Lukaku finishes as joint-top scorer in Europa League

, 27 May, 50comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton's Romelu Lukaku will share the Europa League golden boot with Red Bull Salzburg's Alan following the conclusion of this season's competition in Warsaw this evening.

Lukaku struck eight of his 20 goals in Europe this season, matching Alan's tally and finishing one ahead of Sevilla's goal hero, Carlos Bacca.

The Colombian struck twice in the final as the Spanish club retained the trophy with a 3-2 win over Ukrainian side Dnipro.

Bacca was substituted before he could notch a hat-trick that would have made it a three-way tie for Europa League top scorer in 2014-15.

Ex-Everton winger, Gerard Deulofeu, won a winner's medal but did not feature in the final for the Spaniards after experiencing a challenging second half of the campaign on his second loan spell away from Barcelona.  



Reader Comments (50)

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Brian Porter
2 Posted 27/05/2015 at 23:45:06
Congratulations, Rom. At least someone from Everton won something this season.
Malc Kitchen
3 Posted 28/05/2015 at 01:33:53
For his 20 goals, Rom was my man of the season, Jags did well since Feb, but early on he was dire, except for his goal at Anfield!
Gareth Clark
4 Posted 28/05/2015 at 07:06:41
My player of the season would be McCarthy, never stops working & always reliable.

Other than that, Stones, or Lennon (he turned our season around - but I wouldn’t sign him).

Nick Page
5 Posted 28/05/2015 at 08:05:13
Field Marshall Hague, Lady Hague and their tortoise, Alan.
Paul Andrews
6 Posted 28/05/2015 at 08:08:21
A good pointer to the potential of this young player. He needs to be allowed to develop without the negativity that surrounds him. He is a baby for the position he plays; make no mistake, given the service this lad will score 20 plus every season.
Victor Yu
7 Posted 28/05/2015 at 09:43:15
He is not getting a lot of service this year but still scores a fair amount of goal. He has his issues and he can be better but let’s not be too harsh on him. Without him we could have been relegated this year (imagine having Kone or Naismith being the main striker for a full season!).
Brin Williams
8 Posted 28/05/2015 at 09:53:54
So, after a crap season, we apparently have names for five ’Players of the Season’: Jagielka, Lukaku, McCarthy, Stones and Lennon... Half the team have deserved the accolade – that is phenomenal!!
Liam Reilly
9 Posted 28/05/2015 at 09:59:00
I don’t recall any games in Europe where the opposition shut up shop and played for a draw; which plays to our and Lukaku’s strengths. Something RM needs to figure out for the new season.

There’s been many comments on here that he’s not worth £28 million and his first touch is poor; but for someone so young, he’s already a marked man and his goals record speaks for itself. Be interesting to see how ’Arry Kane does in his second season.

The market’s inflated and, with the extra Sky cash looming, we’ll see a strong return on his investment; although I hope that’s not for a few years yet, as we need a goalscorer that can get us into the Champions League.

Trevor Lynes
10 Posted 28/05/2015 at 11:23:06
Looking at the stats on assists and pass completion etc we have a few still at the top of the tree including Jags and Baines. These two in particular are out performing many of the so-called top defenders in our league.

Unfortunately again it is defenders who have earned the plaudits. We have a decidedly average bunch of midfielders and that is the problem with our team. Almost all we have are defensive players and we are crying out for a creative player who can get the best out of Mirallas and Lukaku.

Our two Belgians are really the only two players who get into double figures. Barkley has dried up completely and unfortunately Osman and Pienaar, though our best midfielders, are not prolific scorers.

I am sick of seeing us linked with drones (which we already have) and we must go all out to sign a ’real schemer’ who can lift the side and fans. Osman and Pienaar need replacing urgently as both are decent for an hour but not much more. The rest are really disappointing as creative players or scorers.

Let us hope that Martinez has someone ear-marked for this transfer window who will bring optimism to our once great club.

Mark Andersson
11 Posted 28/05/2015 at 13:37:20
Liam Reilly, unless Martinez has better tactics what makes you think that even if we had the best striker in the world he could fire us into the CL

Harry Kane has better movement than than the big lump and gets better service as shown by his goal against us.

More of the same shite will be served up next season. Big lump will sulk while Harry Kane will go on to be the next overhyped English hero.

James Marshall
12 Posted 28/05/2015 at 14:27:02
Didn’t he score 5 against Young Boys? I reckon I could have scored a few against them.

Harold Matthews
13 Posted 28/05/2015 at 15:37:35
Hope it causes someone to buy him.
Jim Knightley
14 Posted 28/05/2015 at 16:46:32
This is a reason to applaud, not insult Lukaku, and it is clearly indicative of a tactical condition of Europe which is not replicated in the Premier League.

Lukaku scored 32 Premier League goals in something like 49 starts before this season – those goals have not come out of thin air. We were playing tactics better suited to his ability (with quicker passing) the season before, and West Brom’s readiness to get the ball to him quickly also suited his playing style. Martinez should look to build a team which provides the right service to Lukaku, because he, not Barkley, is our star asset (along with Stones and McCarthy).

And Brin – your satirical post presupposes that a ’Player of the Season’ must have performed brilliantly. However, a Player of the Season does not have to be consistently brilliant, just the best of a bad bunch, and I haven’t seen any Everton fans attempting to suggest otherwise. The conflicts over ’a Player of the Season’ is a product of the bad season we’ve had, and the failure of any player to consistently prove their worth.

Personally I’d give to Stones because of his age, but I do not think any player has improved their standing this season. McCarthy would be a close second.

Harold Matthews
15 Posted 28/05/2015 at 17:44:00
Yes, that’s the trouble Jim. We don’t play his kind of game and he’ll always find himself in a crowded final third with two men on his back.
Jon Cox
16 Posted 28/05/2015 at 18:21:39
Problems are, JIm, he has no ball control what-so-ever and and secondly he doesn’t know what the word elusive means.
James Marshall
18 Posted 29/05/2015 at 01:42:41
Jim, we all know why Lukaku looks rubbish in our team, even if he still scores a few – most of us are kind bored with all the talk I’d imagine. It’s obvious we play the wrong way to get the best out of him. I’ve resorted to just having a laugh about it all these days....
Mick Wrende
19 Posted 29/05/2015 at 06:17:15
Unbelievable that a few goals against mediocre European teams elevates him in some people’s eyes. Fortunately, this does not fool the the majority of Blues fans.

It doesn’t matter what tactics we play he is rubbish and 6 goals from 35 Premier League games is the evidence. He is lazy rarely putting in any effort, lacks any sort of ball control, can’t keep the ball when it is played up to him, hardly ever looks like scoring, and for a big lad is so easily brushed aside by defenders. He must drive his team mates crazy with the paucity of his play.

His pathetic, slothful display against Spurs in the last game and then completely ignoring the crowd on the lap of dishonor was typical of his character. He likes the fast cars and all the trimmings but not the hard work. It is an absolute scandal we wasted £28 million on him.

As Harold @13 says, let’s hope his goal tally in Europe fools someone to buy him.

Nick Wall
20 Posted 29/05/2015 at 08:23:13
Mick (#19), what a disgusting attack on a blue hero.

As Jim (#14) says, this thread should be the place to applaud Lukaku on his golden boot. Our opposition was no easier than anyone else’s, and no other strikers including Harry Kane bettered his goal tally. In arguably our toughest fixture away to Wolfsburg, Lukaku and Mirallas ripped the defence apart, getting a goal and an assist apiece.

Your stat is incorrect. Over the last 3 seasons Lukaku has 42 goals in 102 league appearances, including 10 this season just gone.

He’s not the finished article. His overall game is capable of improvement. But he’s possibly the most important player in our team and we’re lucky to have him. He gives defenders problems, he creates chances, he scores goals. Your attacks on his character and his workrate are beneath contempt.

Dave Abrahams
21 Posted 29/05/2015 at 09:01:53
Some good points for him and some good observations about his poor ability to do the basic things that every footballer should have. I don’t think the lad works hard enough to improve his game, he is a very very slow learner and his lack of energy and movement makes me think he will never reach the top.

I agree that we will eventually get our money back on him as there is always some team that will think he can do a good job for them.

Phil Walling
22 Posted 29/05/2015 at 09:09:49
Congrats, Rom, you done great in the Europa. Now to prove all your knockers wrong by netting 20 in the Prem next season!
Michael Polley
23 Posted 29/05/2015 at 09:58:27
If he dosn’t get the service, he’ll not score. That’s why RM needs to change his tactics & thinking. We need to get the ball to him more quickly. Hence the importance of bringing in a creative fast paced midfielder, and a forward to partner him.

Not holding my breath though!!!

Harold Matthews
24 Posted 29/05/2015 at 11:51:13
If Jags and Stones can get their heads to the ball at free kicks and corners why can’t the taller and stronger Lukaku?

Everyone wants a goal scorer. With such a great record all the big clubs will be after him.........or will they?

Why is he caught offside so often?

I don’t think anyone is against the lad. He’s definitely a bit better on the ball these days but he cost us a fortune and we want him to score 20 League goals a season....without the penalties.

Service or no service, goals or no goals, if he showed the same movement, energy and determination as the young Harry Kane, or even Jelavic and The Straq, no-one would be on his back.

Tony J Williams
25 Posted 29/05/2015 at 12:16:39
Nick, is your tongue still firmly stuck in the side of your mouth?

A Blue Hero? Seriously?

I was hoping that his little purple patch was what he needed to get out of his funk, but the lad is fucking useless.

Never known a forward to jump under so many headers in all my life or be brushed aside so easily by defenders/midfielders half his size.

And all this shite about playing to his strengths is bollocks too, he hasn’t got any.

If a ball is put on a plate enough times, I, with my dodgy kness and ankle, would probably end up with the same tally as that useless twat.

it’s an absolute disgrace the lack of effort he puts into games.

(Bloody Hell, where did that come from? I actually thought I was warming to him, but hearing him be called a hero was just too much!)

Tony J Williams
26 Posted 29/05/2015 at 12:38:54
If Jags and Stones can get their heads to the ball at free kicks and corners why can’t the taller and stronger Lukaku?

Amen Harold, I recall his second against the Shite in the 3-3 game, great header which he attacked.

Nothing of a sort this season.

Steve Brown
27 Posted 29/05/2015 at 13:12:55
Tony #29, he scores 42 goals in 102 league games. He is 22 and already scored 83 career goals; now he’s won the Europa League Golden Boot. Plus we’ll be able to sell him for a big profit in a few years.

Lineker apart, which other strikers have we had in the last 30 years who can match that!

Dave Pritchard
28 Posted 29/05/2015 at 13:23:02
I would not be giving up on Rom just yet. However, he must significantly improve on his Premier League goals total next season for me to keep my faith in him.
Pete Edwards
29 Posted 29/05/2015 at 13:48:24
Slow learner who’s only scored 42 in 102 premier league games ey Dave!! Wish we had a few more of those!!
Dave Pritchard
30 Posted 29/05/2015 at 14:06:07
Pete, I was referring to his PL goals total this season which is well down on his previous ones. As I said I am not giving up on him but he must score more than the 8 or 9 he got this season to show that he is progressing.
Tony J Williams
31 Posted 29/05/2015 at 14:53:31
Hero who scored a massive 6 league goals more than our centre half captain – brilliant.

Steve, wash your mouth out with soap fella, shouldn’t mentioning Lukaku in the same breath as Lineker in terms of striking skill.

He is young..yadda yadda yadda, but he still looks shit when he plays for us.

He should have had double the goals he has had. Some of the sitters this year alone (especially with his ten bob head) are shocking.

Alan Bodell
32 Posted 29/05/2015 at 15:13:39
First touch shite, cant win any header against opponents lesser built than him and then keeps pointing to the space he wants it......, then guess what, yeah he goes somewhere else.

This big Belgian lump is useless, £28m useless and I hate to say I am a shareholder of 20 years. now.

Andrew Ellams
33 Posted 29/05/2015 at 15:22:45
We played faster more direct football last season and our striker looked a better player. This season, slow dull football and guess what. Not rocket science is it.
Alan Bodell
34 Posted 29/05/2015 at 15:23:11
Mick, post#19 - you have put it far better than I did, useless lump.
Colin Williams
35 Posted 29/05/2015 at 15:32:34
Mick (#19)... Agree totally... Fecking useless!!! What a waste of money. People go on about his age ("he’s young") – you develop your core technical ability during your youth development years. The guy is grossly overrated and his many basic technical flaws are being highlighted due to the high standard of other Premier League strikers who put him to shame.
Eddie Dunn
36 Posted 29/05/2015 at 15:41:11
Rom is still young, and could learn his trade and become a more rounded player, but this season he seems to have regressed.

I think he is great on the break, and useful cutting in from the right wing, but his hold-up play is clumsy and he is not looking to pull defenders out of position for his teamates to exploit.

I can understand that his physique is not designed for hurrying and harrying defenders, and he may need to preserve energy for when he gets a chance to sprint. However, he seems too selfish in his outlook, showing regular disdain to his colleagues if they decide not to pass to him, or shoot themselves.

I think we would see the best of him if he played with a strike partner. He is ok away from home looking for a quick break but he definitely needs help in the box. The manager should have seen this by now, and at least switched to 4-4-2 on occasion, or 3-5-2.

Phil Walling
37 Posted 29/05/2015 at 16:10:38
Eddie, can you name ANY of our players who have played in say 10 games or more this season whose game and general form has improved?
Amit Vithlani
39 Posted 29/05/2015 at 22:06:08
He definitely played his best football in the EL and the sheer strength in shrugging off those Kiev defenders in setting up Nais’ equaliser provided an all too infrequent glimpse of his upper body strength and ability to hold the ball up. I thought he was similarly robust in charging through to score the second against Wolfsburg.

In interviews he has spoken of off field problems and I hope his father makes it to Goodison regularly, if it means we will see Rom returning to his 2013 vintage. Perhaps he should grow back the dread locks.

Eddie Dunn
40 Posted 29/05/2015 at 23:50:02
Phil 37. Yes I think Jags got better as time went on.
Mark Andersson
41 Posted 30/05/2015 at 03:55:25
Some harsh words, sometimes the truth hurts.however Rom shrugs it off as he thinks he is way better than he is.

Phil, John Stones improved marginally, as for the rest most went backwards. And that is down to Martines. His job is to get the best out of every individual, he failed.

Tony Cheek
42 Posted 30/05/2015 at 09:05:27
Scoring goals will always be the bottom line for a good striker, but when the rest of his game is so lacking in quality, effort, anticipation and downright guts, then he is a liability we can do without.

Just the thought of going in to a new season with him as our leading striker is so bleeding depressing. Just what does he offer the rest of the team? It is quite obvious to me none of them can read him or anticipate how he plays. For gods sake, sell while hot!

Steve Brown
43 Posted 30/05/2015 at 09:15:17
Tony (#31), maybe I see more in him than plenty on here. He is raw, poor heading, poor lay-offs and can trap a ball further than I can kick it but... he’s young, we can work on his game and his stats are excellent.

Gary Lineker was 25 when he joined us, so bound to be a more rounded player. I still reckon we’ll make big money on the lad when we eventually sell him.

Tony Cheek
44 Posted 30/05/2015 at 10:33:48
Ten-bob head, Tony J...? More like a bloody Toblerone!
Pete Edwards
45 Posted 30/05/2015 at 12:02:05
Dave, in that case, then he needs to be judged on next season too, as the previous 2/3 seasons he’s scored and played much much better. So, if his performances are similar to this season just gone, then you could probably claim that he maybe is a slow learner, as you would hope he would analyse his game, see what he needs to do to improve it, and put that into action. If it takes him another season to do that, then yeah, a slow learner he probably is.
Dave Abrahams
46 Posted 30/05/2015 at 12:22:41
Pete (#45), he keeps telling us he watches football all the time and studies different strikers and how they utilise the pitch. His idol growing up was Drogba, so you think he would at least be able to put himself a bit, but he plays in fits and starts. You seem to know your football Pete how confident are you that Lukaku will become the centre-forward we all thought we had signed.
Jamie Barlow
47 Posted 30/05/2015 at 12:35:37
I agree about him not using his strength enough and looking lazy. He had a spell of about 2/3 games (I think after he’d been dropped) where he was putting himself about a bit and he looked great so we know he can do it.

We finally sign a player who can score goals, is young, and is a great prospect and his new nickname is "feckin useless lump".

Patrick Murphy
48 Posted 30/05/2015 at 14:18:56
Let’s hope he bags loads of goals for us next season. He will, if we can be more progressive and quicker going forward but he’ll never be a proper target man, no matter how much he tries.

He could be running round Wembley holding the Emirates Cup aloft this time next year. The Emirates FA Cup is the name which will be used from next season and Greg Dyke says "the partnership will help take the tournament to new audiences". Of course it will, Greg – it has nothing to do with the money that the Football Association will take from selling its footballing soul – good job our FA is not money mad isn’t it?

Mick Wrende
49 Posted 30/05/2015 at 15:16:43
Glad to see many agree with me on here. The whole point Jamie @47 is he can’t score goals as 6 in the prem this season from open play indicates, he doesn’t put himself about and he is not a good prospect. A fecking useless lump is a accurate description not a nickname!
Pete Edwards
50 Posted 30/05/2015 at 15:32:35
Dave, I only know what I see and been around long enough to know that everyone has their own opinions and mine on this is I think studying others is a good thing to do but I guess he wasn’t around Drogba long enough to be passed on first hand how to move and apply himself like him which is what he needs right now. He can watch dvds all he likes but without actually being with that particular player in person won’t necessarily make him play like them.

I’m in agreement with those who say he doesn’t put himself about as much as he should/can and can look disinterested and does frustrate me at times but not all strikers run about like a suarez or aguero .....and Mick, I think his record says he can score in the PL in open play!

Dave Abrahams
51 Posted 30/05/2015 at 15:52:41
Pete, that’s fair enough: just to add that, when he scored at West Ham a couple of weeks ago, he attacked the 6-yard area to head in his goal and that is what he has to do more of. He stands there too often waiting for the ball to be put on a plate for him.

When we played Stoke City last season, Delboy lashed three crosses across the 6-yard area, he stood looking at them and then told the Spanish kid "give it to me"". Early in the second half Delboy smashed another cross in again Lukaku looked at it and indicated "give it to me" Delboy pointed at the 6-yard area and indicated to Lukaku "get in there" pointing where the ball was consistently going. Maybe he will learn and maybe, Pete a boot up his backside would help him learn quicker.

Jamie Barlow
52 Posted 30/05/2015 at 16:15:06
Mick, I know you like to overreact on here and love how penalties don’t count now Lukaku takes them but your assessment that Lukaku can’t score goals is, er, how can I say this.... BOLLOCKS!!!!!!
Pete Edwards
53 Posted 30/05/2015 at 19:46:40
It shouldn’t be too difficult, Dave, to kick him up the backside, just get him while he’s standing around. ;)

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