[Red Star One]

Not entirely his fault today, but he's not United quality, I'm afraid.

 

[Cheesy]

All those annoyed at Lukaku, please remember this is the same striker that got pocketed by Daily Blind. It has been well established that Blind lacks the physicality for the EPL yet he coped just fine vs Lukaku. What I am getting at is it is kind of to be expected.

Eh...not sure I'd read too much into that, for all of Blind's weaknesses he's had plenty of decent defensive games too, and I'm pretty sure I can recall him coping fairly well against Kane once or twice as well...and we're well-aware of how good Kane is.

 

[RedStarUnited]

His lack of work ethic is something I will never forgive him for.

Sanchez isnt having a great game but he is working his arse off for the team

 

[arnie_ni]

Has he won any headers?

 

[Kapardin]

We are really stuck with him for 2 more seasons atleast, aren't we?

 

[MuseJoris]

Played a bad game but can point out 12 more to be fair. Collective failure.

 

[Z2United]

Got nothing to add but to say. Mid-table player through n through.

 

[FujiVice]

He's the talisman of shit. If the team is playing shite, dont expect Lukaku to put any graft in. His link up play is weak as piss.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

He's absolutely useless at winning the ball from our goal kicks

 

[lsd]

Honestly think people are just waiting to criticise him.

He gets absolutely fecking nothing from our supporting players.

Anyone sane can see that, the service he gets in these games is pathetic but you have the haters watching their own game and who just can't wait to criticise him for something that's clearly not his fault .

Give Harry Kane that service and you will get the exact same outcome

 

[Offside]

I’ve defended him as he has been a scapegoat when he’s done okay but I was watching videos of Ruud the other day and the different is laughable. The guy never deserved to come here, and is just fundamentally not good enough. I think he’s an intelligent player who has improved over the years but that donkeyness he possesses will never leave. It’s the fact we spent so much on him when he’s only 24 that is the worst thing. We’re stuck with him.

 

[SuperiorXI]

To an extent - but some players are perhaps more adept at dropping back into midfield (Rooney being an example), some strikers excel on movement and make it a lot easier for midfielders to provide them with service, while others are perhaps so skilled on the ball they can compensate for poor service when they do get it.

I'm not sure that's the case with Lukaku. For all the physicality and power he has, his main attribute is that he's essentially a clinical poacher; get him regular service and he'll generally be a very good finisher, but leave him isolated and there's not too much to his game that'll mean he can overcome that on his own.

Obviously all strikers do depend on good service, but some can thrive off of less than others.

You're right, but when you take away all the service, how many strikers can be effective? Lukaku isn't Messi, he's not going to make something out of nothing, everybody knows that yet the attitude in here suggests different.

 

[redNATION]

Cant see him being our striker for years to come, just like Chelsea with Morata, I think he'll be replaced when a better fit for the team is found.

 

[SuperiorXI]

Suarez could MAKE things happen and even started attacks and created chances without service

Prime Suarez was more than a lethal goal scorer, that much is obvious.

 

[afrocentricity]

Y'all so quick to dig out players..... What was he supposed to do the team could hardly get the ball to him. Everyone was shite I cba to dig out individuals.

 

[Cheesy]

You're right, but when you take away all the service, how many strikers can be effective? Lukaku isn't Messi, he's not going to make something out of nothing, everybody knows that yet the attitude in here suggests different.

As I've said, any striker who's getting mediocre service is going to suffer. But again - some players depend on service more/less than others. Lukaku's prime attribute is finishing. Play to his strengths and he'll do well but if we don't he's effectively a bit useless, and more so than someone who'd push back a bit more like Rooney was when in his prime.

 

[Devil81]

Seen enough to know he's not top level, he just can't produce against the top teams.

I don't think I've ever seen a player who struggles against the top boys so much. His overall ability is lacking for a club with the goals we target every season.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Total shite again.

Lazy.

 

[Festive Sandvich]

Never seen such a big man look so physically unimposing. No point in those big upper body muscles, they're just dead weight most of the time.

 

[The Alchemist]

Big game bottler who loves to go into hiding when the chips are down.

 

[finneh]

We are really stuck with him for 2 more seasons atleast, aren't we?

One thing I would say is that despite our manager having a huge ego he seems to be more than willing to swallow his pride and cut his losses. He has done so with Mkhitaryan and has done on numerous occasions in the past.

I'm hopeful he'll do the same again as I think we'd recoup the majority of the fee and could look to a far more dynamic option (whether that be a centre forward or a wide player with Martial/Rashford/Sanchez sharing the CF burden).

 

[Pyro19]

Mid table striker who we'll have to give another season because of his price tag.

Infuriating that he doesn't have the technique of a proper ball playing CF and also cannot use his size for Hold Up play and winning long balls and headers.

What does he offer us then?

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I don't want to say waste of money, but I don't think he's good enough for the level we aspire to get to.

Everton was his level. Europa League is his level. IMO.

Would love to be proven wrong.

 

[Stacks]

Eh...not sure I'd read too much into that, for all of Blind's weaknesses he's had plenty of decent defensive games too, and I'm pretty sure I can recall him coping fairly well against Kane once or twice as well...and we're well-aware of how good Kane is.

Don't know about the Kane stuff and yeah, Blind is ok at CB, about a 6.5 out of 10, yet he is a physical mis match vs Lukaku.

6'3 vs 5'10, pace vs slow, (supposed power) vs physical weakness.

 

[SuperiorXI]

As I've said, any striker who's getting mediocre service is going to suffer. But again - some players depend on service more/less than others. Lukaku's prime attribute is finishing. Play to his strengths and he'll do well but if we don't he's effectively a bit useless, and more so than someone who'd push back a bit more like Rooney was when in his prime.

I wouldn't say he is useless. Lukaku has shown he has an eye for the pass and has shown he can hold up play in previous matches. Less effective, yes. But useless no.

 

[Cheesy]

I wouldn't say he is useless. Lukaku has shown he has an eye for the pass and has shown he can hold up play in previous matches. Less effective, yes. But useless no.

Maybe not useless, but I'd say his overall game is lacking compared to other top strikers in the league such as Kane and Aguero.

 

[Isotope]

Anyone sane can see that, the service he gets in these games is pathetic but you have the haters watching their own game and who just can't wait to criticise him for something that's clearly not his fault .

Give Harry Kane that service and you will get the exact same outcome

Exactly. I mean, just by watching this game, they put in exactly the same 9/10 performance.

 

[Stacks]

Y'all so quick to dig out players..... What was he supposed to do the team could hardly get the ball to him. Everyone was shite I cba to dig out individuals.

Hold up the ball, win headers, play players in, beat a man, roll defenders, harass defenders, make life hard for them......watch some Drogba or RVN videos. hell just watch Kane.

 

[Silas]

He's shockingly poor at judging aerial balls. Won about two. I thought he was a student of football? Surely he knows he needs to work on this?

Y'all so quick to dig out players..... What was he supposed to do the team could hardly get the ball to him. Everyone was shite I cba to dig out individuals.

It's pretty hard to get the ball to him when, nine times out of ten, he literally stands still when a pass is made and acts surprised when a defender just steps in front to intercept.

 

[Jed I. Knight]

He's absolutely useless at winning the ball from our goal kicks

I genuinely believe he has coordination problems of some sort. He so often ends up standing and trying to get at the ball a good few yards away from where the ball actually comes down. It's not that he just loses the battle, he just picks the wrong place so often when trying to get at hoofed balls.

 

[Bobski]

Kane had a bad night with his finishing but look at how active he was, gave our defenders fits, used his body brilliantly, won balls he shouldn'y have, used the ball quickly and efficiently.

It is not just the technical issues that cause problems with Lukaku, he is too often static and pedestrian in his play.

 

[Cutch]

What is the deal with his heading when he is anywhere other than the penalty box. It’s pathetic. Barely jumps and doesn’t seem to have any idea where his teammates are. Ball kept coming back at us time and time again

 

[lsd]

Exactly. I mean, just by watching this game, they put in exactly the same performance.

To be honest Kane had much better service and some great chances and messed them totally . Lukaku had one half chance and was very unlucky .Yet prior say Kane would have died for us with crap service . Very strange

 

[ROFLUTION]

How can one be so lazy in such a big game. His body language says "its your fault" or "im giving up" all the time.

 

[engulfing]

Very poor, zero fighting spirit. Should shoot more, top strikers don't try a back heel pass when they have sight of the goal.

 

[lsd]

One things for sure I bet Lukaku would love to play against centre backs as poor as Jones and Smalling we tonight

 

[afrocentricity]

Hold up the ball, win headers, play players in, beat a man, roll defenders, harass defenders, make life hard for them......watch some Drogba or RVN videos. hell just watch Kane.

He's shockingly poor at judging aerial balls. Won about two. I thought he was a student of football? Surely he knows he needs to work on this?

It's pretty hard to get the ball to him when, nine times out of ten, he literally stands still when a pass is made and acts surprised when a defender just steps in front to intercept.

Posted in another thread:
We just need him to score goals, we didn't buy him for his all round game or chance creation. I ain't being funny but it was well established that if we provide for him he'll score the goals. Hrs that kind of striker....

We are struggling to provide for him, we're all sat here watching the whole team feck up over and over again before it even gets anywhere near him but he's getting dug out? Its like y'all were waiting....

And on that note, I'm outta here....

 

[SuperiorXI]

Got nothing to add but to say. Mid-table player through n through.

Explain how Lukaku is a mid-table player?

I'll quote you on this next time he bags.

 

[Greck]

Needs 2 seconds worth of touches to control a pass. There's more to service than tap-ins. A striker still needs to put in the work outside the box and his up and down technical ability will always hinder our ability to have fluid passing through the middle

 

[Godfather]

Exactly. I mean, just by watching this game, they put in exactly the same 9/10 performance.

Kane’s hold up play was much better tbh