Cursed with a reputation of failing to deliver to form and fixture, while some have tried to dispel the myth, Romelu Lukaku chose today to slay it once and for all.
The stage was dressed and set for the Belgian.
With the fixture list driving his recruitment, there was a degree of forced faith in Lukaku.
Two blanks on the road had created an air of caution, but Everton’s home form was strong enough to offer real hope.
Bournemouth, as today’s visitors, were offering the biggest reason for optimism. Incredibly, Eddie Howe’s side arrived at Goodison Park having shipped 20 goals in their last ten outings, conceding three in six of those matches.
The script was meticulously scribed and, for once, Lukaku read and stuck to it perfectly.
It took him just 30 seconds to expose the Cherries frailties, ominously curling home a confident opener to tease the destruction that was to follow.
Bournemouth’s second half rally merely drew the sting from Everton, with Lukaku ending the match in riotous form.
Acquired by over 75,000 prior to today’s deadline, Lukaku boasted an ownership of 1.1 million FPL managers.
However, only 22% of those owners chose to back him with the captaincy, perhaps distracted by the lure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Harry Kane, having previously been stung by the Everton striker.
However, announcing himself this season with a hat-trick on Wearside, Lukaku chose Bournemouth as his next major victims and bullied them with a similar display of pace, power and finishing.
His 21-points ranks second only to Alexis Sanchez’ fabled London Stadium haul – Lukaku’s return today is the top individual score by any FPL forward.
With the fixtures remaining kind and with Gameweeks 26 and 28 booked in, his ownership and price will likely rocket.
However, while we can lavish praise his way this evening, we should not forget the frustration he can cause.
Stalling badly from Gameweek 11, Lukaku appeared stuck in a rut and unable to drag Everton from their Autumnal malaise.
But something clicked thereafter – perhaps the new arrivals on Merseyside, perhaps Ronald Koeman’s new formation – but the smile returned, and the energy and hunger came with it.
Incredibly, he now leads the Golden Boot race. Involved in 51% of Everton’s goals, boasting an almost identical points per match tally as both Diego Costa and Ibrahimovic and second only to Jermain Defoe for points per million value, the case for Lukaku is compelling.
Was there ever any doubts? Of course, but at least for tonight, we will conveniently forget the past.
