Yes, for now.
Can we keep £90m Lukaku on the bench?
- Thread starter Andy_Cole
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
For all his faults Mourinho had a proven record for going into a club, quickly identifying a problem and signing a suitable player. At the time, we were struggling to overcome lesser opposition. LVG actually had a good record against the better teams. So it stands to reason that Mourinho bought Lukaku in...who has historically done a great deal of damage to lesser teams. He scored a decent amount of goals in his first season. That said. I still don’t believe he is a Utd player. Similar to Fellaini. Decent enough, but just doesn’t quite fit the bill for what this club has always aspired to
This pretty much.
A team that has spent the last few years assembling a squad that wants to play beautifully is not going to buy Lukaku.
Where do people get this idea that a European heavyweight will want Lukaku? Outside the Prem i doubt any decent team rates him that highly.
I think he will probably be sold in the summer, probably Italy. By not starting in front of Rashford he will want to move. His ego wont want him sitting on the bench. The way we are set up now he is the wrong type of striker anyhow.
No. Don't think he is good enough to come on from bench to help us chase a game. He is probably only suitable to be used to waste some time when we are leading a game.
Lukaku was bought in Jose second season to replace Zlatan, he wasn't one of the initial 4 signings so LVG's record wouldn't have really played a role in his decision. Lukaku was key player last season and many thought he would be even better this season due to his form in the WC. For whatever reason he's been out of form this season but I still think he will find last season form and go on to play a key role for us.
I think any player is going to find it tough to have a moan at Solskjaer about being on the bench.
Of all the managers on world football, Lukaku has a bona fide club legend, precisely for being unbelievable off the bench.
How do you start that conversation without seeming like a twat?
Of all the managers on world football, Lukaku has a bona fide club legend, precisely for being unbelievable off the bench.
How do you start that conversation without seeming like a twat?
We can keep him on the bench regardless of his cost or wage. Shifting him on would be difficult given the wages alone.
He'd probably want to go though if he really felt he couldn't get a look in. Something about Lukaku tells me he thinks he can do it though so He'll stick it out till the end of next season at least.
He'd probably want to go though if he really felt he couldn't get a look in. Something about Lukaku tells me he thinks he can do it though so He'll stick it out till the end of next season at least.
I think last season he should have scored more in the League for us.
To go from scoring 25 in League at Everton to 16 in League was disappointing numbers wise. When he came here I initially thought that if he scored 25 for Everton he should at least be scoring that many for us.
I died a little bit inside when he tried that shot directly into the defenders shins instead of attempting the pass in his last outing.
Really hoping that he does and bangs in a shed load of goals in the process
No, sign a RW, we have enough options upfront.
What if Rashford suddenly got injured for 3-4 weeks?
You wouldn't want to rely on Greenwood to be the main man for that period of time, too much pressure for the kid.
You wouldn't want to rely on Greenwood to be the main man for that period of time, too much pressure for the kid.
We can probably add him to the thread of players who at some point will end up at West Ham...
Sanchez and Martial can play there, Lingard worked as false 9, or whatever it's called, vs Spurs.
We got other options.
No doubt, that slump he hit in Nov/Dec really hurt his overall total. Hopefully Lukaku can regain his form from the WC or last season and we can see him under Ole.
Greenwood should be ahead of him.
Dzeko is a baller. Would love him here instead of that lump up front.
I get the impression that Lukaku is fine with his corrent role, but I have a gnawing feeling that that feeling will quickly go away once (if) the team hits a wall and he's not playing. Right now Ole is using Lukaku as a bit of a steamtrain to come on and be bigger than everyone when they are already tired. Is this a situation Lukaku is happy with? In the long run, very doubtful. But very few players would be.
Ole's Man United is all about high wingbacks, and speed. Does Lukaku fit? Or is he more of a box threat in the mold of Mario Gomez? Man United need forwards that are both quick paced (Martial, Rashford, Sanchez) with skilled passing feet that can overwhelm centerbacks.
Personally I don't think Lukaku fits this mold of a team, although I'm happy if he proves me wrong. My dream is that we get to see the Barca version of Sanchez in United. Pair that with Rashford, Martial and Pogba, and goodnight opponents.
Ole's Man United is all about high wingbacks, and speed. Does Lukaku fit? Or is he more of a box threat in the mold of Mario Gomez? Man United need forwards that are both quick paced (Martial, Rashford, Sanchez) with skilled passing feet that can overwhelm centerbacks.
Personally I don't think Lukaku fits this mold of a team, although I'm happy if he proves me wrong. My dream is that we get to see the Barca version of Sanchez in United. Pair that with Rashford, Martial and Pogba, and goodnight opponents.
Sanchez's injuries of late are concerning.Personally,though he's a better allround player,I wouldn't be too disappointed in Sanchez leaving before Lukaku.
Even when his form dips he brings more to the side than Lukaku with his runs to stretch the play and his willingness to take on players
90m? Didn't he cost 70
75m
As I've said in his performance thread, in his 5 or 6 years as a starter in the PL we gave him less shots at goal last year than at any other time in his career. Naturally he scored less goals as a result. His goals to shots is about the same as its always been.
He undoubtedly has issues with the new play style and his fitness, but if he gets given the chances he'll bag plenty of goals. It's just that right now he needs to offer more than that. Looking shagged out after 5 minutes against Spurs wasn't a great advert.
When Cole signed for United he was at training one day when one of the coaches apparently said to him, "if you think banging 41 goals is enough at United you're dead wrong". Cole had to adapt his game to be more than just goal scorer. Lukaku needs to adapt his game.
The man wants to win and had great determination so I'm sure he'll at least try.
Martial Sanchez Lingard
Martial Lingard Sanchez
Lingard Martial Mata
Martial Lingard Sanchez
Lingard Martial Mata
A slight twist to it all.
If and when Rashford's form dips, do we put Lukaku back into the starting X1 with the guarantee that we will get some goals from him but potentially become a stumbling block to the football we wish to play?
In the event that Sanchez doesn't turn up again to the required level, do we then just persist with Lukaku for the goals he will provide or do we look to the young boys for a potential new Rashford?
If and when Rashford's form dips, do we put Lukaku back into the starting X1 with the guarantee that we will get some goals from him but potentially become a stumbling block to the football we wish to play?
In the event that Sanchez doesn't turn up again to the required level, do we then just persist with Lukaku for the goals he will provide or do we look to the young boys for a potential new Rashford?
We will be training to play the same way we actually play. Ole and the team will know whether Lukaku can play like they want to or not before it comes to match day. If Rash gets injured and it looks like Lukaku can do it in training then he'll get picked. If not, he won't.
For now we can.
If we appoint Ole in the summer and it's clear he won't be first choice then I think he'll be looking for a move ASAP.
If we appoint Ole in the summer and it's clear he won't be first choice then I think he'll be looking for a move ASAP.
It’s great that he has competition for his place finally. As Ole says, our best teams always had competition for the forward spots. Hope it spurs him on to rediscover some form. I wouldn’t be that surprised if he works his way back into the starting lineup eventually. He’s been shocking this season but I think he can do better.
I’ve heard similar, but I was extremely disappointed by his attitude when he came on against spurs. He’s lost his place to a teenager and gets brought on in a massively important game after an hour, and can’t be bothered to run and close down defenders. So frustrating. Ideally you want him working his bollocks off to win his place back, but I couldn’t help feel he was sulking a bit, or was generally uninterested in trying to impress the manager. He’s also started the season in generally bad shape, and doesn’t seem capable of running hard for a full ninety in comparison to our other players. So from what I’ve seen this season it feels like this alleged brilliant work ethic has deserted him.
That could work,, I agree but If none of Lukaku or Rashford would be available then I would give Greenwood a chance
If it’s followed with the bonus, it’s 90m. I don’t know what’s the bonus.
He is good option off the bench, but if not we can still promote Greenwood there.
If there's any bloke in world football who can say "what's wrong with being a non-starting forward at Man United?", it's the current manager!
No we don't. Lingard did very little offensively as a false 9, his role there was a defensive one. If you want goals you don't play Lingard up top but rather Lukaku who has a superb record.
Why do you think Lukaku is not the type of player for our current tactics?
The real question is how much the players playing in his position are worth. Both Martial and Rashford are worth > 90M and hence if our main sub is worth 90 we are fine
Lukaku was one of the best scoring players at the last world cup. His goals for Belgium were better than those of sir Kane (), particularly the team effort counter attack. How can he not do the same for us given Ole's coaching. He needs to be given time to adapt into the new setup... let's hope he'll contribute to get to our top 3 pl I believe we can achieve this season (yes... we can get there), plus advancing deeply into the CL and winning the FA, alot of top quality depth required... no. 9 covered!
), particularly the team effort counter attack. How can he not do the same for us given Ole's coaching. He needs to be given time to adapt into the new setup... let's hope he'll contribute to get to our top 3 pl I believe we can achieve this season (yes... we can get there), plus advancing deeply into the CL and winning the FA, alot of top quality depth required... no. 9 covered!