9. Romelu Lukaku

[NikkiCFC 6,589]

27 minutes ago, laura90 said:

Board denied Conte Lukaku

Why they didn't deny Lukaku again? What has changed from 2017? 

This is not true. Club tried to sign Lukaku. 

[NikkiCFC 6,589]

On 20/10/2021 at 23:33, NikkiCFC said:

CHO/Havertz have some good chemistry.

Krasnodar, WBA, City, Palace and today. 5 goals they assisted each other. Dont have exact stats but considering limited game time CHO has I imagine they spent very little time together on the pitch.

Who runs this page. They are clearly reading this forum 

Those 2 are our most talented attackers without a doubt. If we are speaking of pure talent.

[Blues Forever 939]

Just now, Tomo said:

Every signing turns into a board signing when they have a few bad games.

I'm starting to have my doubt considering Tuchel still doesn't know how to use Lukaku properly. Tuchel made Lukaku as a target man which clearly not his game at all. Our attack also became less fluid than last season and more predictable, Lukaku atm just not suited for Tuchel current system. 

Edited October 22, 2021 by Blues Forever

[Hermione 250]

Suarez contract is up in the summer maybe just maybe Atletico can save us again, doubt it but can't see anyone else taking this guy. 

[Warning_Hazard 155]

8 hours ago, Hermione said:

Suarez contract is up in the summer maybe just maybe Atletico can save us again, doubt it but can't see anyone else taking this guy. 

Probably score goals but no one will warm to him after the rat bites and hes getting on a bit!

We're screaming out for a creative mid and a defender

They should sell lukaku in summer and bring in haaland IMO, Unless lukaku changes it around and nets us into glory!

 

[OhForAGreavsie 5,254]

17 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

After Ancelotti and the Torres transfer, I've come to the conclusion that there's really no such thing as 'board signing' or a 'manager signing".

They're both in on it. 

Well I always believed that Torres was signed by Roman until Butch Wilkins stated publicly, and stated adamantly, that it was Carlo who was pushing for Nando. I don't see any reason why Ray would not have known the truth or would have lied about it, so that settled the matter for me. Shame on Carlo. I knew Nando was not a good footballer, and said so frequently before he was signed. There is no excuse for Carlo.

In Rom's case I feel that someone in the club hierarchy wanted to prove a point from all those years ago. Wanted, in effect, to say, "See we were right about this bloke all along." This is just gut, not based on any evidence or indications.

Edited October 22, 2021 by OhForAGreavsie

[ZAPHOD2319 1,923]

Rom not called up for the International break. Hopefully he is staying in London to rehab. 

Quote

Christian Benteke and Divock Origi return to the squad and there is a first call-up for Dante Vanzeir, the top scorer of the Belgian league’s surprise leaders Union Saint Gilloise.

 

[King Kante 982]

On 22/10/2021 at 14:42, OhForAGreavsie said:

Well I always believed that Torres was signed by Roman until Butch Wilkins stated publicly, and stated adamantly, that it was Carlo who was pushing for Nando. I don't see any reason why Ray would not have known the truth or would have lied about it, so that settled the matter for me. Shame on Carlo. I knew Nando was not a good footballer, and said so frequently before he was signed. There is no excuse for Carlo.

In Rom's case I feel that someone in the club hierarchy wanted to prove a point from all those years ago. Wanted, in effect, to say, "See we were right about this bloke all along." This is just gut, not based on any evidence or indications.

There was a rumour that one of the reasons Carlo got the sack (not sure if it is true or not) was due to him saying that for the 2011 Summer window his key suggestion was CR7 who was obviously completely impossible. 

[OhForAGreavsie 5,254]

3 minutes ago, King Kante said:

There was a rumour that one of the reasons Carlo got the sack (not sure if it is true or not) was due to him saying that for the 2011 Summer window his key suggestion was CR7 who was obviously completely impossible. 

I've never heard this before. If true, it would be hard to understand why Carlo would pin his hopes on something so unobtainable.

[King Kante 982]

12 minutes ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

I've never heard this before. If true, it would be hard to understand why Carlo would pin his hopes on something so unobtainable.

I think it was more to do with him not really having much interest in squad building/having much understanding of transfers. Apparently he is more a coach who just wants to be on the training pitch then go home, hence he doesn't really get involved in day to day business or follow what is going on with potential up and coming talents. 

As I said, it is just a rumour I heard that I am passing on rather than something I think is 100% true.

Edited November 8, 2021 by King Kante

[Hermione 250]

Please don't come back.

[King Kante 982]

12 hours ago, Hermione said:

Please don't come back.

Apprantly the xG average with him in the side is 1.5 whereas, without him it is 2.5. Of course the quality of opposition has gone down a bit but that is not a good look at all. What is pleasing is that we know TT looks and values this stat a lot. 

Edited November 24, 2021 by King Kante

[Stats 6,769]

29 minutes ago, King Kante said:

Apprantly the xG average with him in the side is 1.5 whereas, without him it is 2.5. Of course the quality of opposition has gone down a bit but that is not a good look at all. What is pleasing is that we know TT looks and values this stat a lot. 

I think it may help Lukaku more if he is playing with likes of CHO also. When Havertz and Mount are behind Lukaku, there is not enough pace. CHO runs at defenders and his directness makes us more fluid and even allows likes of James and Chilwell to overlap and pass into the box. I think Lukaku, when he comes into the team would benefit playing with him in the team.

[Pizy 15,910]

2 minutes ago, Stats said:

I think it may help Lukaku more if he is playing with likes of CHO also. When Havertz and Mount are behind Lukaku, there is not enough pace. CHO runs at defenders and his directness makes us more fluid and even allows likes of James and Chilwell to overlap and pass into the box. I think Lukaku, when he comes into the team would benefit playing with him in the team.

Bingo. I think and hope Rom will benefit massively from speedy or tricky players who are now in great form like CHO, Pulisic, and even Ziyech around him. Perhaps the Lukaku and Werner combo.

I’m not writing this signing off as a mistake like so many here have yet. If we still look poor with him in the team come the end of the season then questions can be asked. 

[Alabama 1,910]

32 minutes ago, Stats said:

I think it may help Lukaku more if he is playing with likes of CHO also. When Havertz and Mount are behind Lukaku, there is not enough pace. CHO runs at defenders and his directness makes us more fluid and even allows likes of James and Chilwell to overlap and pass into the box. I think Lukaku, when he comes into the team would benefit playing with him in the team.

Finally a sane post... 

[Jase 43,476]

1 hour ago, King Kante said:

Apprantly the xG average with him in the side is 1.5 whereas, without him it is 2.5. Of course the quality of opposition has gone down a bit but that is not a good look at all. What is pleasing is that we know TT looks and values this stat a lot. 

Am perhaps a tad more interested to see how will our pressing go.

You only have to see yesterday's game, for example, at how effective and relentless we pressed Juventus from back to front. We constantly harassed and never allowed them to settle (until we went 3-0 up) and build any sort of momentum. We know pressing is not an issue with Havertz, Werner, Pulisic, Mount, CHO and Ziyech. But Lukaku? Would we have been able to press the way we did last night had Lukaku played? 

[Jase 43,476]

47 minutes ago, Stats said:

I think it may help Lukaku more if he is playing with likes of CHO also. When Havertz and Mount are behind Lukaku, there is not enough pace. CHO runs at defenders and his directness makes us more fluid and even allows likes of James and Chilwell to overlap and pass into the box. I think Lukaku, when he comes into the team would benefit playing with him in the team.

Is it really that simple?

We have always tended to look better without a traditional #9 - something Lukaku only is in the team - leading the line under Tuchel. Our attacking play is more fluid because there's constant movement and interchanging and the pressing is also much more effective (take yesterday's game for example). 

Not writing Lukaku off but there are definitely still question marks to be answered as to how he will fit in effectively to the team. 

[King Kante 982]

58 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Bingo. I think and hope Rom will benefit massively from speedy or tricky players who are now in great form like CHO, Pulisic, and even Ziyech around him. Perhaps the Lukaku and Werner combo.

I’m not writing this signing off as a mistake like so many here have yet. If we still look poor with him in the team come the end of the season then questions can be asked. 

Thing is he has Rashford and Martial to play with at Utd and that didn't work either. As @Jase says, it isn't even just his technical limitations and off the ball work but also his pressing that is a big issue. 

As for writing him off, I personally did that as soon as we were linked as the player I saw in Italy was the same player that Utd couldn't wait to get rid of. 

[Tomo 20,987]

18 minutes ago, King Kante said:

Thing is he has Rashford and Martial to play with at Utd and that didn't work either. As @Jase says, it isn't even just his technical limitations and off the ball work but also his pressing that is a big issue. 

As for writing him off, I personally did that as soon as we were linked as the player I saw in Italy was the same player that Utd couldn't wait to get rid of. 

I can't find the article again but I read somewhere (just before Rom got injured) that we were marginally above Spurs at pressing at that point and we know how lifeless they were under Nuno.

If Lukaku comes back and earns his spot like Callum has fine, but given how good we look without him it's up to him to adapt to us not the other way round.

[Stats 6,769]

2 hours ago, Jase said:

Is it really that simple?

We have always tended to look better without a traditional #9 - something Lukaku only is in the team - leading the line under Tuchel. Our attacking play is more fluid because there's constant movement and interchanging and the pressing is also much more effective (take yesterday's game for example). 

Not writing Lukaku off but there are definitely still question marks to be answered as to how he will fit in effectively to the team. 

I also think our attacking play has been more fluid, because there is actual WIDTH! Mount and Havertz, as good as they are, when they play together in the attacking trio, it narrows our width and I would say it is easier to mark Lukaku. When you have wide players who run at opposition, it creates gaps. I genuinely reckon Lukaku would thrive of this. Lukaku's movement is really good too. It is not as if he is a static player.