alilane4
15 years ago
1 month ago
252
The biggest difference between the Ronaldo, Berbatov, Carroll, Torres & Bale etc deals is they were all key players for their respective teams. Lukaku is clearly not wanted by Chelsea and can probably go for pretty cheap.
VP.
14 years ago
3 months ago
25,271
Must be one of a few Arsenal fans that doesn't actually care Fabregas has gone to Chelsea.
.verse
13 years ago
1 year ago
871
The biggest difference between the Ronaldo, Berbatov, Carroll, Torres & Bale etc deals is they were all key players for their respective teams. Lukaku is clearly not wanted by Chelsea and can probably go for pretty cheap.

Guarantee you that Chelsea won't just sell Lukaku "pretty cheap", if he is indeed not wanted, which has yet to be confirmed by either party. The comments from the other day weren't entirely accurate either and these came from Lukaku a day or so later...

"I only know one thing and that is that, in my opinion, Chelsea are still the biggest club in England. And they have a very, very good manager! I have a contract with Chelsea after this summer and I am not focusing on any move to Atletico."

"Let me say that I am now the complete striker. I never thought I was a target man, a No.9 who could play with his back to the goal. I always wanted to run at defenders. That is still a great quality, but now I can do both. I love playing as a real striker in the box now.’’

"I have been playing all season for a team which has more than 60 percent of the time possession of the ball. Technically I have been improving as a player. I play for a manager who makes his team play really good football and I don’t have to chase the ball all the time. Getting the ball so often close to the goal becomes a natural thing.

"My concentration is better than ever on finishing, rather than on running with the ball. I am absolutely convinced that moving to Everton was the best step in my career. When you feel everything is working out, it makes you so relaxed and happy as a player in big matches.’’


My guess is that he'll stay at Chelsea and I wouldn't be surprised if he is signed to a new long term deal and is then possibly loaned out for one more season. However, I genuinely hope Lukaku is happy to battle it out with possibly Costa (if signed), along with Torres and Ba. He's definitely got a chance to notch 20 odd starts across all competitions, if not more.
Poe
18 years ago
1 week ago
3,675
I dunno why Chelsea don't just play with Lukaku as their main striker all the time, and rotate the other guys. He'll eventually be better than Diego Costa.
.verse
13 years ago
1 year ago
871
I dunno why Chelsea don't just play with Lukaku as their main striker all the time, and rotate the other guys. He'll eventually be better than Diego Costa.

To be fair, it's easy to forget he's still only 21. You don't see many strikers of that age, if any, leading the line for a top side. His two loan spells have definitely aided his development and were the right moves for him. He's still not good enough in an overall capacity to be the main go-to striker, however he would excel as part of a tandem partnership where the workload is shared. A season or so in such a role would help his overall chances of being that main forward. It's still too risky to thrust him into the position because if he doesn't produce the goals like has done at Everton and WBA, then the pressure and scrutiny will be tremendous.

Ideally, Diego Costa and Lukaku sharing duties with either Torres/Ba in support would be ideal. I'm still unconvinced by Diego Costa and think sharing duties will help ease him into EPL life.

In general though, I think it will be up to Lukaku on if he stays and fights or a spot in the eleven, or if he wishes to spend another season on loan. Was his choice to join Everton last season and not stay.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
I dunno why Chelsea don't just play with Lukaku as their main striker all the time, and rotate the other guys. He'll eventually be better than Diego Costa.


Goes missing too often to be a important player for a top side yet.
Poe
18 years ago
1 week ago
3,675
Goes missing too often to be a important player for a top side yet.


Yeah but they narrowly missed out on the Premier League this year, and weren't far off in the Champions League either. He's better than Torres and probably about equal to Ba - but has so much potential. He could be a real force.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
Oh yeah I agree he could well be, but I can understand why Mourinho doesn't want him around yet and if Lukaku isn't willing to be patient then he might leave. I think technically he has a lot of work to do as well, still looked raw and rough around the edges whenever I saw him last year but his freaky physicallity compensated.
Poe
18 years ago
1 week ago
3,675
Yeah, I don't think he's ever going to be a technical player though.

He's strong, fast and has a powerful shot. Good in the air too. Given the right time and service he could be tremendous.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
He certainly won't be a technical player, as in one remarked upon for his excellent technique, but I think its fair to say that he should, perhaps will, become more technically proficient as he develops. Drogba, who he seems always compared to, was a lot more than a big bastard who could get stuck in, he was also a very good footballer, too.
Poe
18 years ago
1 week ago
3,675
Yeah, Lukaku has shown some great touches though - I think he'll be more like Adebayor than Drogba.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
That's what I mean though, if you'd never seen Lukaku do anything other than run fast, bully defenders and put the ball in the net you might be inclined to say that thats all he's good for. The fact that you see glimpses of a player that has more about him than that is, firstly, why people talk about his potential, and secondly, what makes me think that he needs to do that more consistently and become more refined, until he'll really get a go in a big team.
Crane
15 years ago
1 month ago
2,434
Premium


Any idea if he's reliable?

Also like that since our final £25m bid for Lallana hasn't been accepted, we've moved on instead of fannying around.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
Di Marzio's on point.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
Apparently so.

Pretty sure he's a better player than Lallana, and probably cheaper too.
King Luis
18 years ago
10 months ago
3,111
Cheaper, younger and proven in Europe. Could be a good deal for us if it happens.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399


Hahaha what a shitehouse. No-one even cares that he's retired because he's so irrelevant.
BR.
18 years ago
3 years ago
1,896
Had all the talent and got some very fond memories of him at Rovers but yeah, comes across as a right tool and thought he'd made it when he went to Spurs for big money.
Jamieandhisego
18 years ago
2 years ago
841
Had all the talent and got some very fond memories of him at Rovers but yeah, comes across as a right tool and thought he'd made it when he went to Spurs for big money.


Well he had made it, a CL-challenging club paid £15m for him. The problem is that once he got there, he did nothing.
VP.
14 years ago
3 months ago
25,271
Arsenal have today handed teenage full-back Elias Chatzitheodoridis a two-year deal, after being wowed by the Greek teenager during his displays for the club's academy in the same nation, according to the Metro's recount of a story from Greek publication On Volos.

Chatzitheodoridis was on trial in North London earlier this year and did enough in a series of youth-team matches, including one notable fixture against Real Madrid in the prestigious Ferroli Cup, to persuade Gunners chiefs that he deserves a permanent place in the academy.

The 17-year-old primarily operates as a left-back and viewed as a long-term prospect by Arsenal academy staff, the first from the club's Greek soccer school system to earn permanent terms with the Premier League side.

Arsenal set up the academy in 2011 just outside Athens with a view to harnessing talent on the continent, with Chatzitheodoridis a sign that hard work may be finally starting to bear fruit.

The youngster will now compete for regular game time in Arsenal's under-18 side, the first addition of what Gunners fans hope will be a busy summer of spending from manager Arsene Wenger.

Fresh from winning the FA Cup and signing a three-year contract Wenger is on the hunt for quality additions, although his first acquisition will underwhelm the vast majority of Arsenal fans to say the least.

A new goalkeeper, right-back and centre-forward are now the club's top priorities, although sadly for fans of a certain former captain Wenger has reportedly decided not to take up an option to re-sign former captain Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona.
Jason
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
4,641
Chatzitheodoridis

Wonder if he chatted himself into a contract? What a name.
BR.
18 years ago
3 years ago
1,896
Well he had made it, a CL-challenging club paid £15m for him. The problem is that once he got there, he did nothing.


Started to believe his own hype is what I meant, he thought he genuinely was the new Beckham.
Poe
18 years ago
1 week ago
3,675
Bentley used to be awesome, complete lack of brain.
Andy Cav
18 years ago
4 months ago
41
Premium
Bentley formally announcing retirement is a couple of years overdue. There was no way back after his dismal loans at Rostov and West Ham. Still young enough to change his mind, but the offers he really wants are all dried up. He might not need the money, but if it was on the table with a Premier League contract, he'd be back.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
Apparently we want Vermaelen.

I can't sum up the amount of do not want that that transfer inspires within me in words.
Eric Portapotty
15 years ago
1 month ago
3,324
Premium
Apparently we want Vermaelen.

I can't sum up the amount of do not want that that transfer inspires within me in words.

We got Silvestre off your hands, it's only fair.
Telegram Sam
16 years ago
4 months ago
5,082
Premium
Vermaelen is far better than Silvestre.
Eric Portapotty
15 years ago
1 month ago
3,324
Premium
Undeniably, doesn't change the fact that his best days are so far behind him and his propensity to be a defensive liability (by going forward far too much or just being poor at the back) means that I'll be glad to see the back of him.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
Sell Vermaelen
Buy Caulker
???
PROFIT

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