[ivaldo]

I don’t think Martial’s work rate was a problem. I think Lukaku’s was. I think it has been for a number of weeks, Arsenal aside.

Dislike the ‘overreaction’ all you want. His work rate was lazy and he’s quite rightly being criticised by a number of people as a result.

You don't. When I've pointed out in that very same gif which is apparently atrocious Martial is doing even less than Lukaku, but that doesn't fit our narratives so we will ignore it, right? In fact, him receiving the ball in that situation actively goes against what we were trying to acheive: to keep possession and take the sting out of the game.

We will then highlight an instance we already acknowledge as being a simple case of misjudgement, and use that as evidence of lack of workrate, too.

 

[Terminator]

We just don't look like the same team with him on the field. Doesn't fit in Ole's style and is obstructive to the play in general.

 

[#07]

Lukaku's lack of impact off the bench today was a little bit worrying. I know we're no longer a Mourinho team but it would have been good for him to use his physicality to occupy Leicester's defenders more. We were under serious pressure and we needed someone to be able to take down the long clearances, hold up the ball and at least relieve the pressure if not bring others into the game. Nothing that Lukaku hasn't done for us before to be fair. Today it just didn't happen though. Maybe its low confidence? We really need him to step it up though. The business end of the season is fast approaching. When Ole introduces players to help keep our heads above water they need to do it.

 

[midou]

Good at running in behind and scoring 1v1s, bad at everything else. Now that he is so heavy and can't run in behind anymore he has basically nullified himself.

 

[Kostov]

Both are poachers who if you're looking at them for their overall games, would be pretty much mid table players. Aubameyang actually performs in big games, Lukaku constantly goes to shit in them. Not only that, but Aubameyang has pretty much always scored at a much higher rate than Lukaku. Basically take Lukaku's totals, and add 10 goals a season on top of them and you'll get Aubameyang. He's on another level to Lukaku.

As for the wages, not sure what the feck that has to do with anything. We spent 75m on Lukaku, I doubt there's a massive difference in their wages.

Both are good strikers not world class and we agree on that aspect it seems. Aubameyang might have scored on higher rates, but he has also played the majority of his football in weaker leagues, like the French or German. And that is in a very attacking team like Dortmund for example. Lukaku just played a season and a half under Mourinho.

You mentioned wages and I just pointed out that a striker on his similar level earns just as much. I agree he does not deserve it and I'd rather it wasn't the case, but we overpay for everybody. If I had to choose Lukaku for 75 or Auba for 65 I'd have taken Lukaku considering his age.

 

[redshaw]

It's a shame, I've tried to give him support and hope he can find that form he had at the start of last season but each time he looks totally inadequate for us. I'd rather have Rashford or Martial up top every time.

 

[AJ10]

The clip looked bad but realistically he was keeping 3-4 Leicester defenders occupied and we just needed to keep possession. Don't know why Young played the pass into his feet.

I agree with you on young shouldn't have passed but the other bit >>. All he needed to do was make a run to young's right but he just....ffs

I don't even dislike him but that was a absolutely pathetic bit of play.

 

[Kag]

You don't. When I've pointed out in that very same gif which is apparently atrocious Martial is doing even less than Lukaku, but that doesn't fit our narratives so we will ignore it, right? We will then highlight an instance we already acknowledge as being a simple case of misjudgement, and use that as evidence of lack of workrate, too.

I’m not ignoring anything. I don’t think his movement is an issue in relation to where the ball is on the pitch. He generally tracked back, too. You’ll argue this because your only role in this thread is to deny the wilfully obvious in relation to Lukaku and his piss poor workrate. You won’t get another response from me regarding any other player outside of Lukaku in this thread.

But rest easy in the knowledge that I’ll be quick to praise Lukaku when he starts actually bothering his arse to run again. Which surely he will.

 

[bosnian_red]

Why the hell would you want to play a pass into an iscolated, marked player for him to play it backwards to a player who is already unmarked? What do you think this acheives apart from risking losing the possession, the single thing we are trying to acheive?

Because of where Young was, Lukaku was the obvious pass. Its a standard part of football, making the pass for him to then lay it back to somebody. Just circulating the ball around. It doesnt matter so much Youngs decision anyway. Its Lukaku just not being alive. Its half excusable if he started and was tired at that point, but he just came on, he should be alive at every opportunity and opening himself up constantly to receive the ball. Thats it. No ifs and buts, he's just never "alive" and is so flat footed so often.

 

[Bobcat]

The clip looked bad but realistically he was keeping 3-4 Leicester defenders occupied and we just needed to keep possession. Don't know why Young played the pass into his feet.

No he was not. They could keep their shape with no effort since he did no attempt what so ever to make a run and he was easily dispossessed when he got the ball because did not put his body between the ball and the defenders. In a situation like that you either try to make a run or hold up the ball and he did neither.

 

[bosnian_red]

Both are good strikers not world class and we agree on that aspect it seems. Aubameyang might have scored on higher rates, but he has also played the majority of his football in weaker leagues, like the French or German. And that is in a very attacking team like Dortmund for example. Lukaku just played a season and a half under Mourinho.

You mentioned wages and I just pointed out that a striker on his similar level earns just as much. I agree he does not deserve it and I'd rather it wasn't the case, but we overpay for everybody. If I had to choose Lukaku for 75 or Auba for 65 I'd have taken Lukaku considering his age.

Yeah that's fair. I personally would take Aubameyang purely for his off the ball movement and mentality. Lukaku seemingly has a mental block and in general is incredibly streaky. Aubameyang has the same movement and always finds his way in chances, so he just manages to stay way more consistent over a longer period. They have similarities but Auba always seems focused and ready for action like all the best poachers, Lukaku is caught napping way too often so he can't even be a top poacher consistently.

 

[ivaldo]

I’m not ignoring anything. I don’t think his movement is an issue in relation to where the ball is on the pitch. He generally tracked back, too. You’ll argue this because your only role in this thread is to deny the wilfully obvious in relation to Lukaku and his piss poor workrate. You won’t get another response from me regarding any other player outside of Lukaku in this thread.

But rest easy in the knowledge that I’ll be quick to praise Lukaku when he starts actually bothering his arse to run again. Which surely he will.

I disagree with you, and beleive people are going way over the top with ridiculous words like "atrocious" for not doing something plenty of other players were doing on the pitch, and now thats been pointed out to you you want to disregard it and pretend it's irrelevant because, yup, yet again, it doesn't fit into your over the top narrative.

Incredible that you wanted the ball to into an area, to a player that was marked by 2 CBs, when there was a host of other players unmarked when our aim was to simply keep the ball. It literally makes no sense, and if you'd take a moment to breath, you'll see this.

 

[JPRouve]

Yeah that's fair. I personally would take Aubameyang purely for his off the ball movement and mentality. Lukaku seemingly has a mental block and in general is incredibly streaky. Aubameyang has the same movement and always finds his way in chances, so he just manages to stay way more consistent over a longer period. They have similarities but Auba always seems focused and ready for action like all the best poachers, Lukaku is caught napping way too often so he can't even be a top poacher consistently.

And anyway, for the way we play Lacazette is better than both even with less goals because he has the ability to make the system tick which would have been crucial today.

 

[bosnian_red]

And anyway, for the way we play Lacazette is better than both even with less goals because he has the ability to make the system tick which would have been crucial today.

Yep. Said it at the time, Arsenal easily had the best of the 3 strikers (and then proceeded to get Auba as well). An all round striker who can link up really well, play others in, hold the ball up well and score goals would go so well with the others we have. Mourinho needed his big man though, sadly.

 

[Kostov]

Yeah that's fair. I personally would take Aubameyang purely for his off the ball movement and mentality. Lukaku seemingly has a mental block and in general is incredibly streaky. Aubameyang has the same movement and always finds his way in chances, so he just manages to stay way more consistent over a longer period. They have similarities but Auba always seems focused and ready for action like all the best poachers, Lukaku is caught napping way too often so he can't even be a top poacher consistently.

I'm one of Rom's bigger fans on here, but I get what you are saying and I'm beginning to question his hunger in a couple of instances myself. I want him to show some fight for his place and he looks like he doesn't fancy it. Shame really.

On the other hand I've never rated Auba higher, and I think he will decline once his pace is gone. I might be wrong and it might cloud my judgement on him to be fair.

 

[Kag]

I disagree with you, and beleive people are going way over the top with ridiculous words like "atrocious" for not doing something plenty of other players were doing on the pitch, and now thats been pointed out to you you want to disregard it and pretend it's irrelevant because, yup, yet again, it doesn't fit into your over the top narrative.

Incredible that you wanted the ball to into an area, to a player that was marked by 2 CBs, when there was a host of other players unmarked when our aim was to simply keep the ball. It literally makes no sense, and if you'd take a moment to breath, you'll see this.

The other players on the pitch had played 80 minutes and haven’t got previous for lacking urgency in recent matches. Lukaku was the freshest player on the field and still decided to show little effort. That’s what you’re blatantly disregarding. It’s why you’re the only person defending his work rate today (or rather, going out of your way to highlight others), while everybody else is agreeing that it was shite - even posters that rate him as a footballer. And you’ve got the nerve to talk about narratives. Give over.

I don’t know what your second paragraph is wittering on about?

 

[rio's upper lip]

We're in February and the man hasn't even hit double figures yet. Says it all, really.

 

[bosnian_red]

I'm one of Rom's bigger fans on here, but I get what you are saying and I'm beginning to question his hunger in a couple of instances myself. I want him to show some fight for his place and he looks like he doesn't fancy it. Shame really.

On the other hand I've never rated Auba higher, and I think he will decline once his pace is gone. I might be wrong and it might cloud my judgement on him to be fair.

Oh Aubameyang will 100% have a massive decline as soon as he loses that pace and sharpness. It's what makes him what he is but he's basically next level quick and combined with elite off the ball movement that as long as he'll have that pace, he's good for 25+ goals a season no matter where he goes. Last season across 2 different teams he scored 31 goals in like 38 games. The 2 seasons before had around 40 goals a season. Lukaku just can't get those numbers IMO.

 

[WR10]

Livid after that. How the feck did he look gassed coming on? The epitome of his season was when young was barking at him to make a run and he simply refused - instead decided to hide and make him self unavailable tucked in between CBs

 

[Canagel]

He is no better than Lukaku. With a shit attitude also.

They're on different levels entirely .

 

[ivaldo]

Because of where Young was, Lukaku was the obvious pass. Its a standard part of football, making the pass for him to then lay it back to somebody. Just circulating the ball around. It doesnt matter so much Youngs decision anyway. Its Lukaku just not being alive. Its half excusable if he started and was tired at that point, but he just came on, he should be alive at every opportunity and opening himself up constantly to receive the ball. Thats it. No ifs and buts, he's just never "alive" and is so flat footed so often.

He wasn’t the obvious pass. He’s occupying three defenders where he is, he’s doing just fine. The obvious pass would be back inside or to Jones. Forcing the ball into areas where it can be contended is literally the opposite of what we should be trying to do, particularly when that player is isolated and marked by Leicester’s best tacklers. No absolutely no logic to support playing it into Lukaku. When he realised Young was determined to play it into him, he became active.

 

[Kostov]

They're on different levels entirely .

Ok

 

[ash_86]

Let's hope one of Juventus or Inter comes for him in the summer . Clearly a bench player now

 

[Mailo]

Bet Toni Kroos had a laugh watching Lukakus game

 

[100]

I think he's regressing as a player, it's quite sad

 

[WR10]

He wasn’t the obvious pass. He’s occupying three defenders where he is, he’s doing just fine. The obvious pass would be back inside or to Jones. Forcing the ball into areas where it can be contended is literally the opposite of what we should be trying to do, particularly when that player is isolated and marked by Leicester’s best tacklers. No absolutely no logic to support playing it into Lukaku. When he realised Young was determined to play it into him, he became active.

I see the argument you two are having but there’s one thing that needs to be cleared up regarding lukaku. If you’ve ever played football and especially up front- you sometimes find yourself gassed or just not feeling yourself enough to actually play football. What you end up doing is tucking yourself in between defenders to make it look like you’re doing something when in fact you’re just hiding from having to play football. It’s classic. Lukaku does that every single game playing up front for us. He’s not sprinting runs in behind defenders. He’s not ‘occupying’ defenders. He’s literally making us play with 10 men.

Watch some videos of him for us last season and you can see with his confidence he drops off from his markers and always make himself available for a pass or try to run off the shoulder of the defender.

What are some things he should have done with that young pass/position? Well for one he shouldn’t be hiding. He should have opened his body for a pass and used his ‘strength’ to draw a foul. He could have gone for a run against a gassed back 4 but he was somehow not up for it. He could have dropped a few meters and given young the 1 - 2. Ffs he could have dropped towards young, taken the ball and played for a foul on the touch line - because once again he’s supposed to be a fresh substitute.

The bottom line is his workrate is absolutely garbage. He shows no urgency any more. There’s no place for that even in a Sunday league team nvm the premier league.

 

[hp88]

One of the laziest players I have seen a while, don't really want to see him on the pitch unless we are cruising to a win.

Only has himself to blame when he gets the boot in summer.

 

[unplayable]

Livid after that. How the feck did he look gassed coming on? The epitome of his season was when young was barking at him to make a run and he simply refused - instead decided to hide and make him self unavailable tucked in between CBs

Wanted Ole to take him off right after that. fecking ridiculous given that he has only been on the pitch for a short amount of time when it happened.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Get rid in the summer.
He's never gonna fit in with the style we are trying to move forward with. He's way too expensive to be a back-up and he's not even a good back-up nowadays. Sell him for a loss, someone will take him for £40m or so. Buy someone around the £20-25m mark to be a backup/rotation striker, preferably an experienced option.

 

[Sylar]

Young telling him to run, then him running, then just stopping and waiting for the ball was the absolute piss take. Guy comes on, he should be running and pressing, and chasing, and trying to get the ball to impress. He does everything thats not this.

 

[el3mel]

We're in February and the man hasn't even hit double figures yet. Says it all, really.

He'll be lucky to get 16 goals this season.

 

[Saffron]

Young telling him to run, then him running, then just stopping and waiting for the ball was the absolute piss take. Guy comes on, he should be running and pressing, and chasing, and trying to get the ball to impress. He does everything thats not this.

That wasn't even running, he was just paying lip service. What Young wanted him to do was make an actual run in behind the defenders so Young could pass it into space.

Lukaku had zero intention of doing that.

 

[ivaldo]

I see the argument you two are having but there’s one thing that needs to be cleared up regarding lukaku. If you’ve ever played football and especially up front- you sometimes find yourself gassed or just not feeling yourself enough to actually play football. What you end up doing is tucking yourself in between defenders to make it look like you’re doing something when in fact you’re just hiding from having to play football. It’s classic. Lukaku does that every single game playing up front for us. He’s not sprinting runs in behind defenders. He’s not ‘occupying’ defenders. He’s literally making us play with 10 men.

Watch some videos of him for us last season and you can see with his confidence he drops off from his markers and always make himself available for a pass or try to run off the shoulder of the defender.

What are some things he should have done with that young pass/position? Well for one he shouldn’t be hiding. He should have opened his body for a pass and used his ‘strength’ to draw a foul. He could have gone for a run against a gassed back 4 but he was somehow not up for it. He could have dropped a few meters and given young the 1 - 2. Ffs he could have dropped towards young, taken the ball and played for a foul on the touch line - because once again he’s supposed to be a fresh substitute.

The bottom line is his workrate is absolutely garbage. He shows no urgency any more. There’s no place for that even in a Sunday league team nvm the premier league.

I’m not contending any notion that his workrate in previous games and seasons wasn’t at the level it should be, im contending the ludicrous criticisms he’s getting off the back of today, which if anyone look at with any degree of objectivity, would understand that it’s complerely unwarranted.

At no point would a team or manager want a player taking a ball with two centre backs breathing down his neck, when the one and only objective is to keep possession, particularly when he is entirely iscolated and easier options are available. Why would you want him to “use his strength” when it means engaging in a contest? How is that better than giving the ball to an uncontested player? It makes no sense. If we were looking to score another goal, or were pressing to kill the game off then the criticism would be warranted. But we aren’t. You need to understand the context of the game and the situation. Young shouldn’t be looked to push the ball to him. You’re looking for reasons to involve Lukaku when there’s no need for him to be. He’s occupying 3 players, that means we have unoccupied players elsewhere.

 

[adexkola]

People are being unecessary melodramatic. He had a bad moment here and there but it wasn't a poor substitute performance. A few decent moments, got a good shot away. I mean, let's not pretend that finish aside Rashford was great today. You'd think him, Sanchez and Lingard were incredible while Lukaku was hopeless going by some comments.

And I don't even feel he should start. Just that lets ease up on the harsh critique of 10 minute substitute showings

Scapegoatism

 

[clarkydaz]

Think there is a touch of the Fellainis about him. In that he knows his days are numbered here without Jose

 

[Bwuk]

Honestly can’t believe some on here defend him it’s laughable.

We paid 75m for a lazy immobile player with the first touch of a donkey.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

I'm one of Rom's bigger fans on here, but I get what you are saying and I'm beginning to question his hunger in a couple of instances myself. I want him to show some fight for his place and he looks like he doesn't fancy it. Shame really.

On the other hand I've never rated Auba higher, and I think he will decline once his pace is gone. I might be wrong and it might cloud my judgement on him to be fair.

Can’t question his his hunger, he’s single handedly keeping his local Greggs in business.

He doesn’t look like he has extra muscle, it’s lard. Either way, he’s an utter disgrace not keeping fit.

Looks like one of those players who gets to a big club and then starts strolling around as he thinks he’s made it. He’s utterly pathetic.

 

[ivaldo]

Scapegoatism

That’s what the football forum is now. It’s OK not to rate a player, but to pretend everything he does is wrong as of a result of it, much like the penultimate post above, is a little sad. I wouldn’t even expect that from my kids.

 

[Gomes]

Another game, another Lukaku gif. Pathetic, sad even.
Plays 10 minutes but there are 4 pages of recycled posts.

 

[Janson]

I see the argument you two are having but there’s one thing that needs to be cleared up regarding lukaku. If you’ve ever played football and especially up front- you sometimes find yourself gassed or just not feeling yourself enough to actually play football. What you end up doing is tucking yourself in between defenders to make it look like you’re doing something when in fact you’re just hiding from having to play football. It’s classic. Lukaku does that every single game playing up front for us. He’s not sprinting runs in behind defenders. He’s not ‘occupying’ defenders. He’s literally making us play with 10 men.

Watch some videos of him for us last season and you can see with his confidence he drops off from his markers and always make himself available for a pass or try to run off the shoulder of the defender.

What are some things he should have done with that young pass/position? Well for one he shouldn’t be hiding. He should have opened his body for a pass and used his ‘strength’ to draw a foul. He could have gone for a run against a gassed back 4 but he was somehow not up for it. He could have dropped a few meters and given young the 1 - 2. Ffs he could have dropped towards young, taken the ball and played for a foul on the touch line - because once again he’s supposed to be a fresh substitute.

The bottom line is his workrate is absolutely garbage. He shows no urgency any more. There’s no place for that even in a Sunday league team nvm the premier league.

You don't have to play football to understand what players are doing on the pitch. Strikers tuck themselves in between defenders all the time. While the rest of the team plays around the striker. Yes he is occupying defenders, because they can't come out and defend other players when he's there.

The fact that people are micro analysing that pass is laughable. It was just a miscommunication between Young and Lukaku.