The Hermit Crab
How Romelu Lukaku outgrew Everton.
The mercurial striker Romelu Lukaku has made it known that he will not be renewing his contract at Everton. He’s raised doubts about the ambitions of the club and whether they can match his desires to be remembered as a great player.
“ Everton as a football club has a great history, but the future has to be written. You get me? Because we always talk about the teams of the ’80s and ’70s and if you look it was great but we as players, we want the fans talking about us instead of us talking about them… Instead of living in the past, you have to think ahead,” he added. “How this club has to grow, how this club has to improve, which player does it want to bring in so you can challenge for the big trophies… sometimes I will speak to Vincent Kompany who was at [Manchester] City when it all happened. He said, ‘Rom, one summer I just came in and boom, boom, boom, boom … Robinho from there, that guy came in, this guy came in, this guy came in and then everyone was criticizing them but at the end, they had league titles, FA Cup here, League Cups there.”
You can’t fault Lukaku for having ambition and wanting to be a legendary player. Romelu has been having another masterful season leading the line for the Toffees, but is looking up at a seemingly impenetrable Top 6, much less Top 4. Manchester United hasn’t lost in the league since October and still remains locked in 6th place despite the staggering talent infusion in the summer. Lukaku knows that Everton couldn’t dream of matching United’s ability to secure talent and if even they are struggling to work their way up the table, Everton is going to be hard pressed to find the resources necessary to reach Lukaku’s desires.
This, of course, is a shame for Everton who are having a great season and have improved tactically under Ronald Koeman. The Toffees are now a seriously talented squad and with a couple years of development and the right breaks, you could see Everton pushing to challenge for top 4. The problem is Lukaku is 23 and like most 23 year olds, he isn’t interested in the long game. He’s tired of going to international duty and while his teammates are talking about playing in the Champions League and lifting trophies, he’s bragging about a hatty vs. West Brom.
The hermit crab has outgrown his once useful and trusty shell. A newer, shiny shell with TV advertisements and giant billboards awaits. Circle of life, innit?
