Great that he scored. Pity about that chance Martial created for him although the bounce made it difficult.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 51
- Goals
- 27
- Assists
- 10
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
He was pretty good today. Should have scored that Martial chance, but otherwise a solid game. If only we had a player who could cross properly, he would have a field day at United.
I thought he was good today. The chance he missed late on is a difficult finish to pull off…
Good match, too bad he couldn't get that second goal.
It must annoy the hell out of him that we are so slow in putting the ball in , reckon he would get a lot of chances if we played first time crosses
So Zlatan must be a donkey then for all those freekicks that he kept smashing off the wall last season
No because it's something which isn't exclusive to his finishing. Any striker can snatch at chances but Lukaku's decision making is generally quite poor.
Thought he was good. Always looking to get in behind.
Has to get that shot on target at least ffs!
Has to get that shot on target at least ffs!
Thought he was ok today, made some decent runs, shame he couldn't control that shot near the end, would have won the game.
In fairness Everton had baines and Coleman the best wing back pair of the last ten years and he didn't score that many headers from crosses... Agree with the premise but it isn't a guaranteed success approach
Very good striker, he will score a lot of goals for us.
One personal negative for me which doesnt make any difference to how good he is, is that his play (not necessarily his goals) doesnt excite me one bit . He doesnt really get me on the edge of my feet, and as United's focal point in attack that is quite new for me. The likes of Zlatan, Martial, Rooney, Van Persie, Berbatov, Tevez, Ronaldo, Saha, van Nistelrooy were great to watch for me. Maybe some of his class headers or when he is charging at pace is still a great sight to see. He just gets the job done and does just what is needed to score, great quality nonetheless.
One personal negative for me which doesnt make any difference to how good he is, is that his play (not necessarily his goals) doesnt excite me one bit . He doesnt really get me on the edge of my feet, and as United's focal point in attack that is quite new for me. The likes of Zlatan, Martial, Rooney, Van Persie, Berbatov, Tevez, Ronaldo, Saha, van Nistelrooy were great to watch for me. Maybe some of his class headers or when he is charging at pace is still a great sight to see. He just gets the job done and does just what is needed to score, great quality nonetheless.
I take your point and somewhat agree, but He is certainly more interesting to watch than someone like Saha
What was it about Van Nistelrooy that excited you? He was an incredible finisher with good hold up play but as a footballer he was probably more limited than Lukaku and ascetically nothing to write home about.
It's strange that this force of nature doesn't get you off your seat but Van Nistelrooy did.
Van Nistelrooy's movement was another level, he knew how to position himself. As was his dribbling and quality on the ball very underrated. He also seemed a bit more agile than Lukaku which made him turn a bit easier. The best finisher I have seen at United.
Maybe Lukaku involves himself more in the game than RvN did but I dont think Ruud was more limited than Rom is actually. His dribbling, speed and quickness on the ball, link-up play, first touch, controls to set him up for goals is much superior to Lukaku's. He was like a non-missing-chances Cavani.
RVN was not more limited than Lukaku, WTF?
I like him a lot, and I think he'll score a shit load of goals for us, but I still can't quite shake the impression I had of him before he signed; namely that he's a very good player, but not a great one. I'm never entirely confident of him scoring first time when he's one on one, though I weirdly have somewhat more faith that he'll eventually bundle it in more often than not.
I'm also a bit concerned by his size relative to his age. We're obviously a long way off worrying about that just yet, but he's gotten a lot bulkier since his West Brom days, and I can't believe it'll be beneficial to his pace in the long term. There's a touch of the Rooney's about him in the way he's developed so rapidly.
That said, I've no doubt he'll be a positive acquisition, and if we get a good 5 years out of him it'll be more than worth it. There are just a few lingering doubts that are yet to be dispelled. Ive a feeling there'll be a lot more games like today where he grabs a goal, but also misses chances (like that late one from Martial's cross) that a truly top player would be expected to bury.
I hope to be proved wrong.
I'm also a bit concerned by his size relative to his age. We're obviously a long way off worrying about that just yet, but he's gotten a lot bulkier since his West Brom days, and I can't believe it'll be beneficial to his pace in the long term. There's a touch of the Rooney's about him in the way he's developed so rapidly.
That said, I've no doubt he'll be a positive acquisition, and if we get a good 5 years out of him it'll be more than worth it. There are just a few lingering doubts that are yet to be dispelled. Ive a feeling there'll be a lot more games like today where he grabs a goal, but also misses chances (like that late one from Martial's cross) that a truly top player would be expected to bury.
I hope to be proved wrong.
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I thought he did a lot of good work with off the ball runs into channels and offering the easy ball outlet but maybe his movement in the box suffered. It didn't help that our crossing, delivery and final ball in the final third was really off today. I suspect it was Mourinho 'first phase, second phase' thing where he didn't want first time balls/corners to stop them winning it and counter attacking. Frustrating because it was counter intuitive, as many times Lukaku and Pogba would arrive late into the box on the shoulder of the defender (so therefore in prime positional space) but the ball was passed back or move along again.
Lukaku's game also suffers because Rashford is not a natural wide player or playmaker. He makes penetrative plays but it's out of sync from everyone else most often than not.
It's gonna be a long season, these games will make the players learn and gel more hopefully.
Not convinced, he's a good goalscorer, but not a particularly good footballer.
Boggling that people are criticizing his 'footballing' ability. News flash, lone strikers arent supposed to be 'good footballers' they are supposed to be dynamic, physical and clinical.
He's running the channels, he's holding up the ball, he's scoring goals. Sure he looks clumsy as feck but he's effective. We have other players in the team to look nice.
He's running the channels, he's holding up the ball, he's scoring goals. Sure he looks clumsy as feck but he's effective. We have other players in the team to look nice.
Newsflash, name an elite team that has a lone striker without good footballing ability?
Chelsea 2004-07, Inter 2009-10, Chelsea 2014-15...they might have a common link but im not sure.
Bayern Munich 2010-2013, Juventus 2013-15, Atletico Madrid 2010-14
Classical managers like Mourinho, Simeone, Ancelotti utilize lone forwards that are dynamic, physical and clinical.
Diego Costa was the focal point of two title winning teams in the last 3 seasons and you are seriously asking that question.
Beast and worked his balls off, took the rebound for his goal well after the spawner of a save by Butland.
I was thinking that too. If only we had a player like De Bryne or Sane who could constantly zip in crosses .... that must be the next squad gap to be resolved.
Lukaku's strike was his 150th in club football (47 Anderlecht, 17 West Brom, 87 Everton and 5 for Manchester United).
KDB would have taken this squad to the next level.
For a big, quick individual I'm not sure if he's all that "dynamic".
Really excited to see what he can do in the Champions League.
Wtf is wrong with people 
Drogba, Crespo and Gudjohnsen didn't have good footballing ability?
Drogba had to develop his footballing ability over time. Even at his best he was a bulldozer of a striker. He has never been strong in the technical areas; good enough but that was not his game. My comment was in relation to Drogba, not Crespo or Gudjohnson.
5 in 5 for the big man.
I will admit I wasn't sure about Lukaku when we first got him but I'm happy I'm being proven wrong.
I will admit I wasn't sure about Lukaku when we first got him but I'm happy I'm being proven wrong.
Drogba was superb technically.
Yes, I remember seeing him play for CIV for the first time and being really impressed. He was part offensive playmaker, part center forward.
He should've scored to make it 3-2 yesterday, but overall I'm impressed with him so far.
We would do well to remember that Lukaku is not the finished product yet, and still has some way to go. It's scary to think how good he can get under Mourinho's tutelage.
Again although he really should've scored yesterday (both him and Rashford should spend today doing press ups!) - 2 goals should be enough to beat Stoke. It was our defending that cost us the win ultimately.
We would do well to remember that Lukaku is not the finished product yet, and still has some way to go. It's scary to think how good he can get under Mourinho's tutelage.
Again although he really should've scored yesterday (both him and Rashford should spend today doing press ups!) - 2 goals should be enough to beat Stoke. It was our defending that cost us the win ultimately.
There was the common misconception with Drogs that he was a battering ram with little technical skill which simply wasn't true, technically he was excellent and brought a lot to the table, that's why he kept seeing off numerous strikers despite a so so goal record. Infact if he didn't contract malaria i think he would have been a top level player till his late 30's like Ibra looks like doing.
Nah, that's bollocks - every top team wants 'good footballers' up front. I do think Lukaku's an excellent player, but it's fair enough to criticise certain aspects of his game if they need improvement.
I agree with you completely there; Lukaku is a good footballer. But I was going with the definition that some seem to level at Lukaku but no one else; if Lukaku isnt doing Cruyff Turns and stepovers then placing a defence splitting pass then he isnt a 'good footballer'.
The context of my reply is important; because the person i was replying to felt that he isnt a 'good footballer'. If Lukaku isnt a good footballer then there are so many strikers that arent good footballers that have lead teams to big titles.
Lukaku is a very intelligent player; he has all the tools to be one of the best striker in the world. There were many that didnt want him because of his 'bad' first touch and that Morata was a technically better striker. Yet, there is a mountain of evidence to show that Lukaku is a technically good player. Of course he can be better, and I hope he does improve while playing for us but there isnt anything 'deficient' about his play.
I don't think many thought he had little skill. It was just observed that he wasn't at the level most top strikers are in that regard. It didn't matter though because of all the other positives he brought.
Same goes for Lukaku. As long as we play to his strengths, which Jose will, it'll be great.
We've started playing passes down the sides of centre backs again. It's been years since we did that. Saw plenty of it against Stoke, it was just unfortunate the midfielders were a bit off with their passing. Too many overhit/underhit attempts to put Lukaku in.
Very pleased with him so far. He should have buried that late chance v Stoke and the sitter v Real Madrid though.
He's improved us, is a player coming into their prime, and has excellent work ethic. I'm plenty happy with him.
Surround him with players who are excellent with the ball and we'll be grand.
Surround him with players who are excellent with the ball and we'll be grand.
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