Romelu Lukaku

Would you buy Lukaku this summer?


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brehme1989

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Exactly. As an Italian Interista employee of mine says: I don't like him but he scores. He compares him all the time to Inzaghi though which I don't get :D
 

dax21

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only Lukaku could have 250+ goals in his career at the age of 26 (most of which in the EPL and for Belgium) and people would still debate if he sucks or not...
I won't say he's a bargain like some of you because we paid a fair price for him, but I don't know how much better of a replacement for our best striker his critics were expecting us to get.
I won't suggest it's racism, but honestly it probably has something to do with it.

It has nothing to do with racism. It's quite simple really, you would be very hard pressed to think of another high profile striker of the last 10 years that lacks some basic football skills, Lukaku is the only one. The guy is straight up an exception, an odd ball. Players like him, with his skill level, simply don't score that many goals. All of the criticism he gets, it's 99% valid, and people who do say those things are dead on right. Just like people who say "none of it matters as long as he scores goals" are also right. That's really the gist of all Lukaku discussion.

As far as I personally go, I'm growing to like him. Liked his personality since day 1 at Inter, but I thought we wasted money. Now in January I would be a fool to try to argue that we should've spent the money wiser (even if it would be an argument worth defending) because no matter what striker we got, if someone was to tell me we could be top of the table in January, I would've taken the money and ran. You can't argue with facts, we are doing well. If I can let go and forget of all the money wasted on Joao Mario and K-dog, and the mother of all discounts we are going to give on Icardi, I can sure as hell get over Lukaku's 85m.

As long as he keeps scoring goals.

That being said, if we want to get past the group phase in CL next year, we absolutely need another top tier striker, because nobody sane will argue that Lukaku will carry us there, despite all that I have said above. His antics that one can forgive in the league are a deal breaker in Europe and Lukaku is, despite all things, quite fortunate that he arrived to Inter that is still in transitional phase. If we were a year or two ahead in our progress, with much higher expectations related to our performance in CL, it would be a very different discussion.
 

Rain

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I don't think it has to do with racism, at least not to me.

I think, similar to Icardi, Lukaku polarizes opinions due to some highly visible and attention-grabbing flaws in his game.

Whether it's a tendency to react slowly, get back onside slowly, a poor first touch, or the occasional, inexplicable missed sitters (e.g. the three potentially game-winning 1v1 chances from 2m out against Barca, Roma and Fiorentina), Lukaku definitely does lack a certain sense or finesse at times.

Thankfully, in spite of the flaws, he still manages to be a fantastic goalscorer and a very useful contributor to our team.

Personally, I'm tired of the debate, but I understand why it exists - because these flaws seem so anomalous and inexplicable for someone of his repute. It's like finding out that a mathematician can't read or something. How can that be? How can an elite forward worth €80m consistently fail to trap a football? or fail to score from 2m out? How can someone his size be so easily bullied off the ball? In his most frustrating moments, I think it's safe to say that most of us have had these thoughts about him.

It seems paradoxical. Indeed, it does make you wonder what could be if he had just a tiny bit more composure and scored those easy 1v1's against Roma, Barca, Fiorentina. It makes you wonder how more effective and consistent he'd be if he improved his anticipation and close-technique. Makes you think, "surely it can't be that hard not to stand around complaining about a stray pass and just hurry back onside instead?"

I know I've had those thoughts plenty of times. At the end of the day though, it is what it is. People are complex and he is all of those things - someone who does have some rather silly weaknesses, but still manages to be one of the top footballers in the world, and a highly valuable asset when utilized correctly.

Excellent post, mate! My thoughts exactly, but put into a coherent form
 

Il Drago

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I don't think it has to do with racism, at least not to me.

I think, similar to Icardi, Lukaku polarizes opinions due to some highly visible and attention-grabbing flaws in his game.

Whether it's a tendency to react slowly, get back onside slowly, a poor first touch, or the occasional, inexplicable missed sitters (e.g. the three potentially game-winning 1v1 chances from 2m out against Barca, Roma and Fiorentina), Lukaku definitely does lack a certain sense or finesse at times.

Thankfully, in spite of the flaws, he still manages to be a fantastic goalscorer and a very useful contributor to our team.

Personally, I'm tired of the debate, but I understand why it exists - because these flaws seem so anomalous and inexplicable for someone of his repute. It's like finding out that a mathematician can't read or something. How can that be? How can an elite forward worth €80m consistently fail to trap a football? or fail to score from 2m out? How can someone his size be so easily bullied off the ball? In his most frustrating moments, I think it's safe to say that most of us have had these thoughts about him.

It seems paradoxical. Indeed, it does make you wonder what could be if he had just a tiny bit more composure and scored those easy 1v1's against Roma, Barca, Fiorentina. It makes you wonder how more effective and consistent he'd be if he improved his anticipation and close-technique. Makes you think, "surely it can't be that hard not to stand around complaining about a stray pass and just hurry back onside instead?"

I know I've had those thoughts plenty of times. At the end of the day though, it is what it is. People are complex and he is all of those things - someone who does have some rather silly weaknesses, but still manages to be one of the top footballers in the world, and a highly valuable asset when utilized correctly.

+ he replaced one of the most succesful forwards of the club.

- - - Updated - - -

Exactly. As an Italian Interista employee of mine says: I don't like him but he scores. He compares him all the time to Inzaghi though which I don't get :D

I feel exactly the same. I was against signing him last summer and i still don't think he can lead our attack in the long term but as long as he scores i am ok with him.
 

Nero Indigo

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I don't think it has to do with racism, at least not to me.

I think, similar to Icardi, Lukaku polarizes opinions due to some highly visible and attention-grabbing flaws in his game.

Whether it's a tendency to react slowly, get back onside slowly, a poor first touch, or the occasional, inexplicable missed sitters (e.g. the three potentially game-winning 1v1 chances from 2m out against Barca, Roma and Fiorentina), Lukaku definitely does lack a certain sense or finesse at times.

Thankfully, in spite of the flaws, he still manages to be a fantastic goalscorer and a very useful contributor to our team.

Personally, I'm tired of the debate, but I understand why it exists - because these flaws seem so anomalous and inexplicable for someone of his repute. It's like finding out that a mathematician can't read or something. How can that be? How can an elite forward worth €80m consistently fail to trap a football? or fail to score from 2m out? How can someone his size be so easily bullied off the ball? In his most frustrating moments, I think it's safe to say that most of us have had these thoughts about him.

It seems paradoxical. Indeed, it does make you wonder what could be if he had just a tiny bit more composure and scored those easy 1v1's against Roma, Barca, Fiorentina. It makes you wonder how more effective and consistent he'd be if he improved his anticipation and close-technique. Makes you think, "surely it can't be that hard not to stand around complaining about a stray pass and just hurry back onside instead?"

I know I've had those thoughts plenty of times. At the end of the day though, it is what it is. People are complex and he is all of those things - someone who does have some rather silly weaknesses, but still manages to be one of the top footballers in the world, and a highly valuable asset when utilized correctly.

I’ll have to agree with Universe. However, from my perspective, It’s like people didn’t know these flaws when I expected most to be well aware of them. Here’s the thing though, I knew where I stood before we signed him and I had a best case scenario when we did - he has surpassed my expectations so far especially with the unforeseen camaraderie with his teammates ( I didn’t even think they’d all get along, especially with Lautaro who just lost his bestie to breast and vaginal cancer) I also didn’t expect him to have the impact that he did in so little time regardless of Conte’s input. A lot of the things he’s been criticised for, I feel he has been showing little improvements game after game. I can only look forward and hope he sustains the positives and irons out the negatives while he’s here.
 

rfU

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I won't suggest it's racism, but honestly it probably has something to do with it.
Nope, not at all. Icardi was on the end of a lot of criticism too even when he was scoring because his style of play.

Exactly. As an Italian Interista employee of mine says: I don't like him but he scores. He compares him all the time to Inzaghi though which I don't get :D

Simple, neither is easy on the eye.

As long as he keeps scoring goals.

bingo_sopranos.gif


A good judge of a striker or a player in general is his mental fortitude during bad moments. I'm curious to see what happens when shots stop going in. Lets be honest, goals like the first against Napoli look like lucky shots from a player high in confidence.
 

.h.

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Who was it who said.. i dont care if they are good or not tell me if they are lucky?

Scoring goals from lucky shots like that is the sign of an inform player.
 

ElDuccio

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Exactly. As an Italian Interista employee of mine says: I don't like him but he scores. He compares him all the time to Inzaghi though which I don't get :D

BULLSHIT. That's more the description of Icardi.

Lukaku can do more then this. Yes he needs to improve at some things. But he can score goals and pass the ball. And when i say score i don't talk about "hockey goals", same with the assists. He's attributes are great.
 

rfU

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Why does Kaku hugging it out with his team mates matter so much to FIF? Salah and Mane don't like each other... Teddy and Cole, Kuba and Lewa at Dortmund and Poland NT, Robben and Robery, Riquelme and Palermo hated each other but Riquelme assisted a good number of his goals (they never celebrated together)... Kobe and Shaq hated each other but won 3 championships back to back... Being friends can be dentrimental, better to keep it professional, as long as Toro and Kaku have an understanding and are linking up well.
 

brehme1989

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Why does Kaku hugging it out with his team mates matter so much to FIF? Salah and Mane don't like each other... Teddy and Cole, Kuba and Lewa at Dortmund and Poland NT, Robben and Robery, Riquelme and Palermo hated each other but Riquelme assisted a good number of his goals (they never celebrated together)... Kobe and Shaq hated each other but won 3 championships back to back... Being friends can be dentrimental, better to keep it professional, as long as Toro and Kaku have an understanding and are linking up well.

giphy.gif
 

CoolMan44

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Hope to see pictures of Lukaku knocking out Lautaro tomorrow, knowing it will be followed by a game winning assist on Saturday.
 

rfU

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Del Pero and Inzaghi definitely didnt get on. Were Ibra and Adriano hugging and laughing in trainings? Pretty sure Ibra didnt like anyone :lol:
 

sakera

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Why does Kaku hugging it out with his team mates matter so much to FIF? Salah and Mane don't like each other... Teddy and Cole, Kuba and Lewa at Dortmund and Poland NT, Robben and Robery, Riquelme and Palermo hated each other but Riquelme assisted a good number of his goals (they never celebrated together)... Kobe and Shaq hated each other but won 3 championships back to back... Being friends can be dentrimental, better to keep it professional, as long as Toro and Kaku have an understanding and are linking up well.
Agree,
As long as they form good partnership..
It doesnt really matter if they get along off the field.

Their friendship is their own bonus
 

.h.

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Why does Kaku hugging it out with his team mates matter so much to FIF? Salah and Mane don't like each other... Teddy and Cole, Kuba and Lewa at Dortmund and Poland NT, Robben and Robery, Riquelme and Palermo hated each other but Riquelme assisted a good number of his goals (they never celebrated together)... Kobe and Shaq hated each other but won 3 championships back to back... Being friends can be dentrimental, better to keep it professional, as long as Toro and Kaku have an understanding and are linking up well.

it's better to have players get on, than players who dont get on.
 

brehme1989

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it's better to have players get on, than players who dont get on.

It's better to win than not win. Whether the players get on is meaningless. Some players (ie people) express their sentiments differently. Some may like to have rage in them and anger towards their teammates as they can use that to influence them and fuel them to do better. Getting along with your teammates shouldn't mean that you'll be getting better service from them. But if you hate on each other and simply just don't pass to anyone you dislike (ie Brozovic last season), then your coach needs to knock on your head. You don't get to decide your co-workers and you don't decide who your teammates are.

This is childish talk.
 

.h.

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god this is so fucking tedious.
 

Shark

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Why does Kaku hugging it out with his team mates matter so much to FIF? Salah and Mane don't like each other... Teddy and Cole, Kuba and Lewa at Dortmund and Poland NT, Robben and Robery, Riquelme and Palermo hated each other but Riquelme assisted a good number of his goals (they never celebrated together)... Kobe and Shaq hated each other but won 3 championships back to back... Being friends can be dentrimental, better to keep it professional, as long as Toro and Kaku have an understanding and are linking up well.

You bring up exceptions and paint them as the norm. Literally just a year ago the bad atmosphere in the locker room became public and we were forced to fight for 4th place until the final match day.

How anyone could be against good team atmosphere and fans appreciating it is beyond me.
 

Candreva Crosses

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Messi Neymar and Suarez had great friendship, atleast to social media.
 

brehme1989

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You bring up exceptions and paint them as the norm. Literally just a year ago the bad atmosphere in the locker room became public and we were forced to fight for 4th place until the final match day.

How anyone could be against good team atmosphere and fans appreciating it is beyond me.


Messi Neymar and Suarez had great friendship, atleast to social media.


According to social media, Icardi had good relations with pretty much everyone except Brozovic and Perisic. But there was the incident where Icardi let Perisic have the penalty kick which was cute and a sign of fondness. Or wasn't it? I'm confused.

No one is against good team atmosphere. It's just overstated. You can be okay with bad relationships in the locker room as long as you can contain it. We didn't contain ours because Nainggolan opened his big mouth and Wanda appeared on a weekly show that stirred shit up. Even if nothing happened with the players, the media would just make something up until it became an issue. They wrote that Brozovic fucked Wanda before that anyway so it's not like she needed Tiki Taka :lol:
 
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