Tomo

Arsenal played with 2 forwards where-as we play with one and Bergkamp was getting on a bit and couldn't play every game, either way It doesn't matter who was infront of who, the point remains the same that Lukaku needs time to be develop at his own pace, just like RVP did in 2004.

The kneejerk reaction's to him not coming on last night is getting beyond annoying.

He has came on in 2 of the 3 games so far, he is getting slowly nurtured into the mentality of having to win every game you play which is the right thing to do, he is getting a chance this season, their is a big difference between getting a chance and pining your hopes on someone, which half this forum seem to want us to do with Lukaku. RVP and Ronaldo spent a lot of their first season at Arsenal and United on the bench (sometimes not even coming on) and they didn't end up too bad, did they?

Liverpool blown a 2 goal lead at Anfield against Notts County to get taken into extra time. Whatever the score is now i don't see the big fuss over this team, i swear they are only hyped up because of what they were not what they currently are. Imagine if say Swansea had the team Liverpool currently have, who would be talking about them being top 4 contenders? no one will. The top 4 will be four of last season's top 5, with Liverpool in 6th (and they will only get that because Everton will take time to adjust to Martinez) and we will be hearing all summer how good they will be next season because they won 3 in a row near the end.

Liverpool blown a 2 goal lead at Anfield against Notts County to get taken into extra time. Whatever the score is now i don't see the big fuss over this team, i swear they are only hyped up because of what they were not what they currently are. Imagine if say Swansea had the team Liverpool currently have, who would be talking about them being top 4 contenders? no one will. The top 4 will be four of last season's top 5, with Liverpool in 6th (and they will only get that because Everton will take time to adjust to Martinez) and we will be hearing all summer how good they will be next season because they won 3 in a row near the end.

He was also on the bench in several games and i remember the opposition views from a WBA fan before our match at The Hawthorns and he said at that moment the team played better collectively when he didn't play. Ironically Forsell scored 17 goals with 1 less appearance than Lukaku on loan at Birmingham, i wonder how many wanted him as #1 when he came back?

By the time we go to White Hart Lane Mata will be number 10 with WIllian and Hazard flanking him.

Its 3 games in, you can't make an assesment on player gametime after 3 games. Oscar made 2 sub apps in August last season, Azpilcueta was an unused sub for ages until he got games. Check the striker stats for 04/05 and 05/06 under Jose, Lukaku will get more than enough playing time.

no he won't

We can't judge thing's from the first 3 games as to whether he will get enough playing time or not, it's a long season, Azpilcueta was an unused sub for 5 times in his first 6 available games for Chelsea and turned out to be one of the most important players in our season. Oscar's appearances in August last season almost mirror's MVG's (2nd half sub on's in the first 2 games, unused sub in the 3rd). Over the course of the season we will need all our squad.

You are right, in the Champioship you need to work hard and score goals, neither of which Torres does.

It was tongue in cheek, i should have phrased it better.

I remember in 2004 when we played Man.Utd in our first home game, i remember Fergie saying something along the lines of it being a stomach punch to the team and it affected them for the rest of the season, that's why it was important for us not to lose last night.

Manchester United at Old Trafford under AVB and we ........ lost Arsenal at home under AVB and we ummmmmmm lost. Results > tika taka.

It's far too early to be saying all that, Benitez had a reputation as a defensive coach but we were hardly defensive (apart from the City games) under him, Plus this Jose is a negative manager is a myth, he goes defensive often in big games in order to get a positive result, but he is not a negative manager, no chance.

Many times United have came to The Bridge and played a similar defensive game, the only difference is we (as the home team) attacked more.

Yeh, after we went 2-0 down in 10 minutes and had nothing to lose from then on.

Danny Welbeck raped us on loan at Sunderland, doesn't change the fact i would rub my hands in delight if United make him number 1 forward. Lukaku is going to be a great forward, but he isn't yet.

I think last night showed why Jose want's Willian. Our current attacking six (not including Willian) has Mata then five players who are 22, now Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle and KDB are very talented young players (Moses a good squad player) but they are not anywhere near the finished article's as the four mentioned above showed last night at Old Trafford. Willian and Mata are two players approaching their peaks and are players that will deliver now.

That's probably why Jose is looking for a new forward. Lukaku wasn't even undisputed number 1 at West Brom last season so giving him that too soon here is asking for trouble. Making him number 1 forward we are practically pining our hopes for this season on him, is it fair to ask that off a 20 year old? I for one am happy for him to be part of the squad for the next 2/3 year and develop at his own pace.

Feck me some of you are over-reacting just a little bit, let's not forget he is 20 years old, he is going to be a great player for us i have no doubt about that, just not yet. Lukaku is in a similar position to what RVP was in 2004, very talented young player who has a great future, but he just isn't ready to be #1 at a club with design's on winning the title.

Ofcourse but more often than not we go in full circle about why he shouldn't have never gone and all that, today has been one of the exception's.

People seriously undervalue the importance of a squad, proved in the summer when Cavani looked likely to come here, we got this over-reaction of "Lukaku will never play games, he's finished, he won't get any minutes this season OMG OMG OMG", now we are getting the same here. Also at the end of the day being at one of the top clubs in world football, then it's a dog eat dog world, survival of the fittest, do you think Drogba lasted so long because we spent £24m on him? He lasted 8 years because he was better than his competition, Gudjohnsen already here? and what, Crespo coming back? challenge accepted, Shevchenco for £30m? bitch please. Assuming Moses goes there will be 6 players challenging for 3 places, so if KDB performs better than 3 of them, he's in the team. I seriously hope the Belgium has the "Drogba attitude" towards this transfer and not the one 90% of the fans have.

Yes we get it, we sholdn't have let him go so quick, do we have to go over this again and again every time he scores?

Loan out a player we spent £18m on just over 2 months ago? not even we are that ruthless.