Romelu Lukaku vs Alvaro Morata 2017/18

Morata was always my first choice, but I'm happy with Lukaku and I think he'll be excellent for us. He's definitely a more likely top scorer than Morata. However I do think Morata is brilliant and a perfect fit for Chelsea's system, so that worries me a bit.

Mourinho must have been on a massive WUM with Lukaku though because Lukaku said he made up his mind to join us after the EL Final / speaking with Mourinho.
 
Which of these two was our first choice?

Lukaku says he knew he'd be joining us for months yet we spent all that time negotiating for Morata. Then once negotiations fail, we suddenly sign Lukaku with minimum fuss as if we had just left the option on the table.

I'm thinking Lukaku was a backup option.
It's been mentioned already but Morata was our second choice, we briefed the media that we were interested in him but the club was working on the Lukaku deal in the background because he was the first choice. In fact we already decided Lukaku was the man we wanted as soon as Zlatan got injured according to some reports. I think what held up the Morata deal was the De gea factor while on the other hand Everton were interested in Rooney so it helped speed up the negotiations I believe.
 
This thread somehow reminds me of the whole Kagawa vs Hazard situation. I'm pretty sure plenty of United fans are scarred by that situation and will not go to extreme lengths to justify Lukaku is the better player.
 
:lol:

Are you really lookin for a sane conversation in a thread about Morata vs Lukaku?

I believe that we could have sane conversations on that topic. For example from a stylistic standpoint I prefer Morata but I wouldn't say that he is currently better than Lukaku, I also believe that neither are worth their fees and they both carry risks due to their apparent limitations and in the case of Morata his relatively low usage.
 
Mourinho must have been on a massive WUM with Lukaku though because Lukaku said he made up his mind to join us after the EL Final / speaking with Mourinho.
No I meant Morata was my personal first choice. Like if you'd offered me either at the start of the season, I'd have picked Morata (mostly for his ability to bring others into play, and the hope that the rest of our team would benefit). Like I said, happy with Lukaku though.
 
It's all about whether Morata is a proper goalscorer or not. If he's a non prolific centre forward, he'll be good for Chelsea but nothing special. If last season was genuinely a sign of things to come of him as a goalscorer then there shouldn't be a contest between him and Lukaku. He's a much better all round player imo.
 
@Mr Smith
I see this a lot, praising Morata for his link up play etc but that goes against why he never started for Madrid. His inability to bring those around him (especially Ronaldo ) into play.
I can't see how both scenarios can be true given how badly Madrid fans claimed Benzema played last year.
 
I am convinced Lukaku is going to post the better stats next season.

Also, he is an upgrade on Zlatan and Morata is not that when measured against Costa. In fact, given that we are likely to have Ibra back by Oct while Chelsea are losing their top goal scorer, I have to say we have strengthened our strike-force significantly when compared to them.
 
No I meant Morata was my personal first choice. Like if you'd offered me either at the start of the season, I'd have picked Morata (mostly for his ability to bring others into play, and the hope that the rest of our team would benefit). Like I said, happy with Lukaku though.

Ah ok, fair enough. Yeah I would have been happy with either as I like Morata but given the choice, I would have gone with Lukaku.
 
When it looked like he was certain to sign for you a lot of posters went over the top praising him, they'd look silly now if they suddenly backtracked just because he's signed for a rival.
I seem to remember a lot of posters (like myself) who preferred us to sign a more prolific number 9 such as Lukaku.
 
@Mr Smith
I see this a lot, praising Morata for his link up play etc but that goes against why he never started for Madrid. His inability to bring those around him (especially Ronaldo ) into play.
I can't see how both scenarios can be true given how badly Madrid fans claimed Benzema played last year.
You make a fair point, but for me the reason Morata didn't start ahead of Benzema (aside from the fact that Benzema is just a better player) is not so much that he's a better link up player, but that he has a particularly good partnership with Ronaldo specifically, built from several years of playing together week-in, week-out. During the (admittedly occasional) times I've watched Madrid, Benzema's runs appear to be particularly calculated to make space for Ronaldo, and he knows when and where Ronaldo likes to make his move. It's not that Morata is bad at any of those things, just that Benzema's particular partnership with Ronaldo wasn't worth breaking up. That was my interpretation in any case.

That aside, I just like what I see in Morata. He's strong, great in the air, yet can also be incredibly silky and skillful. He can run with the ball and has an eye for a pass, which I particularly like in strikers. I also just get the feeling that he's one of those players who's on the rise, just waiting for the moment to explode. I could be wrong of course, and for our sake I hope he's not as good a fit for Chelsea as I fear he may be.
 
This thread somehow reminds me of the whole Kagawa vs Hazard situation. I'm pretty sure plenty of United fans are scarred by that situation and will not go to extreme lengths to justify Lukaku is the better player.

I don't think there's any similarities, personally. Hazard was one of the hottest properties in world football at the time and Kagawa wasn't. Most sane people could see that Hazard had far more potential and would go on to be the far better player.
 
Statistics not sane?

Oh well lets see how the season goes then we will see who does the best.

I actually trust in Mourinho's judgement.

When one player played twice the amounts of minutes the other did, your stat loses all its weight. And before that point comes back, one played far less because he was employed by Real Madrid and Juventus while the other was employed by West Bromwich and Everton.

@Mr Smith
I see this a lot, praising Morata for his link up play etc but that goes against why he never started for Madrid. His inability to bring those around him (especially Ronaldo ) into play.
I can't see how both scenarios can be true given how badly Madrid fans claimed Benzema played last year.

Both scenarios can be true simply because what Real Madrid fans want from Benzema is more goals while what he provides his elite link up play, Morata is good at linking up but far from Benzema's level, he is more like Giroud(people might not like that comparison :lol:).
 
Based on what? When you look at the games he was playing in he was up against the weaker teams in the league last year, and was often coming in as sub against weaker teams who were already beaten. I don't think he can't improve his stats but its not a certainty, Lukakus "poor first touch" is partly myth, and partly irrelevant with the player he is. Most pundits/coaches, etc, will tell you that things like goal scoring are part of a talent, something that is often in a players nature (or nurtured early who knows), improving finishing ability is just as difficult as improving technique.

Does Morata need to do that to be successful? Probably not to be honest, Morata has a broader game, but largely untested, he can have a big contribution to how Chelsea play or he may end up as a winger/front 3 player.

Based on him now havin the chance to consistently lead the line for a team with world class players? based on him having a top 3 minutes to goal in la liga despite coming off the bench? although we could argue this could have skewed said stat both ways. And I never said it was a certainty that he'd do so, I said I certainly think it's easier for a striker to score goals while playing centrally and regularly in a team with great supporting cast than otherwise, I don't know why that confused you and you used it as a platform for the rest of your post, the statements are pretty distinct

Lukaku's poor first touch is not a myth, it is documented, he lost possession 584 times last season, more than Ibra at 416, many of those were mispasses but many were also him failing to control the ball, but then again I made reference to his perceived lack of technical ability, you're the one segmenting it to first touch. Either way I'm not here to argue how much of an issue it is with a player like him/will be with us, we should see that throughout the season but to act like it's a myth or "partly a myth" (whatever that means), it's disingenuous

@TsuWave.
The hardest part of football is putting the ball in the net. I can't think of a single player who became a goalscorer in their mid twenties yet players routinely improve their alround game as they get older.
Morata is not a goalscorer no matter what metric is used.

You not being able to think of a single one doesn't mean it doesn't happen/they don't exist, just off memory:

Luca Toni
Ian Wright
Klose
Vardy
Milito
Forlan
Eto'o (??? my memory tells me he was 24 or 25 when he started beasting for barca)

I'm sure that if I go look up (I can't as I'm mobile and at work) there are countless more. In fact chances are most strikers don't hit their stride til mid 20s and the ones that are goalscorers from early are actually the exceptions
 
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I think Morata was originally Conte's first choice. Lukaku was our boards first choice. Our board convinced Conte on Lukaku and he then became the consensus top choice of Conte. We were then completely caught off guard by United storming in and signing him because we figured we were the only ones truly interested. Our board probably thought it was almost a foregone conclusion that we'd end up with Lukaku.

In the end, Conte gets the man he wanted to begin with and for cheaper than Lukaku cost. I think both strikers will be big hits for their clubs.
 
Lukaku will score more goals but morata will do more for his team. United need goals so that works for us, Chelsea have other players who score so morata works for them.
 
People moaned about Morata when he was linked to us, people are moaning about Lukaku now that he's signed for us. People need to get laid.[So do I]

On a serious note, Lukaku is Premier League proven and that is a huge factor. Lukaku will be playing against the same sides that he has been wrecking for the few years, albeit with a much better supporting cast. For all it's worth, Morata will take some time to settle into the league. It happens to the best of talents, they all need some time to get started. Surprisingly Diego Costa wasn't one of them. Lukaku can hit the ground running, especially with the splendid pre season we have this time around.
 
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6 months lol


I haven't read a word of what Chelsea have said.

It's implicit in the media's reporting of the story.

Even if you discount the age point, there is a chasm between the two players when it comes to goal scoring, despite Lukaku featuring for weaker sides.
 
Based on him now havin the chance to consistently lead the line for a team with world class players? based on him having a top 3 minutes to goal in la liga despite coming off the bench? although we could argue this could have skewed said stat both ways. And I never said it was a certainty that he'd do so, I said I certainly think it's easier for a striker to score goals while playing centrally and regularly in a team with great supporting cast than otherwise, I don't know why that confused you and you used it as a platform for the rest of your post, the statements are pretty distinct

Lukaku's poor first touch is not a myth, it is documented, he lost possession 584 times last season, more than Ibra at 416, many of those were mispasses but many were also him failing to control the ball, but then again I made reference to his perceived lack of technical ability, you're the one segmenting it to first touch. Either way I'm not here to argue how much of an issue it is with a player like him/will be with us, we should see that throughout the season but to act like it's a myth or "partly a myth" (whatever that means), it's disingenuous



You not being able to think of a single one doesn't mean it doesn't happen/they don't exist, just off memory:

Luca Toni
Ian Wright
Klose
Vardy
Milito
Forlan
Eto'o (??? my memory tells me he was 24 or 25 when he started beasting for barca)

I'm sure that if I go look up (I can't as I'm mobile and at work) there are countless more. In fact chances are most strikers don't hit their stride til mid 20s and the ones that are goalscorers from early are actually the exceptions
I just looked up a few players onYour list. Vardy had nearly a goal a game before he joined Leicester and Forlan had 1 in 2 before and after he left United.
Wright had 90 goals for Palace FFS. Klose had 82 goals by the tine he was 23!
I mean what are we talking about here
 
I don't think there's any similarities, personally. Hazard was one of the hottest properties in world football at the time and Kagawa wasn't. Most sane people could see that Hazard had far more potential and would go on to be the far better player.
Yup but when we signed kagawa everyone tried to convince themselves that we got a better value for money and we were laughed at when it turned out to be false.
 
inevitable this thread would emerge, but what's done is done. We put time and effort into getting one player and when we were getting completely mugged off by madrid, we walked away and got the other. Feel this is setting up for meltdown if morata starts the season better then lukaku..
 
People moaned about Morata when he was linked to us, people are moaning about Lukaku now that he's signed for us. People need to get laid.[So do I]

On a serious note, Lukaku is Premier League proven and that is a huge factor. Lukaku will be playing against the same sides that he has been wrecking for the few years, albeit with a much better supporting cast. For all it's worth, Morata will take some time to settle into the league. It happens to the best of talents, they all need some time to get started. Surprisingly Diego Costa wasn't one of them. Lukaku can hit the ground running, especially with the splendid pre season we have this time around.
Lukaku will be playing in a much better side with much better players, true. But unlike at Everton and West Brom, he'll also be playing against teams that will park about 6 players in their own box and 10 men in their own half.

When is Lukaku most effective? When he's running into space. Space he may not have as much of now. That's why it's a bit too simplistic to say his scoring record will just carry over.
 
Yup but when we signed kagawa everyone tried to convince themselves that we got a better value for money and we were laughed at when it turned out to be false.

Oh yeah it was hilarious and ridiculous, to be honest. The difference in quality and ability between those two was night and day whereas, between Lukaku and Morata there's very little.
 
Yup but when we signed kagawa everyone tried to convince themselves that we got a better value for money and we were laughed at when it turned out to be false.

Except this time, it is a much more even contest than people seem to think. No one is deluding themselves about Lukaku, who is a proven and young goalscorer with some technical faults. Morata hasn't been a starter for any of the big clubs on a regular basis and has it all to prove in alien conditions.
There is a difference.
 
Lukaku will score more goals but morata will do more for his team. United need goals so that works for us, Chelsea have other players who score so morata works for them.
Scoring goals is a pretty big thing to do for your team. Give me a striker who demands the ball rather than one known for his linkup; Drigba v Berbatov effectively
 
inevitable this thread would emerge, but what's done is done. We put time and effort into getting one player and when we were getting completely mugged off by madrid, we walked away and got the other. Feel this is setting up for meltdown if morata starts the season better then lukaku..

That's an absolute banker. I expect this thread to be in around top of the homepage after most match weeks.
 
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Morata is the better player imo.

"proven in the prem" is almost as bad as "physicality" for me.


How is Morata a better player? Which indices are you using?


Pace - just about equal

Goalscoring - Lukaku

Heading - Lukaku

Power - Lukaku

Shooting - Lukaku

Dribbling - Both are a bit clumsy

Hold up play - Maybe Morata

Silverware - Morata


Even before he got to the Premier League, Lukaku was a beast in Belgium.

I predict he will outscore every other striker this new season. If he doesn't and has a shaky season because he is new at Manchester United, he will explode in the following season.
 
How is Morata a better player? Which indices are you using?


Pace - just about equal

Goalscoring - Lukaku

Heading - Lukaku

Power - Lukaku

Shooting - Lukaku

Dribbling - Both are a bit clumsy

Hold up play - Maybe Morata

Silverware - Morata


Even before he got to the Premier League, Lukaku was a beast in Belgium.

I predict he will outscore every other striker this new season. If he doesn't and has a shaky season because he is new at Manchester United, he will explode in the following season.

What about the mythical first touch? :D
 
Lukaku will be playing in a much better side with much better players, true. But unlike at Everton and West Brom, he'll also be playing against teams that will park about 6 players in their own box and 10 men in their own half.

When is Lukaku most effective? When he's running into space. Space he may not have as much of now. That's why it's a bit too simplistic to say his scoring record will just carry over.

Fair enough, but he isn't the only goalscorer in this team. If his presence can give more space to the likes of Martial and Mkhitaryan, then it'll elevate their game significantly. This was something that was missing with Rashford. Very early to say but we saw something along those lines in preseason, here's hoping it works in the big games too.
 
Lukaku will be playing in a much better side with much better players, true. But unlike at Everton and West Brom, he'll also be playing against teams that will park about 6 players in their own box and 10 men in their own half.

When is Lukaku most effective? When he's running into space. Space he may not have as much of now. That's why it's a bit too simplistic to say his scoring record will just carry over.

I agree it's very simplistic logic to assume his goal scoring record will carry over to ManUtd but I disagree with your point that he will struggle is box is packed. If you check his goals, most of his goals are when the box is full of defenders.
 
Lukaku will be playing in a much better side with much better players, true. But unlike at Everton and West Brom, he'll also be playing against teams that will park about 6 players in their own box and 10 men in their own half. .

Hmmm, you haven't seen many of his goals, have you?
 
Rooney's deal was completely separate and you're deluding yourself if you believe that Morata agent didn't took any fee from you. You were the highest spending on agent fees last season inspite of spending less than us.

Rooney was a sweetener to help broker the deal. It's not like he's finished, he's 31, experienced and a very capable striker. So you just gifted him to Everton, free of charge? Yeah, right.

Of course, Morata's agent gets a fee. But Raiola is well known for his astronomical fees because he specializes in the the biggest deals involving biggest names. Chelsea wouldn't pay it, United did.
 
The only confirmed fee for Lukaku is 75m so let's not make things up.

Lukaku is worth more as he scores double the amount of goals.

Confirmed by who? Unless it's the official information from the club, nothing is confirmed. Everybody goes by what media reports.
 
Rooney was a sweetener to help broker the deal. It's not like he's finished, he's 31, experienced and a very capable striker. So you just gifted him to Everton, free of charge? Yeah, right.

Of course, Morata's agent gets a fee. But Raiola is well known for his astronomical fees because he specializes in the the biggest deals involving biggest names. Chelsea wouldn't pay it, United did.

:lol:
 
Rooney was a sweetener to help broker the deal. It's not like he's finished, he's 31, experienced and a very capable striker. So you just gifted him to Everton, free of charge? Yeah, right.

Of course, Morata's agent gets a fee. But Raiola is well known for his astronomical fees because he specializes in the the biggest deals involving biggest names. Chelsea wouldn't pay it, United did.

ManUtd signed 3 of his players last season but still Chelsea paid more in Agent fee than ManUtd. Chelsea always paid more in agent fee than any club.

Oh Rooney was done, there is no way any club would have paid transfer fee. You can believe he was worth 20 Million though if it makes you comfortable.
 
Rooney was a sweetener to help broker the deal. It's not like he's finished, he's 31, experienced and a very capable striker. So you just gifted him to Everton, free of charge? Yeah, right.

Of course, Morata's agent gets a fee. But Raiola is well known for his astronomical fees because he specializes in the the biggest deals involving biggest names. Chelsea wouldn't pay it, United did.

Very capable striker? Did you even watched him last season? Besides at his wages, there's no way any English club would've taken him and matches his wages and given us a fee.

Also that second paragraph is again a bit fantasy thinking on your part considering Chelsea paid the most to agents last season. So it's not applicable.

You seem to be living in a different world where Rooney is still a very good player and Chelsea don't pay much of the agent fees.