[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[vintageadidas]

He is DOG SH1TE - simple as! Offers nothing to the team.

And yes, Roberts and Benjani do.

[Baz]

Did his usual of giving the ball away and falling over a lot.

Feel sorry for the guy, but he's obviously not up to it.

Didnt see a reason to change it up front. Thought we were causing City a few problems.

[modes98]

Great how people slam our top scorer who has had 20mins on the pitch in the last 6 or 7 games. Pathetic.

If we actually bothered to play the guy then he would get up his form. Benjani played well in the sense that he did nothing to threaten the goal. At least Roberts had a shot.

You want goals then start Kalinic, do not start Benjani.

[Baz]

Great how people slam our top scorer who has had 20mins on the pitch in the last 6 or 7 games. Pathetic.

If we actually bothered to play the guy then he would get up his form. Benjani played well in the sense that he did nothing to threaten the goal. At least Roberts had a shot.

You want goals then start Kalinic, do not start Benjani.

7 league goals in (nearly) 2 seasons Kalinic?

[sambo]

He is DOG SH1TE - simple as! Offers nothing to the team.

And yes, Roberts and Benjani do.

And Roberts isn't? 1 goal in 19. Niko has 4 in 6. Strikers are there to score goals.

Putting 'simple' doesn't make you right.

[Exiled_Rover]

The lad doesn't bag goals for his country for no reason. He has class.

[Baz]

The lad doesn't bag goals for his country for no reason. He has class.

What he does at international level has no bearing on anything.

He's scored 7 league goals in nearly 2 full seasons at Ewood, that isnt good enough. If he was good enough he would be playing every week.

At international level:

Roberts 12 goals in 22 games

Benjani 29 goals in 44 games

[tony gale's mic]

What he does at international level has no bearing on anything.

He's scored 7 league goals in nearly 2 full seasons at Ewood, that isnt good enough. If he was good enough he would be playing every week.

At international level:

Roberts 12 goals in 22 games

Benjani 29 goals in 44 games

That doesn't tell the whole story.

Last season he arrived as a 21 year old fresh from the Croatian League which is both of a much lower standard and a different style to the Premier League. Of course he was going to take a season to adapt.

He's scored 5 goals in 17 this season which is respectable, 4 in 6 before this 20 minute cameo and a goal around every 170 minutes overall.

Statistics mean very little without context.

[Baz]

That doesn't tell the whole story.

Last season he arrived as a 21 year old fresh from the Croatian League which is both of a much lower standard and a different style to the Premier League. Of course he was going to take a season to adapt.

He's scored 5 goals in 17 this season which is respectable, 4 in 6 before this 20 minute cameo and a goal around every 170 minutes overall.

Statistics mean very little without context.

Totally agree on statistics. Funny how you use them for your argument, but dont want them when they are against it though.

I base my opinion on his all-round game, where I see a player who has poor technique, no pace, cant hold the ball-up and bring others into the game, cant head the ball, doesnt have a good shot.

The only argument I've seen is that he's a good finisher, which given Keans admission they have been training him shooting into an empty net, surely seems mis-guided now too?

Some people see class, I see a guy playing at a level he's not capable at.

[tony gale's mic]

Totally agree on statistics. Funny how you use them for your argument, but dont want them when they are against it though.

I base my opinion on his all-round game, where I see a player who has poor technique, no pace, cant hold the ball-up and bring others into the game, cant head the ball, doesnt have a good shot.

The only argument I've seen is that he's a good finisher, which given Keans admission they have been training him shooting into an empty net, surely seems mis-guided now too?

Some people see class, I see a guy playing at a level he's not capable at.

I've accounted for his poor stats for last season though - to expect a 21 year old to come straight from the Croatian League and start scoring goals in the PL is asking too much.

I see a guy who's been putting the ball in the net this season at a much better rate than any of our other strikers - and as such should have been given much more of a chance these last few months.

[den]

I see a guy who's been putting the ball in the net this season at a much better rate than any of our other strikers - and as such should have been given much more of a chance these last few months.

7 PL goals in two years don't suggest Niko is any great striking talent though. How many of those goals were great finishing and how many were rolled into an empty net? He hasn't been playing regualrly Mr Microphone, because he's been poor and he's been dropped.

[Baz]

I've accounted for his poor stats for last season though...

I see a guy who's been putting the ball in the net this season at a much better rate than any of our other strikers

So your using stats again? :-)

putting the ball in the net this season at a much better rate than any of our other strikers - 5 league goals is hardly a good rate for anyone though. As for the lack of games, I think thats down more to the fact his all-round game is so poor it doesnt make up for a marginally better goal scoring record. The only game I've seen him play, where I though he did well, was away to West Brom, and he got sent off for a stupid challenge and wasnt available for 3 games after that.

I understand that our other strikers arent really scoring, but I do think they are as likely to score, and have a better all-round game.

[RevidgeBlue]

Kalinic was terrible lsst night, at least Roberts and Benjani were a physical handful whilst they were on the pitch. Far from adapting to the English game Kalinic's game seems to be going backwards to the point where he seems to have enough trouble staying on his feet, let alone scoring a goal.

It's a shame because he's young, cost 6m, and none of the other strikers appear to have a goal in them either. It's immensely frustrating, pity the forwards aren't on a "pay as you score" contract, they might shape themselves a bit better then,

[gumboots]

I've accounted for his poor stats for last season though - to expect a 21 year old to come straight from the Croatian League and start scoring goals in the PL is asking too much.

I see a guy who's been putting the ball in the net this season at a much better rate than any of our other strikers - and as such should have been given much more of a chance these last few months.

Whatever you see, the criticism of "he can't hit a barndoor with a banjo" came from one of the men charged with keeping the ball out of our net, and i'd take his opinion over yours every day.

[daveoftherovers]

Kalinic was terrible lsst night, at least Roberts and Benjani were a physical handful whilst they were on the pitch. Far from adapting to the English game Kalinic's game seems to be going backwards to the point where he seems to have enough trouble staying on his feet, let alone scoring a goal.

It's a shame because he's young, cost 6m, and none of the other strikers appear to have a goal in them either. It's immensely frustrating, pity the forwards aren't on a "pay as you score" contract, they might shape themselves a bit better then,

Rev, I think you're being a bit harsh their, he clearly has a confidence problem, some of it of his own making (Getting sent off after scoring twice) and falling out with the manager (Potentially) so therefore being dropped, however, he is the ONLY striker we have that "Gambles" and we need that, because the others just don't do it do they?

Last night for example? How many times did we win a knock down in their box only to find our strikers were static and not running into the danger area? Their movement was rubbish, especially when you take into account that citeh were using this zonal rubbish...

I think if he has a run in the team he will deliver, and he is better than our other offerings (IMO) where I think perhaps we could agree is that he needs a fast striking partner?

[tony gale's mic]

Whatever you see, the criticism of "he can't hit a barndoor with a banjo" came from one of the men charged with keeping the ball out of our net, and i'd take his opinion over yours every day.

Because the rest of our strikers are so clinical...

[Torgeir]

Kalinic proved once again last night that he is not an impact player.

[heysham rover]

I have always tried to be positive about Kalinic and looked at his all round game. At times his link play and passing has been half decent. I thought last night he was terrible, the game changed for the worse when he came on. Although not prolific Benjani and Roberts worked hard in defending from the front, giving our bank of 4 time to regroup and defend as a unit.

As soon as Kalinic came on the ball just came straight back at us due to his inability to hold the ball up, retain possession and make a pass. I can see why he has been dropped after last nights showing to be honest.

[gumboots]

Because the rest of our strikers are so clinical...

Of course they haven't been which is why you have to see how poor Kalinic must be. I wanted him to do well and wish he was half as good as he seems to be in some people's minds, but at least Benjani offered more all round last night, and although Roberts never looks like scoring, the opposition seem to worry far more about him than our other strikers. As I said, it's opinion and whose you prefer and I prefer that of the guy who told me that's why he's not playing - that's all.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Of course they haven't been which is why you have to see how poor Kalinic must be. I wanted him to do well and wish he was half as good as he seems to be in some people's minds, but at least Benjani offered more all round last night, and although Roberts never looks like scoring, the opposition seem to worry far more about him than our other strikers. As I said, it's opinion and whose you prefer and I prefer that of the guy who told me that's why he's not playing - that's all.

So he can't hit a barn door in training but when he starts club games and plays for his national side he does? I'd play the guy who scores 10 goals a season but hardly scores any in training over someone who scores 40 in a 'five a side kickabout' but scores only a couple in the league every single time.

[chaddyrovers]

strikers are pay to score goals. if you look at Defoe and Bent they score goals and don't do much link up or holding the ball up.

This is why SA wanted Darren Bent before cos he is a finisher

[Neil Weaver]

I have always tried to be positive about Kalinic and looked at his all round game. At times his link play and passing has been half decent. I thought last night he was terrible, the game changed for the worse when he came on. Although not prolific Benjani and Roberts worked hard in defending from the front, giving our bank of 4 time to regroup and defend as a unit.

As soon as Kalinic came on the ball just came straight back at us due to his inability to hold the ball up, retain possession and make a pass. I can see why he has been dropped after last nights showing to be honest.

Agree entirely Heysham. So much so (haven't read the match thread yet) that it was only when Benjani went off that City started playing again in the second half. Incidentally, why did Benjani go off rather than Roberts? Was it just cos of fitness?

Thought it was odd that we started 4-4-2, but if going to start with two strikers would have put money on either Niko or Diouf being one. But hey, it worked OK (apart from neither looked like scoring.......)

[RevidgeBlue]

I'd play the guy who scores 10 goals a season

Eh, Who's that then?

[RibbleValleyRover]

Eh, Who's that then?

You know it was an example:

Player A who scores loads of goals in training but scores hardly any in a competitive format.

Compared to:

Player B who scores goals in the league and at international level but doesn't score for fun in training.

Kean confirmed that Kalinic isn't impressing in training hence why he's not playing, despite scoring goals in the league and at international level at the time when he was binned from the squad.

Kalinic has 6 goals this season, if he had more starts I am pretty confident he would have hit at least 10 goals by the end of the season. More than Jason Roberts I would bet.

[rebelmswar]

Kalinic proved once again last night that he is not an impact player.

A guy with the confidence of a obese woman at an anorexia conference, are you suprised?

Had the impact ability of a sponge at the best of times.