Lukaku - Love affair over ?

[dholliday]

I suggest you reflect on that...

I did, and voted Bob Latchford as our best post-war striker. I suggest maybe reading the previous few posts before jumping in assuming I know nothing about our famous strikers.

 

[Tubey]

He hasn't looked right this season, confidence is low with the missed chances and I reckon tiredness and a World Cup hangover are also factors (though only Harry Kane is allowed to have that excuse).

Not happy with United fans turning on him and exaggerating his flaws, they are quick to forget that at times he was carrying our attack last season despite playing under a negative manager and being isolated up front too much of the time.

He has looked exactly as he always has? There's literally been no difference, even with his goals tally. He's scored 4 in 6, yet he's also been total garbage - that's Lukaku in a nutshell for his entire career.

 

[e.cantona]

He has looked exactly as he always has? There's literally been no difference, even with his goals tally. He's scored 4 in 6, yet he's also been total garbage - that's Lukaku in a nutshell for his entire career.

He's not a natural finisher like an Aguero so will always miss chances but I think his overall game went up a notch last season.

In a United shirt I've never seen him be so muted as he was against Wolves and Young Boys and last night he didn't do a whole lot either except fail to score his chances.

 

[marsh]

He has looked exactly as he always has? There's literally been no difference, even with his goals tally. He's scored 4 in 6, yet he's also been total garbage - that's Lukaku in a nutshell for his entire career.

Not being funny but the criticism he got was for scoring goals against weaker opposition, scoring when the games 1-0 to us already.. well lets be honest we aren't going to be challenging the top 6 anytime soon so his goals would be fantastic for us now as it'd turn games from scary 1-0 or 2-1 where teams can come back to us being 3-0 up etc cos Rom would score two in the last 10mins

 

[Tubey]

Not being funny but the criticism he got was for scoring goals against weaker opposition, scoring when the games 1-0 to us already.. well lets be honest we aren't going to be challenging the top 6 anytime soon so his goals would be fantastic for us now as it'd turn games from scary 1-0 or 2-1 where teams can come back to us being 3-0 up etc cos Rom would score two in the last 10mins

I agree. He's essentially a very upgraded version of Niasse. If our ambition is to be also-rans who finish the "best of the rest", Lukaku is a great choice of striker as he guarantees you a raw goal output every season.

Personally though, whilst you say we aren't going to be challenging the top six any time soon, I'd rather we at least tried by building a team the right way - one where if you lose a player, you have a chance of adjusting because you have multiple strings to your bow.

That's the baffling thing with United - the fact they have no squad depth in attack. Lukaku shouldn't be starting games right now but he is because Woodward screwed up massively; they've built the entire team around Lukaku - exactly the same mistake we made.

 

[4737carlin]

I agree. He's essentially a very upgraded version of Niasse. If our ambition is to be also-rans who finish the "best of the rest", Lukaku is a great choice of striker as he guarantees you a raw goal output every season.

Personally though, whilst you say we aren't going to be challenging the top six any time soon, I'd rather we at least tried by building a team the right way - one where if you lose a player, you have a chance of adjusting because you have multiple strings to your bow.

That's the baffling thing with United - the fact they have no squad depth in attack. Lukaku shouldn't be starting games right now but he is because Woodward screwed up massively; they've built the entire team around Lukaku - exactly the same mistake we made.

Great post that mate, its spot on.

 

[Carlito]

1 in 2 is absolute minimum for £100m. He only attained once, when he was with us and helped out by a Hattrick against Sunderland and 4 against Bournemouth.

That list was hardly exhaustive, Suarez, Rvp, Rvn, Henry....

It's a bit baffling that a player who has only managed 20+ league goals once in his career is regarded as world-class by some.

 

[dholliday]

It's a bit baffling that a player who has only managed 20+ league goals once in his career is regarded as world-class by some.

My definition of world-class:

- slots minimum 1-every-2 at a top league and for a top nation. Has form for slotting in big competitions and against big opposition.

Lukaku fits the bill. He's no top 10 in the world. But he's top 10 strikers in the Prem and has been for the last 4 years or so. Good enough to warrant a world-class shout in my book.

 

[Steve0]

My definition of world-class:

- slots minimum 1-every-2 at a top league and for a top nation. Has form for slotting in big competitions and against big opposition.

Lukaku fits the bill. He's no top 10 in the world. But he's top 10 strikers in the Prem and has been for the last 4 years or so. Good enough to warrant a world-class shout in my book.

Except he doesn't even fit your definition of world class lollollol

He doesn't get 1 in 2 in the Premier League.

 

[dholliday]

Except he doesn't even fit your definition of world class lollollol

He doesn't get 1 in 2 in the Premier League.

he does, mate

 

[Carlito]

My definition of world-class:

- slots minimum 1-every-2 at a top league and for a top nation. Has form for slotting in big competitions and against big opposition.

Lukaku fits the bill. He's no top 10 in the world. But he's top 10 strikers in the Prem and has been for the last 4 years or so. Good enough to warrant a world-class shout in my book.

I won't argue against your criteria, as that's completely subjective, but I'm not sure how you've come to that conclusion when his record against the better sides, and indeed on the biggest occasions, is objectively poor.

That's isn't just his goalscoring, either. In games where he's up against superior opposition, he refuses to at least put himself about and provide an out ball when his team is under pressure.

 

[dholliday]

I won't argue against your criteria, as that's completely subjective, but I'm not sure how you've come to that conclusion when his record against the better sides, and indeed on the biggest occasions, is objectively poor.

That's isn't just his goalscoring, either. In games where he's up against superior opposition, he refuses to at least put himself about and provide an out ball when his team is under pressure.

I accept that's not his strongest point, but it's also not terrible. It's about 1-in-4 rather than his usual 1-in-2. But he does slot at least and some have been important goals.

I'm happy to accept he's borderline world-class due to his record vs big clubs has admittedly plenty of room for improvement. All a matter of perspective, I guess. He's scored something like 6-in-12 vs RS and 5-in-11 vs Man City, but somewhat lower vs Arsenal & Chelsea.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

That's isn't just his goalscoring, either. In games where he's up against superior opposition, he refuses to at least put himself about and provide an out ball when his team is under pressure.

Never figured out if this is arrogance, stupidity, or something else on his part - things aren't going his way and he has the expression and body language of a sulky teenager. Gives heart to the opposition defenders and makes the fans hate him.
You could argue that there's no point him showing for an out ball, as he's only going to shin it into the family enclosure. But at least showing willing would get the fans behind him, which has to make a difference.

 

[Carlito]

I accept that's not his strongest point, but it's also not terrible. It's about 1-in-4 rather than his usual 1-in-2. But he does slot at least and some have been important goals.

I'm happy to accept he's borderline world-class due to his record vs big clubs has admittedly plenty of room for improvement. All a matter of perspective, I guess. He's scored something like 6-in-12 vs RS and 5-in-11 vs Man City, but somewhat lower vs Arsenal & Chelsea.

If you feel as though you're watching a world-class player when you see him, fair enough. Each to their own.

I'm pretty sure he only managed three goals against Liverpool, though.

 

[Carlito]

Never figured out if this is arrogance, stupidity, or something else on his part - things aren't going his way and he has the expression and body language of a sulky teenager. Gives heart to the opposition defenders and makes the fans hate him.
You could argue that there's no point him showing for an out ball, as he's only going to shin it into the family enclosure. But at least showing willing would get the fans behind him, which has to make a difference.

I used to wonder if it was a result of him being twice the size of everyone he played against while growing up, but I suppose it's impossible to know really. He seems to talk about his mental strength a lot, but there isn't much evidence of it.