Cloud7
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- Jan 11, 2016
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If I was a betting man I would have dropped a few quid on the 2/1 to dribble the ball out of play and the 5/2 to trip over the ball. Both of those are more likely to happen than not.
Agree. Wtf did people expect from Berbatov anyway ? He was fine for usHe made it. He scored goals albeit not a dominating one. He was effective in the premier league, the reason we won against lesser teams during Rooney's absence and Ronaldo's departure.
He wasn't on that elite level we expected, but he delivered during his time here. Lukaku can't even lace Berbatov's boots now.
You cannot be serious with thisLukaku has the same sh*te first touch as last year.
The problem for him is because Jose has made Martial, Rashford & Sanchez as inverted forwards that use Lukaku as a central creator much more than last year where Lukaku was placed to finish off much more chances that were created by these players.
This in my opinion is due to Sanchez not performing well but also to a level where I'm sure Woodward is monitoring his use of a player like Martial.
Jose has tried to go more attacking but has put a more emphasis on Lukaku being even more of a target man than he was last year. Everyone is much closer together & requires more precision than ever.
Lukaku getting more bulky is a direct reflection on his importance as a target man for Jose this year - he has put on weight to assist him in control of the ball the way football is going to be passed on him - but has made is game worse & even more uncontrolled.
During his prime he was a proper "Elite club" striker. He won titles here, he was a success. Appreciate the time he was here.Agree. Wtf did people expect from Berbatov anyway ? He was fine for us
From an outsiders perspective, I don't think it's the supply lines that are the problem. Granted, he would benefit from better players behind him but his first touch would still be that of a baby rhino.If you had Mata and Lingard and co as your supply then you would be shiite too.
Coupled with a negative manager then the whole thing is hopeless.
What have Mata and Lingard got to do with his shit technique on the ball ?If you had Mata and Lingard and co as your supply then you would be shiite too.
Coupled with a negative manager then the whole thing is hopeless.
Being bulky doesn't help you be a target man. Strength on the ball yes, but that's more about positioning your body and Lukaku was plenty big enough for that before. Control, deftness of touch and agility are all hampered by excess weight.In my opinion - Jose has told Lukaku to become more bulky to assist him at his ability of being a target man - a role that needs to get in front rather than behind the defender and control the ball from chest or foot. Lukaku is rubbish at all this and no one knows it more so than him. He either was told by Jose to put on weight; or did so himself to impress the manager/follow his tactics.
The best thing we can do right now is make Lukaku go back to the striker who gets behind the defensive line than in front of it and make Fellaini the target man if we have to continue this under Jose.
What I am saying his strength is goal scoring and to maximise his strength would be to have wingers that can cross.What have Mata and Lingard got to do with his shit technique on the ball ?
Hell, Berba with two bricks attached to his feet would still have a better touch than Lukaku. And I wasn’t even a huge fan of Berbatov (too slow, lack of movement), but he was miles ahead of Lukaku.By the way the ball bounces, it looks like he has two bricks instead of having two feet
Have to agree here. Berbatov was not a slow palyer, though. Yes, he was not a pacey type of player but he was mainly a lazy bastard in his offball movements.Hell, Berba with two bricks attached to his feet would still have a better touch than Lukaku. And I wasn’t even a huge fan of Berbatov (too slow, lack of movement), but he was miles ahead of Lukaku.
Yes, but compared to our pacy, fluid frontline of Tevez, Rooney, and Ronaldo, throwing Berbatov in there just made him look really slow in comparison to what we were used to.Have to agree here. Berbatov was not a slow palyer, though. Yes, he was not a pacey type of player but he was mainly a lazy bastard in his offball movements.
Still would offer more to our game than any of our current strikers.
You're not wrong of course. To maximise his strength, the man also needs to make good runs consistently. He is too staticWhat I am saying his strength is goal scoring and to maximise his strength would be to have wingers that can cross.
Moreover players of the ilk of Lingard, Mata are simply not good enough or even suitable for a player like Lukaku.
Who said that?:Have to agree here. Berbatov was not a slow palyer, though. Yes, he was not a pacey type of player but he was mainly a lazy bastard in his offball movements.
Still would offer more to our game than any of our current strikers.
"You are not going to see me puffing around the pitch. There is a saying in Bulgaria that great quality doesn't require much effort."
He's a mash-up of Emile Heskey phisicality and Darius Vassell paceHe’s doing a good impersonation of Emile Heskey playing in wellington boots at the moment!
Ehehehehe He even got a classy excuse for being a lazy bastard.Who said that?:
I used to think it was down to lack of service but, after watching him closely in recent months, I've come to the opinion that he doesn't move enough / doesn't find space for himself to invite a pass and that the likes of Vassell would probably score more than Lukaku does in our system.He's a mash-up of Emile Heskey phisicality and Darius Vassell pace
He is static, maybe it is down to the fact he is not getting crosses so there is no need for him to make runs.You're not wrong of course. To maximise his strength, the man also needs to make good runs consistently. He is too static
Crossing to him is pointless, the man never near post runs. All he does is point fingers to random directions. He's a jokeHe is static, maybe it is down to the fact he is not getting crosses so there is no need for him to make runs.
Tbf the whole team is static, I wouldn't be surprised if DDG covers more distance in 90 mins than some of our midfielders.
That might be too harsh. The guy is the leading scorer for Belgium and proven himself in the PL earlier. I'm not defending Lukaku but weLukaku's Touch is an oxymoron.
Like saying "Mata's height", "Fellaini's passing" or 'Chris Smalling's football brain".
Agreed. The guy is the leading scorer for Belgium and has proven himself in the PL. What we need is a proper midfield to provide him with the chances and I'm sure he would deliver. His being not in form and our poor midfield has made him an easy scapegoat.I think most are being a little unfair on Lukaku. He's being played as a target man, HE IS NOT a target man. He's strong, quick and, usually, a good finisher. Holding the ball up is not one of his strengths.
This is a mitigating factor. Some games there's close to zero delivery. He's still not good enough for us I think, but he's much better than what he's shown this fall (not even PL level at times).He was at his best when he had people like Baines/Deulofeu threading lovely little through balls/driven crosses to him and playing in a team that was on the front foot with an attacking mindset. He'd honestly thrive with a fullback like Robertson who is the best in the league at those types of deliveries at the moment.
Hardly made an impression? His hattrick against Liverpool with the overhead kick too alone should make it that made an impression in the big games. He has scored against Chelsea too and many other big games. Berba never played or rarely played as the CF. He mostly played as a number 10 with Rooney playing the CF position.Over indulgence on SAF part.As you say that front 3 was special,cohesive and balanced.Never really felt Berba connected with any of our forward players,not to the standard we were expecting anyway.
He hardly made a impression in the big games either.Think he only scored 4 CL goals in his time here.
Berba won the trophies with us but his best football will always been associated with Spurs.
But to keep on topic.Yes,Lukaku cant control a ball and prior to his goal on Saturday his last goal came off his stomach.Says it all.
This season it's been atrocious. The rest of his career it's been inconsistent. One moment he'll have a terrible first touch and lose an easy ball, the next he'll bring in a fairly difficult ball perfectly. Only one gets put into the clips/gifs/memes.Have you really forgotten how some people joked about his first touch when we signed him? His first touch was always atrocious
You'd think that for almost £80m, he'd be able to do that a bit thoughI think most are being a little unfair on Lukaku. He's being played as a target man, HE IS NOT a target man. He's strong, quick and, usually, a good finisher. Holding the ball up is not one of his strengths.
Pointing or panting. I think he will do both.What is the bet he is going to do some pointing today?