[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[RibbleValleyRover]

Thought he was outstanding last night, his movement, pace, strength and ability to hold up and lay off the ball was superb. So unlucky when he hit the post twice, especially that brilliant curling shot.

Sam needs to play him every week and build the tactics/formation around him to try and get the best out of him. With better service and more support (he needs a striker partner) i am confident he can score goals in this league.

[den]

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.

But didn't say so until now?

Niko played really well last night Bellamy, especially the second half, when he seemed to improve as the game went on. I thought he should really have scored the header, as he was totally unmarked, but at least he was there. The shot that hit the post was a brilliant effort and it isn't an easy skill to hit across the ball with such precision.

As for his control that you mention - well previously and until last night, when again it improved as the game went on, IMO it wasn't good enough. I've always said that he had good movement and had the knack of getting into goalscoring positions.

On the negative side, he's still a bit on the frail side. He allows the Centre halves to get in front of him and muscle off the ball. That's a strength and technique that he can improve on.

But yes, he impressed me more last night than he has done so far. Let's see if he can keep up his improvement.

ps I suppose some would say he was always as good as last night, but I would differ on that. His first appearances were awful, as everyone really should admit?

[joey_big_nose]

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

Agree that he needs to be paried with a more physical player. But how does that translate to Derbyshire? Derbs is extremely lightweight, much more so than Kalinic even.

[Eddie]

He was good last night, but he should have scored with the header. People are always forgiving when it hits the post because that seems "unlucky", but in reality if he nods that just wide everyone would be on here saying how he missed a sitter. He shows enough to give reason for hope, but he needs a run in the side.

[DE.]

If Kalinic had been playing regularly from early December with a strike partner beside him I firmly believe he would have netted 3 or 4 by now. The fact he's still managing to get in dangerous positions and look a threat in BFS's stagnant formation only further underlines his potential.

[LeChuck]

If Kalinic had been playing regularly from early December with a strike partner beside him I firmly believe he would have netted 3 or 4 by now. The fact he's still managing to get in dangerous positions and look a threat in BFS's stagnant formation only further underlines his potential.

That's the thing...I can't remember a game where he hasn't either scored or come extremely close (last night, Birmingham, Hull etc).

In contrast, even though Di Santo puts in good performances, he doesn't really threaten goal very often.

[Hughesy]

In contrast, even though Di Santo puts in good performances, he doesn't really threaten goal very often.

Yeah we mentioned that last night. Kalinic had the two post efforts & the 1-2 shot with Dunn.

How many efforts did Di Santo have against City? 0 (Kalinic 1)

Against Sunderland? 0 (Kalinic 2)

Against Wigan? 0

Against Spurs? 3

So in 1 game - Kalinic had as many efforts (against a better team) than Di Santo has managed in 4 games.....

FACTS not FICTION!

[Manc Rover]

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!

His 2nd one that hit the post reminded me of a certain Matt Jansen. If you watch Kalinic, he's actually quite similar to him. Movement, first touch etc. Also, took Matt a while to get going at Rovers so FFS, please start him every game and hopefully the goals will come. If Di Santo plays up on his own on Sunday I will despair!

[beerwins]

Stick this guy with Roberts up front, true I dont rate roberts but he can bully defences has the experience to drag players away from kalinic for him to do his stuff.

Whatever the outcome he needs to be playing every week with a partner to gain his confidence and score some goals.

[S15]

I guess with Kalinic when he hits the post we count them as goals do we Hughesy? How many is he on now then mate? Double figures yet?

[Hughesy]

I guess with Kalinic when he hits the post we count them as goals do we Hughesy? How many is he on now then mate? Double figures yet?

I was waiting for you to crawl out of the woodwork......I didnt say they counted, but someone else did a page back - go pick on someone else!

[alexanders]

Stick this guy with Roberts up front, true I dont rate roberts but he can bully defences has the experience to drag players away from kalinic for him to do his stuff.

He will only give away free-kicks with a grin smile on his face.

[Hughesy]

Play Ollson on the left, Hoilett on the right and their pace will pull teams around and create more space for our forwards.

[T4E]

Play Ollson on the left, Hoilett on the right and their pace will pull teams around and create more space for our forwards.

Not the worst idea you've ever had. Although that would take some doing

[S15]

I was waiting for you to crawl out of the woodwork......I didnt say they counted, but someone else did a page back - go pick on someone else!

Just a shame he didn't hit the post with his left foot too, then it would have been the perfect hat trick.

Not the worst idea you've ever had. Although that would take some doing

Olsson on the left, Hoilett on the right and Kalinic and Solksjaer up top... We'll be in the Europa League by March.

[Hughesy]

Ha your so funny......Grow a pair!

[des]

he needs to play now more oftem to come on sam you d=signed him now play him

[gumboots]

Yeah we mentioned that last night. Kalinic had the two post efforts & the 1-2 shot with Dunn.

How many efforts did Di Santo have against City? 0 (Kalinic 1)

Against Sunderland? 0 (Kalinic 2)

Against Wigan? 0

Against Spurs? 3

So in 1 game - Kalinic had as many efforts (against a better team) than Di Santo has managed in 4 games.....

FACTS not FICTION!

But neither of them is designed to play as a lone striker. Now put the 2 together, 2 young lads full of running, and you've got possibilities. Di Santo will do some of the running that Kalinic had to do himself last night and allow Kalinic to be even more of a nuisance in and around the box. Thinking about striker pairings they rarely score equal numbers of goals but one can't score without the other around and the other picks up a fair number from half-chances from clearances ro rebounds. Think with di santo and Kalinic togeth that could happen

[mellison24]

But neither of them is designed to play as a lone striker. Now put the 2 together, 2 young lads full of running, and you've got possibilities. Di Santo will do some of the running that Kalinic had to do himself last night and allow Kalinic to be even more of a nuisance in and around the box. Thinking about striker pairings they rarely score equal numbers of goals but one can't score without the other around and the other picks up a fair number from half-chances from clearances ro rebounds. Think with di santo and Kalinic togeth that could happen

I agree, but what about the expert? (Btw, a question to all. Does Sam look like a much older version of Chris from Muse?)

[savage8]

Yeah we mentioned that last night. Kalinic had the two post efforts & the 1-2 shot with Dunn.

How many efforts did Di Santo have against City? 0 (Kalinic 1)

Against Sunderland? 0 (Kalinic 2)

Against Wigan? 0

Against Spurs? 3

So in 1 game - Kalinic had as many efforts (against a better team) than Di Santo has managed in 4 games.....

FACTS not FICTION!

WHY CAN'T THEY BOTH START? I have faith in Franco, and as for Nik, he lit up a very dark night yesterday !

[mellison24]

I think there's something more to it. He plays like Jansen (holds the ball up well, good shot, good head, decent pass, creates his own chances etc).....But he's also his spit and image!!! It's a sign!

[bellamy11]

But didn't say so until now?

Niko played really well last night Bellamy, especially the second half, when he seemed to improve as the game went on. I thought he should really have scored the header, as he was totally unmarked, but at least he was there. The shot that hit the post was a brilliant effort and it isn't an easy skill to hit across the ball with such precision.

As for his control that you mention - well previously and until last night, when again it improved as the game went on, IMO it wasn't good enough. I've always said that he had good movement and had the knack of getting into goalscoring positions.

On the negative side, he's still a bit on the frail side. He allows the Centre halves to get in front of him and muscle off the ball. That's a strength and technique that he can improve on.

But yes, he impressed me more last night than he has done so far. Let's see if he can keep up his improvement.

ps I suppose some would say he was always as good as last night, but I would differ on that. His first appearances were awful, as everyone really should admit?

With regards to only mentioning it now – I post on average once every two days and don't feel hundreds of people who could really care less need to know my opinion on every aspect of every player (some could take notice of that, btw). Nine times out of ten, if somebody says something I disagree with I just ignore it (and get on with my job!!)

I have always felt that his hold-up play has been good. If I'm honest, Den, I think sometimes you are guilty of forming an immediate opinion of people/situations and then find it very difficult to change that opinion. I think Aaron Lennon could set up three goals in the world cup final and you’d still tell everybody that he has no final ball:) By the way, you’re far from the only person – I don’t want to single you out or anything, but it’s just my opinion. I generally find that I agree with the majority of what you write. But what I’m saying is if a player comes on for 20 minutes of a game in progress then it is likely they will not have time to acclimatize to the pace of a game and make mistakes (especially difficult when you’re young, acclimatizing to a new country, style of football etc). So he comes on for 15 mins here or there, gets shoved off the ball by a centre back in full flow and you think “the boy can’t hold it up”.

If this season was the first time you had seen Michael Owen then I honestly believe you (and many others) would say that he can’t finish. He’s missed a hatful of chances and failed to create an impression on games because he’s given 20 mins and told to immediately get up to pace and change things. There are very few people who can do this – Solskjaer is the best example, Matty Derbyshire to a lesser degree. Owen clearly needs time and minutes before his excellent finishing really shows.

I don’t know if you went to the Chelsea game, where Niko played from the start, but he was bloody excellent. Never stopped running, won a surprisingly large amount of balls in the air, and held the ball up well. You’ll notice every time he gets it he immediately looks to bring the fullback or winger into play, and he’s very good at it. He totally won me over in that game, and I found it mystifying that he hasn’t started since then. He did more in those two hours than Di Santo has done in 20 games.

He’s still far from the complete player but I find it puzzling that people can come out and make judgments about his abilities based on so little evidence. I personally don’t think you can judge a player by what he does in spits and spats here or there. You judge them when they have consistency and time. The two things that have stood out to me about Niko’s game since he signed was his movement and his hold-up play. I really think he’s perhaps lost the ball the first two times people saw him and it creates a lasting impression, even if it’s a false one.

I was waiting for you to crawl out of the woodwork......I didnt say they counted, but someone else did a page back - go pick on someone else!

You'll find I was taking the p*ss. Probably not a surprise that you missed it!

[Hughesy]

You'll find I was taking the p*ss. Probably not a surprise that you missed it!

No i was well aware of that - hence the go & pick on someone else line

[mellison24]

Anyway, there are likenesses to Jansen and Kalinic will definitely come good. Kalinic definitely needs to be partnered up front by Di Santo. Di Santo can hold the ball up and head it well. Kalinic can get himself into some great positions. Keep faith in that partnership and I honestly believe that goals will come.

Is that laughing at the phrase or the fact it's true? Just a question.

[Lurid Coat]

I think there's something more to it. He plays like Jansen (holds the ball up well, good shot, good head, decent pass, creates his own chances etc).....But he's also his spit and image spitting image!!! It's a sign!

Fixed it for you

[/mellison]