Romelu Lukaku

[Yankfootball1]

He's American tbf.

An American yes but someone that has played footy since I was 6 (35 years), have coaching badges, coached for 10, and love and watched almost every Everton game since they started broadcasting them on Fox then NBC. Been to Goodison and travelled to see them in the US the last two visits. You can be American and knowledgeable.

 

[Carlito]

Hopefully Niasse will be able to do Kone's job without destabilising/unbalancing the rest of the team.

It isn't too bad away from home, where Lukaku generally has space to run into, but he needs help at home - especially when the other team's centre halves can't simply be barged over.

 

[Goat]

An American yes but someone that has played footy since I was 6 (35 years), have coaching badges, coached for 10, and love and watched almost every Everton game since they started broadcasting them on Fox then NBC. Been to Goodison and travelled to see them in the US the last two visits. You can be American and knowledgeable.

No mate.

 

[BlueToff]

Hopefully Niasse will be able to do Kone's job without destabilising/unbalancing the rest of the team.

It isn't too bad away from home, where Lukaku generally has space to run into, but he needs help at home - especially when the other team's centre halves can't simply be barged over.

Think this is the main issue.

As a team, I think we can all say we're at our best when we either a) counter attack (Sotton, Stoke) or b) play crisp passes around the edge of the box if a team is bad/stupid enough to allow us room (Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle at home etc.)

At home a lot of sides do come and sit back against us which I know is nothing knew, and it's a concern that we/Martinez haven't yet identified a way of breaking those sides down.

One thing that seemed to have helped at the start of the season was playing Kone in that wide forward role, but his form over the past two months has been awful.

So, like you said, I think it's pretty plain to see where Niasse will fit in in terms of being a starter for the rest of this season. We have Cleverley there for other games where we need to counter, and Kev as well, if the manager does use him - which I think he will at the weekend.

 

[oldblue]

As I said not meant to [Poor language removed] off Lukaku - Love him - or say Kone is a great player. I think he is the type of player that serves a role that helps Lukaku. Perhaps Niasse will be the type of player that can do both - Help Rom and provide better defensive balance if our DM's are healthy.

I was really just trying to back up an argument that bringing on Kone v WBA was a logical Plan B with some facts to back it up (a plan B that didn't work mind you).

I was a bit surprised by the numbers Lukaku does seem to produce more with Gerry on the right and Kone (or someone) to help occupy a Central Defender. I guess that would only make sense, but maybe it causes us to be more exposed defensively.

Think it may have been the right sub on Sunday but Kone and Rom didn't really get into positions to hurt West Brom considering how deep they were playing. Still think that kind of maturity from Rom will come. And Kone looked petrified.
Rom definitely plays better when he isn't isolated, it's partly why I don't think we'll get huge offers from Europe for him. Got to see that as a positive and look at how we get the best out of him.
Part of this might be worrying less about whether he's scoring and working on him creating space for midfielders to score more. He's starting to use his body shape to hold the ball up and draw defenders to him but I'd like some more of that. Problem is that it's physically demanding and we can't rest him at the moment.
Still very young and we need to be cautious and patient. More chance that I win the lottery. And I don't play it.

 

[BlueToff]

As I said not meant to [Poor language removed] off Lukaku - Love him - or say Kone is a great player. I think he is the type of player that serves a role that helps Lukaku. Perhaps Niasse will be the type of player that can do both - Help Rom and provide better defensive balance if our DM's are healthy.

I was really just trying to back up an argument that bringing on Kone v WBA was a logical Plan B with some facts to back it up (a plan B that didn't work mind you).

I was a bit surprised by the numbers Lukaku does seem to produce more with Gerry on the right and Kone (or someone) to help occupy a Central Defender. I guess that would only make sense, but maybe it causes us to be more exposed defensively.

No mate you're spot on.

We have scored most of our goals this season with Kone one side and Del the other, but over Christmas that system definitely seemed to stagnate a bit.

Martinez kept a winning team for the WBA game and hindsight is always a good thing, but that may have been the way to go from the off in order to prevent Rom getting so isolated. But Cleverley and Lennon were both in good form and didn't deserve to be dropped.

Niasse, hopefully, will be the player to replace Kone for the back half of the season.

 

[Yankfootball1]

No mate.

doesn't mean much coming from you - seeing as how this is the post you reply to..

 

[Yankfootball1]

Hopefully Niasse will be able to do Kone's job without destabilising/unbalancing the rest of the team.

It isn't too bad away from home, where Lukaku generally has space to run into, but he needs help at home - especially when the other team's centre halves can't simply be barged over.

Think this is the main issue.

As a team, I think we can all say we're at our best when we either a) counter attack (Sotton, Stoke) or b) play crisp passes around the edge of the box if a team is bad/stupid enough to allow us room (Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle at home etc.)

At home a lot of sides do come and sit back against us which I know is nothing knew, and it's a concern that we/Martinez haven't yet identified a way of breaking those sides down.

One thing that seemed to have helped at the start of the season was playing Kone in that wide forward role, but his form over the past two months has been awful.

So, like you said, I think it's pretty plain to see where Niasse will fit in in terms of being a starter for the rest of this season. We have Cleverley there for other games where we need to counter, and Kev as well, if the manager does use him - which I think he will at the weekend.

Agree - Hopefully Niasse beds in quick and provides that freedom for Rom and better cover defensively - Though I have no idea if he has been tasked with that role in the past, having zero exposure to the Russian leagues. Or is Niasse going to be a straight replacement for Rom should he leave in the summer (or Both).

BTW the one time Kone got central enough to draw a defender away from Rom (Barkley's shot over the bar Late) if Barkley had seen Kone - he could have put him in on goal alone. He might of missed though given his shooting form as of late...

 

[BlueToff]

Agree - Hopefully Niasse beds in quick and provides that freedom for Rom and better cover defensively - Though I have no idea if he has been tasked with that role in the past, having zero exposure to the Russian leagues. Or is Niasse going to be a straight replacement for Rom should he leave in the summer (or Both).

BTW the one time Kone got central enough to draw a defender away from Rom (Barkley's shot over the bar Late) if Barkley had seen Kone - he could have put him in on goal alone. He might of missed though given his shooting form as of late...
View attachment 18173

Great picture that, and shows that Kone did pick up space when he came on - compared to Rom who has four players within five yards of him!

As for Niasse, for now he's fine as a better option than Kone out on the left if needed and is a good back up option for Rom, by the looks of it.

 

[Caolam]

We are pinning a lot on Niasse, he is coming into a failing system. The hope is that he is so good he can transform the team from Very ordinary to good. I hope he can, I want him to do it. But it is a big ask.

 

[BlueToff]

We are pinning a lot on Niasse, he is coming into a failing system. The hope is that he is so good he can transform the team from Very ordinary to good. I hope he can, I want him to do it. But it is a big ask.

Mr Postive.

We're not expecting that at all, or at least a reasonable fan isn't.

We're expecting a player to come in who can play in numerous positions and give us another option - whether that be out on the wings cutting inside like Kone does or as a back-up to Lukaku.

Nothing more and nothing less at this stage.

 

[Caolam]

Mr Postive.

We're not expecting that at all, or at least a reasonable fan isn't.

We're expecting a player to come in who can play in numerous positions and give us another option - whether that be out on the wings cutting inside like Kone does or as a back-up to Lukaku.

Nothing more and nothing less at this stage.

I was expecting him to be a major piece in the jigsaw puzzle. He has been bought to fill a problem position. Maybe I am investing too much expectation in him but we need a fairly dramatic improvement. I want him to come in and complete a team, not make a team on his own.

 

[BlueToff]

I was expecting him to be a major piece in the jigsaw puzzle. He has been bought to fill a problem position. Maybe I am investing too much expectation in him but we need a fairly dramatic improvement. I want him to come in and complete a team, not make a team on his own.

This team needs a few more pieces to be complete.

We've signed a lad who is versatile, quick and strong and looks like everything RM wants from a forward player.

A signing made in the middle of the season isn't going to be the one who 'completes' a team, he's been brought in to add another option and hopefully it will work out and soon he becomes a key figure, wherever he plays on the pitch.

 

[abelard]

We are pinning a lot on Niasse, he is coming into a failing system. The hope is that he is so good he can transform the team from Very ordinary to good. I hope he can, I want him to do it. But it is a big ask.

fourth in the table in goals scored is a failing system? (just two behind City/Leicester, one behind spurs)

unless you're expecting Niasse to shore up the defence?

 

[Goat]

View attachment 18173

Look at the way the WBA players just ignore Kone.

What an utter non factor he is.