[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[Baz]

We were a better side last season after Fat Benni left. In fact Dunn faded considerably after Christmas but we were still had a much stronger second half.

Where would we have been without Kalinic's extra contributions this season? People criticise him but I count 2 points won with his goal against Everton, one point against City, 2 points with his brace against West Brom..and that's from playing 17 games this season. 5 points is incidentally the same amount of points we gained from Dunny's contributions from open play last season (his penalties won us 6 points).

Hoilett, given plenty of game time last season under Sam didn't really impress, whereas he's matured a lot in his second season and won us quite a few points. So it's swings and roundabouts.

Rovers should employ you as his personal fan club, to give his confidence a boost. You can cheer him hitting the ball into an empty net.

[tony gale's mic]

Be honest tho, you and I would have scored the goals against City and Everton - I can't remember another 2 bloopers like those in my 45 years of watching. And the best part of our season - the last 9 or 10 games - were when we had Roberts up front on his own, which doesn't make him any better than he is this year.

Fat Benni just stood on the penalty spot for the final 4 games would score 2 or 3 and what would we give now for Kuqi's 7, many of them crucial?

City and Everton goals discounted (and the Everton goal was well taken - yes it was a blooper but not every striker would've got into position to score it, he had a split second plus he was a fair way out), he's scored 4 in his previous 6 before his 20 minutes yesterday.

Benni wouldnt keep pace with the City defenders - West Ham have released him and paid him off for a reason. The season Kuqi scored 7, we finished 6th and had Pedersen in prime form, Bentley, Bellamy and Tugay, Steven Reid in his best season...Kuqi would not score 7 this season.

Rovers should employ you as his personal fan club, to give his confidence a boost. You can cheer him hitting the ball into an empty net.

And maybe you could be Roque's cheerleader since he's been getting the games instead. You can cheer him not scoring at all.

[Baz]

If you are going to come out with such rubbish as:

"Where would we have been without Kalinic's extra contributions this season? People criticise him but I count 2 points won with his goal against Everton, one point against City, 2 points with his brace against West Brom..and that's from playing 17 games this season."

...then IMO you are deluded.

To the parts you highlight:

Everton - goalkeeper dropped the ball, he tapped into an empty net.

Man City - Jo Hart ran past the ball, he tapped into an empty net.

West Brom - yes he scored 2, but then got sent off for a stupid challenge - leaving the rest of the team to hang on for the points.

Do you not give credit to defenders, midfielders who defend and create chances, and also say he got lucky for 2 of the 3 goals you quote.

7 league goals in 2 seasons is not good enough for someone who contributes nothing else to the team.

[tony gale's mic]

If you are going to come out with such rubbish as:

"Where would we have been without Kalinic's extra contributions this season? People criticise him but I count 2 points won with his goal against Everton, one point against City, 2 points with his brace against West Brom..and that's from playing 17 games this season."

...then IMO you are deluded.

To the parts you highlight:

Everton - goalkeeper dropped the ball, he tapped into an empty net.

Man City - Jo Hart ran past the ball, he tapped into an empty net.

West Brom - yes he scored 2, but then got sent off for a stupid challenge - leaving the rest of the team to hang on for the points.

Do you not give credit to defenders, midfielders who defend and create chances, and also say he got lucky for 2 of the 3 goals you quote.

7 league goals in 2 seasons is not good enough for someone who contributes nothing else to the team.

And a goal every 170 minutes this season is a good enough statistic (no matter how they were scored) and suggests he should have at least been given a chance between when he was dropped in January and when he resurfaced last night. Doesn't mean he's definitely good enough for the league, but if we're going to drop our only striker who's been putting the ball in the net this season then we'll never find out.

[JAL]

To the parts you highlight:

Everton - goalkeeper dropped the ball, he tapped into an empty net.

Man City - Jo Hart ran past the ball, he tapped into an empty net.

West Brom - yes he scored 2, but then got sent off for a stupid challenge - leaving the rest of the team to hang on for the points.

Do you not give credit to defenders, midfielders who defend and create chances, and also say he got lucky for 2 of the 3 goals you quote.

7 league goals in 2 seasons is not good enough for someone who contributes nothing else to the team.

Thank you Baz hope AndyC reads this about his natural goalscorer.....

If a new man comes in and rejig's the team in which Niko Kalinic will thrive, then fair enough, but as it stands Kalinic should be leaving the club this summer to be replaced by the better player come natural goalscorer.

[Baz]

And a goal every 170 minutes this season is a good enough statistic (no matter how they were scored) and suggests he should have at least been given a chance between when he was dropped in January and when he resurfaced last night. Doesn't mean he's definitely good enough for the league, but if we're going to drop our only striker who's been putting the ball in the net this season then we'll never find out.

If he was good enough, he would have made it into our team easily.

You seem to think its a personal thing between him and Kean, but I dont. I think he hasnt been picked because he's not good enough, the same conclusion that Allardyce had more or less resigned himself too in the end.

[tony gale's mic]

If he was good enough, he would have made it into our team easily.

You seem to think its a personal thing between him and Kean, but I dont. I think he hasnt been picked because he's not good enough, the same conclusion that Allardyce had more or less resigned himself too in the end.

Oh, yes, sorry our master tactician would have picked him.

No other manager in the league would drop a player who'd just scored 4 goals in 6 games, and who had the best scoring rate this season by far of all of his strikers.

Especially when the other strikers were so monumentally poor.

[Baz]

Oh, yes, sorry our master tactician would have picked him.

No other manager in the league would drop a player who'd just scored 4 goals in 6 games, and who had the best scoring rate this season by far of all of his strikers.

Especially when the other strikers were so monumentally poor.

If he was scoring goals in the league regularly, he would be in the team. I doubt a lot about Kean, but even he's not that stupid.

This 4 in 6 rubbish is clouding your judgment - he's scored 7 in 2 seasons, and 5 this season so far. To say thats the best scoring record, is comparing awful with awful. Thats then where you have to go for what they contribute to the team, and that to me is Niko's worst point - he contributes nothing when he doesnt score, and he doesnt score many goals at all. The other strikers all offer something more to the team.

[tony gale's mic]

If he was scoring goals in the league regularly, he would be in the team. I doubt a lot about Kean, but even he's not that stupid.

This 4 in 6 rubbish is clouding your judgment - he's scored 7 in 2 seasons, and 5 this season so far. To say thats the best scoring record, is comparing awful with awful. Thats then where you have to go for what they contribute to the team, and that to me is Niko's worst point - he contributes nothing when he doesnt score, and he doesnt score many goals at all. The other strikers all offer something more to the team.

And last season is clouding your judgement. Would you expect a 21 year old to come in straight from Croatia and be a success in his first season? 5 this season hides the fact he hasnt had enough time on the pitch to score much more. He's had the equivalent of ten 90 minute matches in game time. 5 in 10 is a good record, no?

RSC only ever scored more than 5 league goals once in a season over the last twelve seasons. He's also got zero goals and zero assists in 9 games this season. Yet you have him in your starting line up?

[Baz]

And last season is clouding your judgement. Would you expect a 21 year old to come in straight from Croatia and be a success in his first season? 5 this season hides the fact he hasnt had enough time on the pitch to score much more. He's had the equivalent of ten 90 minute matches in game time. 5 in 10 is a good record, no?

RSC only ever scored more than 5 league goals once in a season over the last twelve seasons. He's also got zero goals and zero assists in 9 games this season. Yet you have him in your starting line up?

I happen to think that 5 goals by the end of April is not a good record, as to why he hasnt played more games, I've answered that more than once.

RSC is not the same quality of player he was when he signed for us, however his allround game is better than Nikos and since neither has a good scoring record, I'd go for the player with more experience, and better all-round play.

[Tom]

On this 4 goals in 6 games, I remember his two against WBA and the one from the massive deflection at villa but what was the other one I can't remember it for some reason.

[tony gale's mic]

I happen to think that 5 goals by the end of April is not a good record, as to why he hasnt played more games, I've answered that more than once.

RSC is not the same quality of player he was when he signed for us, however his allround game is better than Nikos and since neither has a good scoring record, I'd go for the player with more experience, and better all-round play.

All round game?! He's also got 0 assists in 9 games. He's added nothing to the team.

The reason he hasn't been picked is because of our inept manager. Strikers get judged on goals. Niko's scoring record THIS SEASON is acceptable. Roque's isn't.

[Baz]

All round game?! He's also got 0 assists in 9 games. He's added nothing to the team.

The reason he hasn't been picked is because of our inept manager. Strikers get judged on goals. Niko's scoring record THIS SEASON is acceptable. Roque's isn't.

Yes, all round game. Not falling over, passing to the opposition, not contesting headers, controlling the ball, passing to team-mates.

If 5 goals in a season is acceptable to you, then fine, but it isnt to me.

[tony gale's mic]

Yes, all round game. Not falling over, passing to the opposition, not contesting headers, controlling the ball, passing to team-mates.

If 5 goals in a season is acceptable to you, then fine, but it isnt to me.

One goal every 180 minutes is acceptable to me.

0 goals and 0 assists in 9 games isn't.

[USABlue]

If he was good enough, he would have made it into our team easily.

You seem to think its a personal thing between him and Kean, but I dont. I think he hasnt been picked because he's not good enough, the same conclusion that Allardyce had more or less resigned himself too in the end.

Just like that Andrews bloke did so often.

[Brfcrule1]

The major point you lot are missing is one vital ingredient to stay in this league you need goals without them any team would be finished for all Benji's hard work & endeavour Jase Roberts the same & Roque's problems none of them look likely at scoring goals needed to keep us in the division ok Niko might not have a world class scoring record but at least he knows where the net is & you give yourself a chance because the only thing that matters now is to stay in the league & quite frankly after roberts monumental miss last night which even my gran could score has never looked like scoring. At the end of the day hustling & bustling does not win you many points putting the ball in the onion sack that's what wins you points & quite frankly between RSC,Benji,Roberts none look likely to score the goals to keep us in this league.

[Exiled in Toronto]

On this 4 goals in 6 games, I remember his two against WBA and the one from the massive deflection at villa but what was the other one I can't remember it for some reason.

Villa away in the cup. Wasn't it a miscue that fooled Brad?

[Steve Moss]

Anyone who thinks that getting ANY professional player, let alone an international striker who bagged two for Croatia very recently, to shoot into an empty net is beneficial is, IMO, an imbecile and quite clearly totally lacking in the art of psychology and man management.

Rhetoric should been "Niko is busting a gut to get a chance and I feel sure that, given his career record, he will get us goals when called upon".

Build the lad up you clown just as you've built yourself up for Venky's.

I think this is spot on. Whenever Kean opens his mouth I shudder.

It may not have been the wisest thing to say in the press but it's hardly Keans fault that Niko has no strength and Is lacking in many attributes needed for the scrap.

Kalinic: is he the same player that Sam described as a "monster" (referring to his strength) at the beginning of the season? If so, what's changed? Or does Sam know what to say to build confidence and Kean doesn't?

Roberts played best when he was angry at the start of this season.

Which I think is true. Compare his effectiveness when he was ###### at Sam compared to now that he is supposedly part of Kean's senior player advisory committee.

[chris]

Nicko is so unconfident we have him doing extra shoot in a empty net just so he can feel what its like to hit the back of the net again.

And based on this comment, Nicko must be shocking in training games.

[RibbleValleyRover]

And based on this comment, Nicko must be shocking in training games.

Roberts must be like Pele in training.

[John]

Aparently, according to Stevie, all the lads have been looking good and up for it in training.

I can imagine working under the SEM duo Kean/Jensen must be pretty inspiring, coaches who have a track record of excellence.

[Tom]

To be fair what if Niko looks uninterested in training, do you really want someone who isn't really bothered in the midst of a scrap?

I'd rather have Nick Blackman back!

[Gav]

To be fair what if Niko looks uninterested in training, do you really want someone who isn't really bothered in the midst of a srap?

I'd rather have Nick Blackman back!

Even Allardyce alluded to Kalinic not progressing well when he was here, no reason to believe that’s changed.

[LeftWinger]

Roberts must be like Pele in training.

Impotent?

[FourLaneBlue]

It's like watching bald men argue over a hair comb.

None of our permanent strikers are good enough for any team with top 10 aspirations.

Currently, my aspirations are for a top-17 team.