Yes but Joe as great as he was - and my hero - I agree He worked hard, but he was in a team with a blistering midfield and a winger called Johny Morressey who could cross the ball on to his head!
Its hard to compare , but they were different types of centre forwards as was Bob Latchford, who was a lazy fox in the box striker , but he too had a great winger, and decent midfield in Dave Thomas to supply him with goals.
Every striker is different, but needs to supply Lukarku this season is in short supply as we can't cross the ball, and have virtually no creation in midfield and no competition to replace him!
He is lucky if he gets a half chance in most games he has to virtually create goals for himself - if he was missing sitters etc, I could understand your views, I just feel this season the whole set up of our midfield is poor , and teams know how to stop any supply to Lukarku stop our overlapping fullbacks , and they have!
I appreciate all that about the better quality of player around Joe, Joey.....but we can make other valid comparisons.
Heading ability is one area where Rom doesn't come anywhere near Joe.
Control of the ball.....Joe could quickly trap it with a good first touch and move it on. Rom's first touch is usually pretty gruesome.
Back to the goal.....Joe was good at holding it up and bringing others into the play.
Penalties.....Joe was taking our penalties at age 19 and nearly ripping the net with them. Every penno Rom has converted thus far could just as easily have been saved.
Now, it is true Joe benefitted greatly from having the Holy Trinity behind him and John Morrissey out wide.
But Joe made life easy for the Trinity with his movement off the ball and brought their sparkling play to fruition with his goals and assists.
John Morrissey's crosses were converted with aplomb by Joe......you know as well as I do Rom would not thrive in that tyoe of service because he does not gave a quarter of Joe'e aerial ability.
John would be wasted in today's Everton team with Rom as a spearhead.....as would Dave Thomas.....as would Andy Hinchcliffe.
Because they needed their Royle, Latchford or Duncan to make their great crossing worthwhile......maybe it is because of the awful head injury he picked up at Hammers but for whatever reason, Rom is not an aerial threat.
The point I am making is really that Rom's age is too easy an excuse for his apparent regression this season and that even if he doesn't get the best of service, there are aspects of his game which leave a lot to be desired.
Because Joe Royle was the best striker in this country when he was just 20
As ever, all IMO
