Lukaku on target again for Belgium

, 5 June, 94comments  |  Jump to most recent
Romelu Lukaku has now scored in four straight pre-Euro2016 friendlies after firing in the opening goal for his country against Norway today.

The 23-year-old was in the starting line-up after coming on as a substitute against Finland last week and he rifled home from the edge of the box to put the Red Devils ahead to notch his 12th international goal.

The Norwegians turned the match on its head to lead 2-1 at one stage but Belgium recovered and eventually won 3-2.  



Reader Comments (94)

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Peter McHugh
1 Posted 05/06/2016 at 17:38:16
Keep it going in the tournament Rom
Keith Harrison
2 Posted 05/06/2016 at 17:42:13
Great. His value should be going up again.
Colin Glassar
3 Posted 05/06/2016 at 17:57:42
Natural born goalscorer, Keith.
Brian Williams
4 Posted 05/06/2016 at 17:59:59
Bet he doesn't bloody score during the Euro's knowing our luck!!
Henrik Lyngsie
5 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:03:43
Since Denmark did not qualify Bendter won't be the top scorer. I think Lukaku will be top scorer and we will sell him for 100 million after the tournament.
Alan Bodell
6 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:05:43
'Rifled it home' ? , not a scuff or a mishit so the lad is certainly putting himself in the shop window and I bet his work rate was impressive too so good to hear before the lazy twat fucks off for good leaving us with a health profit and dressing room devoid of a constant wantaway.
Keith Harrison
7 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:08:22
No he isn't Colin, disagree with you there mate. He scuffs more than he scores, and his positional sense is quite poor. He is a scorer, but definitely not natural. Look at any penalty he has ever taken, and let me know which one he hit 'sweetly', because I can't remember it. He tends to flick with the side of his foot, instead of connecting properly and getting his foot through it.
Regardless, the way he, his family, and his agent have conducted themselves this year - without a peep of admonishment from OFM - means I personally would like the club to cahs in on the mostly lazy sod, and get a 'natural' finisher who tries to the last, and runs his blood to water, a la Aguero, and even that tw*t Suarez.
Colin Glassar
8 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:17:37
Keith, despite being a Martinez supporter I have now, regrettably, come to the conclusion that he screwed up players like Lukaku, Ross and Stonesy with his laissez faire attitude. Roberto was of the mind that these young players didn't need coaching, discipline or fitness and so, basically, left them to their own devices.

Put these three lads into the hands of a tough, experienced manager who will work on their weaknesses, while developing their natural talents, and I think you will see a different animal. Look at poor Ross for example, he looks like a lost soul on the pitch. Doesn't know what to do, what position to take up, to tackle or shadow etc.... It's a fucking crime in my book.

Keith Harrison
10 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:31:28
Agree with you mate - except Rom is NOT a 'natural' goalscorer. IF Koeman comes, I agree Ross and JS will come on leaps and bounds. Rom will hopefully bound out of Goodison. He has no respect for anything to do with the club, so ship him. Pronto.
Colin Glassar
11 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:34:49
Well if Rom does go there are plenty of replacements out there. I just hope we get a barrow full of dough and spend it wisely.
Paul Olsen
12 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:53:00
Great goal by Rom, but his overall game was very poor once again.

Except the goal it is hard to say what he really contributes with tonight.

Gerry Quinn
13 Posted 05/06/2016 at 18:59:58
Totally disagree - it may have been a great strike, but - AS USUAL - an absolutely shocking first touch and lucky to get that bounce off the defender...typical feckin Luckaku. Tell you what though, his brother had quite a game there at left back.
Gareth Clark
14 Posted 05/06/2016 at 19:04:35
£65mil at least, at the rate he is going!

Janssen from AZ in the Eredivisie- 21years old, ambidextrous, top scorer in the league.

Strong, holds the ball well, around quality, and a good attitude - which Rom proved to us, is vital!

First choice striker for Netherlands already - and with Koeman hopefully coming in, we should be able to get him!

Janssen (ST)
Wijnaldum (CM)
Ziyech (CAM/RW/LW)

Would be my 3 first signings -
Along with Mat Ryan (GK) from Valencia and a right sided central defender, to replace Jagielka in a season or two - someone like Dragovic, strong and good in the air - no nonsense, while still good with the ball.

I'd play stones at CDM!

GK: Ryan, Robles (personally hope we get a better back up)

RB: Coleman, Kenny, Connelly

RCB: Dragovic, Jagielka, Browning,

LCB: Funes Mori, Galloway, Foulds

LB: Baines, Garbutt, Oviedo

CDM: Stones, McCarthy, Besic

CM: Wijnaldum, Cleverley, Davies

CAM: Barkley, Dowell, Tarashaj

RW: Deulofeu, Lennon, (Tarashaj), (Ziyech)

LW: Ziyech, Mirallas, (Tarashaj)

ST: Janssen, Niasse, (Tarashaj)

---------------

4-1-1-1-3 / 4-1-1-3-1

Ryan
Coleman Jagielka Funes Mori Baines
Stones
Wijnaldum
Barkley
Deulofeu Janssen Ziyech

Robles, Dragovic, Garbutt, Besic, Tarashaj, Mirallas, Niasse.

Send Galloway on loan - get him fit, and muscled up!

Christopher Wallace
16 Posted 05/06/2016 at 19:25:08
Lukaku is a prick.

That is all

Christopher Wallace
17 Posted 05/06/2016 at 19:34:04
Bacca, Aguero, Sturridge, Suarez, Griezmann, Lewandowski, Defoe, benzema, Higuain, etc are all natural goalscorers.

Lukaku is a good striker, and he gets his fair share of goals. He just isn't a good enough finisher, in my opinion, to be considered as a predator.

Dan Aspinall
18 Posted 05/06/2016 at 19:35:19
Lukaku out, Mane in?
Arild Andersen
19 Posted 05/06/2016 at 19:41:24
Well, I'm Norwegian and I saw the match. Have to say that Lukaku played 87 mins after his goal and were very ordinary throughout, Even though he had a nice pass to de Bruyne before Hazard's goal. It was the familiar story: Missed a couple of clear opportunities and the less said about his first touch the better. And Norway's two central defenders play in 2nd Bundesliga and the Norwegian premier, they are not and will never be Champions league material. Belgium didn't look like Euro favourites to me, their defence especially porous.
Alan Bodell
20 Posted 05/06/2016 at 19:51:50
Arild, good to hear from you mate as most Scandinavians support the Red Shite so keep our Blue flag flying over there and we'll soon be well over the lot over the park.
Mark Frere
21 Posted 05/06/2016 at 20:21:10
I've no qualms about letting Rom leave (for the right price), but I do question his attitude. I do think his all round game has improved since we first took the raw 19 year old on loan from Chelsea. His first touch (although by no means perfect) has got much better as well as his link-up play.

He was in sparkling form right up until the period after our semi final with Man Utd; he scored that wonder goal and I remember many people at the time saying they wouldn't swap him for any other PL striker. Rom could quite easily have finished the season top PL scorer... but his form after was truly woeful - he was nothing but a passenger. That can be the same criticism aimed at many of our players because it was clear they no longer wanted to play for Martinez. But Rom, his dad and his agent continually bang on about how he should be playing in the CL for one of the top clubs... well I'm afraid he should've applied himself much better because if a top club is going to fork out £60 million on a player, they are going to want a player with the right attitude - not a player that picks and chooses when to perform. It's all well and good being ambitious... but he has to do the working hard bit as well.

I really hope he has a good tournament so his market value will be highly inflated. I'm fed up with him thinking he's too big for our club. Good riddance.

El-ray Jackson
22 Posted 05/06/2016 at 20:54:10
Christopher Wallace @ 17

The only time Lukaku resembled a predator was when he had his deadlocks!

Jim Potter
23 Posted 05/06/2016 at 20:57:30
Happy if if he goes for mega money ...... happy if he stays under a sound coach who plays to his strengths.

Happier still if he, his Dad, granddad, agent, pedicurist, dry cleaner, etc, keep their gobs shut.

Mark Pierpoint
24 Posted 05/06/2016 at 22:08:55
Gareth, Stones is a centre half and a good one. He just needs bad habits coaching out of him. He is not a midfield player...

Rest of it is a bit football manager don't you think? More to buying players than what you suggest.

Raymond Fox
25 Posted 05/06/2016 at 22:30:58
If someone offers £60m for Lukaku and the same for Stones, snatch their hands off.

Of the two, I'd sooner keep Lukaku, but then again he's always whining on about wanting Champions League football so sell them both.

It's no use blaming Martinez for everything including the weather when we don't have a clue what really went on in training etc.
Stones doesn't look a natural defender to me; get rid. He gave me the jitters every time he was in our defence.

Pretty going forward but, as a defender, not pretty – add to that he didn't waste any time wanting to go to Chelsea, did he?

Denis Richardson
26 Posted 05/06/2016 at 22:33:35
Gareth 14, not sure if you've been hitting the Championship Manager a bit hard.

I've never seen or heard of a 4-1-1-1-3 formation and the team you've listed looks like it's got 5 defenders and 5 attackers – seems to be missing something....

Kevin Rowlands
27 Posted 05/06/2016 at 22:40:55
Good news, the more he scores the more we get, hope he gets a bagful in the tournament and then some numpty hands over £65 million. Personally I can't wait to see him leave the club.
Mick Davies
28 Posted 05/06/2016 at 22:47:59
Raymond @ 25, hear hear. Lukaku's been (rightly) hammered on here but Stones actually put a transfer request in, yet gets away with it! He has disrespected the fans who helped to make him who he is, by supporting him through his many mistakes. How does he repay us? By preferring to play for the most repugnant, classless outfit in English football.

Fuck him I say, he's not as good as he thinks he is; it's okak doing the runs out of defence and Panenkas. We all knew lads who had the tricks at school but couldn't do it on the pitch, and he just can't defend competently... £40-50m and we can buy someone better, or promote one of the younger lads to the 1st team

Trevor Lynes
29 Posted 06/06/2016 at 00:31:23
I cannot understand the anti Lukaku comments on here.This lad has scored more goals than the rest of our side put together.Who is going to score for us.Fans are counting Cleverley as a squad player next season.If we are to actually win anything we will need to get rid of the drones and Cleverley is certainly one of those.We need to ship out at least a dozen of our present squad otherwise it will be another mediocre season.Lukaku scored the best goal of the FA cup run and the likes of Barkley pales into insignificance IMO.We presently have a team of non scorers.Just look at the stats, they speak for themselves.Football is about goals, scoring and preventing.If we lose Lukaku we will struggle with this punch less squad.
Damian Wilde
30 Posted 06/06/2016 at 00:31:25
Part of me wants him to have a shit Euros, so we can give him the bird and say 'not so big now are you billy big bollocks, eh?' Some idiot will still pay a ton for him anyway.
Mark Andersson
31 Posted 06/06/2016 at 02:21:08
Trevor the reason some people give Rom a hard time is he's disrespectful and not as good as he thinks he is.

We still don't have a manager were no longer a selling club, however what is the point of keeping any player that wants to go.

Bring in the right manager and players and take a leaf out of last seasons champions.

Jim Knightley
32 Posted 06/06/2016 at 02:49:12
Unbelievable. Do some of you guys even think through what you write?

Lukaku is not a natural scorer?

Firstly - there is no such thing as a natural scorer. There are players that score. They were not born with a natural awareness of where to stand in the penalty area and how to put their foot through a football.

Next - scuffing a ball does not mean that a player is not a 'natural' scorer. Ruud Van Nistelrooy was a scuffer and he was also one of the finest penalty box strikers in modern football. Do any of those using the 'natural' goal scorer tag think Nistelrooy wasn't one of those?

You might argue that Lukaku is not a 'natural' footballer, by which one would mean that he is not technically gifted. You could argue that because his touch sometimes lets him down. Of course, his touch is not actually that bad, but for some bizzare reason certain fans exaggerate the weaknesses of our players without watching other teams play football, and other strikers miss-control balls.

Lukaku is a 'natural' goal scorer, even if there is no such thing as a natural goal scorer, because he scores goals! It is not possible to argue in the same breath that Lukaku doesn't have a good first touch, has poor positioning and is not natural goal scorer! How exactly does he score so many goals then?

Can someone explain that to me? Lukaku managed 119 goals before his 23rd birthday, including 60 in the Premier league in 4 seasons.

Lukaku scored more league goals this season than any other Everton player has in the Premier League era. He is the first player since Sharpe to score 20plus goals in successive seasons. He scored in 8 successive games this season, and was the first Everton player to do so in over half a century. He has scored 7 successive goals against the same opponent (West Ham). Dixie Dean was the last player to do that.

And he turned 23 last month.

Some of you guys can lie to yourselves as much as you want. You can throw your toys out the pram, as you did a year ago when Lukaku's form had dropped, because he wants to leave. But Lukaku is a demonstrably great striker. He knows where to stand. He is a finisher. He can run at players, he can hassle players, and he can link up play. His 6 assists this season, which is more than Kane and Aguero combined, demonstrate that.

Lukaku may be arrogant. He may be wrong for talking about a move away from Goodison. But a player can be arrogant, overly boastful, disrespectful and still be a top player. Two things will happen this summer: Lukaku will leave, and we will get at least £45million from the sale. This would represent a significant profit. Or Lukaku will stay because we don't want to sell him/persuade him that we have enough ambition. But one thing will stay the same: Lukaku will remain one of the best prospects in world football. Why? Because he knows where the goal is. This season's 25 goals testifies to that.

William Cartwright
33 Posted 06/06/2016 at 04:01:57
Raymond (25).

Sorry to disagree but Roberto was responsible for the debacle at Everton last two seasons, and Moyes' defense carried him through the season before. Refer to the following:-

He spurned the opportunity to play the youngsters. He deconstructed the medical team. He failed to manage the key components and the general structure of the team. He played players too soon when coming back from injury. He undermined the position of Tim Howard. He allowed utter dross to be bought into the club. He irritated all listeners with repetitive use of adjectives. He confused all listeners at press conferences. He allowed cliques to develop within the dressing room. He scuppered the careers of Jags and Baines (in parallel with injuries). He managed to turn Coleman into a non effective player. He isolated Garbutt. He alienated Distin. He was inconsistent with the players eg Baines and Lukau. He did not understand the importance of fitness. He ignored Connelly after a spirited debut game. He refused to acknowledge his responsibilities and blamed everyone and everything for the failings around and within. He failed to discipline Rom for his continued disrespect for the Club and his team mates. He continuously talked up the opposition before games before they started. He continuously talked up the performances after we lost. He did not understand the timing of substitutions. He was guilty of playing people out of position. He did not understand the basic principles of how defense. He surrounded himself with psychophantic yes men to reinforce his ego. He concentrated on public relationships and personal marketing to deflect attention from his actual lack of ability. He cost the Club millions. He dropped Naysmith after scoring a perfect hat-trick. He Wiganized Everton.

OK perhaps he wasn't responsible for the weather, but just about every other negative thing at the Club. A small consolation is he may read ToffeeWeb and some of the barrage of heartfelt criticism may get through his elephanthide skin, but I doubt it.

Darren Hind
34 Posted 06/06/2016 at 06:38:27
"Do some of you guys even think through what you write" . . . "There are players who score. They were not born with a natural awareness of where to stand in the penalty area"

Did the same guy pen really pen these sentences ?

I'm guessing the irony is lost

Brian Porter
35 Posted 06/06/2016 at 06:48:42
This game was typical Lukaku. He scored in the fourth minute and was then virtually anonymous for the next 86 minutes against a defence maybe equivalent to a League one outfit. His recent scoring run also shows just how much he wasn't trying towards the End of last season as if we didn't already know it. I really don't care how good he is, or can be, this man's attitude towards his club absolutely stinks and he should be shown the door asap. He clearly thinks he's too good for us and believes he's better than he is. His constant bleating to the media, together with that of his father and agent can only be disruptive and destructive to team morale. Martinez should have disciplined and dropped him when he made his want away statements immediately after the Baines incident but weak management has only led to even more disruptive and disrespectful behaviour towards those who pay his millionaire wages. Get rid of Mr. Super Ego. I actually wonder just where he'll end up and just how far his ambition will.prove to outstrip his abilities. Unless he can put in a full 90 minutes of effort and graft I can't see any of the major CL contenders putting up with him for long. Be very careful what you wish for Romelu! Grass, greener etc etc.
Nigel Gregson
36 Posted 06/06/2016 at 07:23:17
Will 33 - let it go mate - Martinez is gone. The baying public got their wish, and we have already attributed all of the important issues including global warming, Donald Trump to him.
Keith Harrison
37 Posted 06/06/2016 at 08:15:48
Jim. Totally disagree. A natural goalscorer to me is an instinctive one. One whose 'instinct', in the first minute of a cup semi final, after rounding the keeper, would have hit the net, or hit his team mate who would have scored. His penalties, not just the semi, are gash. One on ones are more often spurned chances.
He gets a lot of goals because he is a GOOD striker, and Everton by and large did create a lot of chances earlier in the season.
Instinct puts people in the right place at the right time, with a high percentage of the right result.
This goes for both attacking and defending.
He may know where the goal is, but that doesn't mean he'll hit the back of it.
Keith Harrison
38 Posted 06/06/2016 at 08:21:04
I'm with you Dazza (34). I think the two pen references threw some though mate.
We should put an inflatable swimming pool in the penalty area at Goodison and encourage Evertonian mum to be's to 'birth naturally' in there. Think of the strikers we'd have in future who all knew where the box was. (No birthing pun intended)
Colin Glassar
39 Posted 06/06/2016 at 09:08:24
I really do get all the criticism of Rom (lazy) and Stonesy (dopey). Some of it justified, some not. One constantly infers that he wants away, the other committed the cardinal sin of actually submitting a transfer request!! Shock, horror, whatever. It happens, get over it.

Someone above said we don't know what goes on behind doors - true, we don't but these lads do. Maybe they've seen the way things were going behind closed doors and the didn't like it. Maybe they've seen, and heard, things that made them think they weren't going to achieve their goals at Everton. Who knows? But there's a new kid in town now. Maybe he can excite them and get them enthused about Everton once again.

Trevor Lynes
40 Posted 06/06/2016 at 11:05:47
Whoever becomes manager must own a magic wand as that should be a requirement of employment at Everton.

Lukaku will bring more money in a transfer than almost all the rest of our first team squad put together... For the record, I dearly hope that our next manager can convince Lukaku to stay at least another season as, without him I dread the future.

I have waited for the over rated Barkley and Stones to realize their supposed potential and I still cannot fathom what position would suit Barkley. He is not defensive but does not score often enough. He is not creative enough and lacks stamina. I don't know whether he should start or come on as a super sub as he does not see games out well.

Deulofeu is another enigma, started the season very well and provided assists for Lukaku but then drifted quite poorly. Mirallas is another very inconsistent player who blows hot and cold.

Without Jags at centre back we suffer defensively. Barry is coming close to the end of his career and we do not have a younger edition ready to take his place.

I am not over enthused about Besic, Cleverley and McCarthy as they are IMO drones. Just average midfielders who are not of sufficient class to play in a side with Championship ambitions. None of those three would get into to any top six side.

We are carrying a lot of ageing has-beens and a few never-wases eg; Gibson, Kone, McGeady etc etc. Niassie looks like a really poor waste of money. A player costing over £13 million should be slotting into the first team, otherwise, why buy him?

We need to move far quicker in the transfer windows as we never get any supposed targets.

All the above is correct and the new manager has got a tremendous job to perform to change the attitude and ambitions of our once great club. As a long -tanding Evertonian I hope and pray that the new manager has the midas touch.

Tony J Williams
41 Posted 06/06/2016 at 12:37:50
I would prefer it if he stays, he is a good goalscorer and has just gone two seasons with 20+ goals.

When was the last time we had that?

Imagine if the whole team hadn't fallen out with Bobby? He could have ended up with the Golden Boot and we might have been fighting for a Europa League place.

On the minus side, he is a big headed dick (however, which forward isn't?)

Arrogance is a good quality sometimes but he is nowhere as good as he believes he is, but saying that I hope he stays... which is unlikely.

Peter Roberts
42 Posted 06/06/2016 at 13:00:49
The lad looks fresh doesn't he? Why wouldn't he... he's rested the last 10 or so games.

Back to doing what he does best, scoring goals against crummy defenses whilst showing the touch of an elephant.

Let's hope he nets a few and gets the big bids in. Can't wait to see the back of him.

Davie Turner
43 Posted 06/06/2016 at 13:41:07
Doesn't matter a jot what we think, if the new manager wants Rom to stay and convinces him to stay Rom will score goals, and if not we will get some decent cash, as close to a win win as you can get really.
Kieran Kinsella
44 Posted 06/06/2016 at 13:54:37
Tony

I don't think the whole team fell out with Martinez based on comments from Barry and Howard.

Trevor Lynes
45 Posted 06/06/2016 at 16:34:02
Peter..we have not had a real scorer for years apart from Rom and you cannot wait to see the back of him ????On the books at the moment we have Niassie and Kone to take Lukaku's place and score the goals.Barkley is not a regular goal scorer and Mirallas has been inconsistent although he is the nearest to a goal scorer we have at present excluding Rom.

When and if Lukaku leaves who will score the plus 20 goals that is required from a striker ? When you can answer that question I will wait with bated breath.

Dave Abrahams
46 Posted 06/06/2016 at 17:01:06
Trevor (40) from your post it looks like all we've got is Lukaku and he is going to the highest bidder.

Looks like we are fucked then, unless you are wrong of course. I don't think we are as poor as you make out and if some players move out some will move in to take their places. Let's give Mr. Moshiri a chance to try and change the face of the Everton we have had to endure under the last chairman, I'll wager things will improve with Moshiri.

Alan Bodell
47 Posted 06/06/2016 at 18:55:38
Peter #42, a lot of Blues don't go every game to see the lazy twat miscue loads of chances and only see tv. highlights.
Alan Bodell
48 Posted 06/06/2016 at 18:55:38
Peter #42, a lot of Blues don't go every game to see the lazy twat miscue loads of chances and only see tv. highlights.
Peter Howard
49 Posted 06/06/2016 at 18:57:21
Hasn't he yet told Marc Wilmots that he wants to play for a country that are in the World Cup?
Peter Roberts
50 Posted 06/06/2016 at 21:31:11
Trevor 45. We haven't had a goalscorer who does blah blah for x years. Seriously?

When we paid £28m for him it probably covered the combined cost of 15 strikers signed before him... that's how low we've had to shop. Yet a few of those strikers would beat him in a fair few aspects of the game.

Stop all the romanticism- he's bang average with a poor attitude. I expect us to spend half the money we get for him on a far better player.

Trevor Lynes
51 Posted 06/06/2016 at 22:42:13
Peter, I do not know how long you have been supporting Everton but you must have watched our last dozen so called strikers with the bluest tinted glasses available.I have not seen a striker of his age playing for Everton and scoring so many goals in a pretty average side.I have not seen a striker with his strength and goal stats in our team for ages.Name me one of the last dozen or even further back who scored as often as he has.He is still a very young player and I for one want him to STAY.If Moshiri and whoever we eventually get for a manager can get him to stay for another season I will be delighted.There is no player of our present squad who would be missed so much as lukaku.Barkley has never reached his supposed potential and he is an enigma IMO as he cannot defend but scores very sporadically.He is not creative and lacks stamina.Take Lukaku out of our present side and we would be in a relegation fight as we have a load of non scorers in the starting eleven.
Trevor Lynes
52 Posted 06/06/2016 at 22:52:54
Just checked the stats of league goals since 1995/6.

Kanchelskis scored 16 in 95/6

Yakubu scored 15 in 2007/8

Saha scored 13 in 2009/10

Lukaku scored 15 in "013/14

Lukaku scored 18 in 2015/16

Lukaku is the only striker playing for EFC who appears twice in the past 20 years in the league top goal scorers column and he is by far the youngest.

Peter Roberts
53 Posted 06/06/2016 at 23:52:16
I've been watching Everton since 1984 Trevor. I also understand a fair bit about forward play. The very fact that posters like yourself continuously post goal stats about him suggests you have no real understanding of how inept he is in so many aspects of the game.

Under Moyes the striker was never going to be the focal point of scoring goals... he used the 5th midfielder - Cahill or fellaini as the lucky recipient of the space created by the poor sod who had to run channels and distract the centre halves. Yak and Saha suffered terrible under Moyes, as did many a striker.

Too many of you got carried away like little 12 year old kids. Start watching football with your eyes, not reading stats.

Dennis Ng
54 Posted 06/06/2016 at 00:06:27
I don't see myself as a peace maker but I'm of a mix of opinions from both Trevor's and Peter's.

The strike rate of Lukaku is awesome, most we've scored since whoever...Don't remember any striker scoring more goals since I started in 1990...

BUT, we're scoring more at the expense of conceding more. Would he score more under the OFFM system? Or any other more balanced system for that matter? And his first touch is still suspect. He seems unable to alter the game to lift the team, only doing well when the team plays to his style.

Then again, he's young and have time to fix that IF (AND ONLY IF) he wants to. Based on his recent public posturing, I can't be bothered with him when he's not playing for us. I highly doubt that attitude will carry him far.

Paul Kossoff
56 Posted 07/06/2016 at 01:41:17
Such a pity that the useless lazy get couldn't do the same for us in the cup semi final, bleeding typical he finds his form now.

Apparently Chelsea are wanting him, well so long as we make them pay over £50 million they can have him, and no I don't wish him any luck at all.

Eric Myles
58 Posted 07/06/2016 at 03:57:41
Maybe if the Arsenal deal for Vardy goes through Lukaku will want to go to Leicester?
Trevor Lynes
59 Posted 07/06/2016 at 12:02:37
Peter, I do not know what level of the game you played but I played pro football so do understand the nuances of forward play.

I played schoolboy football with Temple and A'Court and then played in the old third division north with Southport who was a league side then.I played against wainwright and grant who both played for Everton.

perhaps you played at a higher level ????

Most strikers are based on goals they score and many Everton strikers of the past did not have good all around ability.Catterick was pretty woeful as was Dodds and many others.Linekar, Cottee, latchford, Pickering, Royle, Hickson, John Willie Parker, Wainwright did not chase back or work in any other part of the pitch except the business end.Even Vernon and Young, both of whom had great first touches did not work much off the ball.

Guys like Johnson and Bent did everything except score enough goals to get themselves into the top scoring columns.

I prefer strikers who score goals I am afraid....players like Shearer, Linekar, Vernon, latchford, Aguero and LUKAKU who will improve as he gets older and more experienced.I just hope our top brass can persuade him to see out his contract with us as we can build a decent side around him.

Peter Roberts
60 Posted 07/06/2016 at 12:23:07

I was at Crewe as a striker up till 14 where an injury forced me out for 18 months and I quit to play golf.

I couldn't care less where my ability ranks against yours - my knowledge of forward play is that goals are only part of the measure of the player.

Give me a 13 prem goals a season striker who allows his team to advance their midfielders and defence in the knowledge that he will look after the ball versus a penalty box operator with a poor touch, awful work rate who requires a specific style of direct play to benefit.

Lukaku is no more a great forward than Tony Cottee... both have their own agenda that sits outside of the team. Give me the Peter Beardsley from 91 -92 any day of the week. You'd probably disagree with that.

Ian Jones
61 Posted 07/06/2016 at 12:44:09
Peter @ 60.
Out of interest, where do your feelings lie re Gary Lineker?
Graham Mockford
62 Posted 07/06/2016 at 12:53:40
All the usual suspects I see. Fuck me any post that mentions Lukaku is like catnip.

We get it, you don't rate him. Give it a bleeding rest.

Peter Roberts
63 Posted 07/06/2016 at 12:59:21
Lineker? He had the highest goal tally and we didn't win the league... like Rom the team was set up for him to score... if he didn't we struggled. His lean spell cost us the league.

The one thing I would say is he worked far harder than Lukaku, was a better finisher.

Lineker and Lukaku highlight the fact that goals scored by the striker aren't everything. Strikers who enable the team to score whilst contributing themselves (suarez, Beardsley, rooney) are far more important.

Jay Wood
64 Posted 07/06/2016 at 13:07:23
Trevor and Peter.

A tendency of some posters on here is, as you both do in regard to your opinions about Lukaku, is to reference some personal life experience to give extra gravitas to your opinion.

Frankly, I think it's an irrelevance that you had a professional football career Trevor. After all, aren't many a ex-professional punter (quite rightly) ridiculed for some of the observations they make? Being an ex-pro doesn't guarantee your opinion is more valid than others.

Similarly Peter, I'm not convinced that training with Crewe as a spotty kid of 14 elevates you to Buddah-like status with greater insight in what makes a good striker.

I say that not to deny or denigrate your opinion on Romelu. Just to point out such self-acclamation doesn't wash it with me.

My own opinion on RL remains unchanged: if at all possible he should be retained. He is of the age and profile we should be recruiting, not offloading.

Tom Bowers
65 Posted 07/06/2016 at 13:11:08
How can anyone criticize Rom ?
He is a proven goalscorer and still young. He will score goals wherever he goes but he has his limitations.
Sure he is no Messi, Aguerro or Ronaldo but a different type of offensive player.
With the right team strategy and supporting players he his a big threat. Last season with Barklay and Kone giving good support it worked for Everton but then as we know the form of both those players waned dramatically and Rom suffered.
Moving ahead, Rom may stay or go but if he stays I am sure he will benefit from the new manager's decisions.
Craig Walker
66 Posted 07/06/2016 at 13:18:09
Trevor, you make some valid points. He does get goals but his problem is that he needs 5 chances before he'll stick one away. The semi-final was a case in point. For a forward of his build he should be bossing defenders but he's in the Anichebe mould of too easily being dispossessed and then waving his arms around. When he gets the bit between his teeth he can be a good player but that happens too infrequently for my liking.

I also don't get this "he's only 23". Rooney was commanding games at 16. Pele was a world cup winner in his teens. I'd argue that if you can't trap a ball at 23, you will never learn that skill. The ability to control a football is bred-in.

It's important to me that we have players who want to be at Everton FC. Rom doesn't because he thinks he's too good. It's Fellaini all over again. Get shut.

It might be unpopular but I'd also get rid of Stones and Barkley and reinvest the money in better players, of which there are many.

These are exciting times but there is a lot of work to be done by Koeman or whoever becomes our next manager.

David Barks
67 Posted 07/06/2016 at 13:36:08
Ok then. Please name me one striker who scores more than 50% of their shots. Seriously. I am so sick to death of this line that he misses make than he makes. That is literally every striker!!

Aguero, takes multiple shots a game and will not score in every match. He averaged 3.6 shots per game in 45 games and ended up with 29 goals, including the champions league. Vardy, averaged 3.1 shots per game, played 42 games. He scored 27. Lukaku also averaged 3.1 shots per game in 47 games and ended up with 25 goals.

Any of those numbers nearing 50%? Not close. Strikers shoot more than they score, it's so damn simple and so idiotic to keep laying that as negative at the feet of Lukaku.

Alan Bodell
68 Posted 07/06/2016 at 13:44:58
All the usual suspects I see, any post involving the lazy twat gets the same old praise, we get it you rate him so give it a bleeding rest ffs.
It's not 50% of his efforts that hit the net but more like 5% and most are either mishits or scuffs, even the goal against the shite in the derby was a mishit.
Graham Mockford
69 Posted 07/06/2016 at 13:48:45
Alan

You couldn't make my point any more eloquently.

Peter Roberts
70 Posted 07/06/2016 at 13:53:17
Jay... that's why I said I don't care where my ability ranks against his.

It is fair to say that aside from his goal tally (against mainly weaker teams) lukaku offers very little to the team. If anything his lack of ability in winning aerial duels, passing accuracy and inability to control and look after the ball makes him a liability.

Do these extra goals make it worthwhile having him in the team? For me no. It's not like he's getting 20 prem goals... he has averaged 14 prem goals in his 3 seasons... not bad but certainly not ground breaking enough to have a player who loses possession a ridiculous amount of times.

Sell now. Defenders have him sussed, he lacks the technique to evade close inspection.

Jay Wood
71 Posted 07/06/2016 at 14:11:04
Alan and Peter.

I accept there is a case to be made to offload Lukaku.

You both have the tendency to either exaggerate or totally invent his failings and shortcomings.

As such, like Graham, given your evident dislike of the man, I don't find your opinions on the subject either convincing or credible.

Soz!

Ray Said
72 Posted 07/06/2016 at 14:49:57
Jim (32) really good post. I rate Lukaku so am a bit biased. For those who post that his touch can be poor sometime I would respond that his touch can also be great sometimes. To those who says he miss hits of scuffs his shot-well I don't care how they go in as long as they go in. Gerd Muller scuffed, mishit and basically had the ball bounce of him into the net sometimes. It doesnt matter as long as they go in.

The lazy gibe is annoying though-anyone could see that the lad was starved of passes to run onto for all the second half of the season through all the slow build up and fannying at the back. Give him something over the defence to get after and he shows great pace and determination and can be unplayable.

William Cartwright
73 Posted 07/06/2016 at 14:57:34
Nigel (36) . . . . . . .

Yes you are right. perhaps now it is time to let go. I have an appointment with my therapist next week so things should improve after that.

The thing is I was so nervous about the prospect of the relegated manager coming to the Blues (winning the Cup is a wonderful but often lucky achievement), but when we were rocking and rolling in his first season, and the bring Me Sunshine video was doing the rounds, then I was hooked. Trouncing the Arse only to be stumped by Crystal palace and 2 own goals against Southampton in the last two matches and I was really brought down to earth with a big wet whimper.

I still can't believe the guy could be so bloody stupid, arrogant, inflexible, pontificating, aloof, unrealistic, two-faced, smarmy, greedy, superficial, snake oiled, brown shoed, inconsistent, indefensible, . . . . Oh dear, there I go again, get me out of here!

Paul Kossoff
74 Posted 07/06/2016 at 15:34:54
Big, lazy, overrated, selfish, wasn't there when needed in the semi-final, doesn't want to play for us anymore. Yes, I hope he scores lots in the Euros and we get £60 million for him.

I hope if he goes to a Premier League team and he spends most of the season sitting on the bench sulking –and we finish in the top four and he doesn't.

Paul Kossoff
75 Posted 07/06/2016 at 16:25:58
Jim 35, Could you explain how a 'natural goalscorer' could completely mess up five clear chances to score in the FA Cup semi-final? And do you agree that any 'natural goalscorer' you could name would have scored at least two of those chances?

I played as a striker in the Manx leagues and I was constantly moving and thinking, always aware. I wasn't big but worked on becoming super fit and very fast. Lukaku has none of those attributes, he's just big and has a fair shot, but he's lazy, arrogant and not as fit as he should be.

Keith Harrison
76 Posted 07/06/2016 at 22:45:44
Right.
Has anyone played at a level higher than me? I played against Alston Town away for Barnstoneworth United, upfront alongside Neville 'Baldy' Davitt.
It were bloody freezing in't middle o May and we won 74-3 because Baldy converted 164% on his chances.
We only conceded 3 because Billy Casper were swinging on't crossbar, and hadn't changed ends at half-time.
But you tell the kids of today that, and they won't believe yer!
Kieran Kinsella
78 Posted 07/06/2016 at 23:04:55
Did any of you read Wilmots comments where he said Belguim do 30 minutes shooting practice cause his strikers said they don't do that at their clubs? We know Everton didn't work on set pieces or running so what exactly did RM ask of Lukaku in training?
Keith Harrison
79 Posted 07/06/2016 at 23:09:52
How's your Dad, Rom? Agent okay? Dogs? Ponies? Still feeding the Fish?
Gavin McGarvey
80 Posted 07/06/2016 at 23:26:37
Obviously he's not everyone's cup of tea, judging by the comments on here, but as some others do I rate him. I remember his goal against Chelsea, and think if we bring in a number of players of a similar level and then maybe we won't be moaning about him not scoring 5 every game.
Peter Roberts
81 Posted 07/06/2016 at 23:58:39
Yep I remember Danny cadamarteris goal against Liverpool thinking "we've got a player here"...

Laurie Hartley
82 Posted 08/06/2016 at 12:39:37
Whenever anyone talks about a natural born goal scorer the first player that jumps into my head is this fella.

Have a look at his stats (402 goals in 622 games)
Link

Then have a look at a few of his goals (when hatchet men were hatchet men)
Link

Then have listen to his take on his own ability at the beginning of this interview.
Link

He was a menace.

Stan Schofield
83 Posted 08/06/2016 at 14:41:55
I hope Lukaku stays. He scores goals, arguably the main job of a striker. There are other areas for improvement (he's young) where he needs to be well managed. We're getting a new manager, who hopefully can provide that management. I'd like to see Lukaku performing under the new manager, before making any conclusions about his longer-term suitability for Everton. So I hope he's persuaded to stay, assuming the new manager wants that.
Graham Mockford
84 Posted 08/06/2016 at 18:17:25
Stan

In the name of God no!! I can't take anymore Lukaku threads.

Peter Roberts
85 Posted 08/06/2016 at 19:00:01
"oohh I hope lukaku finds it in his unbelievably intelligent and ambitious mind to allow the club to keep him for his contracted £80k a week for 2 more years.... I know it must have been really tough for him under Martinez - I mean this manager bought him for £28m when other teams scoffed, gave him pretty much a guaranteed start even when he wasn't playing well and had him taking penalties despite having a career record of 4 misses in 9...

I really hope Ronald koeman assures lukaku that having the touch of an elephant isn't an issue, and when Rom decides to take a well earned rest on the pitch for 5 games at a time he keeps him on in the chance that a ball falls to him. It would be awful if Koeman identified a good quality striker who could push lukaku for a starting place. I would like us to see us keep kone and niasse in order that there will be no chance the fans would see the big man subbed. If one of these lads does a Naismith and shows more big game quality than lukaku then I want koeman to sell them to a struggling club for good money.

Please stay Rom... please? I'm that desperate for you to stay that I'm prepared to forgive you for your constant disrespect to a grand football club that has had more class players than you have scored goals. "

Graham Mockford
86 Posted 08/06/2016 at 19:30:16
You see Stan , you see what you have done. You are just encouraging them !!
Darren Hind
87 Posted 08/06/2016 at 19:33:37
"them" ?

Hope your're still checking under your bed Mockers

Graham Mockford
88 Posted 08/06/2016 at 19:42:53
Darren

Don't need to check under the bed, I sleep on a futon as an homage to the 80s.

I will be glad when he's gone though, it's like fucking Groundhog Day !

Andy Crooks
89 Posted 08/06/2016 at 19:49:51
Clubs who are mote successful than us may want to sign Lukaku. I suspect they have knowledgeable people advising them. However, we have experts on here who can show them different. What utter bollocks. We should, in my view, if we have ambition, fight to keep him at let him develop into a great striker. It seems to me that his record under the worst coach in our history was pretty good.

I believe that there should be an amnesty for every one of our players who has been the victim of Martinez.

Peter Roberts
90 Posted 08/06/2016 at 20:55:13
Andy... who are these clubs who want to sign him??? Given that he is finding it necessary to tout himself left right and centre I don't think there is do you?

Maybe these clubs watched the FA cup semi final...

You see, when proper good strikers become available the big clubs spend the money. Look at city right now with aubamayeng... meanwhile Rom keeps pimping himself.

We will get good money for him, I think it's PSG, they were stupid enough to spend £50m on David Luiz so there is hope. In the French league he may actually still con fans that he's a good player. He may even get the players around him that mean he doesn't have to run much.

Graham Mockford
91 Posted 08/06/2016 at 20:59:43
Andy #89

For the love of God, you've set him off again.

Stan Schofield
92 Posted 08/06/2016 at 21:16:33
Graham, Lukaku has pissed me off with his disrespectful comments, but I'm prepared to be mega pissed-off given the prospect of the guy knocking goals in at the rate he's been doing, combined with the prospect of firm management controlling his behaviour better and improving team spirit.
Dave Abrahams
93 Posted 08/06/2016 at 21:21:18
Laurie (82), Laurie why put a link up for this man, just mention his name, Jimmy Greaves, then anyone whoever saw him, would just nod their head in agreement.

One of the very best I ever saw, scored for fun, just put his hand up in the air after scoring for a couple of seconds, then ran back to the centre circle, ready to score again, no wild celebration like they just invented the wheel.

Jimmy claimed he never earned more than £100per week all the time he played football, this as a basic wage.

Some one on another thread claims football is better today, don't think so, well for me it definitely isn't.

Stan Schofield
94 Posted 08/06/2016 at 21:33:50
Dave, agreed. But we're stuck with all the drama queen goal celebrations, and I suppose quite a few of the Prima donnas can get particularly arrogant when they've become millionaires in their early twenties in return for kicking a sphere around.

All the more necessity for strong, firm management to control behaviour. You can't make a player talented, but you can manage their attitude.
Laurie Hartley
95 Posted 08/06/2016 at 23:22:10
I suppose Dave, it's because nowadays, every now and then, nostalgia creeps in ;)
Graham Mockford
96 Posted 08/06/2016 at 23:25:27
Dave #93

I never saw live football until 1972 so I was never lucky enough to see Jimmy Greaves play but his goal scoring record speaks for itself.

The best five players I've seen play live

Colin Todd
Neville Southall
Peter Reid
Kenny Daglish ... I know but I saw him score three and lay on three in one game at Anfield.
Paul Gasgoine... But not in an Everton shirt

Tom Bowers
97 Posted 08/06/2016 at 23:39:51
As an old guy I was lucky enough to see Stanley Mathews, Tom Finney, Davy Hickson ,Georgie Best and Greavesy.
They were all great to watch for different reasons but If they were all playing in their prime today I have my doubts they could have the same impact thanks to the ''park the bus'' attitude of most of the Prem. teams.
When I see the likes of Sterling playing for England I realise how the standards have fallen.
Made me laugh when he said this week he will play anywhere for England in the Euros but I wouldn't have him the England Ladies team in their next Euros.
Colin Glassar
98 Posted 09/06/2016 at 10:10:37
Is it a Belgian thing? Naingolan(?) going on about Conte and the Chelsea lads saying he has to move to the chavs. I know it happens in other countries but the Belgians seem to be the worst of the lot.
Dave Abrahams
99 Posted 09/06/2016 at 23:23:48
Graham ( 96), yes five very good players, although Colin Todd never really did it for Everton in my opinion, loved Peter Reid, Dagleish, wish we would have had him, Gasgoine great, what a shame to see him now, needs plenty of help and Neville Southall ranks with the very best of goalkeepers from any era.

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