[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[Mr. E]

He is better than Di Santo, that much is certain. The real question is whether this seemingly cursed bad luck will fire him up to break it on his own and start banging in the goals, or if he'll retreat in a turtle shell and develop a phobia of the net.

[Bobby G]

He needs to keep on starting. He will score, and he will gain confidence from it. For God's sake we have had 21 league games and he has started one the whole season. Dont tell me he hadnt earned more than that! He has a lot of potential and I can see him and Di Santo being a good foil.

[LeftWinger]

Thought he was very good last night (along with Robinson the only positive to come out of last night). He really does remind me of Jansen in his playing style.

[Sysagent]

Yeh he had a terrific match last night and fully deserved the MoM, he is a lot like Jansen in his style isn't he, which ain't too bad a thing.

What got me about his performance last night was that he was just full of running and trying to get goal side, he was absolutely knackered and the end of the match and how bloody unlucky was he with the woodwork!

Interestingly when Mcarthy came on it didn't seem to work which I expected the opposite to happen...

Needs to start on Sunday for sure, either with Benni from the start and Di Santo coming on later if the formula isn't working.

[brian_gallagher85]

I knew it was never going to work when Benni came on. I'm not trying to run McCarthy down here but what we needed last night was someone who was going to give Niko a good bit of aerial support (Dunne and Collins won every ball unchallenged last night) and Franco would have given us another dimension.

Getting back to Kalinic I thought he was excellent last night and I hope he gets both a good run of games and the rub of the green very soon.

[Kelbo]

Thought he was very good last night (along with Robinson the only positive to come out of last night). He really does remind me of Jansen in his playing style.

Do you know, yes, Jansen, thats probably correct, his link up play was excellent, movement good, is now more difficult to knock off the ball and can make his own chances out of almost nothing!!

we have a player here, get some width and pace in the side and a partner up front and we could really bomb on here!!

[Hughesy]

When he gets the ball, I automatically shift to the edge of my seat and/or stand up. Niko Kalinic is the only player we have at the moment that is exciting to watch.

£6m was a lot of money I think, but it will be a decent enough investment in the long run

£6m isnt alot of money - its good money for us - however I think he looks like he could be a bargain at that - he really looks to me like he has it all, and if his current rate of progression is anything to go by, we could soon have a striker, capable of 15-20 goals a season.

If he starts to get that little bit more luck then he will soon start firing goals in. I mean when was the last time one of our players dropped abit deeper (when he hit the post) like he did last night and hit a shot as sweet as that 1st time.

When he plays he always seems capable of making something happen either by doing it himself or getting on the end or something, perhaps the final product hasn't quite been there at times and he's missed a few chances but the encouraging thing is that at least when he's on the pitch he's getting chances, sooner or later a couple will go in and then he could be a real threat.

People have pointed out above that he's made one league start this year, I know we were made aware that he would take 6 games or so to get match fit and all that when he signed but how did we reach the middle of January and our 6m summer signing has made only one league start?

Deadly - I Agree He always looks positive and is always chasing balls down. He works so hard and he creates space for himself, even if under pressure from defenders. He is full of hustle & bustle.

As for how long he would take - Sam said up-to 6 months I think and that he was one for the future.

Thought he was very good last night (along with Robinson the only positive to come out of last night). He really does remind me of Jansen in his playing style.

He is very similar to Jansen, however I think he has better body strength and is better at holding the ball up.

HAS TO PLAY AGAINST FULHAM!! Also he needs his own song.....

[Majiball]

HAS TO PLAY AGAINST FULHAM!! WITH DI SANTO Also he needs his own song.....

You missed a bit.

[LeChuck]

I'm really excited about Kalinic now. He looks very strong for his age now and always gets in brilliant positions. Added to that, he works very hard and chases everything...never seems to put his head down either, he works for the full ninety even when things aren't going his way.

Technically he's very good as well. A couple of touches of class last night; in the first half he brought down a ball dropping from the skies when surrounded by Villa defenders. In the second half too he brought down a ball, then in the same move half-volleyed the ball behind him perfectly to Salgado. I'm still not sure how he knew he was there. His second strike on goal was technically excellent too.

If Sam does end up leaving us then I think Kalinic could be his parting gift, a bit like Kidd and Jansen.

[Hughesy]

You missed a bit.

No because im not certain Di Santo will be the best for him. Benni has alot more technical ability and is much more likely to put Kalinic through on goal.

Either way - we NEED to start the game with 4-4-2 and ensure that means we have 2 strikers on the pitch - not 1 + Dunn

[hi-jaq]

£6m isnt alot of money - its good money for us - however I think he looks like he could be a bargain at that - he really looks to me like he has it all, and if his current rate of progression is anything to go by, we could soon have a striker, capable of 15-20 goals a season.

Course it is, our last 3 strikers, Belamy, Mccarthy & Santa Cruz, probably averaged out at about £3.25m each, when was the last time we spent £6m on anyone??? (Barry Ferguson I think) Thats close to our record transfer.

£6m is a lot of money by our standards, and I'm not sure that we our getting our worth out of him, and that is down to Allardyce not playing him.

I agree, HE NEEDS TO START AGAINST FULHAM... Kalinic & Di Santo up top, Hoilett & Peedo out wide... lets score a goal or 2!!!

[Hughesy]

Its not alot of money in general terms I mean - i.e. Frazier Campbell - £5m + £2.5m in add-ons.

For us - then yes.

He will come good, im sure of that!

[Majiball]

No because im not certain Di Santo will be the best for him. Benni has alot more technical ability and is much more likely to put Kalinic through on goal.

Either way - we NEED to start the game with 4-4-2 and ensure that means we have 2 strikers on the pitch - not 1 + Dunn

For me there's no way it would be Benni.

If we lose a midfielder we will need whoever plays up front to do some chasing and closing down, Benni will not do it and we will carry him when not in posession. We've proved we can't afford to carry players and Di Santo will work defensively.

The lads spent most of his time up top on his own but has shown a good ability in patches for link up play. Both provide some pace and a better ariel threat than either Benni or Roberts. I'm dead keen to see the pair given a chance up front together as I can see them doing well together.

[bellamy11]

I’d be interested to read whether or not Den has re-evaluated his opinion of Niko’s hold-up play. From memory he has been pretty disparaging about it thusfar. I thought this was harsh at the time and particularly so now. Last night, but for a couple of exceptions he made the ball stick and constantly looked for an outlet on the flanks. In fact, along with his movement and positioning, I’d say it is one of the strongest parts of his game. We just need the ball to go the other way off the post and defenders to stop blocking his shots off the line. But for some misfortune, he’d have close to 10 goals this season (as it is, he only has 6 – I’m counting each shot against the post as half a goal).

[BPF]

LeftWinger - That is a great point about him reminding you of Jansen. I thought that last night.

My optimism for Kalinic grew last night and I think he is potentially a very exciting prospect. Which as always in Rovers' case means that we will have sold him within the next two years. When he first played, I was reminded of Mr Grabbi but now I see no comparison. Keep it up Niko!

[joey_big_nose]

I'd be interested to read whether or not Den has re-evaluated his opinion of Niko's hold-up play. From memory he has been pretty disparaging about it thusfar. I thought this was harsh at the time and particularly so now. Last night, but for a couple of exceptions he made the ball stick and constantly looked for an outlet on the flanks. In fact, along with his movement and positioning, I'd say it is one of the strongest parts of his game. We just need the ball to go the other way off the post and defenders to stop blocking his shots off the line. But for some misfortune, he'd have close to 10 goals this season (as it is, he only has 6 – I'm counting each shot against the post as half a goal).

Last night was the first time I have seen the ball consistently stick to Kalinic. Usually I have been very disappointed with how he has lost the ball. However against two very good and physical Villa centrebacks he held the ball well.

Must start with Di Santo on Sunday. Between them I think they could hold up the ball very well.

[Hughesy]

But for some misfortune, hed have close to 10 goals this season (as it is, he only has 6 Im counting each shot against the post as half a goal).

No doubt someone will start arguing in a minute about this....but I agree he is very unlucky not to be sat on at least 7 goals. The 4 he has, the other one against Chelsea (touched his hair), United away (offside goal), Brum away (last min), 1 on 1 against Liverpool & 2 post & outs last night.

He is getting into the positions, he creates his own chances and he has had some bad-luck. Im 99% certain he will come good and we have a very good player on our hands.

[ABBEY]

He's upset the footballing gods somewhere along the line.I think he needs to sacrafice a goat on the pitch and drink its blood from his boots

[bellamy11]

the other one against Chelsea (touched his hair

If you could convince the bookies of that one I'd be most appreciative as I could do with the £20 that it would win me!

I generally agree (although the 1 on 1 against Liverpool can't really be counted as bad luck - he bottled it). However, when luck shuts the door you have to get in through the window. He's going to have to keep going and strive to get better because we can't just rely on 'luck changing'. For quite a while everybody thought Johnny Stead was unlucky.

[Blue n White Rover]

Course it is, our last 3 strikers, Belamy, Mccarthy & Santa Cruz, probably averaged out at about £3.25m each, when was the last time we spent £6m on anyone??? (Barry Ferguson I think) Thats close to our record transfer.

£6m is a lot of money by our standards, and I'm not sure that we our getting our worth out of him, and that is down to Allardyce not playing him.

I agree, HE NEEDS TO START AGAINST FULHAM... Kalinic & Di Santo up top, Hoilett & Peedo out wide... lets score a goal or 2!!!

I'd start with Chimbonda and Emerton on the right. With Chimbonda obvioulsy playing RB. Ollsson and Pedersen/Hoillet on the left. I thought we looked a lot more threatening last night when we got it out wide and crossed the ball in. Coincidently, the 2 times we did that we managed to hit to post!

Food for thought Sam!

[ABBEY]

I'd start with Chimbonda and Emerton on the right. With Chimbonda obvioulsy playing RB. Ollsson and Pedersen/Hoillet on the left. I thought we looked a lot more threatening last night when we got it out wide and crossed the ball in. Coincidently, the 2 times we did that we managed to hit to post!

Food for thought Sam!

Are you the lad sat nr us last night?

[Blue n White Rover]

Are you the lad sat nr us last night?

N05?

[RoyRover]

I was very impressed with Kalinic last night. He is certainly getting used to the physical nature of the league. He got stuck in, gave James Collins a clout, held the ball up well, bought other players into play and was so unlucky with his two chances. If he could just get a scrappy goal, then things could start to change. Like most eastern Europeans, he's technically very good, his little lofted pass into Dunn, who then handled it, was superb. The more he plays, the more chances he'll have and one will eventually go in.

[waggy]

Still not sure he has the tools in his box to be a prem striker,he needs a derbyshire by his side,needs to be more aggressive,would like to have seem him pole-axe the villa centre half in the 1st 10 mins.then again lardarse says its not about this year or next

[Kelbo]

Still not sure he has the tools in his box to be a prem striker,he needs a derbyshire by his side,needs to be more aggressive,would like to have seem him pole-axe the villa centre half in the 1st 10 mins.then again lardarse says its not about this year or next

This guy has lots of tools in his box, movement, link play, passing, control, vision, can head a ball, hold play up and work hard, the goals will come and when they do he will be worth some serious money!