[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[1864roverite]

The lad is going to be quality, I have said this since day 1. Some Rovers fans doubted his ability but as we can see, there is an allround improvement in his game AND he is scoring goals.

He is an instinctive finisher, we have now seen that. If Rovers can provide a supply line then he will get goals. Further to that with M Diouf onboard, between them we have a paor of players who both know the route to goal and for me thats an exciting prospect especially when we play teams that are of a similar status.

[Amo]

I don't know what's going on with Kalinic. Sam picked a 32 year-old unfit Benjani over our £6m young Croatian hopeful against Stoke.

I'm still convinced he won't make it here. Not through any fault of his own, but because our tactics fail to make the most of his ability. Hoping to be proved wrong!

[den]

I don't know what's going on with Kalinic. Sam picked a 32 year-old unfit Benjani over our £6m young Croatian hopeful against Stoke.

I'm still convinced he won't make it here. Not through any fault of his own, but because our tactics fail to make the most of his ability. Hoping to be proved wrong!

In 14 months Topman, he's hit the net in four PL games. Two of those goals were scored when the keeper had left an open goal and he rolled the ball in. The other two, if I remember right, were knocked in from around 6 yards out. He's been no threat whatsoever from outside the box and he's had a lot of poor games over those 14 months as well, so I'm not sure what you see in him. Of course it is probably all Sam's fault.

[Commondore]

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.

...or get some proper support from midfield.

[Amo]

In 14 months Topman, he's hit the net in four PL games. Two of those goals were scored when the keeper had left an open goal and he rolled the ball in. The other two, if I remember right, were knocked in from around 6 yards out. He's been no threat whatsoever from outside the box and he's had a lot of poor games over those 14 months as well, so I'm not sure what you see in him. Of course it is probably all Sam's fault.

I don't believe he's the finished article, Den. The talent is there for all to see, but he needs the right development, in a system that plays to his strengths. He hasn't received that during his Rovers career. You can tell from his body language that he doesn't enjoy playing that way, and who can blame him? It's a thankless task having the ball lobbed to you at head-height, with no one to support you. He's not a target man, no matter how hard Sam tries to mould him into one.

[Bobby G]

I think his biggest downfall is that physically he still needs to become stronger. He wont ever be a Drogba, but he needs to hold his own and not go down as easily as he currently does. If he is given time, and plays with a second striker, he will shine. But I promise you that his talent will shine through his career. Im not sure if it will be at Rovers though (like Forlan at United).

[den]

It's a thankless task having the ball lobbed to you at head-height, with no one to support you. He's not a target man, no matter how hard Sam tries to mould him into one.

But with that argument, if it were true that all he ever recieves are balls coming through at head height - which it isn't, you could defend the performances of any under achieving striker.

You have to show me this talent that is "there for all to see" - because I haven't seen it yet.

[Dan]

I think he'll come good. He needs service. Can't help thinking that he plays a lot like Matty Jansen(without the goals :-/)

[G Somerset Rover]

But with that argument, if it were true that all he ever recieves are balls coming through at head height - which it isn't, you could defend the performances of any under achieving striker.

You have to show me this talent that is "there for all to see" - because I haven't seen it yet.

I'd say 90% of the balls he receives are either head height or hit and hopes for him to chase down with at least two defenders breathing down his neck.

Den - it's a thankless task being the one up top in Rovers team right now.

[den]

I'd say 90% of the balls he receives are either head height or hit and hopes for him to chase down with at least two defenders breathing down his neck.

All centre forwards must have the strength and technique to control balls coming to them from all heights and all speeds. They also have to be able to run the channels and come out on top of their markers. If they can't do that reasonably well they have no chance.

No team can offer anything like a high percentage of perfectly weighted passes to their strikers. The vast majority of any strikers play is about getting to the ball first, battling with the defender and retaining posession. The second thing is to put the ball in the back of the net around 10-20 times a season.

in my opinion, of course.

[T4E]

Does the C on his shirt this season have the funky little ` above it?

[Amo]

All centre forwards must have the strength and technique to control balls coming to them from all heights and all speeds. They also have to be able to run the channels and come out on top of their markers. If they can't do that reasonably well they have no chance.

No team can offer anything like a high percentage of perfectly weighted passes to their strikers. The vast majority of any strikers play is about getting to the ball first, battling with the defender and retaining posession. The second thing is to put the ball in the back of the net around 10-20 times a season.

in my opinion, of course.

Yeah, except the majority of passes Kalinic deals with are aimless punts forward, where he has to turn on a sixpence, beat four defenders and rifle home. Sam always talks about lacking the money for a 10-15 goal a season striker, but I reckon Darren Bent would struggle to hit that playing this kind of football.

[67splitscreen]

I doubt Kali was ever bought to fulfil the role he is being asked to play.

The videos of him at Hajduk certainly showed him playing with a partner.

The majority of his goals were in and around the six yard box.

Now the vast amount of his time is spent with his back to goal, outside the18 yard box, chasing down defenders trying to win possession.

Going back to last summer, Dunny's performances changed the whole set up of our formation, according to Sam and since has persisted with it, this in turn changed what Sam needed as his front man.

If we had finished the previous season with a 4-5-1, I doubt Kali would have been bought, someone more in the Heskey, Crouch mold would have been sought, as others have mentioned.

IMO, when he was bought, Benni would have been the partner Sam was looking at to get the best out of Kali.

Events seem to have conspired against Kali bringing to the team what he does best.

He is definitely a square peg in ........ can't fault his effort though.

I doubt we will ever see Kali at his best.

[den]

I doubt we will ever see Kali at his best.

I think we are seeing it.

Yeah, except the majority of passes Kalinic deals with are aimless punts forward, where he has to turn on a sixpence, beat four defenders and rifle home. Sam always talks about lacking the money for a 10-15 goal a season striker, but I reckon Darren Bent would struggle to hit that playing this kind of football.

Methinks you exaggerate greatly - as usual.

[Amo]

Methinks you exaggerate greatly - as usual.

Not really, Den. I've seen enough of Sam's tenure to know we play hit and hope.

[A cup of beans]

I think we are seeing it.

Methinks you exaggerate greatly - as usual.

youve gotta qualify those statements, den.

ive travelled to almost every away game for the past 20 years, and shearer apart i dont think any forward weve had in that time couldve be able play well and score 10-15 goals a season.. in the current system... and i include santa cruz in that.

how many goals would cole, jansen, benni, newell, speedie, garner anyone you care to recall score ????

[67splitscreen]

I think we are seeing it.

In the system we play, you are probably correct, wrong tool for the job.

[den]

youve gotta qualify those statements, den.

ive travelled to almost every away game for the past 20 years, and shearer apart i dont think any forward weve had in that time couldve be able play well and score 10-15 goals a season.. in the current system... and i include santa cruz in that.

how many goals would cole, jansen, benni, newell, speedie, garner anyone you care to recall score ????

You know the real problem Zaccaius? Selling our best players over the last few seaons. While some couldn't wait to get their hands on the cash - because we could "definately improve the squad" with that money, others absolutely knew that selling your best players only leads to one scenario. We had Bentley, RSC, Bellamy, Warnock, Savage. Now we have Kalanic, Andrews, Benjani, Grella and Chimbonda.

As for the long hoofball that so many criticise, that's what you end up with when the players aren't technically good enough.

[G Somerset Rover]

As for the long hoofball that so many criticise, that's what you end up with when the players aren't technically good enough.

There is obviously an element of truth here but the players are still being told to launch it at every opportunity.

Re: Kalinic, I may be exaggerating slightly, but like Topman I just feel that his task is almost impossible on his own. Unless he's going to beat a minimum of two defenders each time and smash one home then he's never going to get over 10 goals in our system with the support and deliveries that he gets. As zaccaius says, unless we have a player up front of the calibre of Shearer then no striker is going to flourish in our system.

I don't think we'll ever find out how good Niko could be until we see him in a 4-4-2.

[LeChuck]

I don't think we'll ever find out how good Niko could be until we see him in a 4-4-2.

If he can only perform in a 4-4-2 then he won't have a career as a top level striker. There are barely any teams left that play it on a regular basis.

[A cup of beans]

You know the real problem Zaccaius?

you are correct, den, we have sold the crown jewells, but i dont agree with the technically inferior bit.

they are inferior to those previous players mentioned, but have more than enough abilty and would be more comfortable getting the ball down a playing a bit more.

its no coincidence that everton, rovers, stoke and bolton have shocking away records.

im not saying we should pass and move all game, but we need to keep possession away from home. im staggered big sam doesnt see that or has addressed it.

then again.. is he bothered??? bolton and newc were appalling away from home under him

(apart from when bolton used to come to ewood )

thats not the issue really , den.

would we be a playing better or more successful with previous rovers legends upfront ??

[Bobby G]

Against Stoke in the second half, all we were trying to do was hoof it up except when Olsson got it down the left. I am CERTAIN there is a strategy to this and its not some kind of instinctive reaction by the players themselves. That definitely hinders the effect that some people like Kalinic will have and that may be why he wasnt brought on.

[G Somerset Rover]

If he can only perform in a 4-4-2 then he won't have a career as a top level striker. There are barely any teams left that play it on a regular basis.

Good point, but I should have said or until we give him some decent service. He's so isolated for us that it's little wonder that he's not having more of an impact.

[Steve Moss]

In 14 months Topman, he's hit the net in four PL games.

To be fair, he wasn't in PL games for most of the first half of last season. And he is what? 2 in 6 for this season so far? Hardly terrible and is on track for a decent season at this rate.

I think Sam had Kalinic on the bench this weekend not to punish him but to rest him. I'd bet he's a starter the next match.

[RevidgeBlue]

To be fair, he wasn't in PL games for most of the first half of last season. And he is what? 2 in 6 for this season so far? Hardly terrible and is on track for a decent season at this rate.

I think Sam had Kalinic on the bench this weekend not to punish him but to rest him. I'd bet he's a starter the next match.

I like Kalinic but he been very disappointing this season imo. And his two goals have come as a result of the opposition keepers practically dropping the ball at his feet.