Ademola Lookman

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

The way we’ve been playing he has no chance of starting. So may as well sell him.

You just know he'll go on to be amazing though and for the rest of all time we'll have to hear "Everton had Ademola Lookman but wasted him"

 

[catcherintherye]

I’m not having a go mate, I’m really not.

This is a broad opinion I’ve felt on Ade for a while, which might explain why I am a bit defensive of this lad and maybe a bit aggressive, so apologies if some of my posts have come across like that to you and @ijjysmith

But in my personal opinion, there has been reporting approach to Ade to paint him in a certain light as an agitator at the club, out for money and greedy trying to force a move away. He has never handed in a transfer request and been described as a top professional.

Yet that narrative exists and it has begun to follow him around, alter his perceived public persona and how people view him - unfairly in my view. It’s very subtle but exists. It’s like what Raheem Sterling was talking about comparing the reporting of the young black footballer who bought his mum a house and the young with footballer.

I say this because looking at him or say Dowell or Davies, they are reported on completely differently. Dowell and he have done exactly the same things, gone on loan and did well, yet Ade is the one with a negative persona because he did brilliantly and the other team wanted to keep him.

In my opinion there is something very subtle going on around the narrative of this lad, similar to the stuff Sterling pointed out. I’m not calling anyone who disagrees with me that I think he’s a great player a racist etc, but I would ask people to reflect on the subtle narrative of what is reported on the lad and how that influences our perceptions of him. Then ask has he actually demanded or even asked to leave the club, before we think he is an agitator, greedy want off etc.

Any how, I’ll leave it there, just something I’ve noticed in the reporting narrative of the lad that maybe has influenced people’s perceptions of him, don’t like it but ultimately my own opinion.

I think there's an issue that people assume black footballers should be more powerful. I think he has a languid style and I'm not sure he's ever going to be the most hard working, or high octane football player. That's not to say people are racist but rather that his style is more languid. He plays in slow motion almost, which in many ways allows him to go past people so easily.

As regards the club situation there is some presumption. He fell out of favour in the summer. It may be his attitude hasn't been right. It may just be he fell out of favour and hasn't been able to force himself in. I know you have the Silva comments last month, which can be read negatively or positively. On the one hand he needs to show more in training (negatively) but that he has fantastic ability (positive).

We have to be careful with being too presumptuous either way. Davies they clearly like as with the contract and he's hardly been involved. Lookman has been involved much more. He's partly being kept out by Bernard being fantastic and the team being settled. He may well think, in pre-season he can force his way in.

I have always gone either way on him too. However you can see the ability he has when he's on the pitch. Today he comes on and looks natural on the pitch. Against City away the same. At Liverpool away he was argued he the best player on the pitch when he came on. Some ability that. Even last week, he's on for 20 minutes and has 2 shots and nearly creates a scoring opportunity with a back heel.

As I've said I've not always been his biggest fan, but to me he does the difficult things very very well. Notably, he creates opportunities in tight spots in the final third. I think (and hope) we will be loathed to lose him.

I suspect that contract will be a telling factor though. 2 years left, he will either sign or I imagine they may sell.

 

[TheBigIguana]

The way we’ve been playing he has no chance of starting. So may as well sell him.

He shouldn't though. As much as we've been winning it's been more down to a superb platform from the back and less constant creation of chances and goals. But the latter is how you compete for the CL places.

 

[RomanReigns]

he won't be on massive wages, might still be worth keeping him as a useful squad player for next season unless we get a silly bid

 

[Wat Tyler]

Needs more game time, so annoying seeing Walcott woefully out of form from November to March constantly playing regardless of form but Lookman gets one start, bad performance and naughty step.

 

[PhilRegan]

Silva has basically echoed what most fans think, he needs to apply himself more consistently.

His persona when he comes on is I don't want to be here. I do feel he wants to impress(someone) but judging by what Silva has stated he doesn't want to work too hard to do it.

Imagine if a rs player liked a media post of an Everton win for all to see, don't think the fans would be impressed, just like myself and a lot of others are not.

He may well end up a special player but I don't think he wants to be special at Everton so I'd cash in, it's a sellers market especially for homegrown.

 

[billyblue80]

Never had a run really but hasn't merited one. Time to move on lad has bags of talent but his attitude isn't right here. So sell.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Never had a run really but hasn't merited one. Time to move on lad has bags of talent but his attitude isn't right here. So sell.

I never understood the he isn't playing because he hasn't earned it. How do we know from an outside view that he hasn't? Do we trust Koeman Big Sam and Marco as such perfect judges of talent that they couldn't mess it up? At the same time have Bernard and Walcott been so good that Lookman should be reduced to occasional starts? To me it feels like trying to justify something that doesn't really make sense from what the fans can see since as you say he is clearly quite talented.

 

[billyblue80]

I never understood the he isn't playing because he hasn't earned it. How do we know from an outside view that he hasn't? Do we trust Koeman Big Sam and Marco as such perfect judges of talent that they couldn't mess it up? At the same time have Bernard and Walcott been so good that Lookman should be reduced to occasional starts? To me it feels like trying to justify something that doesn't really make sense from what the fans can see since as you say he is clearly quite talented.

I like him, I thought it was a mistake to loan him last year as he showed flashes in a bad season, especially in the cup versus RS. Maybe he's not a good trainer, however he hasn't done enough with the chances, he has had for me. Sadly we can't wait we need more productivity even from the bench, I agree he could have been given more minutes in place of Walcott at times. But he is not a right winger, he's a left winger or a number ten, he isn't getting a regular game in those positions is he? I think he has talent but Silva clearly didn't see enough consistency in his play or attitude in training to even start him when we were on a poor run, so that's good enough for me. Time to sell if a good offer comes in. I have no doubt he will be a good player somewhere I just don't think it will be here now.

 

[Connor]

Never had a run really but hasn't merited one.

Bingo.

And when he has started, he hasn’t lit the world alight and proven why he’s deserving of the start.

Did it this season at home. Stinker of a start against Newcastle but on fire away at City when on as a sub.

If he was consistent, and took his chance when given a bigger platform, we wouldn’t be having these conversations about whether to sell or not. His talent isn’t a question, it’s everything else.

 

[billyblue80]

Exactly we need someone who can make an impact off the bench, its harsh as he's young but he doesn't do enough and its been two and a bit seasons of not doing enough now. I am sure a German team would pay at least twenty million plus for him so we can invest in someone who hopefully can.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I like him, I thought it was a mistake to loan him last year as he showed flashes in a bad season, especially in the cup versus RS. Maybe he's not a good trainer, however he hasn't done enough with the chances, he has had for me. Sadly we can't wait we need more productivity even from the bench, I agree he could have been given more minutes in place of Walcott at times. But he is not a right winger, he's a left winger or a number ten, he isn't getting a regular game in those positions is he? I think he has talent but Silva clearly didn't see enough consistency in his play or attitude in training to even start him when we were on a poor run, so that's good enough for me. Time to sell if a good offer comes in. I have no doubt he will be a good player somewhere I just don't think it will be here now.

I agree we need more productivity but why aren't we looking at the 25 year old seasoned pro who started 24 games and made 33 appearances who only produced a single goal and 4 assists when we discuss that problem? Why is it the fault of the 21 year old with 3 starts. And I don't know if Lookman will ever come good but writing him off completely feels premature especially considering his loan was a complete success and he does look like he has something on the occasions he does play.

 

[billyblue80]

I agree we need more productivity but why aren't we looking at the 25 year old seasoned pro who started 24 games and made 33 appearances who only produced a single goal and 4 assists when we discuss that problem? Why is it the fault of the 21 year old with 3 starts. And I don't know if Lookman will ever come good but writing him off completely feels premature especially considering his loan was a complete success and he does look like he has something on the occasions he does play.

I'm not writing him off I just don't think it's working out here. As for blaming others definetly they should be contributing more in terms of output too, although I would argue Bernard has been part of our best displays even if he hasn't got the stats. But I am talking about our bench options. I don't solely blame Lookman or DCL for that matter for our lack of output in front of goal, I just say we need more all round. Look at our bench and our forward options and it's clear. Tosun, DCL, Walcott, and yes Bernard none of them are clinical either.

 

[mightymoyes]

Bingo.

And when he has started, he hasn’t lit the world alight and proven why he’s deserving of the start.

Did it this season at home. Stinker of a start against Newcastle but on fire away at City when on as a sub.

If he was consistent, and took his chance when given a bigger platform, we wouldn’t be having these conversations about whether to sell or not. His talent isn’t a question, it’s everything else.

That would all be great if you couldn't the exact same about Walcott except he still gets start after start

 

[TheBigIguana]

I'm not writing him off I just don't think it's working out here. As for blaming others definetly they should be contributing more in terms of output too, although I would argue Bernard has been part of our best displays even if he hasn't got the stats. But I am talking about our bench options. I don't solely blame Lookman or DCL for that matter for our lack of output in front of goal, I just say we need more all round. Look at our bench and our forward options and it's clear. Tosun, DCL, Walcott, and yes Bernard none of them are clinical either.

I just interpret sell as equal to writing off. And I will absolutely argue there is no good reason to automatically write Bernard into the XI for next year. The build up stuff is good but I refuse to believe Lookman, Onyekuru or a new signing couldn't learn that stuff while offering more in the box.