Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku has put in some impressive performances since moving to West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan and he realises that he must make the most of this move to achieve his long-term dream as a starting forward at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku was frustrated by his lack of first-team opportunities at Chelsea last season which is fair enough but he went public about it and I believe it’s unwise to go to the media to criticise the club. He’s still only a teenager though and he’s going to make mistakes but I wanted him to do his talking on the pitch and so far so good.
The 19-year-old scored on his debut when the Baggies hammered sorry Liverpool 3-0, he bullied a Tottenham defence and helped his side snatch a late equaliser and most recently he netted a winner against Reading at weekend.
Regular football seems to be the perfect tonic for Lukaku at this stage of his development and he has plenty of time on his side, so it’s no surprise that he’s making more mature comments than he did at the head of the season:
“Last year I had good preparation at Chelsea, now I can show myself at West Brom.
“My dream is always to play for Chelsea, so my main ambition will be Chelsea but now it’s West Brom – and West Brom is on my mind.
“The club made a big effort for me to come here and hopefully I can do the business for the team.
“I just want to make the best out of my career really. I have big ambitions, that’s normal.
“Any young player that wants to be the best has to have big ambitions.
“But I don’t want to look really forward, I just have small ambitions on small bases and I just look to improve.”
I’m delighted for him and hope he continues to progress in the way he has been. He’s ambitious and seems determined to realise his dreams at the team he’s a fan of. We’re not exactly strong in the centre forward position at the moment as a Chelsea side with Fernando Torres is like playing with 10 men, according to Ruud Gullit and there’s not much competition for the goal-shy Spaniard at the moment either, but I’d like to see Daniel Sturridge given a shot despite being initially doubtful over whether or not he can be successful there.
What’s most bracing about the lad (strange to call him ‘lad’ as he’s built like a train) is the complete absence of ego he’s displayed while he’s been here. Sure about his talent yet never arrogant, always modest and trying to downplay expectations, fully committed to the team off the pitch as well as on, as well as open and down-to-earth.
In short, a good lad.
“has put in some impressive performances since moving to West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan”
He hasn’t played much so I wouldn’t decribe him as having been impressive. He did ok on saturday, but without the goal nobody would be speaking about him.
Seems to have quite a lot to say for himself which is a little worrying. Is he going to be prepared to listen to what the coaches and senior players have to say at WBA? If he doesn’t he won’t develop, he is very raw in my opinion.
More than we were used to seeing him.
Wasn’t happy with the things he said about Chelsea when he was completing his loan move, which was worrying, but he’s still 19 and I’m unsure if I should just put it down to youthful petulance.
He is very raw but has a good down-to-earth coach in Steve Clarke to learn from. Clarkey doesn’t strike me as the sort that will tolerate any crap.