Hafnia

I think this lukaku thread has been an eye opener. For me it's highlighted how much some fans perceive the need for a marquee player, arguably the last time we signed a marquee striker that other top clubs were interested in was Tony Cottee. I was there for his debut a hattrick against Newcastle, crackin sunny day. I've seen many strikers, played as a striker to a reasonable level and strangely enough been a defensive midfielder and full back at such level. So feel in running round after them know what makes a good one. The two best equipped strikers I've seen at Everton is Rooney and Saha. After that it was lineker, after that Gray, Sharpe, Cottee, then Vaughan. Without injury that lad would be playing for England Imo. Lukaku is in amongst AJ for me, pacey, knows where the net is but isn't effective with a man marking him close. Sorry Mirrallas, I know we should be really grateful to Belgium and everything, but despite paying £3m+ in fees, I conclude that your golden boy has very much to learn.

As soon as I read better footballer than Barkley I simply stopped reading, absolute bullshit. I know you like go endorse everything Belgian, but give your head a wobble. Lukaku isn't a footballer, he is a sprinter who can kick a ball.

Blimey, anything you say mate!!! I'm not arguing with ya!

Aiden, I reckon you should have put an avatar of some 6ft 4 beast with a skin head and tatts eating a raw steak, Miguel wouldn't pick on you then. You seem a nice lad, leave him alone Miguel!

Not one of those players had a second touch being a tackle - not once were they even considered technically incompetent. They improved in the way that footballers do maturity and refinement. The biggest improver on that list was Ronaldo who in all honesty is not much more technically proficient in terms of ball control - he's always had that. He worked hard on free kicks, ball striking and basically created the perfect athlete. Mandzukic has always been a solid player, he was played out of position at Wolfsurg and when Dzeko went he on to be the main goalscorer - he has always had a sold touch, his physicality and increased ability to put in more work was his biggest development. Pirlo wouldn't have been a professional footballer if it wasnt for his excellent technical ability. A midfielder who can't tackle, no physical attributes or pace. Totti was in Romas team from something like 16 wasnt he and captain at 21... What I am saying to reitterate is that none of these players had a substantial lack of control and touch that we have seen from Romelu. I know Bobby Moore used to say "I had no pace and couldn't head the ball but won the world cup" - I just dont think any footballer could say "I couldn't control a football but was world class"....

One is an understudy goalkeeper, one is a striker who has been injured who scored more goals than any of our strikers lasty year for a relegated side, Alcaraz effectively replaced Heitinga for free on less wages and who when fit and called upon has looked solid. Traore has also been injured. If we are going to use injuries as a criteria to criticise a players ability then its a little harsh IMO. 4 squad players - total expenditure £6.8m... not bad.

Improvement in technique is marginal from a young age onwards, development from the age of 15+ is physical, Tactical and mental. I 100% agree with Wengers 4 stages of development:- A-Technical years 5-12 B-Physical years 12-16 C-Tactical years 18-20 D Mental-from 20 years Wenger basically says that the technical aspect of the game does not improve a massive deal from 12 onwards. He emphasised that technique was all important because football was not a natural sport due to the usage of the foot. To your point, if we have players at the academy who at 16 can't control a football then I seriously question what they are doing there.

SKY have pulled the story now, hopefully someone from the club got in touch and ripped into them.

The thing is, we dont even think Roberto is in for him..

You watch Pulis or Fat Sam will come in for him - guarantee it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2636862/David-Moyes-hit-joiner-23-bottle-taunts-wine-bar-Sacked-Man-United-manager-faces-police-quiz-fracas.html This particular one?

Dont get me wrong, if he came at the right price then great, but he seems to be held in some ridiculously high regard. Its very strange the views that people have - some wax lyrical about Lukaku but fail to see how brilliant James McCarthy is.

haha! We are keen to open talks but United may scupper that??? Did he sign a 2 year contract or something when he signed last year? My guess is that it was at least 4 years soooo, in other words United - Jog On!

I actually thought that was great effort if i'm honest, he picked his spot and unfortunately got too snug. Watch any top stiker and they aim for the furthest point from the keeper. That was why I loved Yak so much, its also why I admired Fowler as a player. Not putting him in that bracket but you know what I mean. I really do need to emphasise - after a certain age, players do not improve things such as control by much. From a touch and co-ordination perspective the player you see at 14-16 is the player they are going to be. From my own point of view my ball control reached its peak at 15 and didnt improve much at all after that despite my brother insisting I would kill a ball that was booted 30 feet into the air before second bounce repeatedly doing this drill, I did this from 8 years of age, I would have to chest a ball down With his touch being the biggest issue, that is my concern with Lukaku - hence the price. Compare Lukaku's touch with that of Saha or Yak, there is no comparison. Big Dunc could bring it down, hold up play, lay it off the lot. This lad really does concern me in this regard. Pros:- Pace, knows where the net is, strong when running at his man, physically intimidating to some defenders Cons:- weak in the air, poor strength and balance when standing on the ball, many misplaced passes, poor touch

I've seen enough of him to know that he can hold up the ball and use his strength effectively, he doesn't shin passes that he is meant to bring down. He cost a supposed "extortionate" £6m while many are waxing lyrical about a player who scored a few more goals than our previous strikers but we would be soft not to buy him for £20m... Just don't see the valkue myself, but I guess you all know this.

We can quote a load of shite English players too, nothing to do with nationality. A few of my favourite Everton players have been or are Scottish..

That would be a tremendous retort.... If it was true. Kone has the touch and technical ability I expect to see from a professional footballer. Next....

No chance, I'd knock his block off.

For me I find it unreal that a professional and supposed elite level player has such shite control. Honestly, it has bewildered me since day one.

Moyes managing Celtic, thats a bit like spending 10 years tring to complete Tomb Raider and then buying the walkthrough in order to get some success.

Interesting way of putting it - but for me I would argue he should have scored more. It's not the games he played well in that concern me, its the ones where he played awful in, there was no indication that the lad has a 7/10 minimum perfromance level, his poor performances where because his touch and passing was pretty much league one level. For me with his attributes - I see him as a James Vaughan type striker - Vaughan had a greater work rate though. I just feel that the money he will cost are for "potential" things that we just arent going to see.

Watched sky fantasy football program last night, an enjoyable watch usually as you get to hear who all the ex players rated and why. Souness was on last night and one part made me take note, and Its not the first time this player had been mentioned on this program.... TUGAY Seriously, he has been included in a fair few teams now by his ex team mates and Souness said last night he was the best player he's ever managed - ridiculous ability. One of those players that many fans dont see as being as good as they are. Souness said he could have played for any team in the world and I think SAF echoed this somewhere else.

There would be plenty of soft tissue injuries for Bob to update us on after training sessions with that yard dog.

Lukaku reminds me very much of Peter Crouch in the sense that what should have been a massive attribute has become a massive missed opportunity. Story is Crouch never had to jump as a youngster because he was so much bigger, when he did a small leap would be enough to beat his man. As a result he never maximised the potential that his height gave him. Lukaku was probably the same, physically he probably only needed to use 50% of his strength to shrug players off the ball or stop them getting it off him. He probably never needed to have tight control such was his ability to hold players off. Show me a professional player that was small for their size at a younger age and I will show you a player who makes the most of what they have... Gerrard, Fowler, Messi, Keegan, Shearer, Pele, Maradona, Scholes, the list goes on. The had to squeeze every last cm out of every leap, every ounce of bodyweight in every challenge and as a result became great players in a physical game. For me Lukaku has had it easy for too long.

At £8m Remy would represent amazing value. In my book he's worth at least £16m, proper striker.