Jose makes another dig at Lukaku

I'd love us to get this kid; he hasn't been at the best of form recently but his potential is incredible. My fear if we don't sign him is that he has a load of clubs around Europe who'd snap him up. Including the shite!

Don't start me on the chosen one. What a fucking tool!

It's all well and good saying but him, unfortunately the biggest issue is whether or not he actually wants to stay here

'the biggest issue is whether or not he actually wants to stay here'

Well if we -Everton- don't know by now it's about time we found out
and it will stop a lot of time wasting. Secretly I believe RM knows perfectly well what the player wants.

Who needs him, we got super Naismith

Perhaps that is why Lukaku's form has suffered as since the chosen one first spoke about him late last year he hasn't shown the same desire to play football. Didn't Lukaku dream of being the next Drogba for Chelsea? A bit like Mata, Jose doesn't fancy him. Perhaps Roberto although he might rate the kid, in truth can't afford the money it would take to gamble on him.

Patrick it does seem very strange that his (Lukaku’s) form has strangely dipped since the chosen one had a go at him.

As someone else pointed out, though, there will be a line of potential suitors lining up to sign this kid, but I wonder, if his form remains as it is, could we risk £20M+ it will take secure it?

I would like to say yes, but I’d like the Lukaku we had at the beginning of season – not the one we have now. The other thing is, if he has a good World Cup, we could possibly see his price go to around £30M so, if we can do a deal with Chelsea, we should do it now.

I agree with Carl Peters in the above comment.

I would rather we get Lukaku back looking lean and mean and firing goals in before the end of the season, then will be the time to possibly weigh up where we stand financially for a potential move for Lukaku.

I believe one thing that is certain and that is Romelu Lukaku will not be playing for Chelsea next season. If Mourinho fancied him as a player then he would be in the team now or would have been part of their plans earlier in the season when Chelsea had a striker crisis.

I think Chelsea will look to sell him in the summer for something between 18 to 20 million.

Thats quite a considerable amount of money and as I said earlier I would be wanting to see Lukaku fire in at least another 6 or 7 goals when he gets back to fitness before deciding to pursue the permanent move.

In many ways this may sound strange but the injury to Lukaku could actually be a blessing in disguise because before the injury he simply looked sluggish and basically tired.

I understand this is only his first season of playing week in week out as a starter, he spent most of the time coming off the bench at West Brom and banged in 17 goals.

There is just a thought that maybe Lukaku can come back looking refreshed like the Lukaku we saw back in September and October.

The injury could act as an enforced rest to take stock at get back to where he was.

I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with the demands of the season catching up with him but once he gets back (expect him back for West Ham , March 1st) he needs to do the business and get more goals because the arrival of Traore now means he cannot afford to coast through too many more games.

I'd love for us to sign him up in the summer, but I think the issue is whether or not we can afford to buy him without selling a Barkley or Coleman? I think not unfortunately.

I don't think he's a 18 to 20 million player yet and it would be a massive gamble for Everton to take knowing what happens to nearly every striker we sign!

Concerned about Lukaku particularly his touch there's no doubting he will always be a handful but I'm beginning to think our way of playing doesn't suit him.

To my mind we would be more productive with a front man who can play others in as well as nick a few goals - anyone know any???

Scroll down this page for a good banner at the City/Chelsea game tonight;

Link

If we are going to splash £20M on anyone it has to be Deulofeu. That probably wouldn't be enough though the lad is going to be one of the world's best.

Speaking of Chelsea, thats a massive win for them at City tonight, could that be the one that wins them the League?

Classic Mourinho team, work so bloody hard for eachother and I think tonight shows me why in reality Terry and Cahill would be a far better England defence than Jagielka and Cahill.
Cant stand Terry but he is what I wish Jags was..Commanding and strong in the air.

Well about Lukaku, I don't think he is a 20 million pound player yet either and I think Martinez himself will want to see more application and more goals from him before the end of the season.
I cannot see us making a big moeny move if he fails to score more than say another three goals.

For me, this is just my opinion but I reckon Lukaku will end up going to a top club in France maybe or somewhere like that.
He wont be at City, United, Arsenal or Liverpool and I cant see Spurs going for him either. Nobody else outside those clubs can afford him.

What would be a perfect scenario is another season long loan but I doubt Chelsea would be so willing to play that game for a third year running.

If it's 18-20m we need to move heaven and earth to sign him, he is a proven goal scorer and at only 20 years old he has a huge future,

He will almost guarantee 15+ league goals so it's a small price to pay,

If that's the only signing we'd make in the summer fine by me.....

James

Would be a dream to get Deulofeu but there is no way on Earth that Barcelona are going to sell one of their hottest prospects and most certainly not for 20 million.

The big stumbling block for that one too is the fact Del wants to stay at Barca, its his club and he has openly stated that he see's his long term future there so thats not going to happen.

Lukaku has little love for Chelsea and probably less for Jose Mourinho so the main stumbling block for that would be purely finances and Lukaku himself not showing enough for Martinez to be convinced come May.

I would love Lukaku to sign permanently along with Benteke and Lallana. That should make us perennial top of the table contenders.

Where is the Heitinga money, Bill??

FFS Kevin. That's the best banner I've ever seen. We need one of those at Goodison, or one of those things where everone holds a card up.
Absolute classic

We are idiots if we don't break our transfer record for this kid. We paid 15 million for Fellaini in 2008 and he didn't have half the profile at 20 years old as Lukaku had at age 16! How quickly people forget that a 16 year old Lukaku led the Belgian League in scoring. He proceeds to score 17 in the PREM coming off the bench half the season for West Brom. If 20 million is all we have to pay for a 20 year old with limitless potential, the deal needs to be made in the immediacy! The only reason this is even happening is because Mourinho likes to have players in the prime of their careers starting and has the finances to acquire such players. We must seize this opportunity and build our future around Lukaku. It's the only way we'll ever have a shot at a title. Unless anyone can tell me who the hell else anywhere near our price range can score close to or more than 20 goals in a season that is.

Fully agree Peter Jones, there is no risk involved in buying Lukaku, he has already earned his price tag,

The only other player for slightly cheaper would be Remy, but I would prefer Lukaku

If I had the money, I'd buy this kid for the club. Some people are so shortsighted it's unbelievable. This kid, and he is only a kid, is going to be one of the top strikers in Europe, if not the world. I also believe this short break will give him time to analyse his game with the gaffer and get back to his scoring ways. Lukaku, remember the name, must not be the one we let slip away. £20M for him? A bargain if you ask me.

Barry647, yes Kone!

If he is provided with goalscoring opportunities he doesn't bottle it. However, his movement is poor and his touch is awful. Not worth £20M. I'd take a gamble at £10M otherwise look elsewhere. Remember, Jelavic was every bit as good when he first joined.

I prefer a fit Kone. Also looking forward to seeing our new number 28, Traore. The lad has one hell of a left foot.

Lukaku has made a difference but needs to where he'll get better service.

Still undecided with the lad. He hasn’t done anything of significance in his last few games. He can’t control a ball, why? Is there a curse on our strikers? They always start off well then fade. £20M is a lot for us, will bill really sign the cheque should the opportunity arise. Don’t hold your breath.

Well, well, well......

The curse of TW !
A few decent games and someone is a worldbeater
One missed touch and he's shite

So who's next for the "Hypocrites Firing Squad" ?
Barkley ?

Call y'sselves Evertonians ?

Tony #706, I thought there were plenty on here during the Reign of OFM who, when others called for Barkley to be given a run, we're quick to point out his many (in their eyes) flaws, and how OFM was right to give him the odd 2 minutes sub appearance, farm him out to Sheff Wed and Leeds (who, they postulated) were right in sending him back...

Coleman's already had his detractors. Barry should never have been signed according to many. McCarthy is over-priced and "another fucking Wigan player".

I don't think there's ever been a single player who the TW masses have been united in their appraisal of.

(I still think Mick Madar wasn't all that bad)

One missed touch hey Tony. You must of missed alot a games this season.

I always thinks its a an admirable quality for a footballer to actually want to play football (as opposed to warm the bench)

The arrogant one seems to really be bitter about this.
Would he sell him to us? or would he ship hid off to Russia for a larger fee. Anyway, Lukaku could have chosen his words more wisely in all this, he got drawn into Jose's games.

There's a few of us urging caution about Lukaku, and I'd be one of them too. I'm disappointed with him. He was hyped at first as a dangerous, destroyers of defences. But he hasn't been has he?

I am starting to like the Roberto "get them on loan and see what they can do" ploy. You then know what you are paying for. At the moment, I'm not sure we would cough up a load of dosh for him.

I think there is no such thing as a bargain player, except when you develop them through your own youth policy. Otherwise, you get exactly what you pay for. If you want a Robin van Persie, it costs £30 mil or more.

We've got a couple of young forwards with potential, I wonder what Roberto thinks of them and if / when we'll see them. How are you doing, Hallam?

Max - "no such thing as a bargain player, except when you develop them through your own youth policy. Otherwise you get exactly what you pay for"

You might want to re-consider this viewpoint as the evidence points the other way - Coleman, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill - all clearly bargains that did not come through the youth system. The'85 team was built on such bargains as Bracewell, Reid, Steven, Stevens, Southall, Sheedy and Sharp.

And then there is the other-side of "getting exactly what you paid for" - when you pay exactly 1000 times too much. Fortunately other clubs have better examples of this than we do. - Andy Carroll anyone?

What's that you meant to say Tony? One poor touch every 10 minutes?
I don't think he's worth 20 million, perhaps in time he may become a 20 million pound player. Hopefully he comes back and starts to bang 'em in again. Would prove me and the rest of his doubters wrong.

Max @716
You do allude to something which has been on my mind, a couple of genuine and yet offbeat considerations

Strikers:
How many good seasons does ANY club get out of them ?

Modern Tactics:
More "technically adept players" = goals from numerous scorers

Seems to me that the tide of "Football Thinking" has shifted away from the "supply the BIG strong lad up front" towards the concept of having a "mid/forward" whether wide or central and plenty of them

This is ALMOST a return to the pre-WW1 style which Mourinho was poking fun at

Also,
"The BIG Strong Lad" school of thinking requires a reserve "BIG Strong Lad" sat on his arse most weeks, (and more likely "misbehaving" off pitch)
Whereas
The "Technically Gifted Multitude" school requires a bunch of such who ALL compete even if not first choice

Roberto Martinez clearly thinks beyond the box, whilst Davey Moyes as his predecessor had a very well thought through tactical regimen

In every form of contest, when the majority think in one fashion, then the possibility emerges that "Other Thinking" has its value

Presently the "target-less" formations are in vogue, but things change

The purchase cost of a "One Man Strike Force" PLUS the weekly outlay versus the return from an attacking/technical midfield ?

We have FULL backs who's scoring records almost explode the "need for a stiker" mindset

As I said, a bunch of stuff that's been on my mind, I haven't necessarily come to any single solid conclusion

Lukaku ? Kone ? Traore ? Naismith ?

Yes/maybe/Who knows, but certainly Roberto doesn't allow his thinking to be as narrow as Sam "Where will I buy a new head now that Hallow'een is over" ?

All a bit rich from a club who have 25+ players out on loan and have just spent £20m+ on some kids who will... go out on loan.

He's had a season of two halfs - one with scoring and one without. But look at his general play, even without the ball, he creates space for others, and there's only been a few times he's miscontrolled!

I only thinks he needs the competition. He'll be rotated a lot more with Traore, and that should bring out the best with him. The same would have happened if Kone was fit.

20 million is a bargain for someone who is already proven in the Premier League and has the potential he has.

Cheers Kevin. Football genius.

I'm not convinced by Lukaku yet but then we're not firing on all cylinders in the final third. Defence and midfield look good and whilst we have a lot of potential going forward now we lack the killer pass.

Blowing all our cash on Rom isn't the way forward as it'll mean we'll probably have to sell next time we want to improve the squad. I remember Kone's movement before he got injured, he knows how to play the forward role Martinez wants, I hope he recovers well.

Martinez has expressed his desire to use the loan system to bring the top talent of Europe to Goodison for a season or two if possible, I like the fact we have Del Boy and Lukaku. Next season we might see two knew exciting talents come and play for us.

I'd like to think Martinez knows who he wants and he could spend the money more wisely and get more quality players in. This Christmas period has seen us lose pace with the leaders, to maintain the level required we need a bigger squad with better players.

To have been in the running for a while shows how far we've come under Roberto but it's been relentless. To maintain a title challenge you have to win every week. That's a new pressure for everyone, the highs are higher and lows are lower.

It's reassuring that we're not at our best yet, we're still learning as a team and if things go according to plan we'll be even better next season.

Tony (706) and Matt (709) I agree with your sentiments completely. I haven't been much of a poster but have done so more recently in response to the some of the significant criticisms that a lot of the players are getting.
Tony regards your notes on modern tactics - isn't this what we achieved most with in the 1980's? One big one and one little one with goals chipped in from other sources?

Hi Dave! You got me on the ropes here; I'm ducking and weaving! I still think "bargain players" are a rarity. In the cases you mention (duck,duck,weave,weave) I'd say these were team players who, when put together, made a formidable combination.Not outstanding individuals.
But Baines of course has been our find of the era. The meek shall inherit .......etc Lukaku has been expected to be somebody really special, started promisingly and now , are we seeing why Maurinho prefers others? I'm disapointed in him at the moment and so are my Blue mates. I'd buy Del Boy though if we could.

I think Lukaku it showing all the signs of a frustrated player. Poor control, snatching at chances, over thinking situations.

For example if you take someone who has exemplary table etiquette and don't feed them for a week, they will feed like a crazed zombie. Not that you get zombies who eat brains with etiquette of course.

He is also coming deeper or going out wide to get into the game, meaning when he does get on the ball he has to beat players which is not something that he seems to be good at doing if I am honest.
Ross has fantastic drive and a great shot on either foot, but has yet to make a single assist this season so creating chances for others is not in his repertoire yet. Lukaku seems to be one of these strikers that sits on the shoulder of the last defender looking for runs into space, it seems quite obvious that unless you play him in, he wont score.

So in summary, has he turned into a poor striker, or is our system too slow in getting the ball up front to give him the type of chances he seems to thrive on? I think he is simply not getting the right balls through to him at the moment, nor does it seem to be the case that we are trying to change our system to accomodate him. Could it be that RM does not see him as the right forward man for us?

Gutted it's been reported in Spain that Barcelona won't be allowing Deulofeu out on loan for another season. In my opinion he is the one who will go the furthest out of all the players at the club.

Robbie, I saw this yesterday but it was on Tuttosport, which is basically a blog/fanzine. If we get European footy next season surely that would be beneficial to his further development. He won't be anymore than a sub for Barca so it's in everyone's interest for him to stay a season longer.

Ross doesn't have an assist but he has started many goal scoring moves. He assists the assist...so to speak. He has also won free kicks from which we have scored.

As for Lukaku. A lovely lad who has made a difference but his game depends on good, regular service and he'd be better off moving elsewhere. Of course, I might be totally wrong. If he stays and is a success I will be delighted.

Personally, I'm a big Mourinho fan but we can't afford the type of striker he would like to use in the modern game. An Eto'o, Rooney, Suarez, Kun aguero, Cavani etc. Strong, brave, quick, alert, skilful finishers with a very high workrate. Not reliant on a good service and willing to graft for the good of the team.

The Kone injury was a massive blow for Martinez but, to his credit, he has not moaned about it. Bringing in Lukaku was a master stroke and we now await his latest aquisition. The new number 28, Traore. At 6'-8", not exactly a normal everyday signing but Martinez must see something in him he likes and from what little we've spotted on You Tube, he can make his own chances and has a left foot like a cannon. Let's hope we've found a winner.

Like many others I have my doubts regarding Lukaku. However, I’m prepared to leave it up to Roberto as to whether he wishes to try and sign him on a permanent basis.

Personally, I’m happy with the business he’s done in this window and look forward to seeing who he’s going to bring in in the summer, either permanent or on a loan basis. I’m hoping however that some significant permanent signings are made.

I've a lot of time for Lukaku. Excellent young player whose future probably won't be decided till after the World Cup. It would be great to sign him but the fee is possibly beyond us. My suspicion is that he'll end up abroad and probably have a nomadic career around Europe's top clubs. It seems clear that Chelski are more interested in a player at the peak of his powers rather than an extremely promising younger player so a move is certainly on the cards.

To my mind, Lukaku is showing all the signs of relative inexperience rather than frustration - his form dips occasionally, he is great when is on top of his game and I've a feeling that he'll come good towards the end of the season when the pitches are easier. After all, this was the happened last year when he was at WBA.

The lad has the ability to improve even more with the right coaching and supporting players which I believe Everton have but he won't score in every game and will have periods where he doesn't shine but all target men go through that.

He is a different type of player than that of a Messi or Ratboy but nonetheless could be a big asset if Everton sign him permanently but I suspect Chelski will welcome him back no matter what Mourinho says as the likes of Etoo and Ba are very disappointing these days.

He's only young and don't laugh but I liken him to a Bob Latchford only a little quicker.

I could see Arsenal going in for him.

Tom I agree I thought that when I first saw him playing for W Brom.

The debate about whether we can afford him is irrelevant as we do not know if he wants to stay at the club.

If he has a good World Cup I think he'll be off anyway even if we get to top 4 spot.

As for Deulofeu, I would prefer we don't keep him for another season. We will get used to him being there, he would become an integral part of the team and then he is off after we have really developed him.

Linda, perhaps the opposite is true.

He may want to stay at the club if we can afford him (his wages).

Lukaka may be let go for £15-20 mill in transfer fees but the stumbling block will be the wages he will want.

Everton's wage structure, allthough fair, cannot start paying outrageous wages just because players think their transfer fee diserves it.

Like some others, I have my doubts regarding Lukaku but am willing to go by Roberto’s judgement if he does try to sign him.

I’m sure he knows whether he’s up to it or not.

Linda, I think Deulofeu would prefer another season with us than a season yo-yoing between the Barca bench and B team.

Lukaku is just a kid whose form has dipped. He'll come good again. I also think he needs competition for his place to get the best out of him. He's taken his foot off the pedal in the last month because his place has been assured. At £20 million he'd be a steal. Even if it doesn't work out, he'd have plenty of re-sale value. My guess is he would go on to become a top player...