25 Oct 2018 19:55:19
I'm not lukakus biggest fan, but let's be fair when he's on form he's lethal. I just read something Gary neville wrote about him. And thst we need to stick with him. And it made me think, the amount of times the likes of Rooney, berb, chicharito etc had dips. We persisted with them. And i kinda agree. We've no direct replacement really. Martial, rashy and sanchez haven't really done better in reality. Let's hope he picks up and gets back to scoring because mourinho definitely won't be dropping him. Time to support, I have been the biggest critic and slagger of the players but this season is a write off. Support the team, not necessarily the manager if your view like me is he needs to go. We need to claw some dignity back, and it starts with support not toxicity.


1.) 25 Oct 2018
25 Oct 2018 20:19:26
I don't think the actual dip is an issue, it happened last season if i'm correct, it's the rest of his game that is a major issue, lack of control, quality, technique, touch, link-up play, he lacks it badly. Also just never seems to score against the big teams, something which the above players were very good at. Even when Lukaku runs with the ball he looks like he's going to fall over, needs to lose a few KG.


2.) 25 Oct 2018
25 Oct 2018 20:26:54
We put Ten men behind the ball against good teams. It’s going to be more difficult to score for him. Get a grip.


3.) 25 Oct 2018
25 Oct 2018 20:50:42
Scholar what do you mean he doesn't score against the big teams?

Didn't he get a hat trick against us in Fergies last game at West Brom?

Do you not consider us a big team?


4.) 25 Oct 2018
25 Oct 2018 20:53:14
So how have our other players managed to score against the top teams then mate? We won quite a few big games last season, scoring 14 goals, Lukaku chipped in with one. He was anonymous against Chelsea on Saturday, Martial scored two up front.


5.) 25 Oct 2018
25 Oct 2018 20:57:00
Make that 16 goals, missed the two against Spurs in the FA Cup, 16 goals and he scored ONE!


6.) 25 Oct 2018
25 Oct 2018 21:10:33
Yh, a complete anomaly in his career HB, in a game where we practically focused entirely on attacking in Fergie's send off game.


7.) 26 Oct 2018
26 Oct 2018 09:07:46
I've watched Lukaku closely since he signed for Utd and we must understand what kind of player he is before we can judge him properly.

Lukaku is not a No 9 or target man his size and strength are misleading. Lukaku is a box player, a poacher, a finisher. Unlike other poachers like Cole and Hernandez who relied on instinct and great movement Lukaku uses his size and strength in the box to hold off and pin defenders to get his chances. He thrives off crosses and balls into the box. There is nothing subtle about Lukaku he is more bulldozer than footballer.

The problem we have is we rarely have enough possession to sustain attacks and get the ball into the box on a consistent basis. In essence we're a counter attacking team, we sit deep behind the ball so we need Lukaku to be an outlet. To hold the ball up and run the channels. As his first touch is unreliable and his movement none existent we struggle to maintain possession especially against the good teams.

We have seen on rare occasions when Lukaku is confident and on form he can sometimes be the player we need. This then confuses us when he can't perform this role on a consistent basis. The truth is he's not that type of player. We wouldn't expect Cole or Hernandez to hold the ball and we shouldn't expect Lukaku to do that job either.

It's now time to play Sanchez upfront. He's more mobile, quicker, better in possession, he can dribble, manipulate the ball, run the channels, he's elusive. He can drop deep into midfield and then we need Rashford, Martial, Mata even Pogba running beyond.

If you watched Juventus on Tuesday night they didn't really play with a CF. Ronaldo drifted left and right, Dybala dropped into midfield, they rotated positions, had runners from deep, dominated possession. Smalling and Lindelof often had no one to mark. They didn't know whether to step into midfield or hold their position. They couldn't cope with the rotation or deal with the runners. In fact their first goal came from Ronaldo running into the right channel and delivering a cross which fell to Dybala making a late run into the box.

Our team is too static, too safe, too predictable, too scared.

Lukaku's a decent player nothing more, he should probably be plan B instead of Fellaini. If you put quality deliveries into the box he'll score goals.


8.) 26 Oct 2018
26 Oct 2018 09:38:45
Great Post dlib, I couldn't agree more.

What confuses me is that I don't buy for one second the someone of Jose's experience can't see that, so I can't fathom why he sets us up the way he does.


9.) 26 Oct 2018
26 Oct 2018 11:04:22
I agree RedD I can't understand it either it's so frustrating. We just need something to click and to get some confidence back.

Moving forward I'd like to see us persist with 4-2-3-1. Forget the Juventus game they are a much better side than we'll face week in week out in the premier league.

I'd move Sanchez up front, he had his best season for Arsenal in that position. He looked sharp playing there in pre season where he linked up well with Mata. I honestly believe trying Sanchez up front might just kick us into life. I'd persist with Martial on the left and Mata at 10. I'm not convinced by Rashford on the right, we have no obvious replacement so why not give Chong a chance. Is Pereira not really a wide player? I'd let Rashford compete with Martial on the left, Mata with Lingard for the No 10 position and Sanchez with Lukaku up front.

In midfield we have Fred to replace Pogba's creativity. Herrera, Fellaini even Mctominay to replace Matic as the defensive anchor.

What I'd like to see is some consistency in both selection and formation. Sensible substitutions, competition for places. If Martial is poor introduce Rashford. If Mata fails to make an impact bring on Lingard. If Sanchez isn't involved bring on Lukaku. If Pogba isn't doing his job bring on Fred. If we need more energy and intensity in midfield turn to Herrera.

Is all looks so simple from my sofa!


10.) 26 Oct 2018
26 Oct 2018 23:39:43
The one problem I see with Lukaku is he offers nothing to the team when he isn’t scoring goals. All strikers have barren spells but if you look at the ones mentioned, Rooney, Berbatov etc they added to the team dynamic even when not scoring by bringing other players into the game. Lukaku’s flaws really come to the front when we aren’t distracted by him scoring goals.


11.) 27 Oct 2018
27 Oct 2018 11:21:52
Andy Cole was like that but he was a huge success so can lukaku.

{Ed025's Note - lukaku will always get you goals if you play to his strengths roy, but comparing him to cole is a bit unfair as he is played as more of a target man for united which is not his strength at all, he needs balls over the top to run on to using his pace ans power, his first touch is awful and his second touch is usually a throw in to your opponents, he can be a success though but will need better quality in midfield for me mate..


12.) 27 Oct 2018
27 Oct 2018 17:31:46
Put lukaku with Yorke and he would get you goals .
Unless Jose was the manager.