the pennos and he sure as heck looked a lot more convincing than Rom when doing so.
Joe ŵas mobile and had a splendid touch.
Joe was great in the air and not only did he score plenty of headed goals he got many assists with cushioned headers down for the likes of Jimmy Husband.
And this all at age 20 or 21.
Joe had been on the scene from 1966 which is four or five years before we won the league....the same time as has more Le less elapsed since Rom made his international debut.
Joe's progress in his five years was "pheenomenal".
Rom has stalled this season.
IMO Romelu Lukaku is not a patch on what Joe Royle was, aged 21.
Here's the thing, though.
Joe never really got any better after 1970.
Mainly due to his back problems.
But also I think because these big, precocious teenage types don't always kick on when they get older.
Norman Whiteside was another tank of a teenager who never really fulfilled his potential IMO.
It is not impossible that this is as good as it gets for Rom.
Yes but Joe as great as he was - and my hero - I agree He worked hard, but he was in a team with a blistering midfield and a winger called Johny Morressey who could cross the ball on to his head!
Its hard to compare , but they were different types of centre forwards as was Bob Latchford, who was a lazy fox in the box striker , but he too had a great winger, and decent midfield in Dave Thomas to supply him with goals.
Every striker is different, but needs to supply Lukarku this season is in short supply as we can't cross the ball, and have virtually no creation in midfield and no competition to replace him!
He is lucky if he gets a half chance in most games he has to virtually create goals for himself - if he was missing sitters etc, I could understand your views, I just feel this season the whole set up of our midfield is poor , and teams know how to stop any supply to Lukarku stop our overlapping fullbacks , and they have!
