Manchester United Fan View: Romelu Lukaku needs to be more than a flat-track bully

If you were to watch Romelu Lukaku’s goals against Huddersfield out of context of the entire season, you would leap to the conclusion that it is impossible to stop the Belgian forward.

Just look at the first goal. He held off one Huddersfield defender, exchanged a one-two with Juan Mata that he instinctively paced forward to be on the end of, then brushed off another defender, and cooly, but emphatically, drove the ball home.

The second was nearly as impressive, as he relentlessly galloped from one end of the field to another, exchanged another one-two, this time with Alexis Sanchez, before then making the finish seem simple.

Lukaku’s goals, as well as his all-round play against Huddersfield, showed exactly why United splashed out £75 million on the striker, as he was direct, aggressive, physical, fast, calm, collected, and basically everything that you would want from your centre forward.

But while that was obviously great for every Manchester United fan to see, you could almost hear these same supporters all collectively wondering, ‘Why Lukaku hasn’t been able to show even an inkling of this form in the most important Premier League contests?’

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Because we already know that Manchester United’s closest rivals have been able to stop the Belgian forward.

Even before the season had begun, United fans were being reminded that Lukaku’s goal returns against the top sides in the league was sub-par.

But that was for West Bromwich Albion and Everton. Surely Manchester United would provide him with an abundance of opportunities to right this wrong?

That’s been far from the case. In fact, the theory that Lukaku is just a flat-track bully that overwhelms lesser defenders and teams, but can’t do it against the very, very best, has only been enhanced this season.

Because in six games against Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, Lukaku hasn’t scored once, while his highlight in these contests was hitting the outside of the post at home against Spurs back in October.

It has been Lukaku’s performances in United’s two most recent games against the Premier League elite that have wrangled supporters the most, though, as against Manchester City he basically assisted Nicolas Otamendi’s winner, while at Wembley he failed to get a foothold in the contest and was easily kept quiet by Tottenham’s defence.

Of course, it is unfair to lump all of the blame on Lukaku, especially against Spurs, where he was left completely isolated by the errant midfield and wingers around him, who failed to build any momentum or give him any service.

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But there’s also a point to be made that Lukaku has failed to ever actually impose himself against top defenders, struggling to win headers and physical battles, or find space in the tighter circumstance and faster conditions, or make the intelligent runs necessary to give him an advantage.

Lukaku has had no issue doing just that against inferior opposition, which is why he notched his 20th and 21st goals of the season against Huddersfield, marking the fourth consecutive campaign that he has scored 20 or more.

There’s also an argument to be made that scoring goals in these contests is the exact reason why Manchester United bought Lukaku, as last season they amassed a hugely frustrating amount of draws in contests that they should have won, but just couldn’t find a goal.

The truth is that Lukaku has to do both. And while the Huddersfield game was a timely reminder of what he has brought to Manchester United, he will only start to silence his critics once he starts doing it when it really, really matters.