PANDOOBIE

Let me start this long post off by saying: "I do not want Lukaku, nor do I rate him as big as some people do."

However, Lukaku has massively improved. I was one of the people who was slating him, because he really was frustrating. But, Koeman has worked on his technical aspects. I will lay out my arguments on why Lukaku would be able to replace Diego and why he wouldn't, so please bear with me, here:
- Diego isn't better than him technically - Diego is as frustrating as you can get, when off form. Dire passing, no dribbling ability, rarely manages to hold on to the ball, can't shield with his body, no aerial pressence. He offers NOTHING. Basically like playing with 10 men. Lukaku, while not being the second coming of Suarez, is still an okay player with the ball at his feet. He also has a good aerial presence on him, good headers. He can shield and bully defenders. He also has okay passing on him, can name quite a few times he has managed to create fast counter-attacks, make one - twos or just combine with a teammate in no - way Diego would.
- He is playing in an above average Everton - He has nobody, who can constantly come up with something out of nothing. Barkley, Mirallas, Lookman , etc. are all inconsistent in their performances. He doesn't have the service, which he could have here. Difference with Hazard/Pedro/ Cesc in behind him, who all offer something different for him to be able to pounce on.
- Big Games - Above point being the main factor. People want Lukaku to be a nuisance and conquer big games. How can he? Against Liverpool, against United, Everton couldn't create anything. The one time, everything was clicking for them, was vs. City, and Lukaku and Davies were the main culprits, and unsurprisingly they won 4 - 0. And let's be honest, has Diego really been THAT unreal in big games? Or any striker in the league, maybe bar Aguero(who has also missed tons of chances in those games, which is worse), for that matter? Diego was unreal vs City. PSG last year. Pretty much it. His goals vs. Liverpool, United were tap - ins. Not saying they aren't goals, but would Lukaku miss? He could, but would he really? Diego has also went missing in big games, let's not act like it isn't true.
- Age - He is still relatively young. Much work can be done with him. He can develop even more.
- Goals - This year, if we manage to become champions, it will just again cement the fact that wins vs. small sides guarantee you Championships. And Lukaku does guarantee goals. Especially with an increased batch of service.
- HG - Counts for the HG quota. Which is why I think we're targeting mostly him
- Lack of WC forwards - Belotti's amazing, but will cost even more perhaps. Icardi won't leave. Who else is out there?
Things that put me off the move:

Technicality -  What if, this his ceilling from a technical point of view? I doubt it, but what if? He will be a 50/50 player, who will create some and ruin some. Not much of an upgrade to Diego. Just a small one.
Lack of experience - He's yet to lead a line as big as Chelsea's. All props to Everton, but the expectations aren't as big as with us. He has to guarantee goals and creativity in order to be our new no. 9. And do it on a consistent basis for it to be the right choice and to please fans. Especially the ones who will be on his back, because of the fact they do not rate him. Plus, he's never really played in the CL. The only time he's been leading a line from the top level is Belgium, and he is hit and miss there, BUT there is the problem with Wilmots and the fact the whole Belgium squad is still hot and cold, despite all the potential.
Price tag - Yes, I know the inflation of prices. I realize he won't cost 30 mil. given the fact he's bagged 20 + goals on a regular basis, but in no way should he cost more than 50. Won't renew. Wants to leave. Should lower the price. We can't force ourselves to overpay for him. Would rather watch Alexis at the 9, if we get him, or just throw the money at Icardi and try for him.

Don't chat shit. Go in the Willian, Matic, Hazard thread and see our match threads and see how much support I give to the team. Unlike you, I don't lick our manager's ass 24/7 and I criticise when I see necessary. I always give credit to our players/team and manager when they deserve it.

I still need to see some proof for that theory. In my eyes this is just something everyone keeps repeating because they heard it somewhere.

Eden had on his dancing shoes today. The way he just skips past players, the way he slows down only to turn it up in a instance with opposition players eating his dust. It's just too bad Chelsea did so little to create chances because the way he was playing, he could've destroyed them. It's just every time he was looking for a quick 1-2 or to play someone through on goal or something, no one was there. So he ended up keeping it safe most of the time.
But anyway, great performance. Showed great technique and awareness today.

I think it's the official premier league site that doesn't credit the own goal as a Hazard assist.
Think the majority of the people take their statistics from there and consider them to be the more "official" stats.
I understand that but lets face it if Hazard doesn't come up with the right numbers, at the end of the season, people are gonna be complaining that he didn't have good enough season.
Now it seems like it's the only thing that matters, numbers.

lets just say I listened to the first F A cup final after the war (WW2) Derby beat Charlton in extra time ..

I think Courtois' major working point will be quick distribution in case of counterplay. At Atlético he's always been instructed to lie on the ground after a save and hold up play so everyone could get back into position. He shows the same tendency when playing for the Belgian NT. I'm curious to see if he can switch to fast breaks when necessary in the EPL. I hope he can because that hold up plays tends to get to my nerves sometimes

There were people here worried about his capability to deal with the "physicality". Well, I think the moment said it all, when he went to claim an air ball and in the process of doing that planted Cahill on his ass and didn't even give a shit.

Going from starting the 13/14 season with one of the best goalkeepers in the world, to starting the 14/15 season with (another) one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Us Chelsea fans are ridiculously lucky nowadays!

It pains me to see him leave but I guess he's right A football career is short And he has to make the right choice to grow as a player and everton is the right place to do that under martinez. As much as love Mourinho a lot of times I think he's unfair and lukaku is the latest example After his impressive wba loan he's was supposed to get his chance and he didn't. The same thing happened to kalas the diffrence is that lukaku was more outspoken And I remember from last year pre-season that mourinho promised nathaniel chalobah a spot in the first team yeah right.

With precedent on his side I can understand Romelu's fear of not getting any game time. People are calling him a coward and that if he had self belief last season he would have been given his opportunities. Maybe with Mourinho this would have been true but has everyone forgotten the situation with Sturridge?
Sturridge was so obviously better than Torres and he never ever got a realistic chance. With this in Lukaku's mind and having already suffered from a year on the bench at Chelsea its understandable that he wants to demand minutes. Throw in Mourinho last season had new strikers in Eto'o and this season Drogba i think its very reasonable that Lukaku decided for himself he needed to go.

People seriously need to calm down.
Lukaku wanted significant playing time. He wasn't gonna get it here (rightly so), so he left. End off.
Why some people need to add so much drama and insult Lukaku, i really don't understand.
Oh and to the person that hopes Chelsea fans will boo Lukaku : Get a grip. He 's done nothing to deserve getting booed.

Lol. If he becomes the next best striker of PL, everyone will take him in second and forget the history. People's opinions on players on this forum change every week if you havent noticed. One day he is best potential, next day after one poor game, he should be sold etc... Im sure in 2-5 years should Lukaku reach Drogba level, me, you and everyone else will want him here.
Kid is ambitious, maybe too much, but it could work for him like Pogba, tell me about ManU fan who doesnt want Pogba despite he didnt want to fight for team.

If you'd take time and research my post-history you'd might conclude that I'm anything but a fanboy, certainly of Lukaku. It would have been justified if you labeled me as such in an Eden Hazard discussion who I've been following closely since he was 16.
You might have noticed that I've been critical of Lukaku's earlier comments.
Claiming that I stated that Mourinho is lying is taking it too far. I would actually call it distorting the genuine facts in his favour. A tactic that is very common in managers, it's playing the mediagame.
And what right do you have to act as the moral compass as what might be posted on this forum? Most of my posts actually contain some well deliberated content instead of the foaming drivel penned down here by people who post while under the influence of the red mist instead of actually taking a breath before stampeding over their keyboards. Comments like that immediatly devaluate everything, everything in your past and future posts. Despicable behaviour. Not every quote is an attack, there is absolutely no reason to include words as embarrasing in your posts. It's cheap.

For one. I'm not a Lukaku fan.
And I'm sure this is what Lukaku wanted. I'm just not conviced Lukaku would have demanded the guaranteed starting spot but instead significant time on the pitch.
A line that is now used as a stick by the mad horde to yell "Good riddance to the coward."

Aren't you a bit naive to completely believe Mourinho's statements?
Mourinho is under pressure to justify the transfer of a homegrown player that has clearly shown potential to get a shot at Chelsea. Mourinho clearly had doubts about Lukaku's abilities.
However, if he stated that clearly in public and Lukaku proved him wrong in the near future. This would come back to bite him and would be a stick for the press to beat him with.
By stating that Lukaku demanded a starting spot and that he can't promise that he gave Chelsea fans a reason for the transfer and covers himself for the future. It's a tactic you see times and times again with managers.
The more plausible truth isn't that Lukaku demanded the nr1 spot as stated by Mourinho, but a significant role in the coming season and plenty of minutes and Mourinho answering he would have to compete with Drogba and Torres for that as Costa would be his main striker. A doubtful future for Lukaku who would have remembered his first season here in the stands while reminding himself of the great season he had at Everton.

I dont justify that .. BUT I think the abuse a young ambitious boy has got on here is completely disgraceful .

he wanted to be our number one striker .. what a crime

Frustrated that he gets so much flack on this forum.
He made some comments in the press during his loans that weren't smart. But like so many young talents at Chelsea, he soon became disillusioned with the chances and career path the club has for young players.

Lukaku isn't my type of player. I don't rate him as a footballer and I loathe his style of play. But he is a terrific goalscorer who will be guaranteed to run 1 in 2 during the season, which gets you 20 goals a season if he stays fit. And it is scoring that matters in the end. His record for a 21-year old is remarkable.
I think Lukaku is far more realistic than the brigade that has been stating that he should stay and fight for his place. He had a first row ticket to see Sturridge blossom after he was a fringe player at Chelsea for years. The first year at Chelsea was his most miserable in his career. And he saw KdB being promised guaranteed minutes by Mourinho for the busy month of december in november last season which turned out to be a hoax.
In the end, it's a good deal for both Chelsea and Lukaku. At least if Costa comes out guns blazing because the press will turn on him, Mourinho and Chelsea if Lukaku outscores him next season.

A lot of people have said in this thread during the years they'd lose all hope of ever seeing a homegrown youngster break through to the top at Chelsea if Lukaku didn't succeed. There's genuinly a case to demand Chelsea re-evaluate their policy regarding youngsters. Yet the current policy has made the club a ton of profit.
Funny thing is the wheel turns and now those people turn to Bamford to be disillusioned in 3 years and turning to another youngster.

Some of you guys on both sides are taking this waaaaaaaay too far.
I understand we all support the club and/or player but when you sit here and invest so much in words and feelings that can easily change you end up reacting like this.
At the end of it all its best to just take things at surface level and not hold people to expectations that you yourself created.

Good riddance! Intelligent players like Rom luckily realise at a young (though Well-paid) age they need a maximum of playing time.
Despite him hoping to get a chance (after proving his point for at least 2 years), bringing in drogba clearly wasn't a vote of confidence and would make him again at best nr 3 in the pecking order.
I hope your Russian pimp club breaks the shirt-sales record! Cause -apart from a to-be-proven-Costa- you re definitely not going to break any goal scoring records with Torres (preferred again to Rom) and veteran Drogba!

such a struggle and that is all you can up with up ... PATHETIC

WHERE does he disrespect our fans ,, This slur is repeated constantly .. He moans and complains ,, I agree
BUT someone show me one QUOTE criticising Chelsea fans

He did the smart thing. The thing I'd recommend any 21 year old striker who is still developing to do. He went to a team that will always start him, never put him on backup, or rotation. Which means his chances of success are doubled. He did the right thing to avoid a team that has ruined nearly every striker that has played for it for the past decade.
Because of this he will probably become a great player. I can't name how many young talents I've seen ruined by sitting on a bench at a big team. Thankfully players of this age are starting to get smarter about this kind of thing. With Benteke not leaving Aston Villa last season. Alvaro Morata leaving Real Madrid. And a couple other great youth talents as well.
I will enjoy following the player and seeing what becomes of his career now.

possibly your worst post ever . I have yet to see him criticise our fans