Ridiculous that this is being blown out of proportion. Lukaku says that he'd like to play in Serie A one day. Says that Juve are a great side. Look at the massive cut and shut job Sky Sports have done with it: "Why not? I hope it happens. Juve have a great project in place. They've got a great coach and extraordinary players"More: https://t.co/M9nqHYXjRS pic.twitter.com/KD9xoxaOHL— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 15, 2018
A lot of this current media criticism is misdirected. Lukaku is between a rock and a hard place. Early in both last couple of games he has spun and made runs in behind, but there was no attempt to play him in - so he just stopped running. Yes, he needs to do better, but he is the isolated, visible victim of the complete lack of support, invention, penetration, transition speed and ideas in what can laughably be called Mourinho’s attacking tactics.
Scholes recently said united will not win the league with him and i agree with him. He just isnt united striker but so are many other players. https://www.goal.com/en/news/ive-ne...-a-bad-touch-lukaku/ruyc1e3gsyh01qvxoix7mq95z https://www.goal.com/en/news/lukaku...utd-and-isnt-going-to/z80neuv8bk9zflt5zezsa6t
Lukaku has his issues, but he's proven that in the right setup and surrounded by quality players, he's not only useful but he's actually pretty good. The issue I really want to see him progress in, is his scoring record when it matters, against top teams. Obviously, scoring against poor oppo is important as well, but elite teams with big aspirations need a reliable and clutch 9. He can work around and improve hopefully on his other problems (especially his touch). He's smart, determined and especially young enough to do so, but being more consistent in his scoring in pressure moments is what he needs to improve upon above all else for me. But,like most players on the team at this time, it's really not out of bounds to presume they'll improve under another manager. Another song that is being repeated over and over, a fact that speaks volume in regards to where we are at the moment...
Lukaku's goal drought should not be a surprise. www.espn.com/soccer/club/manchester-united/360/blog/post/3678597/romelu-lukakus-goal-drought-should-come-as-no-surprise-to-manchester-united
How poor Lukaku has been so far this season. Here's hoping he can get it together (after a stint on the sidelines) and go on a trademark scoring run. Thank God for Martial picking up the slack as of late... Morata finally looking like he can put one foot in front of the other under Sarri and Aubameyang scoring regularly for Arsenal, are not making him look good at the moment. In Morata's case, still want to see if he's really turned the corner, but he's looking more comfortable and back to his best (or close to it).
I'd still rather have Lukaku than either. Not because I think he's a better footballer, but because he's a better fit for our team. Morata still just doesnt impress him. Despite his size he plays way too soft and his movement inside the 18 is pretty poor. I could see him being a very good poor mans Benzema. Someone who does a lot in the buildup play but isn't really the focal part of an offense. Auba hasn't looked that great for Arsenal when played as a 9. His best moments have been at LW and I think Martial is a superior player anyway. To get more out of Lukaku, we need to get some service in the box. Ideally we improve our RW and then get some service either from that position or, if we buy an inverted winger, from Dalot overlapping. Once we're able to threaten teams from both flanks space will open up in the middle for Rom. He's never going to be great but he's a consistent top 5 scorer in the league when the service is there.
aubameyang since coming in the Prem has proven himself to be a consistent scorer at least, as expected: scored 10 (and was the league's top scorer from Feb on) and has 7 so far, tied I believe (or close to it at least) at the top of the goalscoring charts. He is being moved around because he is comfortable playing anywhere up front and room has to be made for Lacazette, who is showing good form as well this season. It's a good problem to have for Emery, one apparently that is easily solved by Auba being completely willing to play where ever. As far as Morata is concerned, still want to give it some time as mentioned, but he's clearly progressing under Sarri. And it stands to reason he could only improve over time. Still hasn't given up on Lukaku, but as long as Mourinho is the manager, we can expect to be very frustrated with him when he's not on form. At this moment, would clearly rather have Rashford playing over him, simply because of things he does and how he plays when he doesn't have the ball. Our overall shape looks better and that speaks volumes with Rashford obviously not at his best. Mourinho loves Lukaku but you have to love the irony that the way we play is actually the worst for him to shine arguably. Something that has been obvious so far this season: Lukaku looks completely different with Belgium under Martinez. Of course, the talent surrounding him is also superior but the way they play is more tailored to him than what he has to deal with at United. In a choice between him and Aubameyang, the latter still wins easily, given how we play currently under Mourinho.
I'm not saying Lukaku is in good form this year, but judging any player on their few worst touches of the season is idiotic. Strikers in particular are always compared to some mythical alternative. The numbers have shown that there is really no such thing as a "clinical" striker (the overwhelming majority of players regress towards their xG over time, i.e. they score the amount of goals you'd expect given the chances they generate). Similarly, all strikers are "streaky" mainly because people are bad at understanding how randomness results in streaks. Lukaku will be fine.
The question is not whether Lukaku 'will be fine'... That is what is idiotic because it's a safe bet he will eventually get out of the funk he currently is in. The issue, for me at least, and I've mentioned it consistently since we got him, is how he will progress as a CF and a player overall. Lukaku has what it takes to become a top, top striker: he's good enough now when his game is on and he's young enough, as he's nowhere near his peak yet, that he's got room for growth and improvement. I hope he does and I'm rooting for the guy since he seems like a good guy and appears to be dedicated to his craft. So we'll see if he can get there in the next 2-3yrs. I wholeheartedly believe that a lot of his struggles are playing under a manager like Mourinho, someone who really does not know how to get the best of him and arguably stunts his growth. Despite the fact that he praises him to the heavens every chance he gets for reasons that have little to do with being an elite striker, ie his workrate. That's all well and good for Lukaku, but ultimately it does little (or only so much to be more precise) to get him where he's supposed to be as a CF. That's why, like so many others in the team, the sooner he's away from Mourinho, the better and in the hands of a manager who will help him legitimately grow as a player. So yeah, no doubt that Lukaku will be just fine when it's all said and done, but the goals for players like him should be set higher, from my point of view...
Lukaku's 'bad form' has coincided with the team failing to create enough chances. He always misses a few sitters per season and he's missed a few in a row here. However, he's getting into good scoring positions and the goals will come. It is now a matter of luck/confidence. Once one goes in, the rest will follow.
Ashur its his overall game that hasnt improve.. and i think he can improve in limited areas like finishing but will never be elite as i dont think he can learn to hold up the ball or improve his first touch if he could he would have done it but now.
Lukaku's general hold up play had shown improvement in recent seasons: we've seen it at times with United last term, but also regularly with Belgium. His touch can be very 'heavy ' to put it mildly and it may be an issue that will dog him for his whole career. That being said, it doesn't mean he can't be a top striker going forward, provided he's in the right hands, manager wise, and playing in the right system. As we clearly can see and as mentioned ad nauseum, it's no coincidence he looks a completely different player for Belgium. There is no guarantee he'll reach elite status, but there's no certitude he won't either. There are more than enough examples of athletes who get to become among the best, while having a hole or weakness in their game nonetheless. We'll see where Lukaku goes from here, arguably one of the lowest points he's been in his career in recent times...
https://www.skysports.com/football/...team-mates-must-take-criticism-like-grown-men is he that worried about his place in the team?
The Lukaku problem is puzzling Mourinho. www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11561710/jose-mourinho-struggling-to-understand-romelu-lukakus-loss-of-form-for-manchester-united Almost forgot that Mourinho is capable of a softer touch... Although the answer is pretty obvious at this point, makes you wonder why he couldn't treat other players on the squad (Shaw or Martial among others come to mind) with the same care. Also, if Lukaku's loss of form is confined to United and not Belgium, perhaps he could question himself, his methods and style. That is if he was really honest with himself and could take responsibility. It's a variation on the same theme at this point and it's no coincidence when there are numerous examples on the team of players underperforming with United and not with their respective national teams...
Every one knew he was limited talent but he is getting bad to worst and its just didnt start in last 5-6 games since start of season the amount of chances he has squandered in crucial moments for us has cost us dearly...
Some interesting responses from Lukaku. His reaction to whether he obviously looks happier playing for Belgium spoke volume (despite him claiming he'd do about anything for Mourinho).
https://www.skysports.com/football/...o-have-talked-over-his-manchester-united-role i don't buy this. it sounds very excuse-ish. he's been fine for Belgium. no slump there whatsoever. he shouldn't have to cover up for it or himself. that said, our attacking system is non-existent which doesn't help
Lukaku recently spoke in an interview as to the nature of his relationship with Mourinho and how he'd go thru a wall for him. Those comments he just made should come as no surprise. He's obviously drinking the Mourinho Kool-Aid and he's not going to throw him under the bus. Even if the lack of any attacking structure or plan is pretty much leaving out to dry and not catering in the least to his strengths. In case it was not clear before, Lukaku is a Mourinho shill. It's clear as day...
It's a lot easier for Lukaku to put in goals when he has teammates like KDB and Hazard creating chances in the attack. United doesn't have any attackers of that level. And even the "better" players on the United are significantly weaker than KDB and Hazard