ja1

I thought the problem was that we paid '18million' for a reserve and so it must be a bad buy. Not that I think that. He's better and more ready than people give him credit for in my opinion.

Because that was the official fee that was paid. Where did the above poster get 20million from?! So far Lukaku has cost us 10.7 million. Yes there are add ons but those could be paid at any time and I'm not sure what they are. For instance Sturridge until recently only cost us 5.5 million. But in November, after making his England appearance, over 2 years after he arrived, that fee is now 6.5 million. The fee when we first bought him was just 3.5 million (we paid them 500'000 for each 10 first team appearances upto 40). So currently, Lukaku has cost this club 10.7 million. Piazon cost about 8 million with an extra 1 million paid to Piazon and his agent - I don't see anyone talking about him being a bad buy despite he's worse for te reserves than Lukaku.

Where the f-ck do people get this 18 million, 20 million fee nonsense from. Lukaku so far has cost the club 10.7 million, with possible add ons of upto 8 million. And saying he's a bad buy is one of the most naive things you could suggest.

IMO Coyle is overrated handling players on loan.

Kakuta <3

Everton would have been the obvious choice before they got Jelavic

People are being harsh on Sturridge. Saying they have a problem with his attitude because of minor details in how he stands and walks? And against Napoli he was good, he put good balls into the box and squares it well and tracked back and pressed. He rarely seems to get credit where it's due these days, unless he has a game where he scores everyone just goes sown the 'he's selfish terrible attitude never passes he always shot'

Apparently he's already doing well on loan at Haag. Just played two games but played excellently in both I hear, and a Haag fan described him as already one of their best defenders, with good defensive qualities. Interestingly he's actually played right back in his first two appearances. Also Lalkovic is back from a hamstring injury

He may have a name like a pornstar but I like the look of this guy. A dominant, box to box midfielder. Has everything to be a good midfielder but don't want to hype him to much at an early stage.

Apparently he did well, 2 key passes and was a menace throughout. Played the full 90.

I didn't mean it is patronising because he is a striker, patronising for giving it to him only because he isn't scoring. Even then he clearly does not want to take them, why should we force it on him? I personally would be happier with a good performance from Torres and no goals or assists then a bad performance where he scores a penalty, and I know which one would give him more 'confidence' as well. Lampard used to have a good record from pens but as I said has missed around half of them since the City miss 2 seasons ago.

And he wanted to leave.

Torres is not a charity and he is not a penalty taker. If he should take penalties, why shouldn't Mikel? Or Ferriera? There is no reason for him to be our penalty taker, it is just us taking pity on him, sympathising with him, and I doubt he would even want that sympathy. At his best he never took penalties for Liverpool and then when he's in the worst form of his career suddenly he should take pens for us. Lampard is not good at pens anymore. He has missed around half of them since the miss at city a couple of seasons ago.

He bust a gut to get forward for nearly the whole match, just that Kalou has no awareness or passing ability. Mind you those two down the left showed far more dynamism, pace and hard work then, say, Malouda and Cole.

Sturridge or Luiz. Torres should not take penalties, how patronising do you want to get

Cole is injured and Bos is still out with hamstring. Bertrand?

Bertrand will also probably start :-)

Got his first booking of the season today. Impressive he's gone so long without even getting a yellow. Mind you Thiago Silva has gone 50+ games with no bookings!

I think he'll be a squad player, would be an excellent back up to Mata

Well Falcao won't come now

I'm impressed with his goalscoring. That is what, 6 goals from 8 starts in his senior career for loan clubs?

Was poor today but so was Mata

Are fair enough.

Hope all the Sturridge haters/doubters read that interview. Applause.

Bruma and Kalas and Courtois are successful loans