Lukaku's Everton Frustration

[blue61]

To be fair, it's hard to argue with anything he's said. He's impressed me this season, both with his obvious performances on the pitch, but also the way he's behaved off it, whether it's getting involved in our community work or mentoring the younger players. His comments here smack of a player who does get the club, but is frustrated at the pace of progress.

This is a fair assessment. He and his agent have obviously become as frustrated as the rest of us with the constant blag about ambition. I feel this is a pressure tactic to get the club to back it's ambitious statements with action not words. It's fine having geat plans for a new stadium by the Mersey, but this will take several years. If we're truly ambitious on the pitch, we need to be investing in players that can win trophies while still at Goodison. Unfortunately though, I fear the timing of this could completely stall our run in this season as I expect a lot of fans will turn on him.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I think this all stems from the moment we signed Enner Valencia.

Can only imagine Rom's reaction when that news come through.

 

[Kenshin]

I think his words are spot on.

People will find another version of this but we got took over and brought in valencia Ashley williams and yanick Bolasie. Before that we brought in Oumar Niasse and Tom Cleverley.

We have bought terribly for such a long time now and what does it say about our club to a player with ambition? Where are all the better players? City sign de bruyne, we sign Tom Cleverley. If you have ambition then which club looks the better option?

This summer is key now to change this, bring in these better players and show the ambition because for all our hopes and dreams of the future, we need to be backing things up. How many blues on here said we needed to be signing players to make a statement? I would imagine quite a few because enough of them said that to me in person. This is the end result of that, our best players questioning the policy.

 

[Groucho]

Not sure we can argue with a word he said. Indeed many of us will agree with him.

Also, he hans't exactly gone "THAT'S IT, I'M LEAVING".

 

[MartSlinger]

He's basically said instead of chatting wham to Jim White that you're going to sign this type of player, that type of player - actually go out and sign them and then talk about them.

Pretty telling/damning that our Manager and Star Player have come out within the space of three months and questioned those above.

 

[bluestevon]

Sorry, I can' t find anything wrong with his comments rather than with the timing of it maybe. We claim to be massively ambitious, but what did we really do in the past year that actually proves it? Last summer was extremely underwhelming in the transfer market and January wasn't the right time in the market. One year on and our best option after Lukaku is a 19 year old that was playing at League One level last season.

Don't think.his comments were disrespectful at all, seems that he is just dissapointed in the level of progress.

To put it into context, a squad we agreed needed major additions this season last weekend started with 9 players that where at the club last season, only Williams and Scheiderlin weren't here already.

We upgraded in one position this season in central midfield, the rest was either replacing like for like (Williams for Jagielka) but with stones leaving the overall unit was weakened, or just bringing in young kids like Lookman and DCL.

 

[matty1878]

He's not the only one tho frustrated is he we are as fans!

 

[Mikeonlythebestwilldo]

He's basically said instead of chatting wham to Jim White that you're going to sign this type of player, that type of player - actually go out and sign them and then talk about them.

Pretty telling/damning that our Manager and Star Player have come out within the space of three months and questioned those above.

And guess who's still on transfers ? Tells you all don't it

 

[matty1878]

He's basically said instead of chatting wham to Jim White that you're going to sign this type of player, that type of player - actually go out and sign them and then talk about them.

Pretty telling/damning that our Manager and Star Player have come out within the space of three months and questioned those above.

But what will happen? nothing we sell lukaku and then he will say we promised this and promised that. Koeman says " this project " each time but we don't even know what it is.

 

[Kenshin]

Another way to look at this.

If we signed Hart over Stekelenberg, koulibaby over williams, berhimi over Bolasie, witsel over Gueye, perez/gabbiadani over valencia.

Would that have given a different outlook to our ambition?

 

[matty1878]

And guess who's still on transfers ? Tells you all don't it

So it's guna come full circle that until kenwright and elstone leave the club we ain't going anywere? Well maybe bramley Moore dock with Shane long....

 

[matty1878]

Another way to look at this.

If we signed Hart over Stekelenberg, koulibaby over williams, berhimi over Bolasie, witsel over Gueye, perez/gabbiadani over valencia.

Wouod that have given a different outlook to our ambition?

It answers itself that mate!

 

[allen]

This is all very strange. Why is it happening now?

There are two possibilities as far as I can see.

Either he genuinely does want to compete for CL with us, in which case this is all designed to pressure the board now into spending massively this summer.

Or, he's putting Europe's top clubs on notice that he's leaving in a few months, so scrape that loose change together.

I've got no idea which.

 

[DualityNSNO]

Another way to look at this.

If we signed Hart over Stekelenberg, koulibaby over williams, berhimi over Bolasie, witsel over Gueye, perez/gabbiadani over valencia.

Wouod that have given a different outlook to our ambition?

Yes, but I believe the plan was for both Gueye and Witsel, rather than just one of them.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Right I've slept on it. Woke up in the middle of the night in a hot sweat screaming Nooooooo, but I've still had a chance to reflect on things.

There's no doubt that he told a few home truths there. Most of what he said is only what the majority of fans have been saying/thinking. There are a number of questions that, at this stage, only Rom knows the answer too. Time, together with Roms future actions, will tell us the truth.

Biggest question is what is the purpose of all this. Is it a plea from the heart for the club to bring in the players we need during the summer, and if we do that he'll sign a new contract. Or is it a ruse to deflect criticism from him and onto the board.

Second question is why now. Theres no doubt in my mind that this has been a well orchestrated campaign by his agent but who benefits from doing all this public washing right now. At a time we need to get things together on the pitch its become a much unwelcome distraction. It has caused massive unrest amongst the fans with the danger this could manifest itself on matchdays. Plus it could affect the changing room morale. I've seen a togetherness in the squad of late that ciuld easily be damaged by this.

Third question is should a player be even saying these sort of things. I've seen the likes of Baines both lambasted and praised for saying much less.

Last question I have is who benefits most from this. It,s the answer to this last question that makes me believe, sadly, that it's a ploy by the sleazebag agent to get a lucrative new contract for his man whilst making it simple to get a transfer to a big club if one came in. Its been played out in the public eye effectively serving as a come and get me sign, whilst playing on the emotions of all us fans, most of whom I'm sure are devastated at events having had their hopes built up.

However whilst there is still an element of doubt surrounding his real intentions here, I'm still going to get behind Rom during games and I urge all fans to do the same. He is wearing the blue of Everton and if he carries on playing the way he has been for the remainder of the season you wont get a complaint out of me.

We'll see what develops in the summer but I suspect we wont be seeing Rom in an Everton shirt next sesson sadly. If he does go I hope its early and the board bring in his replacements early too. If he stays I really hope the board dont give away too much re the buy out clause.