Romelu Lukaku

[NikkiCFC 8,293]

1 hour ago, robsblubot said:

Allow me to exemplify:

Is Lukaku exactly the same as Werner? Better yet, does Lukaku do *everything* that Werner does AND on top of that scores far more goals? Or is he a completely different player? For me it's clearly the latter, which makes the team different from last season.

But Lukaku is playing essentially instead of Kai who played as number 9. If anything, Werner should benefit from Lukaku arrival as we know he works best with classical striker. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said:

But Lukaku is playing essentially instead of Kai who played as number 9. If anything, Werner should benefit from Lukaku arrival as we know he works best with classical striker. 

Sure, and if Werner gets in the start XI someone else will have to leave and we will miss what he does on the pitch. Kai looks also less with Lukaku on the pith in my eyes. There is no win-win here because we had a VERY strong side last season already. Again, I agree that Lukaku helps a lot winning those physical PL matches, but he will always play due to the price tag.

Also, the formation that we used last season (+ dedicated striker) was the one from the first half against spurs. We only became as solid as last season when added a 3rd CM with Kante. That's because the balance of the team was a bit off when facing a stronger side. Potentially because Lukaku does not "run like dog" like Werner. 😆

We will find out more as the season progress, but I'm still very curious as to what we will do against City and United, not to mention the later stages of CL.

[Clockwork 1,794]

1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said:

But Lukaku is playing essentially instead of Kai who played as number 9. If anything, Werner should benefit from Lukaku arrival as we know he works best with classical striker. 

Werner problem is finishing though, is not out of position, runs, or anything for that matter beside converting his chances. I would give him run of games though, not like Mount or Havertz are playing well.

[Tomo 21,751]

On 20/09/2021 at 20:29, NikkiCFC said:

But Lukaku is playing essentially instead of Kai who played as number 9. If anything, Werner should benefit from Lukaku arrival as we know he works best with classical striker. 

Which brings me to another issue, Kai so far is not looking anything near as good behind the striker as he did as false 9.

Hopefully Tuchel at one point tries the Martinez tactic of false 9 with Rom coming in from RF.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

14 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Which brings me to another issue, Kai so far is not looking anything near as good behind the striker as he did as false 9.

Hopefully Tuchel at one point tries the Martinez tactic of false 9 with Rom coming in from RF.

 The question is whether we switch the 80m signing to accomodate the 100m signing or vice versa...

this tactic might be a decent ploy every once in a while, but there is no way TT is gonna make that a permanent. He is rather conservative in terms of positional play.

It is really Kai's job to adapt to the new situation. False 9 is a hardly a permanent position but rather a tactical option we palyed last season bc our strikers were misfiring. No coach except Guardiola has every played a false 9 over extended periods IIRC. Kai should not be fixated on that role. If he really only excels at false 9, this is a big problem but only for him. Right wing/right attacker is exaclty the position he mostly played for Bayer Leverkusen and where he scored most his goals. this is why i think he just suffers from a dip in form and should be fine in the long run.

[Milan 17,955]

6 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

 The question is whether we switch the 80m signing to accomodate the 100m signing or vice versa...

this tactic might be a decent ploy every once in a while, but there is no way TT is gonna make that a permanent. He is rather conservative in terms of positional play.

It is really Kai's job to adapt to the new situation. False 9 is a hardly a permanent position but rather a tactical option we palyed last season bc our strikers were misfiring. No coach except Guardiola has every played a false 9 over extended periods IIRC. Kai should not be fixated on that role. If he really only excels at false 9, this is a big problem but only for him. Right wing/right attacker is exaclty the position he mostly played for Bayer Leverkusen and where he scored most his goals. this is why i think he just suffers from a dip in form and should be fine in the long run.

Kai has always been a slow starter, though, hasn't he? At least stats-wise. But he really needs to step it up now and go a level above at least.

[MoroccanBlue 5,378]

In terms of balance this is probably the best. With Havertz operating as a false 9.

Werner                Lukaku

Havertz

[Warning_Hazard 156]

PISS POOR.

Knew he wasnt what you all said!

Jesus christ my nan could of done better today, He looked virtually the same as his first stint today.

£97M hahaha what a joke

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

6 minutes ago, Warning_Hazard said:

PISS POOR.

Knew he wasnt what you all said!

Jesus christ my nan could of done better today, He looked virtually the same as his first stint today.

£97M hahaha what a joke

Jesus talk about knee jerk. Honestly, you’d think it was Wycombe Wanderers who beat us today. 

[killer1257 3,282]

He needs passes. If he gets chances, he will score goals. But our team is not famous for creating chances, especially with Kovacic, Jorgi, Kante and Werner. All of them are not creative. Almost every Manchester City player is more creative than our midfield and attackers. Even Cancelo is.. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

16 minutes ago, Warning_Hazard said:

PISS POOR.

Knew he wasnt what you all said!

Jesus christ my nan could of done better today, He looked virtually the same as his first stint today.

£97M hahaha what a joke

You must be trolling here

[laura90 556]

Every player from our front three last season was crucial for our chances creation.  And our defense. Every  one from the front three was crucial simply because neither one of them is especially talented, technically gifted or capable to create something on their own. Even Werner, last season had the highest contribution for goals scored in the team.

Believing in our ability to create the same amount of chances with removing one of them was rather naive . Believing Lukaku is the striker to thrive from our reduced attacking play also naive. These days our full backs, or wing backs are bound to cross to Lukaku first and defend later. 

Lukaku addition only made sense to me  if we were to switch to back four and keep the same number of  attackers. Since we don't have players for that our entire build up play may suffer further. 

It will be big games where we will be found out. Liverpool, City, Man Utd and whoever we meet in the CL knock out stage. But something tells me we will find playing likes of Brentford and Southampton harder than Arsenal and Tottenham. With this cross it to Lukaku set up.

 

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by laura90

[Warning_Hazard 156]

Sorry but I was at the game and he was awful.

Shocking control, Offered nothing, Couldnt hold the ball up AND missed an absolute sitter, Hoofing at it like a donkey.

As a team we didnt turn up but my god he stood out today, Atleast Alonso was marked out the game by 3 players!

Posters here harping on about its the rest of the squad not putting the ball on a plate for him are clutching at straws.

 

Its not just lack of threat in front of goal its his whole bledy game, Today atleast.

 

Worried.

[DH1988 1,348]

It's not about putting a ball on a plate, our formation and initial plan seemed to be setup to allow us to bring City onto us and play the ball down the channels or over the top, which worked everytime we did that.. The problem became that we simply don't have the midfielders to do that consistently or to a standard required.

Rom threw his hands up and went mad at Azpi when a cross didn't come in for the 10th time early on, id of done the same? 

I completely understand the change of formation for this game, the players failed to execute it and TT, for once, failed to change it sooner.

[laura90 556]

2 hours ago, Warning_Hazard said:

Sorry but I was at the game and he was awful.

Shocking control, Offered nothing, Couldnt hold the ball up AND missed an absolute sitter, Hoofing at it like a donkey.

As a team we didnt turn up but my god he stood out today, Atleast Alonso was marked out the game by 3 players!

Posters here harping on about its the rest of the squad not putting the ball on a plate for him are clutching at straws.

 

Its not just lack of threat in front of goal its his whole bledy game, Today atleast.

 

Worried.

Lukaku has always been this type of striker and always will be sadly, when he scores it's all great. When he doesn't score, everything he lacks is highly visible.

Keep calm and accept it, top four in the Premier League with Lukaku up front is great achievement. As good as it gets. Even Man Utd failed to carry it out.

Edited September 25, 2021 by laura90