Moving Target

Moving Target – Romelu Lukaku

After bolstering his midfield with the signings of Gareth Barry and Muhamed Besic, Roberto Martinez’ third signing of the summer was a real statement of intent. The Everton boss broke the club’s transfer record fee by snapping up Romelu Lukaku for £28m from Chelsea, with the 21-year-old arriving at Goodison on a five-year contract:

Having acquired the young Belgian on loan last term, Martinez was delighted to bring Lukaku to Merseyside on a full-time basis:

“Welcoming Romelu Lukaku back to Everton on a permanent basis is the news that all Evertonians wanted to hear. We know that Romelu is still a young man and the potential that he has is quite unique, and we are desperate to see him enjoying his football and to watch him grow as footballer in the years to come. The arrival of Rom is more than just a signing, it’s the fruition of a lot of hard work to get the player we wanted. This is a big moment for Everton’s history and the perfect way of getting the squad ready for the start of the season.”

The History

A product of the Anderlecht youth academy, Lukaku made his first-team debut back in May 2009, less than two weeks after his sixteenth birthday. Despite his tender years, the striker was quickly installed as a regular the following season and, taking the Belgian top-flight by storm, racked up 15 goals and five assists in 25 appearances. The following year Lukaku maintained his predatory instincts, producing 16 goals and seven assists in 37 games, including play-off matches.

After scoring twice in two league appearances at the start of the 2011/12 campaign, the six foot three forward was snapped up by Chelsea before the closure of the summer transfer window. Lukaku found it impossible to establish a place in the first-team, though; he was handed just a single start in the league, with a further seven appearances coming courtesy of the bench.

Farmed out on loan to West Brom in 2012/13, his Premier league potential was all too apparent – 17 goals and seven assists from 35 matches (20 starts and 15 sub appearances) fired the Baggies to an eighth place finish in Steve Clarke’s first season at the helm. Lukaku returned to the Bridge last summer but the arrival of Jose Mourinho made little difference to his chances of game time. After playing just 40 minutes of Chelsea’s first three league matches, he was snapped up by Martinez on a season-long loan deal and, with a security of starts as the Toffees’ first-choice forward guaranteed, proceeded to deliver 15 goals and six assists (or nine in FPL) over 31 league outings.

On the international stage, Lukaku turned out at youth level on 10 occasions for his country, scoring twice, and, after being handed his senior debut back in 2010, has netted 10 times in 33 appearances.

The Prospects

The arrival of big-money signing Diego Costa, allied with the return of old favourite Didier Drogba, made it perfectly clear that Mourinho was unwilling to place his faith in Lukaku for the season ahead. Despite allowing Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o to leave the club, the Blues also have Fernando Torres as a third forward and, as the Everton new boy acknowledged, he was simply not prepared to face another year on the Stamford Bridge periphery:

“Chelsea is a big club and sometimes it is difficult for young players to come through. I want to have a good career and I didn’t want to spend 10 years on the bench, I wanted to make the best out of every year. This is a club with a lot of ambition and the right place to be. You don’t have to have regrets in football. Choices have to be made. Roberto Martinez will be one of the top managers in the world and for me to work under him now is the best thing that could happen for me.”

The move is undoubtedly a positive one for Fantasy managers ahead of the new season and hands us a proven Premier League forward to consider at 9.0 in Fantasy Premier League and 8.8 in the Sky Sports game. At a time where many other options in the same price bracket have question marks over their security of starts, Lukaku’s game time under Martinez suggests he could, once again, be a solid option for our three-man frontlines. The Belgian started 29 of the 31 matches he was available for at Everton last term – his two sub appearances were due to a lack of match fitness on his debut and a return from a brief ankle injury. Whilst the club’s European duties could see the Toffees boss rotate in the attacking midfield areas, Martinez’ line-ups towards the end of last term shows that he simply has no like-for-like replacement for Lukaku as the lone striker and, injuries aside, it’s hard to see him being benched.

Despite scoring 32 times (and earning 327 FPL points) in his last two seasons in the Premier League, Lukaku is, for some, a frustrating Fantasy option. Mainly, that comes down to his inability to deliver big points hauls – only twice last term did he manage to net more than a single goal, suggesting that he’s yet to make the step to potential captaincy material. A lack of spot-kicks is certainly part of the issue and with first-choice Leighton Baines, at 7.0, delivering 160+ points from defence in three of his last four years at Goodison, the left-back has proven the better value option.

Nonetheless, Lukaku cannot be ignored. This time round, he’ll start the season in familiar surroundings, meaning there’ll be no need to adjust to new team-mates or tactics – potentially a crucial factor. For all the calls of inconsistency, Lukaku’s stats underline his capabilities. Despite playing 2,726 minutes last season, he was still sixth amongst forwards for both shots (101) and efforts inside the area (68), seventh for key passes (35) and, more significantly, second only to Luis Suarez for shots on target (45) in his first season on Merseyside. If he can improve last term’s conversion rate of 14.9%, Everton’s record signing could finally be set to step up as major Fantasy asset next time around.

With Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and United in the first seven fixtures, many are content to overlook the Toffees’ assets and search elsewhere until the schedule improves around Gameweek 8. It’s worth noting, though, that the Toffees beat three of those above-mentioned opponents last term and, having produced two goals against the likes of Man City and Liverpool, in addition to a goal and two assists against Arsenal, Lukaku has also shown that, under Martinez’ guidance, he’s more than capable of picking up points regardless of opponent.

Further Reference

Romelu Lukaku Wikipedia

Romelu Lukaku Transfer Markt Page

Romelu Lukaku You Tube Highlights 2013/14

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

2,940 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Super Silva Haze
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    How she looking lads ?

    Begovic
    Evans Davies Chester
    Hazard Mata Sterling Siggy
    Rooney Costa Dzeko

    Krul Wisdom Naylor Wanyama

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    1. Gussy13
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Please RMT and let me know if I should make changes.

      Courtois
      (Subs): Myhill, Wisdom, Bruce, Albrighton.
      Debuchy Cameron Shaw

      Sanchez Silva Fabregas Sigurdson

      Costa Lukaku Remy

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    2. conk0608
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      pewdiepie army

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    3. Whats it all about??
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Is Chester nailed on? was thinking of including him in my Sun Dreamteam side for extra euro points..

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  2. Super Frank
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    A. Lamela/Eriksen & Lukaku & Jovetic

    or

    B. Silva & Costa & Bojan

    😀 😀

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  3. KujaliaFC
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Rodwell @ Sunderland @ 5 ducats seems like good value, milord.

    I might swap Matic out for him.

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    1. 10cabee
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Rodwell for Matic sounds good.

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      1. KujaliaFC
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        He'll be nailed on, right?

        I saw him playing for Man City a few times, and he had an impressive game every time.

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        1. jopsahl
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          I like Jedi better :/ 100% nailed on, and can get CS plus sometimes on pens 🙂

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  4. chrrizzy
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Latest RMT which looks really good on paper but need advice

    Foster/Myhill

    Terry Evans Dawson (Taylor Wisdom)

    Fabregas Ramsey Young Eriksen (Albrighton)

    Rooney Costa Lukaku

    I've only got 1 concern and that's whether Dawson will start or not, if he doesn't then ill swap him with Bavies. Young I can see him starting at least the first game and then for the following weeks we'll see. Anw let me know what you guys think please

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    1. Gerbs
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      From preseason I think Young could be a steal and have thought about ways to get him in my squad. Not sure Evans will feature enough to warrant a start.

      I like the forward line a lot (how cant you)

      But I am hesitant on Fabregas in fantasy. I feel he is worth too much for how forward I think he gets in Mourinho's scheme.

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      1. Wells - Anti-Dentite!
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Mate Evans is the most nailed on UTD defender

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        1. Morbius
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          Until* LvG buys defenders. Then neither Evans nor Smalling should, in theory, be anywhere near the stadium.

          *if

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  5. Gerbs
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Can someone rate my team please? Any advice would be appreciated

    Mannone (Myhill)

    Luis, Caulker, Baines (Targett, Wisdom)

    Sterling, Sanchez, Mata, Barkley (Tiote)

    Lukaku, Bony, Giroud

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    1. Morbius
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Everton have a shocking first 7 weeks. I wouldn't rely on a single Everton player, let alone 3 of them.

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  6. GummiG
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Would you rather (2mids for 17m)
    A: Alexis & 6,5m (Arnautovic)
    B: Mata & Eriksen/Lamela

    This is the current squad

    Begovic
    P. Jones - B. Davies - Debuchy
    Hazard - Alexis - Siggy - Arnie
    Costa - Rooney - Dzeko

    Gilks - Wisdom - Duff - Albrighton

    Cheers

    Alexis is extremely pricey and risk full but might be essential and then difficult to get :/ decisions decisions...

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  7. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    why all the love for Bojan on here lads?

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    1. Neville's Advocate
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Cause he's cheap as hell and has knocked a couple in in pre season

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      1. Bucky Barnes
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        I remember a few seasons ago thinking that about Boselli at Wigan

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  8. rocrocodile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    In this pre season madness...

    A) Mata - Albrighton - Austin

    or

    B) Young - Rodwell/Davis - Lukaku

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  9. P2One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Hello, some advices thanks..

    Krul - Foster

    Cameron - P.Jones - Luis - (Wisdom - Bruce)

    Mata - Hazard - Eriksen - Snodgrass - ( Albrighton)

    Rooney - Costa - Giroud

    Hazard/Costa or Fabregas/Sturridge?

    Is Costa too much of a gamble?

    And Giroud was ment to play GW1 and swap him with Bony, but I think I have to get rid of him..

    Thanks for any answers 😉

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    1. Bucky Barnes
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Don't think Sturridge will be half the player he was last season without Suarez

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  10. wheredabudat
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    can lukaku play against Chelsea on GW3?

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    1. P2One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      yes, he is not on loan this time..

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      1. wheredabudat
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        thanks

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  11. Duzpa
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    A. Sanchez and Pelle
    or
    B. Ramsey and Lukaku
    ?:)

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  12. Moves Like Agger
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    This is my first year doing this and I am wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how i could improve my team?

    Foster (Begovic)

    Azpilicueta Baker Vlaar (O'Shea and Figueroa)

    Eriksen Sánchez Silva Fábregas Mata

    Naismith Diego Costa (Weimann)

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  13. Mzdi8jc5
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Yo guys,

    Wondering if anyone could give me some advice on my SDT?

    De Gea
    Vermallen - Davies.C - Kolarov - Demichellis
    Mata - Young - Ramsey
    Rooney - Lukaku - Costa

    I'm hoping Vermallen makes the rumoured move to MUN. Bad option?
    Should I be concerned about Demichellis?
    Too much MUN cover in mid? Young seems like a cheap differential though?
    Costa or Sanchez or other?

    Thanks in advance. I'll owe you a pint.

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    1. shreyydv
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      demichellis is a concern coz f citys early fixtures..nd 433 is a not gud option imo..mids will score more bps den defenders coz f d change in BPS scoring..

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  14. shreyydv
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Hii guys..new to the group..finished around 19,000 last season..posting my team for the first tym..RMT please..

    krul 4.0

    evans shaw ward rosenoir wisdom

    sanchez mata sigurdsson dejong shelvey

    rooney pelle costa

    0.5 in the bank

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  15. shreyydv
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Hii guys..new to the group..finished around 19,000 last season..posting my team for the first tym..RMT please..

    krul 4.0

    evans shaw ward rosenoir wisdom

    sanchez mata sigurdsson dejong shelvey

    rooney pelle costa

    0.5 in the bank

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  16. Curly619
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Please RMT

    Foster

    Aanholt Onuoha Chester

    Sanchez Hazard Mata Fabregas Eriksen

    Rooney Bojan

    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Krul Bojan Yoshida Taylor

    Ideas welcome

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    1. Curly619
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      The second Bojan is Austin

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