[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[Bobby G]

He would be unlucky to get dropped today. Would rather see Mame come off the bench and run at them.

[T4E]

Niko has every chance of being our next big player. Hopefully another home goal today to get his season off to a flier.

[BRFC1995]

i know its against a good team in arsenal but the fella just is'nt a presence up front that the opposition really need be too concerned about. Want the fella to do well but for the life of me can't see him ever being a goal machine, if we do sign the swedish lad kalinic is looking at being 3rd choice behind mame as well.

[Amo]

i know its against a good team in arsenal but the fella just is'nt a presence up front that the opposition really need be too concerned about. Want the fella to do well but for the life of me can't see him ever being a goal machine, if we do sign the swedish lad kalinic is looking at being 3rd choice behind mame as well.

Hopefully, if the takeover happens, we'll be able to buy some decent midfielders and expand our football. Because Kalinic looks like he's fighting a losing battle up front.

[Exiled_Rover]

i know its against a good team in arsenal but the fella just is'nt a presence up front that the opposition really need be too concerned about. Want the fella to do well but for the life of me can't see him ever being a goal machine, if we do sign the swedish lad kalinic is looking at being 3rd choice behind mame as well.

Oh dear. This couldn't be further from the truth.

[BRFC1995]

Oh dear. This couldn't be further from the truth.

not really is it, anyone that comes in upfront does'nt have to do too much here to be the number one, the bar for strikers at our club is set very low at the minute. We played well today but regardless of the arguments about lack of service Kalinic did very little to concern they're defenders. He is'nt too pacy for them, and is'nt strong enougth to knock them out of the way when needs be......as i say i want the guy to succeed but it just seems so unlikely.

[bluebruce]

not really is it, anyone that comes in upfront does'nt have to do too much here to be the number one, the bar for strikers at our club is set very low at the minute. We played well today but regardless of the arguments about lack of service Kalinic did very little to concern they're defenders. He is'nt too pacy for them, and is'nt strong enougth to knock them out of the way when needs be......as i say i want the guy to succeed but it just seems so unlikely.

Are you going to start talking sense at some point?

[RevidgeBlue]

Are you going to start talking sense at some point?

Kalinic was poor yesterday there's no two ways about it.

He's shown glimpses of potential at times but still has a long way to go to justify a 6m price tag.

Then you see him next to M Diouf and Diouf looks in a different class as regards his movement and anticipation.

[AHoyle90]

Struggled against Arsenal but I'm still backing him to have a good season and notch double figures.

[RevidgeBlue]

Struggled against Arsenal but I'm still backing him to have a good season and notch double figures.

Hope so, we need both him and Diouf to plait sawdust really because I can't see Benjani contributing much.

[roversfan99]

Its good that both Niko and M Diouf are off the mark in the league already.

[Amo]

Kalinic looked thoroughly fed-up on Saturday and I still believe he's a square peg in a round hole. He's not a target man and never will be.

[RevidgeBlue]

Kalinic looked thoroughly fed-up on Saturday and I still believe he's a square peg in a round hole. He's not a target man and never will be.

By way of contrast, when McDonald was in charge for the Chelsea Cup tie and we had three strikers on the pich, Kalinic looked much happier playing little short passes and interchanging positions and the whole set up looked so much more fluid.

[Ozz]

I thought he did play well on Saturday, and his partnership with Diouff M showed some great potential. The new boy lend a big hand in supporting him quickly when we broke, and was disappointed when Nikola was taken off.

[Amo]

By way of contrast, when McDonald was in charge for the Chelsea Cup tie and we had three strikers on the pich, Kalinic looked much happier playing little short passes and interchanging positions and the whole set up looked so much more fluid.

Yes, it was hard to believe it was the same team that night. McDonald allowed the players to play with abandon in a Cup quarter-final against the big boys. I'm not sure Sam would have been quite so generous.

[47er]

Its easy to say "a superb cross from EHD, all Mame Diouf had to do was side-foot it into an empty net". It WAS a superb cross but that was because Mame Diouf had made such a superb and instinctive run to put him clear of defenders.

I honestly don't think Kalinic would have made that run. I really worry that he's a "nearly man'. Its always about to happen but it never does.

[RoverRich]

Niko pulled back though, found some space and offered EH Diouf another option with a possible cut back. It could just have easily gone back to him to sidefoot into the net from slightly further out then it would be a whole different story now. Maybe he knew that Mame would hit that space in the 6 yard box so he pulled back. You can't say Kalinic doesn't make that sort of run when that kind of run gave him his 1st goal against Chelsea in last year's Carling Cup. It will happen for him, I just hope its sooner rather than later...

[thenodrog]

Kalinic looked thoroughly fed-up on Saturday and I still believe he's a square peg in a round hole. He's not a target man and never will be.

What is he then?

[Amo]

What is he then?

He's a striker, not a centre-forward/target man. Someone like Davies, Heskey, Crouch etc. would suit Sam to a tee in this team, but whenever I watch Kalinic he looks uncomfortable. He could play the lone role up front, but he'll need a midfield that can actually pass through the middle and spread the play.

[joey_big_nose]

He's a striker, not a centre-forward/target man. Someone like Davies, Heskey, Crouch etc. would suit Sam to a tee in this team, but whenever I watch Kalinic he looks uncomfortable. He could play the lone role up front, but he'll need a midfield that can actually pass through the middle and spread the play.

Agreed. He is not someone who really fits into the system that well. This is a real problem because we are not going to change the system - if we start going 442 I think a lot of weaknesses would be exposed that 451 covers for.

So Kalinic either needs to get the skills together to work as a target man (and to be honest he did that quite well in the first two games), or adapt his game so he can play behind the striker. However he looks uncomfortable running with the ball so the latter option seems unlikely.

[deftangel]

Niko was well placed for Diouf to cut that ball back to him outside the six yard box on Saturday. I was hoping he would actually as it would do the boy's confidence a world of good getting two early goals. He'll be good for us, I'm quite convinced of it.

[AHoyle90]

Kalinic looked thoroughly fed-up on Saturday and I still believe he's a square peg in a round hole. He's not a target man and never will be.

100% agree, although his hold up play should have been better, were trying to make him into something he's not.

[Bobby G]

Niko is slowly becoming an "opportunist poacher" a la Inzaghi, something which I mentioned he had in his game in bits and pieces last season. His style really reminds me of the Italian legend.

[joey_big_nose]

Niko is slowly becoming an "opportunist poacher" a la Inzaghi, something which I mentioned he had in his game in bits and pieces last season. His style really reminds me of the Italian legend.

He is bulking up and consistently won the ball against City. Impressed - although he does seem to struggle against physical defenders.

His link up play is very good but he still isn't that convincing when he is trying to carry the ball or work a shot. Still it is all improving game by game.

[Bobby G]

His biggest asset is his hold up play, and first and second touches especially with his back to goal. I noticed he had bulked up yesterday when he went past Toure. He lacks a bit of composure in front of goal, but I think that can come with time, confidence and a few lucky breaks. Confidence boost for him to finish 90 minutes yesterday.