COMMENT: So what is it? Why do so many have it in for Romelu Lukaku. The fans. Well, the boo-boys. That's one thing. But ex-players? Manchester United ex-players? The bias they show against the club's No9 makes no sense...
Just this week, Paul Scholes was at it. Again. Claiming United would not win the League with Lukaku leading the line.
“I'm just not sure you are ever going to win the league with a goal scorer like him," declared Scholes. “I don't think his play outside of the box is good enough."
These words made just days after United's come-from-behind triumph over Newcastle United. A game where United should've gone into the break 2-1 down after Lukaku had produced a cross for Marcus Rashford to somehow fluff a header in front of an open goal. As far "play outside of the box", Lukaku couldn't have done better.
But Scholes has previous. And we're not talking a year back. Try a fortnight. After the Valencia stalemate. Here he was again: “Lukaku's disappointing, his movement is non-existent at the minute. It looks like he needs coaching and telling where to run into."
Hang on. Hang on. The striker who scored 27 goals last season. The one who has hit 20 or more goals in the past four seasons. Who beat Didier Drogba's goalscoring record with 30 games to spare. And who a week before the Los Che stalemate had struck four times in his first five Premier League appearances - plus three times for Belgium. Now he doesn't know what he's doing?
Against such stats. Against such a record. This isn't real criticism. It's clickbait. Point scoring. Is it any wonder the new pastime amongst United players is sharing goof videos of United greats like Scholes? There has to be more to discussing Lukaku's deficiencies than ripping it all up and starting again...
But it's not just on the pitch where Lukaku is copping it. The likeable Gary Pallister turned on the Belgian this week for being "disrespectful" towards the club after talking up a move to Serie A - and potentially Juventus.
Only thing is, Lukaku never actually said such a thing. He was stitched up. And this column must say, Pallister was out of order with his reaction.
"I've not heard that Lukaku story regarding Juventus, but I think it's disrespectful at times if you start mentioning other clubs when you're actually contracted to the club you're at," said Pally.
Whoah. You haven't seen the interview, yet claim Lukaku is insulting United? Knowing full well the headlines it'd generate? C'mon. There's simply no excuse for this.
However it must be said, even if Pallister had read the story, as it was covered in the English press, he's likely to have come to the same conclusion.
Quizzed about a move to Serie A in the future, Lukaku is claimed to have replied: "Why not? I hope it happens."
Thing is, that wasn't the question posed. The real question put to the United striker was if he could see himself playing with his brother Jordan Lukaku, the Lazio fullback, in Italy in the future.
He then went on to talk about Juventus, which United are to face home and away in the Champions League in the coming weeks, and the players they boast. It was a generous interview. Rather than deliver the typical monosyllabic responses of today's pro, Lukaku spoke enthusiastically about Juve and their players - plus his own ambitions with United. The Belgian showing as much passion as any regular fan debating the latest issues around the game. Yet for all that openness and generosity, he gets stitched up and criticised.
As stated, Pallister should know better. He should know that Lukaku cut short his preseason break to answer an SOS from his manager. He should know that Lukaku has never spoken out of turn about Jose Mourinho, the club nor his teammates. He should, as someone clearly close to the club, be judging Lukaku by his actions - not a second hand reference to an interview. And for all that, he should be giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Lukaku goes back to Chelsea on Saturday needing a goal. There's no question about that. But he'll also be able to lean on memories against his old club of arguably his best performance in a United shirt.
A goal down at Old Trafford against the defending champions last season, Lukaku drove United to a 2-1 victory virtually single-handedly. He scored the equaliser. Hit the crossbar with a bicycle kick. Then - just as he did against Newcastle - produced the cross for Jesse Lingard to head home the winner.
Against the champions. With an Antonio Conte team one goal to the good. Lukaku was the inspiration on the day. This was no flat-track bully. He proved he could produce against the odds.
Those ex-pro pundits. Who have been in Lukaku's boots. They'd do well to recall that performance for Saturday's analysis. For his actions. For his record. Romelu Lukaku deserved much better than what he copped this week.