Reports emerged recently that 24 year old Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku had completed his medical for his destined move to English powerhouse Manchester United.
In the Premier League, his goal scoring stats have been quite staggering. Since the 2013-14 season, he has notched up 85 goals for both West Brom and Everton. He has come off the back of a stellar 2016-17 season, scoring 25 goals in the top flight.
Going by these numbers, Manchester United supporters have been going into meltdown over the past 24 hours, hoping that the new $96 million signing will be one of the final pieces in the jigsaw for Jose Mourinho who is in search for the domestic league title.
Despite Lukaku’s impressive performances, he will not succeed at his new club.
With all due respect, Everton is a small club which likes to counter attack at every given opportunity. This has given Lukaku the freedom to run in behind defences and provide space for himself to score most of his goals.
At Man United, that’s not going to happen.
Mourinho’s side will be a team which likes to move the ball around and create little one-twos in tight spaces in and around the penalty area. This is his main weakness, as he isn’t mobile enough to make room for himself to give him shooting chances.
Being able to hold up the ball is another weakness that United will have to try and improve on in his game. Lukaku’s first touch is abysmal, making him unable to bring others around him into the game and provide chances in front of goal for others.
Every club Mourinho has managed throughout his career has seen a strong forward who can hold up the ball. The likes of Diego Costa, Diego Milito, Benni McCarthy and Didier Drogba were able to do just that, which also helped him win trophies as big as the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan.
Let’s face it, Lukaku was playing with no pressure at Everton with expectations of a mid-table finish every season. He was hardly ever criticised in the media and was able to adapt to his own favourite playing style.
The mentality aspect needs to be a lot stronger, as he has to produce week in week out whether it be in the Premier League or the Champions League. He can’t expect to get away with scoring goals just against the lower teams. He needs to produce consistently against the big boys as well.
(Photo: AAP images).
With a huge price tag placed on Lukaku’s shoulders, it has been proven in the past that it is so easy to give in to high amounts of pressure and expectations.
Paul Pogba ($105 million) and James Rodriguez ($91 million) are perfect examples. They have underperformed since their big money moves to Manchester United and Real Madrid, which is what I fear for Lukaku the most.
We have to remember also the reasons as to why Jose Mourinho sold the Belgian in the first place when at Chelsea for $25 million.
Those reasons include the ones that have been mentioned.
Obviously though, Lukaku’s strengths such as his power and goal scoring ability have changed Mourinho’s mind about the player which makes him feel as though he has the right tools to succeed at Old Trafford.
Romelu Lukaku is a capable player with a lot of potential and has time on his side to grow and develop. It’s just those negatives that are going to stop him from being a world class player and succeeding at Manchester United.
This transfer will prove out to be a disappointment.
Buddy
Guest
Kaks, I find it slightly alarming when I run across someone who supports the same teams and holds similar opinions! I am quite happy that RL has not returned to SW6 not just for attitude but more that I don't think he would give any improvement or variation to the squad. I don't believe his conversion rate is anywhere near high enough in the really tough games and when I have seen him play for Belgium, he looks quite ordinary for the most part. I am not convinced that Jose really admires him and believes he is the missing piece. I think Man U are caught up in playing out their role of being being biggest and richest and can choose the most expensive lollies from the top shelf. I prefer the more planned approach to squad development rather than cherry picking although still disappointed that the youth players are not afforded an opportunity at first team level for the most part. Many years past, Ray Wilkins was club captain at 18....... different times I know but he was very capable and Manu were happy enough to shell out around 800,000 before that magic million mark was brought on by Trevor Francis!
Midfielder
Guest
Off topic... but just watched this youtube clip and the guy has put up 10 great passes of the ball... tis lovely to watch... The second goal by Beckham defies logic as he bends the ball between two defenders to a running forward and it bends to his feet with an open goal... enjoy... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMjnmcmWjBU
RBBAnonymous
Guest
It's not a Bosnian ruling, get it right for goodness sake. You can't even make your corrections "correct".
Jim S
Guest
"…so united still need to bring in some quality signings" You missed that Lukaku was criticised for not being 3 players
Al-Shazahd
Guest
"". I think you are totally wrong Christian, especially with some of your analysis. I don’t need to point out as others have already torn you to pieces, so I will take it easy on you. You can do better."" Amen
Al-Shazahd
Guest
Nope. You are wrong. Despite scoring over 95% of his goals inside the box Christian says Lukaku does not make enough space. Go figure.
Nemesis
Guest
Even if Man United signed Cristiano Ronaldo, it wouldn't mean United would win anything. I find such pre-season analysis absolutely ridiculous. It's a team sport. I don't care if Lukaku scores zero goals all season and United win the English title.
Al-Shazahd
Guest
""Even if Lukaku does happen to score many goals, it won’t mean man united will finish any higher then they did last season."" So you should be saying 'United will fail Lukaku' rather than 'Lukaku will fail United'. Lukaku's job is to score goals for United. His team mates should be good enough to do the rest. If he bangs in 30+ goals next season and United finish outside the top 4 will he still be a failure at United?
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Even if Lukaku does happen to score many goals, it won't mean man united will finish any higher then they did last season. Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals and isn't with the club anymore...so united still need to bring in some quality signings
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Doesn't matter anyway Nemesis. The Hammers will dominate the upcoming EPL season. Most clubs will struggle against them. ⚽️
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The man is a good player, does make space in the box to score and may very well have a good year. No real need to write him off just yet. The headline just reads a little negative and implies the writer will enjoy the failure. This made not have been Christian's intention or his headline. Perhaps something more like Have Everton made an error with Lukaku? Obviously got a few backs up, on the surface there is some weakness in the argument despite the fact that it will be a challenge for the new man whatever structure or style the team adopt. Wish him well.
Nemesis
Guest
If you watched a lot of United last season (and I watched a lot of their games in the EPL and UEL), then you'd know that the only thing that prevented ManUnited finishing Top 4 was profligacy in the box. We went undefeated for 25 matches in a row. But, United drew 15 matches last season. 10 draws at home. That's too many dropped points, particularly at home So, the difference between United finishing Top 3 and 6th last season was a player scoring 1 more goal in 5 matches. Can Lukaku do that? Well, he's up there with the best finishers in the EPL.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
My guess is that Lukaku will be the top goalscorer at Man Utd and I am sure he will give the golden boot a good shake. It will take him a few months to settle in just like anyone but he is a terrific player. I just don't think I would have paid that much for him. I think you are totally wrong Christian, especially with some of your analysis. I don't need to point out as others have already torn you to pieces, so I will take it easy on you. You can do better.
Jim S
Guest
For Lukaku to fail at Utd, he'd have to have a chance to succeed. Utd scored 54 goals last year. There's every possibility their problems go deeper than a front man.
punter
Guest
JB, I think you mean top 4, I already discussed that Moyes was poor hence why they missed in 2014. T hey made the top 4 in 2015 & came 5th in 2016, so yes they failed but only just in 2015, both years under Van Gaal. So you can't completely call it a disaster. In 2017 under Mourinho, they were no match for Chelsea for the championship, a side that funny enough Mourinho had molded. Now when you don't win the premiership, the next best is top 4 for champions league, so in a sense he achieved the goal set out by the club of making the champions league for next year, when he knew they were not good enough for the premiership. Now if you asking why a club like Man U, a top club, despite spending millions cannot win the premiership, I'd agree a valid question, but a top club missing out on champions league, they missed once due to Moyes & once under Van Gaal & they finished 5th just outside, a year that a fairy tale occurred in Leicester, who still today no-one knows how that happened.
j,binnie
Guest
Punter - You have missed the point of my comment completely. Christian used the "top six" in the EPL as a measure of a club's standing in HIS scheme of things, not mine. Man,Utd have just scraped into the top six once since Fergie left so where do they stand??? Also you pontificate on the achievements or otherwise of the last two managers and yet apparently ignore the obvious,despite spending millions they have yet to achieve success at Old Trafford. Care to tell us why? Cheers jb.
punter
Guest
Wow if Man Utd is not a 'big club' what do you call Liverpool? I can try to answer the 2nd question Moyes, yes huge mistake & proven more so by poor at other clubs. Van Gaal, well champions league winner, 2 La Liga titles, 1 Bundesliga & 3 Dutch league titles, when Holland had a very strong comp. He just came of the back of taking Holland to 3rd place in WC before taking Man U. Mourihno, as mentioned above, 2 Champions league cups, 8 Premierships, 2 UEFA/Europa cups, in 4 different countries. So unless their powers have waned when they got to United, the answer is yes, YES they were good enough.
j,binnie
Guest
Careful ChristIan- Man Utd have in the last 4 seasons ,spent millions of pounds ,under three different, and no doubt, highly aid managers and are yet to lift themselves into that level you deem to be the standard for being called a "big club".. Where does that leave them in your greater scheme of things???, Is the club failing?, are the managers not as good as we are being told?, I'm sure there are 100,000 Man Utd fans would rather read your opinions on the answers to these questions.jb
Al-Shazahd
Guest
- I pointed out that 65 of 68 goals Lukaku scored at Everton were inside the box as Christian stated Lukaku doesn't make space for himself inside the box. He then replied saying majority of those were one on one or tap ins and therefore do not count. But if you look at Ibrahimovic's goals last season the majority were also one on one or tap ins. - Everton is a small club? I think anyone who follows the Premier League (and not just fanboy the big clubs) would know Everton is not a small club by any stretch. - Christian stated Lukaku has not performed in big games against big clubs. Well of course, if he stated that Everton is a small club, then their so called "big games" are against mid table clubs in which Lukaku has scored well against. Everton's approach to games against big clubs are different, they get starved of possession with limited scoring opportunities.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Aaaah, the life of a troll - wait with baited breath to find something to tear down, including people who take the time to write an article, that is clearly opinion (it may help to disclose this from the get-go in the headline), so therefore, it doesn't need to be completely factual, and can even contain flaws. Now that I've defended Christian, I can critique his analysis. Firstly, if the merit of what is a "small club" is what has happened in the last decade, then I wouldn't want to be an AC Milan fan. Yes, in 2007, they won the Champions League, but it's been slim pickings since then. Everton have been a victim of an austere regime by Bill Kenwright, purposefully to try and keep with its old identity as a club for the locals of Merseyside. Even though success has eluded them, their membership and brand value is not small at all. Living in London, Everton is not a niche market. And before that is disputed, full disclosure that I'm a Liverpool fan. I may not like to admit it, but Everton is a big club. Moshiri's arrival means some Evertonians will have to let go of their perceived value of their club for their people, and embrace a more global marketplace. But nothing buys loyalty like silverware :) Now with regards to the analysis on Lukaku. £90m (if the reports are to be believed) is a figure beyond ridicule, for any striker at any time. I'm thinking national annual GDPs and what-not. When applied specifically to Lukaku, Everton have done a shrewd bit of business, even moreso with Rooney going back to Finch Farm. Manchester United is awash in dollars, but not so much in sense. Lukaku could represent the latest bit of business in the post-Ferguson era where the problems at Old Trafford can be solved with money alone. Jury is out on Pogba (who I think will come good), but Martial, Depay, and Di Maria have all been hugely disappointing purchases that have gone nowhere. United would have been far better off bringing up young Rashford, who may be wondering about his level of involvement with Lukaku's arrival. At the same time, Christian's analysis on why Lukaku will fail doesn't hold weight. While his record against big clubs was meagre, it also exemplifies how poor Everton themselves were against the clubs above them. If the expectation that Lukaku scores from the few shots he has in these games as a lone forward (largely), then it's a big ask. For that reason alone, £90m is ridiculous. Yet with a team with a greater intent to attack, he will benefit naturally. Herrera and Mata will be critical in this for me, and if United get Matic, that only increases Mourinho's inclination to attack. Jury is out on Lukaku (as it is on all new signings), but the only thing I can say is that on a fee of £90m, he can only ever fulfil expectations, and never exceed them. On that basis alone, it's going to be tough for him, but that's not to say he won't score lots of goals for United.