Eto'o played out wide because he wasn't a targetman. As I've said previously (and presumably you've failed to read), that's the role Messi would play in a Mourinho system. Lukaku is a better fit for the central striker position under Jose.
9
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 51
- Goals
- 27
- Assists
- 10
- Yellow cards
- 3
- Status
Yes he did, repeatedly. One of the reasons they fell out.
He played out wide in a few Champions League games.
Messi isn't better than Lukaku in any of the attacking positions on the pitch under any system. It's fecking Messi.
12 goals in his last 10 games and only failing to score in 1 game. Clinical.
Wrong way around. Hazard wanted to play centrally, but Mourinho didn't agree. He gave him a run out out in the middle against Liverpool, but then substituted him off. The two fell out for the exact opposite reason you stated.
By the way, Mourinho called Hazard his "new Messi". And yet still played him out-wide.
It's difficult to believe that you're arguing that Messi is physically stronger and a better header of the ball than Lukaku. That's what every centreforward in Mourinho's teams have all had in common. He plays with #9s not false #10s. That's what the word 'system' refers to.
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Wow, you are counting! That's 4 misses in 7 games. Would be a problem if he hadnt scored 7 otherwise. And, btw - that's much less than the no. of clear cut chances Zlatan missed in similar no. of games. The guy is brilliant for us. Move on from these.
The only one that really pinches is the last chance vs Stoke, but you can't blame him for Jones having a stinker!
After about 1/2 an hour or so it was clear to me watching the match on TV, that while Rashford for whatever reason looked tired and disinterested, Lukaku by comparison wanted to prove a point so badly that he perhaps lacked that little bit of composure needed to finish the chances coming his way. I think he was so geared up to play well and prove a point, he fell into the trap of "trying too hard". What I loved about the lad today was that his desire & drive remained undiminished for 90- minutes! Yes he missed chances we'd expect him to put away but he never dropped his head and obviously the gaffer left him out there because he was happy with the work he was doing and the pressure he kept putting on the frail Toffies defense. His goal was a perfect example of that desire. I'm sure he was disappointed like all of us were with the quality of his free kick but he stayed "turned on" and his finish was top draw!
And I'm perfectly happy about his great celebration, here's a man who was absolutely thrilled to bits with his goal for Manchester United ... the team I believe he loves! He wants to become a legend and only time wil tell whether that dream comes true. I for one have my fingers crossed he does!
On the topic of celebrations, had Rooney taken one of his chances, I would hope he would have been equally thrilled and celebrated accordingly! Baring in mind of course he was for the large part, welcomed back United fans and not dissed like Lukaku was by the away "fans".
I'll get me coat
And I'm perfectly happy about his great celebration, here's a man who was absolutely thrilled to bits with his goal for Manchester United ... the team I believe he loves! He wants to become a legend and only time wil tell whether that dream comes true. I for one have my fingers crossed he does!
On the topic of celebrations, had Rooney taken one of his chances, I would hope he would have been equally thrilled and celebrated accordingly! Baring in mind of course he was for the large part, welcomed back United fans and not dissed like Lukaku was by the away "fans".
I'll get me coat
Very good dribble to carry the ball and lay it on a plate for Miki.
I notice he has this dribbling technique where he carries the ball in a stumbling motion and then actually stands over it to stop the ball then cut in/go outside for a shot. It throws the defender/keeper off and works well for him. His goal against La Galaxy/Salt Lake (?) was a prime example.
It's quite unpolished on the eye but effective. He's using his frame and stride well as he doesn't have the kind of agility to turn on a six pence.
I notice he has this dribbling technique where he carries the ball in a stumbling motion and then actually stands over it to stop the ball then cut in/go outside for a shot. It throws the defender/keeper off and works well for him. His goal against La Galaxy/Salt Lake (?) was a prime example.
It's quite unpolished on the eye but effective. He's using his frame and stride well as he doesn't have the kind of agility to turn on a six pence.
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/08/teams-of-the-decade-3-porto-2002-04/
My guess is if we had Messi instead of Lukaku, Mourinho would either have us playing a diamond to play 2 up front like the above so that Messi wasn't leading the line alone, or he'd just use Messi as a RW in a 4-2-3-1 like Mata does for us, but maybe we'd play Fellaini, Herrera or Pogba as the 10 instead of Mkhitaryan to give Messi more freedom to not really track back, which functionally isn't that different. Also not dissimilar from Mourinho letting Cristiano play high up on the left and having Di Maria tuck in and play a bit deeper on the opposite wing, though I'm not sure we have that sort of player apart from Pogba and I don't see Mourinho using him out wide. Pereira is probably the best fit otherwise, but I doubt he would have just become a starter.
My guess is if we had Messi instead of Lukaku, Mourinho would either have us playing a diamond to play 2 up front like the above so that Messi wasn't leading the line alone, or he'd just use Messi as a RW in a 4-2-3-1 like Mata does for us, but maybe we'd play Fellaini, Herrera or Pogba as the 10 instead of Mkhitaryan to give Messi more freedom to not really track back, which functionally isn't that different. Also not dissimilar from Mourinho letting Cristiano play high up on the left and having Di Maria tuck in and play a bit deeper on the opposite wing, though I'm not sure we have that sort of player apart from Pogba and I don't see Mourinho using him out wide. Pereira is probably the best fit otherwise, but I doubt he would have just become a starter.
No, Hazard wanted to play as a 10, Mourinho made him lead the line. They fell out after the Spurs game. I don't think you know what you're talking about.
I'm not, but then everything in your second sentence is wrong. Lukaku doesn't do that for us and Benzema didn't do that for Real.
Messi wont be a target man in EPL...especially in Mou system. And Messi will be dull if playing as target man. SS is the perfect fit. With free roaming access to left and right.
Target man...there is only one, CR7....
Target man...there is only one, CR7....
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...oaster-relationship-chelsea-manchester-united
"As reports surfaced that the pair had fallen out, they met to discuss the situation. Hazard asked to play centrally and Mourinho agreed for the home game against Liverpool. With the score at 1-1, though, Mourinho took him off, shattering what remained of Hazard’s confidence."
I know, right? If Messi plays up top, he's a false nine. The idea he'd be a better fit for targetman than Lukaku is mental.
I know he scored the goal but more than that two things impressed me.more than his goal. First, his assist, he missed an easy chance and he could have been selfish but that pass to mkhi was just too sweet. Then, his unselfish act of having let martial take the pen. Lukaku could and probably should have taken just to overtake aguero but he did not and acted like a gentleman there. I loved that. This shows his maturity and to imagine he is just 24 is scary. Loved his attitude today.
No, they made friends again after that and he played as the central striker in front of Oscar/Pedro/Willian. But you know... facts and all that.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34893402
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ho-Tottenham-match-manager-monitors-star.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34951749
Benzema wasn't a target man, neither was Alberto, neither was McCarthy. You've created a straw man, never mind a target man. The "Mourinho system" is having a central striker who occupies defenders and makes space for two wide players to attack. Messi playing in that role put in the single greatest season of all time and somehow he wouldn't replace Lukaku? Jog on.
It was great he scored, but at 1-0, that pass to Mkhi was absolutely fantastic. Mkhi didnt have to break his stride at all, and Lukaku basically drew three defenders towards himself when running with the ball.
Him cupping his ear and shushing the Everton fans was a great bonus
Him cupping his ear and shushing the Everton fans was a great bonus
a great finisher he is it is weird that i am never confident with Lukaku when he is in a 1 v 1 situation.
however his goal today was all about his movement inside the box, which we have been missing since those van nistelrooy days.
however his goal today was all about his movement inside the box, which we have been missing since those van nistelrooy days.
Why're you so obsessed with this argument? I was going through this thread and you have completely derailed it into pointless conjecture.
Why are you so obsessed with what other people post? I replied to hyperbolic nonsense, people replied to me. That's how forums work. If you don't like it, don't reply.
Auba missed a similar type of chance against Koln today. It happens to every striker. You won't find a striker out there who doesn't miss some chances. If we keep creating them, he'll put them in more often though.
7 in 7 now. He always scores. Exactly the striker we needed this season. But he is a player who is dependent on the players behind to create chances for him. Our creative players (Mikhi and Mata) should be doing better.
He is not clinical because he missed a chance now? Seriously? Do people watch other games or do they judge Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez based on Fifa ? Every top player misses chances. No one can be a 100% clinical.
He is not clinical because he missed a chance now? Seriously? Do people watch other games or do they judge Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez based on Fifa ? Every top player misses chances. No one can be a 100% clinical.
Eto'o played out wide because Milito ain't effective far from goal. Eto'o was Mourinho's target even during his first stint at Chelsea. Eto'o would be given more freedom than a genuine target man, but he would still be a central forward had his partner also possess ability to operate wide. Mourinho's second stint at Chelsea he had Eto'o played central. Lukaku is better fit for Mourinho's normal system, but he's smart enough to tweak his system has he possessed special talent. See Milito point above, or his Madrid system which make sacrifice of central forward position to enable Ronaldo to step up another level of goal scoring.
Back to thread topic, Lukaku scoring goal is no surprising to me. His assist for Micky is sign he's developing well. I remember him few year back was very reedy. If he didn't have a goal, he would have tried to take the shot than playing his teammate in better position. Now his head is more level which he started to see his teammate and make better decision.
This.
The good thing is it seems misses don't affect him and he continues to play his game and the results come - assist and goal
Yeh. I thought Lukaku would want that penalty, after his last miss. But it's really a nice gesture to let Martial to take it, as the penalty was all created by Martial; and Martial needed that goal.
Love that little show of tight-knit within our team.
He's been excellent to have scored as many as he has already, and I think he's only going to improve as the squad continues to gel and provides him with even more service, but I have to admit that all four of the chances listed above are ones that I would expect him to score. Given the kind of goals we know he's capable of, the finishing ability we know he has and the confidence that he's feeling right now, I do think they are pretty bad misses. Don't get me wrong, i'm more than happy with the goals he has scored, but I don't see any real reason for him to have not scored those goals too, outside of errant finishing and maybe a blip in composure. He sounds like the kind of guy who will recognise this and work on it, though.
Beast of a performance, the guy is an animal with a real point to prove. Loving him this season and really enjoying his start.
ALL strikers miss chances that they are expected to score. It's just part of the game.
The most important thing to me was that Lukaku didn't sulk and continued to push on.
As many before me pointed out, his pass to Mkhi at 1-0 showed great maturity. I was very happy that he put the team before himself and didn't go for the difficult option of trying to score the goal himself.
His goal was all about movement and and showed his hunger for goal. Instead of sulking at his poor freekick, he moved into the box where he could attack the loose ball.
His goal-to-chance ration is excellent. I have no worries about him missing good chances here and then.
Someone mentioned Andy Cole earlier. Cole has that stupid tag of not being clinical in goal partly because of that match against West Ham on the last day of his first season with us and because of Glen Hoddle's comments. But what many people forgot is that Cole had the best goal-to-shots ratio in the league for a good few years. Unfortunately, his (undeserved) reputation precedes him.
The most important thing to me was that Lukaku didn't sulk and continued to push on.
As many before me pointed out, his pass to Mkhi at 1-0 showed great maturity. I was very happy that he put the team before himself and didn't go for the difficult option of trying to score the goal himself.
His goal was all about movement and and showed his hunger for goal. Instead of sulking at his poor freekick, he moved into the box where he could attack the loose ball.
His goal-to-chance ration is excellent. I have no worries about him missing good chances here and then.
Someone mentioned Andy Cole earlier. Cole has that stupid tag of not being clinical in goal partly because of that match against West Ham on the last day of his first season with us and because of Glen Hoddle's comments. But what many people forgot is that Cole had the best goal-to-shots ratio in the league for a good few years. Unfortunately, his (undeserved) reputation precedes him.
I am simply commenting on the pointless derailment of a thread that is of interest to me. That's how forums work too.
If he improves some of his decision making, and gets consistency in that regard he'd be ridiculously good.
He has all the other attributes already.
He has all the other attributes already.
You see it as pointless, evidently others do not.
This on the other hand, is undisputedly a pointless derailment.
Love the big man. He's a threat all game and you can see how much he panics defenders.
For all the talk about him being a poor passer as mentioned that ball to mkhi was absolutely spot on. Perfect weight and angle so he could hit it first time.
For all the talk about him being a poor passer as mentioned that ball to mkhi was absolutely spot on. Perfect weight and angle so he could hit it first time.
Love the fact he creates so many spaces for our wingers. Everton defenders were getting crazy by chasing him. He's a beast and every team will fear him.
Best signing alongside Matic this summer.
Best signing alongside Matic this summer.
His biggest asset is he never stops trying and have his shoulders down when he misses one chance. He keeps going and going and eventually gets his goal.
His link up play is also improving a lot.
His link up play is also improving a lot.
Mourinho loved Drogba, now he has Mini Drogba, he could smile all over again.
And Benzema was a target man previously. He was bought to role of CF at Real Madrid. CR7 was bought as an attacking winger. Clear as a blue sky.
And Benzema was a target man previously. He was bought to role of CF at Real Madrid. CR7 was bought as an attacking winger. Clear as a blue sky.
Good start to the season. I honestly couldn't be happier with his contribution. Bit shocked by the way he celebrated and shh the Everton fans haha.
I'd love to see some stats on his work-rate. Came with a reputation for being one of the league's least hard-working players but looks to me like he's been working his socks off since he joined United.
His assist to Mkhitaryan was nice to see, something we've not seen from him really in a United shirt yet.
More than happy with him.
More than happy with him.
wow he scored a goal once, he's had 2 attempts and both were awful. We have much better players at set plays than him, Mata should be number 1 and pog from distance
Not sure how anyone can be critical of him. The man is an absolute beast and his finishing is cynical. What's frightening is he's still going to get better and I can see Ibra really helping to bring his career on....
He is a good player but I am just not convinced. He has so much work to do on his game. In a way its a great proposition that he's already so productive and hes not even the finished product yet. On the other hand its very possible he wont improve much more now.
Here's my problem. Amongst the starting strikers for the top 10 teams in the world, where does Lukaku rank?
Real - Benzema
Barca - Suarez
Atleti - Griezman
Bayern - Lewandowski
Dortmund - Aubemayang
Juventus - Dybala/Higz
PSG - Cavani/Neymar
City - Aguero
Chelsea - Morata
United - Lukaku
He has got to be in the bottom 1 or 2 in that list?
Secondly, during our recent dominant teams, we always had great strikers. Ruud, Rooney, Vp, Tevez. Lukaku is well below those strikers.
He is definitely good enough to lead us to the title. But I think if we are ever to be a top team in europe, he wouldnt be good enough.
His finishing is very average. He gets a lot of goals due to his instincts and hunger but he is far from a good finisher. He is extremely wasteful. His movement isnt really intelligent enough. His hold up play needs work. He is a physical specimen and he has great desire but I feel he is not quite good enough to lead us all the way
Here's my problem. Amongst the starting strikers for the top 10 teams in the world, where does Lukaku rank?
Real - Benzema
Barca - Suarez
Atleti - Griezman
Bayern - Lewandowski
Dortmund - Aubemayang
Juventus - Dybala/Higz
PSG - Cavani/Neymar
City - Aguero
Chelsea - Morata
United - Lukaku
He has got to be in the bottom 1 or 2 in that list?
Secondly, during our recent dominant teams, we always had great strikers. Ruud, Rooney, Vp, Tevez. Lukaku is well below those strikers.
He is definitely good enough to lead us to the title. But I think if we are ever to be a top team in europe, he wouldnt be good enough.
His finishing is very average. He gets a lot of goals due to his instincts and hunger but he is far from a good finisher. He is extremely wasteful. His movement isnt really intelligent enough. His hold up play needs work. He is a physical specimen and he has great desire but I feel he is not quite good enough to lead us all the way
Yeah saw a few Everton fan's on Grand Old Team moaning about the amount he works for us as he apparently didn't for them as much.
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