Romelu Lukaku

[Tubey]

Seems to be personal.

It's not. I just see him for what he is, and the goals don't disguise the glaring flaws in his game which puts us under pressure in too many games.

If it was personal, I'd just irrationally call him crap and be done with it. I don't. I recognise he's a world class finisher, but too often he's a liability, and the comments on this forum before the 60th minute last night were of the same view - I'm simply the only one who keeps a balanced view of him, judging him on his all round game.

 

[paulbefc]

It's not. I just see him for what he is, and the goals don't disguise the glaring flaws in his game which puts us under pressure in too many games.

If it was personal, I'd just irrationally call him crap and be done with it. I don't. I recognise he's a world class finisher, but too often he's a liability, and the comments on this forum before the 60th minute last night were of the same view - I'm simply the only one who keeps a balanced view of him, judging him on his all round game.

You massively exaggerate and overplay the importance of his weaknesses, so I think calling the majority's opinion on here "unbalanced" is a bit unfair. Maybe the majority are just able to correctly weigh up his strengths and weaknesses for what they are and judge his overall value more fairly and have readjusted their opinion as he has improved over the last few years as opposed to repeating the same old tired criticisms.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

The problem with Rom is that while he draws attention, he doesn't pull players away to create space for others. He's incredibly static, so he's man marked but to the point where the centre-half doing it is always in position to cut out anything else that develops from an oncoming attacking mid or whatever.

Rom's position in the modern game is the most important for a club. Goals are important, yes, but the truly great strikers in the game today are ones who constantly roam, take the ball and bring others into the attacking phase. Rom does none of that often enough to be relied upon. Think about how important Suarez was to Liverpool - without that focal point, they wouldn't have got near the title that season, would have struggled to make the top six. Look at how an on form Costa transforms Chelsea, or how City look a different team entirely with Aguero.

In the modern game, I class a striker who moves intelligently and brings the whole team up the field and forward as a cohesive threat as a much more valuable asset than a poacher. Lukaku needs to add more strings to his bow to be considered a truly top drawer footballer.

What utter tosh.

131 appearances 64 goals - call me old fashioned but I judge strikers primarily on how often they hit the back of the onion sack.

He's the best striker we've had in a generation, and up there with the best in the League.

 

[Chimpy Glassman]

...And Bob Latchford was lazy? How many did he bag?

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

...And Bob Latchford was lazy? How many did he bag?

He didn't create enough space for others as he was selfishly too busy lashing a casey into the back of the net every week.

 

[Tubey]

You massively exaggerate and overplay the importance of his weaknesses, so I think calling the majority's opinion on here "unbalanced" is a bit unfair. Maybe the majority are just able to correctly weigh up his strengths and weaknesses for what they are and judge his overall value more fairly and have readjusted their opinion as he has improved over the last few years as opposed to repeating the same old tired criticisms.

He hasn't improved though, that's the thing.

Ball bouncing off Lukaku again.

lukaku needs to wake up, that should have been 1-0

Lukaku doesn't want to get involved. Barkley very poor. Mirallas constantly going sideways. Very poor first half.

lukaku utterly anonymous

Lukaku, Barkley and Mirallas all have been crap.

Lukaku not playing well so far.

Lukaku's complete lack of involvement is essentially leaving us with 10 men.

Lukaku just looks like a gigantic cart horse out there really. Hope he shuts me up with a thunderbolt in 5 mins.

You see them every game. Then, of course, when he scores he's a hero again, as people are fickle.

As for criticising me of all people for not readjusting an opinion, that's just laughable.

I don't exaggerate his weaknesses - I simply note them when it's unpopular to do so after he's scored. Otherwise, it's a universally accepted position, as shown above.

 

[DownOnTheUpside]

He hasn't improved though, that's the thing.

















You see them every game. Then, of course, when he scores he's a hero again, as people are fickle.

As for criticising me of all people for not readjusting an opinion, that's just laughable.

I don't exaggerate his weaknesses - I simply note them when it's unpopular to do so after he's scored. Otherwise, it's a universally accepted position, as shown above.

I didn't say he was useless, I said he should have been quicker to a chance earlier on
yes he scored three later on but that dosent change the fact that he should have stuck that one in the back of the net

 

[Tubey]

What utter tosh.

131 appearances 64 goals - call me old fashioned but I judge strikers primarily on how often they hit the back of the onion sack.

He's the best striker we've had in a generation, and up there with the best in the League.

Whereas I also include how often the ball comes back to us as we don't make it stick in the final third.

Maybe your definition of what a good striker is is too narrow. There's a reason he's still at Everton and nobody will pay big money for him.

Also, yes, he's the best striker we've had at the club since the 80s without question. But he could be so much better than he currently is, which is what frustrates me.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

He hasn't improved though, that's the thing.

You see them every game. Then, of course, when he scores he's a hero again, as people are fickle.

As for criticising me of all people for not readjusting an opinion, that's just laughable.

I don't exaggerate his weaknesses - I simply note them when it's unpopular to do so after he's scored. Otherwise, it's a universally accepted position, as shown above.

You make no sense. Are you suggesting people are no longer allowed to give an opinion on a player's current form/performance? Weird, if so! Up until his first goal last night he was terrible and should already have scored several. Thankfully the goal gave him his confidence and he got another couple. That said, despite getting three, he really could have had six or seven last night.

 

[Ashtonian]

He hasn't improved though, that's the thing.

















You see them every game. Then, of course, when he scores he's a hero again, as people are fickle.

As for criticising me of all people for not readjusting an opinion, that's just laughable.

I don't exaggerate his weaknesses - I simply note them when it's unpopular to do so after he's scored. Otherwise, it's a universally accepted position, as shown above.

to be fair mate, when i said that, he wasn't playing well.

 

[Tubey]

I didn't say he was useless, I said he should have been quicker to a chance earlier on
yes he scored three later on but that dosent change the fact that he should have stuck that one in the back of the net

You said "Lukaku utterly anonymous" - which he was.

 

[Tubey]

to be fair mate, when i said that, he wasn't playing well.

I agree. Indeed, that's my point - people just flip positions when he scores, all is forgiven. For me, I don't think turning up for 15 minutes after being largely terrible for at least the last nine months justifies hero status.

 

[The Cowboy]

He hasn't improved though, that's the thing.

















You see them every game. Then, of course, when he scores he's a hero again, as people are fickle.

As for criticising me of all people for not readjusting an opinion, that's just laughable.

I don't exaggerate his weaknesses - I simply note them when it's unpopular to do so after he's scored. Otherwise, it's a universally accepted position, as shown above.

In my defence, guvnor, I was stating that without the requisite service, Rom is rendered somewhat redundant if he doesn't start legging it around looking for the ball. He amply proved what he can do with the right service (but I do think he could contribute a bit more when the opposition is set up to prevent that service).

 

[paulbefc]

He hasn't improved though, that's the thing.

















You see them every game. Then, of course, when he scores he's a hero again, as people are fickle.

As for criticising me of all people for not readjusting an opinion, that's just laughable.

I don't exaggerate his weaknesses - I simply note them when it's unpopular to do so after he's scored. Otherwise, it's a universally accepted position, as shown above.

I'm sorry Tubey, but I'm not sure what's more wrong, the idea that Lukaku hasn't improved since he's been here, or the use of match thread quotes to back up a point.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Whereas I also include how often the ball comes back to us as we don't make it stick in the final third.

Maybe your definition of what a good striker is is too narrow. There's a reason he's still at Everton and nobody will pay big money for him.

Also, yes, he's the best striker we've had at the club since the 80s without question. But he could be so much better than he currently is, which is what frustrates me.

I'll take the odd bobble off his shin in return for a 1 in 2 goal ratio.

Maybe your definition of what a good striker is, is absolute beans. Just a thought like.