Would you pay £24m for Lukaku?

[Tubey]

2 seasons in the prem with 17 and 16 league goals respectively and only 21. That's stinks of potential to better so is worth what we paid because we haven't had that for some years. Don't heap too much expectation on him just yet and think he is going to all of a sudden score every game or notch 30 goals per season. He will be an asset to us this season as he was to West Brom and us last season.

In a counter attacking system - it's a crucial point.

He did nothing when he played for Chelsea in a more complete forward role, and he's been lacklustre in the same role for us and Belgium.

We can't just ignore that by looking at largely irrelevant goalscoring figures when you take into consideration he's being asked to be a completely different striker in the Martinez system since we exited the transition phase in early 2013.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

In a counter attacking system - it's a crucial point.

He did nothing when he played for Chelsea in a more complete forward role, and he's been lacklustre in the same role for us and Belgium.

We can't just ignore that by looking at largely irrelevant goalscoring figures when you take into consideration he's being asked to be a completely different striker in the Martinez system since we exited the transition phase in early 2013.

We badly need to play through balls to him, his movement is top class. And give him the ball to run at defenders and they largely poo themselves.

 

[Tubey]

We badly need to play through balls to him, his movement is top class. And give him the ball to run at defenders and they largely poo themselves.

Exactly this. Why "Heskey" him when he has none of the attributes to play that role; sure, he can develop them, and he probably will over the next few years as he's physically up for it, but it just seems foolish to murder his confidence by not playing to his strengths now.

 

[banno]

In a counter attacking system - it's a crucial point.

He did nothing when he played for Chelsea in a more complete forward role, and he's been lacklustre in the same role for us and Belgium.

We can't just ignore that by looking at largely irrelevant goalscoring figures when you take into consideration he's being asked to be a completely different striker in the Martinez system since we exited the transition phase in early 2013.

Very relevant IMO that was why his price tag was high at a young age. How many appearances was he allowed at Chelsea? Torres/Lukaku I know who I would of played. He will get us goals

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Exactly this. Why "Heskey" him when he has none of the attributes to play that role; sure, he can develop them, and he probably will over the next few years as he's physically up for it, but it just seems foolish to murder his confidence by not playing to his strengths now.

Quite right. It does seem a bit like he's being forced into a specific role. I noticed McGeady tried to play him in and was very close to doing so, but after that one attempt nobody else tried it afterwards.

 

[DrEFC]

More Through balls or cut backs to the penalty spot & he'll do well.

 

[paulbefc]

In a counter attacking system - it's a crucial point.

He did nothing when he played for Chelsea in a more complete forward role, and he's been lacklustre in the same role for us and Belgium.

We can't just ignore that by looking at largely irrelevant goalscoring figures when you take into consideration he's being asked to be a completely different striker in the Martinez system since we exited the transition phase in early 2013.

Not sure what you mean by "in a more complete forward role". I'm assuming it's part of playing sides that let us take the front foot more? I would put that more down to our inability to break these sides down than his performances. He makes intelligent runs every game and against bus-parkers I think we just lack the ability to pick him out.

He only played 10 times in his 3 years at Chelsea and was 18 the last time he played a proper game for them so the fact he did nothing there isn't a huge surprise.

 

[streeky]

I watched the game Saturday and I was amazed lukaku lasted, he looked shattered after 40 mins.I think the problem we have is lukaku has the presence and power that makes him stand out as a classic no:9,but he isn't. If you watch him he loves to pick the ball up and commit defenders go one side of them and smash it in the net.Can we play naisey up top and rom just off, maybe but rom won't get through half the defensive duties naisey does, there lies our problem.

 

[Tubey]

I watched the game Saturday and I was amazed lukaku lasted, he looked shattered after 40 mins.I think the problem we have is lukaku has the presence and power that makes him stand out as a classic no:9,but he isn't. If you watch him he loves to pick the ball up and commit defenders go one side of them and smash it in the net.Can we play naisey up top and rom just off, maybe but rom won't get through half the defensive duties naisey does, there lies our problem.

You can play Lukaku as the most advanced, then he can select when he drops into space off the ball to collect, or get in behind the last man. Naismith can be the man in behind and work like he did with Jelavic for Rangers. But for that to work, we need to play more centrally at times instead of relying on wide play.

Although, ideally, we need a proper Barkley replacement.

 

[Tubey]

Not sure what you mean by "in a more complete forward role". I'm assuming it's part of playing sides that let us take the front foot more? I would put that more down to our inability to break these sides down than his performances. He makes intelligent runs every game and against bus-parkers I think we just lack the ability to pick him out.

He only played 10 times in his 3 years at Chelsea and was 18 the last time he played a proper game for them so the fact he did nothing there isn't a huge surprise.

I mean he has to be involved in the approach play as well as being the final presence in the box, meaning you're diluting his responsibilities and using him as a complete forward.

His best role is as the most advanced player of the attacking unit, where he can spearhead the line but identify pockets of space to drop into and collect the ball so he can turn and run at defenders, instead of laying it off for the more patient build up play.

 

[paulbefc]

I mean he has to be involved in the approach play as well as being the final presence in the box, meaning you're diluting his responsibilities and using him as a complete forward.

His best role is as the most advanced player of the attacking unit, where he can spearhead the line but identify pockets of space to drop into and collect the ball so he can turn and run at defenders, instead of laying it off for the more patient build up play.

I don't think he is being asked to do any more than he was at first tbh. I think the way we're setting up is to keep his job relatively simple and keep him to the middle third of the pitch. We're looking for pacy wingers and creative players to go with our wing-backs to create the chances to finish in the box. Pienaar being the exception because he's just ace paired with Baines.

At least I hope so, because to me, his best quality above all isn't his turning running with the ball, it's his finishing and his runs into the box. Don't get me wrong, his goals against Arsenal, Hull and several goals for WBA are examples of why that's an ace ability he has, but his best feature is the way he can make an intelligent run for the winger/full back to pick him out and that if he is picked out, he's finishing it. His goals last season show it perfectly. The goals vs West Ham (h), Newcastle (h&a), Southampton, Villa, Stoke, Swansea show him making space for himself, telling the assister where he wants it and making brilliant runs that he ends up finishing superbly.



His play in the penalty area is second to almost no one in the league. If we can get cut-backs and low crosses in to him at the rate we were back when Jelavic was enjoying his purple patch, he'll score 25+ this season. I think to point to his touch and hold-up play when it's not going well is to overlook the fact that he's probably just not been getting service. We'll all forget about his hold-up play if we just give him good service.

 

[Dexter]

I'm actually crying with laughter that he is being questioned after 1 game.

Some on here said this would happen and I thought they were being overly dramatic. However it's actually happening.

1 game into the new season and despite being our top scorer last season is suddenly a waste of money. I give up.

We're not questioning him based on 1 game for gods sake, there is no kneejerk reactions, we are just airing our views based on his Everton career so far and saying 28 million pound could of been spent better

 

[central_defender]

A 21 year old player that scores 15+ goals a season is a great investment. He still has lot o room to grow plus in a few years he can be worth double what we pay for it.

 

[riddick]

0 worries about Lukaku this season. Good first touch looks better already. Well, ok 1 worry. He gets almost no service at all.

 

[Goat]

Hearing that we only paid 9m and are thinking about moving house so we dont have to pay Chelsea the rest.