Romelu Lukaku

[Nero Indigo]

I always love seeing glancing headers like that. It’s one of football’s sweetest goals, especially when the keeper is rooted to the spot. He took it very well. Good job

 

[brehme1989]

He showed signs of improvement after his goal. That combination with Politano right after it was smooth but it wasn't there all night long.

Unless this has long run effects, as in gain confidence altogether, this may be quite worrying as he needs to score a goal in a game to become useful and not a frustrating player. At least he manages to score at some point which is the whole idea.

 

[wera]

He said he wants to play two games per week. I guess that means no Sanchez yet again.

 

[brehme1989]

It's not about what he wants but what the coach wants anyway.

 

[Provenzano]

 

[wera]

It's not about what he wants but what the coach wants anyway.

Maybe Lukaku knows something we don't and he will also start against Lazio.

 

[brehme1989]

Maybe Lukaku knows something we don't and he will also start against Lazio.

He has 3 goals in 4 games and it's still early in the season. He should start vs Lazio, no contest. The remark was about him saying he wants to play twice a week in general. There will be times where he'll be benched for rotation purposes.

 

[Bluenine]

Maybe Lukaku knows something we don't and he will also start against Lazio.

Lukaku was bought as a battering ram to create space for others to score. And in the first 4 games, we have seen a surprisingly high percentage of goals scored by our midfielders. I don't think this is a coincidence. Lukaku is mainly a tactical piece in Conte's gameplan, and he also scores. He is doing EXACTLY what we bought him for.

For me, the only question in attack is who should partner Lukaku.

 

[LyNX]

The main complaint I would hear from my Man U friend (besides his touch) was that Lukaku had this knack of floating out wide and leaving the central area. I think we're seeing Conte use his habit of going wide helping create more space for the floating attacker (Lautaro) and combining to allow the midfield to get up into the play. This system has the opportunity to get better if Lautaro learns to control the ball better in that zone and pass back through the channels to the midfield. He's getting chances but he hasn't been lucky or clinical, and it doesn't help that he currently has a pass percentage of 52%

Would love to see the Lautaro/Lukaku partnership start to click, otherwise Sanchrz will likely get a chance in LM10's spot.

 

[thatdude]

I like how he invites the bench to join the celebration when he scores. That type of stuff is good for morale, I remember Zanetti always doing that.

 

[Native]

Lukaku was bought as a battering ram to create space for others to score. And in the first 4 games, we have seen a surprisingly high percentage of goals scored by our midfielders. I don't think this is a coincidence. Lukaku is mainly a tactical piece in Conte's gameplan, and he also scores. He is doing EXACTLY what we bought him for.

For me, the only question in attack is who should partner Lukaku.

I still think the midfielders score more because Lukaku fails to do so, not so much because he creates the space for them. We still score despite of him and not because of him. He's been invisible and doing next to nothing for large parts of the last few games and when you watch goals made by Sensi for example, Lukaku really doesn't have much of a role in them.

We could have easily scored 6 goals against BBilan but scored only 2, whatever Lukaku's doing isn't helping our conversion rate at all.
I would love to see Sanchez getting a chance, be it partnered with Lukaku or with someone else.

 

[Bluenine]

I still think the midfielders score more because Lukaku fails to do so, not so much because he creates the space for them. We still score despite of him and not because of him. He's been invisible and doing next to nothing for large parts of the last few games and when you watch goals made by Sensi for example, Lukaku really doesn't have much of a role in them.

Its not just Lukaku, its the system. Lukaku is a key component of that system. In 5 games Sensi has 2 goals, Brozovic has 2 goals, Barella has 1 goal, and even Candreva has a goal. Thats 60% of our goals. Plus Lukaku has 3. Of course there are many factors at play here, but if you think that the movement & physical presence of our strikers has no role to play in this, then you haven't understood the Conte system. The midfielders are finding space to shoot because the defences are focusing resources on our strikers and Conte's tactics regarding movement of midfielders like Bro and Sensi during an attacking phase. The crosses have reduced, instead I see this play out often - when a WB attacks, the strikers go forward taking the defence with them and Sensi and Bro move into space to shoot. At least half of the times that results in a pass to the midfielder and not a cross. But sometimes if the situation demands it, we can also mix it up (like that delicious assist by Barella for that last Lukaku goal).

You could argue that this system could also work with someone like Icardi (I will leave that argument for another day), but you cannot argue that this system is not working with Lukaku. At least not based on evidence so far.

 

[Adriano@10]

Meh i think a huge part of why our mid score more is that their not called Valero, JM and gags for 90 minutes.
I mean sensi is just a better shooter/scorer then all of them and so is barella.

 

[redmou]

We lose again and Lukaku scores for his new team. Feel like this will happen every week. This season is going to hurt very much.

- - - Updated - - -

He showed signs of improvement after his goal. That combination with Politano right after it was smooth but it wasn't there all night long.

Unless this has long run effects, as in gain confidence altogether, this may be quite worrying as he needs to score a goal in a game to become useful and not a frustrating player. At least he manages to score at some point which is the whole idea.

There are several examples of his time with us at United were he contributed aside from goals. Ironically, he was criticised for not being on the scoresheet. For example there is often much talk about his goal scoring record against the top 6, but there are many examples where his play help win these games. It was more prominent in his first season where we beat every side in the league.

Also what is funny is that his biggest contribution in a big game was the two away goals at PSG, but he never really got the credit for that.

Lukaku was bought as a battering ram to create space for others to score. And in the first 4 games, we have seen a surprisingly high percentage of goals scored by our midfielders. I don't think this is a coincidence. Lukaku is mainly a tactical piece in Conte's gameplan, and he also scores. He is doing EXACTLY what we bought him for.

For me, the only question in attack is who should partner Lukaku.

Yes, in his first season at Man United as well, the much maligned Jesse Lingard had his best season playing as the number 10 behind Lukaku.

 

[n4l]

Meh i think a huge part of why our mid score more is that their not called Valero, JM and gags for 90 minutes.
I mean sensi is just a better shooter/scorer then all of them and so is barella.

Yeah, it's a little bit of everything.

- We're playing 2 strikers vs 1 striker. Plus 2 wide players. So it's putting MUCH more pressure on defenses. They are spread out and can't double team anywhere (remember how icardi was literally double teamed almost every game). Of course to play like this, we are playing with more intensity.
- Lukaku is physically battering defenders.
- Better players (sensi/barella). I mean, ninja in his unfit state scored 6 goals last season, mostly shots outside the box. JM & Vecino can't shoot. Valero won't shoot. Gags hits row z...

 

[RickyMaravilla'sRightFoot]

Meh i think a huge part of why our mid score more is that their not called Valero, JM and gags for 90 minutes.
I mean sensi is just a better shooter/scorer then all of them and so is barella.

Sensi and Barella scored 3 goals combined all of last season, starting nearly every game. They have 3 already this season in a small slice. The impact of the tactical system is obvious.

 

[brehme1989]

Different coaching, different role, different system, different teammates...

Lukaku has been underwhelming but at least he managed to get on the scoresheet. Other than his PK vs Cagliari, the rest of his goals were very close to... inutili if we go by Adani standards. As in, they didn't make the difference. Too early of course to extrapolate anything and come up to a conclusion, but I wouldn't praise him yet.

At least he managed to restore most of his fitness.

 

[thatdude]

I would argue the derby goal definitely made a difference despite not being a winner. I get your point though

 

[brehme1989]

I would argue the derby goal definitely made a difference despite not being a winner. I get your point though

Sure, it had more of an effect than the Lecce goal as the 2nd goal can seal a win and is quite vital. But overall, his stats look way better than what he's shown on the pitch.

 

[Ed.]

in that case one can imagine what his stats will look like if he shows better on the pitch.