Romelu Lukaku

[Tomo 21,733]

7 minutes ago, Hermione said:

Sell to whom, were stuck with this guy for years to come.

That I don't agree with.

If there's one thing that Rom can be firmly relied on with is he will force his way out if/when the time comes he has to fight for his place.

[Pizy 18,368]

If Rom was missing loads of sitters and easy chances like Werner I’d be concerned. Or if he was being fed good through balls repeatedly and having the ball bounce off him like a donkey. But that’s not what’s happening. He’s not even getting opportunities.

For me the much bigger annoyance and concern is the players behind him. We see nearly every time he plays for Belgium what happens when you feed the beast. But much like last season we’re currently getting ZERO from our midfielders. On paper the likes of Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic, and Mount behind a world class goal scorer should be ridiculously lethal. But Ziyech and Werner have forgotten how to play football since joining Chelsea, Pulisic is made of the most delicate porcelain known to man, and Mount is woefully out of form at the worst possible time. Havertz has also yet to put together a consistent run of games where he looks amazing.

Combine all that with the fact that Jorginho and Kova offer nothing going forward creatively AND that Azpi keeps playing as the RWB and there’s no wonder Lukaku is struggling.

Also, I heard the commentator during our game yesterday say that we are 19th in the league so far at winning the ball back in the opposition half. Ahead of only rock bottom Norwich. Meaning we don’t press high AT ALL anymore. That’s pretty much the hallmark of every top attacking team these days. Press like maniacs, win the ball, and blitz the opposition box. We just aren’t doing that this season. We kind of just sit off teams and when we get the ball the opponents are already set deep to negate Lukaku.

We need to have a run of games with Chilly and Reece as wingbacks, Mount back in form and working his socks off pressing, and a more attacking mentality overall.

 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,477]

We havent become good at releasing the ball early for Rom or even Werner so they can go chase it down. He has not been dominate, but also have not played to his or Werner’s strengths. 
 

Even with his current form, his history suggests he is due to go on a run of games against shit teams putting in a lot of goals.

If there is a silver lining, we might be in strong for Haaland.

[laura90 556]

1 hour ago, Tomo said:

That I don't agree with.

If there's one thing that Rom can be firmly relied on with is he will force his way out if/when the time comes he has to fight for his place.

He will force his way out, I have never doubted it. This season or the next. But the best deal we can possible  get is loaning him back to Inter or any other club with paying half of his 325 000 a week. Almost 800 000 a goal so far. Never mind. There is no top club that will pay us big money for him . We could only get around 20 mil from likes of  Aston Villa or Spurs. At best. But he would have to accept his wages being  reduced. We will be desperate to get rid just like United was. And Conte won't be there to prove a point this time around. Which he failed to do anyway. Nobody in PL thinks he is improved player from his United days.

Who in this club believed it was acceptable from world class player (the one that wins you PL and CL trophies) to work on improving his first touch at the age of 26? It's like child learning to walk at the age of 6, God forbid.  Mind-boggling. And that is worth paying 325 000 a week. 

He doesn't have space here. In this League. He is always  around defenders. In Italy he was free to run. That's why we can't have Inter Lukaku . Except against Arsenal. He was left alone there. But it was just one game.

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, Pizy said:

If Rom was missing loads of sitters and easy chances like Werner I’d be concerned. Or if he was being fed good through balls repeatedly and having the ball bounce off him like a donkey. But that’s not what’s happening. He’s not even getting opportunities.

How exactly is Lukaku not getting the opportunities? 

He had chances to score against:

Juventus - one early on from a corner and the other within the last 10 minutes

Southampton - somehow hit the post from close range and then had a goal ruled out for offside

Brentford - had two goals ruled out for offside, including blasting one over the net from close range

Isn't he supposed to be clinical? Didn't we buy him to convert these sort of chances?

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, ZAPHOD2319 said:

We havent become good at releasing the ball early for Rom or even Werner so they can go chase it down. He has not been dominate, but also have not played to his or Werner’s strengths. 

Wouldn't say we have been playing to Werner's strengths but it still didn't stop us from creating chances last season. 

[Jase 43,479]

2 hours ago, Pizy said:

Also, I heard the commentator during our game yesterday say that we are 19th in the league so far at winning the ball back in the opposition half. Ahead of only rock bottom Norwich. Meaning we don’t press high AT ALL anymore. That’s pretty much the hallmark of every top attacking team these days. Press like maniacs, win the ball, and blitz the opposition box. We just aren’t doing that this season. We kind of just sit off teams and when we get the ball the opponents are already set deep to negate Lukaku.

I wonder why...?

[ZAPHOD2319 4,477]

5 minutes ago, Jase said:

Wouldn't say we have been playing to Werner's strengths but it still didn't stop us from creating chances last season. 

Werner definitely missed an unbelievable amount of shots last year. I think this possession type of football misses oportunities for both players to hit long runs. I also do not think Tuchel wants the players to hold back on long passes that both players can chase down with their speed when those oportunities are there.

[Blue Armour 4,278]

Rom needs to adapt. He can't always expect the ball to be played to his feet, and he should do better in the air.

You look at this performance from Didier in 2010/11 season and you see what I mean.

 

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

22 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

Rom needs to adapt. He can't always expect the ball to be played to his feet, and he should do better in the air.

You look at this performance from Didier in 2010/11 season and you see what I mean.

 

Yeah but asking Rom to be like Didier is just not going to happen though. Is it?

[Blue Armour 4,278]

1 hour ago, OneMoSalah said:

Yeah but asking Rom to be like Didier is just not going to happen though. Is it?

Definitely not, but doesn't mean he can't improve some aspects. 

Like becoming more mobile, moving to the wing to draw out defenders. Attacking -the fullbacks..or just use his body better. I've seen a lot of instances where Mendy or someone lumps a long ball at him, but the defender gets to it first because of his mis-timed jump.

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

2 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Definitely not, but doesn't mean he can't improve some aspects. 

Like becoming more mobile, moving to the wing to draw out defenders. Attacking -the fullbacks..or just use his body better. I've seen a lot of instances where Mendy or someone lumps a long ball at him, but the defender gets to it first because of his mis-timed jump.

Every player can improve but asking someone who isn’t a target man to all of a sudden improve and become a target man isnt going to work. Hes said that himself re being a target man - its not his game and never has been. 

All in all he’s not the worst at using his body at times but he does need to work on things, as does the whole attack. He is pretty mobile for a big guy but he’s not really the sort of player you want drifting out on the left or right wing constantly when he’s here as the focal point surely? I think thats why this 352 has to go and the 343 has to come back, to play with two 10s/attacking midfielders to try and play in the pockets or a bit wider if needed. 

Edited October 17, 2021 by OneMoSalah

[Blue Armour 4,278]

4 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Every player can improve but asking someone who isn’t a target man to all of a sudden improve and become a target man isnt going to work. Hes said that himself re being a target man - its not his game and never has been. 

All in all he’s not the worst at using his body at times but he does need to work on things, as does the whole attack. He is pretty mobile for a big guy but he’s not really the sort of player you want drifting out on the left or right wing constantly when he’s here as the focal point surely? I think thats why this 352 has to go and the 343 has to come back, to play with two 10s/attacking midfielders to try and play in the pockets or a bit wider if needed. 

I agree that he isn't a target man and that's the part that's a bit confusing, the team seem to play like he's a target man. They use him to setup attacks for runners playing along side, kind of like how Giroud was used. 

And yes, agree that the 352 has got to go. We look much better with 2 attackers playing alongside Lukaku.

[robsblubot 3,504]

Bottom line is that we bought the wrong striker, as usual. So, nothing new here really.

Lukaku is definitely not a target man, and his characteristics match what lesser teams generally look for from his attackers (yes Inter too... not really a contender for anything important these days). That's why I'm not very optimistic about his passage here and whether he'll ever improve our side.

The important bit here tho is that our side was already very good before he arrived, so improving on that would always be difficult. 

Edited October 18, 2021 by robsblubot

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

20 hours ago, Hermione said:

Sell to whom, were stuck with this guy for years to come.

Ah me lads, ye shudda seen us gannin’,

We pass’d the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin’;

Thor wes lots o’ lads an’ lasses there, all wi’ smiling faces,

Gannin alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.

[Warning_Hazard 156]

23 hours ago, Hermione said:

Sell to whom, were stuck with this guy for years to come.

Newcastle!

[Tomo 21,733]

On 17/10/2021 at 13:37, Pizy said:

If Rom was missing loads of sitters and easy chances like Werner I’d be concerned. Or if he was being fed good through balls repeatedly and having the ball bounce off him like a donkey. But that’s not what’s happening. He’s not even getting opportunities.

For me the much bigger annoyance and concern is the players behind him. We see nearly every time he plays for Belgium what happens when you feed the beast. But much like last season we’re currently getting ZERO from our midfielders. On paper the likes of Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic, and Mount behind a world class goal scorer should be ridiculously lethal. But Ziyech and Werner have forgotten how to play football since joining Chelsea, Pulisic is made of the most delicate porcelain known to man, and Mount is woefully out of form at the worst possible time. Havertz has also yet to put together a consistent run of games where he looks amazing.

Combine all that with the fact that Jorginho and Kova offer nothing going forward creatively AND that Azpi keeps playing as the RWB and there’s no wonder Lukaku is struggling.

Also, I heard the commentator during our game yesterday say that we are 19th in the league so far at winning the ball back in the opposition half. Ahead of only rock bottom Norwich. Meaning we don’t press high AT ALL anymore. That’s pretty much the hallmark of every top attacking team these days. Press like maniacs, win the ball, and blitz the opposition box. We just aren’t doing that this season. We kind of just sit off teams and when we get the ball the opponents are already set deep to negate Lukaku.

We need to have a run of games with Chilly and Reece as wingbacks, Mount back in form and working his socks off pressing, and a more attacking mentality overall.

 

Missing loads of chances is always a lesser evil compared to barely getting any, atleast with the former there's a hope they will revert to the mean (which Werner has been doing of late all be it more for the national team than us but it's a start), if you barely get any where's the hope? The players behind him were creating chances at will last season, for that reason alone the service excuse doesn't wash. Their finishing can be critisised but creating? Not a chance.

You mention pressing but Rom is the big reason we've gone to shit in that regard, only Saint Maximan and Ronaldo rank lower out of PL attackers. He's not a stylistic fit atall for what Tuchel is/was trying to build and it is frustrating the hell out of me that we've ripped apart a promising system to accommodate him. The get a poacher to finish what we create narrative was far too flawed, in reality you take a man out of the build up and it's showing, big time.

He has to start pushing a goal a game (especially vs the flat track teams) and his goals pushing us into a title race for what we've sacrificed to accommodate him to become even remotely justified.

Edited October 18, 2021 by Tomo

[ZAPHOD2319 4,477]

38 minutes ago, Warning_Hazard said:

Newcastle!

Or to wherever Conte takes over.