🇧🇪 Romelu Lukaku

[Barbara 15,149]

1) I think this is a bit silly really. He was 20 he needed to be loaned to get play time so he could improve. There's no real point to playing him 10-15 minutes a game with an occasional start. As for Benteke you're dramatically underselling him. He wins nearly 8 aerial duels a game and is one of the better target men in Europe. I've always lobbied for him to come here because he can play with Hazard and his ability to flick on his top notch. I like him better than Costa. He had a poor year, but I expect him to bounce back.

2) I think he just wants to play and not see a sport start here and there and sub for 10 minutes a game. He's still only 21 so he needs to play. Sitting on the bench doesn't help him any and it really doesn't serve Chelsea well either. If he were to sub for 30 minutes a game and get more than a start every 5-7 games then perhaps that's enough. Stamina is a weakness and it's something he has to improve.

3) I'm not a huge Sturridge guy myself but yes he's shown he's clearly better than Lukaku.

4) I can agree he's not a fit for how Jose wants to use him and he's not a great target man and he struggles is certain aspects of the game; however, he's got the goal scorer's instinct and he's a devastating closing option against tired defenses. I agree that's it difficult to see him turn into a world class Striker because of his deficiencies.

5) I don't have a problem with Mourinho selling him, but I do take issue if the resulting striker core is Costa, Drogba, Torres. That's an unacceptable strike force and makes Chelsea reliant on Costa's health. Drogba is 36 has malaria so I rather doubt he's going to be able to give the full 90 needed. Torres has been an abomination against top teams. Mourinho has to acknowledge that had he had a decent/good strike force last year Chelsea would have won the title. Failing to address the issue this year would be a slap in the face.

I agree with you here. If Lukaku goes then a striker with experience in either La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, PL, or La Ligue 1 needs to come in ... Perhaps steal Jay Rodiguez from the Saints seeing as they are liquidating their assets for a sale of the club. Perhaps Bony, or Klass-Jan Huntelaar

1) You're undermining the role he could have here. Torres and Ba started matches... Torres too many. If Lukaku proved he was a best scorer than they - which isn't that hard he could have started many matches. Who said he was destined to play 10-15 minutes for a whole season? I've never expected him to be a super sub throughout the whole season and that the fear that made him move. For someone that believes he's so great he doesn't have proportional confidence in his game. It's almost like he has to convince us with his words because in the pitch he's not sure he will. You misunderstood my point about Benteke, what I meant is that he's much better than all the three mentioned (Lukaku, Torres and Ba) although he isn't an Aguero, let's say. I may even like him better than Costa as I'm not that much of a Costa fan...

2) Again with the assumption he wouldn't play. Last season he would have played a lot of minutes. This year with Costa it's more difficult, that's why last year was his chance and HE wasted it. And yes, he's 21. Why should he have more than a few minutes until he gives José a problem about who should start. You talk of him being 21 as if he was 25. A 25yo has to start every match because he's at his peak, a 21 has to grab every chance thrown his way. Sorry if this offends you, but you seem to think a lot like he does, and that's my problem with him. You earn things, you aren't handled them. A 21 has to prove his value and fight, that's how at age 24/25 you have a guaranteed place, because you fought for it, you worked for it. Lukaku hasn't done that in a top team yet and he will have to do it somewhere if he wants to reach the top.

3) It's not even about being better (although he is better, but he's also older). He was sacrificed for Torres. That was our main mistake. He's scored goals while being here while being second to Didier and Torres (sometimes he was third actually). We made a mistake, we had a gem but we sacrificed him for some blondie. You can never predict precisely a player's future. I didn't expect him to become so good so fast after he left us, but we treated him really badly imo, something we haven't done with Lukaku yet.

4) He does have his qualities, I said as much, but the last one you mentioned is that kind that he isn't willing to offer because to play against tired defenses he has to be in the bench and he (and you seemingly) thinks what he needs now is to start matches. What he needs and what he deserves can be completely different things.

5) Nothing to say about it. we definitely agree on that.

I like Rodriguez he would be perfect. We already have 20 non-HG players for 17 spots, if we let go of a HG player we need to replace him with another one. I'd say bring Jay. It doesn't matter much of who (as it can hardly get worse than Torres), but the profile. A younger player tutored by DD and even Costa, willing to fight his space in the team with some quality will already help us immensely. Of course it can't be a guy that doesn't seem to be promising, but I mean we don't need another WC striker.

[The Chels 2,502]

Drogba is 36 has malaria

That was ages ago

[Manuf 1,448]

If Costa is injured, I'd rather see Andre lead the line. Hard-working, humble, not complaining. I loved Lukaku at the beginning just like any other fan, his video of dreaming to play on Stamford was amazing, but in all matches he played for Chelsea (I know there were not that many of them) I haven't seen him deserving to start another game after the one he's played.

[Barbara 15,149]

ok, it wasn't just a few. I mean it was a few, I only had 6 points to make (for a girl like me six is such a small number) but developing them wasn't as objective as it could. It never is, but I'll try for the sake of it.

1) Lukaku left afraid of not displacing Etoo, Torres and Ba in hopes of with more playing time he'd displace Benteke who's better than all those guys, Lukaku included.

2) He has attitude problems such as thinking of himself more than he should, wanting things given to him without him earning them when all he did was score double figures in mid-tables team. So did Ba. Also he was burned out after only three months of playing week in and out. So he wants what his body doesn't seem able to deliver

3) The comparison with Sturridge isn't a good one. We messed up with Daniel sacrificing him to keep an useless Torres. He proved here he could score and he's way better than Lukaku is (or could even be). We didn't treat Lukaku bad and letting him go isn't a mistake even if he scores as many goes as Daniel because he's a package that comes with bad attitude. Also a guy like him that thinks he's earned his spot when he barely featured for us and never played in a top team could disrupt a dressing room the same way paying a fortune to a 19yo FB can. It's a risk

4) He isn't either good or suitable for us anyway. He's suited for what mid-tables teams face defensively and he could struggle even harder against extra-defensive teams than Costa would do if our AMs have problems creating them clear cut chances. Neither of them is technical, except Costa is already much better. Offering 15 goals a season may not be worthy all the headache he brings because players such Oscar and Schurrle should be bringing each almost as much if in form. We've been surrounded of so many bad strikers that 15 seems nice when it isn't enough for a striker

5) If he leaves it'll either his decision or the club's - if not a combination of both. In either case I trust Mourinho's assessment of allowing (or wanting) it to happen. I even agree and I'm not a world class manager...

6) The problem isn't letting him go. The problem is staying with only Torres and DD as backups to Costa - who could become injury prone, we don't know. And as we're at it, let's try to get a young prospect, with a different set of skills, more technical, that could not only offer around the same amount of goals as Lukaku, but also offer different tactical options.

There, I've done it. It may have been succinct and even had the same effect. But I don't feel accomplished. Actually I feel like my tits are shrinking and in the place of my lady parties a dick is growing. A girl needs her words!!! objectiveness isn't part of our world. But at least I guess I could do it if I tried

It was fun doing that. Should I keep the style? I'll make sure to do other things live to remind me I'm a girl and not a boy

[Henrique 9,133]

Selling a player for 30m that never scored a single goal in official matches for Chelsea, is an amazing deal for me.

Drogba still is a very good player, and at least a decent "squad player".

[The Skipper 20,609]

It was fun doing that. Should I keep the style? I'll make sure to do other things live to remind me I'm a girl and not a boy

Haha no Barb, stick to your old style, it's unique and has more passion... it's just you. Never change

[iseah100 5,612]

Absolutely but with Costa there isn't only the risk of injuries but also of not adapting quickly enough (less likely) and suspensions (very likely). I think Mourinho might gamble on the combination of Costa, Torres and Drogba until January at least, and this could well be his downfall.

Costa-Drogba-Torres is better than what we had last year. There will be no "downfall" of Jose. He'll replace Lukaku is he leaves v

[Barbara 15,149]

Haha no Barb, stick to your old style, it's unique and has more passion... it's just you. Never change

I thought so too - that's who I am, but well, maybe some of the people wouldn't skip my long-ass posts if I was brief. I could try to find some common ground.

But I know what the problem is. I don't let people fill in the blanks - especially on internet. 1) because they may fill it in a way I didn't mean 2) they may not fill at all and not understand what I meant.

I'm a teacher, I aim to be didactic even without realizing it. But the main thing is that I don't allow people to fill the blanks in their heads, I fill them all by myself.

Absolutely but with Costa there isn't only the risk of injuries but also of not adapting quickly enough (less likely) and suspensions (very likely). I think Mourinho might gamble on the combination of Costa, Torres and Drogba until January at least, and this could well be his downfall.

Yep, it's a risk that many variables could factor in. I don't feel confident and I'm not as convinced Torres+Didier is better than Etoo+Torres+Ba (as the probem presents itself if Costa doesn't play or produce). I guess it's too risky and it could waste all the perfect signings we did and the team's chances in winning tittles, and not only fighting til the end for them.

[The Chels 2,502]

If Costa is injured, I'd rather see Andre lead the line. Hard-working, humble, not complaining

We've tried that before and not had much success. I remember Gary Neville pointing out that Mourinho was constantly having to tell Schurrle where to position himself and make his runs against PSG away.

[LukakutoStamford 779]

1) You're undermining the role he could have here. Torres and Ba started matches... Torres too many. If Lukaku proved he was a best scorer than they - which isn't that hard he could have started many matches. Who said he was destined to play 10-15 minutes for a whole season? I've never expected him to be a super sub throughout the whole season and that the fear that made him move. For someone that believes he's so great he doesn't have proportional confidence in his game. It's almost like he has to convince us with his words because in the pitch he's not sure he will. You misunderstood my point about Benteke, what I meant is that he's much better than all the three mentioned (Lukaku, Torres and Ba) although he isn't an Aguero, let's say. I may even like him better than Costa as I'm not that much of a Costa fan...

2) Again with the assumption he wouldn't play. Last season he would have played a lot of minutes. This year with Costa it's more difficult, that's why last year was his chance and HE wasted it. And yes, he's 21. Why should he have more than a few minutes until he gives José a problem about who should start. You talk of him being 21 as if he was 25. A 25yo has to start every match because he's at his peak, a 21 has to grab every chance thrown his way. Sorry if this offends you, but you seem to think a lot like he does, and that's my problem with him. You earn things, you aren't handled them. A 21 has to prove his value and fight, that's how at age 24/25 you have a guaranteed place, because you fought for it, you worked for it. Lukaku hasn't done that in a top team yet and he will have to do it somewhere if he wants to reach the top.

3) It's not even about being better (although he is better, but he's also older). He was sacrificed for Torres. That was our main mistake. He's scored goals while being here while being second to Didier and Torres (sometimes he was third actually). We made a mistake, we had a gem but we sacrificed him for some blondie. You can never predict precisely a player's future. I didn't expect him to become so good so fast after he left us, but we treated him really badly imo, something we haven't done with Lukaku yet.

4) He does have his qualities, I said as much, but the last one you mentioned is that kind that he isn't willing to offer because to play against tired defenses he has to be in the bench and he (and you seemingly) thinks what he needs now is to start matches. What he needs and what he deserves can be completely different things.

5) Nothing to say about it. we definitely agree on that.

I like Rodriguez he would be perfect. We already have 20 non-HG players for 17 spots, if we let go of a HG player we need to replace him with another one. I'd say bring Jay. It doesn't matter much of who (as it can hardly get worse than Torres), but the profile. A younger player tutored by DD and even Costa, willing to fight his space in the team with some quality will already help us immensely. Of course it can't be a guy that doesn't seem to be promising, but I mean we don't need another WC striker.

1. It's hard to say what his role would have been had he stayed at Chelsea for 2013/2014. At Everton he played 2598 minutes in 33 appearances which comes to 78.73 minutes per appearance. He missed 5 leagues games due to injury but my guess is that he would have had an additional 350-400 minutes from those games. Yes the Striker core was poor last year, but I think it would have been a terrible idea to have him leading the line at 20 even if he was the best. Remember that Mourinho was really trying to land Rooney as the #1 guy up until the deadline.

2. It's not an assumption he wouldn't play but rather he'd play a less than he did at Everton, which isn't the steam cooker that Chelsea is in terms of pressure etc. I think this would be a much better year for him to step into the #2 role because he can get acclimatized to Chelsea plus he's not the #1 but he can get 1500+ minutes and take over the #1 duties should Costa get hurt. I don't think he's being handed anything. I think it's more of a bit of apprehension from happen when he was 18 and AVB didn't loan him out and he sat at Chelsea doing very little. Each player is different some can handle working from the bottom getting nothing and some need to be coddled more. You can choose to get rid of those that needs to be coddled but players do need to be treated based on how their personality works and within the framework of the coaches system. If Mou think that can't work then he should get rid of Lukaku and I'm behind that.

3. It's not about treating a player badly as it is not falling prey to salary and shirt selling pressures. Unfortunately it happens in soccer and all other sports. Players that teams invest in get much longer leashes and they aren't easily displaced by less heralded players because of egos.

4. I don't think he's adverse to coming off of the bench, but I think it's a question of being able to see a future and I'm not sure he sees a future at Chelsea under Mourinho just I don't think Jose sees a future with him leading the line at Chelsea.

It just needs to be someone who can give quality minutes not need to start and be happy that he's playing for a big club and has a shot at trophies. Ideally a younger guy 23/24 would be good but lots of players at that age have starting ambition.

[The Chels 2,502]

Costa-Drogba-Torres is better than what we had last year. There will be no "downfall" of Jose. He'll replace Lukaku is he leaves v

It might be better than last year but it's not good enough to fight on 4 fronts. Let's hope he does replace Lukaku if he sells him but I'm not too sure.

[bababoom 4,478]

Sturridge is the more complete striker (compared to Lukaku), that's why people miss him now even to this day. Sturridge is technically sound, fast and able to keep the ball under pressure. We all know he's a selfish cunt but i have to say under Rodgers he passes a lot more. I still wouldn't say he's world class but he would have offered something different upfront, a new 'dimension' as AVB would say.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

I don't care anymore if Lukaku leaves. But if he is leaving then we must buy a good second choice striker. Drogba and Torres cannot be considered good enough backups. Should have bought Mandzukic. Who else is possible?

Remy would be a good shout.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Sturridge is the more complete striker (compared to Lukaku), that's why people miss him now even to this day. Sturridge is technically sound, fast and able to keep the ball under pressure. We all know he's a selfish cunt but i have to say under Rodgers he passes a lot more. I still wouldn't say he's world class but he would have offered something different upfront, a new 'dimension' as AVB would say.

I dont think he was ever as selfish as many thought he was.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Now that we have set the price, hope clubs like Real or Monaco or Juventus could join in. It is much better to ship him overseas.

[didierforever 7,349]

Just visited the sturridge thread. DEJA-VU!!! probably worse as lukaku WILL be bought by city/united. A direct title competitor in coming years. Atleast with sturridge we can be sure that he won't challenge for the title for the coming future.

[J.F. 1,484]

Lukaku is staying, 10 minutes conversation with Drogba and he will stay, he knows that he will get more chance because he will be our second striker + Drogba is going to be his mentor

[Svita 10 186]

Selling a player for 30m that never scored a single goal in official matches for Chelsea, is an amazing deal for me.

Drogba still is a very good player, and at least a decent "squad player".

But not to me, because he has potentional to be next Drogba. And we don´t need money so much.

To start season with Costa, Torres and Drogba is suicide

[DYC. 7,542]

I say make a deal a la Real. Sell him for £20 mil with the option to get him back for £25-30 mil within the next two seasons.

[Blue Gino 377]

All I ask is one good season, say the right things, then he can get his wish granted and sold next summer. He has the mindset of being the main man but sorry, Diego is the alpha who's going to be a nightmare for opponents this season.