It absolutely did feel wrong at the time, and many people voiced their concerns, even though everyone wanted him to succeed. The only thing people ever point to is Lukaku’s stats, but when you actually look at him play it’s always been obvious he doesn’t belong at the highest level, regardless of his scoring record prior to United.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 45
- Goals
- 15
- Assists
- 3
- Yellow cards
- 5
- Status
Speak english boy
Lukaku is the poster boy for the argument that basic scoring stats are not really that important.
I'd straight swap him for Hernandez after today.
He got some good service today but his control/finishing made it look as though the quality of balls were poor instead.
And many of them were also in favour of getting rid of Martial and Pogba. There is a pattern here.
He is a squad player to fill in when others are rested like today.
Can see him gone, if not in the summer, then definitely the one after.
Can see him gone, if not in the summer, then definitely the one after.
His link up with Martial was strangely off today, he was off with his passing and made the wrong decisions at many potential chance situations. On current form he's a bench player at best, but I can't see him getting even the goals he's known for as he no longer seems interested now that he's not assurred a start.
There was a play when Pogba got the ball on the right, holding the ball, and looking for player. Guess where Lukaku was? He hid behind on the opposite side or far post, raising his hand and hoping Pogba could make a pass over those defenders and gk, and miraculously got to his head for a tap in.
I thought, wow.. was he really a United striker?
Isn't he on kind of high wages?
If he is, then he won't be easy to get rid of.
If he is, then he won't be easy to get rid of.
Lukaku, Morata and Lacazette. The 3 options that Summer, and with the benefit of hindsight Lacazette would probably have been the best option. Clever player, good technique, can play across the attack, mobile and would have been able to link with Rashford and Martial in a manner that Rom will never be capable of.
If we are to spend big this summer then Lukaku is the only player we can sell for serious money. Rojo and Darmian will only get us maybe 20m.
That's the problem. Some low expectation sucka's on Redcafe at times. Loser mentality like, "did nothing wrong". When getting through a game without making mistakes is worth defending, that's when we've really turned into Arsenal or Spurs.
He's a good player. But not a good fit for what we do. He's also probably too good to be sat on our bench long term. I'm fine with selling him should we find a suitable replacement.
That all being said he's been decent under Ole when selected. Important goal v Newcastle and two great assists against Arsenal to name just a couple of games.
His lack of style counts against him with supporters
That all being said he's been decent under Ole when selected. Important goal v Newcastle and two great assists against Arsenal to name just a couple of games.
His lack of style counts against him with supporters
He wasn’t “bad” today in the sense he didn’t do much wrong, but then he was hardly involved either.
He should have scored from 1 cross and mistimed his header badly.
Needs to put much more effort into his movement and sniffing out goal scoring chances.
He should have scored from 1 cross and mistimed his header badly.
Needs to put much more effort into his movement and sniffing out goal scoring chances.
It speaks volumes even when goals and assits are being served up throughout the team he still finds a way to be starved of opportunities.
Against team like fulham the striker must assert his authority so I'm not hearing 'he did nothing wrong'. It's very low standard for United striker, it's acceptable at Everton but not here.
Against team like fulham the striker must assert his authority so I'm not hearing 'he did nothing wrong'. It's very low standard for United striker, it's acceptable at Everton but not here.
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If you make a 20-30 yard run from midfield and release to a CF who then fails to retain possession there's a good chance you're going to have to track back that 20-30 yards in order to win the ball back. Wholly understandable that if not intentional then subconsciously you're more likely to feed it to someone you trust.
Off season? Not at 25, that should not happen barring a serious injury. Also i dont buy the "system not fitting him". You could say that about a short, rapid striker playing in a bottom team only hitting crosses and long balls, but under Ole we are creating plenty and have lots of possession in good areas and yet he cant seem to contribute. Hes a decent/average finisher when he gets clear chances, but thats not nearly enough for a top club
The problem is his movement and positioning, his lack of technique and his lack of a strikers instinct. Despite his mass hes not a target man, he does not have the guile to be a proper poacher and he lacks the technique to be the creative type of striker. Either he needs to reinvent himself or he needs to leave. Hernandez was a decent finisher as well and he had that poacher instinct and scored loads of important goals which it seems Lukaku lacks, yet he was deemed not good enough for this club.
he wasn’t this bad in the first season, I can’t understand what’s happened thats changed him so much. I need to watch a first season review, it can’t just be a fluke surely.
What struck me was one incident in the second half when he received the ball in the Fulham half, he had just one defender between him the Fulham keeper.
Lukaku was between the defender and the ball.
All he had to do was control the ball and either lob it over his and the defender's head and he was away.
He could not even control the ball as it kept bouncing in front of him and eventually another defender came back and took it away
I am sure that most on caf would have controlled that ball
Lukaku was between the defender and the ball.
All he had to do was control the ball and either lob it over his and the defender's head and he was away.
He could not even control the ball as it kept bouncing in front of him and eventually another defender came back and took it away
I am sure that most on caf would have controlled that ball
True. Its probably hurting more than we'll know. He's the second most expensive player in club history and he's being kept out by an academy player. Mind you we all know he's always felt like he could be a key player at a big club. Time to get rid and buy someone like Kind who'd probably love to be here regardless of his status in the squad.
It's never been true. Bayern used to play some great stuff with Gomes in their ranks. Playing a player like Lukaku as a lone striker is asking for trouble though.
That's about it this season....not a bad return for a £75m investment
I feel for him, he just doesn't seem to fit in with the way United are trying to play, and looks a forlorn figure on the pitch. He looks better coming in from the right, but even then is limited. I think it would be best for all parties to part ways in the summer.
What is most frustrating for me is he is not closing down players when we don't have the ball.
When Rashford plays he closes down everyone the entire game, Lukaku doesn't look arsed. If you're gonna be a lazy player you at least need some flair and elegance about you (Berbatov)
When Rashford plays he closes down everyone the entire game, Lukaku doesn't look arsed. If you're gonna be a lazy player you at least need some flair and elegance about you (Berbatov)
If we sell him, who do we get for a replacement?
We have the replacement already. His name is Greenwood. The player(s) we're replacing are Mata and Sanchez. Hopefully this will be a RW.
I'm pretty sure he was a lot better than this season, and didn't he atleast look decent at the wc as well?
His technical ability has always been questioned but the guy can't control a ball to save his life anymore, it's weird.
In the words of Claude from AFTV, "It's time to go!"
Stop expressing your concerns regarding Lukaku people, you will get on radar of certain folks.
He's clearly accepted his fate as number two.
Arnoutevic on a three year deal, and gradually bring Greenwood through, Sanchez, I don't believe, will be here in summer 2020, so we will still need an attacker then.
Lukaku is a striker a no 9. The more times we supply the ball or good service to him to the box, that’s where he becomes dangerous. Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of those type of players who can give him consistent quality services to the box.
Last season we played his strength but that gives zero benefits to the players around him, but under Ole we are playing against his strength in order to get the best out of other players like Martial & Rashford.
As simple as it sounds - this is the truth.
Martial & Rashford are more able to create chances themselves especially when the space opens up for them.
Pogba being our one & only creator is an indication of how we play. Lukaku needs supply, from wingbacks, from wingers & midfielders.
I'd say the any traditional number nine would struggle here because we don't play to supply anyone of that type. Kane would struggle here in my eyes.
The same wihh Lukaku or Kane at Liverpool - no one would supply him clear cut chances the way City & Spurs prefer to play.
Kane wouldn't struggle because he can score goals out of nothing - that's something Lukaku cant do
Gotta disagree. We have more than enough to supply any striker worth his salt and Kane would especially thrive here because he can control a football and facilitate the attack with hold up play. He also isn't a limited tap in merchant. Maybe you're referring to Ruud type poachers.
In a modern pressing side you need someone with technical ability, mobility and workrate; someone like Tevez or Suarez. Lukaku doesn't have the necessary attributes to fit in.
I'm by no means saying Kane is some second rate striker - but I do think that Kane in this current spurs side would score more than Kane in this current United side.
Lucas, Lamela, Son, Aldeweireld, Trippier, Eriksen, Dembele, Rose and so many more are players that create for their central striker.
Shaw, Smalling, Dalot, young, Matic, Herrera, Martial, Rashford, Lingard in comparison do not hold up a strong fight in comparison.
Kane would do fine here again due to his individual abilities & this is why I said Rashford, Martial are thriving here on their individual abilities too - something Lukaku can't do.
Kane would be great but with 10-20% less chances created for him. What he does on his own would continue.
Kane would score anywhere, he's much more mobile and has a great work ethic despite being inherently selfish. He's a pretty well rounded player. Lukaku is so cumbersome and awkward, I've known milk to turn quicker ffs.
He's just not good enough.
We're MUCH worse when Lukaku is up front vs Rashford.
Need to cut our losses in the summer.
We're MUCH worse when Lukaku is up front vs Rashford.
Need to cut our losses in the summer.
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