Romelu Lukaku | United confirm deal subject to medical and personal terms

[Dobbs]

But does he have the tools to be at the end of those chances? Basically can we trust his movement and first touch in tight space?

He's consistently scored lots of goals. He outscored Ibra in the league playing for Everton. What more evidence can he provide to prove he can get on the end of chances?

Your make it sound like Everton play on empty field.

Playing at Old Trafford or Goodison most teams would adopt the same tactics. They don't suddenly abandon defending because it's just Everton.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Do we ever. If we'd had somebody to do that last season we'd have been there or thereabouts for the league.

I will be happy if he score 20+ goals, but we also could do with 20 from somebody else. We are now in a position of hoping against hope that the others actually come to the party. If they don't we are no better off and it could be worse. That won't be Lukaku's fault it will be the rest of them.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Nonsense, DT. I currently have a movie reel playing in my head of clear cut chances, hundreds, thousands of them that we squandered last season. Many of them on the proverbial plate. We missed busloads. Zlatan included. He mightn't be pretty but that's what Lukaku does. And you're not telling me that everyone of those 25 goals last season was laid on by a sumptuous Gareth Barry through ball. He's capable of turning a sows ear into a silk purse. He'll get better service here.
I may have got a bit facetious there. Apologies. You get the idea.

Yep.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

His goals from last season.

 

[Sir A1ex]

I will be happy if he score 20+ goals, but we also could do with 20 from somebody else. We are now in a position of hoping against hope that the others actually come to the party. If they don't we are no better off and it could be worse. That won't be Lukaku's fault it will be the rest of them.

Well true, you don't have a really good season without that.

 

[Bastian]

Apart from him being a top quality striker, the pleasing aspect if this really does come off is undermining Chelsea and leveraging our position with regards to Real (even if we end up dropping interest in Morata, we then won't have been played by them).

And he's mates with Pogba.

Mou does like a team of big physical players doesn't he.

 

[Zoo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[peridigm]

I don't know what the hell is going on, here.

I was off my feet in work today, flying to Sri Lanka in a few hours, so had no internet access. My Villa-supporting mate messages me at 2pm, saying we've signed Lukaku for 75m. I check BBC, yep, it's there.

Now I'm in my airport hotel, and finally catching up with the Caf, and it's not set in stone and we've clearly burned our bridges with Morata, either way.

Let's assume the deal is indeed done, which, for me, with all the talk about Rooney on a free to them, makes a lot of sense to be honest, so I'm gonna assume for this post that Lukaku is ours:

Morata
Seems quality
Hasn't been anyone's 'main man' yet
doesn't genuinely wanna leave Madrid, nor leave Spain


Lukaku
Sometimes I watch him and think 'this lad is a monster'; sometimes I watch him and think 'Emile Heskey' - not good.
Has consistently smashed in 20 plus a season in OUR league for a not-very-good team
Is clearly happy in the UK and wants to move to a bigger club, whether that's us or Chelsea, he sees it as a career improvement

I reckon I'd take the devil I know over the devil I don't (In the PL), for the same rough amount of money.


If it comes through, and we get him, I reckon we can guarantee 20 a season from him coz he genuinely devours bottom dwelling teams, and not by a goal, by 2-3. We do need that. The price is high, and there would be games where he frustrates the shit out of us, but I think he'd deliver. Moreso than Morata who strikes me as the kind of guy who after a few months of drizzle and 2 goals in 8 games, would start shagging his missus on boats in Italy and sending flirty instagrams to Juventus.

There is another plus side to Lukaku and that is that we don't have to deal with those feckwits in Madrid. You can bet that if we didn't have a player Madrid wanted, we'd have signed Morata for a reasonable fee already.
I wasn't keen on Lukaku early on for a lot of the same reasons already posted. Tends to not show up in big games, touch, etc... but he is PL proven and scored more goals for Everton than any striker for Everton should be expected to score. It's strange that Jose sold him when at Chelsea and apparently he was first choice at United. Let's hope Jose has conceded he was wrong about Lukaku and he scores more goals for us than he did at Everton.

Do I feel bad for Morata? Yes and no. How many players have used United for a pay raise over the years? For all we know Morata could have told Madrid he wants to stay unless they get an offer they can't refuse, then he'd be okay with leaving to a United or a Chelsea team. Hence the reason Madrid are seeking €90m.

I could not be more bored with this transfer window though so at this point, sign anyone who can score a fecking goal.

 

[Marzo]

I just watched a you tube clip of all his 81 goals for Everton, and a lot of those goals are individual, those on a plate he buried very prolifically, our team last season missed those sitters.
Yes, I'm sure he will also miss sitters in games but he looks like a really good goal scorer and he is still young, worth the risk at 75 million ?
Yes, in my opinion.

 

[Attila]

This is the key question for an outsider interesting if United will be better or worse. Both are big powerful CFs. Ibrah has far better technique, first touch, close control, passing, vision and general skill. Lukaku is even stronger, much quicker and much more workrate.

Those physical attributes may prove to make him a better goalscorer but maybe he'll contribute less to general play. It's hard to say and it is a bit of an experiment. Lukaku could be to United what Aubameyang has been to Dortmund.

I just hope he's far more clinical than Ibra last season

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Well true, you don't have a really good season without that.

Our goalscoring is going to have to really pick up. The teams above us scored at will it seemed. We looked terrified when the ball got in the box. There has to be a big change of mindset from some players. I just hope they don't just think, we've got Romelu he will get the goals. Not all of them he won't.

 

[PieCrust]

Need to get this one pushed over the line and finalized. Haven't heard anything about the player agreeing to terms or choosing United over Chelsea at this point. Only thing concrete seems to be that the fee is agreed between clubs. Chelsea could still scuttle this deal.

 

[Fully Fledged]

But does he have the tools to be at the end of those chances? Basically can we trust his movement and first touch in tight space?

He's got a good record of being on the end of chances. That is his main attribute after all that he scores goals.

 

[AbusementPark]

His goals from last season.

I hope I dont commit to this video and the deal doesnt happen. I would feel rather foolish

 

[prtk0811]

That's an other problem, in my opinion Lukaku is good in space and poor when the field is reduced by a low and tight defense. We tend to face the latter, Lukaku won't be able to make his youtube runs and he will have to tweak his game.

He makes up for that with his presence in the box and by being a flat track bully and heading ability where his aggressiveness puts the defenders on the defensive. Nither rooney nor RVP were good in tight spaces yet one is highest ever goal scorer in the club.

Also Why do you think Fergie never faced this problem? Because he adapted to it. The more you hold the ball in this league and the more slower you are in transition and in the attacking build up the more smaller teams go on the defensive in deep line because most of the teams here play a Reactive Counter Direct attacking football. The more wingers cut inside and full backs provide the width the more narrower the defense gets.

Fergie adapted to it and created More space in attacking third via a faster transition in a more direct way while going forward and with wingers providing the width so while in attacking third the strikers always had more space inside the box. He never cared about holding too much of the ball and passing it sideways and keeping it. His teams did not hold more than 50-55 % of the balls in any games.

This is what We will achive again under mourinho. And that;s why we are targetting a wide player like perisic who can provide that width. And that's why we should also target fabinho who helps in faster attacking transition and more dynamic energetic in the middle than a deep sitting mid.

One of the biggest strenghts of mourinho is to adapt to his strenghts and weakness of his players. If a player is not good in tight spaces he will play to his strenghts unlike pep guardiola who always wants one stubborn way.

Yes Morata is more technically sound but he is being quoted unrealistic price. For Ucl Lukaku is untested surely and only time can tell how he adapts and how mourinho adapts to him.

 

[SirScholes]

Ok, it seems clear to me he's talking about next season but only @SirScholes could know for sure

Next season yesh

 

[WackyWengerWorld]

I just hope he's far more clinical than Ibra last season

I think this is a bit simplistic. Do we really think Ibrah, Costa and Aguero are poor finishers? Or is it more likely they had packed defenses sitting deep impeding them?

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

Ravred is one of those guys who clearly can't remember more than the previous season.
Can't remember a successful Spanish striker indeed!

And if we dont limit 'Spanish strikers' to nationality but extend to those who plied their trade in La Liga before coming to England, Aguero and Costa both excelled in this league.

The 'PL proven' nonsense is just tiresome. Sure, it takes some time to acclimatise but that holds true for every league. Good players will overcome those obstacles more often than not.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I would love Stormzy to unveil Lukaku, because they actually look alike, in my opinion.

 

[RAVred]

It's hard to claim Tores wasn't successful.

Completely forgot about him been near a decade. Still didn't win anything if I remember correctly.


Also its early morning where I'm at sorry for the hiccup

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Norwood has followed Lukaku on Twitter too.

Pretty much a done deal.

 

[cheeky_backheel]

He would see tighter defences and less space playing for us than he did playing for Everton. Many teams that would play an open game against Everton will park the bus against us.

 

[prtk0811]

Cole and Yorke were supported by giggs and Beckham not to mention, Keane and scholes. Arguably our best ever midfield.

Cant Mkh Perisic Pogba Herrera and Fabinho/ matic also not support him?

 

[Nick7]

Norwood has followed Lukaku on Twitter too.

Pretty much a done deal.

This means nothing! He's not involved with United.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

"Go 'Ed Woody la" as they say down in Everton.

 

[Runner]

I would love Stormzy to unveil Lukaku, because they actually look alike, in my opinion.

That's racist. They have completely different haircuts. /s

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

This means nothing! He's not involved with United.

Isn't he our photographer?

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

I would love Stormzy to unveil Lukaku, because they actually look alike, in my opinion.

Surely that's just two photos of Rom!?

 

[sergiosigurvinson]

£75m is about £25m overpriced but he will replace Ibra's goals. I think his first touch is horrendous but he does have some qualities.

You are right overpriced, hiq first touch is still horrendous (just a little bit better than it was 7 years ago).
Name some qualities which have got something to do with handling a ball???
He is strong, big, fast and rather good when he can run into a defender in a one to one situation...and I think that's it.
He was probably fourth choice.

 

[Dobbs]

He would see tighter defences and less space playing for us than he did playing for Everton. Many teams that would play an open game against Everton will park the bus against us.

Who are these teams that go to Goodison and decide to have an open game?

They don't exist. EPL managers go to bed at night singing a "keep it tight" mantra.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

This means nothing! He's not involved with United.

Except whenever there's a deal that's announced he usually has the scoop? I've genuinely never seen him say anything that turned out to be incorrect.

 

[RooneyLegend]

A Martial, Dembele, and Lukaku front line would get a lot done. Time to offer a Mkhi + cash deal to get the young sensation. Also am i the only one disappointing we haven't made a bigger effort to sign Mbappe? Guess we'll have to make do with Lukaku, in the right set up he'll destroy the league.

 

[fellaini's barber]

You asked me to name two strikers better than Lukaku, I did. I also provided the reasoning. If you want to avoid addressing those points and resort to mockery, power to you. Berbatov managed 20 league goals in 10-11 and was pushed aside, and he was ten times the footballer Lukaku can ever be.

This place were utterly divided by a striker with a crap first touch and link up play who is statistically under Fergie better than Lukaku, who we got for, guess it, 7m. If you are paying 10 times the money to get essentially the same output, don't expect people to sing Hallelujah over it.

Well, I don't think Auba is a better player than Lukaku, he might come here and do a Soldado for all we know. I would have been all over a 24-26 year old Cavani, he was great, but not now. Berbatov was a very technically gifted player with a first touch Lukaku can only dream of, but then Lukaku has power, pace and physicality that Berbatov could never come up with if he spent all his days in a gym, entirely different players. I'm pretty sure if Chicha had been 2nd highest goal scorer for some years in the PL and not in some Mexican club he would'nt have cost 7m. Chicha was a poacher, a player who thrived in the box, Lukaku is a player who can take run with the ball under pressure from a defender from the halfway line and score on his own. I loved Chicha to death and wished he never left, but I never wanted him leading the line for us, he simply wasn't that good. Lukaku on the other hand is showing a lot of promise for a young striker with lots of good years ahead of him. Sorry if it sounded like I was mocking you

 

[Attila]

I think this is a bit simplistic. Do we really think Ibrah, Costa and Aguero are poor finishers? Or is it more likely they had packed defenses sitting deep impeding them?

Ibra's finishing was awful at times last season, packed defences had nothing to do with it either

 

[Camy89]

I would love Stormzy to unveil Lukaku, because they actually look alike, in my opinion.

 

[Rory 7]

Even if we sign him I think we still need another striker

 

[JPRouve]

He makes up for that with his presence in the box and by being a flat track bully and heading ability where his aggressiveness puts the defenders on the defensive. Nither rooney nor RVP were good in tight spaces yet one is highest ever goal scorer in the club.

Also Why do you think Fergie never faced this problem? Because he adapted to it. The more you hold the ball in this league and the more slower you are in transition and in the attacking build up the more smaller teams go on the defensive in deep line because most of the teams here play a Reactive Counter Direct attacking football. The more wingers cut inside and full backs provide the width the more narrower the defense gets.

Fergie adapted to it and created More space in attacking third via a faster transition in a more direct way while going forward and with wingers providing the width so while in attacking third the strikers always had more space inside the box. He never cared about holding too much of the ball and passing it sideways and keeping it. His teams did not hold more than 50-55 % of the balls in any games.

This is what We will achive again under mourinho. And that;s why we are targetting a wide player like perisic who can provide that width. And that's why we should also target fabinho who helps in faster attacking transition and more dynamic energetic in the middle than a deep sitting mid.

One of the biggest strenghts of mourinho is to adapt to his strenghts and weakness of his players. If a player is not good in tight spaces he will play to his strenghts unlike pep guardiola who always wants one stubborn way.

Yes Morata is more technically sound but he is being quoted unrealistic price. For Ucl Lukaku is untested surely and only time can tell how he adapts and how mourinho adapts to him.

I basically disagree with every point you make.

But three things. Zombie football, RVP and Rooney have been good in tight space for the better part of their careers(I'm not talking about dribbling but movement(quickness) and for RVP first touch), 50-55% is normal for a dominant team, it's not a special plan from SAF, +55% is not normal and generally voluntary.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

That article he linked is neither by him or mentions a medical

 

[Nick7]

Isn't he our photographer?

No.

Except whenever there's a deal that's announced he usually has the scoop? I've genuinely never seen him say anything that turned out to be incorrect.

Because he waits until the BBC report it. He's just a freelance photographer that supports United. Has worked for us on occasion, but only as a freelance. Most of his "scoops" are about medicals after the deals been confirmed by journalists. He never gets anything wrong because he never says anything until it's practically confirmed.

 

[fellaini's barber]

Based on some of the shocking posts I've read in here since the news broke out this morning, I'm simply grateful this was not a long drawn out saga like Morata's. Imagine having to read about Lukaku being a donkey with no first touch for 2 months