[Dec9003]

Time to drop him I think, his overal play hasn't actually been as bad as made out, but he's meant to be our deadly finisher and he's been anything but.
It's time to give Rashford and martial time upfront; Martial especially is such a cool finisher, he'd have put that sitter away today no problem.

 

[BigCaine]

Yep carry on expecting what's not going to happen, you'll only ever end up dissatisfied.

So we are supposed to be happy about a player who is basically a really costly Hernandez and celebrate his inability.

 

[yfoFC]

Tbf that missed chance was quite hard and he could hardly have done better with it... if you look at it in isolation

Where the problem lies is that he has been showing tendencies of shooting straight at the keeper all season long and a lot of his goals when he was on that scoring run came from a rebound after the keeper had saved his initial effort.

This shows that today wasn't a one off like you could say for any other striker

Even the gifting of the goals could be called unlucky if it were any other player but just last match against arsenal he showed he doesn't get his body angles right while clearing so yesterday wasn't a one off (two off) but something that is inherent in him

And lastly, it's quite unlucky if you cause one goal so one can overlook it, but to cause two goals and then miss a clear chance all in the same match? That's no longer being unlucky and it's high time one started asking questions

 

[Foxbatt]

He has been shite in all of the big games. A lot were slating Berbatov when he was playing for us but give me that Berbatov any day over this Lukaku.
People say that he cannot be blamed for not defending but I remember SAF bringing on Berbatov especially to defend at set pieces. All strikers should be able to defend at set pieces. Lukaku is becoming a Gary Birtles kind of player. Sell him and take it on the chin and get a world class striker. Lukaku is an Everton class player.

 

[Red_toad]

So we are supposed to be happy about a player who is basically a really costly Hernandez and celebrate his inability.

Well if your happiness depends on how he plays, then you're going to have issues. No point in dwelling on what he can't do, but it's the way of the world now, spending hours on the net complaining about things people can't change.

 

[BigCaine]

Well if your happiness depends on how he plays, then you're going to have issues. No point in dwelling on what he can't do, but it's the way of the world now, spending hours on the net complaining about things people can't change.

My happiness related to utd does depend on us winning and his play has a great impact on it, also the whole don't complain what you can't change is a stupid argument as then what exactly are you doing on the forum as what ever we do here is kind of useless be it praise or moan and has no impact on utd.

 

[Red_toad]

My happiness related to utd does depend on us winning and his play has a great impact on it, also the whole don't complain what you can't change is a stupid argument as then what exactly are you doing on the forum as what ever we do here is kind of useless be it praise or moan and has no impact on utd.

Yep never a truer word said. I'm passing time at work.....

 

[bosnian_red]

So we are supposed to be happy about a player who is basically a really costly Hernandez and celebrate his inability.

Seriously. We paid 75m for him, you expect more then an inconsistent poacher who disappears in big games. Look at his goalscoring record too. 13 goals in 24 games? Pretty mediocre when you consider he plays the full 90 every time, and that our whole game is pretty much built towards the chances falling at his feet. He's just not good enough and never will be, and it was obvious from his time at Everton that he wasn't talented enough. He might score 30+ goals in the season (though looking unlikely now). But who gives a feck if it's just against all the smaller teams. Put someone else up there and they'd replicate the same finishing probably but with a much bigger impact in the rest of the game.

 

[Tapori]

I reallly like Lukaku as a footballer and attitude is excellent but I sadly fear Lukaku is neither the right fit for us as a club and that he will never progress from a Good player to a Top Top player.

Inconsistent.
Wrong decisions.
Poor finishing.
Poor touches

Rashford and Martial have to get a run together without Lukaku; Mourinho is creating a rod for his own back here by persevering with him despite his awful form in the hope he'll repay the trust. He's taking the Mikhi right now.

 

[2 man midfield]

Surely Rashford has earned a few games as the main man? He's far more clinical.

 

[RooneyLegend]

He's gotta go, if you're a limited forward like he is you have to be clinical and he isn't. He's just not good enough for the level we're aspiring to be at.

 

[The United]

I do think people are harsh on him at the moment.

But, he can sometimes easily be defended by smart defenders. They don't even have to have a good physique to go toe to toe with him which Blind showed against him in a few games back in LVG era.

I was just hoping it was because of the team he was playing for.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

Wow. Was not expecting the absolute lancing he's received here.

Thought he worked hard, everything that came off for him seemed to come with two other scenario's that didn't. Usually following the good thing that came off. He should have scored that chance however.

 

[Greck]

Seriously. We paid 75m for him, you expect more then an inconsistent poacher who disappears in big games. Look at his goalscoring record too. 13 goals in 24 games? Pretty mediocre when you consider he plays the full 90 every time, and that our whole game is pretty much built towards the chances falling at his feet. He's just not good enough and never will be, and it was obvious from his time at Everton that he wasn't talented enough. He might score 30+ goals in the season (though looking unlikely now). But who gives a feck if it's just against all the smaller teams. Put someone else up there and they'd replicate the same finishing probably but with a much bigger impact in the rest of the game.

Watched plenty Lukaku at Everton and already knew what we were getting but still don't get why Mou gives him this much priority in our attack when he isn't the most technical or clinical of all our striking options.

I know Mou likes physicality but it's been clear for a while that his wild touch cancels out his ability to hold up the ball when we sit deep. Should be a tool in the toolbox and not a centrepiece regardless of the fee. Should also have been given a rest long before the fans started to get sick of his sight. Just disheartening

 

[midnightmare]

He has been shite in all of the big games. A lot were slating Berbatov when he was playing for us but give me that Berbatov any day over this Lukaku.
People say that he cannot be blamed for not defending but I remember SAF bringing on Berbatov especially to defend at set pieces. All strikers should be able to defend at set pieces. Lukaku is becoming a Gary Birtles kind of player. Sell him and take it on the chin and get a world class striker. Lukaku is an Everton class player.

This is the sort of post that will invariably attract a lot of fire, but I'll be honest enough to say that I've been saying this since Day 1. He's not good enough for us. A club of our stature needs a player that we can expect to show up for big games and not be just a player that will "score a few against the lesser lights. While I'm not opposed to a player that turns draws into wins, I also question whether Lukaku even does that.

His goals are typically not the decisive ones even in the smaller games. Another thing is watching his movement. I watch games on "Stadium view" on a 100" screen which allows me to see how players move and Lukaku is shockingly static. He does move, true, but watching him and Lingard is like a study in contrast. Lingard is a menace with his movement (and he's a player I have no real love for as a starter; exceptional bench/Cup option and no more, if we are to chase big titles) and that is the biggest damnation of Lukaku.

Frankly, yes, we should be willing to cut our losses and sell him soon (while he has some value) and get in a better player. Morata is inconsistent, true, but it's his first season as a nailed-on starter and he just looks so much better than Rom (though I must admit I watch less of him). Somehow, have never been convinced about Lukaku and each passing game is doing more to make me feel he just won't make it for us...which saddens me because I'm conditioned to park biases and back players once they sign for us.

 

[saik]

I bet Mourinho thought he was buying another Diego Costa type forward who can bully the defenders at will with some decent technical ability. Unfortunately, all he got was big oaf with zero technical ability who can't even use his body strength well. Never was a 75m striker never will be. We could have gotten so much better with that 75m but Jose preferred physical abilities over technical abilities and it shows in our play.

 

[MrEleson]

He's a good striker but will always be that level. The deficit in ability between him and someone like Lewandowski (best all round No9 IMO) in basic footwork, technique, touch, guile and football intelligence is stark. It's too big a gulf to think he can improve and reach anywhere near that level.

Not to mention that when Lewandowski was his age; he was putting 4 past Real Madrid and exhibiting masterclass performances in the latter stages of the CL.

 

[POF]

He was absolutely dreadful against City and his mistakes and one on one miss were largely responsible for the defeat.

He seems to lack natural confidence and Jose's over the top public praise for his general play earlier in the season suggested he was trying to keep his confidence up. It hasn't worked and he now seems mentally shot.

It will be interesting to see if Jose takes him out of the firing line or tries to play him out of his bad form.

If he gets a few goals it will likely get him firing again but I think United needs a way of playing without Lukaku. A top club cannot rely on him as the focal point of the entire attack because when he's bad he can be really terrible.

 

[lysglimt]

Well the worst thing we can do is replace with with Zlatan who looks about as mobile as a rock. He was not very mobile before his injury, now he barely looks capable of moving his legs. What I would like to see is Rashford and Martial up front. They are the ones who should be there, not Zlatan

 

[kouroux]

There is the point of view that say that benching Lukaku would shatter his confidence but at the moment, him playing a lot and playing badly in most matches is also doing harm to his confidence and the team. Off the bench, against tired CBs, scoring a few goals could help him a little just like it has with Martial. The current formula of playing him in every game and every minute doesn't seem to be working.

 

[BigBebe]

He was absolutely dreadful against City and his mistakes and one on one miss were largely responsible for the defeat.

He seems to lack natural confidence and Jose's over the top public praise for his general play earlier in the season suggested he was trying to keep his confidence up. It hasn't worked and he now seems mentally shot.

It will be interesting to see if Jose takes him out of the firing line or tries to play him out of his bad form.

If he gets a few goals it will likely get him firing again but I think United needs a way of playing without Lukaku. A top club cannot rely on him as the focal point of the entire attack because when he's bad he can be really terrible.

We could start by taking away his defensive duties. Being a big lump doesn't make you a defender.

 

[lsd]

I bet Mourinho thought he was buying another Diego Costa type forward who can bully the defenders at will with some decent technical ability. Unfortunately, all he got was big oaf with zero technical ability who can't even use his body strength well. Never was a 75m striker never will be. We could have gotten so much better with that 75m but Jose preferred physical abilities over technical abilities and it shows in our play.

Noone who watched him would ever have thought he was that type of player so i doubt that.He is at his best using his pace .

 

[BigCaine]

We could start by taking away his defensive duties. Being a big lump doesn't make you a defender.

What defensive duties does he really get, he closes down the back 4 and keeper, something most forwards are expected to do in a high press, marking a big guy in a dead ball situation, he is 6ft 2 is it really too much to ask of him, as a 75 mn striker he supposed to finish a ball he receives 3 yard away from goal, can't seem to do that either.

 

[The Man Himself]

Needs to be dropped, only to bench, for his own sake. Few sub appearances and maybe a goal from bench will help him. His confidence is really down right now.

 

[Raees]

We agree to disagree. Would you have said that if he went to Chelsea....

Yes. I rate Firminho for that matter higher than him. He won't score as many goals as Lukaku against smaller sides but they're able to contribute in build up play without being a hindrance.

 

[POF]

We could start by taking away his defensive duties. Being a big lump doesn't make you a defender.

From set pieces? Every tall centre forward defends set pieces. You'd rather Martial or Rashford do it?

 

[Ayush_reddevil]

Some of the posts in this thread are just mind boggling to say the least

 

[Darkhorsez]

Some of the posts in this thread are just mind boggling to say the least

Ha ha ... but could also provide for lots nice quotes as we get deeper into the season ... eggs on faces?

 

[Chaky_Best]

He his poor, bench him. Play Rashford upfront and that's it.

This guy just showed us that he will never be our weapon in big games. And don't mention Arsenal, like Lingard, it's only a one of.

If it was Fellaini or Lingard involved in their two goals plus missing THAT, I don't dare think what would happen.

He deserves to be criticized, to be benched etc

It was a mistake paying that much for him.

 

[Bruno8]

Lukaku is tiring and needs rests. We need another striker to rotate him. He cant play every game at the same level

If only Wilson was fit enough to get some games. Zlatan is too old now and will slow our play

 

[fallengt]

When we play against decent teams, his movement off the ball is fecking shit. If we play hoofball I'd rather have Fellaini upfront.

Another year with striker problem for us. feck sake, should've gone for Morata, how many headers th has he scored for Chelsea?

 

[Fortitude]

I agree he played shit, and has been on a awful run of form. If you can't see the hyperbole in this thread and in general on here after a defeat then you're fecking blind. Go have a look at the Lindelof thread post Huddersfield, it's a fecking embarrassment.

There's no rational analysis of his shit form, it's just shit comments that'll be different within 2 weeks. Like after every defeat on here.

People's view change in a whimper.

Actually, the criticism has been rock solid in its consistency, almost to the point where it's just repeating on itself by now.

It's a bit pointless comparing Lindelof to Lukaku as one is a complete unknown entity to a lot of supporters and the other has an expectation to lead the line for a club trying to make ground on the runaway leaders of the league after knocking in goals in the PL for years now.

I never thought Lukaku was the right fit for us, but want to get behind him now that he is here, but he's not beyond scrutiny, nor should he be. It's fascinating to me how Mkhitaryan getting dragged from pillar to post is seen as par for the course on here these days, but the likes of Lukaku, playing in a way that would have him out of the squad at other clubs we consider peers, is somewhat beyond reproach for stinking the place out with a performance like we saw yesterday. If that was Mkhitaryan, you'd have posters saying they never want to see him in our shirt again, and very little in the way of defenders for him or his position at the club... so it should be horses for courses for all, and when (or if) Lukaku turns it around, plaudits will, and should, come his way again.

One thing Lukaku can't be blamed for, however, is the manager constantly playing him even when he is a detriment to the team, or not trying different things with him. Lukaku then becomes a vicarious avatar for people's frustrations with Mourinho, which is entirely not his fault as he should be pulled from the firing line in such instances, imo.

 

[Craig Ward]

He was never going to be clinical, he's never been the one chance one goal kind of striker.

When our tactics are to lump it upto him when he is isolated, we really are not playing to his strengths one bit.

I would have hoped that jose would have coached him more, work on his touch etc. Rashfords decision making and finishing if off on times too, so is martial, and for all his goals how many chances did Ibra miss last season?

He's getting the brunt of it, but Lukaku can be deadly, if we play the right way.

We need to cut him some slack and get behind him, he's our main striker and can get shedloads of goals if we play the right way

 

[Fortitude]

The big problem with him that I never thought is he is mentally so weak. He looks lost, he looks terrified. GROW UP YOUR BALL LAD, YOU HAVE COST US THE TITLE.

This narrative shouldn't even get off the ground. Even if we would've won, there would have been a 5pt gap between us and them, which is 6pts when goal difference is factored in. The title 'race' may well have been put to bed yesterday, but saying he 'cost' us the title is well wide of the mark.

 

[shield]

He is built like Zlatan but he plays more like Rashford, relying on his pace and trickery. Also, I feel Rashford is far better technically and is still improving. Don't think Lukaku will be able to excel in our system, where we keep a deep line and the striker is isolated and he looks incapable of doing the things a lone striker is expected to do. I think we should try out the Martial - Rashford - Lingard front three again, for a few matches, especially because Lingard is playing very well.

 

[RedRoach]

The reactions in this thread are ridiculous. I thought I had gone to a Real Madrid forum a minute the amount of hostility that is being directed to one of our players. Get behind him FFS. He is on a bad run, but he has demonstrated at the beginning of the season he can be lethal. People need to get a grip. Andy Cole wasn't the most talented of strikers but he turned out well in the end. Not everyone has to be top class technically to be successful. It is a team game and about getting the most out of each individual through the team. The way we played as a team yesterday no striker would look good IMO.

 

[AmanNits04]

He is short on confidence and also looks tired to me. He plays almost every game for us. We should probably rest him a couple of time to keep him fit for the busy schedule we are going to have this month. Keep him and Matic benched for the Bristol city game at least

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

He is short on confidence and also looks tired to me. He plays almost every game for us. We should probably rest him a couple of time to keep him fit for the busy schedule we are going to have this month. Keep him and Matic benched for the Bristol city game at least

His failings are nothing new, fresh or tired. We knew fully well what we were getting when we bought him, it sucks that we desperately needed a striker in a market starved for them and Madrid wanting to feck us over at any chance they get.

 

[Kevin]

He is short on confidence and also looks tired to me. He plays almost every game for us. We should probably rest him a couple of time to keep him fit for the busy schedule we are going to have this month. Keep him and Matic benched for the Bristol city game at least

I'd be interested to see how much the likes of RvN, Henry and Drogba under Mourinho used to play compared to him. Pretty sure they also started nearly every game. They seemed to thrive on it. Fitness levels dropping in 2017?

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

He's on the same number of PL goals as Wayne Rooney now