Lukaku

[AaronTheBlue]

Cahill wasn't a striker.

I'd argue he very much so was mate, He wasn't a playmaker, he wasn't someone who got assists, he didn't do much defensive work, he was there solely to score goals, and win headers.

 

[Toffeelover]

Can't blame him for being ambitious.

I wish every player had Tim Cahill's attitude towards Everton, but that's not going to happen, sadly.

Add to that his abilty, energy, fearless and goal scoring. Plus his attitude to our club, above criticism.

 

[KevMirallas]

I'd argue he very much so was mate, He wasn't a playmaker, he wasn't someone who got assists, he didn't do much defensive work, he was there solely to score goals, and win headers.

For the last few years, yes. But not so much at the beginning.

 

[Toffeelover]

It's looking more and more like that Martinez is the biggest problem. Señor Bellwiff has ruined us this season.

Wow, and wow again. Better duck mate and keep an eye on your Facebook page and Twitter account if you have them. Good luck. COYB.

 

[Khalekan]

I'd argue he very much so was mate, He wasn't a playmaker, he wasn't someone who got assists, he didn't do much defensive work, he was there solely to score goals, and win headers.

You can argue all you like Aaron but Timmy Cahill was a not a striker.

Comparing his goal return to that of Rom's is not comparing apples with apples.

 

[Carlito]

I can't wait to see him at a high end club. I'd give him half a season.

 

[Groucho]

I'd argue he very much so was mate, He wasn't a playmaker, he wasn't someone who got assists, he didn't do much defensive work, he was there solely to score goals, and win headers.

While he was sometimes played as a striker, ultimately for me, he was a goalscoring attacking midfielder, and a bloody good one. I don't think we can compare potentially top strikers with him, he was almost in a niche of his own.

I can't wait to see him at a high end club. I'd give him half a season.

I'd rather see him bag another 20+ goals here, but with decent service to him.

 

[Carlito]

I'd rather see him bag another 20+ goals here, but with decent service to him.

I doubt he's ever going to put 20+ goals past competent Premier League defences.

 

[Saint Domingo]

In what sense do we have a poor manager? How can that statement be justified? Did we have a poor manager when he orchestrated a 21 win, 72 point record breaking campaign playing what most critics felt was our best football seen for a generation? And he's that poor that he dragged some backwoods club like Wigan to FA Cup success?

He and we had a poor season. That's about as far as it goes.

Lukaku's quotes even include one where he was advising Martinez on how to play him! We have a 30 mill striker upfront yet finished lower than any of the time we had the likes of Stracq Saha Anichebe Jelavic Johnson or Beattie upfront. In a league where there's only 7 decent teams finishing 11th is poor.

Last season's success was built on Moyes' creative players such as Pienaar and Osman, his brilliant full backs and his strong central defence including his outgoing signing Stones. Lukaku was a good signing and McCarthy was decent, Deulofeu had sporadic impacts as well.

In one season however Martinez has decimated the defence, reduced our full backs to pub players, and has been completely found out when deprived of the footballing intelligence of Osman Pienaar and Gibson. His attempts to replace them with Mcgeady Atsu Etoo on the wing have been embarrassing.

In short Martinez was very good at marshalling Moyes' team but when it is coming to replacing them he is showing himself to be a poor manager. I hope to be proved wrong on this but with the continued selection of Barry and Howard, the rumoured acquisition of Cleverley, and an inability to get a decent number of goals out of Lukaku Mirallas and Barkley then I'm not too worried I will be.

I predict a slow start with us in about tenth come the turn of the year with a load of excuses being pedalled, one probably bring Lukaku's exit, the other being that Martinez yet again built his entire plans around 2 35 year old playmakers and Gibson but was then shocked when they couldn't play 38 90 minute games, and something to go with fatigue for some reason no one but Maryinez understands. We'll then hit a good patch when there's zero pressure (and Osman's probably got himself fit) before sniffing the Europa only to choke at the end. We'll have surrendered both domestic cups as soon as we're drawn away against premier league opposition. Despite this the board, the players, and probably the fans will all seem reasonably happy. Roberto will be here, Lukaku will be winning trophies in Spain or Italy playing for a top manager who knows how to use a top striker.

 

[Groucho]

I doubt he's ever going to put 20+ goals past competent Premier League defences.

You can only beat what's in front of you, and he scored that many in all competitions this year.

Why would you want to see him be ace for another team?

 

[Khalekan]

Lukaku's quotes even include one where he was advising Martinez on how to play him! We have a 30 mill striker upfront yet finished lower than any of the time we had the likes of Stracq Saha Anichebe Jelavic Johnson or Beattie upfront. In a league where there's only 7 decent teams finishing 11th is poor.

Last season's success was built on Moyes' creative players such as Pienaar and Osman, his brilliant full backs and his strong central defence including his outgoing signing Stones. Lukaku was a good signing and McCarthy was decent, Deulofeu had sporadic impacts as well.

In one season however Martinez has decimated the defence, reduced our full backs to pub players, and has been completely found out when deprived of the footballing intelligence of Osman Pienaar and Gibson. His attempts to replace them with Mcgeady Atsu Etoo on the wing have been embarrassing.

In short Martinez was very good at marshalling Moyes' team but when it is coming to replacing them he is showing himself to be a poor manager. I hope to be proved wrong on this but with the continued selection of Barry and Howard, the rumoured acquisition of Cleverley, and an inability to get a decent number of goals out of Lukaku Mirallas and Barkley then I'm not too worried I will be.

I predict a slow start with us in about tenth come the turn of the year with a load of excuses being pedalled, one probably bring Lukaku's exit, the other being that Martinez yet again built his entire plans around 2 35 year old playmakers and Gibson but was then shocked when they couldn't play 38 90 minute games, and something to go with fatigue for some reason no one but Maryinez understands. We'll then hit a good patch when there's zero pressure (and Osman's probably got himself fit) before sniffing the Europa only to choke at the end. We'll have surrendered both domestic cups as soon as we're drawn away against premier league opposition. Despite this the board, the players, and probably the fans will all seem reasonably happy. Roberto will be here, Lukaku will be winning trophies in Spain or Italy playing for a top manager who knows how to use a top striker.

I would love to be able to deconstruct that argument but it seems so darned close to the knuckle I am almost feeling a chill at what might be in store for us

Let's hope you are wrong.

 

[Tubey]

I'd argue he very much so was mate, He wasn't a playmaker, he wasn't someone who got assists, he didn't do much defensive work, he was there solely to score goals, and win headers.

He was a shadow striker - the closer comparison would be Naismith.

 

[sd_1992]

If that's the return of a bad season, I'd say we need to keep him, and play to his strengths... What would a good season look like?...

What a foolish idea. He should be played with his back to goal all game, starved of any kind of through balls to run onto and have the ball fired straight at him and expect him to control it.

Martinez has this management thing spot on.

 

[Carlito]

You can only beat what's in front of you, and he scored that many in all competitions this year.

Why would you want to see him be ace for another team?

True, but he won't be facing Europa League defences next season.

And the reason I don't mind the idea of him playing elsewhere is that I don't think he's ace.

 

[Toffeelover]

Looking at all the posts, a simple question.

If Rom had been as good as maintained does anyone really think Chelsea would have let him go?