comment by Stuck With The Name Biggish (U7916)
posted 6 seconds ago
He was 24 to 25 years old when he was playing for Marseille though


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I hadn't seen him before that.

If you ever have a chance to see Lukaku's performance in the 1-1 vs Arsenal it will prove to you everything you need to know about the player IMO.

Ba will leave and one of Torres/Eto will leave. Eto seems the more likely as his contract runs out and no one really seems interested in buying Torres.

Benteke is 3 years older.

Drogba ad an excellent season for Le Guingamp at 25, they were in Ligue1 and finished 7th due to him and Malouda basically.

He got 17 goals I think. Got him his move to Marseille.

But yes before that he was a very inconsistent for then Ligue 2 side LeMans, who got him for free from non league french side, Levallois. Didnt sign a professional contract till 21.

Guingamp took a gamble on him, Drogba then went to Marseille, and Chelsea -and never looked back.

Just going to say that Benteke is 3 years older.........

Edin.........I totally agree with you on where Lukaku is now, I am just sitting on the fence when it comes to predicting how good he will be 4 years from now..

I think he will be a slightly better version of his current self Biggish. In a creative team he will score ~15 goals a season which is fine, not create much for others though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc9ktJ3JHXA

Never realised just how many good goals Ibra scores/has scored

He will be hding in Cahill's pocket next week

Levallois 16-19 (non-league)
Le Mans 19-24 (Ligue 2)
LeGuingamp 24-25 (Ligue 1)
Marseille 25-26 (Ligue 1)
Chelsea 26-34
Shanghai 34
Galatasaray 34 - present (aged 36)

The issue with Chelsea is definitely that you play to create chances for your attacking mids/wingers, not front-men. Which is why I still think selling Sturridge was a good move for you guys, you just should have sold him to a worse team.

that's because i front men are sh-te Edin...

Edin, Sturridge would never have reached this level with us.

Sturridge is a great finisher, but he would not have attained the level he has this season without Suarez...

comment by npe77 - Lost Dreams of Joy (U1328)
posted 44 seconds ago
Edin, Sturridge would never have reached this level with us.
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But you think Lukaku will?

Lukaku started playing at a high level at a very young age. It doesn't make sense to compare him to Drogba who in any case was an exception. Strikers of all players are known for peaking early (Torres, Rooney etc).

I think Lukaku has found his level. Can't see him breaking the trend and rapidly turning into a world class striker over the next few years.

npe, that is because your team doesn't play to his strengths.

Biggish, I think your frontmen are still ok, no coincidence how much better they did in 'lesser' teams like Ba for Newcastle, Torres (even when he was bad) for Liverpool

Likewise Biggish. He's created more than a few for Suarez. It is a partnership.

I am not comparing him to Drogba though JNR, i am just saying it feels a bit early to pidgeon hole a player who is only 20 and I referred to Drogba's playing career as an example that late developers do exist, not that 20 is late anyhow...

comment by The Blue Kenyan (U1641)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by npe77 - Lost Dreams of Joy (U1328)
posted 44 seconds ago
Edin, Sturridge would never have reached this level with us.
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But you think Lukaku will?
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No. But I think he could, or would at least be more likely to, if we gave him some chances.

comment by The Blue Kenyan (U1641)
posted 1 minute ago
Likewise Biggish. He's created more than a few for Suarez. It is a partnership.
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I disagree with this wholeheartedly, Suarez has scored less per game when Suarez has come back from injury, because he is such a team-player. His assists have gone up a lot though.

Suarez is good enough to make it at any level.

TBK...........you know I like him, but I suspect Suarez cause defenders to cra-p themselves more....

Suarez is just a mutation of an in form Tevez

Biggish the point is Drogba was an exception with regards to his development and obviously him starting to play at a high level later than normal footballers was a contributing factor.

Apart from Inzaghi type strikers I can't think of very many that peaked in their late 20s/early 30s.

Sturridge also scored at the same rate without Suarez at the end of last season and start of this season Edin.