Soccer Premier League

Everton Must Find A Strike Partner To Play With Romelu Lukaku

Fresh Videos

By

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku

Getty Images

A season of indifferent performances is leading to a certain amount of criticism for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, but sometimes not all the blame can solely be attributed to the player alone. Everton boss Roberto Martinez needs to take a long look at Lukaku and figure out the best way to get the maximum out of his £28 million acquisition, and adding another striker to the team to partner with Lukaku is one option he must explore.

Lukaku put in another unconvincing performance against Leicester City last weekend, but it is a trend that has been ongoing all season. He is obviously a capable player, but his natural instincts to roam and vacate his position in search of the ball are hurting the team more than they are helping it right now.

Lukaku only has seven goals in the Premier League this season, which is subpar for a player of his talents. It seems that Everton goes as Lukaku goes this season. Currently, the Belgian plays as a lone striker with a three-man combination of either Steven Naismith, Ross Barkley, Aaron Lennon, Kevin Mirallas or Aiden McGeady playing behind and on either side of him.

However, none of those players arrive in the opposition’s penalty box enough over 90 minutes, and then when Lukaku also goes wandering, Everton lack a threat at the top end of the team. The Belgian can definitely affect the game when he drifts wide or drops deep to get involved, but he can’t be everywhere, and another striker who prefers to play more centrally would help both Lukaku and the rest of the team.

There is too much pressure on the Belgian to score the majority of the team’s goals when the striker really wants to help in more ways than simply goals alone. A striker partner would relieve some of that pressure and also help to bring out the best out of the club’s current top scorer in other areas of his game.

With a complementary player, Lukaku would be free to roam and create space for others when he runs the channels, or attracts two or three defenders when he dribbles with the ball. He can help supply for an additional striker, as well as continuing to add his own tally of goals.

Of the current Everton players, only Arouna Kone would really come into the conversation as a viable striker option, but the Ivorian has been out of the first-team picture for a while now. Samuel Eto’o would also have been an option, but was shipped out to Sampdoria during the January transfer window.

This means Martinez will now have to wait until the summer to address his striker situation, where the squad clearly lacks depth. It’s an impending move which may not only prove to be the answer for the inconsistent Belgian, but also for Everton as a whole.

Related:

Tim Sherwood Appointment Is Major Gamble For Aston Villa, Randy Lerner
 Manchester United Must Finish In Top Four Despite Utterly Flawed Squad

Share Tweet
Trending Now on