Déjà vu for Lukaku in Belgium defeat

, 13 June, 102comments  |  Jump to most recent

Julian Finney/Getty Images
Romelu Lukaku's return to the big stage went much the same way as his early performances at the 2014 World Cup as another disappointing display saw him substituted in the second half.

Just as was the case in the group stages in Brazil two years ago, the Everton striker struggled as the isolated lone striker where his first touch and lack of movement consistently let him down and he was eventually hooked in favour of Divok Origi.

Lukaku had one gilt-edged chance to score when he was picked out in space but while he cleared the onrushing Gianluigi Buffon, his effort just missed the far post.

The Belgians were trailing at that point to Emanuele Giaccherini's well-taken goal off a sublime pass from Leonardo Bonucci and the Red Devils would have further chances late on but Origi headed over when he should have done better and then failed to make contact on a pinpoint cross from the right with just Buffon to beat.

Italy sealed it on the breakaway when Graziano Pellè volleyed Candreva's clever chip sweetly past Thibault Courtois to cap a 2-0 win.  



Reader Comments (102)

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Nick Armitage
1 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:05:41
Imagine if he was as good as he thought he was.
Tony Abrahams
2 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:10:39
You could say the same for the country he represents Nick!
Anthony Jones
3 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:10:41
Experts like Thierry Henry think he's amazing, so he says...not tonight lad. Jog on.
Les Netherwood
4 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:19:54
He was his usual utter crap self. No ball control and waiting for the ball to come to him....he was worse than usual tonight.

I would be more than happy to see the back of him and his father, lets hope some one wants him.......we need to be rid of him soon.

Kevin Day
5 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:19:55
Champions league player my arse!
Sam Hoare
6 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:22:02
Playing himself out of a move. I reckon he'll still be at Goodison next season. Hope Koeman (or whoever!) gives him a dose of reality.
Carl Taylor
7 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:22:50
Those moaning we don't want Pelle, he looked twice the player the mouth thinks he is tonight.
Robin Cannon
8 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:24:40
Belgium have been right up there on the "utterly overrated" scale for a good while now.

Italy looked pretty tasty, though.

Ray Roche
9 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:25:02
Carl, it's just a pity that he's 29 and not 23!
Bobby Thomas
10 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:25:36
Conflicting emotions here.

Made up as he has been behaving like a tit for months and he is nowhere near as big time as he thinks he is.

But I've also totally had enough of him and was hoping someone was daft enough to shell £60 million so he could fuck off pronto.

He's just shaved £10 million off his fee.

Peter Roberts
11 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:27:23
Now then.... where's his usual fan boys??? Probably piecing up some article that says he was isolated, that the team never supplied him....

Wake up. He's just not very good. Whatever we can get for him just get it and spend on a player who is worthy of our shirt.

Les Martin
12 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:31:06
I will not be sad when Lukaku moves on, what will do me is performances like this that may devalue his worth when he inevitably moves on, not worth a bag of salt tonight.

Lazy, poor first touch and lay off, no worthwhile runs, or caught offside, he was just bloody awful and that's putting it mildly. What he does have is power and speed but not much else, take the money and run Mr Moshi!

If Pelle was to follow Keoman (should the deal actually happen) then we should count ourselves lucky, also in a manager that spotted his talent.
On a different note I would have Dries Mertens from Napoli in a heartbeat along with Croatia's Perisic please.
Bob Skelton
13 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:31:22
Shows what happens when you keep blowing smoke up players arses. They start to believe it.
Lukaku couldn't trap a bag of cement and has the positional sense of a snowman in a desert but by God he thinks he's good. He listened to too many Martinez interviews....

At the top level he will never cut it and we might have to watch him for some time if he continues to perform as he is doing.

Colin Leary
14 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:31:36
Someone posted months ago if you go to Walton Hall Park and kick a ball at a tree will sum Lukakus ball control.. Spot on.
Ian Burns
15 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:33:49
You have to give Lukaku's dad some praise and recognition on here – credit where it is due. He said he didn't want his lad to play in the Italian league – now we know why!
Andy Meighan
16 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:36:24
Be lucky to get our money back. Useless
Brent Stephens
17 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:36:24
Tonight's performance by Rom will be a surprise to all those clubs who were lining up to pay £50 million for him before tonight but who now will not want to pay that much (but still buy him!).

They couldn't possibly have known about his weaknesses before tonight! Could they? How could they possibly have known about those weaknesses?

Ste Traverse
18 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:41:29
I was made up to see Lukaku play so poorly and his team get beat...simply because I got Italy in the sweep at work.

He was awful, and his replacement didn't do much better.

Frank Crewe
19 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:45:14
Too much pointing and not enough running. I'm betting Origi will get the nod over him in the next match. Unless there is a miraculous improvement in his form there is no way any self respecting club will pay £60+ million for him. He's a club player. He's miles from as good as he thinks he is.
Brian Denton
20 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:45:35
Brent, which teams have been queueing up to pay 50 million for him? As opposed to journalists saying they are?

IF we get that for him it will be good business by us. Christ, try comparing him to Suarez for example. There is no point of comparison.

Soren Moyer
21 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:45:36
Now, who will pay £28m for this utterly crap piece of lump, let alone £60m!
Raymond Fox
22 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:54:51
We don't need to bother about losing him!
Brent Stephens
23 Posted 13/06/2016 at 22:59:33
Brian. My point is that it's laughable that we have people on here who have been saying he's crap and let's sell him for £50 million! They can't see how stupid that sounds - that "we" can see he's crap but others can't and would part with £50 million! Ludicrous.
Andrew Presly
24 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:01:54
He's a goalscorer against the joke Premier League defenders so let's not shoot ourselves in the foot on a point of principle.

Keep him. Chiellini (& Buffon behind him) is a reality check for any striker. That's the elite level Rom has longed for.

Peter Roberts
25 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:12:51
Brent... consoling yourself that your judgement of the player can't be that bad because teams are supposed to be willing to spend £50m on him???

When a supposed yard dog like pelle receives groans of dissapointed when we are linked with him for £8m whilst we have a supposed world class player who can't trap a ball being worth £50m then that tells you all you need to know.

Some people buy the hype, some see the tripe. I've never seen anything more than a Emily Heskey type player with a good left foot shot.

Please please please get £40m for him... I will laugh my head off.

Brent Stephens
26 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:22:33
Peter "Brent... consoling yourself that your judgement of the player can't be that bad because teams are supposed to be willing to spend £50m on him???"

I think you've totally missed my point. I haven't revealed at all my judgement of the player. I'm smiling at the idea that people think we could get megabucks for a player that they think is crap. So you think he's worth £40 million! Hilarious! I'm having a pop at our very own TW people who think we'll get that much for him!

Jamie Sweet
27 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:26:55
The ironic thing is that we are probably a more suitable club for him now than we were two years ago when we signed him.

Both EFC and Lukaku are at least a couple of years away from being ready for the Champions League, but both have the potential to make it.

Sadly, he probably won't allow his head to emerge from his own arse long enough to realise this.

Let's not kid ourselves, he is a young lad with huge potential and an undoubted ability to score 20 plus goals a season for the next decade. So he's not exactly "useless".

Koeman could be just the sort of manager to put a bit of fire back in his belly, and I would quite like to give him another season to see what could be achieved. Of course after he has sincerely apologised for disrespecting our club, and massively reduced his ego back in line with his current ability level.

Roger Sunde
28 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:28:24
Lukaku has been nothing but honest with Everton. He said from Day One he wanted Champions League and to win trophies. Not his fault we're further from that than we hoped.

I agree, he didn't play well tonight but the whole team was bad: Kevin de Bruryne stunk the place out. I doubt Man City are gonna sell him for that reason – or that his value has plumbed.

Phil Roberts
29 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:35:54
I think what we should not forget is that he has scored 43 goals in the Premiership for us at a rate of 1 goal every 200 minutes on the pitch.

And before anyone says it, only 3 were penalties (he missed the rest!).

So yes, he'll never make a bank robber because he can't hold anything up, yes he points more than your average bobby, but even with our lousy team he scored 40 goals from open play in the last 3 years, and in the last 2 years that is 1 in 3 of our goals.

So maybe when playing with the big boys he will get found out (Internationals, Champions League) but in bread and butter week in week out football he will score goals. The classic flat track bully. So the question is - will the big teams pay mega bucks for his domestic performances.

And he has got 10 more years ahead of him so £50m is not a bad steal.

We are just annoyed about his mouthing off

Jay Griffiths
30 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:36:22
As far as I'm concerned he's crossed the Rubicon with us. Keeping with the Italian theme. The financial ramifications to his "performance" tonight could resemble the energy bar on the old Tekken game.

Value aside, he's detrimental to the squad ethos and spirit. Ciao Rom.

Andy Crooks
31 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:46:22
Peter Roberts, Lukaku was poor tonight as was Harry Kane the other night.

"Fan boys"? – is that debate in your view?

Lukaku scored a lot of goals for us under a truly shit coach and a system that did not suit. Why would any Evertonian gloat when one of our players has a poor game for his country?

Tony Doran
32 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:50:46
I would like to have sold him before this competition, his value will only plummet. Or, as Lawrensen says, go down like custard.
Damian Wilde
33 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:54:22
I said before the tournament he'd score none, I stand by that. Delighted he was crap.

Belgium, although they have a number of good players, aren't a 'team' and won't (again) do well. They didn't play with much width and kept trying to go through the middle (even though it didn't work), reminded me of a Martinez Everton.

Italy looked great, them or Germany to win it.

David Booth
34 Posted 13/06/2016 at 23:55:36
Did anyone else spot the 'I know what you know' look/exchange between Lukaku and Buffon during the pre-match handshake?

Only fleeting, but I sensed a lot more between them than the usual meaningless acknowledgement as players rush to the end of the line...

Paul Kossoff
35 Posted 14/06/2016 at 00:22:55
Brent ($#23),

My point is that it's laughable that we have people on here who have been saying he's crap and let's sell him for £50 million! They can't see how stupid that sounds — that "we" can see he's crap but others can't and would part with £50 million! Ludicrous."

The statement you made regarding Lukaku's worth, well replace 'Lukaku' for one of the worst defenders I have ever seen play for Brazil or anyone else — David Luis; he went from Chelsea to PSG for £50 million, so there are clubs that will pay, as you call it, 'ludicrous' amounts of money for players.

Andrew Presly
36 Posted 14/06/2016 at 00:55:21
Andy C - spot on. It's pretty risible and very self defeating (the Everton way ?!) to hate on our club's main striker in this way.

Lukaku is a highly paid mercenary who has found the air very thin at the higher altitude, that was clear even at the base camp of Wembley in the semi.

Buffon & Chiellini are Sherpas up there in the higher hills to the summit of football and hopefully he'll come back down from the mountain happy to be paid well, get in his national team again after that horror show and be alive.

Peter Roberts
37 Posted 14/06/2016 at 01:03:21
Andy Crooks... "lukaku scored under a shit coach".... you mean the coach that threw caution to the wind and made this lad the focal point of the team even when not playing well?

The system did not suit? Is that the system where a forward actually has to make intelligent runs and control a ball from time to time. Unfortunately I don't know what system allows him to get away with having good an awful touch. Forgive me for pointing out the obvious he has played 2 big games in the last 2 months and looked every inch a league one player.

You just keep defending him whilst he looks for supposedly better things...

Fran Mitchell
38 Posted 14/06/2016 at 01:07:05
Totally ott reactions here.

He played poorly, but one bad game does not a shit player make......Ronaldo was pants in the Champions League Final after all.

Young player, playing for a talented but poorly set up, poorly drilled outfit. The true criticism must go to Wilmots.

Less bile, it makes pathetic reading.

Peter Roberts
39 Posted 14/06/2016 at 01:14:48
One bad game you say Fran???

I'm honestly trying to remember one good game he's had this year aside from the Chelsea game.

Sadly I do not think we will be able to perform the highway robbery that the press had us believe and get £50m plus for this player. Tonight he was like Emile Heskey, some weeks he's like lazy Adebuyor and once every 6 or 7 games he looks a player.

Pelle gave him a lesson in how to lead the line even when things aren't going your way. At £8m that lad will be an absolute steal.

Mick Davies
40 Posted 14/06/2016 at 01:17:57
The Belgians are the most ridiculous outfit at the Euro's: most of them expect someone else to do the hard work and put the ball on their bootlaces, but that's not how it works in reality.

If the Ireland or Wales squads had the quality of the Hazards, De Bruyne's etc they'd be World Champions, but instead (apart from Bale) they have lesser talented players, prepared to work as a team and sweat blood for the cause.

I don't know if Rom will still be with us next season but I recall he was more effective when Kone was with him, doing most of the hard work. Maybe that's what he needs; and if Koeman will see that and buy him a productive strike partner?

Anthony Dwyer
41 Posted 14/06/2016 at 01:29:36
Don't think we should get to hung up on giving Rom a hard time, he often blows hot and cold.

As blues we have seen him terrorise defences at his brilliant best, and we have seen him play like he did tonight.

He should learn to keep his gob shut and see how he performs in the competition before deciding to move away from a club on the up.

He starts every week, he's the focal point of the attack and he's a top earner.

He's been niave in his interviews of late, he could easily get a move, but he may be better staying another season with us to guarantee safe passage to a top top club, rather than burning his bridges with us and being shipped out to a champions league club who have no chance of winning that competition.

Rom was poor, but Hazard was worse and De Brunne was poor too. Kane was the same for England the other day along with Ali. One game doesn't make a player useless.

John Daley
43 Posted 14/06/2016 at 01:56:16
"Did anyone else spot the 'I know what you know' look/exchange between Lukaku and Buffon during the pre-match handshake?
Only fleeting, but I sensed a lot more between them than the usual meaningless acknowledgement"

For those who missed it:

Link

"There you go. I'm ready to take over the game"

Romelu Lukaku. Nike. 2016

Ernie Baywood
44 Posted 14/06/2016 at 02:09:44
He wasn't good but if that shot had been a couple of yards to the left the media would be raving about the finish against a top class keeper and how he's ready to play for another club.

Very, very fine lines.

Personally I want him to perform well. Either we get a form player back or more pounds in the bank.

Daddy Lukaku said he would be gone before the Euros so evidently he's not as informed as he thinks he is.

William Cartwright
45 Posted 14/06/2016 at 02:50:20
Anthony (41). It does if you play for Everton, according to the media.
Steve Brown
46 Posted 14/06/2016 at 05:12:37
Bad player? Sure he had a bad game, and like many here it was quietly satisfying to see him fall on his face after his recent comments.

But his goal to game ratio proves he is good player with development needed in his game. And last time I looked he is still an Everton player.

Andy Osborne
47 Posted 14/06/2016 at 05:20:57
I just heard a rumour that big Rom has put in a transfer request. He wants to leave Belgium and join Germany or Spain, as he feels he should be playing for a team that can actually win the tournament.
Amit Vithlani
48 Posted 14/06/2016 at 05:59:52
Lukaku had a dire first half because he hardly saw the ball - 17 touches of it in fact.

Second half I counted two moments of poor control and 1 gilt edged chance he missed.

However I guess that is the core of the argument. Top strikers finish off opportunities they are presented and as with the Semi, Rom fell short.

I thought Belgium were woeful until the last 15 mins. De Bruyne stunk the place out, and only Hazard tried to link up with Rom but the Italians defended manfully.

When Origi came on, Belgium had Mertens and Carrasco on too and by then were actively supllying the CF. Origi then missed two horrendous sitters - arguably easier chances than Lukaku's.

Alan J Thompson
49 Posted 14/06/2016 at 06:25:07
Well this is just typical! No sooner do you open your gob than they move the goalposts and put Italian defenders on.
What did his dad have to say about which clubs he wants to go to now?
Anto Byrne
50 Posted 14/06/2016 at 06:41:33
Koeman will get him fit and play to his strengths. Big strong cf just down on confidence. If he stays with us he will score 20 a season and a goal scoring forward is worth money so I expect to get 64 million if sold.

Stones has already gone to City in a 35mil deal cheap if you ask me. I was expecting 40+.

Ian Hollingworth
51 Posted 14/06/2016 at 07:28:03
Yes he has been good for us especially with his goals but it has always been the case that he is not half as good as he thinks he is.
Someone will buy him and it is crucial we invest in decent replacements.

There are better strikers out there and lots of them.

Brian Cleveland
52 Posted 14/06/2016 at 07:30:59
Yes he was pretty crap, missed the chance you have to put away at that level, but apart from that he didn't get any service either.

After he was taken off they starting playing the crosses into the box he might have had more chance of getting onto the end of, and Origi was no better, he had about three clean cut chances with his head and completely fluffed them all. I fancy Lukaku would have got one of those, but not one cross came in to him all the time he was on.

Not that I'm sticking up for a lousy performance, but I just noticed that the service he might have taken advantage of started to come after he was pulled!

Brin Williams
53 Posted 14/06/2016 at 07:43:43
Funny really how two big egos have failed to live up to the hype there has been about them - Lukaku and Yarmalenko. Get rid of one and stay clear of the other.
Paul Conway
54 Posted 14/06/2016 at 07:48:09
There is no excuse for a striker not getting any service. If you are good enough, you make your own service!

I watched a rejuvenated Shane Long running his socks off against Sweden. chasing, tackling.

Lukaku has no first touch, he couldn't trap a bag of spuds! he is starting to become a real pain in the ass and a negative element for our club. Drop the 'dead donkey'!

Steve Hopkins
55 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:16:57
You have to question his bottle, the top class players (not just those who think they are) turn it on when the pressure is on, however Lukaku seems to go to pieces.....missed penalty in the super cup final for Chelsea that led to Mourinho shipping him out, missed penalty in the FA Cup semi final, stinking performances in the world cup and starting the euros in the same fashion.
He could learn something from the likes of Maradona, not the drug taking obviously, but the big fish in the supposed little pond situation all the while destroying teams on the international stage and transforming the little pond into a lake
Mark Murphy
56 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:21:28
Some short memories on here! Without his goals, we would be begging Neil Warnock to get us out of the Championship, not Ronald Koeman to win us the Champions League!
Peter Roberts
57 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:21:49
This is priceless.... appararently he's just had a one off bad game. No - He stunk the gaff out just like he has for 70% of his Everton games. Namely virtually everyone since his season ended in January.

It's OK... just quote his goal ratios which he gets against poor teams. Where he does no work but just pops a goal in when deulofeu zips one in and he bothers to get on the end of it.

Apparently he only had a couple of misplaced balls? 7 balls given away due to bad control at international level.... yet still some of you are acting like love sick teenagers. Please get a grip, there's plenty more fish in the sea - I mean just imagine if that was kone or niasse.... no you just can't. It's Romelu Lukaku - a legend who can't trap a bag of cement.

Andy Walker
58 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:36:55
If Lukaku had pledged his future to Everton and expressed his dying love for us, would the this thread being running with the narrative that Lukaku was a poor footballer and he can fuck off?

Looks to me that a lot of people have understandably become upset and hurt by Lukaku's spoutings in the media but as a consequence projected their upset into slagging off his playing ability as part of a cathartic experience to try and make themselves feel better.

The guy certainly isn't 'shit'. Sure he's not as good as he or more likely, his family thinks he is, but the market will speak as to his value in the summer no doubt. Some perspective might be called fall (yea right), or does our judgement go out of the window when a player has the audacity to want to leave?

Steve Hopkins
59 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:44:21
Andy when I player turns around and expresses feelings that he's far too good for us and others turn around and say that yes we should be grateful to have had his prodigious talent for as long as we have then it's only natural that some people might want to critically appraise his actual ability and how lucky we actually were to have had him
Mike Allen
60 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:50:51
I just hope Everton have already done the deal on Lukaku. This guy did not look any better than Kone or even Niasse: out of his depth by a long way. If he doesn't score, he doesn't contribute anything to the team.
Kevin O'Regan
61 Posted 14/06/2016 at 08:59:47
Very interesting game - you could see from the off (sining of the Anthem) that Italy were a team, and Belgium were a bunch of individuals. Watching Rom was depressing - every time he didn't get the ball he had his arms out wide to say 'why the hell can't I have it' - I've seen this at Everton for some time now and for me it's an attitude problem. Yes, he needs to be fed, but he also needs to chase balls, make good runs and to get on with his team members and that did not seem to be the way last night.
Charles Brewer
62 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:04:25
Hilariously, Lukaku was dire, but Origi was much worse. I can imagine the Belgian coach saying "We need a new striker, find me someone from anywhere but Merseyside"
Tony Abrahams
63 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:06:30
Agree he's not shite, but I don't think he's very good at leading the line though. Apart from the Chelsea game in the cup, for obvious reasons, ive only ever left the stadium once thinking Lukaku, was very, very good today. (For £60 million, this should be nearly every game)

He played like a man against Liverpool, at Goodison last season, when he used his strength to great effect, but it's not something he does nowhere nearly often enough.

His first touch is poor, because he continues to keep coming towards the ball, and condenses the space in front of him. Why he hasn't been coached to keep backing in to defenders, to give himself more space when receiving the ball, is also open to question?

I think he will stay at Everton, because I would be very surprised, if anyone will be willing to pay anything remotely near what we want for him. If he does I will get behind him, but only if his work rate vastly improves.

Tony Waring
64 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:10:25
Who's scored more goals in the Premier League in the last few seasons, Pelle or Lukaku ? Thought so !
Trevor Lynes
65 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:15:50
Italy crowded him out throughout the game and that was obviously their game plan.They hit Belgium on the break and made them look pedestrian.Lukaku was poor but his service was equally poor and Origi fared no better.Italy could show a lot of teams how to defend and attack quickly on the break.I was amazed at their stamina for a pretty old side.They should go far in the competition.
Peter Roberts
66 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:24:06
Andy walker... I never wanted us to sign him at the price touted after his loan season. Technically he's a poor footballer who will not get much better, throw in a lazy work ethic and poor attitude and you see what he is. Sure he likes to score against poor teams to boost his stats but ultimately against decent defenders he's poor.

Why is Origi being mentioned? That is desperate! He did more in 5 minutes than Rom did in 60. Should have scored but he caused the Italians more headache than the lethargic one.

Lukaku was booed off the pitch. Oh how his ego must be this morning... probably thinks "maybe not bayern, I'll settle for AC Milan..."

I think some of you lot need to vet your hero's a bit better. Please just get him sold before he's worth a fraction of his inflated price.

Andy Walker
67 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:26:21
Peter, do you not think we'll sell him for more than we paid for him?
Brent Stephens
68 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:30:38
Peter, I await the £40 or £50 million bid for Lukaku! Will eat my words if it happens. Tell me when it does.
Andy Mack
69 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:33:45
Like Jamie says way up the thread, Lukaku and EFC are in the same place, a (hopeful) couple of years off Champs League quality. Call Lukaku all the names we want (and mostly its his Dad) he can still score 20 goals a year in the Prem and thats where most of our games currently take place. Surely we don't sell when his stock is low, unless he really is the spoiler we're making him out to be. If we do 'get rid of the gobshite' then do what Chelsea did, year loan @ £10mil in the bank, Lukaku bangs them in in some league where they can't defend, price goes back up.

Leaving us with Niasse and Kone to blast us to glory…

Alec Smith
70 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:41:41
Everton have confirmed Ronald Koeman as their new manager on a three-year deal.

On BBC

Derek Thomas
71 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:45:21
He's not yet the full CL deal. OK playing in the qualifying rounds Vs 3rd and 4th seeds...or even as a 3rd or 4th seed, but the business end? Nah.

Not yet as good as he thinks he is - but he could be - If he wants it enough. He's young and has the potential to improve, which is what will keep the hype and the price up...for now.

Whether he will is the big question. He has an ever decreasing window to come good.

He seems to think it won't be with us. I think it won't be with anybody.

#close but no cigar.

Steve Bell
72 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:49:02
BBC saying we've confirmed Koeman, for real this time....
Jay Griffiths
73 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:53:00
All the Kings horses and all the Kings men just won't be able to do it Rom!
Peter Roberts
74 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:54:59
Andy... do I think we will sell him for more money? Probably. Only due to football inflation and his age. I don't think many teams will bid more than £30m though.

The other Andy.... he's never scored 20 prem goals. He has averaged 14 prem goals in his 3 seasons. 15, 10 and 18.... it's really not that stand out.

Keith Harrison
75 Posted 14/06/2016 at 09:56:02
Lukaku..................hits more shitty balls than George Micheal's chin.
Ship him out asap, unless Mr Koeman believes he can do a silk purse job on him.
Paul Baker
76 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:03:00
Lukaku in numbers v. Italy yesterday [per WhoScored]:

- 1 shot on target

- 0 won headers

- 0 key passes

- 0 dribbles

- 0 tackles

- 3 unsuccessful touches

- 5.82 rating (the worst of any 28 players to take the field)

Should've listened to your dad and not play against a decent defence, Rom.

Andy Walker
77 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:05:41
Well if we sell him for money that's been a good signing in my opinion. Couple of seasons, lots of goals and a profit. A lot better than Niasse and McGeady I bet!
Kevin Rowlands
78 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:06:30
First line of business for our Ronnie, package up the human pin ball machine and ship him out to the highest bidder. I've said it before, this lad is the most over rated footballer to EVER wear an Everton shirt, and before someone comes on hear harping on about his goals, I said footballer, not goalscorer.
Andy Walker
79 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:13:08
Steve 59, I agree completely. My point is we should recognise that the upset he causes in all of us can cloud our judgement of his abilities, purely because it makes us feel better to slag him off as he's given us the V's. Wish we could rise above it and be more objective/less emotive.
Terry Underwood
80 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:20:07
No, No, No, you've all got it wrong, Rom is deliberately playing like a twat just so nobody tries to buy him and he can stay with his beloved blues. See the plan now?

Totally off topic now. I just been reading about the 1927-28 season. We all know that that was Dixie Dean's 60 goal season. We won the league scoring 102 goals in 42 games. Do you know, or can you guess how many we conceded?...20? 25? 30? Oh no, how about 66! That's 168 goals in our 42 games, exactly 4 goals per game! Altogether now: "Boring boring Everton!"

Franny Porter
81 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:20:46
He could score three hat-tricks in his next three games for Belgium and I would still want him gone. His attitude to our club stinks.

Considering the amount of goals he has scored for us this past season I have never felt as little warmth for an Everton centre forward who plays week in week out.

Apart from the fact he crumbles when it matters (Wembley, World Cup, last night) a fresh era is needed at Goodison and he needs to go.

Kevin Rowlands
82 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:21:05
Erm, I think you should speak for yourself, Andy. My view, along with many others who post on here, has been very consistent: an over-rated footballer who, along with his father and agent, thinks he's way better than he actually is. We'll be lucky to get the £28 million back.
Peter Roberts
83 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:23:14
Andy, you seem to think his critics are just showing bitter traits of being spurned..... far from it, mate. He is a ridiculously overrated footballer – much of which is done by himself.

If he was 5ft-10in and 11 stone he would be playing League Two at best. For some reason, the big lumbering sod is treated like the overgrown kid at school who, despite being pretty average, gets picked ahead of small but talented players. This is why he is who he is now.

He can't bully defenders anymore, they are grown men – not pre pubescent 14-year-olds trying to contain a 6-ft man-child whose balls dropped when he was 10. He's never had to jump and that's why he's useless in the air, he's never had to summon all his strength and that's why he can't use his size.

Kevin Rowlands
84 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:26:12
Peter #84, spot on!
Eric Myles
85 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:50:39
He wasn't good but if that shot had been a couple of yards to the left..........

That's been the problem though Ernie, he can't put a shot on target, more shots on target mean more chances to score

Damian Wilde
86 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:50:45
I thought that Mertens was also rubbish.

Frank Thomas
87 Posted 14/06/2016 at 10:59:16
We have had a lot of strikers who wanted a 'better' club when they started scoring lots of goals. They left to suddenly find that they were only good because of the number of chances they were presented with while they played for Everton.

This is why the 'conversion percentage' is needed. The average is 15% I think Vardy made 17% last season but Martinez kept saying that for Lukaku it is not about his conversion ratio but about the number of goals he creates. What is Lukaku's actual conversion ratio? I bet it is nearer to 10% when you consider the number of missed headers and very poor first touches.

Paul Ellam
90 Posted 14/06/2016 at 11:44:08
Well, it seems I may be of a minority but I am glad Lukaku played badly. But for reasons other than most on here have given.

I was glad to see him struggle because I want him to still be at our club next season, and the one after that. Playing badly means there is a bigger chance the Champions League clubs won't want to splash out the sort of cash we are demanding for him and that suits me fine!

He and his father have spoken a lot of tripe (although I do understand his wish to play at a higher level – what player doesn't?) but the lad has been our most prolific striker in almost 20 years and as long as he is scoring goals for us I am an happy Evertonian.

Lots of posters on here obviously hate him and don't rate him. That's fine, we are all allowed opinions. What I would ask those posters though is who can we get who is going to be better? I'm not saying there isn't strikers out there, but are there any who we can get who would be willing to join us?

What's to say Koeman can't improve him and his goal scoring form? I would like to see him stop and get some better quality back up (Kone and Niasse don't look up to the task) along with some more creative midfielders but concentrate more on a GK and the defence which was our real problem of last season.

Kevin Rowlands
91 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:01:58
Paul, 'hate' is the wrong word to use. Like probably everyone on here, I don't know him personally; he may be a really nice lad. Nothing against him, I just don't want him at Everton.

I would suggest Pelle, backed up by Shane Long and that lad Hamsick who was excellent vs Wales, that would do for me.

Lewis Barclay
92 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:02:07
With Koeman now in place the only relevant opinion on Lukaku that matters is his!
Paul Tran
93 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:11:38
He was shocking last night...again.

My take on Lukaku is that he'll always score plenty of goals and we'll get more than we paid for him if we sell.

I think that he, like Stones and Barkley, will have few excuses under Koeman and will hopefully shape up, be fitter and more consistent. How long can footballers be 'promising'?

If he wants to go, let him go at the right price. If he stays, I think we'll see a better player next season, because if we don't, he's got even less chance of his 'rightful' move.

Brent Stephens
94 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:17:32
Business done. Neat, Everton. Very businesslike.
James Marshall
95 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:48:00
I have no idea why Juventus would want him – Italian defenders are brilliantly coached, and have more nouse in the art of defending than anyone in Europe. I think Lukaku would struggle massively in Serie A.
Chris Pitchford
96 Posted 14/06/2016 at 12:57:33
He looked like he had metal legs and the ball control of a crane last night.
Terry McLavey
97 Posted 14/06/2016 at 13:36:41
He looked as lost last night as he had been at Goodison for the final months. Put him in any team and he'll look the same player – deluded of his own capabilities.
Mark Murphy
98 Posted 14/06/2016 at 13:40:11
Paul Baker,

Those stats are flawed, mate. Lukaku definitely won one header – my son commented that he never saw him do that for Everton. It was a decent header on from a high ball but his teammate didn't show for it.

And, he did put a tackle in, from behind after chasing back, and gave away the foul. He also petulantly chased Chielini back and fouled him.

But he was shite last night, I agree.

Paul Burns
99 Posted 14/06/2016 at 15:16:06
You can't just select players based on one game to play for Everton, that's just total nonsense.

So Pelle played well last night, sign him up as soon as, it's the road to disaster.
Kevin Rowlands
100 Posted 14/06/2016 at 16:36:26
Paul 99, one game? He's played the whole season at Southampon and been excellent, also add in that Koeman knows him and has signed him twice, he'd be a very good option once the human pin ball machine heads off to win all them trophies and play CL.
James Hughes
101 Posted 14/06/2016 at 16:43:48
Terry #97 that is not the spirit mate, LuLu is quality and worth every penny of the £50m we want for him. Proven goal scorer, fox in the box, great with both feet AND his head, humble as well and a great link up player. No we want £60m for him !!!!
Tony Waring
103 Posted 14/06/2016 at 17:54:24
Actually Peter (83) he has had to use his strength......against Chelsea for instance and did you see last night's game ? An Italian - I think Giacherini - went to challenge him for a ball and just bounced off him ! He can use his physicality but he should do so more often.
Jack Convery
104 Posted 14/06/2016 at 18:07:54
David 34 - I noticed that. it spoke volumes to me. If he does go to Itlay he will struggle imo.

He should shut up get his head down and get on with it here.

Ian Brandes
105 Posted 14/06/2016 at 19:41:29
Would love him to have a shatteringly successful tournament, if only because of the mega bucks we will get when he is sold.

But that will not happen because he is not as good as he thinks he is.

Paul Conway
106 Posted 14/06/2016 at 20:26:07
Seamus Coleman's advice to his Irish team mates regarding the up-coming game against Belgium in Euro 2016 and how to cope with Lukaku.....

"Psssst – just let him have the ball.'


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