Lukaku : Bulking up with muscle hurt me

[Hoof the ball]

Muscle I suspect. I'm not an expert but I'd suspect too much muscle or too much fat have similar consequences.

Depends. Adding lean muscle mass doesn't necessarily slow you down. In-fact, if you train explosively with weights, you can gain lean muscle mass and get quicker. It's a false assumption that increase of lean muscle tissue = more cumbersome and slower. The greatest sprinters are incredibly muscular. It's that muscle development that drives acceleration and force. It's the fat that usually slows someone down.

My take on it is this. He bulked up and added a few lbs of muscle mass, whilst adding a few lbs of fat in the process. Most people retain the muscle mass gained and shed the excess few lbs of fat gained through intense cardio. Lukaku, however, seemingly has started the season with increased fat % and muscle tissue.

 

[Patrick08]

Depends. Adding lean muscle mass doesn't necessarily slow you down. In-fact, if you train explosively with weights, you can gain lean muscle mass and get quicker. It's a false assumption that increase of lean muscle tissue = more cumbersome and slower.

My take on it is this. He bulked up and added a few lbs of muscle mass, whilst adding a few lbs of fat in the process. Most people retain the muscle mass gained and shed the excess few lbs of fat gained through intense cardio. Lukaku, however, seemingly has started the season with increased fat % and muscle tissue.

Also depends on certain body types from individual to individual.

 

[Hugh Jass]

City, yourself, you from galwaG?

South galway. I played hurling against some of the players who won the all ireland a year ago. Pity they did not beat limerick although my cousin tells me they were very tired given all the matches they played.

 

[Hoof the ball]

Also depends on certain body types from individual to individual.

Yes, but that can be manipulated to suit the body type. If you train explosively, low rep and high tempo, you will gain some muscle mass, but also the type-II fibres are worked prominently, so power is developed and thus, speed and acceleration.

Unless Lukaku has trained with slow deliberate hypertrophy tempo, and in which case, he's mostly gained muscle with limited power gained for carry over into sports application

 

[hobbers]

Hadn't seen that interview before. His answers just get more and more awkward. The hysterical laughing about looking happy for Belgium is so exaggerated and such an obvious release for him from the previous questions.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Did he bench press 200kg with his brain?

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Bulking up hurt him?

Well his first touch hurts me and I'm not moaning about it.

 

[Pace Abuser]

What a cringe interview. He sounds incredibly deluded. The type who can't confront criticisms because his ego can't handle it. Talks about how he's loud and people can't handle it yet he seems incredibly sensitive himself.

 

[the chameleon]

I’m not the biggest fan of fellaini but at least he shows love for the badge. Puts his heart into it. Pogba has had his down moments here. But he’s extremely talented. Luka just doesn’t show either of those traits. He’ll hopefully be shipped off.

 

[beedoubleyou]

The way Manchester United's Internet followers have treated Lukaku is nothing short of a disgrace.

 

[Greck]

Can understand the leave being to let him lose weight. It's simply too tasking to expect an athlete to train nearly everyday and play intense matches on a caloric deficit.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

The way Manchester United's Internet followers have treated Lukaku is nothing short of a disgrace.

Other fans too, chanting about his penis. He’s had some weird things to deal with.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Can understand the leave being to let him lose weight. It's simply too tasking to expect an athlete to train nearly everyday and play intense matches on a caloric deficit.

Hope this isn’t a serious post.

 

[Adisa]

Hope this isn’t a serious post.

It is and makes perfect sense. Athletes need their calories during seasons when they compete. Rosberg said something similar in an interview with Froome. The last thing you want to be doing when your competing is to be on a diet.

 

[Greck]

Hope this isn’t a serious post.

This is the part where you fail to understand that people have different bodies and losing muscle in a short period of time is very difficult. A healthy weight loss is typically meant to be gradual

 

[MadDogg]

It definitely is a weird interview.

Great interview from Mrs Rashford (seriously one of the best I've seen for ages), but Lukaku's responses are strange. If I didn't know better I'd almost wonder if he were high/tipsy.

Maybe that's just how he reacts when he gets put on the defensive, or maybe he was thinking with his other head.

 

[TheGame]

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[Shane88]

Good interviewer, touched on all his weak points; first touch, physique and lack of goals. His response seemed to be to laugh it off.

As for perceived tension with other players, I'd definitely believe it. He says in the interview that he is one of Mourinho's favourites and then says if you have a problem with the manager "Deal with it, you're a grown-ass man." Can definitely see other players looking at him as a teacher's pet, which would be one thing if he was delivering but not with the way he is playing now.

 

[0le]

Its amazing the NHS is struggling considering everyone who visits the gym is a muscle expert and also a nutritionist rolled into one.

 

[Raoul]

Everton quality

 

[moodyred]

Lukaku has not been able to shine under Mourinho this season. That goes for most of our players.

Under OGS, he might just prove many doubters wrong.

 

[clarkydaz]

Good interviewer, touched on all his weak points; first touch, physique and lack of goals. His response seemed to be to laugh it off.

As for perceived tension with other players, I'd definitely believe it. He says in the interview that he is one of Mourinho's favourites and then says if you have a problem with the manager "Deal with it, you're a grown-ass man." Can definitely see other players looking at him as a teacher's pet, which would be one thing if he was delivering but not with the way he is playing now.

Those words are much more interesting now he isnt teachers pet anymore

 

[AaronRedDevil]

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[0le]

Lukaku has not been able to shine under Mourinho this season. That goes for most of our players.

Under OGS, he might just prove many doubters wrong.

No, I don't think he will. His faults aren't related to the tactics of the team. He will continue to have a poor touch, struggle to hold the ball and struggle to link up the play. He'll probably get more goals because we will attack more, and Ole may help him with his runs into the box. He will never be a main striker in a title winning team like Rooney, Augero or Cole/Yorke.

 

[RMD83]

I think others have said it in this thread but I also watched his 100 goals club programme on sky yesterday. It is astonishing how much “bulk” he has put on in a few seasons. He was very lean at Everton and of course he will fill out with age but he’s only 25 and it shocked me how much better he looked only last season for us. If it’s a natural problem then they seriously need to set out a specialised diet and programme to get him trim if it’s him that is the problem then he needs to sort it himself out badly.

 

[hobbers]

He hasn't got half a cheek calling himself one of the strongest players in the league when he's been bullied and made to look a fool by virtually every defender he's faced this season.

 

[rollingstoned1]

He hasn't got half a cheek calling himself one of the strongest players in the league when he's been bullied and made to look a fool by virtually every defender he's faced this season.

Tbf he doesn't lose those duels for want of strength. his anticipation just sucks and it doesn't matter how strong you are when you are a second late to the ball and don't have the momentum of a defender pushing out to hold him off. He can't judge ball flight and time a leap worth shit either when.

 

[Shane88]

It's one thing having strength, it's more or less useless without the balance to use it effectively.

 

[haram]

How do people want him to respond to those questions? Only fans who do not have to deal with being intensely criticised every week while playing for the biggest club in the world would call Lukaku, of all players, mentally weak. Especially considering how he grew up.

Only last season did people call him a leader and now because he is struggling people want to throw all this shit at him. Some of it is pathetic and disgraceful.

 

[BridgeBanter]

I didn't like his comments regarding Scholes.

Interviewer pointed out that Scholes' belief is that Lukaku doesn't work hard enough. Lukaku's response is, "Well, when I see Scholes in person he shakes my hand and doesn't say it to my face. But then, he's a pundit and is paid to say things."

That's passing the buck, isn't it? Deal with the criticism. Just because it comes from Scholes in a studio and not to your face, doesn't make it any less valid.

Normally I'd be inclined to agree had Scholes voiced common criticisms of Lukaku's game (touch, awareness, etc.) However, Scholes essentially questioned his attitude and commitment so him being dismissive with regards to that is understandable.

 

[RedStarUnited]

Dont know why people want Ole to improve him, id rather he is sold. Whatever improved version of him is, its still wont be good enough for us.

 

[RedStarUnited]

Normally I'd be inclined to agree had Scholes voiced common criticisms of Lukaku's game (touch, awareness, etc.) However, Scholes essentially questioned his attitude and commitment so him being dismissive with regards to that is understandable.

Scholes talked about his game, his lack of runs etc. Not that he is a shit professional.

 

[red thru&thru]

Dont know why people want Ole to improve him, id rather he is sold. Whatever improved version of him is, its still wont be good enough for us.

Because Rom will score you goals. Usually he guarantees you 25+ goals a season. How much is one of those going to cost you in this current transfer market?!

 

[Moonred]

Tbf our existing tactics did hamper him. Not a fan of him but he is better than what he has shown in the last few months. First step would be to accept that he has been crap.

 

[Gordon S]

It is really strange that he and/or someone close to him came to the conclusion that he needed to bulk up. He was already one of the strongest players around.

What is going to improve by bulking up like that? We see players like Hazard, Salah, David Silva and other smaller and much weaker players looking fantastic against big strong defenders.

Pace, balance and ability to read the game is much more useful.

Considering that Rashford is ahead of him now and Greenwood is getting closer to the first team all the time, i don’t think he has a future here, even if he loses some weight. He wasn’t exactly a fantastic player before either.

 

[Skills]

It is really strange that he and/or someone close to him came to the conclusion that he needed to bulk up. He was already one of the strongest players around.

What is going to improve by bulking up like that? We see players like Hazard, Salah, David Silva and other smaller and much weaker players looking fantastic against big strong defenders.

Pace, balance and ability to read the game is much more useful.

Considering that Rashford is ahead of him now and Greenwood is getting closer to the first team all the time, i don’t think he has a future here, even if he loses some weight. He wasn’t exactly a fantastic player before either.

I imagine him nor the other fairly young players around him at the club haven't had much guidance over the last few years on what they can do to take their games to the next level. It's not really a Mourinho thing.

Rashford and Martial are the same too.

 

[MadDogg]

Dont know why people want Ole to improve him, id rather he is sold. Whatever improved version of him is, its still wont be good enough for us.

How about improve him, then sell him for more money?

Or improve him, and keep him as a very good (albeit expensive) squad option?

 

[hobbers]

Tbf he doesn't lose those duels for want of strength. his anticipation just sucks and it doesn't matter how strong you are when you are a second late to the ball and don't have the momentum of a defender pushing out to hold him off. He can't judge ball flight and time a leap worth shit either when.

Yeah I don't doubt his strength. But his bulking out has cost him what little balance he had to begin with. And now we see someone as stringy as Mane easily able to shove him 2 yards offside. Strength in football is all about centre of mass, poise and balance. Drobga was quite lean but had the poise. Whereas Rooney and Tevez obviously had better balance with their low centre of gravity. Not only does Lukaku lack all of the above he also has no anticipation to time his jumps to stand any chance at winning most aerial duels.

Because Rom will score you goals. Usually he guarantees you 25+ goals a season. How much is one of those going to cost you in this current transfer market?!

He'll scored you 20+ goals in a team set up in a certain way for sure. If you look at his highlight videos for Everton, the vast majority of his goals come from crosses or cut backs. Last season his goals for us were mostly the same vein.

Would he score similar numbers to his days at Everton if he played in a Klopp or a Pep team? I highly doubt it.

 

[GazTheLegend]

I actually agree with Romelu.

The size he is, can’t be easy to turn. You know yourself if you put on a few pounds - that extra millisecond of time to control a football goes, you can’t tackle anymore as lunging for people feels impossible (there’s a disconnect between what you think you can do and what your body can do), and because of that your confidence in the rest of your game goes too!

I’m sure if he slims down again we will see Rom back at his best. And for all the slating he seems to be getting - remember that this guy outscored aguero. Rooneys first touch was always shite. It’s that second touch that scores the goals.

 

[Stubble]

If we are going to be playing a quicker, more expansive attacking style all the players including Rom and Sanchez need to be given a chance before being written off.. No attacking players shone in the tumescent style we were playing so all need to given a fair chance.