[breakout67]

Yet he's already got at least one superb assist (I'm sure he has more than one assist, can't be arsed checking stats)

EDIT: Turns out I can be arsed. He has 3 assists in the league so far.

Calling Lukaku a poacher is reactionary. We have scored 3 goals in the league since the international break and Lukaku has assisted 2 of them.

Lukaku is being our main creator because Mkhitaryan is so useless.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Surely you can't claim that his all-round game is good? Even if he did flick on the ball for Martial to score against Spurs. He will frustrate us a lot in the future because of his lack of ability.

The superb assist I referred to wasn’t against Spurs it was when he beat his man out wide on the right and whipped a peach of a cross onto Rashford’s head against Huddersfield. That’s not the action of someone who “lacks the basic technical ability” to do anything other than convert tap-ins.

 

[Ballache]

I refuse to blame him for any of this. He's had like one clear chance in about 4 games. Zlatan is the superior player but I knew this already.

 

[Siorac]

The superb assist I referred to wasn’t against Spurs it was when he beat his man out wide on the right and whipped a peach of a cross onto Rashford’s head against Huddersfield. That’s not the action of someone who “lacks the basic technical ability” to do anything other than convert tap-ins.

And John O'Shea once chipped Almunia with delightful technique. He was still, ahem, technically challenged. Lukaku is a professional footballer, obviously he will be able to produce good stuff every once in a while but generally, his technical ability is lacking. We knew this when we got him.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

And John O'Shea once chipped Almunia with delightful technique. He was still, ahem, technically challenged. Lukaku is a professional footballer, obviously he will be able to produce good stuff every once in a while but generally, his technical ability is lacking. We knew this when we got him.

No, that's not true. We knew his hold-up play left a lot to be desired. However, he came with stats that showed how good he was at dribbling. Which is considered a "technical" skill and is something he's already used to our benefit this season. I didn't know much about his ability at crossing (another technical skill) but he's put in some fantastic crosses too. Including the one I mentioned.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

He's feeding off scraps at the moment.

Obvious but we're not set up to get the best out of him right now. This high ball crap will work against some weaker teams but not the good ones. He needs to be played in behind or allowed to run at the defence.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He's feeding off scraps at the moment.

Obvious but we're not set up to get the best out of him right now. This high ball crap will work against some weaker teams but not the good ones. He needs to be played in behind or allowed to run at the defence.

If we are going to play long balls to him they need to be accurate passes into the channels behind the opposition back line. Sadly, we seem to have nobody capable of playing those sort of passes. It speaks volumes that the one and only pass that almost set him free down one of those channels against Chelsea came from our fecking goalkeeper!

 

[Siorac]

No, that's not true. We knew his hold-up play left a lot to be desired. However, he came with stats that showed how good he was at dribbling. Which is considered a "technical" skill and is something he's already used to our benefit this season. I didn't know much about his ability at crossing (another technical skill) but he's put in some fantastic crosses too. Including the one I mentioned.

I was curious about those dribbling stats because, well, watching him play he's not someone you'd call a dribbler. He lacks the touch and close control to really consistently pull that off. His passing, link-up play, first touch are all quite poor.

We can win the league with a striker like Lukaku but he will need an absolutely brilliant team behind him.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I was curious about those dribbling stats because, well, watching him play he's not someone you'd call a dribbler. He lacks the touch and close control to really consistently pull that off. His passing, link-up play, first touch are all quite poor.

We can win the league with a striker like Lukaku but he will need an absolutely brilliant team behind him.

Well he’s proven himself well capable of dribbling past people, and has done so on multiple occasions, so you can call it what you want tbh.

 

[André Dominguez]

CAn't blame him, really. He's one of those strikers that requires service. He's not a self-suficient striker type. He never was and we knew that when he was hired.

 

[Cee90]

He is feeding on scraps at the moment.

Our midfield is to blame for that, in particular Mkhitaryan.

 

[BusbyMalone]

The service up to him has been absolute dog shite for weeks.

Our midfield is nonexistent which normally results in long balls being punted up to him.

You can say he's a strong guy and should do better in holding the ball up, but when you got two combative CBs immediately closing you down when you have your back to them, you're going to lose that battle. Add into the the fact that he normally has no support due to the aforementioned long balls being lumped up to him, which results in him being isolated, then he really has no chance. He can't lay it off and move with the one-two, as there's no fecker to do the one-two with.

You put him on the end of that Azpilicueta cross with the added luxury of being completely unmarked, then the end result would have been the same: the net bulging and him running off in celebration.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

I was curious about those dribbling stats because, well, watching him play he's not someone you'd call a dribbler. He lacks the touch and close control to really consistently pull that off. His passing, link-up play, first touch are all quite poor.

We can win the league with a striker like Lukaku but he will need an absolutely brilliant team behind him.

His goal against Leicester last season disproves that

 

[Kostur]

Far away from jumping the gun but if he wants to help himself, and playing for us he quite simply will have to, he has to develop further his game. I'm not saying he isn't and I'm sure it takes time but one thing that most of the strikers can improve upon is the hold up play or playing with his back to the goal, you name it, especially when you're as big guy as he is. You look at Lewandowski, at the age of 29 he's basically mastered free kicks, something he wasn't famous for previously. FKs are, imo, harder to master due to technical requirement, point is, you pretty much expect the same kind of attitude from Rom.

People were (imo laughably) complaining about Zlatan slowing down our play, but he was very well able to hold up the ball 90% of the time when you pinged it to him and bring other players (usually wingers) into play, something Lukaku wasn't known for before but something that can be learnt. For me, Zlatan and Lukaku complement each other very well, here's hoping that those two can play together especially given in how much of a trash form Miki is at the moment.

 

[Trigg]

He's had piss poor service and I think that the manager has to take the blame for that with the way he's set up against the bigger teams recently. He really looked up for it yesterday in the opening 10-15 minutes but then as Chelsea took control his game his game fell apart a little (and the teams).

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Far away from jumping the gun but if he wants to help himself, and playing for us he quite simply will have to, he has to develop further his game. I'm not saying he isn't and I'm sure it takes time but one thing that most of the strikers can improve upon is the hold up play or playing with his back to the goal, you name it, especially when you're as big guy as he is. You look at Lewandowski, at the age of 29 he's basically mastered free kicks, something he wasn't famous for previously. FKs are, imo, harder to master due to technical requirement, point is, you pretty much expect the same kind of attitude from Rom.

Why do you think he waited until he was 29 to do that? Isn't it just the case that as players mature and develop and hit their prime they tend to excel at every element of the game? Lukaku was signed as a young player who was still a bit raw but had loads of scope for developing his game and was capable of scoring consistently despite this.

He started great but hit a lean spell that coincided with the players who are supposed to create the chances for him going missing in action, as well as a run of three tricky fixtures in close succession. And that's kicked off a narrative that he's a fundamentally flawed footballer who we should never have signed because he can't (and never will be able to) do x, y and z. Is it too much to ask for everyone to chill the feck out, let him settle into the team and grow and develop as a footballer?

People were (imo laughably) complaining about Zlatan slowing down our play, but he was very well able to hold up the ball 90% of the time when you pinged it to him and bring other players (usually wingers) into play, something Lukaku wasn't known for before but something that can be learnt. For me, Zlatan and Lukaku complement each other very well, here's hoping that those two can play together especially given in how much of a trash form Miki is at the moment.

I'm looking forward to seeing this too.

 

[IRELANDUNITED]

I remember being ecstatic when we got Lukaku instead of Morata, now I still wouldn't swap them but are there many on here who wanted Lukaku originally but would happily swap for Morata now?

 

[Cassidy]

I remember being ecstatic when we got Lukaku instead of Morata, now I still wouldn't swap them but are there many on here who wanted Lukaku originally but would happily swap for Morata now?

I preferred Morata, I was and still am hoping I was wrong.

 

[Boycott]

His (lack of) use of his frame is a bigger problem than first touch. He may never be silky but if he could became a Costa in making life difficult for CBs he'd improve a lot. At the moment it's easy to marshall him. Yes the service is shit but if he can't score he still needs to show some presence in play.

 

[Silas]

I preferred Morata, I was and still am hoping I was wrong.

Same.

 

[Kostur]

Why do you think he waited until he was 29 to do that? Isn't it just the case that as players mature and develop and hit their prime they tend to excel at every element of the game? Lukaku was signed as a young player who was still a bit raw but had loads of scope for developing his game and was capable of scoring consistently despite this.

He started great but hit a lean spell that coincided with the players who are supposed to create the chances for him going missing in action, as well as a run of three tricky fixtures in close succession. And that's kicked off a narrative that he's a fundamentally flawed footballer who we should never have signed because he can't (and never will be able to) do x, y and z. Is it too much to ask for everyone to chill the feck out, let him settle into the team and grow and develop as a footballer?



I'm looking forward to seeing this too.

With Robert it's a bit of everything, he's a great pro so he probably was annoyed that he doesn't have it in his arsenal, as you said, he's matured and understood that this will make him a total footballer. Sometimes there's this complacency about players who are great at something that they don't feel the need to develop something different in their game, until the point they simply cannot do it anymore (e.g. first touch). Lewy was a great striker at the age of 25/26 but it's now that he's added to his game, and it's not just those free kicks, it's some leadership qualities, dragging the team on his own, etc. as per our NT.

People who shit themselves about Lukaku not scoring should remember RVP's casus in his first season under Fergie when he went on his barren run. He was what, 29 at that time? And a far, far better footballer. Still happened to him.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

His (lack of) use of his frame is a bigger problem than first touch. He may never be silky but if he could became a Costa in making life difficult for CBs he'd improve a lot. At the moment it's easy to marshall him. Yes the service is shit but if he can't score he still needs to show some presence in play.

Agreed. It's weird how rarely you see him physically bully anyone when he's got all the tools to do it, whether or not he brings the ball neatly under control.

 

[Silverman]

He has had no service. Without Pogba, we don't have one player who can pick out a pass (bar an ageing/injured Carrick and Mata who is pushed out wide). Chelsea have Hazard and Fabregas while City have De Bruyne and Silva. Mkhitaryan would be our only one and he isn't performing well.

 

[The_Midfielder]

He is not the problem.. the problem is the team around him.. Unless we get a game changing player like Hazard, KDB, Erikson, , ronaldo, rooney, tevez , ( we had a lot of these players before ) we are easy to mark out ..

 

[Garethw]

I feel sorry for him. Mourinho’s cowardly approach to most games combined with the abysmal showings from Mkhi, Mata and Herrera have completely isolated him.

 

[Moonred]

We knew what we are going to get with Lukaku. He will feed off players around him. He is good at that, and will be better when we get some one like Griezmann or anyone who is a better support than the currently dismal Mkhitaryan.

Saying that though, he was at his worst. Barely any hold up play, average movement and a lot of huffing and puffing.

 

[Kag]

We've bought a striker that is brilliant when fed chances yet it looks like we actively seek not to feed him chances. Then we get on his back. It's mental.

Ay, he could hold the ball up a bit better at times, but fecking hell he's got a thankless task at the moment.

 

[Charles Miller]

With everybody fit lets play:
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Smalling Blind
Mata Pogba Matic Martial
Lukaku Rashford

Then Ron will get service and can focus only in be in the right place to score.

 

[Mike09]

Jose did the right thing to defend Lukaku. That's what manager does. But Lukaku also need to accept the criticisms, he hasn't been playing well at all recently. I can see that he didn't receive enough chances and that's why we should have signed a natural winger who can put cross in like Perisic. However, overall his performance recently hasn't been positive except for the header assist against spurs, his movement has been poor & when he had chances to score he didn't convert them into goals. I think the criticism is justified enough based on his recent performance.

 

[serghei]

The modern striker is quick with his feet, works hard off the ball, is more mobile, has great technique and possesses very good link-up abilities. I wouldn't say Lukaku is world class or close to that level in any of those areas.

He is great in the air, he's strong, and has a good shot. But that ceased to be enough on the grand scale almost a decade ago. In PL he might be good enough, but when you play a serious team you can't expect a guy who relies on great service so much to be a main factor. Not unless you can field a pretty formidable team behind him. Against top teams, great service comes in short supply. And it's up to the striker to show his qualities in areas other than shooting or heading. And that's why we're not talking about poachers or target men in modern football anymore, but about complete forwards, able to contribute in multiple facets of the attacking game.

 

[Bastian]

@Pogue Mahone
This dribbling ability you speak of was illustrated in a counter attacking side. I haven't really watched him for Belgium, which is the only comparable team to United that he's played for. Where they are expected to be dominant in most games and control it. At Everton and West Brom he was playing on the break. Not so much for United and it's not super likely to change soon given our options.

We knew about the shoddy first touch, but maybe this again is still a case of expectations not matching reality, when most of us thought Fellaini would be some midfield powerhouse and we've struggled to find a role for him (until recently) because he just did not suit our game. With Lukaku, he will always be capable of getting goals here and there, but he needs to work on his game a lot to adapt to our style of play.

In his defense, as has been mentioned a thousand times on here, we are not really playing to his strengths, it seems like we are waiting for him to become a target man during games because we do not have the general ability of a cohesive and composed attacking play without Pogba and, as has been highlighted repeatedly, our backline lacks ball carrying skills, outside of one player who's confidence is so low that he has a couple of major mistakes each game he plays.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

I bet he’d give anything to have Delfeou on the right at the moment as some of the balls he was whipping in for Rom were incredible

 

[Devil77]

With everybody fit lets play:
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Smalling Blind
Mata Pogba Matic Martial
Lukaku Rashford

Then Ron will get service and can focus only in be in the right place to score.

Totally agree! Sadly this seems way to offensive for Mourinho's liking.

 

[mancan92]

We've bought a striker that is brilliant when fed chances yet it looks like we actively seek not to feed him chances. Then we get on his back. It's mental.

Ay, he could hold the ball up a bit better at times, but fecking hell he's got a thankless task at the moment.

Look at Costa for an example if what you need your target man to do. Sometimes you need to relieve the midfield and allow them to push up. If your striker is constantly getting bullied all day then it going to be hard for the team to build any momentum.

 

[whatwha]

Far away from jumping the gun but if he wants to help himself, and playing for us he quite simply will have to, he has to develop further his game. I'm not saying he isn't and I'm sure it takes time but one thing that most of the strikers can improve upon is the hold up play or playing with his back to the goal, you name it, especially when you're as big guy as he is. You look at Lewandowski, at the age of 29 he's basically mastered free kicks, something he wasn't famous for previously. FKs are, imo, harder to master due to technical requirement, point is, you pretty much expect the same kind of attitude from Rom.

People were (imo laughably) complaining about Zlatan slowing down our play, but he was very well able to hold up the ball 90% of the time when you pinged it to him and bring other players (usually wingers) into play, something Lukaku wasn't known for before but something that can be learnt. For me, Zlatan and Lukaku complement each other very well, here's hoping that those two can play together especially given in how much of a trash form Miki is at the moment.

How is he going to improve his hold up play without improving his technique? It's very rare that you see 24+ year old players suddenly getting a great touch and technique. You either have it or you don't.

 

[whatwha]

The modern striker is quick with his feet, works hard off the ball, is more mobile, has great technique and possesses very good link-up abilities. I wouldn't say Lukaku is world class or close to that level in any of those areas.

He is great in the air, he's strong, and has a good shot. But that ceased to be enough on the grand scale almost a decade ago. In PL he might be good enough, but when you play a serious team you can't expect a guy who relies on great service so much to be a main factor. Not unless you can field a pretty formidable team behind him. Against top teams, great service comes in short supply. And it's up to the striker to show his qualities in areas other than shooting or heading. And that's why we're not talking about poachers or target men in modern football anymore, but about complete forwards, able to contribute in multiple facets of the attacking game.

This is why it was a mistake to choose Lukaku rather than Morata. A very expensive mistake, not just in terms of money, £75m rising to £90m, but in terms of opportunity cost.

 

[prtk0811]

Only thing he needs improvement in which could have been better is finishing.

He's working pretty hard to impove his all round game behind the scenes.

 

[Pogbasky]

The modern striker is quick with his feet, works hard off the ball, is more mobile, has great technique and possesses very good link-up abilities. I wouldn't say Lukaku is world class or close to that level in any of those areas.

He is great in the air, he's strong, and has a good shot. But that ceased to be enough on the grand scale almost a decade ago. In PL he might be good enough, but when you play a serious team you can't expect a guy who relies on great service so much to be a main factor. Not unless you can field a pretty formidable team behind him. Against top teams, great service comes in short supply. And it's up to the striker to show his qualities in areas other than shooting or heading. And that's why we're not talking about poachers or target men in modern football anymore, but about complete forwards, able to contribute in multiple facets of the attacking game.

This is why it was a mistake to choose Lukaku rather than Morata. A very expensive mistake, not just in terms of money, £75m rising to £90m, but in terms of opportunity cost.

this is some weird analysis. Even Jamie Bloody Carragher is talking about how United looked like a team that was playing with only ten men because the one player tasked with linking the midfield with the front two (Mkhiyatran or whatever his name is) was so poor it looked like United were playing with ten men. Swap Mkhiytran for Harzard and vice versa and your "modern" striker (Morata) would be dreadful too (funny enough Lukaku does just fine playing with Harzard for the Belgian national team). But back to your modern forward theory, Lewndoski and Costa are the best target men in the world, yet they are playing really well, today, for top clubs. Why? Simples, they get good service.

 

[Sammyjunn]

One thing I sad prior to his joining was how he would struggle with out service. We just create far too little in tight games. When it opens up we can do a good job,if not, its just poor.

 

[Pogbasky]

Look at Costa for an example if what you need your target man to do. Sometimes you need to relieve the midfield and allow them to push up. If your striker is constantly getting bullied all day then it going to be hard for the team to build any momentum.

Costa is never ever as isolated as Lukaku. Lukaku hardly struggles with his hold up play when playing alongside Harzard for Belgium because he always gets proper support up front. The problem is the piss poor Shityatran or whatever his name is.