[Hed Zitin]

I like Lukaku so naturally I'm disappointed with how things are going for him. IMO it's clear he isn't good enough technically to play for a top, top club like United. He's a stronger, more physical version of Hernandez in the sense that he can be a brilliant goalscorer but doesn't offer much else.

I think it's pretty crap though the way people are going on about his 2 "assists". The first is unfortunate, he's got Otamendi climbing all over him and it isn't Lukaku's fault Silva is literally unmarked in the 6 yard box. If Matic stays where he is he clears it. If Lingard stays with Silva he clears it.

The second is a really poor clearance but it's still so, so unfortunate.

I don't think he's suited to United's style of play. He was ideal at a side like Everton because teams aren't as compact and defensive against them so there was more space for them to attack. Their wingers and full backs would have more space to get down the sides and put the ball back into the box. It's harder for United to do that. And because his technical game is pretty lacking it means he can't compensate for that by coming deeper to receive the ball and making things happen. He's kinda reduced to hoping he can get chances put on a plate for him and when you're playing for the top teams those are generally harder to come by given how deep and defensive the opposition usually are.

TLDR he's mid table shit. Right?

 

[Kevin]

B-but I thought buying premiership proven players is the way to go? I-i thought Ibra is the only striker that misses good chances? Lukaku is surely on the road to equal him in that regard...

 

[ti vu]

I can forgive the miss, he should have buried it but the keeper got lucky with the ball hitting him in the neck.

The 2 City assists we’re shocking though he gifted them 2 goals. His current form as been awful he needs the Mkhitaryan treatment.

The first goal involves another player of us being tactically switched off for the offside trap.

Players mis-skill from time to time. I don't agree he enters Mkhi's zone. He's clearly working hard, but off form. Mikhi is the case where one is both off form and not pushing himself enough. Mkhi pretty much didn't do anything on the pitch in a sense. Lukaku is having bad days but by putting effort when his luck turns, he should be there grasping it unlike Mkhi.

Edit: This is silly any not applicable but look at it this way: if you don't ask Lukaku to go back defend both goals wouldn't happen. Mkhi ain't asked to do defensive work (Lingard style) thus focusing on his attacking and he's beyond poor.

 

[BridgeBanter]

Morata and Lukaku couldn't lace Drogba's boots.

Facts

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

B-but I thought buying premiership proven players is the way to go? I-i thought Ibra is the only striker that misses good chances? Lukaku is surely on the road to equal him in that regard...

Yeah, I never feel confident at all Lukaku will score when he's got a "sitter".

We effectively replaced Ibra with an inferior player.

 

[VorZakone]

Goal droughts are nothing new in football. I fully expect Lukaku to start scoring again in the short term. However, is he the striker United wants to lead the line for the next ~5 years? I reckon he'll improve his overall play in his 2nd season.

 

[King Eric 7]

I really hope our players avoid reading anything online when they are going through a rough patch. He had a terrible day today but I back him to bounce back and score some goals this month.

 

[Darkhorsez]

I don't think today - and to some extent, quite a few games in the last month or two - should be much of a surprise. We bought him at a time when top strikers were at a premium. I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that he's top class. If Lukaku never improved from here on in, he'd still be a perfectly serviceable, second tier striker for us, albeit one who is prone to fairly pronounced peaks and troughs in form and who, at the very least, could be said to have a no-better-than-middling record against good sides. He scores goals in bursts and isn't really going to win you that many games through moments of individual brilliance.

All that said, give him support and good service and he'll score plenty of goals. And it's easy to forget that he's only 24. I don't think he'll ever be the most subtle or clever of players, but he can develop his game and find ways of adding facets to his game that will make him more difficult to defend against and add a few more goals to his game when he's not playing well. And, if we somehow decide to stop cnuting the ball at him from 70 yards away, well, that might help too.

Thanks for this. Good to see an unbiased, balanced and realistic view. Would I like to have a prime RVP or RvN - of course yeah! But for now, I do trust that this guy will be banging in a lot of goals for us soon. Please feel free to pull me up on this though - I know we all don’t get it right all the time!

 

[Litch]

It's crazy football. He is one of only five players to score 50 Premier League goals before his 23rd birthday, and the fourth player (and first foreigner) to score 80 before his 24th birthday. As a Belgian international, he holds the all time record of 31 goals scored for the Belgian national team.

Can someone explain to me how someone as those describe him on here, isn't good enough for us? Honestly People are living on another planet if they think someone like Kane would be doing any better. Don't just compare him to the strikers we've had, look who was playing around them. This team is honest in its application but is lacking in quality in so many positions. I'm sorry whilst he was piss poor today, he was completely isolated to get into any rhythm today.

 

[PepsiCola]

It's crazy football. He is one of only five players to score 50 Premier League goals before his 23rd birthday, and the fourth player (and first foreigner) to score 80 before his 24th birthday. As a Belgian international, he holds the all time record of 31 goals scored for the Belgian national team.

Can someone explain to me how someone as those describe him on here, isn't good enough for us? Honestly People are living on another planet if they think someone like Kane would be doing any better. Don't just compare him to the strikers we've had, look who was playing around them. This team is honest in its application but is lacking in quality in so many positions. I'm sorry whilst he was piss poor today, he was completely isolated to get into any rhythm today.

Start off by watching the games? His all round play is well short of Harry Kane, for starters. His goal scoring record against top sides is also very poor.

Flat track bully is an apt description.

 

[Santoryo]

People are now just tearing into Lukaku. I suggest to let this day pass by then come back. Emotions are pretty high right now.

 

[Isotope]

Thanks for this. Good to see an unbiased, balanced and realistic view. Would I like to have a prime RVP or RvN - of course yeah! But for now, I do trust that this guy will be banging in a lot of goals for us soon. Please feel free to pull me up on this though - I know we all don’t get it right all the time!

Is it because you agreed with his POV?

 

[Darkhorsez]

Is it because you agreed with his POV?

Absolutely - why else would I quote it and your point?

 

[Isotope]

Absolutely - why else would I quote it and your point?

Well. Then that's not unbiased then.

 

[Litch]

Start off by watching the games? His all round play is well short of Harry Kane, for starters. His goal scoring record against top sides is also very poor.

Flat track bully is an apt description.

Yep, 80 goals as flat track bully. Why have there been so few that have achieved that then? The stupidity of some of the comments on here sometimes. Also read the post, did I say his all round game was better or even Kane would struggle in this team? Yep, I watch games, just not the kind of knee jerk fan that spits their dummy out caused we've lost a football match.

 

[Darkhorsez]

Well. Then that's not unbiased then.

Ha ha ... ok ... good point! Was that really your point though?

 

[Dion]

He just lacks a clarity of thought in high pressure situations. We need better than that.

 

[Suedesi]

£75m. Just let that sink in...

When you look at Liverpool who spent around £12 to £35m for each of their attackers, it looks a silly amount of money to spend on a single player. For that money I would expect ludicrous ability and talent, like Pogba, and Lukaku just isn’t at that level. Icardi was my preference in the summer, but I can’t see what we’re going to do with Lukaku, given his age. He’s never going to develop that technical excellence we need to succeed at the top level.

Icardi was my preferred choice too. Deadly striker who knows the back of the net.

 

[PepsiCola]

Yep, 80 goals as flat track bully. The stupidity of some of the comments on here sometimes. Also read the post, did I say his all round game was better or even Kane would struggle in this team? Yep, I watch games, just not the kind of knee jerk fan that spits their dummy out caused we've lost a football match.

Yes 80 goals as a flat track bully.

It's no knee jerk from me. Never rated him at Everton, was over the moon when it looked like Chelsea were about to spend 100 million on him and dreaded it when he did.

As I've said multiple times. We won't challenge for league titles with him as our main number 9. He's far too limited a footballer and his all round ability is well below the level we should be looking at.

3-0 up against a bottom half team, there's no one else I'd trust more infront of goal. 2-1 down in our most important game of the season, 3 yards infront of goal and I'd rather the ball fall to anyone else.

He's been largely poor since September, in l honesty.

 

[El Jefe]

It's crazy football. He is one of only five players to score 50 Premier League goals before his 23rd birthday, and the fourth player (and first foreigner) to score 80 before his 24th birthday. As a Belgian international, he holds the all time record of 31 goals scored for the Belgian national team.

Can someone explain to me how someone as those describe him on here, isn't good enough for us? Honestly People are living on another planet if they think someone like Kane would be doing any better. Don't just compare him to the strikers we've had, look who was playing around them. This team is honest in its application but is lacking in quality in so many positions. I'm sorry whilst he was piss poor today, he was completely isolated to get into any rhythm today.

You don't seem to be getting it. Everyone here acknowledges Lukaku is a goal scorer so telling us what he's done before is irrelevant. He's a flat track bully, scores loads against the smaller teams but against the better sides he's found wanting. Looking at everything he brings to the table there are big question marks around his suitability and quality to play for us. He has by far and away the worst technique I've seen of any starting striker in my 23 years supporting United.

As for the bolded part, I'm afraid its you that's on another planet. Kane has better hold up play, better technique and is able to create openings for himself unlike Lukaku. He would have also buried that chance.

Lukaku is a good striker but he's closer to the likes of Giroud than the Kane/Aguero class.

 

[John Blund]

Yes 80 goals as a flat track bully.

It's no knee jerk from me. Never rated him at Everton, was over the moon when it looked like Chelsea were about to spend 100 million on him and dreaded it when he did.

Agree. I thought that would give us Dybala or Greizmann, and Morata.
As for Kane - he's got far better technique. Not as strong, but hey - it's football, not wrestling. I'd bring Kane for a five-a-side and Lukaku as my bodyguard.

 

[James Peril]

I don't think today - and to some extent, quite a few games in the last month or two - should be much of a surprise. We bought him at a time when top strikers were at a premium. I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that he's top class. If Lukaku never improved from here on in, he'd still be a perfectly serviceable, second tier striker for us, albeit one who is prone to fairly pronounced peaks and troughs in form and who, at the very least, could be said to have a no-better-than-middling record against good sides. He scores goals in bursts and isn't really going to win you that many games through moments of individual brilliance.

All that said, give him support and good service and he'll score plenty of goals. And it's easy to forget that he's only 24. I don't think he'll ever be the most subtle or clever of players, but he can develop his game and find ways of adding facets to his game that will make him more difficult to defend against and add a few more goals to his game when he's not playing well. And, if we somehow decide to stop cnuting the ball at him from 70 yards away, well, that might help too.

Some good and true points, but also something a cynic (me) could twist and turn. First of all, we did not intent to buy a second-tier striker and we certainly cannot and will not accept so-called bursts followed by barren runs. The last point is purely psychological and must be handled, in all honesty this describes a huge weakness and should not be tolerated if you are the striker of Manchester United. We cannot play the Champions League-final and ask ourselves if the striker will be bothered that day so to speak.

We will always give him support and good service (on the pitch at least) for him to score plenty of goals, we are Manchester United after all. The same thing could be said about a lot of strikers though, and being a striker is not necessarily about scoring x amount of goals. A striker can in theory score 10 goals in five games against relegation fodder, then 10+ more over the remaining 33 games - which in total looks good but of course it isn't. A striker is judged by his contribution over a season, both in terms of goals, assists and general play. Last but not least, he must/should be the guy you would put your money on to tip a game in our favor. To go back to your point; with the level of service United offers, players like Vardy, Giroud, Llorente and Benteke would score "lots of goals" as well if they played every game. Lots of goals isn't necessarily good enough, which we have clearly seen today, against Stoke and Liverpool amongst other. When you get that only chance, you need to put it away more often than not when it matters the most. My problem with Lukaku is not only his inability to control a simple ball or find someone with a simple pass, but rather that he seems lazy and does not fight hard enough. He is just going for the first ball or working for the obvious chances, he does not stiff around and he does not give that extra 10% when the ball has gone out of the box for another player - he often just stands still with his hands in the air, instead of trying to find space for other players to play him in. Today was his chance to silence everyone, but he did the opposite by quite some margin. His first mistake was by just "being in the box" instead of actually paying attention, the second mistake was by just whacking the ball instead of actually thinking with his brain and the big miss was because of again not paying attention and being focused. Big no-no's!

We have been serving excuses for way too many years now, bigging up players because of hope rather than sheer impression of their true ability. I am certainly not giving up on Lukaku, but there are no room for sentiment in a billion dollar-industry - and Mourinho must start to look for option B and C. Letting him play forever to catch a goal is not the only solution, the guy has scored one league goal in the last nine games! He has scored against West Ham, Swansea, Stoke, Everton, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle in the Premier League - pretty much all of the bottom teams.

 

[Litch]

Yes 80 goals as a flat track bully.

It's no knee jerk from me. Never rated him at Everton, was over the moon when it looked like Chelsea were about to spend 100 million on him and dreaded it when he did.

As I've said multiple times. We won't challenge for league titles with him as our main number 9. He's far too limited a footballer and his all round ability is well below the level we should be looking at.

3-0 up against a bottom half team, there's no one else I'd trust more infront of goal. 2-1 down in our most important game of the season, 3 yards infront of goal and I'd rather the ball fall to anyone else.

He's been largely poor since September, in l honesty.

Each to their own and the games about opinions. I think he's going to be very special for us but not until we have better quality behind him. If it was Giggs, Becks and Scholes feeding him like the strikers before him fair enough but this is a very average team without the only world class forward player suspended. If Pogba hadn't played against Arsenal, we'd have lost that too....

 

[Silverman]

He's got all the makings of a top centre forward but he needs to fine tune a lot of his skills. I think United supporters have to support him now rather than kick him when he's down.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Anyone can have a bad day. He will score a few against Bouremouth.

 

[Camilo]

Each to their own and the games about opinions. I think he's going to be very special for us but not until we have better quality behind him. If it was Giggs, Becks and Scholes feeding him like the strikers before him fair enough but this is a very average team without the only world class forward player suspended. If Pogba hadn't played against Arsenal, we'd have lost that too....

He needs to up all aspects of his game very soon if he's to become very special.. Going on 25, and it's not like he's just rough around the edges - his control and hold-up play is terrible, he's not getting involved in games (like today) when we need 11 players covering the pitch, and (I hate to say it..) he looks a little fragile mentally... He's out of form, not scoring, and it seems he's shying away from it.

Lukaku with utter conviction in what he's doing could be a special player, but he's a long way from that person right now.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

He's got all the makings of a top centre forward but he needs to fine tune a lot of his skills. I think United supporters have to support him now rather than kick him when he's down.

Wishful thinking. He’s going to be hung out to dry until he’s scored 10 in 5 or something ridiculous.

 

[Infra-red]

He's not world class, he's a good striker, a bit of a flat-track bully who suffers lengthy goal droughts, but should be good for 20+ goals most seasons. This was all said numerous times in the summer. He's performing as expected.

Today's mistakes aren't worth throwing him under the bus for.

 

[Litch]

You don't seem to be getting it. Everyone here acknowledges Lukaku is a goal scorer so telling us what he's done before is irrelevant. He's a flat track bully, scores loads against the smaller teams but against the better sides he's found wanting. Looking at everything he brings to the table there are big question marks around his suitability and quality to play for us. He has by far and away the worst technique I've seen of any starting striker in my 23 years supporting United.

As for the bolded part, I'm afraid its you that's on another planet. Kane has better hold up play, better technique and is able to create openings for himself unlike Lukaku. He would have also buried that chance.

Lukaku is a good striker but he's closer to the likes of Giroud than the Kane/Aguero class.

Getting what? Smaller teams, makes it sound like even if that was the case, makes it sound like scoring that many goals is easy. Also isn't this the league that smaller teams can beat the so called big teams like this weekend? I think Chelsea and Arsenal would have loved a goal against the so called small team. Also how great Kane is, his big team goals amounted to them winning what?

If he's Giroud quality, that's the same player that's starting in one of the favs for World Cup ahead of Martial.....

The comment of the worst technique in 23 years, that's another comment of pure and utter stupidity.

 

[PepsiCola]

He's not world class, he's a good striker, a bit of a flat-track bully who suffers lengthy goal droughts, but should be good for 20+ goals most seasons. This was all said numerous times in the summer. He's performing as expected.

Today's mistakes aren't worth throwing him under the bus for.

He assisted 2 of their goals and missed from 3 yards. He's being rightfully criticised.

 

[Delano]

I’m sure he’ll score a fair few in the next 8 games against weaker opponents. But the reality is if we want to be challenging City now and in the future, he’s got to do far better in the big games.

So far... he hasn’t scored against a single top 5 team and he’s had his chances. We were mostly negative in those games, but what’s even more damning, is that aside from the Arsenal game, his general play was shocking in the big games. He’s the outball that can’t make the ball stick.

Hopefully he builds his confidence back up by bullying the “weaker” teams but he’s got to step up after that. Being a flat track bully isn’t enough.

 

[Litch]

He needs to up all aspects of his game very soon if he's to become very special.. Going on 25, and it's not like he's just rough around the edges - his control and hold-up play is terrible, he's not getting involved in games (like today) when we need 11 players covering the pitch, and (I hate to say it..) he looks a little fragile mentally... He's out of form, not scoring, and it seems he's shying away from it.

Lukaku with utter conviction in what he's doing could be a special player, but he's a long way from that person right now.

Football is about opinions I guess and each are entitled to their own. I'm patient enough to judge a players career here at the end of it rather than the start of it. Most on here have been proven more wrong than right on most occasions. Weren't most on here asking for Pogba head on a stick last season? Or...Jones, Rojo, young, Felliani previous to that. Wasn't Ronaldo said to be a one trick pony or Becks couldn't beat a man? RVN was said on here only scored goals in the box.....most of the stuff on here can be laughable at times.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

Anyone can have a bad day. He will score a few against Bouremouth.

Missing that big chance would've been a bad day. Fecking us over in both our set piece goals is more than a bad day. He was a donkey today. No other way to put it

 

[Dobbs]

He assisted 2 of their goals and missed from 3 yards. He's being rightfully criticised.

He didn't miss. The goalkeeper got his face in the way. The guy had a bad enough game without exaggerating it further.

I'll judge him when we start playing like a team who wants their centre forward to score goals. Patience.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

He didn't miss. The goalkeeper got his face in the way. The guy had a bad enough game without exaggerating it further.

I'll judge him when we start playing like a team who wants their centre forward to score goals. Patience.

No he didn't miss the target but he should have put that away with his eyes closed. It wasn't a difficult chance. Side foot past Ederson and we're level.

 

[PepsiCola]

He didn't miss. The goalkeeper got his face in the way. The guy had a bad enough game without exaggerating it further.

I'll judge him when we start playing like a team who wants their centre forward to score goals. Patience.

I'm sorry but he has to score from there. Henry said so himself in match commentary.

He hasn't been great at all this season and has been wasteful infront of goal. What we see is what we'll get with him moving forward.

 

[Bobski]

The comment of the worst technique in 23 years, that's another comment of pure and utter stupidity.

Let us examine this. 23 years would take us back to 1994 so that gives us,

Cantona
Hughes
Cole
Sheringham
Yorke
Solskjaer
Van Nistelrooy
Rooney
Forlan
Saha
Tevez
Berbatov
Welbeck
Hernandez
Van Persie
Zlatan
Lukaku

In terms of all round game, touch, passing, technique basically, Lukaku would be a long way down that list. Better on the ball than Hernandez for me but apart from that not much of a case for him. You would take him ahead of Forlan(utd version) and Welbeck because of his goals but it's not an absurd claim overall.

Just on Giroud, if he had Lukaku's pace he would an elite striker.

 

[Bwuk]

If we had went into this season with Martial as our #9 and signed a winger instead of Lukaku I think we'd look a far better side.

 

[Sandikan]

Just got back from the game, what a dreadful game from him today.
Fairly anonymous, horrendous attempt at a clearance for their winner, and missed what I would have to see again as it was the other end, but looked a great chance.

Having just seen their first goal back, he let someone beat him to a header too.

 

[Dobbs]

I'm sorry but he has to score from there. Henry said so himself in match commentary.

He hasn't been great at all this season and has been wasteful infront of goal. What we see is what we'll get with him moving forward.

Yeah course he should have scored. That's obvious. I'm just pointing out you're exacerbating it by claiming he "missed."

What we see is what we'll get? You think he'll continue with this current goalscoing problem? Highly unlikely given his career to date. At the very least he knows how to score goals.