BBC: Romelu Lukaku doesn't understand why people don't appreciate Jose Mourinho's 'realness'

Just not sure that that is true. Seem to remember him scoring a hattrick at Old Trafford earlier in his career, and he scored 2 in a Merseyside derby, as well as goals against City and Arsenal for Everton. He scored and assisted last season against Chelsea, and scored against Sevilla in his biggest ever CL game. And he's arguably only just reaching his peak period in terms of age and maturity.

FWIW I hate all this chopping and changing and having multiple captains. Roy Keane was literally an extension of Fergie on the pitch - Robbo and Brucie in a similar mould. Eric led by inspiration. Now we have the mute, a guy that wants to leave and a centre-back that's not guaranteed a game.

For me the captain needs to be someone that plays all the time, somebody that organises, communicates well (to our own players, but also to the ref), and is capable of geeing things up and provoking a reaction from the team when needed. He's got to be someone that is totally on board with what the manager is asking for. There aren't many players in the squad that fit that bill. Lukaku is probably closest. He clearly had a leadership role with Belgium during the World Cup. Also he seems like a good guy with his head screwed on. I like him.

I suggest you do your research, this isn't the thread to really get into it. For instance the hat trick he scored vs United was in the end of season game which meant nothing and is the only time he scored vs United in 11 games. His record is well documented it is low in compression to other strikers.

Like I said its just the last piece to his game he needs to develop, but its also the hardest and what spilts the top players from the good ones.

Good attitude from Rom.

On the subject of being real, Mou is ofcourse the biggest actor to ever hold the job title of football coach, but that's beside the point.

As long as it's not with a strap-on

Hope you're well bud.

That was indeed a dead rubber, away match, against WBA, iirc? SAF's last match in charge, which ended something silly like 5-5? We were well in the lead in that one.

Ha ha, I don't need to do research old pal - I remember when Ronaldo was labelled a flat-track bully too.

Most players have areas that they can improve on, but 137 top flight goals at age 25 suggests he doesn't have too much to worry about - certainly no flaw that is so great that it would stop him being captain at a club where Chris Smalling has worn the armband plenty of times.

Because the age of man is fading away. Not men, man.

You should hold the standards of where you want to be not where you were in your lowest moments.

Like I said Lukaku is a good striker, you don't need to tell me about his 137 goals, I specifically made the point about his big game mentality your 137 goal stat does nothing to disprove.

If United want to win the biggest trophies, then Lukaku seriously needs to improve in that area. I wouldn't make anyone captain that isn't the level required like I previously said.

You also have to choose a captain from the players you currently have. And I don't think there's any way that you could argue that Lukaku offers less on the pitch in terms of all of the things a captain needs to bring to the table (of which your beloved 'big game mentality' is just one) than any of the other players on offer.

This lad was a better buy than Pogba. He just needs wingers to feed him. Martial and Rashford make perfect partners but need to be central beside him.
When we are a much stronger time he will be even better. If we get actual wingers in the January transfer window I think we can do very well in the champions league.

Ask your mate why Rom.

I guess its just a difference in what we see as a leader. Being dependable and knowing they will show up when needed and lead by example is one of the highest for me. I don't equate being vocal as super high not that it isn't something thats useful.

Also talking in interviews, or after the game or on social media after does nothing for me if you aint doing it on the pitch when it counts.

Well when you've achieved close to feck all in your career, like Lukaku, you'd be a fool to think differently or even dream of developing an ego. You simply become a ‘Yes' man, esp to the only manager who would have him lead his attack at a top club with aspirations and actual history of winning big.

In all walks of life you get people who despite lacking talent, seem to get on due to a willingness to tow the line and back the guy in charge.

Well done Romelu.

Talk is cheap.

Lucky he's a man who,
Positively can do,
All the things that make uuus,
Laugh and Cryyyyyyy,

Mou's our faaaaa-miiiiiily-guuuuuuuuuuuuuy.

Great attitude. So relieved we got him instead of the whiny Morata.

Don't understand what point you are making here?

Exactly - it's just your personal view of what is needed to make a great captain. I think if you were to canvas people on important attributes you may well find that DDG doesn't fulfil many of them.

But I didn't ever say it wasn't anything other than my view. If you want you can do a poll, I don't presume to know others view points.

Just to make it clearer.

He's a striker that run less, only to Messi:https://www.nzz.ch/sport/champions-league-messi-laeuft-wenig-und-trifft-viel-ld.1369405

He is a perfect definition of a player any manager would love to have. Works hard and does his best for the manager and the team/club. He knows where he comes from and appreciates all that he has experienced and appreciates all the people in his life around him.

He can sulk about everything that is bad in his life but he chooses to focus on the positives and how to overcome the negatives.

Not sure where you got this from. Statistically he's consistently the laziest attacker in the league.

This is why I say I don't really care what you say in interviews etc. Do your talking on the pitch

Ha ha, the very fact that Messi is below him, and Ronaldo, Mbappe and Aubameyang are all down near the bottom too surely shows that that particular stat doesn't mean very much? I mean, if he ran a bit more then he could maybe achieve the dizzy heights of Zahid and Bajde?

27 goals and 9 assists last season, 3 goals in 4 so far this season. Does that not count as 'doing his talking on the pitch'?

Aubameyang is lazy and thats why he is at Arsenal and Ronaldo is on his last legs

In all fairness, I personally would prefer a manager/boss who was up front about their frustrations (with me) rather than sugar-coating it and being 'positive' all the time. At least in day to day matters.

I tend to agree, I think the key is the with me

In a time when the club is in the doldrums and lots of our players aren't pulling their weight I just don't understand some of our fans desire to jump on the back of one of our few decent performers last season, and someone who's already scored 3 goals in 4 this season.

Can only assume it's the fact that he's come out and said positive things about the manager that has rubbed certain people up the wrong way.

and Mbappe?

He can likely improve too, tbh he isn't the central striker at PSG though. If you don't think a lone striker should be working hard to make runs etc and create space then you have issues.

That actually shows how much he's adapted his game at United. 3rd and 5th for distance and sprints is quite impressive. At Everton he was usually among the least dynamic players on his team.

Hasn't he played a game less than Pogba and Shaw too?

He has, it shows an improvement this season.

He stats for last season were not very good

Love that. Let's hope he gets a premier league medal or two over the next few years.

Be great if he really kicked on and got close to a goal a game.

Edited my post. I think him, Lindelof and Fred are all on the same number of games.

You're wasting your time. Not saying you're wrong, just that (with some posters), you're wasting your time/breath/typing.

Deserves captaincy waaaay more than Pogba does.