Romelu Lukaku

[RomEFCRom]

Don't understand why he generates so much back and forward debate - he's a limited striker who scores a lot of goals and will never be "world class" but will always score goals.

 

[kithnou]

Don't understand why he generates so much back and forward debate - he's a limited striker who scores a lot of goals and will never be "world class" but will always score goals.

Put some quality footballers around him and then come back to me mate.

 

[ToffeeTim]

He is defo off

 

[MartyMcFly]

I wonder what the number of assists were for them all as the others are excellent on the ball and bringing in others into play, not only that they have a more than decent first touch

Rom's assist stats are good.

 

[AdamEFC]

Bye Rom x

 

[Lowste]

Don't understand why he generates so much back and forward debate - he's a limited striker who scores a lot of goals and will never be "world class" but will always score goals.

Explain world class

He scores a fantastic amount of goals, and for me thatbis what he is there for
Let's remember who he plays for and the quality of player supporting him, then look at the World class players and see who,they play for and who supports them.

He could potentially be classed as WC if he played for a top team, until that time he can't be judged..

 

[Prevenger17]

He could potentially be classed as WC if he played for a top team, until that time he can't be judged..

He has some good lads around him at Belgium doesn't he? And they crap their keks at the first sign of trouble too

 

[Khalekan]

Don't understand why he generates so much back and forward debate - he's a limited striker who scores a lot of goals and will never be "world class" but will always score goals.

Surely the very definition of a "world class striker" is one whom "always scores goals"

 

[Tubey]

Surely the very definition of a "world class striker" is one whom "always scores goals"

Nope, it's a player who is outstanding in his role for the team.

Goalscoring in the modern game is just one aspect of that role.

 

[AndyC]

Surely the very definition of a "world class striker" is one whom "always scores goals"

That would seem to me to be a not unreasonable assumption

 

[Tubey]

Don't understand why he generates so much back and forward debate - he's a limited striker who scores a lot of goals and will never be "world class" but will always score goals.

And this is it in a nutshell. Weird to me how the above description of him can even be debated.

 

[Khalekan]

That would seem to me to be a not unreasonable assumption

 

[Prevenger17]

I'm going to repost a virtual essay I did on this very topic about a year ago. I can't wait till we ship Rom off and I'm vindicated

It’s a hard one to explain, and even harder off the back of his best season for us, so excuse me if this is a little long-winded.

Unlike some on here, I won’t claim to be a master tactician with all the answers that are apparently staring Martinez in the face. For all the sniping we do at each other, I think @nsno-chris is on the button when he puts bad results down to a chronic lack to pressing. Where we disagree, is where on the pitch that shortcoming is killing us.

When I think of our attacking players, from our widemen up, Aaron Lennon is the only one I can see who not only identifies problems high up the pitch, and also has the energy and pace to do something about it. Lukaku, for all his hard work, rarely wins the ball high up the field, and his poor control often puts us in dangerous situations. Barkley is similar, a behemoth going forward, but not fast or clever enough to put pressure on opposition defenders at opportunistic moments. I like Cleverley, but he’s very much in the same vein, with only a fraction of Rom or Ross’s attacking talent. Deulofeu’s reluctance to track back is well documented.

What we’re left with is a forward line of what are essentially luxury players. When it goes well, we look amazing. When it doesn’t, it’s open season in our midfield and we’re as brittle as a twig. From what I can see, there are two main problems with this.

a) We’re giving Barry and McCarthy way too much to do, and giving out about them whenever they can’t do it

b) We make very few goal scoring chances from basic opportunism, seizing on bad back-passes, dispossessing a defender high up the field, forcing errors etc.

You mention Lukaku in the same breath as Suarez but, for me, there’s no comparison to be had. As good as Lukaku is, Suarez is on a different level and, from what I can see, always will be. If the midfield isn’t providing, Lukaku waits. Suarez makes his own chances happen. Lukaku wants to score goals. Suarez wants to win. Liverpool have now thrown away more points from winning positions than us, and that’s because their attacking players are just as ineffective at defending high up the field as we are.

It comes down to personnel. You can have 1 or 2 dedicated attacking players up front, but not your entire front line. It’s especially hard when your striker has very little by way of hold up technique. Something has to give. Ross is a good lad and a great player who loves the club. Rom wants to play Champions League wherever and, in the right setup, is most certainly good enough to do so. I know which one I want to keep.

Even Martinez’ detractors say he’s got some eye for talent but a terrible system. What if it’s the other way around? What if it’s a good system, but he himself is identifying some of the wrong personnel to carry it out, and pure talent is obscuring it? From what I can see, we need more energy and guile up there, not just attacking flair. Our team value is skyrocketing, but there’s a lack of synergy in the team that would trouble any manager. I think it only needs one or two tweaks, personally, because we have seen how it looks when it clicks. I reckon one of those tweaks is a striker with less bounce in their shins and the ability to tackle and dispossess.

I have to clarify, I think Rom is a great lad, a very good player and a tireless worker. But I feel both parties would be better served by a transfer this summer, provided we bring in a suitable replacement.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Rom is the main source of my angst. We need Rom to stay if we're to be successful. But for Rom to stay we need to get top 6.

But we are miles off and will be a mess when he leaves.

 

[ianefc]

Rom is the main source of my angst. We need Rom to stay if we're to be successful. But for Rom to stay we need to get top 6.

But we are miles off and will be a mess when he leaves.