Does anyone still see potential for Lukaku?

shiranaiotoko

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Lukaku has the spirit and potential to score 20+ goals per season. Probably need confidence, especially with his first touch, which is a mem atm. We just have bad passers except Pogba, when he cares, so I wouldn't blame lack of goals on him. He wasn't playing much and wasn't the only person responsible for goals. If he're going to play 433, then he is the perfect target man, who can deliver assists and goals, if only wingers around him are good enough. Martial, Rashford, Sanchez are not.
 

JPRouve

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Nobody can set a world cup on fire (fat Ronaldo maybe iirc). But I get what your saying. Are we seriously getting 50m for him though? And if we do, who is available at 50m to improve us?

Its a big gamble to replace a proven goal scorer after one poor season.

By the same logic, Pogba's monetary value probably also exceeds his footballing value.
And that's why selling Pogba shouldn't be excluded, not because he is bad or toxic like some would make you believe but because his value is grossly inflated and would allow us to improve several positions while his replacement shouldn't be a far worse player. It's a team consideration.

People judge Lukaku based on one exceptional season in terms of goalscoring, when you consider that he scored 1/4 of his goals(7) in two games in 2016/2017, you should quickly realize that he is between whoever Everton/Bournemouth/Watford/Wolves have as strikers, basically the likes of Wilson, Ighalo, Giroud and other decent players that will under the correct circumstances score around 15-18 goals in the league.
 

Lynty

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And that's why selling Pogba shouldn't be excluded, not because he is bad or toxic like some would make you believe but because his value is grossly inflated and would allow us to improve several positions while his replacement shouldn't be a far worse player. It's a team consideration.

People judge Lukaku based on one exceptional season in terms of goalscoring, when you consider that he scored 1/4 of his goals(7) in two games in 2016/2017, you should quickly realize that he is between whoever Everton/Bournemouth/Watford/Wolves have as strikers, basically the likes of Wilson, Ighalo, Giroud and other decent players that will under the correct circumstances score around 15-18 goals in the league.
Can't really argue with that. Agree completely.

Those who have followed Lukaku from WBA knew what we were getting. Its bad scouting if we believed he'd be anything different than what he's given us (with this season as an exception/low point).

I think the problem isn't Lukaku, rather our lack of playing in and recruiting for a clear system.

Look at what Jimenez (a limited striker) gives Wolves who play to his strengths. What did they end up paying for him, 40m? Even then, his output would be considered subpar for united. A striker isn't available for less than what Inter are gonna give us for Lukaku, who will replicate his output (bar this one freak season). So unless we NEED the cash to improve the rest of the squad or put toward a nailed on improvement (Greizmann?) it's pointlessly weakening our squad.

Imagine team morale if Lukaku gets pushed and Sanchez is still sitting there come August
 

Roboc7

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He isn’t suited to way the manager wants to play so get rid if there is a good enough offer. Another season of not getting best out of him won’t help us and will only see his price drop before he is sold next summer.

If Ole isn’t thinking along those lines he doesn’t stand a chance, trying to make do and tolerating people who do a job will only ensure he gets sacked.
 

Fosu-Mens

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He isn’t suited to way the manager wants to play so get rid if there is a good enough offer. Another season of not getting best out of him won’t help us and will only see his price drop before he is sold next summer.

If Ole isn’t thinking along those lines he doesn’t stand a chance, trying to make do and tolerating people who do a job will only ensure he gets sacked.
Hopefully, he and the club are ruthless and sells/releases/retires 15-17 of the current players in the squad before the 20/21 season.
 

Will Singh

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He's not good enough to be a United player but if you stick by him he will defo get you 15-20 goals a season but then so can I if United played me every game.
 

VorZakone

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It's like he's being tried to play as a Firmino when his style actually resembles Salah and Mane. Try him on RW?
 

matherto

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He's not good enough.

Technically he's a donkey. His second touch is a tackle.

When he has confidence he'll score goals just through being big and quick but as a footballer he's abysmal. Except against sides that actually know how to defend then he turns to shite again. His record against the rest of the top 6 is fecking awful.

We need much, much better.
 

SAFMUTD

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Ive said it multiple times, Lukaku is a playet that can score loads of goals if the system fits him. The way everton played and the way Beligium play suits him, he needs loads of services and creative players around him delivering chances.

The thing here is that we create very little opportunities and he is not a clinical striker. The way we have been playing doesn’t help any striker but specially doesn’t help a striker like Lukaku.

If we can get around 60-70 for him we should sell, he’s to good to be on the bench but not good enough to be starting.
 

mitchmouse

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I certainly don't think he's as poor as some people are saying here. Last season, he wasn't really any worse than Rashford
 

Dans

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He's too bulky, doesn't have quick enough feet or a quick turn in him, but will get 15 goals a season, none of which will be important game winners against top sides.​
 

antsmithmk

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I seem to be in the minority, but I like him. He scores goals... That's enough for a number 9 for me. I don't get all this link up play emphasis. If he is the main man on his own up top there should be 5 midfielders to do all the fancy stuff.
 

devilish

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I don't think he even want to stay here. The manager wants to play quick tempo and he becomes like a body builder. Not to forget the constant rumours surrounding him
 

Rocksy

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A deluxe Jason Roberts. Muscle bound, bulky and with an awful first touch. He’s not going to get better either, is he?
 

Josh 76

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This is what fans want don't they? Ole making a big statement. He wants to play a certain way, and Lukkuka doesn't fit into the system.
Klopp did that with Benditke
Pep with Joe Hart
This is the first thing that has impressed me with Ole. Showing some fecking balls for once!
 

Roboc7

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Who do you replace him with, that can hit the ground running and would come here? I agree, not a good idea to replace him.
That’s one of the things that holds this club back being scared and making do. He doesn’t suit how manager wants to play and scored 12 league goals last season, a replacement doesn’t have to be that good to reach a similar level.
 

Bobski

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He will score plenty of goals if you build the team to his strengths and buy accordingly. The problem is that getting the best out of Lukaku is not even close to as important as getting the best out of the team. A more technically capable and fitter striker is likely to allow the overall team play to improve, team ends up scoring more, that is far better than one striker getting a high tally while everyone else struggles.
 

JPRouve

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This is what fans want don't they? Ole making a big statement. He wants to play a certain way, and Lukkuka doesn't fit into the system.
Klopp did that with Benditke
Pep with Joe Hart
This is the first thing that has impressed me with Ole. Showing some fecking balls for once!
Shape up, Jussy 26!
 

Fluctuation0161

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He's too inconsistent for a challenging side. Maybe for top 4 he'll be adequate. So next season he could do a job.

But if competing for serious honours he just isn't good enough. You never know which Lukaku will turn up. Donkey or good finisher.
 

Aloysius's Back 3

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He's too inconsistent for a challenging side. Maybe for top 4 he'll be adequate. So next season he could do a job.

But if competing for serious honours he just isn't good enough. You never know which Lukaku will turn up. Donkey or good finisher.
Not anymore.

The top 4 is more like a top 6 now whilst apparently teams like wolves want to compete at the top as well - that's how much money they had.

Lukaku is such a traditional number 9 that relies on everyone supplying him chances or the club turns to a 10 a side team.

City use 3 attackers that are supplied by 2 AM, Liverpool use primarily 2 attackers supplied with a combination of pressing, a false 9 and the rest of midfield. The only club that uses a traditional number 9 like Lukaku is Chelsea with Higuain or Giroud.
Barcelona don't use a single striker approach. Real Madrid don't. Juventus stopped doing so. PSG don't. Spurs use them but Lukaku can't play like Kane & plays more like Llorente.

Why must we be one of the only teams to use this type of striker that is unable to play in a fluid front 3 (because he breaks down the play that the opposition don't even need a defence) - whilst only being able to play in a team that uses him as the central and only focal point of the attack where everyone has to give him the chance to put the ball in the net. At max maybe a winger will score a couple goals whilst the team are busy defending Lukaku but it's hardly a complicated type of football to be consistent.

:(

 I want him to go so much - he is much a site of our poor managerial flow, our simplicity in way we want to play football and just an overall drop of ability and class for a 75-90 mil pound striker :eek:

:( please go
 

Aloysius's Back 3

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Why is Martial Lazy but Lukaku is not. Wasn't he one of the worst 5 players too for distance run or something?
 

RoyH1

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In the right system, with the right players, he can be a very productive striker. But since the odds of us adding offensive players of the calibre of Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne are rather low, we might be better off adding a more technical forward who can create more scoring chances by himself.
 

settembrini

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Why is Martial Lazy but Lukaku is not. Wasn't he one of the worst 5 players too for distance run or something?
Lukaku's distance ran and number of sprints stats were almost identical to Martial's last season.

However I think most people believe Lukaku did little running because of his fitness. He was ridiculously big and bulky and there were times when he would sprint and then looked completely wiped out for minutes after.

Martial by contrast looks in great shape and rarely tired. So when he has poor running stats he will naturally get accused of being lazy.
 

Le Red

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I'm partial to selling him, but who'll play up top other than Rashford?
 

NoPace

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And that's why selling Pogba shouldn't be excluded, not because he is bad or toxic like some would make you believe but because his value is grossly inflated and would allow us to improve several positions while his replacement shouldn't be a far worse player. It's a team consideration.

People judge Lukaku based on one exceptional season in terms of goalscoring, when you consider that he scored 1/4 of his goals(7) in two games in 2016/2017, you should quickly realize that he is between whoever Everton/Bournemouth/Watford/Wolves have as strikers, basically the likes of Wilson, Ighalo, Giroud and other decent players that will under the correct circumstances score around 15-18 goals in the league.
I think this massively overrates the odds of replacing Pogba with a midfielder who isn't far worse. Despite his issues, someone like Pogba is still far better than a lot of expensive, competent midfielders. Swapping Pogba for someone at the level of Kovacic or Keita last summer, both of whom I think are good players and moved to rivals of ours and would have been applauded as signings, and we'd have finished what, 8th?
 

Cloud7

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Nope. I just see the potential for someone that brings more to the team to take his place once he’s sold.
 

freeurmind

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To answer the OP, yes Lukaku still is a talented player, will score goals wherever he plays if not for us.
 

Canagel

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I predict when he is sold we'll start to play better football. It's not difficult to upgrade a striker with trampoline first touch. He didn't add anything to our attack and was better to continue the development of our existing attack until clear improvement appeared.