₦airaland Forum

Head to head Lukaku vs Morata? Let’s see what
the numbers say.
.....................................................................................................................
Finishing On a basic level, over the
past three seasons, Lukaku has
scored more goals per 90 minutes
than Morata – 0.51 against 0.33 for
the Spaniard
.....................................................................................................................– although the
2016/17 was different. Used as an
impact sub off the bench, the Real
Madrid attacker actually out-
scored the Belgian with 1.01 goals
per 90 versus 0.69.
.....................................................................................................................In the box, the
Everton striker was still more
efficient, however. He converted
30% of his shots in the area.
Morata managed to convert
27.08%.
.....................................................................................................................Over the past three
seasons, Lukaku has taken more
shots in total too – 3.22 per 90
versus 2.17, or 2.22 on target
against 1.40. He has the variety
too, with 11 headed goals, 15 off
his right and 27 off his left in the
league since August 2014. When it
comes to finishing, it has to be the
Belgian.
Round one: Lukaku
.....................................................................................................................
Hold up play The Spaniard is
without doubt the superior option
when it comes to playing with his
back to goal. Lukaku prefers to get
a run on defences, whereas Morata
has shown his value as a centre-
forward who can bring others into
play, especially during his two year
stint at Juventus.
.....................................................................................................................However, the
statistics paint a more complex
picture that might otherwise be
assumed. Over the past three
years, Morata has drawn more
fouls per 90 than Lukaku (1.90
versus 0.80) and done more when
it comes to defensive work,
winning tackles and making
interceptions (0.81 against 0.23),
while the Belgian has actually
created more chances (1.30 to 1.03
for the Spaniard) and completed
more passes in the final third
(10.04 to 6.96).
.....................................................................................................................Despite the Real
Madrid attacker recording more
assists per 90 (0.26 to 0.16), Lukaku
has actually played more through
balls too – 20 in total, or 0.19 per
90, to three for Morata, or 0.07.
Even so, these numbers must be
considered in the context of each
players’ respective styles of play
and performances.
.....................................................................................................................There is no
doubt that for Everton, Lukaku is
more than a goalscorer, but he is a
striker that plays on the run,
forcing defenders to back track,
and benefits from being the sole
focal point of how the Toffees play.
Morata on the other hand, in spite
of his own heroics as a finisher for
Madrid, is a footballer who in Italy
showed a greater aptitude for
holding play up in the final third
for others.
Round two: Morata
.....................................................................................................................
Movement Here, Lukaku comes
into his own. Not only has he
shown his ability to pop up in
dangerous areas more often than
Morata, taking 0.65 shots from “big
chances” – situations in which a
player finds themselves in a
position to shoot from very close
range or with only the ‘keeper to
beat – over the past three seasons,
he has also taken carved out 20
goal- scoring opportunities on the
counter-attack, or 0.19 per 90.

.....................................................................................................................He is effectively an extra
large poacher who excels at
dropping off his markers, peeling
away to the flanks or lingering
around the box in order to arriving
in the sort of areas defenders don’t
want him to be in, coming from an
angle that they can’t deal with.
Round three: Lukaku
.....................................................................................................................
Duels A category in which the
Belgian just about pips his rival.
With his quick feet, he can turn
defenders inside out to force back
lines to implode, and completed
1.74 take ons per 90 last season
(1.18 in the final third) compared
to 1.48 (1.08) for Morata. Over the
past three seasons, it’s a similar
story: 1.44 (1.00) for Lukaku, 1.27
(0.79) for the Spaniard. In the air,
it’s closer still, although not in the
way that may be obvious.
Round four: Lukaku
.....................................................................................................................
Big moments In the common
parlance of modern football, the
question is which striker is the true
clutch player out of Lukaku and
Morata? The Spaniard’s record is
hard to beat. He has already
scored more Champions League
goals than Diego Costa, and in
2015 found the back of the net in
both of the semi-finals and in the
final against Barcelona for
Juventus. Last season in La Liga,
only Lionel Messi and Neymar
scored more goals in the last 10
minutes of games than the Real
Madrid striker. Lukaku can be the
man of the moment too, however.
No player scored more goals from
“big chances” in the Premier
League last season. He was tied
with Harry Kane on 18. The Belgian
also topped the charts for goals in
the final 10 minutes of action too,
with nine – five more than Morata
managed in Spain. Against tired
legs, his underrated dribbling
abilities, movement and capacity
to catch teams on the break cannot
be dismissed. Still, due to his
greater experience of European
football in the Champions League,
and a record of delivering when it
matters – Morata scored three
goals in four games at Euro 2016,
compared to two in five for Lukaku
– the Spaniard takes the plaudits
when the crunch hits.
Round five: Morata
.....................................................................................................................
it is the Belgian that comes
out on top in a head-to-head
......................................................................................................................
Final results Romelu Lukaku –
three categories out of five Alvaro
Morata – two categories out of five
Winner: Romelu Lukaku

Chelsea step up
attempts to offload
Diego Costa as exiled
striker will not return
to Blues fold
......................................................................................................................
Italian boss Antonio Conte is
unwilling to have the hitman
anywhere near his first-team squad
Chelsea are stepping up their
attempts to offload Diego Costa
with Antonio Conte unwilling to
have the striker anywhere near his
first team......................................................................................................
While the champions continued
their preparations for their title
defence in Asia, Costa remained
the 'ex on the beach' in Brazil,
beginning his own bid to regain his
fitness.
It is a far cry from last season when
the £40million marksman’s 20 goals
helped Chelsea to win the title.
.....................................................................................................
Conte confirmed last week that he
cut Costa loose because he had
grown fed up of his repeated bids
to quit the club.
Alvaro Morata has since joined
from Real Madrid to replace him
for a club record £65million.....................................................................................................
The Spaniard is in line to start
Saturday's International Champions
Cup game against Inter Milan at
Singapore's Sportshub.
When Chelsea’s players returned
for pre-season earlier this month,
the Blues initially insisted Costa
had been given extra time off after
his summer break.

Liverpool value Coutinho at
£134m
Liverpool have reportedly
slapped a £134million price-tag on
Philippe Coutinho to ward off
interest from Barcelona.
Barcelona have been linked with a
move for Philippe Coutinho this
summer amid uncertainty
surrounding Neymar's future at the
Nou Camp.............................................................................................................
The La Liga side reportedly sent
their Brazilian representative Andre
Cuty to London this week to hold
talks with Coutinho's people.
However, Liverpool are in no mood
to sell and have reacted by sticking
a whopping £134m price-tag on the
midfielder.
Spanish newspaper Sport claim the
Reds have increased the asking
price in the hope of scaring off
Barca.
The Catalan side are reportedly only
willing to pay in the region of £70m
for the former Inter Milan star.

Liverpool value Coutinho at
£134m
Liverpool have reportedly
slapped a £134million price-tag on
Philippe Coutinho to ward off
interest from Barcelona.
Barcelona have been linked with a
move for Philippe Coutinho this
summer amid uncertainty
surrounding Neymar's future at the
Nou Camp.............................................................................................................
The La Liga side reportedly sent
their Brazilian representative Andre
Cuty to London this week to hold
talks with Coutinho's people.
However, Liverpool are in no mood
to sell and have reacted by sticking
a whopping £134m price-tag on the
midfielder.
Spanish newspaper Sport claim the
Reds have increased the asking
price in the hope of scaring off
Barca.
The Catalan side are reportedly only
willing to pay in the region of £70m
for the former Inter Milan star.

Icon79:
All these extensive write up, no story. There's no contest here, Morata is much bigger talent than Lukaku. It isn't even close sef.


O pari

so u mean the statistic are telling lies?

Manchester United ended their
pre-season tour of the United
States with a 1-0 defeat to
Barcelona......................................................................................................
Brazil superstar Neymar scored the
only goal of the game, turning
home from close range in the 31st
minute, after Antonio Valencia's
stumble.
..........................................................
David de Gea once more proved his
worth to United, the Spanish
keeper making a number of good
stops to deny Los Cules' much-
vaunted front trio of Neymar, Luis
Suarez and Lionel Messi.
United went close themselves,
through Romelu Lukaku and
Marcus Rashford, but found Jasper
Cillessen in obdurate mood.
Here are the player ratings from
FedEx Field:
......................................................................................................................
Manchester United first
half ratings
David de Gea 8 MOTM
Great save from Luis Suarez but
couldn't prevent Neymar opener
......................................................................................................................
Antonio Valencia 5
Got in a tangle and slipped to hand
Neymar the opening goal

......................................................................................................................
Victor Lindelof 5
Swede looked nervous as he
battled to contain Luis Suarez

......................................................................................................................
Chris Smalling 6
Stood up well to Barcelona's
fearsome attack

......................................................................................................................
Daley Blind 5
Struggled at times when Barcelona
attacked his left back space

......................................................................................................................
Paul Pogba 7
Looked classy and dangerous on
the ball almost teeing up Lukaku

......................................................................................................................
Michael Carrick 6
Experience helped United's tempo
to prove tank isn't empty yet

......................................................................................................................
Jesse Lingard 6
Plenty of energy and happy to
defend as well as push on

......................................................................................................................
Henrikh Mkhitaryan 5
Not as influential as Jose Mourinho
would have hoped

......................................................................................................................
Romelu Lukaku 6
Bullied Barcelona at times with
speed, power and aggression

......................................................................................................................
Marcus Rashford 7
His bursts frightened the Spanish
defence and forced a good save
from Cillessen.

......................................................................................................................
Manchester United subs
Sergio Romero 7
Excellent save to deny Paco Alcacer
a goal

......................................................................................................................
Matteo Darmian 6
Versatile Italian solid enough at left
back

......................................................................................................................
Phil Jones 6
Fared okay – but didn't have to
deal with Barcelona's feared front
trio

......................................................................................................................
Eric Bailly 5
Dropped a clanger – but rescued by
Romero

......................................................................................................................
Marouane Fellaini 6
Ruffled Barcelona's plume – and
was booked

......................................................................................................................
Andreas Pereira 6
Two decent efforts show Brazilian is
growing in confidence

......................................................................................................................
Anthony Martial 6
Shot just over moments after
arrival

......................................................................................................................
Axel Tuanzebe N/A
The defensive starlet showed more
promise in a late cameo.


......................................................................................................................
Barcelona first-half
ratings
......................................................................................................................
Cillessen 7;
Made his contributions
......................................................................................................................
Semedo 6,
Still need more improvement
......................................................................................................................Mascherano 7,
Played well in the build up

Umtiti 6,
Still needs improvement
...................................................................................................................... Alba 6;
Played well in his position
...................................................................................................................... Busquets 6,
His defensive was very good, he made some crucial interceptions
......................................................................................................................
Rakitic 6,
Always present in the middle and build up
...................................................................................................................... Alena 7;
Contributed his quarter to the squad
......................................................................................................................Messi 7,
Played well as usual, but pogba physicality made outplayed
...................................................................................................................... Suarez 6,
Held on to the ball and create good chances
......................................................................................................................
Neymar 7
Scored the winning goal which make the different
......................................................................................................................
Barcelona Subs

Vidal 6, Pique 7, Vermaelen 6,
Digne 6; Roberto 6, Iniesta 7,
Suarez 5; Munir 5, Alcacer 5, Arda 5

Kylian Mbappe - Monaco (£12.2m)
Linked with a world-record move to
Real Madrid, Mbappe has also
attracted interest from Manchester
City and Arsenal.
If he moved to England, the France
international would immediately
crack the top five most expensive
Fantasy Football forwards.
The most prolific teenager across
Europe's top five leagues last
season, Mbappe would cost £0.4m
more than compatriot Alexandre
Lacazette.
That's despite the former Lyon man
being involved in a goal every 88
minutes, compared to Mbappe's
101.
....................................................................................................................
Alvaro Morata (£12.2m) and Harry
Kane (£12.9m) also registered better
minutes-per-goal averages, but 18-
year-old Mbappe would bring an
unrivalled minutes per goal/assist
ratio - scoring or providing an assist
every 66 minutes.
....................................................................................................................
Neymar - Barcelona (£13m)
Neymar is also being linked with a
record-breaking move this summer
and a projected Fantasy Football
value of £13m would make him the
most expensive in the game - a
shade ahead of Kane at £12.9m.
Kane out-scored Neymar last
season, but the Brazil forward was
one of only eight players in Europe's
top five leagues to hit double
figures for goals and assists -
something only managed in the
Premier League by Alexis Sanchez
(£12.7m).
Neymar also completed the most
dribbles (166) across the five
leagues and hit the top 10 for
chances created - stats that suggest
he would be one of the game's top
scorers.
....................................................................................................................
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid
(£13.3m)
It's no surprise that Ronaldo would
be Sky Sports Fantasy Football's
most expensive player if
Manchester United were to
complete a sensational swoop for
his services - having the highest
projected value of all global
superstars.
Injuries last season meant the four-
time Ballon d'Or winner had his
worst scoring season since 2009/10,
but his 25-goal haul was still the
third best in La Liga and would have
put him behind only Kane in the
Premier League.
That return - and his total of six
assists - was the same as former
Everton man Romelu Lukaku
(£12.4m), but Ronaldo registered his
in over 700 fewer minutes than the
Belgian, justifying his greater price
tag.
Cristiano Ronaldo guarantees goals
in the Premier League
....................................................................................................................
Lionel Messi - Barcelona (£13.3m)
Sky Sports Fantasy Football sits on
the fence in the Messi v Ronaldo
debate, with the Argentine also
priced at £13.3m.
Across Europe's top five leagues,
Messi was last year's top scorer (37)
and he also registered an
unbeatable ratio of 61 minutes per
goal or assist.
However, the Argentina star has yet
to feature in the Premier League, so
Sky Sports Fantasy Football refrains
from pricing him higher than
Ronaldo.
....................................................................................................................
Luis Suarez - Barcelona (£13.1m)
Luis Suarez would be Sky Sports
Fantasy Football's most expensive
player if he returned to England.
Like Neymar, Suarez also
contributed double figures for goals
and assists last season, though his
tally of 28 goals and 13 assists was
some distance ahead of the
Brazilian's 13 and 10.
Having lit up the league in the past,
....................................................................................................................
Gareth Bale - Real Madrid (£11.9m)
Another proven player in the
Premier League, Bale's name is
regularly linked with a move to
United.
Injuries limited the Wales
international to seven goals and two
assists last season, but in 2015-16,
his 19 goals and 10 assists - from
only 23 games - forced Ronaldo to
share the Bernabeu limelight.
Having claimed three Champions
League winners' medals and a La
Liga title since leaving Spurs, Bale
would return to the Premier League
as the most expensive midfielder,
edging Eden Hazard by £0.1m.
Gareth Bale would be more
expensive than Eden Hazard if the
Wales international returned
The best of the rest
At the other end of the pitch,
Gianluigi Buffon would be Fantasy
Football's most expensive
goalkeeper if he swapped Italy for
England (£8m).
....................................................................................................................
Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer is
the only 'keeper who tops that
valuation, with his £8.2m price tag
the result of a higher saves-per-goal
ratio and more accurate
distribution.
....................................................................................................................
Meanwhile, Chelsea's Cesar
Azpilicueta (£10.3m) is currently the
game's most expensive defender,
but that would be eclipsed by Real
Madrid's seven-goal centre-back
.....................................................................................................................Sergio Ramos (£10.5m) if he entered
the game.
That's despite Azpilicueta's far
Ramos made some superior defensive stats -
committing the least defensive
errors, making more interceptions
and clearances, winning more
headers and winning more than
double the number of tackles.

Mourinho admits transfer window is crazy Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is convinced the transfer window is out of control, because of the large sums of money Premier League clubs are throwing about. With the new money coming in from the Premier League TV deal, clubs have been able to spend freely. Mourinho has been quick to recognise the business rival outfits have spent, but admitted the window has become ‘out of control’. “I think some clubs obviously they are paying too much,” Mourinho said. “And by paying too much they create a very strange and out of control market but this is the reality now.”

EjimaQuintana:
who diz one epp

go ask danilo now, na him talk am

Man City are planing to hijack move for Real Madrid target Mbappe Manchester City are in advanced talks with Monaco to sign Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappe. Real are said to be in pole position to sign the France international despite Monaco denying that an agreement was in place for him to move to the Bernabeu in a world- record £161million deal. However, The Daily Mirror say City are trying to hijack their move for Mbappe. It is said chief executive Ferran Soriano is in talks with Monaco vice- president Vadim Vasilyev about brokering a deal to bring the youngster to the Etihad. And they are confident of beating Real to his signature as they look to take their summer spending to the £350m barrier.

Danilo revealed he snubbed Chelsea on favour of a move to Manchester City due to the influence of Pep Guardiola. Speaking at an event to launch City’s joint venture with Goals Soccer Centres in Los Angeles, Danilo said: "It wasn't a difficult decision to choose City over Chelsea. "It was very fast. I was training with Real Madrid and Pep called me and I was very motivated to make this change and start to work with him. "Zidane tried to make me stay but I was sure I needed to change. I needed to think a bit more about myself and find a place where I had more options."

Lol!!!!! Strange but true
No english dictionary has been able to explain the different between the two words, FINISHED & COMPLETE. Some people even testify that there is no difference, but let wake up and face the reality!!!! The different is clear ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ When you marry the right woman,you are COMPLETELTY fine, but when you marry the wrong woman you are FINISHED!!! In exam hall,you don't know the answer but, a friend beside you knows the answer, you are COMPLETELY fine,but when you entered a bus and it your turn to pay, unfortunately you can't find your wallet, you are FINISHED. When your girlfriend knows her boundary and does not request for expensive items, you are COMPLETELY fine, But if she keeps requesting for ......................... ......................... ......................... IPHONE8 Guy just know that you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!!! You better know the difference now!!

Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon
Club moved from: Parma
Club moved to: Juventus
Transfer fee: €52 million
The Italian became the most
expensive goalkeeper in the
history of the game in 2001 as
he moved from Parma to
Juventus.........
........................
Right-back
Kyle Walker
Club moved from: Tottenham
Hotspur
Club moved to: Manchester
City
Transfer fee: €57 million
Walker became the most
expensive right-back of all-time
in 2017 as Manchester City
paid Spurs their asking price in
order to secure the services of
the Sheffield-born England
international.
He was one of the three full-
backs to create five assists in
the Premier League in 2016/17
– no other defender created
more.................
..........................
Centre-back
John Stones
Club moved from: Everton
Club moved to: Manchester
City
Transfer fee: €55.6 million
Another Manchester City
signing to top the charts in
their respective position,
Stones is regarded as the most
elegant defensive talent of his
generation in England, and
that’s why he was signed up for
a record-breaking sum in 2016
as the Pep Guardiola era began
at the Etihad Stadium..............
..................................................
Centre-back
David Luiz
Club moved from: Chelsea
Club moved to: Paris Saint-
Germain
Transfer fee: €49.5 million
In 2014, David Luiz left Chelsea
for PSG, three-and-a-half years
after he joined the Blues in a
€25 million move from Benfica,
with Nemanja Matic going the
other way. The Serbian
midfielder would return to
Stamford Bridge in January
2014 with the Brazilian making
his own way back to west
London in the summer of 2016
as a last ditch deadline day
signing.................................
.............................................
Left-back
Benjamin Mendy
Club moved from: Monaco
Club moved to: Manchester
City
Transfer fee: €58.1 million
A teenage prodigy who first
made his name with Le Havre
and Marseille before moving to
Monaco to win the Ligue 1 title
and reach the final four of the
Champions League in 2016/17,
Manchester City set a new
record for a fee paid for a
defender in 2017 when they
signed him up in the summer
of 2017...................................
...............................................
Defensive midfielder
Tiemoue Bakayoko
Club moved from: Monaco
Club moved to: Chelsea
Transfer fee: €45 million
Monaco’s combative ball-
winner, who added an extra
layer of steel to Monaco’s silky
midfield play to help them to
win the Ligue 1 title in 2017,
Bakayoko became the most
expensive defensive midfielder
ever when he moved to
Chelsea ahead of the 2017/18
season. More than a destroyer,
he was second only to
Bernardo Silva for completed
take ons for his team in the
French top flight in 2016/17.
..............................................
Central midfielder
Paul Pogba
Club moved from: Juventus
Club moved to: Manchester
United
Transfer fee: €105 million
The most expensive footballer
of all-time, Pogba returned to
United in a record-breaking
deal in 2016 after leaving the
club as a youngster in 2012 to
win four Serie A titles and the
Coppa Italia with Juventus. He
was the most creative player in
Jose Mourinho’s squad in his
first season back in Manchester
following his return and won
the EFL Cup and Europa
League in 2017.....................
..............................................
Attacking midfielder
James Rodriguez
Club moved from: Monaco
Club moved to: Real Madrid
Transfer fee: €79.8 million
The Colombian is one of the
most marketable players on
the planet and after winning
the Golden Ball award at the
2014 World Cup, Real Madrid
splurged on the Monaco to
playmaker to bring him to the
Bernabeu, a year after the
Ligue 1 club paid Porto €45
million for his services – the
second highest transfer fee in
Portuguese football history.
Yet while he arrived in Spain
amid great fanfare, he lost his
place in the team under
Zinedine Zidane and was
allowed to leave on-loan to join
Bayern Munich in 2017 in a
deal that could see him sign for
the German club on a
permanent basis once his two-
year stay in Bavaria comes to
an end....................................
................................................
Right wing
Gareth Bale
Club moved from: Tottenham
Hotspur
Club moved to: Real Madrid
Transfer fee: €100 million
The most expensive British
footballer in football history,
Bale broke the world transfer
record when he left Spurs for
Real Madrid in 2013 to become
one of the most decorated
players ever.
In his four seasons in La Liga
he has won three Champions
League trophies, the Spanish
league title, the Copa Del Rey
and the Club World Cup in
2014...........................................
...................................................
Left wing
Cristiano Ronaldo
Club moved from: Manchester
United
Club moved to: Real Madrid
Transfer fee: €94 million
The world’s most expensive
player prior to Bale and
Pogba’s moves to Real Madrid
and Manchester United,
respectively, Ronaldo left Old
Trafford for the Bernabeu in
2009 after winning every prize
on offer to him in England,
including three Premier League
titles and the Champions
League in 2008.
In Spain, he found himself up
against Lionel Messi and
Barcelona, creating one of the
greatest rivalries in the history
of sport as the Portuguese
forward and his Argentinian
contemporary pushed each
other to ever higher levels of
performance. On the European
stage, it is Ronaldo who takes
the plaudits as a goalscorer
with an unbeaten record of 105
goals in 140 Champions League
games.........................................
...................................................
Striker
Gonazlo Higuain
Club moved from: Napoli
Club moved to: Juventus
Transfer fee: €90 million
The Argentinian left Napoli in
controversial circumstances in
2016 after Juventus triggered
his release clause, instantly
turning the striker from a local
favourite to a figure of hate.
No stranger to big transfer
fees, he left Real Madrid for
the club that Diego Maradona
lead to greatness and glory in
2013 after six-and-a-half years
in Spain.
In the 2015/16 season, he
scored 36 league goals to end
the campaign as Serie top
scorer, equalling a 87-year
record for goals scored in an
Italian top flight season,
triggering Juventus’ interest in
breaking Napoli hearts to sign
Higuain.

Sergio Romero is desperate for David De Gea to stay at Manchester United — even if that means his chances of first team football are greatly diminished. Real Madrid are keen to bring De Gea back to Spain and are prepared to pay up to £50million for the former Atletico man. Concerns over De Gea's future have led United to arrange a new four- year deal for Romero, who is in line to become No.1 if his team- mate leaves. Romero, though, says he would prefer his 'friend' to stay at old Trafford. "Since I came to this team, I said I need to compete with David because in that way we can keep the competition level high," Romero told ESPN. "I don't want him to leave. We are friends. And if he stays here, it will help me to be better." Despite being second choice under Jose Mourinho, Romero did get a taste of first team action last season in the Europa League. Speaking about his role in the club's European success, he added: "I was not surprised at all because I knew I could help the team, not just on the pitch but on different levels. I think I proved I can be useful in games like that. "Last season was great. It was spectacular the way we finished. But I think this is just a kickoff on my part because I want to prove that I belong to this team and I can do great things for this organisation."

Lukaku or Morata? Let’s see what the numbers say.
Finishing On a basic level, over the past three seasons, Lukaku has scored more goals per 90 minutes than Morata – 0.51 against 0.33 for the Spaniard – although the 2016/17 was different. Used as an impact sub off the bench, the Real Madrid attacker actually out- scored the Belgian with 1.01 goals per 90 versus 0.69. In the box, the Everton striker was still more efficient, however. He converted 30% of his shots in the area. Morata managed to convert 27.08%. Over the past three seasons, Lukaku has taken more shots in total too – 3.22 per 90 versus 2.17, or 2.22 on target against 1.40. He has the variety too, with 11 headed goals, 15 off his right and 27 off his left in the league since August 2014. When it comes to finishing, it has to be the Belgian. Round one: Lukaku
Hold up play The Spaniard is without doubt the superior option when it comes to playing with his back to goal. Lukaku prefers to get a run on defences, whereas Morata has shown his value as a centre-forward who can bring others into play, especially during his two year stint at Juventus. However, the statistics paint a more complex picture that might otherwise be assumed. Over the past three years, Morata has drawn more fouls per 90 than Lukaku (1.90 versus 0.80) and done more when it comes to defensive work, winning tackles and making interceptions (0.81 against 0.23), while the Belgian has actually created more chances (1.30 to 1.03 for the Spaniard) and completed more passes in the final third (10.04 to 6.96). Despite the Real Madrid attacker recording more assists per 90 (0.26 to 0.16), Lukaku has actually played more through balls too – 20 in total, or 0.19 per 90, to three for Morata, or 0.07. Even so, these numbers must be considered in the context of each players’ respective styles of play and performances. There is no doubt that for Everton, Lukaku is more than a goalscorer, but he is a striker that plays on the run, forcing defenders to back track, and benefits from being the sole focal point of how the Toffees play. Morata on the other hand, in spite of his own heroics as a finisher for Madrid, is a footballer who in Italy showed a greater aptitude for holding play up in the final third for others.
Round two: Morata
Movement Here, Lukaku comes into his own. Not only has he shown his ability to pop up in dangerous areas more often than Morata, taking 0.65 shots from “big chances” – situations in which a player finds themselves in a position to shoot from very close range or with only the ‘keeper to beat – over the past three seasons, he has also taken carved out 20 goal- scoring opportunities on the counter-attack, or 0.19 per 90. Morata, meanwhile, has averaged 0.37 “big chances” and 0.07 chances on the counter per 90, although unleashed off the bench and in a more aggressive role for Madrid last season, the Spaniard actually took on more “big chances” (1.01 per 90 to 0.66) than the Belgian. He is no slouch. Yet it is the intelligence of Lukaku’s movement, and awareness of which gaps to hit, that have set helped to set him apart as a striker worth investing in. Due to his height, he is wrongly regarded as a target man. Early and inaccurate descriptions of the Belgian as “the new Drogba” hardly helped him either. He is effectively an extra large poacher who excels at dropping off his markers, peeling away to the flanks or lingering around the box in order to arriving in the sort of areas defenders don’t want him to be in, coming from an angle that they can’t deal with. Round three: Lukaku
Duels A category in which the Belgian just about pips his rival. With his quick feet, he can turn defenders inside out to force back lines to implode, and completed 1.74 take ons per 90 last season (1.18 in the final third) compared to 1.48 (1.08) for Morata. Over the past three seasons, it’s a similar story: 1.44 (1.00) for Lukaku, 1.27 (0.79) for the Spaniard. In the air, it’s closer still, although not in the way that may be obvious. While the Everton striker rules over Morata through the sheer number of aerial duels won (2.81 versus 0.85 over the last three seasons) for success rate, the Spaniard shows the value of quality, over quantity, completing 46.99% of his headers to 39.97% for Lukaku. Yet playing up top for United, in front of a midfield primed with playmakers ready to unleash a centre-forward capable of taking teams on as well as taking their chances, surely it’s the Belgian who stands out here.
Round four: Lukaku
Big moments In the common parlance of modern football, the question is which striker is the true clutch player out of Lukaku and Morata? The Spaniard’s record is hard to beat. He has already scored more Champions League goals than Diego Costa, and in 2015 found the back of the net in both of the semi-finals and in the final against Barcelona for Juventus. Last season in La Liga, only Lionel Messi and Neymar scored more goals in the last 10 minutes of games than the Real Madrid striker. Lukaku can be the man of the moment too, however. No player scored more goals from “big chances” in the Premier League last season. He was tied with Harry Kane on 18. The Belgian also topped the charts for goals in the final 10 minutes of action too, with nine – five more than Morata managed in Spain. Against tired legs, his underrated dribbling abilities, movement and capacity to catch teams on the break cannot be dismissed. Still, due to his greater experience of European football in the Champions League, and a record of delivering when it matters – Morata scored three goals in four games at Euro 2016, compared to two in five for Lukaku – the Spaniard takes the plaudits when the crunch hits.
Round five: Morata
Conclusion Neither player is a perfect replacement to Ibrahimovic. They each have their own charms and profiles as centre- forwards, yet with three categories to two, it is the Belgian that comes out on top in a head-to-head comparison with the Spaniard.
Final results Romelu Lukaku – three categories out of five Alvaro Morata – two categories out of five Winner: Romelu Lukaku

Congratulations

Pep Guardiola is struggling to offload his Manchester City rejects, writes David McDonnell in Houston. City are trying to jettison up to seven members of Guardiola’s squad to raise funds and make way for new arrivals. Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho have all been told they can go as they do not fit in with Guardiola’s plans going forward. City value the seven players at a combined total of around £150million, but are struggling to get anywhere near that amount for them because there is such little interest in the Etihad outcasts. England No.1 Hart was valued at £25m by City, but has joined West Ham on a season-long loan with a view to making the move permanent for just £10m next summer. Young striker Iheanacho, another player the Blues rate at £25m, is expected to join Leicester for only £15m, while defender Mangala, bought for £42m three years ago, is in talks over a move to French side Lyon for less than half that amount. Attacking midfielder Nasri, who spent last season on loan at Sevilla, has been included for City’s pre- season tour of the US so he can gain fitness and match sharpness, making it more likely they will be able to sell him before the August 31 deadline.
Mangala has also travelled to the US - where City open their tour on Thursday (early Friday morning, UK time) with a derby clash against Manchester United in Houston, Texas — despite almost completing a move to Lyon last month. Nasri is valued at £10m, while fellow Frenchman Mangala — who was also loaned to La Liga last season, with Sevilla — now has a price-tag of £18m. Iheanacho, fellow striker Bony, who barely played for Stoke during last season's year-long loan, and England midfielder Delph have all been left behind to train in Manchester — and work on finding themselves new clubs. Midfielder Fernando has also been exiled, with City having wanted to get rid of him since the end of last season. Blues chiefs are desperate to raise revenue from the sales of the seven men Guardiola has deemed surplus to requirements, while also getting them off the wage bill.

Manchester City's Pep Guardiola starts US tour with excess baggage problem as he can't sell SEVEN unwanted stars City have now offloaded Hart but only as a loan that may lead to selling for just £10m "I've always loved the club. It's got something about it — a lot of history" says Hart as he joins West Ham Iheanacho is a Leicester target, but the Blues will struggle to get the £25m they want Transfer news live!

Wenger was quizzed on Sanchez’s future after the Chile star admitted he wants to play Champions League football next season
Alexis Sanchez was has been told if he wants to play in the Champions League then he must help get Arsenal back in it. Arsene Wenger could not have been more clear in his response to striker Sanchez’s comments that he wants to play in Europe’s top competition. Manchester City have been courting Sanchez and were given major encouragement after the Chile star admitted he wants to quit to play Champions League football. Sanchez’s remarks clearly annoyed Wenger, whose response was so strong that he risks major embarrassment if he does not keep his promise. Gunners boss Wenger said: “The decision has been made and we will stick to that. The decision is not to sell. I have not spoken to him (since the interview). But I can only reiterate what I have said before (he will not be sold).” It was a strong rebuff with a clear message that he must accept his share of the blame for Arsenal not getting into the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. But also a warning that Arsenal will not be bullied into selling their star striker even though he has only one year left on his contract and it could cost them more than £50m if they let him go for free next summer. Wenger said: “We played 20 years in the Champions League, that’s 17 years before Sanchez arrived and three years with him so he can get us back in there.
“The main focus for us is to concentrate on the Premier League and the Premier League for me today is more important than the Champions League. We rested players sometimes in the group stages of the Champions League for the Premier League, so that’s become the biggest importance for us.” Wenger has, of course, laid down the law to players previously, promising not to sell Robin van Persie - and ended up flogging him to Manchester United in 2012. The Frenchman was even stronger in 2011 when he admitted that Arsenal “could not be considered a big club” if they sold Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. And ended up selling them both a few weeks later and denying he ever made the remarks. These ones were said in front of TV cameras ahead of Arsenal’s pre- season friendly with Bayern Munich in Shanghai and if they do end up losing Sanchez then they will come back to haunt him. The thought of losing Sanchez to a Premier League rival - like Manchester City or Chelsea - would be devastating for Arsenal fans and they will find it hard to forgive if Wenger goes back on his word. But Wenger insists this time it will be different from the past because Sanchez is a different case from van Persie who also had a year left, Arsenal did not want to sell to a Premier League rival and it was also a saga which lasted all summer. Wenger said: “Every case is different, Van Persie was going from 30 to 31, when he left he had one year on his contract. Sanchez is younger.” Wenger also played down the importance of the Champions League - and insisted he could not understand Sanchez’s remarks. “No, not really,” said Wenger. “We have a group of players with top quality. After that, you look in the Premier League in the last two years. “The last two champions - Chelsea and Leicester - have not played in Europe at all. We have to focus on the Premier League and prepare well. “When you play in the Champions League, everyone says: ‘Is that all you do?’ Suddenly when you don’t play in there, it becomes a major problem. At the end of the season, only one team can win the Champions League and all the teams move out of it. “We have to focus on the competitions we play in and prepare seriously for that. We can’t feel sorry for what we do not play.” Arsene Wenger certain Alexis Sanchez will not be sold - 'The decision has been made and we will stick to it' THIS IS WHY CITY WANT TO SIGN SANCHEZ Wenger is currently away with his squad on tour Transfer news live!

Reports in Brazil suggested Neymar
has agreed to join PSG but he has
seemingly quashed the claims
Neymar has seemingly dismissed
talk of him joining PSG this
summer.
Reports in Brazil on Tuesday
suggested the Barcelona superstar
was ready to seal a switch to the
French giants.
The former Santos man's release
clause is €222million
(£197.3million), which PSG would
happily pay.
However, Goal reports Neymar has
quashed the suggestions he wants
to leave Barca.
"I am very adapted to the city, the
club and I am happy here," he is
quoted as saying.
"The last one was my best season in
Barcelona. It was the season where
I felt most comfortable.
"We played great games and lived
incredible moments - even though
we didn't win the titles we wanted.
"Now, we need to work for the new
season and it will be even more
positive, individually and as a
group."

Barca officials are confident that
Neymar has no intention of leaving
them. They believe that, like last
summer, Neymar and his camp will
reject overtures from PSG.
"Selling Neymar is not something
the club would think about,"
spokesman Josep Vives said at a
press conference. "We are very
calm.
"He is one of the most important
players we have, we will not
consider any offers we receive for
him."
PSG remain keen on Alexis Sanchez,
despite Arsenal insisting he is not
for sale.

Neymar insists he is
"happy" at Barcelona
amid speculation over
stunning switch to PSG

Neymar to PSG would be a
massive gamble for the player
PIQUE REVEALS THAT
NEYMAR WAS NOT HAPPY
Neymar is currently enjoying
time off before pre-season

Transfer news live!

malificent:
What's our business? Keep advertising her, soon better able bodied men will take her from you

lol, such is life!!!

Most free-kick goals in Europe's top 5 leagues
since 2013/14: Hakan Calhanoglu (11) tops the list with others also making their mark.

Marcus Rashford (L) celebrates with team-mate Juan Mata Marcus Rashford scored twice as Manchester United kicked off their pre- season campaign with a 5-2 victory over LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center. United, who started with new signings Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof on the bench, raced into a three goal first-half lead thanks to Rashford (2, 20) and Marouane Fellaini (26). Both Lukaku and Lindelof made their first appearance in a United shirt after the break as Jose Mourinho changed his whole team and United extended their lead through Henrikh Mkhitaryan (67) and Anthony Martial (72). Giovani dos Santos grabbed two consolation strikes (79, 88) as the hosts finished the game on a high but Mourinho will be satisfied with a workout that allowed him to field two different outfield line-ups and give valuable minutes to most of his squad.

Prechy08:
Am on Using this game as a stat. But lukaku, I still feel Is not Man U suited, he can get missing in some games and score 5 against Small teams

same here, lukaku is not in the class of player united need, let put mourinho to the task, he should convince us, what he saw in him, that made he pay that huge amount for him

jumobi1:
Lindelof was to blame for the two LA goals though. Mensah was poor except for the assist.

yea, but he is still getting used to the team and players

David de Gea – Didn’t have a save to make, but
he distributed the ball out from the back
nicely. 6/10
Antonio Valencia – Bombed down the right-
hand side for the duration. Caused LA plenty of
problems. 7/10
Phil Jones – Nice to see the Englishman back
playing again. He didn’t have much to do, but
when called upon he dealt with any danger.
6/10
Chris Smalling – Played as the middle centre-
back meaning he had to cover both sides.
Looked sharp, won plenty of aerial duels and
played confidently. 6/10
Daley Blind – One of the quieter games he’ll
have. The Dutchman just wasn’t tested
defensively, and he picked out some nice
passes going forward. 6/10
Marouane Fellaini – Scored a well-worked
team goal. Won the midfield battle due to his
combative and front-footed style of play. 6/10
Michael Carrick – Friendly or not, Michael
Carrick oozes class. He always picks the right
pass that opens up the opposing defence. 7/10
Ander Herrera – Played with his usual energy
albeit only a friendly. Linked up nicely with the
front trio. 6/10
Juan Mata – The footballing IQ on this man is
insane. He seems to be one step ahead of the
game and some of the passes he picks out are
brilliant. 8/10
Jesse Lingard – Was involved in some nice
moves with excellent bits of passing play. He’s a
talented boy, but I’d like to see more end
product. 5/10
Marcus Rashford – Scored a couple of cracking
goals, then missed the easiest chance of the lot
to complete his hat-trick.8/10
Subs:
Joel Pereira – Had to pick the ball out of his
net a couple of times. 5/10
Eric Bailly – Didn’t really get tested at all. Was
allowed to pick passes without any pressure
and did so relatively well. 6/10
Victor Lindelof – Now we know why they call
him the ‘Iceman’. Cool, calm and collected in
possession and he loves to bomb forward
where possible. 7/10
Axel Tuanzebe – This young man has bags of
talent. His pace helped him keep up with the
opposition’s speedy forwards. 6/10
Tim Fosu-Mensah – Played as a right-back, and
looked well suited to the role. Picked up an
excellent assist. 6/10
Matteo Darmian – His usual self. Solid
defensively but rather limited going forward.
6/10
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Glides past players so
beautifully. Scored a wonderful goal and caused
LA Galaxy all sorts of problems. 8/10
Paul Pogba – What a player. This man can do it
all. Some of the passes he finds are out of this
world. 8/10
Andreas Pereira – Nice to see the young man
in action. He played in a deeper role and
absolutely bossed it. 7/10
Anthony Martial – He looked great. Scored a
lovely team goal and was involved in
everything good about our attacking play. 8/10
Romelu Lukaku – Could have scored with his
first touch but it wasn’t to be today. His hold-up
play was pretty good, and the strength and
power he possesses is just insane. 6/10

flames007:
Nope.water can't expire nah. Although it can be unfit for consumption under certain conditions. Lemme ask you:would you still drink bottled water that has been stored for lyk six month? I'm sure you wouldn't want to try it,huh?

now u are coming from my point of view, that does not mean that water expire generally now, the same water our ancestors drank for years, but now civilisation has make it look as if water will expire generally.

Manchester City are delighted to announce the signing of England international Kyle Walker. The right-back joins from Tottenham on a five-year deal and has opted to take the number two shirt. He becomes City’s third signing of the summer, following in the footsteps of Bernardo Silva and Ederson. “I am thrilled to be signing for City and can’t wait to get started,” Walker said. “Pep Guardiola is one of the most respected managers in the world and I feel he can help me take my game to a new level.” Txiki Begiristain, the Club’s Director of Football, added: “Kyle is a fine full-back, one capable of producing quality at both ends of the pitch. “We’ve followed his progress at Tottenham and have been really impressed by how he has developed. He is now one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and justifiably an England regular. “I am sure he will be a success at Manchester City this season and beyond.” Walker began his career at Sheffield United, where he spent a short period on loan at Northampton before returning to Bramall Lane and impressing in the final few games of the season 2008-09 season as the Blades made the Championship playoffs. The 27-year-old signed for Tottenham that summer and was immediately loaned back to Sheffield United as part of the deal to ensure his progress continued. But after impressing in the opening months of the 2009/10 season, he was recalled to Spurs and made two senior appearances. Further loan moves followed, to QPR and Aston Villa, in a bid to secure further first- team experience but in 2011 he forced his way into the Spurs side and became their first-choice right-back. In 2012, he was rewarded for a fine season by picking up the PFA Young Player of the Year award and has twice been named in the PFA Team of the Year. He made 228 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, scoring four goals, and last season helped them to second in the table

flames007:
And you don't think the chemical composition of the nylon and bottles could diffuse into the water when they expire?

read that article carefully? So u mean water will expire generally??

flames007:
And you don't think the chemical composition of the nylon and bottles could diffuse into the water when they expire?

come borrow me your own now

Someone told me water can expire?? Can water expire generally