Lukaku - transfer speculation | Gone

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PoTMS

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Anything over £30m, I would snatch your hand off. The funny thing is he's our best finisher. Think about how many sitters he's missed this season.
 

billybee99

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What we'll lose in his goals we'll more than make up for in competence and ball control.
We are not going to lose his goals. Someone else will play striker and replace those goals. It wouldn't be difficult. He doesn't score many goals.
 

ArjenIsM3

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Anything over £30m, I would snatch your hand off. The funny thing is he's our best finisher. Think about how many sitters he's missed this season.
Thought Martial has the best conversion rate? Not as many goals mind.
 

AJ10

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Will miss his pointing towards his feet and coming towards the ball rather than getting into position inside the box.

inter fans will love that.
 

devilish

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Lukaku is an excellent target man. He is very physical, his workrate is half decent and he's a good finisher for a target man. So what does this club do? It refuses to add classic wingers to the team and to play 4-2-3-1 which would exploit Lukaku's (and sanchez/Mata's) skillset

But that's not all. Now that we are considering adding a decent crosser of the ball (James) we are selling him up. We are also considering adding Dybala a player who was at his best with Pogba at his back (also tipped of leaving) and a target man upfront of him

I can't care less if we keep lukaku or not. However we can't really judge the man since we never played to his strengths
 

amolbhatia50k

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Would happily let him go. To be fair, I'm fine with keeping too as a squad player. But not really fussed about him leaving. We need more technically adept footballers at this football club.

That fee would be pretty amazing.
 

jymufc20

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Replace his goals? Pogba outscored him this season and Rashford scored only 2 less.

He's had a shit season and is constantly flirting with other clubs/leagues.

Get his fat arse out of here. Him leaving would not hurt us in any way.
:lol: my thoughts exactly.
 

devilish

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Would happily let him go. To be fair, I'm fine with keeping too as a squad player. But not really fussed about him leaving. We need more technically adept footballers at this football club.

That fee would be pretty amazing.
He is too 1 dimensional (and expensive salary wise) to keep him as a reserve. That's the problem with specialist players,you either play that way or you don't
 
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Lukaku is an excellent target man. He is very physical, his workrate is half decent and he's a good finisher for a target man. So what does this club do? It refuses to add classic wingers to the team and to play 4-2-3-1 which would exploit Lukaku's (and sanchez/Mata's) skillset

But that's not all. Now that we are considering adding a decent crosser of the ball (James) we are selling him up. We are also considering adding Dybala a player who was at his best with Pogba at his back (also tipped of leaving) and a target man upfront of him

I can't care less if we keep lukaku or not. However we can't really judge the man since we never played to his strengths
Lukuku is not a target man at all, and his workrate has been utterly appalling at Utd. His first touch goes further than I can kick a ball. He's a player who is best facing the goal, running towards the keeper.

You are right on the sense that we may not have played to his strengths, but that doesn't absolve him of the responsibility to keep himself in shape. He's a striker who is knackered after 30 mins, that's unforgivable. If he showed a greater level of application, then perhaps we would trust him more and play more to his strengths. However, he's not good enough to play though at Utd. 1 goal in 21 against the top 6 in two years.

If we got anywhere near £50m we would be in luck. Perhaps Everton would have him back, but he thinks he's better than that.

I dont know where his desire to be better, his determination to succeed has gone. He used to have that, and it was commendable. Now he strolls around the park like a fat lazy oaf, as if he nothing to prove, when it's the absolute opposite.
 

nickm

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Yeah, let's listen to us lot. Sell a proven premiership goalscorer, an international, 1 in 2 striker? Remember why we bought him - it was him or Morata.
 

devilish

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Lukuku is not a target man at all, and his workrate has been utterly appalling at Utd. His first touch goes further than I can kick a ball. He's a player who is best facing the goal, running towards the keeper.

You are right on the sense that we may not have played to his strengths, but that doesn't absolve him of the responsibility to keep himself in shape. He's a striker who is knackered after 30 mins, that's unforgivable. If he showed a greater level of application, then perhaps we would trust him more and play more to his strengths. However, he's not good enough to play though at Utd. 1 goal in 21 against the top 6 in two years.

If we got anywhere near £50m we would be in luck. Perhaps Everton would have him back, but he thinks he's better than that.

I dont know where his desire to be better, his determination to succeed has gone. He used to have that, and it was commendable. Now he strolls around the park like a fat lazy oaf, as if he nothing to prove, when it's the absolute opposite.
I am not suggesting we should keep him. In fact in my previous post I hinted we should probably let him go
 

DutchSerb

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If he goes and Martial stays, I think Ole needs to look at Martial at 9 one more time. I still feel like he's played out of position on the wing, he was pretty good as a striker under LvG.
 

kafta

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Him being our best finisher isn't credit to him, but more of a reflection of how short we are of quality up top.

If the reported fee is accurate, good riddance. But buying a replacement won't be easy either.
 

2 man midfield

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Is that 60m straight up? Or is that 60m after he’s won them the club World Cup and completed his 3 year no-obligation loan spell?

If it’s the former then roll him up in brown paper and stick him in the post.
 

RedCurry

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Lukaku is an excellent target man. He is very physical, his workrate is half decent and he's a good finisher for a target man. So what does this club do? It refuses to add classic wingers to the team and to play 4-2-3-1 which would exploit Lukaku's (and sanchez/Mata's) skillset

But that's not all. Now that we are considering adding a decent crosser of the ball (James) we are selling him up. We are also considering adding Dybala a player who was at his best with Pogba at his back (also tipped of leaving) and a target man upfront of him

I can't care less if we keep lukaku or not. However we can't really judge the man since we never played to his strengths
Because to accommodate lack of Pogba's work rate, we have to start with at least three midfielders and Pogba has to be the most advanced of the three. His form as number 10 is on and off. Only position he seems to play with some consistency is LCM. So we either play a diamond or 4-3-3. These formations make us narrow.

Having said all of that, if we had forwards who were prolific, it would make our entire team look better. Just look at how many chances an intelligent and technical 17 year old created for himself against Cardiff. A fit Van Persie would still squeeze 20 goals this season. We have to be ruthless especially when it comes to the man spearheading our attack.
 

Red00012

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Get rid of him, simply not good enough and if Ole wants pressing and fast counter this fella doesn’t fit the role well I guess he can do it for the 1st 5 mins in a game.
 

Dolf

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If he goes and Martial stays, I think Ole needs to look at Martial at 9 one more time. I still feel like he's played out of position on the wing, he was pretty good as a striker under LvG.
I really want to see this. I mean, it can't really get worse right?
 

OleGunnar20

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Not sold on bringing Icardi in, but please yes for the love of God sell Romelu.

Bipping on about your dream move to Italy while we're in disarray fighting for 4th? After coming out so many times in the past to show off how solid a mentality he had, how he was a fighter etc etc. Waster.

Jovic / Piatek seem like the best options at the mo, however both seem pretty unlikely. I wonder if we could get Lautaro Martinez as part of a Rom deal? He was talked up as being the next big thing a year or two back.

Whatever, I'd go with Greenwood / Rashford / Martial / Chong and a new wideman, with Jessie as deep deep backup, above seeing one more ball ricochet off of Romelu's magnetic shins.

Make the man's dreams come true.
 

finneh

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Lukaku is an excellent target man.
Very strange comment given that he struggles to win aerial challenges and his poor first touch means he can't hold the ball up.
his workrate is half decent
He is one of the 5 worst forwards in the league in terms of workrate.
he's a good finisher
PL stats for goals scored and also "big chances missed". This season he's missed 25% more big chances than he's scored (unless your barometer is Rashford whose biggest weakness is his finishing).

Lukaku - missed 15 big chances / scored 12
Rashford - missed 16 big chances / scored 10
Mane - missed 11 big chances / scored 22
Salah - missed 16 big chances / scored 22
Vardy - missed 17 big chances / scored 18
Kane - missed 11 big chances / scored 17
Aubameyang - missed 23 big chances / scored 22
Aguero - missed 10 big chances / scored 17
Lacazette - missed 13 big chances / scored 13
Firmino - missed 9 big chances / scored 12
Josh King - missed 10 big chances / scored 11
Ashley Barnes - missed 13 big chances / scored 12
Jimenez - missed 10 big chances / scored 13

So what does this club do? It refuses to add classic wingers to the team and to play 4-2-3-1 which would exploit Lukaku's (and sanchez/Mata's) skillset.
But that's not all. Now that we are considering adding a decent crosser of the ball (James) we are selling him up. We are also considering adding Dybala a player who was at his best with Pogba at his back (also tipped of leaving) and a target man upfront of him

I can't care less if we keep lukaku or not. However we can't really judge the man since we never played to his strengths
Lukaku's skillset for Everton was using his power and pace to counter-attack - he was never a typical target man. That's exactly the system that Ole and Mourinho have been playing. The problem is that due to his excessive weight gain he's lost the majority of his pace/stamina and has therefore significantly reduced the runs he makes (proven by his sprint stats). He's also lost that yard of pace that meant he could arrive in the 6 yard box often for a tap in. Numerous times we've seen the ball flash across the box where the Lukaku of old would have a simple chance - nowadays he's on the edge of the box blowing and pointing at his feet.

The perfect combination for the Lukaku of Everton would be a central midfielder with an eye for a pass who could find him 50-60 yards from goal and allow his power and pace to bulldoze his way into the box and slide it in 1v1. The absolute perfect player for that role is Pogba... The problem is nowadays Lukaku isn't fit enough to run these 60 yards more than once per half and even then it renders him completely out of action for the next 5-10 minutes.
 

john moran

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Get rid of him, simply not good enough and if Ole wants pressing and fast counter this fella doesn’t fit the role well I guess he can do it for the 1st 5 mins in a game.
If Lulaku is "simply not good enough" the same could equally be applied Martial , Lingard and Rashford , especially the last two. Martial is good enough , he just simply could not be bothered .
 
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r3idy

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100% get shut. Doesn't suit our style of play or how we want to play. His First touch is woeful, truly awful. Already bad enough with Smalling having the worst touch I have ever seen. Two players who literally can turn attack into defence in seconds because of poor technique is outstanding even for our current standards of mediocrity.

IF he goes I actually think it could balance the squad. Rashford playing the right forward role much better than Lingard ever could. Martial finding his space in the team as our natural number 9. Only thing that could stop him emulating Thierry Henry i.e. left winger turned into a world-class forward will be his attitude. He sure as shit has better technique than Lukaku thats for sure.

A big cumbersome forward with poor technique, who cant score for toffee against teams above us is not good enough.

Get rid ASAP, bite their hand off, accept installments, ten years I don't care, get rid
 

dogwithabone

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We need to get back to the tried and trusted four quality strikers we had under Fergie. You won’t get four Harry Kane’s but the current crop is weak in terms of goal output. Lukaku is the only genuine striker but he seems to always have issues.

Martial and Rashford aren’t really natural finishers and both get played elsewhere, left or right. The two young lads understandably can’t be relied upon just yet.

Be handy if Ole could unearth a cheapish version of himself from somewhere.
 

Fer

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Lukaku would massively improve with players like Sancho and Meunier. Lukaku needs decent crosses, but we have Young.
 

11101

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Transfer speculation or transfer hope? I would take any offer to get rid of him, talking about leaving like he's not totally overweight and achieved nothing here. Utterly inexcusable for a professional footballer.

He'll never be good enough for a top club that isn't constantly attacking into space. Icardi is no guarantee but he will certainly be better than Lukaku.
 

Cee90

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I’d get rid of him for a bag of nuts and a kick in the bollocks to be honest.
 

Lash

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Lukaku would massively improve with players like Sancho and Meunier. Lukaku needs decent crosses, but we have Young.
I’ve not really seen any suggestion the lad can judge the flight of the ball and make any decent runs to be found.
 

GazTheLegend

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Right, so his wife is mad and causes trouble. Is him leaving her part of the transfer terms then?

Also, I'm not convinced Icardi is the best teammate in the world given how he came to be in a relationship with said wife.

Of all the strikers in the world, why buy one with that sort of baggage? Sell Lukaku fine, just don't bring more trouble into the club.
If you read about what happened, it’s a lot more complex than you think.

His teammate Maxi Lopez was cheating on Wanda/Icardi’s now wife.

Also, the reason he was stripped of the captaincy is apparently because he wanted to give his shirt to a kid in the crowd but an ultra fan stole it instead - Icardi had an argument with him and after that moment the ultras began to hate him.

It’s all quite dramatic, but a lot of the inter fans are more understanding than you think.

I quite like Wanda, personally. Very rare to find people that tell you what they really think of you these days.
 

scholesyboy18

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Inter is linked for 50- 60 m.

While its a fair price, I think we should keep him. Not much options there who can replace his goals.
He cannot hold the ball, he cannot dribble, he cannot finish, has the first touch of lamp post. What will we do with him ?
 

Bobski

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Yeah, let's listen to us lot. Sell a proven premiership goalscorer, an international, 1 in 2 striker? Remember why we bought him - it was him or Morata.
Or Lacazette as the distant 3rd option. Arsenal ending up with him and Aubameyang while Utd and Chelsea had a squabble over Lukaku and Morata is the best thing they have done in years.
 

SAFMUTD

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We should sell him, he is too good to be just a squad player but not good enough to be starting for us. Is too expensive to have a 50-60 million striker on the bench, we should have Rashford as a squad player and buy a top striker.
 

Moriarty

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We should sell him, he is too good to be just a squad player but not good enough to be starting for us. Is too expensive to have a 50-60 million striker on the bench, we should have Rashford as a squad player and buy a top striker.
If we had a couple of wide players who could cross the ball with some accuracy, Rom would flourish. As it is, we attack mostly down the left flank, which reduces his effectiveness. But my problem with Rom is that he is often found outside the six-yard box. I've lost count of the times the ball has been played in their and there's been nobody to attack it. It's frustrating and it's maybe down to coaching.
 

GifLord

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If we get Icardi in a swap deal be prepared for Wanda roasting our shitty players on The Debate. I can already see it :lol:
 

Cloud7

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Can’t wait to see the back of him. Should never have signed him in the first place, and I’m glad the club and Ole can see that he has no place at the level we hope to be at.
 
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Very strange comment given that he struggles to win aerial challenges and his poor first touch means he can't hold the ball up.


He is one of the 5 worst forwards in the league in terms of workrate.


PL stats for goals scored and also "big chances missed". This season he's missed 25% more big chances than he's scored (unless your barometer is Rashford whose biggest weakness is his finishing).

Lukaku - missed 15 big chances / scored 12
Rashford - missed 16 big chances / scored 10
Mane - missed 11 big chances / scored 22
Salah - missed 16 big chances / scored 22
Vardy - missed 17 big chances / scored 18
Kane - missed 11 big chances / scored 17
Aubameyang - missed 23 big chances / scored 22
Aguero - missed 10 big chances / scored 17
Lacazette - missed 13 big chances / scored 13
Firmino - missed 9 big chances / scored 12
Josh King - missed 10 big chances / scored 11
Ashley Barnes - missed 13 big chances / scored 12
Jimenez - missed 10 big chances / scored 13



Lukaku's skillset for Everton was using his power and pace to counter-attack - he was never a typical target man. That's exactly the system that Ole and Mourinho have been playing. The problem is that due to his excessive weight gain he's lost the majority of his pace/stamina and has therefore significantly reduced the runs he makes (proven by his sprint stats). He's also lost that yard of pace that meant he could arrive in the 6 yard box often for a tap in. Numerous times we've seen the ball flash across the box where the Lukaku of old would have a simple chance - nowadays he's on the edge of the box blowing and pointing at his feet.

The perfect combination for the Lukaku of Everton would be a central midfielder with an eye for a pass who could find him 50-60 yards from goal and allow his power and pace to bulldoze his way into the box and slide it in 1v1. The absolute perfect player for that role is Pogba... The problem is nowadays Lukaku isn't fit enough to run these 60 yards more than once per half and even then it renders him completely out of action for the next 5-10 minutes.
Excellent post. Spot on analysis.

I’d get rid of him for a bag of nuts and a kick in the bollocks to be honest.
Equally as good a post, if not quite as eloquent (it's a compliiment)!
 
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