[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[braddock]

i think he'll get 15 goals

ten in the prem at least, if he plays a full season

he'll hit the woodwork 80 times too

[1864roverite]

Does anyone know the latest update regarding his injury ?

[budha]

Does anyone know the latest update regarding his injury ?

Of the 25-man squad here in Sydney, Chris Samba (knee), Niko Kalinic (thigh) and Martin Olsson (knee) are doubtful for Rovers' opening match of the tournament, but Jason Roberts has recovered from a knock picked up in training.

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2100966,00.html

[Amo]

If he's good enough, he's good enough. Nowt to do with tactics or the players around him.

If only it was that simple.

[Doaksie]

Hypothetical question: What would everyone's reaction be if someone came in with a 6m money back offer for Kalinic?

Certain decline.

The £6m would disappear into a vortex, never to be seen again. We would be left with just Jason Roberts as a forward, and instead of buying just 1 of Heskey, Benjani, Beattie et al, we would have to buy 2 of them.

If we were given the £6m a few months back however, and the license to spend it.... well, that is a different story.

[den]

If only it was that simple.

It is. Good players can play in any company.

[Amo]

It is. Good players can play in any company.

I disagree about tactics. You have to play to your strengths. The Heskeys and Kevin Davies of this world are adept at holding hoofballs and bringing others into play, but it's not Kalinic's style.

[den]

I disagree about tactics. You have to play to your strengths. The Heskeys and Kevin Davies of this world are adept at holding hoofballs and bringing others into play, but it's not Kalinic's style.

I'm not having a go at Niko here. It was in reply to RVR's post:

"The more and more I think about it he's not going to fit in here, not with the personnel around him and the manager's tactics."

I'm just saying that Best, Charlton, Law, Shearer, Pele, Maradona etc, etc could play in any team. If a player has the talent to play "football" it will be obvious to anyone - no matter what anyone else on the field is doing. Every ball played isn't a hoofball. If Niko doesn't make it here, it wont be because of the other players, or the managers tactics. It will be because he wasn't up to it.

[Brfcrule1]

I disagree with the above post Niko could be a great forward either in the correct formation or if we pesist with 1 up top with better support from the midfield. If only we could have got Guti we would be sorted. Also people have to understand he gets no support from midfield and he is not really the type of player to bring hoofballs down and score. I feel unless we go 2 up top or dramatically improve the midfield esp. in wide areas we will never see the best of Niko. Just an opinion.

[FourLaneBlue]

I'm just saying that Best, Charlton, Law, Shearer, Pele, Maradona etc, etc could play in any team.

They would all be 50 million quid players these days den. I don't think mentioning a bunch of the greatest players the world has ever seen is that connected to Kalinic. We got him because nobody else wanted him at that price, or they couldn't afford him.

However, you are right that, ultimately, it is down to the player.

[The Rover of Finland]

I have faith on him. He has great skills and now he knows how to play the game in PL. We paid a lot of money to get him here and this season he will get something back. 10 goals will be minimum.

[Blue blood]

Whilst obviously player quality does play a significant part in it, I'm with topman on the tactics and players around you have a massive influence on the success of a player. One example I can think of is Chelsea tactics and style not suiting Sutton who was a success everywhere else.

Kalinic is not the target man type favoured in the 4-5-1 and that formation would hinder his progress. With another striker up front though to do the target man role, or even as others have suggested having Kalinic in the hole, I really do think the lad can make it.

Personally I think there's enough promise there that if we play in a way that suits him, that he would get us the goals. Whilst Heskey for example might not be the greatest of players if he could bring on Kalinic, and help him develop and increase his goal tally he might be worth the fee.

I think it comes down to the fact we are broke and have to work with what we have and get the best out of what we have. Many pieces of the team aren't that workable/able to develop further - Andrews, Grella, Roberts and Diouf for starters - which we can't afford to replace. Kalinic has the talent and potential to improve and be a good player, and with our financial situation as it is we cannot afford not to develop him.

[Mr. E]

I think he will do well for us, but much like last season, he can only scores when given proper chances - which are few and far between. But regardless, he must start - making him sit on the bench and starting with Heskey will be disastrous.

[Exiled_Rover]

It is. Good players can play in any company.

That's only the great players that can do that.

[den]

That's only the great players that can do that.

Nah. A good player, is a good player at any level. It's not hard to spot.

[braddock]

Nah. A good player, is a good player at any level. It's not hard to spot.

so many good players have flopped

so many different factors, mental and physical. so many different leagues, dynamics, formations and team philosophies

matt derbyshire, for example is a good player for certain teams. not rovers though

nothing is ever black and white

[FourLaneBlue]

Nah. A good player, is a good player at any level. It's not hard to spot.

None of the players you mentioned was a good player. They were all great players.

Look at Diego Forlan at Man U. Or Juan Sebastian Veron at Man U. Both did not do well at Man U. Both remain, even today, awesome players.

[den]

so many good players have flopped

so many different factors, mental and physical. so many different leagues, dynamics, formations and team philosophies

matt derbyshire, for example is a good player for certain teams. not rovers though

nothing is ever black and white

Amazed 3 people agree with this. Derbyshire was sold because he wasn't good enough to be a regular starter.

I stand by what I said. If Niko doesn't make the grade here, it wont be because of the manager, or his tactics.

[FourLaneBlue]

I stand by what I said. If Niko doesn't make the grade here, it wont be because of the manager, or his tactics.

No but they will, of course, play a part.

[The Rover of Finland]

In my eyes this lad is our number one striker. He was an expensive signing in last summer and now it´s time to shine. We were all excited about him in mid season. He showed some great technique and skills. Scoring was hard but he looked very good. He had a difficult season end but now he knows what it takes to play PL football every week. I have high hopes on him and I think he will score double figures.

[The Rover of Finland]

In my eyes this lad is our number one striker. He was an expensive signing in last summer and now it´s time to shine. We were all excited about him in mid season. He showed some great technique and skills. Scoring was hard but he looked very good. He had a difficult season end but now he knows what it takes to play PL football every week. I have high hopes on him and I think he will score double figures.

Not a greatest goal but it´s all about confidence. Great start Niko!

[braddock]

once again put in a good shift. i really hope we can provide him with more support at some point (be that an extra striker or a fit dunny - though i accept we were playing against an accomplished team today so 4-4-2 would not have been wise). i do feel so sorry for the man, who has obvious talents yet has to feed off scraps and his only real options when he receives the ball is to bring it down and lay it off or force an attacking throw-in if he is closed down. i was sure to clap everything he worked for, even if it was only possession because it's going to be hard for him to be a standout player without decent support. hardly put a foot wrong all day and scored his only clear cut chance. i just hope the fans appreciate him if he misses the only decent chance he gets as it is very difficult to put them all away and once the confidence goes he could be in trouble.

keep plugging away kalinic!

[braddock]

Amazed 3 people agree with this. Derbyshire was sold because he wasn't good enough to be a regular starter.

I stand by what I said. If Niko doesn't make the grade here, it wont be because of the manager, or his tactics.

derbyshire wasn't good enough. kalinic is.

if he flops the likelihood is (not necessarily - but if the conditions stay the same and he keeps working hard) it will have been because he is forced to feed off scraps.

[Amo]

Charlie Nicholas pointed out that Kalinic looks a talented player but is all too often left isolated without any support, and will need the wide players to get closer, or preferably partner Mame Diouf up front to get the best out of him.

[braddock]

Charlie Nicholas pointed out that Kalinic looks a talented player but is all too often left isolated without any support, and will need the wide players to get closer, or preferably partner Mame Diouf up front to get the best out of him.

so did i

i should be getting paid for this