Romelu Lukaku

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

And yet he still made a nuisance of himself and almost created something out of nothing at the end.

I think he develops wherever he plays. I think he also makes us a better team and that his loaning could be the difference between us winning the league or not.

He is our most effective striker and we loaned him out. We could loan him to Barcelona and I think it would be the wrong move for both him and this club.

I said that towards the end that he nearly scored. Its just the games against United and Arsenal in particular for Everton he hasn't stood out like he has in other games, shows he's still got somethings to work on (like his movement at times is so frustrating), obviously we aren't in a position where we can really say though that he wouldn't improve us because he probably would but if we were in such a situation with a Falcao or a Lewa or another top striker we wouldn't be talking about how we need to recall him this badly.

[yuvala 2,167]

Lukaku made a lot of runs against arsenal. Unfortunately the midfielders especially mirallas didnt look up a lot of times to spot those runs. The last chance he created for himself was great, out muscled arteta and got a chance but he shot over though.

I like how he makes a lot of runs behind the defenders, it keeps the defenders so occupied and the midfielders play better.

His situation is just like mata, mata has some disadvantages, but at the end of the day we create far more with him playing. Lukaku has a lot of disadvantages but he can assure you 20 EPL goals if he plays here, which means we will win more with him than what we have now.

He's proved himself in westbrom, a counter attack team and now is doing so in everton a possession team. He's in perfect condition to come back to us and do some damage.

Really annoyed me.. made some really good runs, no pass though.

It's kinda wierd because you'd think he'll be their target man, but he really isn't.

It's like he's waiting there, making movements like a target man, but they dont give him the ball as if he actually was one.

[Weckerz 3,781]

I said that towards the end that he nearly scored. Its just the games against United and Arsenal in particular for Everton he hasn't stood out like he has in other games, shows he's still got somethings to work on (like his movement at times is so frustrating), obviously we aren't in a position where we can really say though that he wouldn't improve us because he probably would but if we were in such a situation with a Falcao or a Lewa or another top striker we wouldn't be talking about how we need to recall him this badly.

That's the whole issue, loaning out our best striker. We don't want to recall him because he is a young promising player, we want him here because he's our best option.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Really annoyed me.. made some really good runs, no pass though.

It's kinda wierd because you'd think he'll be their target man, but he really isn't.

It's like he's waiting there, making movements like a target man, but they dont give him the ball as if he actually was one.

Thats the disadvantage of a possession team like everton. Sometimes they just linkup play and it isolates the striker. But because lukaku has presence than our strikers, he occupies the two centerbacks at all times and leaves the AM more space. Thats why Barkley had a great game.

[Las7 951]

It's fairly obvious that during big matches there are a few things Martinez instructs his players to do:

1) Full backs don't cross towards Lukaku in fear of loosing the ball and allowing big teams to counter attack(unless Baines is playing he is allowed to cross).

2) Lukaku plays the ball back into midfield with the back of the goal in cases where there is more than one defender on him.

3) Lukaku is allowed to try and beat defenders when there is only one player closing him down.

Lukaku is basically used to get more space for other Attacking midfielders when they play against big clubs as opposed to the team being focused on creating chances for him. Yesterday and against United there were several instances of Lukaku playing the simple pass into Barkley or Pienaar when there were two players on his back while he tried to beat his man when they were one on one.

Martinez has done a good job at Everton and they play possession based football with little risk when facing top clubs hence he is able to get better results than Moyes ever was. You also have to account the fact Lukaku is more closely marked than a player like Kone or Jelavic would be hence allowing more space for the attacking midfielders.

I'd expect more from Lukaku after a few more months in the club in this big matches - since I believe he is still getting used to this tactical scheme because that's not how he was used at West Brom, In fact I feel this is how we would utilize him if he was at the club in such matches. Everton are starting to out play their top 4 rivals as they did in the first 40 minutes against Arsenal.

What I don't agree with is that he would not get the service at the club I feel that despite everything we have the best attacking midfielders in the League(possibly only Ozil is a better creating midfielder than what we have available). The problem is that our strikers aren't mobile enough or exert confidence in our attacking midfielders thus instead of looking for Torres/Ba/Eto'o the likes of Ramires/Hazard/Schurrle/Mata/Lampard feel like they need to do it all themselves. Imagine if we had someone like RvP demanding the ball do you honestly feel any of our attacking midfielders will look for goal every time instead of playing it into a player demanding the ball every time it's around the box and making himself available. Last year largely the same United side ended up being comfortable title winners simply because RvP's form - thats the difference between us being in the top four and challenging for the title.

I'm not saying Lukaku is that player but he has more chances into turning into a player like that than the likes of Torres/Ba/Eto'o and he could have just as easily developed playing here considering we didn't end up signing a World Class striker.

At the moment we just need a consistant Goal Scorer in the League our strikers haven scored an away goal in the EPL in the year of 2013; they have 4 goals between them in the EPL and it's fucking December.

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

Thats the disadvantage of a possession team like everton. Sometimes they just linkup play and it isolates the striker. But because lukaku has presence than our strikers, he occupies the two centerbacks at all times and leaves the AM more space. Thats why Barkley had a great game.

No Barkley had a great game because he wasn't afraid to run at Arsenal and he didn't let his head drop if things didn't come off. He has a great mentality as in he's fearless (not afraid to try difficult passes/shots/flicks, take the ball under pressure etc.), strong and most of all technically excellent. The amount of times I seen him receive the ball with his back to goal under pressure from one or two Arsenal players was incredible, the fact he always turned and beat them as well before going went forward without losing the ball in some critical areas of the pitch was even more incredible. He was the same against Manchester United, as Alan Hansen and Danny Mills said on MOTD, we seem to see that coach that out of kids in Britain, they don't want to try and be positive incase they make a mistake or lose it or whatever but Barkley didn't let that affect him once. Barkley has been the best English player in the PL after Rooney so far this season in my opinion. Next Gazza like some people have touted? I don't want to say yes or no but who knows....

[kellzfresh 7,229]

No Barkley had a great game because he wasn't afraid to run at Arsenal and he didn't let his head drop if things didn't come off. He has a great mentality as in he's fearless (not afraid to try difficult passes/shots/flicks, take the ball under pressure etc.), strong and most of all technically excellent. The amount of times I seen him receive the ball with his back to goal under pressure from one or two Arsenal players was incredible, the fact he always turned and beat them as well before going went forward without losing the ball in some critical areas of the pitch was even more incredible. He was the same against Manchester United, as Alan Hansen and Danny Mills said on MOTD, we seem to see that coach that out of kids in Britain, they don't want to try and be positive incase they make a mistake or lose it or whatever but Barkley didn't let that affect him once. Barkley has been the best English player in the PL after Rooney so far this season in my opinion. Next Gazza like some people have touted? I don't want to say yes or no but who knows....

His close ball control under pressure was hazard like. But you could see that the defenders never had time to stop that because they were occupied by lukaku through out

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

His close ball control under pressure was hazard like. But you could see that the defenders never had time to stop that because they were occupied by lukaku through out

Yes but Barkley had a greater influence on the game due to himself getting on the ball in various positions; in between the lines, in front of his defence, in between Arteta-Ramsey and Ozil etc. He is the main player in that Everton team right now, everything goes through him, even when Baines is in the team.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

Anyone who watch Everton games, can see that Lukaku isn't Brilliant in a team game. he loses a lot of balls as a result of poor passes.

he scores a lot because the team is playing for him. it is like Demba ba at Newcastle.

[yuvala 2,167]

Anyone who watch Everton games, can see that Lukaku isn't Brilliant in a team game. he loses a lot of balls as a result of poor passes.

he scores a lot because the team is playing for him. it is like Demba ba at Newcastle.

based on last game atleast, they really aren't playing for him.

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

From this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ9Onh9EAtU

[Zoro 151]

That's the whole issue, loaning out our best striker. We don't want to recall him because he is a young promising player, we want him here because he's our best option.

Lol.

[Stats 7,053]

Game against Arsenal showed me that hes not ready to be our main striker, Koscielny and Mertesacker had it far too easy most of the game.

He still doesn't understand that if you stand behind a defensive line you are offside, he stood still a lot during the game, mostly in offside positions, he had some good moments like towards the end when he took the ball off Arteta and had an effort on goal. His link up play at times was good but also at times it wasn't. Barkley picked the ball up and plays a nice pass between Gibbs and Koscielny but he didn't make the run, he does this at times when he should make a run, its frustrating at times to watch but hes a young guy who will get better. Barkley even had a go at him hinting at the fact he should have made the run.

Martinez will make him a better player as he's going to play every week in a team that the expectations aren't as big as Chelsea's. We always complain about 2 things, either 1) we don't play young players often enough or 2) young players don't perform well when they are in our team. Its ridiculous.

But he was far from poor. We cannot judge from one game of his that "he is not ready to be our main striker". He worked his socks off for a start and while he was not excellent he caused his fair share of problems bearing in mind he played a whole 90 mins at Old Trafford and ran United CB ragged all game long. When Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 this season, Suarez was very average so we can't use the Arsenal game to say he is not ready for us as in most Everton games he has proved that he is more than capable of leading the line for us. I still think he looked more threatening on Sunday for Everton than all of our strikers have done against Arsenal since Drogba left and while Koscielny won a few of the tussles I am sure he knew Lukaku gave him quite a tough time.

I agree that he is thriving at Everton and Martinez is helping but I always disagree with this notion that he is simply scoring goals because teams are more open to Everton than us. It is partly true but it is not to say that teams go all out against Everton. For a start they have one of the highest rates of possession in the league already if not the highest and the way they play forces teams to sit back because it is hard for opposition teams to get the ball of them.

We have to remember he is 20 and has been playing 90 mins for the last few games and taking that in to consideration I thought he done quite well against Arsenal. His decision making could of been better but if you ask me did he look a threat I would say yes and I would take that any day of the week but my main point is we cannot use one game to say he is not capable of leading the line for us when I thought he was actually decent and in most games against lower opposition and the bigger teams he has been more than impressive contributing with goals and assists.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Lol.

You can't argue he is better than the 3 shitty 'strikers' we have

[Zoro 151]

You can't argue he is better than the 3 shitty 'strikers' we have

Yes but I still dont believe he is the answer to our striker problem. Not yet anyway, he still has a long long way to go.

[Weckerz 3,781]

Lol.

Not sure what's funny

[Barbara 15,149]

He may be the best - as in the one that nets more balls in between the four we had. He's also the less experienced, the rawest, the one Mourinho would be less willing to give big responsibilities.

I don't like any comparison of what he would have done here (bad or good) because we'd never know. What I do know is that strikers that were successful in other clubs weren't here... and that has nothing to do with Mourinho because we had tons of managers in charge when it happened. That doesn't mean Lukaku wouldn't have worked, nor does it mean he would have. It just means we can spend 300 pages discussing it, at the end of the day it's still pointless. No one can say if he'd be able to score 10, 20 or 30 goals with us.

Mourinho made a bet. He chose experience to be ahead of a very inexperienced AM (the oldest is Mata, as Willian is expected to struggle to adapt, especially coming from Russia). Hazard, Oscar, André and Kevin are great players but we've seen them fluctuating in form this season because they succumb to pressure, to lack of motivation, lack of ambition, or whatever is the problem. The fact remains they aren't consistently performing like Lampard is, for example. Lampard has had AWFUL matches because he was tired, but you could see the experience in each of them, sometimes his legs didn't answer to the command he sent them, but the experience is there. It's a big risk to rely in an entire attack made out of very young players, that oscillate in form unpredictably... But Mourinho's bet wasn't only on giving a bit of experience with our strikers. I think he looked at all teams and managers in EPL and he saw Everton and Martinez as a team that could be dangerous to the big 6 teams because of their good players and ambitious manager. So he decided to give this team a weapon to threaten other big teams, but not Chelsea. It's a chess move that while didn't work as well as he wished for the strikers he did keep, it's been working wonders for his opponents. How many points have Everton - especially because of Lukaku - led the big teams to drop? So while he may think that he could have better strikers atm I don't think he regrets sending Lukaku to a place where he could lead Everton to take points from Arsenal, Liverpool, City, United and Spurs. It could have been a win-win situation if Torres and Eto'o didn't have so many injuries and stopped their crescendo... now we have 2 and a half players off form - as Ba never really was in form to start with.

[bushman 2,043]

Not sure what's funny

We do know what´s funny.