Romelu Lukaku

[Goat]

Yes, but then for every time that happens, there's ten games he's anonymous in and it costs us points because we have a completely nullified focal point to our every attack.

He's a glass cannon.

Im almost with you, I really do dislike him currently, but he won us the game on Monday and yes, im fickle enough to ignore the 15 or so games before it, but the majority of those games were under a fraud pretending to be a top flight manager and the others with him struggling for fitness.

Lets give the fella a chance from now? His goal scoring record is actually peerless and despite his bouncy shins and big mouth, its the only thing hes in the team to do.

 

[whiteshadow]

Yes, but then for every time that happens, there's ten games he's anonymous in and it costs us points because we have a completely nullified focal point to our every attack.

He's a glass cannon.

Glass canon > titanium water pistol.

 

[Socrates]

It was a great hat-trick without a doubt and his goals have been massive for the team since he's been here.

However, I have to side with @Tubey on this one.

He has to learn to drop the ego and sacrifice himself for the team.

I don't think most footballers realise but the more of a team-player and contributor you are, the better you appear to suitors and fans alike as well as being even more respected by your team-mates.
Most footballers and sports people in general have an ego the size of a planet and can't grasp the concept of pure team play.

Scoring 20 goals and win the league or 35 goals and finish 5th? What would you rather him achieve?
Even he would have to go with the former. (I'd hope)

I think Koeman can help him in this regard. Countless medals as a player, playing for the best clubs in the world and despite being the highest scoring defender around, he didn't accept all the glory on his own. That came with the titles and trophies he won with the teams he was playing for.
He did it for the team and if he can instil this ethos into all our players, we could be a contender for honours.

It just so happens that his positioning for all 3 goals the other night was where he wanted the ball and where the ball could be played.
All too often he takes up positions where he wants the ball and not where it can be played to.
If he dropped the ego and ran into positions where the ball can be played rather than standing where he wants it played, he will score more goals and help his team-mates.
Obvious really when you think about it.

One more thing, the way he took the third goal was wonderful. Relaxed, calm and assured after having 2 goals under his belt already.
I'm not sure if he could have finished like that if it was still 0-0.
He needs to sort this out as well but that comes with experience.

I think this is what some people are saying about him anyway.
It's not negative.
In fact it is positive as we are saying he could be better, not that he is a poor player. Anyone saying that is talking nonsense.

Let's hope he becomes the complete team player as he will then be the world class performer he so hopes to be.

Perhaps Thierry Henry can put him right on this too. Raging ego but magnificent team player.

That's what I want from him.

(Plus 35 goals and a trophy if it's not too much to ask)

 

[Tubey]

Actually, I've just figured out the perfect way to describe Lukaku.

In computer gaming, a character with a very high attack and very low defense is known as a "Glass Cannon" - which means he can do incredible damage, but die ridiculously easy.

And that's Lukaku in football terms - a Glass Cannon. He's a guy who can destroy teams, but is too often anonymous. Too often he'll score a goal and that's it, whereas the overall effect on our play is that yes we've scored a goal, but we've conceded two or three because the guy tasked to be the pinnacle of our attacking play is having a shocker again.

And that's the long term issue - the team can't rely on Lukaku to be an out ball, or someone to defend from the front, and in modern football that is often required when closing out games, or against the odds against good opposition.

Lukaku would be suited to a front two in a strong team, where the legwork is done for him and he can effectively be a goal machine poacher, or a counter attacking system in a bad team where they hit and hope over the defence for him to run on to and smash and grab, like he did for West Brom.

But Lukaku in a decent team with one striker isn't going to be good enough for the team to be consistent. You just never know which Lukaku is going to show up.

A Glass Cannon in football would be what I'd usually associate as a winger. The likes of Deulofeu are classic examples - they'll have games where nothing works and you wonder why they're on the pitch. But the difference is the position - a luxury player on the wing is something you can cope with to an extent, because if they lose the ball then you haven't committed players up the pitch to support him so it isn't a defensive issue when he loses it.

A striker losing a ball to feet easily is another story. The reason the likes of Vardy just ran Leicester to a title is because of reliability - Leicester knew every time they needed an outball, Vardy would do what he was tasked to do competently.

Lukaku is not that. He's a lethal goalscorer, but a terrible hold-up player, and as such my overall view of him is one of frustration, because even if Lukaku was slightly better at keeping the ball and bringing his team mates up the pitch, he'd be genuinely one of the best strikers in the world. As it is, he's a constant frustration, yet a complete match winner. I was delighted when we signed him, but he hasn't evolved - he still has the same overwhelming strengths and ridiculous weaknesses he always had.

Last post on the Everton forum for a while anyway...

 

[DRM]

It was a great hat-trick without a doubt and his goals have been massive for the team since he's been here.

However, I have to side with @Tubey on this one.

He has to learn to drop the ego and sacrifice himself for the team.

I don't think most footballers realise but the more of a team-player and contributor you are, the better you appear to suitors and fans alike as well as being even more respected by your team-mates.
Most footballers and sports people in general have an ego the size of a planet and can't grasp the concept of pure team play.

Scoring 20 goals and win the league or 35 goals and finish 5th? What would you rather him achieve?
Even he would have to go with the former. (I'd hope)

I think Koeman can help him in this regard. Countless medals as a player, playing for the best clubs in the world and despite being the highest scoring defender around, he didn't accept all the glory on his own. That came with the titles and trophies he won with the teams he was playing for.
He did it for the team and if he can instil this ethos into all our players, we could be a contender for honours.

It just so happens that his positioning for all 3 goals the other night was where he wanted the ball and where the ball could be played.
All too often he takes up positions where he wants the ball and not where it can be played to.
If he dropped the ego and ran into positions where the ball can be played rather than standing where he wants it played, he will score more goals and help his team-mates.
Obvious really when you think about it.

One more thing, the way he took the third goal was wonderful. Relaxed, calm and assured after having 2 goals under his belt already.
I'm not sure if he could have finished like that if it was still 0-0.
He needs to sort this out as well but that comes with experience.

I think this is what some people are saying about him anyway.
It's not negative.



In fact it is positive as we are saying he could be better, not that he is a poor player. Anyone saying that is talking nonsense.

Let's hope he becomes the complete team player as he will then be the world class performer he so hopes to be.

Perhaps Thierry Henry can put him right on this too. Raging ego but magnificent team player.

That's what I want from him.

(Plus 35 goals and a trophy if it's not too much to ask)

I think he already is a team player. He want to win prizes as a team. But he also has the most assists of the current strikers in the PL.
The last two years he was completely isolated, but this year we seem to be playing higher with more players which can only be good for him and the team.

Above all, he is a confidence player. When he has the confidence he scores that third goal coolly, like you said. But he also gives a chest pass and controls his ball (2nd half) better.
He should become a little like Ibra. That guy alwyas steps on the field 'knowing' he's the man and if he misses a great opportunity he'll score the next one. Rom should try to get that mindset.

Apart from that he has confidence now, so he'll wreak havoc the next few games.

 

[Tubey]

Im almost with you, I really do dislike him currently, but he won us the game on Monday and yes, im fickle enough to ignore the 15 or so games before it, but the majority of those games were under a fraud pretending to be a top flight manager and the others with him struggling for fitness.

Lets give the fella a chance from now? His goal scoring record is actually peerless and despite his bouncy shins and big mouth, its the only thing hes in the team to do.

Actually, this will be the last post

That's just it though - it's not the only thing he's in the team for.

He'll score goals. He'll even score them in most games. He is indeed one of, if not the best pure goalscorers I've seen in this league in my life - he has an unparalleled instinct and seems to score without thinking, when others would overthink and blaze over or hit the 'keeper etc. You can't teach that ability. In that regards he's unique.

But what happens is that he'll score, but we'll lose 2-1, because he's done nothing else in the game and we've been caught out over and over again on the counter, and unless you're an elite team and clubs sit off you, you can't hope to deal with that level of counter attacking pressure, and that - along with Martinez overall being awful - was the number one reason we conceded goals and dropped points last season.

In the modern game, you simply cannot be a poacher and that's your job done - you have t o be able to hold play and bring others into the game. Lukaku doesn't do that to any degree of consistency or competency, and that's why I get on his back, because for the last three seasons he should have been given a kick up the arse to improve that side of his game, and Martinez at least simply didn't do it, or Lukaku is completely incapable of it.

 

[The Esk]

Actually, this will be the last post lol

That's just it though - it's not the only thing he's in the team for.

But what happens is that he'll score, but we'll lose 2-1, because he's done nothing else in the game and we've been caught out over and over again on the counter, and unless you're an elite team and clubs sit off you, you can't hope to deal with that level of counter attacking pressure, and that - along with Martinez overall being awful - was the number one reason we conceded goals and dropped points last season.

I admire your persistence but the statistics don't back your assertions, last season for example we averaged 1.81 points in games were Lukaku scored against an average of 1.24 points per game over the season. We also only lost 3 games in which he scored.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I'm pretty sure somewhat tried this last season as well and it made no sense. Lukaku is not responsible for us conceding 99 times out of 100 and to try to draw a line that says he gives up as many as he scores is absurd

 

[Tubey]

I admire your persistence but the statistics don't back your assertions, last season for example we averaged 1.81 points in games were Lukaku scored against an average of 1.24 points per game over the season. We also only lost 3 games in which he scored.

Because he's the sole striker who played basically every game, and due to the myriad of reasons I just stated he doesn't bring others into play in the attacking phase, so his goal return isn't joined by contributions elsewhere in the team by and large. So if he's the only one scoring due to the way we play, then obviously we'll get more points in games he scores. Also, the fact we only lost 3 games when he scored simply reinforces the obvious - when he doesn't show up, we lose games, because we're in effect a man light. So those stats actually back what I'm saying.

If I didn't know better I'd assume that was a willful misinterpretation of what I said to make me reply, as the 2-1 reference was obviously a generic example of a scenario, not the be all end all of saying "oh, it doesn't matter if Lukaku scored, we always lose when he does anyways lolz".

 

[DRM]

Because he's the sole striker who played basically every game, and due to the myriad of reasons I just stated he doesn't bring others into play in the attacking phase, so his goal return isn't joined by contributions elsewhere in the team by and large. So if he's the only one scoring due to the way we play, then obviously we'll get more points in games he scores. Also, the fact we only lost 3 games when he scored simply reinforces the obvious - when he doesn't show up, we lose games, because we're in effect a man light. So those stats actually back what I'm saying.

If I didn't know better I'd assume that was a willful misinterpretation of what I said to make me reply, as the 2-1 reference was obviously a generic example of a scenario, not the be all end all of saying "oh, it doesn't matter if Lukaku scored, we always lose when he does anyways lolz".

How many last posts can there be?

 

[ToffeeTim]

Hopefully there is a shiny new contract on the horizon. Real shame if there isn't.

 

[LABlue2]

Because he's the sole striker who played basically every game, and due to the myriad of reasons I just stated he doesn't bring others into play in the attacking phase, so his goal return isn't joined by contributions elsewhere in the team by and large. So if he's the only one scoring due to the way we play, then obviously we'll get more points in games he scores. Also, the fact we only lost 3 games when he scored simply reinforces the obvious - when he doesn't show up, we lose games, because we're in effect a man light. So those stats actually back what I'm saying.

If I didn't know better I'd assume that was a willful misinterpretation of what I said to make me reply, as the 2-1 reference was obviously a generic example of a scenario, not the be all end all of saying "oh, it doesn't matter if Lukaku scored, we always lose when he does anyways lolz".

You're basically saying we'd be better off sticking Kone up front because he can hold up the ball because Lukaku is responsible for us conceding so many goals due to his poor touch. Not the 10 other players who play further back than him.

 

[Abraders]

Lukaku put in the naughtiest cross for Kone's hat trick.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Actually, I've just figured out the perfect way to describe Lukaku.

In computer gaming...

 

[IlliniToffee]

Love him. Hope he sulks and whines in the media all season while scoring boss goal after boss goal and giving interviews with that unnaturally low voice that sounds like it was dubbed in afterward and getting us top 4.