Sport
NEW LOOK LUKAKU REVELING WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS
How many players can say they had scored more goals by the age of 21 than Lionel Messi? Or lay claim to scoring 10 or more league goals in a season five times before turning 22? Most would be happy with their lot if they ticked both those boxes.
Not Romelu Lukaku. After receiving criticism for his all-round play last season as he struggled with the burden of being Everton’s record signing, and having to almost single-handedly spearhead the Toffees attack at home and abroad, the Belgian took heed of the wealth of knowledge around him, and came back a different force altogether.
Fitter, more intelligent, self-aware and ostensibly more comfortable on the ball, Lukaku is developing into the complete forward many hoped he would, assisted by some long-awaited additional support in attack.
After producing some exhilarating displays when on loan at Goodison Park, Gerard Deulofeu initially struggled to replicate such dynamism since making a permanent move to Merseyside in the summer.
Yet, since the end of September, the Spaniard has provided four assists for Lukaku alone and seems rejuvenated, knowing it was time to produce the goods and win over the gathering naysayers.
It is not only Deulofeu that Lukaku seems to have developed an understanding with. Of course it is easy to point to the blossoming partnership of Lukaku and Arouna Kone after they had the freedom of Goodison last week against a meek Sunderland defence.
Nonetheless, only Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud have a similarly productive partnership as Lukaku assisting Kone in the Premier League. Kone would not have netted at all if it wasn’t for his talismanic team-mate.
What must have been particularly pleasing for the Gwladys Street regulars against the hapless Black Cats was the way Lukaku and Kone celebrated that final strike, after Lukaku had seamlessly dropped off his man and delightfully chipped a cross into Kone with the outside of his boot – an assist the old Lukaku was accustomed to.
Both seemed to be enjoying their game to the maximum, and a real rapport was there for all to see. This is in stark contrast to the isolated lone striker of last campaign.
The majority of the credit for this improvement to Lukaku’s game has to obviously go to the man himself, as some are blessed with god given talent, and others have to work for it, and Lukaku falls into the latter category.
“It’s a big strength if you can play the ball forward and that ball sticks. It allows you to get really high up the pitch and allows you to confine space after that because players are going to drop off,” Roberto Martinez eulogised of his prized attacking asset.
Never one to shirk and challenge and with plenty of self-belief, Lukaku can revel in being the creator and finisher, and try and get more out of other talented players waiting in the wings.
Kevin Mirallas and Aaron Lennon have all the talent, but are yet to find the consistency. Ross Barkley has shown glimpses of what he can do, while Steven Naismith’s hat-trick against Chelsea is not to be sniffed at.
These talented yet inconsistent Toffees could do much worse than to look at Lukaku in terms of consistency in doing his job – scoring goals – workrate and application off the pitch, and desire to improve as a player. Look at what he has created with Kone and Deulofeu.
This Everton side are on the brink of something good, with Lukaku the pivotal figure. Continue this evolution into a modern day complete forward, and the Belgian can inspire others to reach their own potential.
The early signs are promising. Lukaku is getting more help that his own development deserves. Others need to chip in, and who knows what heights Lukaku could hit if more of his team-mates reach his level. It’s amazing what you can do with a little help from your friends.
