Professor Toffee
On and on, over the hill and the craic is good
Spot on eggs, the big man's example really showed last night.
He also seemed to have a better centre of gravity when holding players off which Duncan was very good at
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He also seemed to have a better centre of gravity when holding players off which Duncan was very good at
Professor Toffee
On and on, over the hill and the craic is good
He was unlucky not to score but he ran freely and got his asre in the way like a top class CF
Maybe I misunderstand--which of United's three strikers are secondary strikers? Surely one of them is more expensive than Lukaku.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
None of them. My point is that there isn't a PL striker with this price tag who accepts being asked to sacrifice their goalscoring duties to accommodate a system that has him doing the donkeywork for players who aren't attackers.
He's in an incredible position. A less well adjusted forward would have told Martinez to swing it. We're lucky we dont have a diva on our hands. Nevertheless, he's wasted doing this. He was bought to get amongst the goals and you dont do that by being constantly asked to chase into channels and/or hold the ball up for others to come onto. Yes, you have to do that stuff as a striker, but I dont see a whole lot of opportunity afforded these days for Lukaku to do his stuff - the goals we know he can get.
When Barkley plays in behind on a consistent basis and when Mirallas is back cutting a swathe from left to right opening up ground, I think we'll see the best of Lukaku again.
Ahh... I agree mostly. He's got a bit of humility in him, which is generally good, but most strikers don't have much of that. Putting himself to be in a position to learn and make the team better is good... provided that Martinez knows what's best for his long-term development. The game yesterday seems to suggest he's making progress, even if Lille were poor.
*I do think he plays well with Naismith. In the long run, Barkley should prove better, but Barkley-Lukaku puts together two on the learning curve. They'll frustrate together in the short term, even with moments of utter brilliance.
BluenosePaul
Banned at own request
I don't remember seeing his name on the scoresheet. A £28m striker should be banging them in. Into November and he has 4 goals in all competitions.
Agree that is generally the ideal formation to get the best out of Lukaku.
You are right about him not being a diva as well, never understood the criticism from some posters that he was lazy and had a bad attitude. Always gives anyone who assists him getting a goal a lot of thanks and celebrates a teamate's goals as happily as if he'd scored himself.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
Yep. But last season, imo, we saw the type of breathtaking, mobile attacking football we haven't seen in years at Everton when those two and Mirallas/Deulofeu got themselves forward in unison. It's good Lukaku learns to make the ball stick, but it shouldn't be at the expense of him getting the ball out in front of him and playing off the shoulder of defenders. TBH, I think this will resolve itself over the course of the season as we get players back in and up to fitness and form.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
Its a team sport. As a team, we dont have a problem scoring goals. He contributes.
CahillsCornerFlag
Player Valuation: £70m
I reckon Rom has had a word with Baines about proving the odd through ball. We played more long balls last night which was great as it made us less predictable, and Baines almost set Rom away a few times. Gibson in centre midfield would undoubtedly be brilliant for Rom, but would probably come at the expense of Barry. In games against teams we'll struggle to break down e.g. Swansea then Gibson might be the man to feed Rom.
It does seem a bit counterproductive to play with two holding midfielders against teams that sit back and defend.
johnnydawg68
Chairperson, People's Front of Saint Domingo
The kid is going to be the best all around striker in the world within a few years. He's got every tool in the box, and a great attitude to go with it. He's also got Dunc and Eto'o to mentor him. You're starting to see him put the pieces together. No doubt in my mind, he will be favorably compared to Drogba in his prime in the very near future. I'm not saying he'll score as many as Messi or Ronaldo, but he will do things they won't even think of or can't.
It does at least mean our wingers don't have to worry too much about defensive duties which is just as well as for most of them it is not their strong suit. Also allows our fullbacks can get forward a lot and they are pretty clinical.
no, i get WHY we do it, but by adding Gibson in, you allocate that role to McCarthy and allow Gibson to go a bit further up the pitch and influence the game with his passing, no?
Perhaps but you also leave yourself very vulnerable to a fast counterattack.
It might be worth trying, it is just the one time I remember us doing it was against Crystal Palace at home last season and that has given me panic attacks even thinking about doing it again
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