ROMELU LUKAKU has hailed Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s arrival at Manchester United as the reason for his upturn in fortunes.
Lukaku had struggled upfront for United this season, scoring just six goals in 23 games under former boss Jose Mourinho.
But things have changed dramatically since Solskjaer took over thanks to what the £75million striker describes as the new boss's “total analysis of my game".
The 45-year-old scored 91 goals in 235 appearances for United and the current crop of Old Trafford strikers are benefitting from his experience.
Instead of being a target man, Lukaku, 25, has been encouraged to receive the ball while facing the goal more to maintain the pace of United’s attacks.
And the new approach is working with three goals in three games, including the second in the 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Reading on Saturday.
And after the Old Trafford win, Lukaku said: “He understands what type of striker you are and he plays to your strengths.
“From the first day when I came back in, he did a total analysis of my game — I was really surprised.
“He's helped me a lot. He talks to me all the time and I like that, the work we've been doing over the last couple of weeks is good.
“He really wants me to face the goal because he knows that is when I'm at my most dangerous, moving off the shoulder of the defenders.
“He plays in a way that I like to play and also the rest of the team. We are back to ourselves and it's good to see the players enjoy and win games."
United now travel to Spurs on Sunday afternoon for the toughest test yet of Solskjaer's short spell in charge.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8135891/lukaku-solskjaer-mourinho-man-utd/
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1. It was obvious for all to see that Lukaku couldn't play the target man role that Jose wanted him to play. He is much better playing on the shoulder and getting on the end of crosses into the box. I am not at all convinced that he is the right man for us, but happy to see how he does for the rest of the season.
2. Great to see Ole looking at each player and trying to play to their strengths. We have had a few opposition fans claiming that our upturn is simply down to the players and upping their game, looking to play down Ole's impact. United fans know that Ole is an intelligent bloke and you can see how he has tweaked the tactics. Still a long way to go until the end of the season, but with each passing day we learn a little more of what Ole is doing with the team, and it all seems to be positive.
3. I know he doesn't say anything directly, but there seems to be a bit of something aimed at Jose in those quotes. It is criminal how he mismanaged the players. A top manager should be able to adapt his tactics to get the most out of his quad. What is even worse is that he splashed £75m on a striker to play as a target man, even though he didn't have the tools to play that role.
Lukaku: Ole has helped my game
posted on 7/1/19
comment by Kung Fu Cantona 🙏🏼 🇵🇸 (U18082)
posted 7 minutes ago
Why do you insist on making out that Pereira was good in the Brighton game. He was very poor and deservedly got subbed at half time
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A couple things I should point out.... this is the second time I’ve talked about Pereira in the Brighton game. Every other time was about the Leicester game and I provided states to prove he had a positive impact. Your saviour Jose Mourinho even came out after the match and singled him out for praise.
Second, I can’t believe you have the audacity to speak about anybody insisting about anything ever. You’re entire JA606 history is littered with you insisting we love and appreciate the worst players and managers at the club in recent history.
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Right now Pereira is going to go down as bad as anyone else unless he steps up and justifies your love affair with him
posted on 7/1/19
Periera will probably leave on a free in the summer unless we can get a fee for him in Jan. He’s a talented player, and should have been given more opportunities, but I don’t think he’s good enough for us and will have to take a step down to get his career back on track.
posted on 7/1/19
comment by Robb Ferguson (U21234)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Kung Fu Cantona 🙏🏼 🇵🇸 (U18082)
posted 7 minutes ago
Why do you insist on making out that Pereira was good in the Brighton game. He was very poor and deservedly got subbed at half time
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A couple things I should point out.... this is the second time I’ve talked about Pereira in the Brighton game. Every other time was about the Leicester game and I provided states to prove he had a positive impact. Your saviour Jose Mourinho even came out after the match and singled him out for praise.
Second, I can’t believe you have the audacity to speak about anybody insisting about anything ever. You’re entire JA606 history is littered with you insisting we love and appreciate the worst players and managers at the club in recent history.
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Right now Pereira is going to go down as bad as anyone else unless he steps up and justifies your love affair with him
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Justify my love affair with him? Sounds a bit homophobic Robb?
Do you hate that I rate players with talent, would you prefer I rate players like Lukaku and Fellaini. Would you prefer I disregard the culture of this club and welcome toxic figures into the club like your self.
I didn't mention Pereira during the Reading game and my only mention of him now since that game has been negative.
Even if I did want to follow your lead and gush about players putting in average/terrible performances, wouldn't you be in the slightest bit embarrassed to behave like such a blatant hypocrite?
posted on 7/1/19
Justify my love affair with him? Sounds a bit homophobic Robb?
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How is that homophobic? 😂
And do I hate you rate players why talent? Why would I? You seem very paranoid and defensive that the world hasn’t noticed Periera has talent. I’m fairly certain I’ve seen the guy play more than yourself. And he is good. But perhaps isn’t going to be someone with a future at United.
You can gush about who you like - I certainly do. Try it sometime. You might actually smile when the players you don’t like score a goal!
posted on 7/1/19
comment by Robb Ferguson (U21234)
posted 12 minutes ago
Justify my love affair with him? Sounds a bit homophobic Robb?
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How is that homophobic? 😂
And do I hate you rate players why talent? Why would I? You seem very paranoid and defensive that the world hasn’t noticed Periera has talent. I’m fairly certain I’ve seen the guy play more than yourself. And he is good. But perhaps isn’t going to be someone with a future at United.
You can gush about who you like - I certainly do. Try it sometime. You might actually smile when the players you don’t like score a goal!
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I notice you didn't deny that you're a massive hypocrite, good that's progress. Remember this thread when you want to make another article about Lukaku playing well.
You used the notion of a romantic relationship between two men as a negative to scold me with. Let your mind digest that and remember this thread the next time you make an off topic article.
Of course you hate it me rating talented players, that's why you're exaggerating how much I like Pereira.
I talked about Tuanzebe and TFM the same way and always as a three I'd like to see in the first team. Since the Brighton game I have put Pereira in a few line ups and made an article about him possibly leaving. That's it.
Only two other people have mentioned this as talking about him all the time, manutd1984 and VC.
I'm not sure if you're trying to secretly make VC like you, but that's what it feels like. Otherwise why not talk about my "love affair" with Tuanzebe and TFM as well?
Hopefully VC hasn't read the recent replies, I'd hate for this to hamper any progress you may have made in winning his favour.
posted on 7/1/19
😂 Wrong on so many levels. You overthink the gay thing too. Maybe Thou doth protest too much?
Difference between you and I is that I dislike no United players. You pick and choose. That’s why I’ll always be a a dictionary definition of a supporter of players whereas you’re more of fickle lad. Which is okay - live and let live and all that. Peace out from me and VC, currently life partnered in the Maldives reading all these replies with whimsical smiles on our faces
posted on 7/1/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/1/19
Dislike them as human beings or footballers Robb?
Yeah I do dislike Fellaini and Lukaku as footballers they're terrible, but like you said, live and let live. Next time somebody says Lukaku is a schit footballer, you'll definitely respect their opinion.
posted on 7/1/19
comment by Robb Ferguson (U21234)
posted 2 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by Kung Fu Cantona 🙏🏼 🇵🇸 (U18082)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 52 minutes ago
Pereira was terrible against Reading but he did nothing wrong in his first two games,
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You have to get out of this notion that doing nothing wrong is the benchmark. It is not.
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Who said it was a bench mark? I assume it's that little voice in your head.
He did nothing wrong to warrant being pulled out of the starting eleven. He was our best midfielder in the first two games and then he wasn't even on the bench against Spurs. Blame Jose not Pereira, he did enough to keep his place ahead of Fred who started the game.
Try not to manipulate my words in your next post.
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Why do you insist on making out that Pereira was good in the Brighton game. He was very poor and deservedly got subbed at half time
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A bit harsh to say that he was rightly subbed. With the exception of Shaw and Young, Jose could have subbed any of the outfield players. I thought he was playing better than Fred and Mata and as good as Pogba. But he isn't a big money Jose signing so Jose took the easy option.
posted on 8/1/19
comment by vidicthelegend VIVA LA REVOLUTION (U8735)
posted 22 hours, 39 minutes ago
comment by Robb Ferguson (U21234)
posted 11 minutes ago
Imo Lukaku is our best striker and if he and Ole click as a player/coaching dynamic then we’ll have a very clinical striker on our hands
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Robb won't see this because he filtered me like a wimp, but Lukaku our best striker?
His goal ratio will always be decent, but his all round game hinders our attacking play to the point where it isn't worth it.
I'd rather see Rashford given 20 games to stake a claim then watch Lukaku miscontrol a simple pass 5 times a game.
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He filters people he cannot debate with. A real man child