showed good power and pace at the end of that half but puffing heavy as well... still going with burn out

His fitness and ability to last 90 minutes of a tough game does seem to be a continuing issue.

His fitness and ability to last 90 minutes of a tough game does seem to be a continuing issue.

 Definitely, but when he comes back i would expect Jose and his fitness team to sort that out pretty quickly !

Whats up with him? Hes been sulking throughout this whole half. Even when Mirallas scored hes looked indifferent

 

Out of respect for his old club.

on tonight's showing he looks like another year on loan - i've long anguished over why we didn't hold on to him this season but sometimes you've to wonder is he really the real deal?

on tonight's showing he looks like another year on loan - i've long anguished over why we didn't hold on to him this season but sometimes you've to wonder is he really the real deal?

Definitely gotta wonder about him as a true centre forward that can do it at a big club.

Btw was shocked he'd cut his hair.

I think he looked tired more than anything. Martinez needs to rest himevery now and then to keep his performance levels up.

I think he looked tired more than anything. Martinez needs to rest himevery now and then to keep his performance levels up.

if he needs a rest playing for Everton where he hardly ever tracks back then he has no chance of making it at Chelsea.

He is still only 20 think some people need to realise that.

What are people expectations for Lukaku?  

 

(in terms of what he can contribute)...

He is still only 20 think some people need to realise that.

I don't like to think about that. How is this tank younger than me? (I'm 21 by the way).

Isn't on his best run of form at the moment and to be honest, I didn't realise that he was essentially a poacher until this year (only really saw MOTD of him last year). If he doesn't score, he seems to bring very little. Still there has yet to be much improvement in his passing or movement.

Still need him home next year, Jose can make him a great. The lad will just have to buy into a few things. I was one of those fools who said he was 'the next Drogba' because he signed for Chelsea and was big, black and with long locks. Actually analysing him properly, he is the next Hasselbaink. He will get you goals and a variety of them (headers, worldies, one on ones, solo efforts, tap ins, left peg and maybe right). But as a striker you will successfully build a 'Complete' team around. Not so much.

Next time you watch Arsenal, watch Olivier Giroud, now there is somebody in the Drogba mould. The lad is so complete. If Lukaku can mould his game to how these types play then he will be one of the best strikers of the last 20 years. I just hope he gets this into his head.

Jose described Torres as being all about power, pace and space when he compared him for Eto'o who is better at holding the ball up the pitch. If you look at the characteristics aren't those exactly what Lukaku is about..?

I think Jose wants Lukaku back but it will be up to the big lad if he wants to come back. Jose will not promise him to be the automatic starter.

I think Torres is going nowhere, Eto'o will leave after the season as he's already said and Ba is 50/50 in my eyes. I think he might go as well.

Next season it could be Torres, Lukaku and X.

Edited January 21, 201412 yr by evissy

What are people expectations for Lukaku?

(in terms of what he can contribute)...

In my opinion he would work best as an impact player like Sojskaer, Hernandez, Defoe etc. He will think otherwise but I just don't see him as a great centre forward that's gonna make us a powerhouse.

Lukaku is a huge potential for the future. He has a perfect style for chelsea. He's big, strong and will have a huge presence in the box on set pieces and is able to hold the ball up. He is 20 yrs old and will keep improving for years to come. His goals and assist stats speak for themselves. Across the last 1 and half seasons, he has 26 goals and 16 assists, pretty damn good for a 20 yr old. Who knows who our attacking 3 will be next yr, but I hope lukaku features.

Strange. Our strikers finally start scoring and Lukaku has 1 in his last 9 I believe.

 

Jose ultimately proving to be right on yet another disputed decision?

Edited January 21, 201412 yr by footballoholic

Still remain unconvinced by lukaku. Doesn't seem to offer a great deal going forward, doesn't fit our style of play at all, can't hold up a ball and is either being lazy or doesn't lack the energy/work rate levels we will require of him. Very, very raw but is only 20 - he isn't the answer to our striker problems yet.

In my opinion he would work best as an impact player like Sojskaer, Hernandez, Defoe etc. He will think otherwise but I just don't see him as a great centre forward that's gonna make us a powerhouse.

 

Agreed... Used as an impact player, and will be perfect at that! 

 

Don't seem him as a regular CF - Compare him to the other 'world class' CF in the Premiership, and he really doesn't stack up...

 

that said, had he NOT cut his hair, i would be gunning for him to be our No1 target man... Naturally! 

I think he will ask to leave before he is ever up to the standard we need him to be.

The problem he has is he was at a small club and played a lot of games at a young age so i can understand why he thinks he should be starting games for us but the thing is he isnt good enough for us yet. He is lacking so many parts to his game at the moment. Lucky for him he has age on his side and could improve on those if he was willing to.

He and Us have to remember he is only 20... He has showed some superb stuff this sesason and last but at everton he is getting his wish to play every minute of every match and as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

He is gassed, it's as plain as day. He won't realise it, at 20 we feel invincible but I Martinez need's to rest him. A couple of games on the bench and I think he will be bouncing right back in to form.

We have to remember that at 20 he has so much development to come and she has shown a lot to suggest he will become a top player but and I think he has already proven he is more then just a poacher.

It does make me laugh, the pendulum that is the fans opinion. Earlier in the season Jose was insane to send him out on loan, he was the product of an orgy involving, Ronaldo, Maradona, Drogba and a turkey baster containing the great Pushkase's sperm.

Now he's going through a dry patch he's probably a mid table striker at best....

^ no, you are thinking people changed opinions when merely when he scores his pro group are more vocal and when he isn't the other group actually gets to get a word in about where he lacks.

 

Every criticism was met with a 'but he is scoring' and now he is in a dry spell so excuses can't be made anymore.

 

Oscar played a ridiculous number of games at age 21 and he was still excellent in most of them, btw.

Edited January 21, 201412 yr by Stim

^ no, you are thinking people changed opinions when merely when he scores his pro group are more vocal and when he isn't the other group actually gets to get a word in about where he lacks.

 

Every criticism was met with a 'but he is scoring' and now he is in a dry spell so excuses can't be made anymore.

 

Oscar played a ridiculous number of games at age 21 and he was still excellent in most of them, btw.

I would argue that you also saw burn out from Oscar last season. However he certainly didn't play 90 minutes of every game

He's got a bit more competition for the remainder of his loan..............

 

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/9126175/transfer-news-everton-agree-deal-to-sign-monaco-striker-lacina-traore

Everytime i watch Everton play,he's in the heat of things for awhile and then just goes missing or keeps trying too hard to get that incisive pass to one of the wingers.I get the feeling hes trying to be too many things now and as a result not being as effective as he was with WBA,where he basically played the big lad that held up play and pushed past a couple of players to get his shot away. This bit of indecisiveness is why i believe we were right to loan him out again this season.hopefully some Jose talk and he should be in ship shape for next season.If he still wants to stay that is.

 

Jose described Torres as being all about power, pace and space when he compared him for Eto'o who is better at holding the ball up the pitch. If you look at the characteristics aren't those exactly what Lukaku is about..?

I think Jose wants Lukaku back but it will be up to the big lad if he wants to come back. Jose will not promise him to be the automatic starter.

I think Torres is going nowhere, Eto'o will leave after the season as he's already said and Ba is 50/50 in my eyes. I think he might go as well.

Next season it could be Torres, Lukaku and X.

http://www.tsmplug.com/richlist/chelsea-playerss-salaries-2014/

Torres is the joint 2nd highest paid player at the club on £175k / week. His contract is due to expire in 2016. Jose will try to move him in on the summer but I am certain Torres will probably try and resist that move. It all depends on who the club brings in, how much further that pushes Torres down the pecking order, and the likelyhood of any takers for him and his wages. If he is here or not next season remains to be seen, personally I wouldn't mind betting he will be gone, but one thing is for sure he most definately won't be anywhere near a first choice starter for us.

As it stands I also don't think Demba Ba will be here next season either as he desparately wants regular first team football and he will not get it with us but he will be an attractive option to other EPL clubs. Wouldn't be shocked if Wenger made another move for him should he go.

IMO Eto'o is the most likely to remain out of our current crop. His age, relatively low wages compared to Torres, his connection with Jose, and the probability that he may be content to fill a squad role rather than want a regular first choice starting berth makes me think he could well be here next season.

Torres wont leave unless Chelsea buy his contract out. He knows that he will never earn what he is on ever again. Where ever he goes next he will have to take a massive drop in wages so i think he will do what Malouda did and just wait his contact out.

It doesnt matter who we sign. After this summer he wont be selected for Spain anyway, so he doesnt need to be playing.

Maybe (and its a BIG maybe) we could loan him out and help the other club pay his wages like we did with Crespo, Veron and Sheva.

If anyone can get close to him they should stick a bit of charlie in his food so we can drug test him and then sack him lol.

If not then we are stuck with him for till the end of his contract.