Lukaku left on the bench as Belgium are held by Wales

, 16 November, 52comments  |  Jump to most recent
Wales secured an impressive point in Brussels with Romelu Lukaku watching on from the bench as an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw.

The Everton striker had come off the bench a few days ago to score the third goal in the Red Devils' 3-1 win over Iceland but Divock Origi was preferred for this evening's Euro2016 qualifier.

Belgium manager threw Christian Benteke and Dries Mertens on in the second half searching for the win but the Welsh held out to take a point.  



Reader Comments (52)

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Eric Holland
1 Posted 16/11/2014 at 19:11:44
How shite is Lukaku? He can't even score against Wales.

Just sat on his arse all game... what a waste of money.

Colin Glassar
2 Posted 16/11/2014 at 19:17:34
I agree Eric but I thought Ossie was even worse yesterday. He just didn't show up.
Eddie Dunn
3 Posted 16/11/2014 at 19:24:07
Origi was picked ahead of Benteke and Lukaku...Wilmots surely knows a fair bit about his squad, and Origi in particular looked handy.

Martinez knows he has too "Big him up", hence his recent comment about how Rom will get going in the New Year.

RM is a bit of a politician... or at least an Alistair Campbell.

John Zapa
4 Posted 16/11/2014 at 19:25:29
Origi seems to have far better ball control and pace, superior work rate and a much smaller ego.
Patrick Murphy
5 Posted 16/11/2014 at 19:31:37
John – and he didn't score!
Mark Frere
6 Posted 16/11/2014 at 19:34:33
And a vastly inferior goal-scoring record, John. Wilmots had a very talented squad in Brazil, but didn't seem to have a clue who his best 11 players were or how to get the best out of them.
Trevor Lynes
7 Posted 16/11/2014 at 20:26:26
Did you lads see the Lille match? Lukaku was more impressive than Origi in that match and his second goal was onside.

Personally I do not care if he is never used by Belgium — and that goes for Mirallas too.

Jeff Armstrong
8 Posted 16/11/2014 at 21:04:50
Barkley on bench, Rom on bench, Gibbo back at finch farm as a precaution... all good as far as I can see.
Jeff Armstrong
9 Posted 16/11/2014 at 21:14:14
Barkley will probably start against the jocks and get "done" by Naismith...
Scott Williams
10 Posted 16/11/2014 at 23:32:17
I’m glad he didn’t play. Imagine another injury!
Harold Matthews
11 Posted 17/11/2014 at 00:02:39
Never a dull moment.
Christopher Wallace
12 Posted 17/11/2014 at 03:16:25
John Zapa

I find it strange that you’ve decided not to include in your comparison that Lukaku is better in the air, stronger, better left foot, better right foot, better finisher and far superior goal rate than Origi.

Not sure I can ever recall an Everton fan make such a horribly biased comparison between a RS player and one of our own.

Hang your head mate.

John Zapa
13 Posted 17/11/2014 at 07:17:03
Christopher,

The strengths you mention are obviously not sufficient to sway the Belgian manager’s mind. If Origi is keeping Lukaku on the bench while playing in a poor team in a weak league, you can safely predict that Lukaku will do plenty of bench-warming for his country when Origi joins Liverpool.

Andrew Ellams
14 Posted 17/11/2014 at 07:50:45
So a manager picks a team that fails to score at home to Wales and people automatically pick on the striker who didn't even get on the pitch. Origi is hugely overrated and will not shine in the Premier League.
Max Wilson
15 Posted 17/11/2014 at 09:26:07
He's first choice along with Eto'o to us at the mo anyway. Has anyone been following the progress of Hope and Long?
Christopher Wallace
16 Posted 17/11/2014 at 09:45:00
John

Mark Frere has already summed it up nicely... Wilmots is clueless.

Lukaku scores goals at a far greater rate. Origi looks decent, but he certainly doesn’t look like a lone striker.

He has pace and a few tricks, but I can see him flopping at the RS. He will be a frustrating players with the odd moment of brilliance.

Belgium should be beating Wales. They would have had a far better chance if Lukaku or Benteke had started. Both guys have fitness concerns this season.

Peter Roberts
19 Posted 17/11/2014 at 12:38:55
I see Stockholm syndrome settling in with Everton fans yet again. I seen this with Kenwright and Moyes. It doesn't make you a bad fan for calling out what isn't good enough – "Nothing but the best is good enough"

All I care about is Everton, not the individuals earning milions of pounds from us.

If Lukaku can't trap a bag of cement and looks half-bothered in certain games then call it out – it doesn't mean you are being disloyal. For some reason, certain players attract stick and others are supposedly immune from it. I guess with Lukaku it is that everyone thinks he had so many more better offers elsewhere and he was doing us a favour by signing for us.

The reality? No-one came in for him – does anyone really think Juve had £28m to spend??? They bought Morata for £15m and are in debt.

The fact is Lukaku is way off what we expected him to be. That frustration is clearly shared by most fans – if anyone really expects that spending £28m on a player and then needing specialist coaching from staff to improve his control isn't concerning, then I don't know what is. For me, it's always going to be a weak area for him, he is 21 – not 12.

Mourinho is no idiot. He knows full well that a player needs to be able to look after the ball; a poacher isn't what he wants – he wants a player to be competent and contribute to the team and bring his attacking midfielders in.

RM has a job on his hands to find a way of getting the best out of Lukaku whilst minimising the areas where he really is generally poor. He can tell everyone all he wants about Lukaku being this and that next year – the reality is that defenders know how to play Lukaku. Take him out of the limelight, get Eto'o playing as the main man with Naismith – both intelligent with great movement.

Rom will come good, we hope, and he knows where the net is, but let's not kid ourselves, eh – he's got a shed load of improving to do and its not something that will magically happen.

Kev Johnson
20 Posted 17/11/2014 at 13:36:47
Personally, I think it's more a case of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. Although, to be fair, I can't completely rule out a medium-to-severe case of Second Album Syndrome. That'll be £149.95; all major credit cards accepted.
James Stewart
21 Posted 17/11/2014 at 13:51:35
Wilmots is a truly woeful manager – I wouldn't read anything into his selections or tactics. He should be doing a hell of a lot better than what he has with that squad. Mourinho would have won the World Cup with the Belgium squad.
Colin Glassar
22 Posted 17/11/2014 at 13:58:13
So Peter and Kev, are you saying Rom has a mental problem? He could be bi-polar or just schizo. I think he might have that ADDS or whatever it's called. In my day it was just called restlessness.
Kev Johnson
23 Posted 17/11/2014 at 14:54:23
Colin: I was talking about RM with the second album/season syndrome. I know Stockholm Syndrome is when kidnapped people come to identity with their captors, but I don't know what point Peter is making in terms of our fanbase. Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy I just threw in because I think it's a preposterous idea. If anything, Rom's got a Samson Complex; I blame Delilah.
Colin Glassar
24 Posted 17/11/2014 at 15:17:41
I was just being facetious Kev.
Tony J Williams
25 Posted 17/11/2014 at 15:35:31
I imagine so was Kev.
Garry Richards
27 Posted 17/11/2014 at 17:12:29
Speaking as a Welsh Everton fan I was thrilled that he just sat and watched.
Bill Gall
28 Posted 17/11/2014 at 18:41:27
Well as 3rd placed striker for Belgium we don't have to worry about him in internationals getting injured.
Tony Cheek
29 Posted 17/11/2014 at 20:26:48
Good post, Peter Roberts (#19).... Unfortunately for us, you hit the nail on the head. Mourinho is laughing all the way to the bank and Roberto has made his first (critical) mistake as Everton manager.

I will never understand what made him pay that money for Lukaku. Yes, he will score goals, but only because he is strong and fast. He thinks slow, has a bad first touch, and is completely on a different level than Eto'o and the fast-thinking players around him.

In other words, he is a liability. Third choice for Belgium and will soon be third choice for us. He will never be good enough, and Peter, I have seen plenty of 12-year-olds with a better touch.

Eric Holland
30 Posted 17/11/2014 at 20:47:59
Let's just sell the waste of space for £6 million and buy Origi — he is so much better than Lukaku
Kieran Riding
31 Posted 17/11/2014 at 21:00:35
Amazed Rom didn't play. Wales are a one-man team and were there for the taking last night.

I'm not a fan of Hazard, I think he is vastly over rated (my opinion). But, if he was playing behind Benteke and Rom last night, they would have snotted Wales.

Mike Iddon
32 Posted 17/11/2014 at 22:40:14
"Yes he will score goals only because he is strong and fast. He will never be good enough". A fast, strong striker scoring goals, well I never.
Harold Matthews
33 Posted 18/11/2014 at 07:13:01
Shalke offered £21m. Don't know what pushed it up to £24m plus add-ons.

Not surprised he sat on the bench. (a) According to Martinez, he is two months away from peak fitness and (b), he is not suited to operating in the confined spaces of a packed defence.

Also, according to the lad himself, he hates playing with Hazard. This will not have helped his cause. On numerous occasions he has requested to be played up front with Fellaini who will provide the knock-downs.

Captain Vincent Kompany reckons it is far too early to judge our boy.

Matt Traynor
34 Posted 18/11/2014 at 07:57:02
For those who think Lukaku is our Denis Bergkamp.

(From Popbitch)

>> Bump 'n' ride <<
Romelu Lukaku is a softie

This weekend sees Belgium host rivals Wales in a European Championship qualifier. Everton's Romelu Lukaku is probably grateful to be playing just a couple of train rides from home. According to a team-mate, he didn't enjoy the World Cup flight home from Brazil very much. When the plane hit turbulence Lukaku asked the flight attendant if she'd hold his hand.

Peter Roberts
35 Posted 18/11/2014 at 09:13:36
He's the Belguim Hallam Hope.
Phil Walling
36 Posted 18/11/2014 at 10:14:36
I tried that one, Matt, on the flight back from Milan in October '75. She told me to behave myself and hold onto the Lord Mayor who was occupying the TWO seats beside me!
Peter Roberts
37 Posted 18/11/2014 at 11:37:28
Lukaku – he's the expensive impulse buy that you make, go home and find it doesn't really fit, and then realise you've lost the receipt.

Too many people are trying to convince themselves it does fit and it's just a trick of the mirror, knowing quite well they will only get half their money back when they sell it on ebay.

Reminds me...

http://talksport.com/magazine/virals/120831/michael-owen-sale-ebay-179950

Some just think that they will lose weight by magic and it will be the best purchase ever.

Tony J Williams
38 Posted 18/11/2014 at 11:46:48
Peter, I fail to see how a player we had pretty much the full season before on loan could be seen as an impulse buy.

Especially as he has been consistent in his two full seasons in England.

It is well documented that he was/is carrying an injury and is still only one behind in the battle of the top scorers in our team. Still almost 1 in 2 and he is playing within pretty much the same team as last season so the fit was already there.

Steve Brown
39 Posted 18/11/2014 at 11:50:42
Lukaku has scored 36 goals in 77 games for West Brom and Everton. So he was over-priced at £28 million, not his fault and I would put a big bet on us selling him for a lot more than that one day.

Remind me, Peter, how many times has Hallam Hope scored for us?

Steve Jenkins
40 Posted 18/11/2014 at 12:06:05
Wales aren’t quite a one-man team, although they do have one genuinely World Class player. They over-rely on him going forward though.

Bale doesn’t stop Wales from conceding though; Williams of Swansea is a class centre-back and the likes of Allen and Ramsey aren’t half bad.

Anyone get a look at the lad George Williams that we were linked with?

Peter Roberts
41 Posted 18/11/2014 at 11:59:57
Hallam Hope was a slight at the fact that being strong and fast is all you need to be...

36 goals in 77 games eh, maybe it's a bit better than than the 28 in 75 that Rickie Lambert got for Southampton in the same two seasons...

I guess it's the mythical 15 goal barrier that he smashed that put him alongside the likes of Lambert, Grant Holt, Jay Rodriguez, Clint Dempsey, Peter Odemwingie and Yakubu in his Premier League swansong for Blackburn.

That's maybe why people get carried away with his goalscoring exploits and ignore the fact that he has the touch of an elephant.

Pete Edwards
42 Posted 18/11/2014 at 12:34:00
"36 goals in 77 games eh, maybe its a bit better than than the 28 in 75 that Rickie Lambert got for Southampton in the same two seasons..."

Well yeh it is!!! Not sure what point you are trying to make here Peter?? 2 more games played yielding 8 more goals, I'd take that all day.

Tony J Williams
43 Posted 18/11/2014 at 13:11:36
Imagine that, basing a striker on his scoring exploits instead of his first touch...... well I never!
Peter Roberts
44 Posted 18/11/2014 at 13:29:51
You mean the type of touch that has continually been the reason that attacks break down and our fullbacks have to sprint back to stop the opposition scoring?

Maybe his unforced pass to the Burnley player that set up their goal didn't set alarm bells ringing. His ball retention is awful and a risk to the team. If he sorts it out then he could be a very good player.... IF

Tony J Williams
45 Posted 18/11/2014 at 13:40:20
Imagine that, defenders defending?

Didn't we win against Burnley with Lukaku scoring the goal to get us back into the lead?

His ball retention is rubbish, I am not arguing with you... but goals win games and he scores goals, he has done since he has been in England.

If we are talking about attacks breaking down, what about Jagielka's long diagonal balls, Ossie being muscled off the ball, Baines's corners not getting past the first man, Coleman being unable to get past the defender, McGeady... being McGeady, Barkley losing the ball or misplacing a pass?

I could go on, it's not just him that causes turnovers in play because of his first touch. He also has moments when he controls it well and lays it off but, like always, we all seem to focus mostly on the mistakes, not what players have done well.

He will be judged on his scoring record because he is a striker and he is still almost a 1 in 2 striker. How long has it been since we had one of them?

Overpriced? – of course he was but lets his goals do the talking, not the fact that he has the touch of a rapist (sorry Ched!)

Jackie Barry
46 Posted 18/11/2014 at 14:04:23
Overpriced? Of course – all footballer are nowadays. The problem I have is certain people turn it into a personal vendetta against the player himself, they launch into a tirade of attacks one after the other and never shut up about it. We get it, we understand, no move on and discuss something else, your like a bloody broken record.
Sam Hoare
47 Posted 18/11/2014 at 14:14:30
36 goals in 77 games is great. Ultimately it's the reason we paid £28M for him rather than the £12-15M that I think his ability currently deserves.

If he continues to score around 1 in 2 then I don't think anyone will complain much about that hefty price tag. So far this season, though he is scoring at 1 in 4. Maybe he is injured or unfit. Who knows. But I do know that if he isn't scoring regularly then the rest of his game at present does not merit his inclusion in a team attempting to achieve top 4.

Too many attacks break down with him and the negatives outweigh the positives unless he's putting it in the back of the onion bag more often. Hopefully he's shaking off whatever has been bothering him and we are about to see a return to goalscoring form. If not, then Roberto is going to have some tough decisions to make.

Andrew Ellams
48 Posted 18/11/2014 at 14:37:10
All strikers have a runs of 1 in 4 or often a lot worse and then they will have a time when the click and hit 8 in 6 and then by the end of their careers the good ones average out at 1 in 2 (-ish).
Sam Hoare
49 Posted 18/11/2014 at 15:48:46
If you're right Andrew then we should be due a glut! I'm not sure its that simple though...just ask Fernando Torres. At Liverpool he had an amazing record of more than 1 every 2. He's been 1 in 4 since then. For 4 years!
Steve Brown
50 Posted 18/11/2014 at 15:56:36
Peter 44, you seem in shock that we have a goal scorer whose ratio is 1 goal in every two games. By any standard that is impressive.

If you are honestly trying to compare a 21 year old to a 32 year old then you really are struggling. Give Lukaku a chance to develop his game then judge.

Linda Morrison
51 Posted 18/11/2014 at 16:46:09
I know there are rumours and rumours but a friend told me today that Lukaku is not fit, has been playing with pain killing injections as the toe injury is still present.

If that is the case he should be out of the squad until he is fit.

I thought clubs learnt a long time ago that playing on a regular basis with pain killing injections causes long term health problems for players.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Osman or Hibbert in midfield if Gibson isn't fit

Tony Cheek
52 Posted 18/11/2014 at 17:10:56
Mike Iddon... Strong and fast is good. Usain Bolt is strong and fast. 28 mill should be able to buy strong, fast, with football brain... or what?
Paul Andrews
53 Posted 18/11/2014 at 17:26:38
36 goals in 77 Premier League starts.

I hope he carries on being shite for us for the next 5 years.

Mike Iddon
54 Posted 18/11/2014 at 18:41:17
Tony, they were your words added to the point he scores goals which is what he's paid for. If he doesn't do that over this season then fair enough, time to reconsider but if he keeps scoring as last season and the one before a football brain is a bit immaterial.
Chris Fisher
55 Posted 19/11/2014 at 12:26:04
I like Lukaku and think eventually we will see the beast of a player that we saw when he first joined us, and those early games against West Ham and Newcastle where he was genuinely scary to watch, in a good way!

But at the moment what frustrates me more than anything is watching Naismith receive the ball just past the centre circle, turn and pass the ball out wide and then sprint his nuts off past Lukaku and into the box to try and get on the end of a cross whilst Lukaku stands watching all this happen and then lightly jogs to the edge of the box. Put some effort in, lad!

That first goal he scored vs West Ham – that's what we want to see, real bust-a-gut effort to make sure he got on the end of that cross. At the moment, it seems like he has got a contract and he no longer feels the need to make the effort.


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