Lukaku nets a brace in win over Cyprus

, 6 September, 75comments  |  Jump to most recent
Romelu Lukaku was back in Belgium's starting XI as they took on Cyprus in World Cup qualifying in Nicosia this evening.

His Everton team-mate, Kevin Mirallas, had to be content with watching on the bench again having been named among the substitutes alongside Lukaku for the Red Devils' friendly defeat to Spain last week.

New Belgium boss Roberto Martinez was looking to bounce back after his first match in charge ended in a 2-0 home defeat to Spain and Lukaku put him on course for a first win by heading home to make it 1-0 at half-time.

The Blues' striker then added a second headed goal in the second period before making way for Michy Batshuayi later in the half. Yannick Carrasco added a third goal with nine minutes to go before Batshuayi missed a last-minute penalty.

Maarten Stekelenburg, meanwhile, was on the Netherlands' bench for their qualifier in Sweden which ended 1-1.

Earlier, Everton U23 players Harry Charsley and Courtney Duffus were in action for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s as they lost 3-2 to Serbia. Shane Lavery played all but the last quarter of an hour of Northern Ireland U21s' 2-0 defeat to Macedonia.

 

Reader Comments (75)

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Mark Morrissey
1 Posted 06/09/2016 at 19:33:42
Waiting to watch the Belgium game on Sky. Looking forward to see how Martinez sets out his team. Hope Rom bags a goal. Hope Mirallas gets some game time. It's gonna be phenominal
Andrew Lightfoot
2 Posted 06/09/2016 at 19:51:40
Hopefully Rom bags a couple. El Bob actually doing us a favour giving him game time.
Andrew Lightfoot
3 Posted 06/09/2016 at 19:59:36
Well, whaddya know!
Brent Stephens
4 Posted 06/09/2016 at 20:00:45
Lukaku scores - must have been a "scuff"!
Mick Davies
5 Posted 06/09/2016 at 20:01:40
Rom scores at last.... floodgates open?


Strange seeing the phenomenal one standing on the touchline and not wanting to yell at him.

Jay Wood
6 Posted 06/09/2016 at 20:08:50
Now don't start THAT again Brent!!!
Brent Stephens
7 Posted 06/09/2016 at 20:15:11
Aye, aye, Jay!
Nigel Munford
8 Posted 06/09/2016 at 20:21:26
It's only Cyprus... if he can't score against them, we are in trouble.
Mick Davies
11 Posted 06/09/2016 at 21:05:51
2 headed goals for Rom, although Belgium don't deserve it. They've been in an incredibly bad moment.
Andrew Lightfoot
12 Posted 06/09/2016 at 21:06:40
That's two headers into an open net! So those are the kinds of chances we need to be creating for him...
Simon Smith
13 Posted 06/09/2016 at 21:09:29
I really am still scratching my head at how Martinez bagged the Belgium job.
Although that said the England manager is hardly enlisted with honours,
Mark Morrissey
14 Posted 06/09/2016 at 21:23:14
Mick @ 11 . Class comment... in an incredibly bad moment, ha ha, made me chuckle. Can't say Axil Rose has impressed me much. Is Bobby Martinez serving the drinks on the flight home?
Colin Glassar
15 Posted 06/09/2016 at 21:31:12
Mick, "floodgates open"? Has he started crying?
Bob Hannigan
16 Posted 06/09/2016 at 21:32:01
2 so far for Rom, save some for Monday! After all he can play 2 matches in less than a week, he is Champions League material! lol!
Ian Jones
18 Posted 06/09/2016 at 21:51:49
Always said he was a class player! Two headers today. Back of the net. First touch must have improved...with those headers :)
Scott Hall
19 Posted 06/09/2016 at 22:20:54
This just in from Rom's post match interview:

"I am prepared to be respectful and give Belgium one more year. It's true, I want to win prizes but Belgium have made it difficult for me to play for Brazil, what with me being Belgian and all that. So I will not complain and I will do my best for the team.

"But next year? Who knows? Maybe I will look at Argentina or Germany. I am the greatest centre forward in history and I want to play for a national team that shares my ambition."

Mick Davies
20 Posted 06/09/2016 at 22:29:45
Scott @ 19, love it... then again, I wouldn't be surprised if he came out with something close to that statement.
Colin Dixon
21 Posted 06/09/2016 at 23:20:13
Lukaku

(Forward 2 years)...

Who?

Let's move on – Next!

Don Alexander
22 Posted 06/09/2016 at 23:22:57
Brilliant, Scott! Ha ha.
Alan Humphreys
23 Posted 06/09/2016 at 23:51:34
Scott (19) Bendtner-esque that.

And where is he now...

Mike Allen
24 Posted 06/09/2016 at 23:54:23
Respect for Rom? Looks like a No then...
Anthony Dwyer
25 Posted 06/09/2016 at 23:57:29
Anyone who ever doubted Rom now needs a rethink, to bag two goals against the notoriously tight defense of Cyprus is phenomenal.
Darryl Ritchie
26 Posted 07/09/2016 at 00:41:17
I can't remember a more underwhelming response to a brace, scored by an Everton player, anywhere, anytime. It will be interesting to see the Goodison crowd response, next home fixture.
Dennis Stevens
27 Posted 07/09/2016 at 01:01:19
You have a point there, Anthony. I believe it's only the second time it's happened – in the last four matches, that is!
Paul Kossoff
28 Posted 07/09/2016 at 01:50:18
Any one got a pic of him smiling? The miserable get.

Perhaps it's so long since he scored a goal that he's forgotten how to celebrate, or is it that Martinez is in charge again?

Martin Nicholls
29 Posted 07/09/2016 at 06:01:39
He's our player – well done, Rom.
Brian Porter
30 Posted 07/09/2016 at 06:15:40
Belgium v Cyprus, equivalent to Everton v Carlisle. If he couldn't grab a couple against the mighty Cyprus ...enough said, but the question remains, can he do it for us in the real world of the Premier League"
Martin Nicholls
31 Posted 07/09/2016 at 06:28:43
Can't recall Harry Kane et al "bagging a couple" against the mighty Iceland. He scored twice against the team he was playing against which is more than his team mates did - I'm sure Chelsea fans won't be panicking because Batshuayi didn't. I'm no apologist for Rom and think he should keep his mouth shut but why ridicule him because the opposition he scored against was weak?
David Barks
32 Posted 07/09/2016 at 06:35:56
France failed to score against Belarus. Hungary failed to score against Faroe Islands. He scored two goals, his team won. And he has done it in the Prem, every season.
Daniel Lim
33 Posted 07/09/2016 at 06:55:20
I was the first to criticise him for what he said to the press, but am really happy to read this piece of news.

He scored 2 goals, doesn't really matter who the opponent is. Batshuayi didn't. In fact he missed a penalty.

Those who want to continue criticising him, be careful of what you wish for.

1. No goal or less than x goals this season, we might finish lower than 11, and the club have to accept low bids next year. Lose on both end.
2. Score 30 goals, off for 80m next year, Everton in Champions League.

No brainer which one I prefer.

Jonathon Laws
34 Posted 07/09/2016 at 07:03:17
Look forward to seeing him score goals for us in the months ahead. If he does well enough to have Real come in with an offer - all the better.
Steven Jones
35 Posted 07/09/2016 at 07:51:33
This is Great news!! Well done Rom... Love Ya!!

Thank you for staying this year and being loyal despite a x2 11th finish and having confidence in RK and the rest of your team!

As for his honesty – think he has been very diplomatic and the best forward we have had since Sharpy and The Latch!

Now for a hard week of training and then despatch Moyesia and his band with another brace!

COYBs!!!

Daniel Lim
36 Posted 07/09/2016 at 08:13:09
It has come to a situation that whenever someone say something positive about Lukaku (or the club or other players), I would pause for a second thinking that it's sarcasm, especially some words like great, excellent, exceptional, etc.

I think it's all OFM's fault!

John Mckay
37 Posted 07/09/2016 at 09:47:55
2 headed goals against Cyprus, phenomenal, I bed that was very very pleasing for El Bob.
Paul Kennedy
38 Posted 07/09/2016 at 09:49:32
Can't we just have 1 day without him or reporters saying he wants to go!!!

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, 23, has hinted that he will move away from the club next season. The Belgium international turned down Italian champions Juventus in the transfer window to continue under new Toffees manager Ronald Koeman. (Sport Wereld - in Dutch)

Brent Stephens
39 Posted 07/09/2016 at 10:11:29
Paul (#28) – "Any one got a pic of him smiling? The miserable get. Perhaps it's so long since he scored a goal that he's forgotten how to celebrate, or is it that Martinez is in charge again?"

It's maybe because he knows it's only against Cyprus, as we are reminded. I just hope that gives him the confidence to push on against Sunderland – then he can be like the cat that's got the cream.

Dennis Stevens
40 Posted 07/09/2016 at 10:30:05
Brian Porter #30 - Carlisle is still a sensitive issue, even after all these years!
Shane Corcoran
41 Posted 07/09/2016 at 10:30:31
I find it strange the reaction Lukaku is getting for being honest.

Every player at Everton (except those that kiss the badge, bleed blue blah, blah, blah) would look to leave if they thought they were good enough to get a move to a more successful club with the ability to pay big wages.

Lukaku came out and said so, but stated that he wouldn't rock the boat when told he wasn't going.

So what, that's the modern player. It'd be me too if I was any good.

Michael Lynch
42 Posted 07/09/2016 at 10:32:59
Great, two international goals will get him plenty of worldwide media coverage. Anything that boosts his profile boosts the fee we get for him next summer.

Anyway, this at least proves that he hasn't totally forgotten his job description is striker.

Christopher Timmins
43 Posted 07/09/2016 at 10:47:24
Hopefully, the two goals gets him up and running for the season and he nets another two next Monday evening.
Brian Furey
44 Posted 07/09/2016 at 11:07:35
I know a lot of you will say it's his own fault but I really don't think the earlier responses on here are helpful. Yes, he has annoyed a lot of us by what he has said but surely we want him to do well and start scoring goals again for us. Would you have preferred he didn't score 2 goals against Cyprus? He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't it would appear.

To me, it will be good for his confidence and hopefully now the chances he missed v Stoke will now be going in the next day. I really hope the fans try to get behind him again rather than be moaning and groaning when he misses chances and so drains away any confidence he has.

Alan J Thompson
45 Posted 07/09/2016 at 11:09:57
Great news! When do we play Cyprus at Goodison?
Peter Morris
46 Posted 07/09/2016 at 11:39:35
Let's hope the goals give Rom a confidence lift starting next Monday in Sunderland.

Hilarious that Mirallas is left on the bench. Is Martinez into sadomasochism or what? He spends two years leaving the guy to warm the bench in England, then persuades him to travel 500 miles, endure 3 or 4 days away from his family, to do exactly the same thing.

Kev should just tell him to do one.

Terry Underwood
47 Posted 07/09/2016 at 13:02:03
That's nothing. My cousin scored 4 against The Green Dragon pub team.
Terry Underwood
48 Posted 07/09/2016 at 13:04:23
In the picture Rom is saying "If you don't stop playing with my tits, this finger is going right up your jacksy"
Frank Crewe
49 Posted 07/09/2016 at 13:10:18
Maybe I'm missing something but he never appears to score against the top international sides in real competitive games.

In the last World Cup, the only goal he scored was against a knackered USA side when he was sent on in extra time.

In the last Euros, the only two goals he got were both against the Republic of Ireland.

Now he gets two against mighty Cyprus.

He's scored 16 goals in 51 appearances and 10 of those were in friendlies. The only goal he's scored against what I would call a good side in a competitive game was back in 2013 against Croatia.

It's the same problem at international level as it is a club level. He simply doesn't do enough. If he spent more time pressuring defenders as he does standing in the box waving his arms about, he would score a lot more goals.

As it is, he wants the inch-perfect pass or the perfect cross. Alan Shearer he isn't and never will be. He has all the tools but he never takes them out of the box.

I find him a very discouraging striker. He'll never fire up the crowd like a Vardy, Aguero, Suarez etc. Guys you know are really trying to score and working for the team instead of just pussyfooting around and working for himself.

Peter Cummings
51 Posted 07/09/2016 at 14:32:48
Let's face it, goals or not, most TW posters want him out of Goodison asap as he wants too himself. The two goals he scored v Cyprus were pretty much unmarked tap-ins similar to Niasse's in Russia.

I believe he's on his way even if we qualify for Europe and he gets double figures this season. At least we should get the big bucks he thinks he's worth.

Brian Furey
52 Posted 07/09/2016 at 15:21:05
I think there's no doubt he's on his way out now which should please a lot of people. So many of us on here were sad to see Naismith go and he was an honest lad who worked hard for the team and had a much better attitude than Lukaku. Rom scored 18 league goals last season. Naisy scored 4 including his move to Norwich. We will struggle to replace Rom's goals and the mayhem he causes to other team's defenders.
Anto Byrne
53 Posted 07/09/2016 at 16:29:50
Hope he has his shooting boots on for Sunderland. A nice four-nil win will do nicely. Reckon they will be up for it. Big Rom too. Wonder were Valencia stands team wise. Should be interesting eh?
Frank Crewe
54 Posted 07/09/2016 at 16:42:26
There's an interesting article on Sky Sports about how many big money transfer players are not being used by their new clubs.

https://www.soccerex.com/media/2825/2015-2016_summer_press_release.pdf

I think this will be the fate of Lukaku should any club be daft enough to offer the over inflated fee we'll no doubt want next summer. A few matches in and they'll see in football terms he a dilettante. He treats football like it's his hobby rather than his bread and butter. Look at the picture. Does he look like a player who's just scored for his country because he doesn't to me.

@Brian

If we could get Naisy's brain into Rom's body, we'd have a real striker on our hands.

Mark Morrissey
55 Posted 07/09/2016 at 18:14:33
I only watched Belgium last night because Lukaku and potentially Mirallas might get some game time. I watched it because of him. I watched Wales play the other night to watch OUR defender. Bizarrely when I watched England play other night I found myself seeing how Stones was doing. I did this without really thinking about it.

I thought Rom did well and, despite the fact he's ill-advised and is a motormouth, I actually think he will become a top striker. If we nurture him, support him, and continue to add to this squad, I honestly believe we could be top 6 this season and into Europe. Whether he then decides to stay or go, I still think he could fire us into that position this season and we should simply get fully behind him.

We would be cutting off our own noses to spite our own faces if we just slag him off. Let's face it, look what happened with Tony Hibbert. Something gets said, it gets misinterpreted and we all go ape shit and start falling out with each other.

If I was a Belgium fan I wouldn't care if he smiled after scoring or not. Getting the win is what matters. The minutia of how a player smiles is neither here nor there really.

I think Rom is going to be huge for us this season and so, come next Summer, it will be a win-win for us, whether he stays or goes. Let's get behind the boy. He is only 23. His best days as a striker are still ahead of him. I know plenty of 23-year-olds who are much bigger wankers than Rom. Granted they are not on his money but money can't buy you everything.

Paul Conway
56 Posted 07/09/2016 at 18:53:49
Brian Fury (#52),
With the greatest respect HE is struggling without his goals!
Paul Conway
57 Posted 07/09/2016 at 19:03:14
For a striker of Lukaku's mega worth, finding the net is a bit like scratching your balls in the dark. You know instinctively where they can be found.

He is having a serious barren patch, almost Sahara like, with a drought thrown in. Let's see if he can score against bold opposition.

Jon Cox
59 Posted 07/09/2016 at 19:12:02
Shane (41)

I get what you're saying. But two questions come to mind,

1, How many millions does a footballer need to be happy?

And,

2, What's so wrong with the challenge of winning things and achieving greatness with the team you're with?

I'm afraid most "modern footballers" want success handed to them on a plate,

How tediously dull.

Paul Kossoff
61 Posted 07/09/2016 at 19:39:14
Brent (#39), tongue-in-cheek, as they say.

Don't get me wrong, he's our striker and I want him to be the leading scorer in the Premier League this season, with the possibility that would get us into Europe or a cup win, we win even if he goes at the season's end as we would get top dollar for him.

He still looks a miserable get though, I hope he's not like that when he scores for us at Goodison. Will you be happy if he is?

Paul Kossoff
62 Posted 07/09/2016 at 19:46:35
Peter 46, That's nothing, I once scored 7, that's SEVEN, against St Mary's in the Manx league. PS, I did smile 😇
Brent Stephens
63 Posted 07/09/2016 at 19:51:53
Yes, Paul, he looks a miserable git and a frustrated one at times!

When he scores at GP or elsewhere I want a big beaming smile. From all of us!

Terry White
64 Posted 07/09/2016 at 20:09:26
Peter (#51), I'll be quite happy if Rom gets a lot of "tap-ins" this season. It shows he is in the right place to do this and that is something he has not always achieved with great success so far. Too many crosses have gone along the front of the goal without somebody being there to "tap" it in. It is what a striker is supposed to do.
Mick Davies
65 Posted 07/09/2016 at 20:09:53
I remember his performance against WBA away when we came back from 0-2 to win with 2 goals from Rom; he looked inspired in the 2nd half, and if we could get him to move like that every game he'd be world class. He might just find a new lease of life under Koeman with a bit of luck.
Martin Mason
66 Posted 07/09/2016 at 20:28:08
Rom's his own worst enemy, he sets himself up with the wanting to leave thing and the press hammer him with it every interview now. He's our player now, I think he's a great player and will come good but if not then he'll be sold on. To be fair he came on and changed the game against WBA such that we played much better and we won.

Harry Kane's goal drought is almost as bad as Rom's but a lot of strikers go through it: it's as much the fault of the team though which was in disarray under Martinez and now under transition under Koeman.

Iakovos Iasonidis
67 Posted 07/09/2016 at 20:35:43
Not macedonia , FYROM is the official name which is also far from accurate but anyway. I don't like talking politics, just for the record...

Naming FYROM Macedonia is like assuming that Alexander the Great and Macedonians were Slavs, which is laughable. Ancient Macedonia was an ancient Greek kingdom which had Pella for capital, a small city near Thessaloniki and consisted of territories which now are part of today's FYROM and Bulgaria but that doesn't mean that these countries can arrogate Greek history. Bucephalus was not a Zastava! Sorry for the post, totally irrelevant with the topic, just for the record as I said...

Trevor Lynes
68 Posted 07/09/2016 at 21:00:24
Lets just see another striker playing for Everton score a goal like Rom's against Chelsea. I have never seen one like it !

Not Lineker, not Shearer, not Rooney, not Ferguson, not Rush, not Fowler and certainly not Kane. Just watch it again on you tube and marvel !

That goal had strength, ball control, pace and 'real' ability. In donkeys’ years to come we will be telling our grand children that we saw that goal !

Eddie Dunn
70 Posted 07/09/2016 at 22:42:28
I was just thinking about Belgian players... Rom, Kev, Felli, Vertonghen, De Jong, Chadli. Can't really include Vermaelen, Courtois, or De Bruyne. A lot of them are... problematic.
Jim Hardin
71 Posted 08/09/2016 at 01:45:34
Terry W,

Make up your mind. Seems many on here expect Rom to be 18 yards out, back to goal, as a lone isolated target man, and now you claim he should be hovering near the goal for tap-ins. Hard to do both, even for such a gifted player as Rom.

Jon Cox, why ask questions that you seem to have already supplied the answers to in your head? However, aside from the figure that you have determined for him, I would suggest as many millions as he can as it is not for you to say. As to the second, instead I offer, why would fans constantly slag off a player who wants to win and decides to leave when the club and fans do not match that ambition?

Brian Furey
72 Posted 08/09/2016 at 10:01:36
Interesting article Frank@54 how most of our signings seem to make it into the starting team and be quite successful.

I think what has been the biggest dilemma for Rom over the last few years, is that he knows if he stays with a club like Everton he will be the main man and won't have to work too hard to stay number 1 striker. Whereas if he goes to a big club where there is a lot more pressure on him then he is worried he won't be able for it (or will have to work harder) and so he won't feel as good about himself.

Peter Roberts
73 Posted 08/09/2016 at 11:38:26
Jim - gifted player? He can't control a football, his passing is an asset to the opposition, he can't use his right foot, his heading is poor, he's offside more times than onside. Other than that he is ok.

Ambition? Ambition suggests a hunger, a real desire and drive to be the best that a person can be... to give 100% in everything they do Lukaku likes to jog around, he likes to put his hands on his head in disbelief when a ball gets fired across the 6 yard box and his lack of anticipation/desire/bottle has meant he never got on the end of it.

Maybe for once the over indulged man-child needs to look at himself this summer millions has been spent on players, he and his crew pimped up his move from March and no doubt all clubs were alerted to his availability . did anyone make an offer? No. Why is that? maybe its because he's not a good as he thinks he is. He's certainly not worth the money his hype has generated.

13 games in a row without a goal for us now...

I can't wait till this brat leaves our club – sick and tired of hearing all about him. He should start learning Chinese or Turkish – that's where he will be playing in a few years.


Jim Hardin
74 Posted 08/09/2016 at 16:59:10
Peter,

Yes, gifted. Given all that you and others say he cannot do (which no striker does perfectly), he must really be gifted at finding the back of the net to have scored so much in a short career with such poor general footballing skills. Do you not see that with players like Naisy it is news when he scores at all, while with Rom, it is news when he doesn't? That puts him in an upper echelon of players, none of which Everton possesses, except the one everyone seemingly on here likes to slag off. He scores two and the type of goal and opponent is now used to explain them away.

You look at the last 13 games to judge a player's abilities? Fine, he hasn't scored. Did he not contribute and change the games by being in them? Let's look at the games he has played before the last thirteen. Wow, he scored and did so on an impressive basis.

Make no mistake, when Everton loses Rom it is because Everton failed to live up to promises and expectations of the players, not Rom failing to live up to expectations of the club.

Barry Jones
75 Posted 08/09/2016 at 18:22:51
Peter #46, you beat me to it. Peter #73, "His passing is an asset to the opposition". LOL
Peter Roberts
76 Posted 08/09/2016 at 21:08:36
Jim, he's a penalty box predator and that is it. And even at that he's not brilliant only when he fancies it does he take a chance and try and anticipate.

He was over indulged by Martinez... played when he should have been dropped, teams set up to supply him. He even admitted as much.

Let's see what happens when he's sold to a supposed club big enough for him. Big games? He fluffs his lines time after time. Flat-track bully who wants the big time but hasn't got the quality for it.

Can't wait for him to be sold.

Stan Schofield
77 Posted 08/09/2016 at 23:26:06
I can't wait for him to start knocking the goals in again, for two reasons: (1) goals are good, and (2) it'll stop the constant ridiculous criticisms of him.

Record for us: about 60 goals in 120 games, with a loss of form recently, and no goals in about 15 games, coinciding with and recovering from a management meltdown that prompted a 'new era'. You either like the guy or you don't. I do, but I'm selfish, I like lots of goals.

Jim Hardin
79 Posted 09/09/2016 at 02:36:35
Peter,

Sometimes I wonder if TWers even think about what they post. You have made my argument for me. You say he is a poacher so you must admit he has been misused by RB for over 2 plus seasons. Yet, he still managed to score goals being played alone, back to goal, 18 yards away from it. Must take some type of skill or being gifted.

Please, just stop it and admit you don't like him. Stop making up BS arguments and absurd statements as to his skills to try to justify your dislike of him. In the end, it would be more honest, yes?

Peter Roberts
80 Posted 09/09/2016 at 08:15:41
Jim, you just don't like valid criticism being pushed his way.

The likes of yourself got excited off the fact the we acquired a striker who was hyped and not some 30-year-old journeyman, or lower budget Andy Johnson or James Beattie. Kinda like getting a date with one of the popular girls in school instead of a geek.

The reality is that there is very very little to get excited about as a player... if you know what you are looking for. To me he is nothing more than a glorified Micky Quinn.

Put the ball on a plate for him but expect nothing else. Unless of course you are going to tell me that he is a good worker, leads the line, holds up play, links up with the midfield, dominates in the air? ... No, he doesn't, does he. In fact it's true what I say... he has a poor touch, bad attitude, can't time his jumps, gets bullied by smaller players.

Of course you may try and point to one of his handful of games where he actually looks like a rounded striker but I will point to the majority where he aimlessly trots around, moaning, pointing at a space 10 yards ahead of him, not trying to feign runs to get in front of his marker just going through the motions hoping that it will fall to him on his left foot so he can score.

When he scores, it creates amnesia for the likes of yourself. You forget that hes offered nothing, you forget that, for the previous 60 minutes, ball after ball has bounced off him or been lost to the opposition.

So yeah, when you cut to it, all he has to offer apart from and endless supply of ambitious interviews, is goals when his team mates serve them up for him.

You just don't like these facts. Thats fine, you love a bog standard goalscorer (Micky Quinn, Sean Goater, Kevin Phillips were loved) — I love committed 'footballers' who have quality. Many committed 'footballers' are goalscorers (Suarez, Aguero, Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Gerrard).

Lukaku will never be and never has been a commited footballer. If we manage to get £50m plus for this fraud, it will be the best business we have done. For one, we will be able to put the money into buying a striker who can do more than just stand in the box waiting for a chance. Two, we will not have to listen to an overrated gobshite tell the world he is too good for a club that us actually too good for him.

I await your response using a few examples where he may have scored a goal he made for himself, or he actually played like a centre-forward... not a poacher.

Peter Roberts
81 Posted 09/09/2016 at 08:22:43
Jim, btw, Martinez misused him because he expected him to be something more than just a poacher? Ah the poor lad.

Please tell me how many poachers are currently plying their trade in the Premier League. Even Jermaine Defoe has had to evolve, drop off wide, allow the midfielders to advance. The game is different and I don't think you can see how Rom's technical limitations cost our team.

I would sooner have Defoe in our team than Lukaku. He would certainly net more and cost a lot less. That's a fact.

I do hope Lukaku scores because we are stuck with him till we sell him. His last 13 games ain't been great have they?

Shane Corcoran
83 Posted 09/09/2016 at 14:47:22
Jon #59, I agree but I imagine they (and maybe most of us in the same position) don't think that way. It's about hot to make the next million all the time.

As far as being successful, it's a relatively short career so I see where you're coming from but if you want to be successful you probably need to move quickly.

Peter Roberts
84 Posted 09/09/2016 at 18:02:38
If you want to be successful you need to be good enough to make sure the successful teams choose you ahead of other players... you can't just say you want to play for a team that wins trophies . you need to make them want to buy you.

He hasn't done that because he hasn't proved to be good enough. So he can chatter all he likes, all he is doing is making himself look stupid.

Koeman has his number – he is expecting "more from him". I've been expecting more from him for quite some time but the odd goal seems to pacify a lot of fans far too used to watching the likes of James Beattie, Marcus Bent et al.


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