Romelu Lukaku

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

On 18/01/2022 at 23:08, LAM09 said:

Feels like we can't compete for the top talents anymore or are reluctant to go for them

Depends on the definition of 'top' I suppose but I don't think we ever have been.

[LAM09 6,744]

27 minutes ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Depends on the definition of 'top' I suppose but I don't think we ever have been.

Ballack, Torres & Shevchenko are a few that come to mind. They were among the elite at the time of joining.

[King Kante 1,476]

43 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

Ballack, Torres & Shevchenko are a few that come to mind. They were among the elite at the time of joining.

People are down on him now, but Kai was one of the most sought after young talents when brought too. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,297]

If neither PSG or Atletico can take him off our hands you just have to hope either Broja or Havertz make a long lasting impression. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,297]

9 hours ago, Jase said:

Just read somewhere that apparently Lukaku got booed by the away fans at Brighton when being taken off. 

This was confirmed by both Rory Jennings and CFCLewis (YouTuber).

Going to be a regular thing I imagine. 

[Tomo 21,733]

1 hour ago, MoroccanBlue said:

This was confirmed by both Rory Jennings and CFCLewis (YouTuber).

Going to be a regular thing I imagine. 

Good.

Only way back for him now is if he apologizes and starts putting the hard yards in (or produces enough to counteract the lack of workrate) but we all know his ego will get in the way.

[LAM09 6,744]

2 hours ago, King Kante said:

People are down on him now, but Kai was one of the most sought after young talents when brought too. 

I mentioned that in another thread. However, the COVID situation helped us massively in that regard.

[MoroccanBlue 5,297]

Read a tweet that Lukaku's first touch is more criminal than DT's 😂

[Fulham Broadway 16,838]

ROMELU LUKAKU AT THE START OF THE SEASON COMPARED TO NOW

                                 FIRST 5 MATCHES                   LAST 5 MATCHES

Starts                                 5                                                       5

Minutes played                   450                                              395

Goals                                  4                                                      1

Assists                                 0                                                       0

Expected goals                  2.85                                                   2.3

Expected assists                      0.85                                              0.23

Shots                                    19                                                     14

Chances created                     10                                                    8

Touches                                164                                                 122

Touches in opposition box     38                                                 23

% of touches in opposition box 23%                                        19%

Aerial duels won                         17                                              7

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

27 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Read a tweet that Lukaku's first touch is more criminal than DT's 😂

If only his first touch was Lukaku was his main problem. He just has a shit attitude, lazy, no fire left in him. Clearly does not want to be here. does not even give a damn about his personal glory yet. Just here to collect his paycheque. While having won fuck all besides grandpa league in his entire career.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

On 20/01/2022 at 16:38, LAM09 said:

Ballack, Torres & Shevchenko are a few that come to mind. They were among the elite at the time of joining.

Thanks LAM,

I don't agree here and certainly not with these examples. The failures of Torres and Shevchenko were exactly as I predicted. After watching Sheva at world Cup 2006 I distinctly remember commenting (elsewhere) that, "He had nothing to offer us." I saw it so anybody could have seen it and I believe that everybody in the game did see it. I don't think anyone with money to spend but Roman saw Andraiy as a top player in the summer of 2006. As for Torres, check out Jamie Carragher's comments about how he and his fellow Liverpool squad members couldn't believe the money the club had received for Nando, or Danny Murphy's about how his ex Liverpool teammates only ever spoke about all the things Torres couldn't do on a football pitch. They both knew Liverpool were taking Chelsea to the cleaners.

Ballack was a different proposition in that he had reached the stage where he was looking for the best pay packet, not the best "project" as continental footballers like to say. Had he been perceived as a top player still a more attractive club would have matched our contract offer and taken him.

I'm sure you have in mind many other players who you would cite as examples but, with the possible exception of Eden Hazard, I would argue that we were able to sign those players because no other 'big' club wanted them as much as we did. With Eden the stars aligned in our favour and we pulled off arguably the greatest transfer in our history. Only the capture of Frank Lampard compares but I can only say that with hindsight. At the time no one foresaw what Frank would become. I believe that Eden is very much the exception which proves the rule.

You and I have both heard of players claiming to have turned down better offers from Chelsea in order to join their preferred club instead. On the other hand, I can't remember any examples of big name players claiming to have turned down better offers from big name clubs to join Chelsea instead. There is a pecking order and, for the very best players, we are not at the top of it.

Edited January 23, 2022 by OhForAGreavsie

[LAM09 6,744]

2 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Thanks LAM,

I don't agree here and certainly not with these examples. The failures of Torres and Shevchenko were exactly as I predicted. After watching Sheva at world Cup 2006 I distinctly remember commenting (elsewhere) that, "He had nothing to offer us." I saw it so anybody could have seen it and I believe that everybody in the game did see it. I don't think anyone with money to spend but Roman saw Andre as a top player in the summer of 2006. As for Torres, check out Jamie Carragher's comments about how he and his fellow Liverpool squad members couldn't believe the money the club had received for Nando, or Danny Murphy's about how his ex Liverpool teammates only ever spoke about all the things Torres couldn't do on a football pitch. They both knew Liverpool were taking Chelsea to the cleaners.

Ballack was a different proposition in that he had reached the stage where he was looking for the best pay packet, not the best "project" as continental footballers like to say. Had he been perceived as a top player still a more attractive club would have matched our contract offer and taken him.

I'm sure you have in mind many other players who you would cite as examples but, with the possible exception of Eden Hazard, I would argue that we were able to sign those players because no other 'big' club wanted them as much as we did. With Eden the stars aligned in our favour and we pulled off arguably the greatest traansfer in our history. Only the capture of Frank Lampard compares but I can only say that with hindsight. At the time no one foresaw what Frank would become. I believe that Eden is very much the exception which proves the rule.

You and I have both heard of players claiming to have turned down better offers from Chelsea in order to join clubs they preferred to play for instead. On the other hand, I can't remember any examples of big-name players claiming to have turned down better offers from big name clubs to join Chelsea instead. There is a pecking order and, for the very best players, we are not at the top of it.

I think there's a stigma around the club with Roman being trigger happy to some, not having a decorated history as a club & no longer willing to essentially bridge that gap like City/PSG. 

I've felt conflicted about this for a few years, but I do wonder if Roman no longer is willing to spend big to compete, as it seems we never build on our success, and instead, it's used as a measuring pole. We've been a victim of our own success. Also, I want to point out that I'm aware we've spent big on a few players recently, but a decent chunk was offset by outgoings.

Edited January 21, 2022 by LAM09

[Superblue 6,370]

4 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

I'm sure you have in mind many other players who you would cite as examples but, with the possible exception of Eden Hazard, I would argue that we were able to sign those players because no other 'big' club wanted them as much as we did. With Eden the stars aligned in our favour and we pulled off arguably the greatest traansfer in our history. Only the capture of Frank Lampard compares but I can only say that with hindsight. At the time no one foresaw what Frank would become. I believe that Eden is very much the exception which proves the rule.

Whilst there was obvious demand for Hazard and a fight for his signature, he was very much still potential over undoubted world class talent at that time. He became world class here.

Regardless of who is perceived world class or not though it's a clear trend that's been at the club during Roman's tenure. We've always had a much better track record either buying younger players who have then developed in their time at the club or what would perhaps be more 'obscure' or low-key signings compared to the big money marquee signings. I know there's less margin for error perhaps with a bigger money signing but some of ours have taken the biscuit with how bad they have been, and so far Lukaku is unfortunately no different to the likes of Sheva, Morata and Torres.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

5 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Thanks LAM,

I don't agree here and certainly not with these examples. The failures of Torres and Shevchenko were exactly as I predicted. After watching Sheva at world Cup 2006 I distinctly remember commenting (elsewhere) that, "He had nothing to offer us." I saw it so anybody could have seen it and I believe that everybody in the game did see it. I don't think anyone with money to spend but Roman saw Andre as a top player in the summer of 2006. As for Torres, check out Jamie Carragher's comments about how he and his fellow Liverpool squad members couldn't believe the money the club had received for Nando, or Danny Murphy's about how his ex Liverpool teammates only ever spoke about all the things Torres couldn't do on a football pitch. They both knew Liverpool were taking Chelsea to the cleaners.

Ballack was a different proposition in that he had reached the stage where he was looking for the best pay packet, not the best "project" as continental footballers like to say. Had he been perceived as a top player still a more attractive club would have matched our contract offer and taken him.

I'm sure you have in mind many other players who you would cite as examples but, with the possible exception of Eden Hazard, I would argue that we were able to sign those players because no other 'big' club wanted them as much as we did. With Eden the stars aligned in our favour and we pulled off arguably the greatest traansfer in our history. Only the capture of Frank Lampard compares but I can only say that with hindsight. At the time no one foresaw what Frank would become. I believe that Eden is very much the exception which proves the rule.

You and I have both heard of players claiming to have turned down better offers from Chelsea in order to join clubs they preferred to play for instead. On the other hand, I can't remember any examples of big-name players claiming to have turned down better offers from big name clubs to join Chelsea instead. There is a pecking order and, for the very best players, we are not at the top of it.

Torres and Sheva you are probably right. Both were over the hill and ppl should have seen that

Ballack however could have gone anywhere as a free agent and still chose us. He was one of the best central midfielders in the world at that time still. The narrative in German media was very clear he came here bc he saw us as the best shot to win CL even if that did note materialize until 2 years after his (imo premature) departure.

We surely have signed young potentially world class talent a lot in the past and fend off interest of arguably bigger clubs. Robben, KDB, Salah also had a relatively free pick.

But the point that we never truly signed an absolute super star at the peak of his powers remains. There are reports we came close with Messi and Ronaldinho in the past and only failed bc of details. So i would categorically say that these player shun us at all costs. In the end those deals do not happen too often and there is a multitude of variables in those deals. For the current generation we surely are not the first (or 2nd address). Yet, i would consider it possible that one day in the near future we pull a galactico deal off. the stars have to align, surely. But we have the financial firepower to do it and as a very popular club one is bound to have a bit of emotional attachment which could tip the scales. Even if we never were to pull one off, I would not mind as long as we stop spending galactico money on sloths like Lukaku. The players who atm rule world football like kdb, salah, mane, silva all were not superstar signings at that time of their latest switches and still were relatively safe bets for reasonable money. Those are the kind of signings we should aim for.

Also, for me, Ngolo was a the best defensive midfielder in the world the moment we signed him and we got it done bc we were the first address. Maybe not considered a galactico deal bc of how cheap we got him with only one wc season under the belt but Real and PSB bid 100m+ for him few years later. Nonetheless, he extended his contract for me. Getting and retaining him for me is at least as good if not better than a haaland or mbappe signing.

[Fulham Broadway 16,838]

Ballack was fucking immense. We met him outside SB and he was proper decent

[Superblue 6,370]

4 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Ballack was fucking immense. We met him outside SB and he was proper decent

I managed to get my Ballack shirt signed by him through a third party who were sorting out his security cameras at his house. They said they dealt with quite a few players in the London area and he was easily one of the best and easiest to deal with. Great player and great person.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

3 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Whilst there was obvious demand for Hazard and a fight for his signature, he was very much still potential over undoubted world class talent at that time. He became world class here.

Regardless of who is perceived world class or not though it's a clear trend that's been at the club during Roman's tenure. We've always had a much better track record either buying younger players who have then developed in their time at the club or what would perhaps be more 'obscure' or low-key signings compared to the big money marquee signings. I know there's less margin for error perhaps with a bigger money signing but some of ours have taken the biscuit with how bad they have been, and so far Lukaku is unfortunately no different to the likes of Sheva, Morata and Torres.

Fully agree.

Of the list you give I can pick Morata as the odd one out because I was OK with signing him but was against signing all of the others.

Edited January 21, 2022 by OhForAGreavsie

[Clockwork 1,794]

Werner said

10 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

 

You and I have both heard of players claiming to have turned down better offers from Chelsea in order to join clubs they preferred to play for instead. On the other hand, I can't remember any examples of big-name players claiming to have turned down better offers from big name clubs to join Chelsea instead. There is a pecking order and, for the very best players, we are not at the top of it.

I can think of many examples. Kante,Jorginho, Werner, etc.

Barca and Madrid tend to get their pick, but that is mainly due to the wages they offer and that has caught up to them with the financial mess it has caused for them.
 

We have done well against other English teams.