[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[LeChuck]

the tests should have been applied equally to all signings, with the same criteria needed to get through them!!

You have absolutely no idea that this was the case. You don't know what the tests are looking for. I think the only thing we can gather from the tests is that they're looking at long-term suitability as opposed to short term fitness.

Comparing Ghilas to Kalinic makes no sense by the way. Kalinic is a wide/supporting striker, he was never going to be a Roque replacement. Pedersen's place would have been Ghilas' most likely destination if he'd joined.

[T4E]

He's going to score the winner against the Dingles. Mark my words.

[den]

I think the point stands that for six million quid there were no "tried" and "tested" strikers out there that were any better than what we have already (Roberts and McCarthy).

You shouldn't state opinions for facts JBN. You and I have no idea who was available - at any price.

£6m is a fortune as a transfer fee, to our club - and I've said it before, I think Sam signed him without ever watching him. It comes across as opportunism to me.

Let's just hope that when he gets his chance, that he shows an eye for goal that's a bit better than it was in the Sunderland game.

[Big Fat Sam]

£6m is a fortune as a transfer fee, to our club - and I've said it before, I think Sam signed him without ever watching him. It comes across as opportunism to me.

Let's just hope that when he gets his chance, that he shows an eye for goal that's a bit better than it was in the Sunderland game.

Have to say I agree with that.

What worries me most is that we're told he's not physically ready, but yet given the technical level required for our league, you assume that his would be high. So why isn't he doing well in the reserves and scoring? There can't be that much difference between the Croat league and the reserves.

I'd like to think they had watched him as surely JW would have learnt from Villa under Ince. Hopefully as T4E said he bags the winner against the Dingles and starts from there. But he needs to be running before January.

[LeChuck]

Kalinic is a wide/supporting striker

That, of course, should read 'Ghilas'.

[tonyoz]

£6m is a fortune as a transfer fee, to our club - and I've said it before, I think Sam signed him without ever watching him. It comes across as opportunism to me.

Let's just hope that when he gets his chance, that he shows an eye for goal that's a bit better than it was in the Sunderland game.

Hmmm! I hope you're wrong on the first point den - but right on the second!

[Blue n White Rover]

Who else could we have bought at the time? You have to take into consideration that in the the summer we did not have many options to choose from.

[Bobby G]

Im disgusted that some people have written him off, after less than 90 minutes of Premiership football including no starts.

Yes, his misses against Sunderland were a bit disappointing, but he created most of those chances out of nothing and was always in the right place. I like that.

People forget players like Forlan, Henry, Pires and many other foreigners were written off after having a whole season here.

Stop with this Grabbi comparisons. He came from mid-table in Serie B.

[herbergeehh]

The way I see it, we now allow ourselves to give Kalinic time because Di Santo is doing well, and Dunny's looked great in the advanced midfield role. Behind the two we have Benni and Roberts who both are capable of playing a part. It's so much better than exposing him to the fans' and media's impatience, if we think he's not ready just yet. We complain when we're chasing 30 year olds, but at the same time we want players to go straight onto the pitch and score goals. Kalinic is 21 apparently, if he can break through within a year - or three for that matter - he'll still have six or seven good seasons before the decrease starts.........

[Billy Castell]

A hat-trick on Sunday would be nice!

Whilst I have fretted on previous posts whether he is another Grabbi, I am not sure who else we could have hired. Davies is too old to really justify £5m, Zamora was touted for a similar price despite being Andrea Silenzi levels of crapness, and Kevin Doyle was a risk as he has only been good for a season or so. Toni, Dzecko, Beattie and Crouch were all vivid dreams. He is young, so he has time on his side I suppose.

[Big Fat Sam]

Whilst I have fretted on previous posts whether he is another Grabbi, I am not sure who else we could have hired. Davies is too old to really justify £5m, Zamora was touted for a similar price despite being Andrea Silenzi levels of crapness, and Kevin Doyle was a risk as he has only been good for a season or so. Toni, Dzecko, Beattie and Crouch were all vivid dreams. He is young, so he has time on his side I suppose.

We'll be able to see on the 16th of October who else we could have signed.

[thenodrog]

We'll be able to see on the 16th of October who else we could have signed.

Aha a mystery. Whats happening on the 16th sam?

[Big Fat Sam]

Aha a mystery. Whats happening on the 16th sam?

No mystery I'm afraid people have been hollering on about who we could have signed and as I said as of the 16th October all they'll have to do is select not interested in the player search screen and then we'll know who else we could have signed.

[super_arran]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1220093/Sunderland-Blackburn-eye-Norwegian-youngster-Marcus-Pedersen.html

True or tabloid rumour?

[sambo]

No mystery I'm afraid people have been hollering on about who we could have signed and as I said as of the 16th October all they'll have to do is select not interested in the player search screen and then we'll know who else we could have signed.

Good save

[Big Fat Sam]

Must say I was very dissappointted not to see the lad get on yesterday. Regardless of the game Burnley are one of the weakest teams in the league and surely he should be getting some pitch time.

[Steve Moss]

He's supposed to be putting on muscle and improving his fitness. He came to us injured. It's been two months. Even if he was healthy when he first arrived, he still needs a month or two of hard training to get hime where he needs to be.

I think Sam will bring Kalinic along at the right pace. Loads of training coupled with Reserve games. He'll be ready come February.

[waynerovers]

I seem to remember Pedersen being in a similar situation when he arrived, he got thrown in at the deepend against united by souness before he was physically ready for the prem, Hughes came in, had him build up his strength then put him into the team and look what happened, not the same player anymore but for 18 months what a player he was. Kalinic is a similar build to what Pedersen was, I think Sam's definitely taking the right approach.

[den]

I seem to remember Pedersen being in a similar situation when he arrived, he got thrown in at the deepend against united by souness before he was physically ready for the prem, Hughes came in, had him build up his strength then put him into the team and look what happened, not the same player anymore but for 18 months what a player he was. Kalinic is a similar build to what Pedersen was, I think Sam's definitely taking the right approach.

Pedersen is exactly the same player he ever was IMO.

[Hughesy]

I think Sam's definitely taking the right approach.

I agree with that part.

Pedersen is exactly the same player he ever was IMO.

Just masked by wonder goals?!

I think Nikola should start the game tomorrow in the cup!

[den]

Just masked by wonder goals?!

Yeah, absolutely. I always said that when he stopped scoring those goals, he didn't have too much to offer. Having said that though, positionally he's a very capable winger. He knows exactly what that role needs in the modern game.

[joey_big_nose]

I agree with that part.

Just masked by wonder goals?!

I think Nikola should start the game tomorrow in the cup!

I though the game was tomorrow too, but in fact it is a week tomorrow. Which is annoying as it would have been good to see Nikola before the chelsea match.

[T4E]

I think Nikola should start the game tomorrow in the cup!

I was surprised at the time that Kalinic wasn't in the 18, but the comment above goes a long way towards explaining why he wasn't. The only reason to play him would have been to get him a goal and boost his confidence, he wasn't going to bring anything to the table that we were already getting from Di Santo, Roberts and McCarthy being in the squad. As such leaving him out completely in order to give him 90 mins against Peterborough made sense. If he doesnt start in the cup then questions will be asked.

[LeChuck]

The Peterborough game is next week not tomorrow, so I can only assume the decision to have Roberts on the bench instead was made purely for the Burnley game and not with any others in mind.

I'm not sure it would have done Kalinic much good to come on yesterday either, we were pretty redundant as an attacking threat at that point.

[joey_big_nose]

The Peterborough game is next week not tomorrow, so I can only assume the decision to have Roberts on the bench instead was made purely for the Burnley game and not with any others in mind.

I'm not sure it would have done Kalinic much good to come on yesterday either, we were pretty redundant as an attacking threat at that point.

It's probably got more to do with Sam wanting to use Roberts against Chelsea as Kalinic doesn't have experience. Hmmm.

Well if Roberts struggles Kalinic can still come on...