Romelu Lukaku

[Ed.]

It will be tough to watch that as he's been benched by a 21 year old. Forget the icardi situation we have beaten that point to death. If you're telling me lukaku is our clubs Marquee signing and we are going to compete for the scudetto you're on something wild. I get we fucked ourselves before by making J Mario our most expensive signing no need to do that again please. 70Mil can get you other players.

Has he been benched or the coach doesn't know how to utilise him? Yes, even Mourinho didn't utilise Lukaku's potential properly.

If you compare Lukaku to Mario, then I am not sure if you know what you're talking about.

Who was Mario before he arrived at Inter? 1 good season with Sporting in Portuguese League and a decent run in Euro?

Lukaku is top 20 goalscorers in EPL history. Only a handful of non English who managed to do it.

Marquee signing doesn't contribute anything to compete for scudetto, building a functional team is the key to scudetto.

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I’m not going rehash the losing “Top scorer in our history” bs because it’s been beaten to death. IDGAF about that guy.

Yes I’m sure RuBe operate at a different level but we’re are not there yet. We’re trying to get there and hired Conte to try to get on that level if he identify this guy as a piece that will help him get us on that level then Inter should try get him that piece otherwise why even hire him. And before the anti Conte crew comes in and says they didn’t want him well the management clearly does so they gonna have to roll or die with him now, it’s time for them to put up or shut up.

Top scorer in our history means everything. Top scorer in EPL history means nothing. Talking about bias.

 

[BasedGodPunk]

In no world do I think getting Lukaku for 70mil+ is a good deal but he’s not really that bad. Icardi is incredibly overrated here. No big club has spent big on him because he’s a product of a team with absolutely no other goal scorers. Somebody has to score and since he’s been here he’s the only “goal scorer” we’ve had. Unless you consider freaking Palacio and Perisic some world class finishers. Contributes absolutely nothing to build up play and off the field problems or not, he blew last year. Certainly spending this much money on a player who’s no better than our current option sucks, but it’s the situation we’re in. May as well please Conte, it’s not like our half wit management knows how to spend anyway.

 

[CafeCordoba]

What a way to discredit over 100 goals scored.

 

[monster09]

Icardi didn't suck last season because of his lack of ability. Don't pretend like you don't know that.

Whether Lukaku will score 20+ goals next season wherever he plays is a big question mark, whereas Icardi scoring 20+ goals next season wherever he ends up is pretty much a given.

In league alone or overall?

If player gets shit loads of penalties it's easy to score 20 goals. Without Penalties, Icardi scored 20+ league goal twice in his career and he has played 7 full seasons in Serie a (1 in Sampdoria and 6 in Inter)

Both are 93 born and of same age. Both started to play at top leagues around same age (from 2012-13 season)

Excluding penalties Icardi vs Lukaku

	Icardi	Lukaku
2012-13	10	15
2013-14	09	15
2014-15	18	08
2015-16	15	17
2016-17	21	24
2017-18	23	16
2018-19	06	12
Total	102	107
Assists	27	35
Total mins	17198	18890
Mins per G+A	133	133

There is nothing much between them when it comes to goal scoring and in final third, Lukaku outscored Icardi in 5 of the 7 seasons. You can point out dysfunctional Inter team but it's not as if Lukaku played for good team either. He played for West Brom, Everton and ManUtd under Jose and 2 years he was out on loan.

If you compare both on other attributes than just goals.

	Icardi	Lukaku
Chances Created	209	258
Dribbles completed	70	276
Dribble success rate	41%	54%
Aerial Duels	327 (40%)	651 (42)
Shots per 90 mins	2.9 (0.4 from outside the box)	3.2 (0.8 from outside the box)
Possession loss per 90 mins	2.5	4.4
Passes per 90 mins	17	26

You can say "yeah it's just stats, won't tell the full story" but it tells exactly what we have seen.

Icardi is good player but people think as if he is Messi and some levels above Lukaku, he isn't. I said few days back his touch is erratic but he is very much involved in the game and stats tell the exact story.

Loses possession more in the game than Icardi but
- He creates many chances than Icardi
- Completed nearly 4X the dribbles and at better rate.
- Wins 2X aerial duels at better rate
- More involved in the game which is shown by more passes
- Scored (non penalty) and Assisted more than Icardi in the league since they started playing regularly in top league

p.s Inserting tables is such a pain in the ass and also the last 3 per 90 mins stat is for career average rather than just league.

 

[Inter7]

Has he been benched or the coach doesn't know how to utilise him? Yes, even Mourinho didn't utilise Lukaku's potential properly.

If you compare Lukaku to Mario, then I am not sure if you know what you're talking about.

Who was Mario before he arrived at Inter? 1 good season with Sporting in Portuguese League and a decent run in Euro?

Lukaku is top 20 goalscorers in EPL history. Only a handful of non English who managed to do it.

Marquee signing doesn't contribute anything to compete for scudetto, building a functional team is the key to scudetto.

My point exactly, Icardi has played in all different types of systems and consistently scored 20+ goals with absolute shit around him. Spending 70mil on a player who isn't made for every system and isn't world class makes no sense. Like I said Conte better fucking have him scoring 20-25 plus otherwise this will be a step backwards for us.

 

[brehme1989]

Lol, stats say everything yes.

It's exactly the same playing in Serie A and in the PL. Strikers have the same pressure and have the same roles too apparently. They also seem to attract the same number of defenders on them.

If you want the full picture, then draw the full picture. You haven't included fouls won for example (which is a stupid metric for Inter as we get a lot of no calls).
You haven't mentioned number of touches, where these touches are, how long he has possession, how many offensive options he has around him each time the ball leaves his possession and most importantly, how much harder it is for Icardi to convert his chances into a goal (xG is a very stupid metric but with the right idea). You also failed to mention how much they participated in their teams' goals percentage wise.
So yeah, this is just a waste of time trying to paint Lukaku to be as good as an elite killer.

Aerial duels in particular is a funny one. In a league where head tennis is still the most important "detail" that decides possession in most games not involving two top 6 teams, it is funny that you say "wins x2 at a better rate". First of all the rate is better by just 2% with larger sample. Second, Icardi isn't winning headers in the middle of the pitch because that's an insane way to move the ball forward, so most of his aerial duels are against 1 tight marker or 2-3 defensive players, with the intention to score. Lukaku on the other hand was lucky to have most of his aerial duels outside the box and rarely has more than 1 guy on him.

Icardi was not playing regularly in the first two seasons you mentioned. He also has 18 less full games in this comparison (in terms of minutes) and for some reason you think assists matter.

P.S. You are free to keep him. We should start paying Man Utd just so that we don't have to hear about him coming here for 70m.

 

[Pajo]

Icardi is better player than Lukaku - period. No matter how you see it.

That doesnt mean Lukaku is shit and wont be good replacement. People are underrating the guy a lot.

 

[monster09]

My point exactly, Icardi has played in all different types of systems and consistently scored 20+ goals with absolute shit around him. Spending 70mil on a player who isn't made for every system and isn't world class makes no sense. Like I said Conte better fucking have him scoring 20-25 plus otherwise this will be a step backwards for us.

Icardi has scored more than 20 goals in all competition 3 times, Lukaku 4 times (ignoring Belgian league). If you consider league then Icardi 3 times vs Lukaku once and Lukaku doesn't take penalties.

Lukaku has played for West Brom where they played typical midtable game, defensive system under Koeman, free flowing football under Martinez and defensive football/counter attacking under Jose. He has scored goals in every system.

He isn't worth 70 million though but he is lot better than given credit for.

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Icardi is better player than Lukaku - period. No matter how you see it.

That doesnt mean Lukaku is shit and wont be good replacement. People are underrating the guy a lot.

Lets agree to disagree. Doubt we are going to convince each other to change opinions.

 

[CafeCordoba]

Lets agree to disagree. Doubt we are going to convince each other to change opinions.

There is only one guy who can convince us otherwise. It's Lukaku the man himself after he signs for Inter.

 

[monster09]

There is only one guy who can convince us otherwise. It's Lukaku the man himself after he signs for Inter.

Yeah, if he signs hopefully he will be a huge hit for Inter.

 

[KardiacKid]

Icardi is better player than Lukaku - period. No matter how you see it.

No he's not.

 

[SiamoNoi]

So Icardi is worth 70-80 even 100 mil, even tho he sucked last season, but you not using the same measurements here.
Oooookkk

What?

 

[Ed.]

What?

The number looks great in the picture but it's wrong and misleading.

Icardi scored 17 goals in all competition, meaning all done in 37 matches not 27. He played a total of 2972 minutes. 7 out of 17 goals were scored from penalty.

Lukaku scored 15 goals in 45 matches. However, he played a total of 3001 minutes. None of 15 goals were scored from penalty.

So, despite a higher number of matches by Lukaku, the total minutes spent on the pitch is pretty similar. So, Icardi only scored 2 more goals than Lukaku.

This has not taken into account that Icardi was Inter's first penalty taker up until April, while Lukaku wasn't one for Man Utd.
Would Lukaku score more goals if he was the first Man Utd penalty taker?

 

[monster09]

What?

Icardi played 37 games, not 27.

Icardi 37 games - 17 goals - 5 assists - 2972 mins (7 penalty goals)
Lukaku - 45 games - 15 goals - 4 assists - 3001 mins 0 penalty goals)
Dzeko - 40 games - 14 goals - 11 assists - 3169 mins (0 Penalty goals)

Last time Icardi scored non penalty goal was on Dec 2nd. He went nearly 6 months without scoring a goal (non penalty)

 

[yoszee]

What?

 

[Ed.]

My point exactly, Icardi has played in all different types of systems and consistently scored 20+ goals with absolute shit around him. Spending 70mil on a player who isn't made for every system and isn't world class makes no sense. Like I said Conte better fucking have him scoring 20-25 plus otherwise this will be a step backwards for us.

Which different types of systems has Icardi played?

Icardi has only played in "pump the ball to Icardi" system.

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Icardi is better player than Lukaku - period. No matter how you see it.

What can Icardi do but Lukaku can't?

 

[varmin]

What can Icardi do but Lukaku can't?

Bring gangsters form Argentina to kill some Curva members?

 

[Pajo]

What can Icardi do but Lukaku can't?

Is better finisher, has better technique overall and is better at heading. A LOT better. Lukaku might win more headers because of his height, but the shot precision Icari has with his head is immense, probably one of the best in the world.

 

[Ed.]

Is better finisher, has better technique overall and is better at heading. A LOT better. Lukaku might win more headers because of his height, but the shot precision Icari has with his head is immense, probably one of the best in the world.

so, Icardi is a better poacher, not a better player.

Having better technique means nothing if you can't utilise your technique regularly. Lukaku is better in utilising his talents and contributes more into the team than just poaching a goal.

 

[Pajo]

so, Icardi is a better poacher, not a better player.

Having better technique means nothing if you can't utilise your technique regularly. Lukaku is better in utilising his talents and contributes more into the team than just poaching a goal.

Icardi is also better passer. And has better first touch.

I dont know if you overrated Lukaku (would be rare to see), or underrate icardi. I like Lukaku, i'd welcome him at inter, but saying Lukaku is better player is imo nonsense.