Lukaku: Aguero successor

[DWelbz19]

In the past two seasons, there’s probably only been about two strikers who have been comprehensively better than Lukaku: Lewandowski, and Benzema. The likes of Kane, Suarez, Haaland etc. have all been at a similar level, if only marginally better.

I know his time here was average at best, and he left with a very sour taste in everyone’s mouth, but he’s a top striker and a very serious option for a side looking for a no.9.

 

[Andycoleno9]

In the past two seasons, there’s probably only been about two strikers who have been comprehensively better than Lukaku: Lewandowski, and Benzema. The likes of Kane, Suarez, Haaland etc. have all been at a similar level, if only marginally better.

I know his time here was average at best, and he left with a very sour taste in everyone’s mouth, but he’s a top striker and a very serious option for a side looking for a no.9.

He scored this season more than all 4 our strikers together. Strikers who have flawless technique and first touch. But but but his first touch and shit like that.

 

[cyberman]

He scored this season more than all 4 our strikers together. Strikers who have flawless technique and first touch. But but but his first touch and shit like that.

Not easy playing at a big club tbf. Pressure gets too much

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Have a lot of experience running an ultra-competitive organization in any field? Actually, I'll lower the bar; do you have any experience running anything at all?

You do have a weird habit of writing about football players/clubs in the style of fan fiction (with less boning) No need to be rude when someone calls out your fantasy musings.

 

[united_99]

They are going to sign a striker anyway, so better they sign Lukaku than Haaland.

 

[Banat]

As others have said, he will score loads but he is still very limited player and will make them worse.
Hope this happens.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

It is amazing how people can be stuck around one flaw and build a agenda around that. Lukaku is striker who is scoring shit load of goals and he would be scoring even more in City.

It’s not really amazing is it when a so called top level player can’t control a football and has flopped massively at the only top club he’s played for. He’s got a cult like following who seem to ignore his limitations if anything.

 

[Champ]

Ronaldo doesn’t run much & distance covered is not really a good metric anyway. Pressing activity is (and there are specific metric that judge that), and the lack of it led to Pep benching Agüero for Jesus when he just came in, until Agüero adapted and became way more involved.

When discussing someone who 'doesn't run much', using the distance covered is a perfect metric, as that will show how far on average that person runs.

 

[CM]

There are plenty of strikers who would be a better fit for City but Lukaku can still put the ball in the back of the net if chances are created for him. His record for Belgium speaks to that.

Having said that, I find it hard to believe City would be interested with some of the other options available at the moment. And Pep will likely want more than 'just' a goalscorer.

 

[Andycoleno9]

It’s not really amazing is it when a so called top level player can’t control a football and has flopped massively at the only top club he’s played for. He’s got a cult like following who seem to ignore his limitations if anything.

He has a cult like of people who hate him that much that can't see the truth. He is scoring bloody goals. How our no9s doing this season? All with superior technique than him.
And flopped massively? That is overreaction.

 

[Boavista]

It’s not really amazing is it when a so called top level player can’t control a football and has flopped massively at the only top club he’s played for. He’s got a cult like following who seem to ignore his limitations if anything.

Is he not succeeding at a top club right now?

We could argue about how good his ball control really is but it's hardly the decisive metric to judge a player by. He wouldn't be the first top striker to have erratic ball control.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Jose playing Lukaku as a target man really didn't help.

 

[Gehrman]

If they can't get Haaland, then Lukkaku would make sense considering the lack of great strikers in their prime. I think his touch and confidence has improved massively at Inter. At the end of the day though he's not a Pep type of player. He might still do the job though.

 

[meamth]

It is amazing how people can be stuck around one flaw and build a agenda around that. Lukaku is striker who is scoring shit load of goals and he would be scoring even more in City.

That flaw is the reason why he won't be a hit at City.

I don't see him playing quick interchanging passes with Sterling, KDB, sudden burst of acceleration (Like Aguero or Jesus) & his first time shots are well below elite level.
He will struggle to perform at City.

 

[Rocksy]

He’s been credibly linked, various sources for a long time. Not seen Inter but reports say he’s much better technically and in terms of build up than he was.

That’s in Italy though, and I don’t believe it. His touch was horrendous for a good 7 years before this season...

 

[Adisa]

Not his biggest fan but even I admit that he scores goals.
He will bang goals for fun.

 

[Majima]

Lukaku in his first season here was wonderful. Full of running. I can actually see it happening. He would score a lot of goals no sweat for them.

 

[Pep's Suit]

Well, Inter ask for €120m so this transfer won't happen. Anyway, I think he'd score 15-20 in PL and that's what City need however he'd be benched quite a lot.

 

[432JuanMata]

The scoring goals is never in question he is one of the proven best at that, it’s the compensating the team have to do for his weaknesses which makes it a questionable signing.

 

[Smores]

It’s not really amazing is it when a so called top level player can’t control a football and has flopped massively at the only top club he’s played for. He’s got a cult like following who seem to ignore his limitations if anything.

That's a really weird accusation, why in hell would he have a cult following on a united forum?

 

[passing-wind]

Lukaku under Pep compared to being unmotivated under Solskjaer is a completely different prospect. What I don't understand is how some say if City sign Haaland they'll be unstoppable ? Erling is a clinical finisher with a very unrefined influence outside of the opposition box. He'd offer as much as Lukaku within the build up. It's worth noting that Lukaku / Haaland will never match Zlatan for technicality.

 

[Matriac]

Lukaku will do well in any team where he isn't expected to be the only goal scorer. We would have loved him back in the day when we had Cole, Yorke, Sheringham, Solskjær.

His first season with us scoring 27 was next to an injured Zlatan scoring 1, Martial scoring 11, Rashford 13, Sanchez 3.
Next season Lukaku only got 15 goals, but Martial 12, Rashford 13, Sanchez 2. (Partially also because of Mou imploding season playing ultra boring?)

Him lining up next to Lautaro is perfect for him, another striker that is expected to score a high number of goals, so the defense won't just focus on Lukaku alone.
His first season Lukaku scored 34 and Lautaro 21, so far this season Lukaku has 25 and Lautaro has 16. Even Sanchez has 4 and 5. (Sure it's easier to score more in Italy, but still.)

I was more than fine with Lukaku leaving when we got the money back, I didn't think he fit in with us, both from playstyle and attitude.
But he's still a great goalscorer in the right type of team where he can play a(n important) role, but not as the sole big threat goalscoring player.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Lukaku thrives on service and working channels. City are masters of creation and Pep Loves strikers who move into channels. It will work better excellently

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Is he not succeeding at a top club right now?

We could argue about how good his ball control really is but it's hardly the decisive metric to judge a player by. He wouldn't be the first top striker to have erratic ball control.

No inter aren’t a top club now and aren’t in a top league. The reality is Martial put in performances last season in a Utd shirt that Lukaku couldn’t dream of. His poor showing this season doesn’t change that fact.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

That's a really weird accusation, why in hell would he have a cult following on a united forum?

Because many football fans can’t look past goals and he happens to score at a decent rate. Doesn’t mean the rest of his game is good enough and let’s be honest he doesn’t score enough to make up for his other deficiencies. If he scored at a near 1-1 rate and in big games I’d accept his overall technical level. As it is he’s not a top player and never will be.

 

[MadDogg]

Lukaku in his first season here was wonderful.

First half of that season maybe. Second half he was already dropping off quite a bit, and then obviously he was atrocious for most of his second season.

 

[Matriac]

No inter aren’t a top club now and aren’t in a top league. The reality is Martial put in performances last season in a Utd shirt that Lukaku couldn’t dream of. His poor showing this season doesn’t change that fact.

I like Martial, I thought he was our Player of the Year last year with his 23 goals.
But in his 5.5+ seasons here he has scored more than Lukaku's worst season (15goals) only in his first season with 17 and now the last one (which isn't as much as Lukaku's 27 goal season). He's also on track for his worst season ever with us this year unless he suddenly starts scoring a whole lot more.

 

[RooneyLegend]

It would work for him cause City don't really play through the striker. However they create from all angles and he isn't comfortable finishing at certain angles.

 

[Posh Red]

City would create far fewer chances with a player like Lukaku playing an important role. It is not just a simple case of saying ‘they create loads of chances so he would score loads’. The reason they are so productive is because they have a very clearly defined system that relies on every player having a certain level of technical ability and a good first touch.

 

[VeevaVee]

In the past two seasons, there’s probably only been about two strikers who have been comprehensively better than Lukaku: Lewandowski, and Benzema. The likes of Kane, Suarez, Haaland etc. have all been at a similar level, if only marginally better.

I know his time here was average at best, and he left with a very sour taste in everyone’s mouth, but he’s a top striker and a very serious option for a side looking for a no.9.

What are you basing level on?

 

[VeevaVee]

It’s mad how quickly people forget. He’d be atrocious in a team that relies on quick control and passing. But he’d get some goals and be hailed an amazing player by some on here.

 

[RashyForPM]

Many people are already saying something along these lines, but I’ll make a more extreme and extrapolated prediction on this: provided he starts at least 32 PL games, he would finish top scorer but City won’t win the league.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense, but in this case, it’s definitely possible.

 

[GhastlyHun]

Lukaku isn't a Target man never was but your point about Guardiola not being fan of Target man may have some substance but he didn't have any problem with Lewandowski at Bayern .

Lewandowski was brought in to replace Mandzukic, who was a good classical center forward, but a lot worse at playing the ball. So sort of case in point for 'Pep doesn't like a classical target man'.

 

[mu4c_20le]

He thrives in a slower league where he can bully people with his physicality. Nothing to do with chances, he had more than enough here.

 

[gza the genius]

As others have said, he will score loads but he is still very limited player and will make them worse.
Hope this happens.

This. Plus, Pep likes to change his system quite often and I don't think Lukaku would be an automatic starter which I don't think Lukaku would put up with that for very long.

 

[horsechoker]

He thrives in a slower league where he can bully people with his physicality. Nothing to do with chances, he had more than enough here.

The problem has been replacing him with Martial. He still wasn't the right guy for United but in hindsight, a striker should've been bought to replace him.

 

[Majima]

First half of that season maybe. Second half he was already dropping off quite a bit, and then obviously he was atrocious for most of his second season.

True, but I think the 2nd half of the season was affected for everyone by Sánchez's arrival. He had a good understanding with Martial, who hardly played much after. Sánchez coming in started the beginning of the end for Jose. He was still productive though in the 2nd half, instumental in both wins vs. Chelsea & Liverpool at home, and scoring in every FA Cup match to the semi's. The second season was a total disaster though yeah. There may been mitigating factors with the digestion stories, but he also lost motivation and didn't want to be here anymore.

If City get him, he'll do damage there 100%. He's used to playing with KDB, and the long ball from Ederson on a high press would be dangerous for a start. That's something they don't have currently. He's not a target man who plays with his back to goal anyway. He runs the channels, and thives upon service. He even played on the wing to great effect at times for us under Ole when he wanted to.

 

[mu4c_20le]

The problem has been replacing him with Martial. He still wasn't the right guy for United but in hindsight, a striker should've been bought to replace him.

Agreed, Martial is talented but his consistency is shocking. There's a great player in there somewhere but he seems to be way too high maintenance.

 

[Ali Dia]

He has a cult like of people who hate him that much that can't see the truth. He is scoring bloody goals. How our no9s doing this season? All with superior technique than him.
And flopped massively? That is overreaction.

We still haven’t replaced him. Thank feck Cavani was still free by the end of the window or we’d have been stuck with Ighalo playing way too many games

 

[hungrywing]

You do have a weird habit of writing about football players/clubs in the style of fan fiction (with less boning) No need to be rude when someone calls out your fantasy musings.

Interesting you read that as rude. Classic projection, perhaps. Either way ironic, considering how many times you've been let off the hook when you've called other posters 'stupid twat's or some such. Pro-tip, not everyone's out to try to put someone down. Breathe in, grasshopper.

The 'fantasy' part is your opinion and you're welcome to it. Some might say one can't really take it seriously when IIRC quite a few people have pointed out all the times you've not watched a match and then berated peoples' opinions on it and then being called out for such. Talk about weird behavior. Although a good shrink would be able to tell you exactly why you do that.