[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[Ozz]

He will be the complete, perfect Premier League forward, just as he becomes a free agent with 6 months left on his contract.

[Muddboy]

I can understand Sam's position up to a point, but the reality of the situation is that Nicko is the verge of breaking his duck and if we don't capitalise on that now and give him the opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net, the chances are his confidence will ebb away and who knows when it will take to come back?

He gave an extremely good account of himself on Thursday and we NEED to build on that. If we do and he finds the back of the net tomorrow, he could just prove to be the player that saves our season.

It's worth the gamble, in my eyes and I can't believe Sam doesn't see it!

[patrickvalery]

we do and he finds the back of the net tomorrow, he could just prove to be the player that saves our season.

Agree Muddboy. Sam has been harping on about an impact signing and all the while Kalinic is waiting in the wings.

One of our only players who looks like they've any class about them. He could and should play a massive role over the rest of the season. The fact is none of our other options are making a good enough case for him not to play. You have to play your best players and at this moment in time Kalinic looks the best option we have.

[Majiball]

Sounds like there is a good chance he won't start against Fulham then. Back to the out of form and unfit Dunny and Di Santo by the looks of it.

I think Sam is wrong on this issue, Kalinic looks ready to me and playing him one week leaving him out the next is doing far more damage to his confidence than throwing him in the deep end which Sam thinks.

I wonder if, we had a back-room member who had actually played the role would we be seeing what we are seeing.

It confuses us all when Sam speaks about playing well and keeping the shirt.

Think every Rovers fan will be expecting 4-4-2 on sunday, with Klainic playing alongside ANother. Anything else and I'll just have to watch the crowd for the entertainment instead of the game.

Sam probably confuses himself as well, its quite tricky to follow his logic at times.

I'm more concerned with the performance than anything else. We must improve, drastically. If we play as we did in the first half @ City and get lucky and win, will the fans be happy because at the end of the day we got the points?

Formation wise again as long as its got two strikers, I'm not really to bothered. We just need the extra man to help keep the ball at their end of the pitch for a change.

[gumboots]

I'm more concerned with the performance than anything else. We must improve, drastically. If we play as we did in the first half @ City and get lucky and win, will the fans be happy because at the end of the day we got the points?

For this week only yes because points are what keep you up but it would only be a knee jerk reaction to actually seeing a victory and the gloss would soon wear off if it wasn't followed by some better football.

[Majiball]

For this week only yes because points are what keep you up but it would only be a knee jerk reaction to actually seeing a victory and the gloss would soon wear off if it wasn't followed by some better football.

Now you see I'm worried that should said senario occur, that he will get a longer stay of execution. We have one or two games coming up that we must get serious points from, losing a couple of those could make staying up, some task.

[gumboots]

Now you see I'm worried that should said senario occur, that he will get a longer stay of execution. We have one or two games coming up that we must get serious points from, losing a couple of those could make staying up, some task.

I totally agree that if we get points and therefore we get a last year's Liverpool scenario it's worrying but when all's said and done it is about points. If you could guarantee me that if we lost tomorrow then Allardyce would be gone and the new man in charge would be guaranteed enough points to keep us up then I'd willingly lose tomorrow but there are no guarantees and points on the board are what count.

[philipl]

One thing the Villa game showed is that this kid is good enough.

[John]

Sam says he could start depending on how he feels physically

[Stylish kid in the Riot]

Kalinic is class. He just needs to be given games and a regular partner. Sam should stop messing about rotating the strikers and playing one up front, it does neither the player or the team any favours. Kalinic and Di Santo would start every game for me, with Benni coming in as and when needed. I can really see Kalinic becoming a real star, his hold up play is good, his movement excellent and technically looks the part. Makes chances for himself as well. In a better, more creative team he'd be standing out. Time we ditched the defensive hoofball and started having a go. We are bound to concede playing 4-5-1 but we are more likely to score and give a team a game playing 4-4-2 with attacking players like Kalinic, Di Santo, Holliett and Dunn on show

[Fife Rover]

I am trying to imagine just how Kalinic feels right now, and putting myself in his place I am feeling both excited and apprehensive.

Excited because I really want to play tomorrow, I know I am ready for it and I feel that I am on the verge of scoring at least one and possibly two goals if given even half chances. On the other hand I feel apprehensive because I know that the manager is fearfull that I might not score or I will suffer from fatigue and as a result I will lose confidence. After all he has spent the last few days telling the whole world exactly that. That in itself makes me feel less confident, so I am a little bit nervous and confused. If only the manager would tell me I am playing from the start tomorrow and he believes in me and my ability to get out there and score goals, then I would gain a huge amount of confidence and I know that nothing will stop me having a stormer of a game and I WILL score. Absolutely no doubt in my mind about that.

End of my attempt to try and read the mind of Kalinic, but it shows me that all Sam's efforts at protecting and nursing his young prodigy gently along and easing him into the PL cauldron slowly is in fact the WRONG approach. Forget it Sam! Kalinic MUST start tomorrow. He is as ready as he will ever be.

[jw_]

The way Sam Allardyce is treating Kalinic does'nt make sense and neither do the reasons he gives in the press.He's not a 12year old kid just learning the game he's an international player and he won't get used to the premier league by watching from the bench.I firmly believe that Sam's statements are a smoke screen and his real reason is that his tactics (which he won't change) is to have one up front and that's either Di Santo or Kalinic.To say he won't start Kalinic in a relegation battle is a bullsh*t ridiculous excuse, he just does'nt want to change his expert tactics.

My non expert opinion is that Kalinic is wellm up to Premier League standard.

[alexanders]

Considering Allardyce's words about Nikola Kalinic on the official site I think it is pretty sture he will start today.

[Bobby G]

I got a feeling he's gonna come through today.

[LeChuck]

So...everybody who reacted stupidly to that article is going to issue a retraction of their comments against Sam then?

Why people can't just wait and see before going nuts I'll never know.

[Bobby G]

This is your chance Nikola. Score for everyone who wants you to do well. Score for the badge. Save your manager. Give us hope because we havent had it for a while. Seize the day.

[John]

So...everybody who reacted stupidly to that article is going to issue a retraction of their comments against Sam then?

Why people can't just wait and see before going nuts I'll never know.

Because when things are negative, everything is the manager's fault...

[DeadlyDirk]

Because when things are negative, everything is the manager's fault...

I'm happy he's playing which is the bottom line, but if he was going to play then why did Sam write that article in the first place? If he was unsure then he could have just said nothing.

But anyway he's playing that's all that matters, better late than never.

[Bobby G]

He's trying to bring down the expectation in him by the public because we seem to be putting a lot of weight in him coming good ANY SECOND NOW. When two minutes earlier many people had written him off.

[CrazyIvan]

Brilliant play today from Niko and he deserved a goal. If Junior's ball to him had been in front he would have tested the keeper at least.

[joey_big_nose]

Brilliant play today from Niko and he deserved a goal. If Junior's ball to him had been in front he would have tested the keeper at least.

Really? Fantastic work rate I agree but did he even have a shot during the game?

I want him to come good, and he was brilliant second half against Villa, but today he seemed relegated to a sort of advanced Savage role hounding the opposition defence.

Big positive is that him and Benni seem to work well together which is good.

[Tom]

I thought he was great, he didn't have an attempt at goal but that was due to the service recieved and the style of play at times.

He brought some balls down and held the ball up really well at times.

[AJW]

yeh , he did well today i've every confidence he can and will score goals at this level , but he needs to play alongside another striker , someone who will take the knocks for him , an experienced prem league striker who can talk him through games and provide a physical presence and if it's not going to be roberts or mccarthy i would suggest emile heskey

[ffan]

Very impressive from him.

[dazmaz]

i thought he was fantastic today, never give up, chased lost causes, would of scored if hoiletts ball at the end was infront of him where he asked for it. had alot of the crowd singing his name, niko is just what we need upfront