Lukaku

[Charlie Croker]

What is it that you expect him to improve on at the age of 20? His touch, passing, control are not going to improve by much now, and the issue is that they need to improve alot.

The areas where he will improve is mentally and tactically, but really that isn't going to count for much if balls keep bouncing off him. Goals and assists in a good team along with the odd burst of power are papering over some seriously flawed tecnical necessities.

His ball control seems to vary massively from game to game. His first touch in some of the recent matches has been a joke, but he was back to his best against Hull, I reckon. Do you think he is trying to influence potential transfer negotiations, by playing badly in some games?

 

[Brennan]

If you disagree with the suggestion that at 20 he is too old to improve touch, passing and control then you are arguing against science. Motor skills are pretty much developed by now, he may learn ways to have "stock" method of control or learn a certain type and weight of pass - but instinctively he is not there and never will be.

Watch any class forward like suarez or aguero, they aren't even thinking of "can I get this under control" "whilst the ball is arrowing towards them they are thinking "one touch lay off, or control and shot" - Lukaku has his body braced, is flat footed and waiting to react to try and get to where the ball bounces to.

That's complete and utter nonsense.

 

[Furey1878]

32 PL goals
66 PL appearances

Yeeah he's got the touch of a trampoline, but feck me, goals win games. And he scores goals.

 

[hafnia]

people are choosing to forget that when he was injured we hardly scored. Yet anyone could have bagged 15goals this season haha whatever.

"I think people just need to get a bit of perspective about him. We are creating more open play chances than ever before, the reliance on the front man leaving the 18 yard box to chase balls knocked down the channels has been negated by the full backs bombing on and McCarthy and Barry filling the gaps, in short this team is set up for a striker to score goals."

I think given the fact that when he was injured we didn't have a centre forward who could play as a lone striker who was fit. Its a bit like not having a recognised keeper and wondering why we don't keep clean sheets...

Wrong wrong on every level you are looking at 23-24 before they have pretty much reached maximum potential. Players can still develop. Some don't even come into their own until that age. saying someone at the age of 20 cannot improve on things is to be blunt a load of betty swollocks.

You are talking about factors that aren't anything to do with touch and technique - at the age of 20 onwards most players are developing physically (growing into their body) and mentally. Technique wise they have pretty much got to where they are - they are the motor skills/co-ordination, these do not develop at a rate they did as a child early teens. They may improve slightly - his needs to improve dramatically.

Watch an under 17 game, the lads techinically are there... they control the ball instantly, physically they just aren't ready and need to work on decision making etc.

I'm not saying he's rubbish, he is a solid player who can score goals, his pricing is just ridiculous and he is not going to become the player many think he will because that touch is woeful.

 

[Tree13]

If you disagree with the suggestion that at 20 he is too old to improve touch, passing and control then you are arguing against science.

Conversely, you are suggesting that to provide coaching and training to anyone over the age of 20 is pointless. There are thousands upon thousands of professional coaches and players out there proving you wrong right now.

Motor skills are pretty much developed by now, he may learn ways to have "stock" method of control or learn a certain type and weight of pass - but instinctively he is not there and never will be.

You are confusing instinct with learning. And you are wrong about motor skills, as phsiotherapy and rehabilitation scientists prove on a daily basis.

 

[Blue Cheese]

Conversely, you are suggesting that to provide coaching and training to anyone over the age of 20 is pointless. There are thousands upon thousands of professional coaches and players out there proving you wrong right now.


You are confusing instinct with learning. And you are wrong about motor skills, as phsiotherapy and rehabilitation scientists prove on a daily basis.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

20 too old to learn and improve, the mind boggles.

 

[Jimmywhack]

Think youd have to be mad to pass up the oppurtunity to sign the lad personally

 

[hafnia]

Conversely, you are suggesting that to provide coaching and training to anyone over the age of 20 is pointless. There are thousands upon thousands of professional coaches and players out there proving you wrong right now.


You are confusing instinct with learning. And you are wrong about motor skills, as phsiotherapy and rehabilitation scientists prove on a daily basis.

Training every day is to keep such "developed" skills sharp - if motor skills weren't developed at the most rapid rate when a person is growing as a child and teenager they are unlikely to be learned at that stage.

As stated by Carlos Alberto, Trevor Brooking, Fabio Capello - English players have typically been thrust into the game without mastering the correct techniques to kill a ball etc, its all about physicallity and once they have reached 11 years of age they are compensating for such lack of finess by hoofing, jumping, running... Lukaku is very much in that bracket, he has never had to rely on close control because he was always far bigger and stronger than his peers... until now.

 

[Tree13]

Training every day is to keep such "developed" skills sharp - if motor skills weren't developed at the most rapid rate when a person is growing as a child and teenager they are unlikely to be learned at that stage.

Unless of course the training program is specifically designed to develop and refine new motor skills? Like when an adult decides to learn to juggle, or play a musical instrument? I'll give you that children are more receptive to learning motor skills, but there is nothing to stop adults developing new motor skills: particularly adults who are being paid to do just that, and are doing so in an environment entirely geared up to their so doing. Like a football club, with the support of football coaches.

As stated by Carlos Alberto, Trevor Brooking, Fabio Capello - English players have typically been thrust into the game without mastering the correct techniques to kill a ball etc, its all about physicallity and once they have reached 11 years of age they are compensating for such lack of finess by hoofing, jumping, running... Lukaku is very much in that bracket, he has never had to rely on close control because he was always far bigger and stronger than his peers... until now.

Except he didn't grow up in the english game. Alberto, Brooking and Capello were talking about YOUTH coaching in this country.

Your suggestion that Lukaku cannot, under the guidance of any coaching staff at any club, further develop his fine motor skills is simply incorrect. It is therefore entirely invalid to suggest that at 21 years old he is as good as he's ever going to be.

How old is Barkley, btw?

 

[bluemangroup]

Think youd have to be mad to pass up the oppurtunity to sign the lad personally

May well not be up to us though.

 

[Ruairi77]

it's weird, at the end of that Martinez interview with different fan groups, he joked that we should hope some players have a bad WC so we can afford them! There may be something in that. I hope the likes of Howard, Barkley, Baines, Jags etc have great world cups but it will be weird watching Lukaku for Belgium. Let's just say I hope Mirralas finishes as their top scorer!

 

[LinekersLegs]

Think Didier Drogba would have given up football before he was 24 if he'd read this thread - he'd only scored 12 goals in 64 appearances by that time and that was in a much easier league.

 

[ROBERTOMARTINEZ]

If you disagree with the suggestion that at 20 he is too old to improve touch, passing and control then you are arguing against science. Motor skills are pretty much developed by now, he may learn ways to have "stock" method of control or learn a certain type and weight of pass - but instinctively he is not there and never will be.

Watch any class forward like suarez or aguero, they aren't even thinking of "can I get this under control" "whilst the ball is arrowing towards them they are thinking "one touch lay off, or control and shot" - Lukaku has his body braced, is flat footed and waiting to react to try and get to where the ball bounces to.

Anichebe anyone? Can any of you remember he had an awful touch, and he used to work with one of the coaches before the match and presumably every day at training, the last season at us he has the best touch in the squad, used to trap it perfectly then spin and shoot, why cant lukaku work on his touch? The more you practice the better you'll get. Ronaldo isn't all natural but as loads of other footballers have said he trains ridiclously hard at everything, whereas messi is more natural.

 

[Axlswhk]

I can give example of players becoming world class at late 20s. It's possible to improve even at that stage of their life.

Luca Toni
Mendieta
Klose
Schilacci

 

[Khalekan]

Think Didier Drogba would have given up football before he was 24 if he'd read this thread - he'd only scored 12 goals in 64 appearances by that time and that was in a much easier league.

I don't think he was a striker then, Links.

I'm sure I read he was a defender before Jose converted him.