His best all round game for United. Some real tenacity and great awareness of where his team mates were. Growing into his role and still early days. Look forward to his development over the next couple of years hopefully into a real beast a la Drogba.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 51
- Goals
- 27
- Assists
- 10
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
Was rewarded for a good game with a nice goal. Good all round performance.
Thought he was brilliant to tonight more like the lukaku we thought we had signed, let’s hope it continues....
Even goal aside, he was fantastic. But somehow his overall contributions in the buildup play just gets ignored by pundits. 
He was brilliant tonight, very sharp and focused, he has a an eye for a ball too off his left foot in and around the box, great centre forward performance.
Played really well and worked his socks off.
He is a better footballer now than he was when he arrived. His touch and awareness is miles better than it was. Credit to Mourinho and the coaches for a significant improvement in his game.
He is a better footballer now than he was when he arrived. His touch and awareness is miles better than it was. Credit to Mourinho and the coaches for a significant improvement in his game.
The way he held the ball up, making space for himself for the goal was class. Good performance overall
He made that really nice cross to Pogba towards the end (cleared out by Zouma).
Looked sharp again. 2 in 2. Let’s get this run going!
I really wished he'd get a couple tonight and get him back up near Kane and Salah but he's becoming more like a Drogba as the games go by in that his game isn't about goals at all but more what he's contributing as a focal point
Thought he looked good on the ball tonight and thoroughly deserved his goal.
His all round play was excellent tonight. He looked very dangerous cutting in from the left.
Finally getting some credit for his overall game from Neville and Carragher. Deserved his goal tonight.
Pleased for him. His overall game has improved a lot but has done so at a point when the goals have dried up. Good performance and a deserved goal.
Somewhat ironically, he’s probably our best crosser of the ball.
NBC commentators were going on about how a lot of strikers are good crossers because they 'know how they would like the ball played in to them"
He's not a holdup target man like Drogba, maybe he can turn into one in the future because he's got the physique (6'3 and apparently 200+ pounds) but his back to goal isn't up to scratch. He's much better at working the channels. Mou should use him in the same way he used Milito.
Fantastic game. And then he got the goal to add to the performance. 17 goals half way through January. Can see that he likes to be on the move (drifting out wide at times) when theres space (and he gets that when Pogbas in the team). You can see the difference it makes when he knows theres a chance he will get the ball there (and how he pulls out defenders to create space for others).
Still not convinced he's the best option long term for our squad, but these types of games and a few of the recent performances are very encouraging. Showing a lot more ability on the ball, using his massive body properly, on the goalsheet, and generally just positive. Him, Martial and pogba definitely have a great understanding with each other. Lingard too. Think when Sanchez comes he'll slot in perfectly as well and make them all step up a level too.
he is the best number 9 available to buy last season , i mean there were better striker ( such as kane , lewandowski ) but definitely impossible to get , rather than using rashford and hoping our luck for ibra to totally recover , i am glad we bought him instead of overpriced benchwarmer morata or unproven striker from other leagues, he can be our long term,cause i don't see anyone better we can possibly purchase at the moment
That cross towards the end of the game to Pogba was almost inch perfect. He seems to always get his crosses right.
If he could hit 35 this season in all competitions - it would be super return from him.
Here’s hoping.
Here’s hoping.
Superb game from him. Looked fresh and with more sharpness from our players he was able to hold the ball up and be creative. Some of the service still not the best though and I think he will grow even more in the coming years, I hope he finishes the season strongly as he's been superb all season and deserves the reward for working tirelessly for us.
I agree. And frankly, as long as the team is playing well and scoring, and he is contributing, he doesn't need to get 30+ goals a season.
This is why I believe he can play in an interchangeable attack, which I stated in that thread we had about said issue a while back. Whenever he drifts out to the right he can beat his man, whip in some tasty crosses and still remain a goal threat. I hope we see more of him out there, interchanging with our other attackers. He doesn't need to be a static target man as not only does it hinder our attacking play, he isn't that well suited to the role either!
Knowing where to cross and executing a good cross is two entire different thing. Just like some coaches were bad players but understand football tactics much better than talented players who just played football as a job.
He played pretty well yesterday. Used his physicality well. He never seems to be in complete control of the ball, but thats fine. I thought his deliveries in the box was the best out of any player today which is a shame.
What I like about him is he seems to not be happy with his own standard. He feels he should be performing better, which is good. I like that attitude. Hopefully it translates in to a better overall season for the rest of this one and next.
What I like about him is he seems to not be happy with his own standard. He feels he should be performing better, which is good. I like that attitude. Hopefully it translates in to a better overall season for the rest of this one and next.
Good game from the big man and he took his goal brilliantly.
This guy is really developing as a player. His one touch link play and his wide play is getting better each game. He's so much more than a conventional number 9. I thought he was close to man of the match last night. Good to see him playing with a smile on his face again.
His all round performance was excellent, the goal was just an added bonus.
There are two parts to your post. I agree that we shouldn't be using Lukaku as a static target man and hoof the ball to him. That's not the style of football I want to watch.
Jose Mourinho doesn't play an interchangeable system, he needs a reference point up top and everyone else in the attack get into their positions relative to his striker. Neither Mourinho nor Man Utd ever played an interchangeable system as far as I can remember.
We already play with two strikers when we have the ball with Martial and Lukaku. When one goes wide, the other assumes central role. If Martial vacates his wing, Pogba or Shaw fill that position. I also don't want to see Lukaku playing on the wing where he would then need to track back the fullback.
6 goals in his last 22 outings. Impressive.
What an odd number of games to pick...
The add-ons were said to be easily achievable, so we will likely pay them if he stays here for at least a couple years. So it makes sense to include them. People often include add-ons when discussing players. For instance people talk about Coutinho being a £140m player. But I bet you never do, right, not even when discussing rivals?
I don't need a crystal ball to look into to see that Lukaku doesn't have the technical talent to ever be truly world class. Sometimes you can just tell. If you can't, not my problem.
His all-around game has clearly improved since the start of the season though. I was happy with how he did last night.
The only year I remembered us having an interchangeable attack was in 07/08. It wasn't the most fluid, but you'd have Ronaldo popping up everywhere, Rooney and Tevez rotating as the #10 and CF, one of Giggs/Park/Nani floating from one wing to another.
I honestly wouldn't mind Lukaku tracking back on the wings. He's done it in the past (very rarely) and has done well at winning the ball back, and then holding onto it when being pressed giving the defence some relief. He's also shown he's got an eye for a pass which would help on the counter! Then you'd have Martial (or Alexis?!) up front who are much better at holding the ball up and driving at defences, which Lukaku isn't terrible it; they're just better, imo.
If the add-ons are paid it means the signing was a successful one, so it's pointless to keep mentioning it to raise his price. What we paid in summer for Everton was 75m, that's all. If we end up a year later paying the 15m add-ons so the signing has succeeded enough.
And no, making assumptions about future as facts is a terrible idea. You can say that you don't think he'll be en elite player, alright that's your opinion, but stating that "he'll never become a top striker" as a fact that we should agree about it, is something I can't replay on, because I don't know the future like you.
Both Carragher and Neville underlined something that's been noticeable for last month or two, he's massively upped his all around game, outside of the box, holding the ball up, trying to take players on. He's evolving his game.
He's a young player who isn't in him prime yet. His game is bound to mature over time. It also helps him that we are now finally playing those balls in behind and our long balls are actually being played to the wings and not into his chest with two CBs marking him.
Specifically against Stoke in second half, our lines pushed up by 20 yards and that is bound to help our attacking players.
Kane doesnt have technical talent either he just keeps scoring goals from all angles....but I recall everyone thinking it was just a great run for years....until it never stopped..it was based on them not been able to see a great player!
Term World class itself is useless with everyone having their own definition, then arguing on whether a player will ever be world class is laughable.
- Status