Romelu Lukaku image 9

Romelu Lukaku Belgium flag

2017-18 Performances

View full 2017-18 profile

6.1 Season Average Rating
Appearances
51
Goals
27
Assists
10
Yellow cards
3
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Hasn't been lighting it up but aside from Aguero and Kane, I'm not sure who else would be better for us? Morata has done nothing for Chelski in quite a bit now even though he gets better service. And I can't imagine what he would say about living in the North given what he's been saying about London. Let's face it, there are hardly any better options for us and given the chance I'd sign him again. Every player goes through lean times, especially one that gets zero service. Pogba can't come back soon enough.
 
Well played today , looked up for it ..shame a goal didn't come his way
 
I would have liked to see him take the pen and bury it, but I'm not concerned. His scoring record throughout the years is absurd.
 
Not going for him at the moment but at least when he’s poor he is still very dangerous running in the channels and squaring full backs up.

Sometimes I think he tries to do too much with his first touch. Doesn’t always need to roll a defender when he’s so far away from goal. Just get it into your feet and buy an easy foul if you’re isolated
 
Would like to see him drift more from the right.

Looked very dangerous out there.

He needs a goal. Hopefully scores vs Chelsea.
 
I thought he looked too desperate when he missed his chances. He just needs to relax and the goals will come again.
 
Poor first half but much better the second one. He's passing through a classic drought period that can happen to any striker. Just need to keep his work and he'll score sooner rather than later.
 
He needs a goal, but his work rate is commendable and to be fair we’re hardly supplying him. How many times tonight did he run from 40 yards out trying to make something happen? It’s not his game.
 
Thought he was great today despite typically disgraceful service from our team. Should have scored his chance but he just worked and worked and worked and his run cutting in from the right wing were great. Got to feel for him though, don't think any other top team in the world must be as atrocious with the final ball and crosses than United.
 
Actually looked better off of the right than anybody else has so far funnily enough!
 
Good that when he isn't scoring he doesn't lose his confidence in other areas.

Needs to score soon, though.
 
He is actually our best right winger, he'd probably be one of the best right wingers in the league!
 
We really struggle to get someone to play the ball through to him
 
He is fecked here if he doesn't score against chelsea. We have fantastic striker, who was scoring goals since day one, and after couple of games without goal, some of you moan about kane and moratta.
 
I get so frustrated watching him because he just lacks the basic skills sometimes. Should have made sure the penalty was his but he also gets absolutely nothing from midfield I feel sorry for him. Looked better from the right.
 
I'm happy that we got him, I think he's what we needed, but he's a flat-track bully. This is no lean spell, this is how he'll be in big games. He'll probably need Zlatan alongside him in UCL knockouts. That could be a very fruitful partnership.
 
Scholes spot on about lack of link up behind him and having to do a lot himself
 
SirMattBugsby said:
I'm happy that we got him, I think he's what we needed, but he's a flat-track bully. This is no lean spell, this is how he'll be in big games. He'll probably need Zlatan alongside him in UCL knockouts. That could be a very fruitful partnership.
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This wasn’t a big game though, on the contrary. Would expect him to get some chances at home to a woeful Benfica, but it never really happened. Also very disappointed that our shining 80M striker doesn’t take penalties! What on earth is that about...
 
I think his performances of late have been piss poor, and it's nothing to do with the lack of goals.
 
James Peril said:
This wasn’t a big game though, on the contrary. Would expect him to get some chances at home to a woeful Benfica, but it never really happened. Also very disappointed that our shining 80M striker doesn’t take penalties! What on earth is that about...
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Why would he? If you are a striker you must shoot pens? You must be good at shooting pens if you are striker?
 
He's seems to only get one chance a game the service is so poor. We didn't buy him to be building up play from the half way line.
 
James Peril said:
This wasn’t a big game though, on the contrary. Would expect him to get some chances at home to a woeful Benfica, but it never really happened. Also very disappointed that our shining 80M striker doesn’t take penalties! What on earth is that about...
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I feel his toothlessness had a lot to do with Mourinho's approach to the game. Jose must have known Benfica had nothing to lose and would attack from the outset. As a result, we defended a lot in the first half. The only outlet was Martial, and he doesn't link up as much with Lukaku as Rashford does.

I may be wrong, but I think he'll resume scoring from the Newcastle game. Mourinho and Lukaku are a good match, our manager ensures we win the easy games and Lukaku ensures attacking returns against lesser opponents.

Can't say much about the penalty tbh. That is something the players and coach are better off deciding.
 
buckooo1978 said:
can't fault his effort

he's just in a lean spell
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Actually I would fault his effort. A bit.

Nightmare for any centre forward to be playing in a team turning out these kind of performanes. However what's the point in being built like Sonny Liston if you don't bother battling with centre backs? He's got to scrap a bit more when stuff isnt going his way.
 
I thought he played pretty well today, his movement was very good. He isn't playing the same as at the start of the season because teams have learnt and if he just tries to sit on the shoulder he gets crowded out 2 or 3 vs 1 and doesn't get to touch the ball.

Now we are getting him to come nearer the ball or move out wide more and dragging defenders around. It's creating space for others so he's doing his part.
 
Dobbs said:
Actually I would fault his effort. A bit.

Nightmare for any centre forward to be playing in a team turning out these kind of performanes. However what's the point in being built like Sonny Liston if you don't bother battling with centre backs? He's got to scrap a bit more when stuff isnt going his way.
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I thought he ran hard and impressed me in the second half

I do agree with you on one point though.... I want and aggressive Lukaku who will make things very difficult for defenders- in reality he's come across as a very laid back character of player and maybe that's my fault for assuming he's something that he's not
 
buckooo1978 said:
I thought he ran hard and impressed me in the second half

I do agree with you on one point though.... I want and aggressive Lukaku who will make things very difficult for defenders- in reality he's come across as a very laid back character of player and maybe that's my fault for assuming he's something that he's not
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He did run hard, you can't complain in that regard. It's because of his size really. You know he can bully almost any centre back in the game so its just a little frustrating when he chooses not to. Especially when the rest of his game isn't quite clicking at the moment.
 
Mixed bag. We didn’t create anything for him but I’d expect him to put away the poor back pass. Thought he tried hard, few good runs and shots and things he created for himself.

Big issue Is still holdup play, more than a few times we played a long ball, but a decent long ball that he should have been favourite to win. A lot of the time he misjudged the bounce or tried to do it all with his first touch. Needs to calm it down and just stick the ball, play it simple and move.
 
I really don’t get why Jose bought him if he was going to play him like this. I’ve always been a fan of Lukaku and thought he;d be the man to get the best out of Rashford and Martial and in part I honk he has. Why tho does Jose have us play to his weaknesses other than his strengths.

It’s so frustrating to see us punt ball after ball up to an isolated Lukaku with no real support who are struggiling to get back from their defensive positions.
 
Not his best game again although he did some good things in spells. Seem to miss a bit too much at the moment though. Hopefully the form will come again. Players go through dire spells and lets hope he can perform at the Stamford Bridge.

Although I think Mourinho need to take him off at times for Martial and Rashford and see what they can do together.
 
He looks shattered.. First touch and hold up play was really poor apart from few occasions after Mhikitaryan came on.. His runs where baffling at times, anyone notice when Mhikitaryan broke with the ball Lukaku crowded the space occupied by Martial..

Hope Martinez gives him a break for those friendlies..
 
Andersons Dietician said:
I really don’t get why Jose bought him if he was going to play him like this. I’ve always been a fan of Lukaku and thought he;d be the man to get the best out of Rashford and Martial and in part I honk he has. Why tho does Jose have us play to his weaknesses other than his strengths.

It’s so frustrating to see us punt ball after ball up to an isolated Lukaku with no real support who are struggiling to get back from their defensive positions.
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This is just the way mourinhos tactics are. Mourinho is happy sitting deep and punting the ball up and allowing the opponent to win nearly every long ball especially if he is leading. Mou knows the risk of conceding like that is low especially if our midfield is strong. And opponent just needs to make one mistake and we can easily link up and score.

But yes lukaku is better as a channel runner than a static target.
 
One thing for sure that he's definitely not a long ball target as I though him to be earlier. He looked much more lovely dribbling from right flank. Fellaini helped him a lot in absence of Pogba. Currently we aren't playing to his strengths very much but it can't be helped till we get Fellaini and Pogba back.
 
I am not concerned by the goal drought, all strikers have these and ultimately it does not matter who scores the goals. It is about a functioning team and that it were the key issues with Lukaku will continually arise. Technically he is erratic, for all that people denied it over the summer his first touch and link up play has always been a problem with his game.

Mourinho is not helping him by running him into the ground. Tonight was a great opportunity to rest him and take a look at Martial/Rashford in the central striking role, especially with a key match imminent.
 
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