Romelu Lukaku

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Also, that looks to be an Anderlecht shirt. He was 16-17 at the time. I think he was built in a lab.

The problem was, early on anyway, he didn't use that strength as a major asset. Now he's grown into the traditional CF role and is embracing it under Martinez, or whoever is giving him direct coaching. In hindsight it was the best thing for him to go to Everton, with Naismith and Kone as his only competition he was always afforded the patience Martinez showed him. Shame 'buy-back clauses' aren't really a thing here.

As for the Remy situation, I definitely agree with @Stats. Good player but he hasn't earned his stripes this season.. Between him and Falcao they're both as bad as each other when its come to goal scoring form. The tragedy is, we fought to keep him this summer lmao.

[Tomo 21,733]

The problem was, early on anyway, he didn't use that strength as a major asset. Now he's grown into the traditional CF role and is embracing it under Martinez, or whoever is giving him direct coaching. In hindsight it was the best thing for him to go to Everton, with Naismith and Kone as his only competition he was always afforded the patience Martinez showed him. Shame 'buy-back clauses' aren't really a thing here.

As for the Remy situation, I definitely agree with @Stats. Good player but he hasn't earned his stripes this season.. Between him and Falcao they're both as bad as each other when its come to goal scoring form. The tragedy is, we fought to keep him this summer lmao.

I like him as an impact squad player but when he starts he can be awfully frustrating, this year he's got more frustrating, his decision making in the Shield and St James was Kalou lite, I never quite got the desperation for him to have his role furthered.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Definitely improves us. If we still had him...we'd probably be in 13th!

[didierforever 7,349]

Some posters said you were ludicrous to say he had a better all round game than Costa. Tbh, now I would have to agree. Stronger, probably a bit faster, his hold up play has improved significantly and I also think on the ball Lukaku is coming better on this aspect too. Lukaku is improving in the air and is probably better in that aspect too. Good to see him doing well. That must be 7 in total for the season.

what people often forget while talking about lukaku is that HE IS STILL ONLY 22.

ofcourse he is going to improve. ofcourse his game would have had a couple of minor flaws but with age, he was always going to be a much better player. selling him made no sense to me at all. but i guess everythin has to take a backseat when we are talking about jose and his ego.

[zolayes 14,489]

what people often forget while talking about lukaku is that HE IS STILL ONLY 22.

ofcourse he is going to improve. ofcourse his game would have had a couple of minor flaws but with age, he was always going to be a much better player. selling him made no sense to me at all. but i guess everythin has to take a backseat when we are talking about jose and his ego.

22 and the Special One couldnt see his talent .. think jose is " THE unseeing ONE "

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

what people often forget while talking about lukaku is that HE IS STILL ONLY 22.

ofcourse he is going to improve. ofcourse his game would have had a couple of minor flaws but with age, he was always going to be a much better player. selling him made no sense to me at all. but i guess everythin has to take a backseat when we are talking about jose and his ego.

Lololololololololololololololololololol

You say the most ridiculous of things to get one over Jose - we get it, you want him out

I much prefer Costa

[zolayes 14,489]

Lololololololololololololololololololol

You say the most ridiculous of things to get one over Jose - we get it, you want him out

I much prefer Costa

but you are unable to see the polished Diamond we had in Lukaku ...not LOLOLOLO but pitiful lack of vision

[didierforever 7,349]

Lololololololololololololololololololol

You say the most ridiculous of things to get one over Jose - we get it, you want him out

I much prefer Costa

a 26 year old costa who has pretty much reached his peak compared to a 22 year old lukaku who even right now is as good as costa. but do continue to LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO. please continue the delusions.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

a 26 year old costa who has pretty much reached his peak compared to a 22 year old lukaku who even right now is as good as costa. but do continue to LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO. please continue the delusions.

We don't and didn't have time to wait - unless we wanted to go through last season, when he scored bearly nothing in the league which would have cost us the prem snd probably the cup too and you'd probably be moaning at Jose for that too

And Lukaku is not as good as Costa. You're just believing your own bullshit.

[didierforever 7,349]

We don't and didn't have time to wait - unless we wanted to go through last season, when he scored bearly nothing in the league which would have cost us the prem snd probably the cup too and you'd probably be moaning at Jose for that too

And Lukaku is not as good as Costa. You're just believing your own bullshit.

10 goals and 5 assists for an everton team which half the time looked like they were on their last breaths is now nothing, hmmm. did not CR want to leave united and SAF gave him some tough love about staying in united. well, thats the difference between the best manager in the world and the self prophisized best manager.

lukaku is not??? really? which aspect of his game exactly?

hmmm sure dude.

[Tomo 21,733]

a 26 year old costa who has pretty much reached his peak compared to a 22 year old lukaku who even right now is as good as costa. but do continue to LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO. please continue the delusions.

Costa led Leti to a title and the Champions League final then came here and lead the line in a walkway title win, two months of average form (where he has still had great games in the midst of it) and all off a sudden Lukaku is as good?

Lukaku may be only 22 but realistically what can he improve on? He's not going to suddenly become a technical genius, his level right now is his ceiling in my opinion, a good PL level goalscorer like Darren Bent and even our very own Remy.

[DYC. 7,542]

Costa led Leti to a title and the Champions League final then came here and lead the line in a walkway title win, two months of average form (where he has still had great games in the midst of it) and all off a sudden Lukaku is as good?

Lukaku may be only 22 but realistically what can he improve on? He's not going to suddenly become a technical genius, his level right now is his ceiling in my opinion, a good PL level goalscorer like Darren Bent and even our very own Remy.

Positioning, anticipation, finishing, shooting technique, heading. Adding a greater physical presence in terms of moving around, working the channels and work rate to his game. At 22, he's also still growing in terms of physicality. Learning how to be more effective in physical tussles, timing his jumps better, things like that. I doubt Drogba was the physical monster he was at 27 when he was 22. Ibrahimovic certainly wasn't. He made great leaps in the use of his body and in his agility as he aged and reached prime physical shape.

He could also turn into a big game player, who knows?

He's easily better than Bent and Remy imo. He'll never become Ronaldo reincarnated but I don't see why he can't become a Costa or Cavani. Their technique isn't that much superior and he's still refining his technique to, like they did at a younger age. I've already seen clear improvements in his touch and passing, and his ability to play with back to goal as well. Neither do they beat him in terms of physical attributes.

I'm not saying it will happen but there's plenty of room for improvement.

[didierforever 7,349]

Costa led Leti to a title and the Champions League final then came here and lead the line in a walkway title win, two months of average form (where he has still had great games in the midst of it) and all off a sudden Lukaku is as good?

Lukaku may be only 22 but realistically what can he improve on? He's not going to suddenly become a technical genius, his level right now is his ceiling in my opinion, a good PL level goalscorer like Darren Bent and even our very own Remy.

oh come on man!!!!

just 2 years ago someone said he was going to be as good as cameron jerome.

look at lukaku now. each and every aspect of his game has improved. his hold up play IS better than costa. his linkup play which is his biggest flaw is getting better by the game. his goal scoring rate is brilliant. what is he not improving on?

so just cos costa led ATM to CL finals that means lukaku cant be as good. DD led us to the CL glory does that mean a 33 year old DD is better than the current costa. also, exactly which parts of lukaku's game is not as good as costa's?

and to compare him to remy and bent, just WOW.

[Spike 12,049]

'Hold up play'

'Link up play'

I hate buzzwords or in this case phrases.

Lukaku is a good player, that can't be disputed. In saying that however, just because he performs for X club does not mean he will perform for Y club. The same applies for every player, there are far too many factors to be taken into consideration. Tactics, ethos, teammates, pressure and games played. I believe for Chelsea and Lukaku; one is a square peg, the other a round hole.

[Magic Lamps 11,668]

'Hold up play'

'Link up play'

I hate buzzwords or in this case phrases.

Lukaku is a good player, that can't be disputed. In saying that however, just because he performs for X club does not mean he will perform for Y club. The same applies for every player, there are far too many factors to be taken into consideration. Tactics, ethos, teammates, pressure and games played. I believe for Chelsea and Lukaku; one is a square peg, the other a round hole.

The last point I am not sure about. Our play has always been centred on a big, athletic striker who can shield and distribute balls aka the striker lukaku was always going to become. Sure he has always had technical deficiencies. IMO the last 3 seasons he has performed on the same decent level but this season he made a leap. However, neither we nor him would have had the patience to let him develop here. His talent or that he might eventually become the player we need has never been in question not even by Mou. But the last few seasons showed we are reliant on a consistent striker and hence we were in no position to take the time for him to become just that.

[Rhino's Skin 972]

Lukaku can't trap a bag of cement......even that would bounce of him.

His hold up play is poor compared to the likes of frontmen similar in stature to him such as Costa.

What he is good at and thrives upon is running onto balls between the lines and on crosses/set pieces finding space between the 2 centre backs.

If only he had the 'balls' to stay at the club he would have ended up getting quite a few matches that first season due to injury problems etc with our players.

Then who knows what would have happened

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Had a complete shocker today for Belgium! awful performance! he is proving to be someone who can perform for an average team but cant hack it at a top team, he is starting to look like another Kevin Phillips, Robbie Keane or Les Ferdinand

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

I guess now he's the worst player in history again because he almost made two goals but didn't.

Let's wait until next week when he scores two and is the greatest young striker on the planet again.