First time i've watched Lukaku play 90 minutes in quite some time, I think I perhaps overestimated him from what i've heard about him, although to be fair they were playing at Old Trafford and he was being tightly marked all game by one of the world's best defenders.

On two occasions muscled Vidic off the ball when they were side by side though and did get the assist for Oviedo's goal (even though it did look like a scuffed shot, not an intentional cross).

Still quite clearly a lot to work on, most of all I didn't like how lazy and frustrated he seemed a lot of the game, he rarely pressed anyone and if he didn't receive an early pass he'd throw his hands up in the air and turn his back on the ball. No way Jose will stand for that.

Agent Lukaku strikes again!

He's still got a lot to work on, he is young and immature but the potential is clearly there.

First time i've watched Lukaku play 90 minutes in quite some time, I think I perhaps overestimated him from what i've heard about him, although to be fair they were playing at Old Trafford and he was being tightly marked all game by one of the world's best defenders.

On two occasions muscled Vidic off the ball when they were side by side though and did get the assist for Oviedo's goal (even though it did look like a scuffed shot, not an intentional cross).

Still quite clearly a lot to work on, most of all I didn't like how lazy and frustrated he seemed a lot of the game, he rarely pressed anyone and if he didn't receive an early pass he'd throw his hands up in the air and turn his back on the ball. No way Jose will stand for that.

 

I've also noticed how petulant he can appear when he doesn't receive the ball exactly when and where he wants it. It's not very endearing but I think it's a sign of high self belief (or ego, depending on how you look at it), which is a useful trait in a striker. It also can't hurt that Everton's midfield players will be in no doubt over exactly what kind of service Lukaku expects.

 

I've heard some Everton fans being critical of his all round game, particularly his lack of hold-up play. I've not seen enough of him (mainly just highlights, which more often than not involve him scoring a goal) to comment on that but I think it's important to remember that despite all the hype and the goals he's still just a young lad.

I've heard some Everton fans being critical of his all round game, particularly his lack of hold-up play. I've not seen enough of him (mainly just highlights, which more often than not involve him scoring a goal) to comment on that but I think it's important to remember that despite all the hype and the goals he's still just a young lad.

 

Do they get met with the tried and true "he scores though" which is the blanket response to any and all criticism by a certain subsection

Edited December 5, 201312 yr by Stim

They probably remember that Jelavic hasn't scored a goal since March and had a goal scoring record similar to our strikers in the League last season(Lukaku already has more goals than Jelavic did all of last and this season) - than they go to their Lukaku shrine and pray for the Kraken's wellbeing

Hes hold up play isnt got enough I dont think anyone can argue that, but then again what is good enough "hold up play" from a striker. The only ones who have superb hold up play in the EPL are Rooney, Van Persie, Aguero and Suarez imo. Its not like theres some magic creativity and link up ability residing at the bridge that Lukaku has to master. Hes not any worse or any better then anything we have had since Drog

Hes hold up play isnt got enough I dont think anyone can argue that, but then again what is good enough "hold up play" from a striker. The only ones who have superb hold up play in the EPL are Rooney, Van Persie, Aguero and Suarez imo. Its not like theres some magic creativity and link up ability residing at the bridge that Lukaku has to master. Hes not any worse or any better then anything we have had since Drog

 

exactly, his qualities lie elsewhere: using his power to crack a defense, pulling off defenders, creating space for our other players, and... hitting the ball very hard. Imo we need a striker to do that to create depth.

If Jose thinks Torres is more capable of leading the line in the EPL he is in for the same disappointment that Carlo; AvB; RdM and the FSW ran into. 

 

 

Well at least I will get to watch a lot more Lukaku this season - since he will be an unquestionable first choice at Everton in no time, expect him to outscore Ba & Torres's combined tally in the EPL by a fair margin. 

 

 

If anyone other that Jose had send him on loan he would have been crucified by our fans.

 

WE shouldn't whine when questions about Lukaku are asked to both Romelu and Jose by journalist after the ineptitude our strikers are capable of in the EPL. 

 

No away goals by our strikers this year in the EPL, we send a lad that scored a hat trick away at United

Edited December 7, 201312 yr by Las7

Lets hope he rapes Arsenal defence tomorrow.

we need everton to be on top form tomorrow, no doubt about it. le arse have got to drop points at some point, hopefully it's big Rom that halts their title charge

He was terrible today.

Not his best game for sure...would still take his eight goals from 10 starts at chelsea though

The fact that he was so poor and Everton still looked very dangerous should quietening those down who say Everton depend on Lukaku.

 

For Lukaku however, it was a pretty poor match by his standards. Not too worried though, he was up against one of the best defences in the league, no shame in being kept quite by Koscielny. 

He's still learning and that game may just bring him down to earth a bit that he has a lot of improving to do...liked that show of strength at the end, but not the greedy shot that followed

He was terrible today.

 

Terrible is harsh, he wasn't great but in the first half i thought he was decent, he was very quiet in the second half though but only the greatest play brilliantly every game

 

I wish people would stop saying he is the next Drogba though, the only thing that he has in common with Drogba is his strength.

I can't help but think at times he does think he's better than he is and games like today make you realise that he still isn't the finished article. He needs to keep his head down, realise he still has a lot to learn do his speaking on the pitch and then hopefully come back to Chelsea and lead the line for the next decade.

I thought he played well, like Gary Neville said in commentary pretty much everything he did wasn't viewable to TV watchers. Whenever the play reached him he always appeared on either flank, pulling defenders out wide and making space for others to attack through the middle. He wasn't subbed off for Jelavic as he would have been if he was playing badly, and there wasn't much choice of other Everton players playing badly to substitute.

 

He does seem to lack a bit of close control and sharpness when on the ball against the best defences, but that will come with his continual in-match development.

He does seem to lack a bit of close control and sharpness when on the ball against the best defences, but that will come with his continual in-match development.

You don't think close control is natural? Like you either have it or you don't..

You don't think close control is natural? Like you either have it or you don't..

It's like all skills in sports, some players have natural attributes that help them learn and develop that skill faster and to a higher standard than others, but it's still something that can be improved through practise.

 

Regardless I actually think Lukaku has good close control as it is, you see it through some of the skills he does, but maybe it is something mental; when Messi or Ronaldo (or Hazard vs Sunderland) get into dangerous positions an extra light seems to go on in their head, their alertness and quickwittedness heightens even more and they become deadly. I don't see that light go on in Lukaku's head yet. But it doesn't in a lot of young players - Ronaldo was horrifically wasteful through nonchalance when he first came to Manchester United.

Considering we are playing 2 strikers in some parts of the matches lately, it would be amazing if he didn't get some game times with us. Maybe it's because the WC, he didn't want risk it sitting on the bench. He did a job for us again last night, pity he wasn't with us on Saturday to get the points.

Still too raw to lead our lines. Potential to be a brilliant talent but I am starting to see sense in him going out on loan. Whilst it may not benefit our situation this season, next season he could be ready to become the player we want him to be.

Hey guys first off just want to say hi, don't tend to post on forums often more of a lurker, but with everything I've been hearing lately I felt the need to post something. As a life long chelsea fan it pains me to say that I live up here in scouseland. Met my partner five years ago (a scouser and a red ergh) and ended up moving here for work. Plus kept me in the big bed....anyways I have friends who work closely with the players at Everton and the talk going around at the moment is that Lukaku does not want to come back to chelsea and that he wants to stay with Everton indefinitely. I must stress this is coming from

Individuals not the club themselves but this still concerns me greatly. Ok he isn't the finished product yet but already is showing why he deserved a chance to prove himself at Chelsea. I would hate to think that the club have yet again forced out a player of quality and in the process potentially strengthened another team in the league. Have we not learnt from the whole Sturridge fiasco. The problem is even for an individual who supports our great club such as Lukaku it must be incredibly frustrating and heart breaking when said club show such little interest in wanting to keep you. Two seasons on loan and a public falling out with The special one isn't going to instil any confidence. I hope the information is wrong and that he indeed comes back to us next season but I'm slowly beginning to worry that we could be losing undoubtedly one of the best yours talents around at the moment. Ps don't hold the living in bin dipper land against me, coming from Essex I truly believe it was the less of two evils.

I call bullsh*t on Lukaku wanting to stay at Everton permanently. We are the famous CFC lol

Agree with Rick, probably bull.......but if he doesn't want to come back then why would we worry...somehow I don't think Chelsea will will crumble in his absence.

Edited December 9, 201312 yr by Zola