Lukaku. Yes or no

[TheBigIguana]

Should go without saying, but adding 2 late goals to make it 5-0 is not as valuable as 2 goals in 2-0 win, or 1 goal in a 1-0 win for that matter. At 3-0 down the opposition is already beat. Top players score decisive goals. They are the difference makers.

On a broader point, Lukaku is a quality striker, but not a world class one. If you stuck him in a passing side (such a Barca, when Barca were good) he’d stick out like a sore thumb. Bulky frame (been on the weights far too much), looks awkward, touch can be suspect at times, and he’s not the best finisher.

Grading strikers today, A+ would be Mbappé, Neymar, A would be Lewandowski, Agüero, Benzema. Lukaku I’d put in the B grade. For being a total bottle job in big games and robbing Messi of a World Cup winners medal I’d put Higuain in the bin.

There is no finer striker today than beautiful Bob Lewandowski and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.

Think putting Rom way below the likes of Benzema is harsh myself but it's a fair enough view.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Lautaro Martinez is one of the best forwards in world football and Eriksen is one of the best playmakers, operating in a league that consists of a majority of Championship/League One standard clubs.

What a surprise Lukaku doesn't embarrass himself in that setup...

He is what he is - a luxury player who will score goals. Inter can afford to play with 10 men every week to accommodate him in that league, but we couldn't and can't. He's proven beyond all doubt that he lacks the ability to play at the very highest level, hence why he ran with his tail between his leg to the continental version of the SPL.

There's a ceiling on what Inter can achieve with him in the side. If they have any sense, they don't sell Lautaro Martinez as he is papering over massive cracks through his own quality alone. Sell him, and they'd be lucky to finish top four with Lukaku up top alone or with someone much less talented.

So much wrong here I don't even know where to start tbh. Goalscorers aren't luxury players they're absolutely vital. They are quite literally the opposite of a luxury. You have to have one to win trophies.

On Martinez, he's great, the world is at his feet really given his age and talent, but right now he isn't carrying Rom who has scored 33 and assisted 6 to Lautaro's 21 and 7. Eriksen has 3 assists since joining and doesn't start big games, he won't be in the XI Friday, so it is silly to act like he's the difference maker too.

Serie A isn't strong but it is by no means championship standard. Yet another league Everton fans disparage while the club is hardly good enough to make the European places in that league either.

 

[Tubey]

So much wrong here I don't even know where to start tbh. Goalscorers aren't luxury players they're absolutely vital. They are quite literally the opposite of a luxury. You have to have one to win trophies.

On Martinez, he's great, the world is at his feet really given his age and talent, but right now he isn't carrying Rom who has scored 33 and assisted 6 to Lautaro's 21 and 7. Eriksen has 3 assists since joining and doesn't start big games, he won't be in the XI Friday, so it is silly to act like he's the difference maker too.

Serie A isn't strong but it is by no means championship standard. Yet another league Everton fans disparage while the club is hardly good enough to make the European places in that league either.

You see things in terms of goals, so I can't really talk about this with you. Lautaro is ten times the footballer Lukaku is, and if you can't see why, can't help you.

 

[TheBigIguana]

You see things in terms of goals, so I can't really talk about this with you. Lautaro is ten times the footballer Lukaku is, and if you can't see why, can't help you.

Yes weirdly I see strikers who score lots of goals as better than ones who score medium amounts.

This is the same logic as all those people who couldn't help me when I said Bernard stinks because he isn't producing in the final third. I don't really want to be helped in that way.

 

[Tubey]

Yes weirdly I see strikers who score lots of goals as better than ones who score medium amounts.

This is the same logic as all those people who couldn't help me when I said Bernard stinks because he isn't producing in the final third. I don't really want to be helped in that way.

Martinez contributes to the overall team ridiculously more than Lukaku and creates the conditions for Lukaku to score goals. That's the part you miss.

Lukaku is like a luxury car that needs a specific type of fuel to run. Without that fuel, he's useless.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Martinez contributes to the overall team ridiculously more than Lukaku and creates the conditions for Lukaku to score goals. That's the part you miss.

Lukaku is like a luxury car that needs a specific type of fuel to run. Without that fuel, he's useless.

Of course he does. Overall contribution this, works hard for the team that. It's always the same when people want to rate attackers who don't contribute as much to scoring goals over those who do.

Anyway what kind of fuel is the Everton side that Rom scored 25 league goals in?

 

[Tubey]

Of course he does. Overall contribution this, works hard for the team that. It's always the same when people want to rate attackers who don't contribute as much to scoring goals over those who do.

Anyway what kind of fuel is the Everton side that Rom scored 25 league goals in?

Mate, there's a reason Lautaro is linked heavily with Barcelona and would walk into any proper top club, whereas Lukaku is an afterthought in the Italian SPL. An upmarket Alfredo Morelos that any top team wouldn't even entertain a bid for, regardless of the amount of goals.

Because to be a top player you have to have more than goals to your game, otherwise you're a liability - just like Lukaku was here and at Man Utd. And yes, I say the word "liability" about him confidently, because he may have scored 25 goals here but playing with ten men every game with him meant we'd concede about 20 more anyway.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Mate, there's a reason Lautaro is linked heavily with Barcelona and would walk into any proper top club, whereas Lukaku is an afterthought in the Italian SPL. An upmarket Alfredo Morelos that any top team wouldn't even entertain a bid for, regardless of the amount of goals.

Because to be a top player you have to have more than goals to your game, otherwise you're a liability - just like Lukaku was here and at Man Utd. And yes, I say the word "liability" about him confidently, because he may have scored 25 goals here but playing with ten men every game with him meant we'd concede about 20 more anyway.

Except you know when he did leave we conceded more.

Lautaro is linked with Barcelona because he is 21. Lukaku was the future of Chelsea at the same age, which isn't exactly bad. I don't think the third highest scorer in any top league is an afterthought but you do you. Conte is somewhere between 4 and 40 times the manager Solsjkaer is and he thinks Lukaku is a top striker or else he wouldn't have tried to sign him at Chelsea as well.

Reality for me is while Lautaro is really good the only thing he does that Rom doesn't is press well and that isn't so hard to replace. Rom will get his goals next year Lautaro or not.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I just got really nervous about how great a combo Richarlison and Rom would be as the two up top in Conte's system. Please keep Lautaro.

 

[Tubey]

Except you know when he did leave we conceded more.

Lautaro is linked with Barcelona because he is 21. Lukaku was the future of Chelsea at the same age, which isn't exactly bad. I don't think the third highest scorer in any top league is an afterthought but you do you. Conte is somewhere between 4 and 40 times the manager Solsjkaer is and he thinks Lukaku is a top striker or else he wouldn't have tried to sign him at Chelsea as well.

Reality for me is while Lautaro is really good the only thing he does that Rom doesn't is press well and that isn't so hard to replace. Rom will get his goals next year Lautaro or not.

Bookmarked. I'll come back to this when he scores around 20 but Inter finish around 4th if Martinez is sold.

Because there's an absolute mountain of evidence supporting my view on this - one season alongside a world class striker doing his legwork changes absolutely nothing.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Bookmarked. I'll come back to this when he scores around 20 but Inter finish around 4th if Martinez is sold.

Because there's an absolute mountain of evidence supporting my view on this - one season alongside a world class striker doing his legwork changes absolutely nothing.

I will give you that there is a mountain of evidence that Rom can't carry a bad side to the CL but Inter losing Lautaro and replacing him with Sanchez and x signing doesn't make them that.

 

[Tubey]

I will give you that there is a mountain of evidence that Rom can't carry a bad side to the CL but Inter losing Lautaro and replacing him with Sanchez and x signing doesn't make them that.

Okiedokey, as I say I'll come back to it. My position is that Lautaro is so ridiculously good that he's basically hiding Rom's weaknesses and they're playing with 11 men because he's essentially 2 in 1.

I don't think Inter can replace him. So next season, I'm stating now - confidently - that a frontline of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku will see Inter Milan finish, at best, 3rd, probably 4th, a mile off the title.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Okiedokey, as I say I'll come back to it. My position is that Lautaro is so ridiculously good that he's basically hiding Rom's weaknesses and they're playing with 11 men because he's essentially 2 in 1.

I don't think Inter can replace him. So next season, I'm stating now - confidently - that a frontline of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku will see Inter Milan finish, at best, 3rd, probably 4th, a mile off the title.

It's like you think Rom scored 30 tap ins all completely down to the work of everyone else. Just wild.

 

[street end]

Okiedokey, as I say I'll come back to it. My position is that Lautaro is so ridiculously good that he's basically hiding Rom's weaknesses and they're playing with 11 men because he's essentially 2 in 1.

I don't think Inter can replace him. So next season, I'm stating now - confidently - that a frontline of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku will see Inter Milan finish, at best, 3rd, probably 4th, a mile off the title.

Can’t see Conte even allowing that to happen, if he thinks he has an ineffective front line he will change it

 

[artetas_biggest_fan]

There is no finer striker today than beautiful Bob Lewandowski and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.

Think putting Rom way below the likes of Benzema is harsh myself but it's a fair enough view.

He’s a fabulous finisher. I’d only rank him in the tier below Mbappe and Neymar as he’s not the type to conjure up magic by himself like the other two. To go one step further in terms of ranking strikers, those two would be in the rung below Ronaldo (Barca and Inter before his knee ruptured) who sits alone in the top tier of modern day strikers. Henry, Batistuta, Van Basten, Romario would follow behind.

Benzema is one of the best link men to have played the game. If you hadn’t seen Madrid all season and looked at the goal stats, you’d wouldn’t think much of him. When you watch him though, especially over say half a dozen games, you quickly realise why he has been a fixture in a Madrid side for a decade in which they have won 4 CLs. I cottoned on quite late in appreciating how good he is. His movement and vision is exceptional. The equivalent in England is Firmino, but Benzema is much more mobile and has been doing it for twice as long. Lukaku simply couldn’t function in Madrid the way Benzema has. Lukaku has to be the focal point. Cristiano Ronaldo was the focal point. Lukaku would have been what Zlatan was at Barca, getting in the way of the main man, and disrupting the flow of play (and Lukaku ain’t at the level of Zlatan).