Rival watch

[Roo]

4-2. Lukaku, again. More awful defending.
Can't see them keeping the Belgian, at this rate. There'll be some big offers for him in the summer.

Lukaku baffles me. He's bags so many goals, in fact he's scored 51% of Everton's goals this season. However, when I watch him for a full 90 mins, I see a player with a poor first touch, who often has his back to goal and isn't particularly mobile.
There's no doubting his ability to find the net, but there's so many clubs who he could end up "upgrading" to, where he would not be suited to IMO. Everton could just be the perfect fit.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Lukaku baffles me. He's bags so many goals, in fact he's scored 51% of Everton's goals this season. However, when I watch him for a full 90 mins, I see a player with a poor first touch, who often has his back to goal and isn't particularly mobile.
There's no doubting his ability to find the net, but there's so many clubs who he could end up "upgrading" to, where he would not be suited to IMO. Everton could just be the perfect fit.

I don't think that he's playing to his full potential at Everton, rather worryingly.
He's capable of more, despite scoring a ton of goals already and appearing to push on recently.
If he was a bit sharper, more committed and used his physicality more, then he'd be utterly devastating.

My main problem with him at the moment is that he goes out of some games completely.
He seemed to give up in their game against Utd, as he was often chasing lost causes, but that's what he needs to do sometimes.
I think we'll see him move on and step up in the summer, as he'll have to fight for his place.
Chelsea and Utd will probably both make moves for him.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

Lukaku baffles me. He's bags so many goals, in fact he's scored 51% of Everton's goals this season. However, when I watch him for a full 90 mins, I see a player with a poor first touch, who often has his back to goal and isn't particularly mobile.
There's no doubting his ability to find the net, but there's so many clubs who he could end up "upgrading" to, where he would not be suited to IMO. Everton could just be the perfect fit.

So what you're saying is that Lukaku is Darren Bent...if Barren Dent was Belgian and hugged as a child?

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

So what you're saying is that Lukaku is Darren Bent...if Barren Dent was Belgian and hugged as a child?

More of an Adebayor, I think.

 

[Diego]

Well, the last few posts seem to have cut Lukaku's chances of playing for Spurs. I bet he is devastated

 

[The Changing Man]

Well, the last few posts seem to have cut Lukaku's chances of playing for Spurs. I bet he is devastated

We certainly won't be devastated when he signs on somewhere else he would not fit our system at all.

I think the Darren Bent comparison is a very good one, Lukaku is good player in the system Everton use, but if he is not scoring he offers nothing (like Mr Bent) and if you don't play to his style you get nothing from him. Everton play more long straight balls out of defence than anyone else in the prem because that's what Lukaku needs, and whilst that might make a good plan B for us, he is never going contribute enough (imo) linking play to be a Poch type player.

 

[SpursDisciple]

Lukaku baffles me. He's bags so many goals, in fact he's scored 51% of Everton's goals this season. However, when I watch him for a full 90 mins, I see a player with a poor first touch, who often has his back to goal and isn't particularly mobile.
There's no doubting his ability to find the net, but there's so many clubs who he could end up "upgrading" to, where he would not be suited to IMO. Everton could just be the perfect fit.

He has the touch of a wall. Same as Benteke.

 

[Citizen Kane]

He has the touch of a wall. Same as Benteke.

A wall laid by Sissoko.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Well, the last few posts seem to have cut Lukaku's chances of playing for Spurs. I bet he is devastated

I'm sure that he'd love to add to the Belgian contingent at Spurs, but it's not to be, I'm afraid.

He may get to join Captain Fellaini at Old Trafford in the summer, though.
Ibrahimovic seems as bored by the football there as the rest of us, so it looks like he may be off.
Time for a clear-out by Mourinho, I think.

 

[Spur of the Moment]

Not sure which thread to post this on as it has several points of interest!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39552207

The footage appears to suggest that a) Barkley looks pissed and b) it doesn't look like a random person walked up an smacked him. Barkley was clearly in conversation with the assailant - even had his hand on his shoulder in that 'you're my best mate' late night bar kinda way......

At least we've found another decent reason to leave well alone!!

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

Not sure which thread to post this on as it has several points of interest!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39552207

The footage appears to suggest that a) Barkley looks pissed and b) it doesn't look like a random person walked up an smacked him. Barkley was clearly in conversation with the assailant - even had his hand on his shoulder in that 'you're my best mate' late night bar kinda way......

At least we've found another decent reason to leave well alone!!

Doesn't he know the rules? If you're a midfielder for one of Liverpool's teams, you need to have seven mates backing you up when you get into a ruck. That'll prove how 'ard you are!

 

[The RDBD]

Remaining games between the current top 7 :

Manchester United V Chelsea
Manchester City V Manchester United
Everton V Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur V Arsenal
Arsenal V Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur V Manchester United
Arsenal V Everton

So in terms of "6 pointers" we have :

Poool - 0. Citeh - 1, Spurs/Chelsky/Everton - 2,
Goons - 3, Man Utd 4.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Not sure which thread to post this on as it has several points of interest!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39552207

The footage appears to suggest that a) Barkley looks pissed and b) it doesn't look like a random person walked up an smacked him. Barkley was clearly in conversation with the assailant - even had his hand on his shoulder in that 'you're my best mate' late night bar kinda way......

At least we've found another decent reason to leave well alone!!

Just posted this clip on another thread, but one of the local villains seems to be saying it's one of his mob.
The reports suggest that there's been no criminal complaint about the incident, so that may be correct.

 

[The RDBD]

Remaining games between the current top 7 and current bottom 6 :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/crystal-palace
Crystal Palace V Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur V Bournemouth
Middlesbrough V Arsenal
Arsenal V Sunderland
Liverpool V Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace V Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United V Swansea City
Swansea City V Everton
Manchester City V Crystal Palace
Chelsea V Middlesbrough
Chelsea V Sunderland
Hull City V Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool V Middlesbrough

So in terms of opposition fighting for their lives, we have :

Citeh / Everton / Man Utd - 1, Chelsky/Poool - 2. Spurs/Goons - 3.

 

[Spur of the Moment]

Just posted this clip on another thread, but one of the local villains seems to be saying it's one of his mob.
The reports suggest that there's been no criminal complaint about the incident, so that may be correct.

Will be seriously damaging to Barkley. Putting himself in that position and open to a random attack would be bad enough, but getting pissed up and falling out with a crony is up another level. It wasn't as if he had done anything on the pitch worthy of celebrating!!
And Everton coming up with the inaccurate fire-fighting 'damage limitation account is also incredibly stupid!

 

[The RDBD]

I would say that the on-paper "comfort" rankings for the top 7 run-in is :

Citeh
Poool
Chelsky / Everton
Spurs
Goons
Man Utd

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Will be seriously damaging to Barkley. Putting himself in that position and open to a random attack would be bad enough, but getting pissed up and falling out with a crony is up another level. It wasn't as if he had done anything on the pitch worthy of celebrating!!
And Everton coming up with the inaccurate fire-fighting 'damage limitation account is also incredibly stupid!

He's had an up and down season, but he's looked quite impressive, at times.
Koeman doesn't seem to have complete faith in him and **** like this won't help him.
He was the only one that did anything for them at White Hart Lane though, so it wouldn't surprise me if we went for him.
He can play a few positions and Pochettino's influence might be just what he needs.

The crook in question seems to be pissed off because he started seeing one of Barkley's ex's.
Really don't get how that works. Shouldn't it be the other way round?

 

[Spur of the Moment]

He's had an up and down season, but he's looked quite impressive, at times.
Koeman doesn't seem to have complete faith in him and **** like this won't help him.
He was the only one that did anything for them at White Hart Lane though, so it wouldn't surprise me if we went for him.
He can play a few positions and Pochettino's influence might be just what he needs.

The crook in question seems to be pissed off because he started seeing one of Barkley's ex's.
Really don't get how that works. Shouldn't it be the other way round?

Would be really disappointed if we ended up with Barkley. He may have some talent but he gives off the wrong signals on so many levels and I think the lad would be a disruptive influence on the squad. Not for me, thank you!

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Would be really disappointed if we ended up with Barkley. He may have some talent but he gives off the wrong signals on so many levels and I think the lad would be a disruptive influence on the squad. Not for me, thank you!

Yeah, you're right. Let's keep Sissoko, instead...

Honestly, I think it could go two ways.
He could sort his **** out and push on or he could carry on down his current path and end up another Barton.
He's got the ability, but that's not enough. Next season's enormous for him.

 

[Spur of the Moment]

Yeah, you're right. Let's keep Sissoko, instead...

Honestly, I think it could go two ways.
He could sort his **** out and push on or he could carry on down his current path and end up another Barton.
He's got the ability, but that's not enough. Next season's enormous for him.

Now you're just being silly!!
But I think I'd rather have Barton!