Romelu Lukaku

[Jase 43,479]

19 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

I think as limited as our attack has looked, to say Lukaku has harmed or prevented Werner, Pulisic, Havertz etc from developing or playing better is utter bullshit, frankly.

I mean Havertz has played regularly this season and hasn't convinced entirely. Werner played virtually every game last season under 2 managers and hardly fully convinced consistently bar one wee spell of games with Tuchel. He isn’t on the bench for nothing. 

The real problem is who is the best 2 to play off of Lukaku in that 3421. 100% we need someone who has pace enough and can play in 1 v 1s in that front 3 and its fair to say Mount is as inevitable a big a miss as you can have. Maybe Pulisic-Lukaku-Mount has to be tried, or dare I say it, playing a back 4 with 2 actual wingers and Mount at number 10? Big problem with our attack is we actually lack multiple players with pace to open up spaces as well as seeing poor chemistry between the attackers. The balance isn’t right. Look at how Conte used Lukaku with Martinez, thats two players who suited playing off one another because their skillsets complimented each other. I am not entirely sure what Ziyech and Kai brought to the table playing off of Rom.

You kinda answered your own question regarding the criticism of the inclusion of Lukaku there.

As legit as the complaints of the poor finishing was last season, the system then was never just about one player. It was also constantly fluid because players were always on the move, they were constantly interchanging and not giving the opposition a reference point etc.

Now, as much as a goalscorer Lukaku is, we're having to throw whatever we built last season under Tuchel to focus all on one player and that's Lukaku. The system, the balance suddenly doesn't look right because we now have a #9, a reference point which can make it easier for opponents to stop us. Everything now has to be catered to his needs (who to use beside him, what to do to create chances for him etc), as opposed to what we saw last season.

Maybe Havertz will come good or maybe not but have you wondered why he was doing well last season and not this season? Last season, he was either playing as a False 9 or behind a ST who actually moves, which allows him to also move, attack spaces, find openings etc. This season, he's having to play behind a static #9, a reference point and everything has to be catered towards that #9. And not to mention, it's worth wondering whether Havertz is a creator as he's supposedly only created 1 big chance in the Premier League since the start of last season. 

And by the way, didn't you say that you saw Havertz has improved or is showing improvement earlier this season? 

19 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Hopefully this chemistry comes over time, its only 8 or 9 games into the season in all comps. Whilst there has been alarming signs the last 2 games, the other games weren’t half as bad as being made out. Tuchel even said after Villa IIRC and other games we weren’t where we needed to be. 

Sure, time will tell but the other games weren't half as bad as being made out? We played 6 games (IIRC) in September and we played well in only one half - the second 45 mins at Spurs. Everything that happened in the last two games had been coming. 

[NikkiCFC 7,946]

9 hours ago, Mana said:

Key thing here is, ignore CR7.

Look where Lukaku is.

That’s bad.

Why do you think I posted it on Lukaku thread? 

[manpe 10,861]

9 hours ago, Mana said:

Key thing here is, ignore CR7.

Look where Lukaku is.

That’s bad.

And Saint-Maximin, with whom we're linked. Him and Lukaku together would kill all of our pressing game.

[Warning_Hazard 156]

1 hour ago, Hermione said:

Werner silencing the Lukaku defenders, this guy is starting to get on my nerves to be honest.

Atleast you didnt get abused name called and made to look a fool for not jumping on the king rom band wagon!

He had it on a plate couple times today and duffed it up

 

[chelsea_4_eva 1,157]

Wow I knew Rom doesnt press like Timo but looking at that.. oof...

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

Even after the 9th time of watching I am not sure how he managed to get it into the post from 3m and central position. That was a miss worse than Timo’s vs Leeds 

[NikkiCFC 7,946]

46 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

Even after the 9th time of watching I am not sure how he managed to get it into the post from 3m and central position. That was a miss worse than Timo’s vs Leeds 

There is a curse with Chelsea and our strikers.

[YorkshireBlue 3,122]

1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said:

There is a curse with Chelsea and our strikers.

It's as simple as the ball came in with some pace, 90% of the time if u get a touch it goes in 9% keeper saves it 1% chance u hit the post like that, am not defending lukaku was a poor miss but how unlucky do u have to be for that to hit the post.

[Stats 7,054]

50 minutes ago, Mana said:

This is why I said earlier that people jumped in too early with the flat track bully stuff.

He may not be even that. Yesterday was perfect for a flat track bully like Lukaku and the best he did was hit the post from a very close range.

If Lukaku is going to end up having like 10 PL goals, then we should have never bought him. Because the trio sacrifice that we did for Lukaku just wouldn’t have been worth it.

It’s like Lukaku’s honeymoon is over and he cannot now score goals.

He also held up the ball really well in the second half and laid it off to Werner who unfortunately could not finish. But that was great strength and awareness from Lukaku who should of had assist to his name. Was not his best game but let's not act like he was completely invisible.

[Superblue 6,370]

Give it time.

He isn't being helped at present that the other attacking players so far this season have been inconsistent at best, and our midfielders like Kova and Jorginho just seem reluctant currently to play in a more direct manner straight into him.

One thing I've noticed on a fair few occasions is he's been in a good position and not been picked out. There were a couple of times again yesterday. 

I think we'll benefit longer term having someone spearheading the front line, whether in a front 2 or 3. Winning games whilst still adjusting should be a positive.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

On 02/10/2021 at 20:36, NikkiCFC said:

There is a curse with Chelsea and our strikers.

Or perhaps the curse is on the person who chooses the strikers. That curse being that they are not brilliant at spotting the difference between a striker with qualities and a striker of quality.

Anyway, more positively, it is definitely too soon to regard ROM as a bust so hope survives.

[Blue Armour 4,278]

2 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

 

One thing I've noticed on a fair few occasions is he's been in a good position and not been picked out. There were a couple of times again yesterday. 

This. The team had been pretty poor at this in the last 3 games., but a bit better in the last game. 

Ironically the best pass he got, came from Rudiger who went on that mazy run. Shame Lukaku was offside.

Lukaku is not like Drogba or Kane who will either drop deep or play wide if they're not getting the ball. Lukaku needs more direct passes.

And it's a bit weird because it looks like Tuchel actually wants him to just stay up front for the most part (unlike how he played for Inter). You'd think the midfield would do a bit more work to get the ball up to him.

[Jase 43,479]

22 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Give it time.

He isn't being helped at present that the other attacking players so far this season have been inconsistent at best, and our midfielders like Kova and Jorginho just seem reluctant currently to play in a more direct manner straight into him.

One thing I've noticed on a fair few occasions is he's been in a good position and not been picked out. There were a couple of times again yesterday. 

I think we'll benefit longer term having someone spearheading the front line, whether in a front 2 or 3. Winning games whilst still adjusting should be a positive.

You have changed your tune, huh?

[Superblue 6,370]

17 hours ago, Jase said:

You have changed your tune, huh?

About Lukaku?

I don't think I was ever dead set against signing him. He offered something we don't have which is a significant goal threat.

When we were linked with him I was mainly concerned about his first touch and ability to play a target man like role for others to play off of him. He's never going to be perfect technically and will always have some balls mis-controlled, etc but when he's had the ball in such situations I've been pretty pleased so far and am a little perplexed the team as a whole don't make more of this chance. Players such as Werner and Mount who are particularly busy players should thrive from playing off Lukaku but it's not quite there yet. The move that saw Lukaku back heel the ball to Werner who took it on and had a shot saved was the sort of link play that I'm expecting to see more regularly because at the moment it has been extremely inconsistent.

 

[Jase 43,479]

7 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

About Lukaku?

I don't think I was ever dead set against signing him. He offered something we don't have which is a significant goal threat.

When we were linked with him I was mainly concerned about his first touch and ability to play a target man like role for others to play off of him. He's never going to be perfect technically and will always have some balls mis-controlled, etc but when he's had the ball in such situations I've been pretty pleased so far and am a little perplexed the team as a whole don't make more of this chance. Players such as Werner and Mount who are particularly busy players should thrive from playing off Lukaku but it's not quite there yet. The move that saw Lukaku back heel the ball to Werner who took it on and had a shot saved was the sort of link play that I'm expecting to see more regularly because at the moment it has been extremely inconsistent.

We needed a goalscorer but it's debatable whether Lukaku is actually the right fit for this team.

Last season we had a system that worked for the team and it was never just about one player. This season with Lukaku, if you listen to Tuchel, he is trying to make everything revolve around Lukaku in the system and hence, despite sitting top of the table right now, we have seen unconvincing attacking performances this past month. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks but based on what we have seen overall, the concerns people had about signing Lukaku are proving true. Also, the United fans over on Redcafe doesn't seem too surprised by what they have seen from Lukaku. They are like "yeah, he will score goals and probably bully small teams along the way but he'll get found out against better teams". We should know better than most about having a system that relies on an individual is not the most ideal of situations. 

[dimmas 126]

‘I hate it’: Chelsea striker Lukaku says playing as target man only limits his goal productivity

https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/club-news/i-hate-it-Chelsea-striker-lukaku-says-playing-as-target-man-only-limits-his-goal-productivity/

I really wonder, why tuchel always seem play lukaku as a target man. 

Let him being isolated for too long, the space between lukaku and the other attacker is too wide. And when he keep seeing on the match, the other team mate around him just pass the ball very slow, cannot link up with him, incapable enough too see lukaku's run timing.

Tuchel basicly not playing to lukaku's strength at all. To see most oft the time just make lukaku as target man and poacher to stay in the box/very high up on the pitch. Is something really weird and need to change from tuchel

Edited October 6, 2021 by dimmas

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

8 hours ago, dimmas said:

‘I hate it’: Chelsea striker Lukaku says playing as target man only limits his goal productivity

https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/club-news/i-hate-it-Chelsea-striker-lukaku-says-playing-as-target-man-only-limits-his-goal-productivity/

I really wonder, why tuchel always seem play lukaku as a target man. 

Let him being isolated for too long, the space between lukaku and the other attacker is too wide. And when he keep seeing on the match, the other team mate around him just pass the ball very slow, cannot link up with him, incapable enough too see lukaku's run timing.

Tuchel basicly not playing to lukaku's strength at all. To see most oft the time just make lukaku as target man and poacher to stay in the box/very high up on the pitch. Is something really weird and need to change from tuchel

tbh, i have always seen Lukaku as more of a counter attacking striker cos he needs acres of space of space due to his poor technique. This is where he is his most effective with his power and pace breaking free. He is also quite good shooter from the mid-distance. Still, Lukaku had time enought to develop a more complete skillset and he always knew that ppl wanted him to be more of a target man simply bc that is what you need from your big striker esp when playing against buses. here in the PL his counter attackign ability means jack shit in most games. Very few games, like the one vs Southampton are made for a counter attacking striker and he shat the bed there, so not exactly making a strong point here.

TT will be aware of how Lukaku thinks and consider it in his decisions.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

What a FINISH!