[Archived] Nikola Kalinic

[Stylish kid in the Riot]

There seems to be quite a lot of comparing and complaining on here about who's better than who and differing stats being thrown about. What seems to be being missed is that theory that maybe the reason any of our strikers havent got the best scoring record over recent years is that our midfield has absolutely no creativity at all, Holliett in recent weeks excluded!

I honestly believe that with better players in the middle of the park then the goals would come. The trouble is that our midfield is pretty much an allardyce midfield where unlocking defences with through balls and clever vision wasnt part of the job spec.

I know it may sound silly but i believe we arent a million miles away from being a decent team and if we can stay up this season, sign a striker and midfielder we will be well on the way to being top 7 or 8 at least.

As for Kalinic, i like him a lot and think he would benefit from a regular partner and being given a decent run in the team. As for whats happened to him, no idea

[booth]

Has Kalanic scored in his most recent games for Blackburn Rovers? Hasnt played recently as deemed not good enough. Last scored a consolation goal after coming on as sub in a game we were losing heavily.

Is Kalanic our top scorer in the league? Yes with 5, hsrdly outstanding.

Is Kalanic our joint top scorer in all competitions? See above

Is Kalanic enjoying his best run of form internationally? Irrelevent

Has Kalanic had a decent run in the team under Steve Kean? Wasnt good enough to keep a place under Sam, same under Kean.

Who of our other strikers is looking ever like scoring? None - but neither does Kalinic - the others offer more to the team.

Five goals, hardly outstanding? It's more than the others have managed (in league). Perhaps if he had a run in the team he would have scored more. He scored two against West Brom away, maybe it would have been logical to play him in the next game he was available for selection.

Irrelevant that he's playing well internationally?

Wasn't good enough to keep his place under Sam? What you mean playing as a lone striker? Largely without midfield supporting him with any kind of service? Did you ever see Alan Shearer playing as a lone striker? I did a few times and he struggled. I also saw Chris Sutton playing as a lone striker and he struggled.

Or are you talking about in the cup where Kalanic was scoring when playing alongside another striker? Did you attend those games? If you had have done, you may have seen some potential.

Even ignoring the above, Kean hasn't given him a fair crack despite him scoring in the last couple of games he gave him an opportunity in.

Consolation goal? So the team are playing poorly and he manages to score a goal despite being on the pitch for less time than the other players. Isn't that a good thing from an individual perspective?

The others offer more to the team? Care to elaborate? I can't see this, from any of them. The only player that shows any kind of potential is Rochina who is looking great in the reserves. Benjani tries but struggles (and even he hasn't had a fair go). Roberts has had far too many chances. Mame Diouf, our other top scorer, also frozen out. The natural choice to replace Hoillet when he went off at the weekend. Roque - a mistake bringing him back, looks disinterested, Steve Keans signing so he's ever present. I hope he can come good however, for the clubs sake.

I'm amazed that at a time we need goals, some fans think it's a good thing to completely freeze out a striker from pitch, bench and reserves, who has scored the most goals - and is in good form for his national team.

[rebelmswar]

I suppose Torres is complete crap because of his goal scoring prowess at Chelsea.

[roverwhelmed]

CryerRovers tweet yesterday:

CryerRovers Andrew Cryer

Kean said Niko still has future at the club but that Benji looking more dangerous in training. Official line.

[rebelmswar]

CryerRovers tweet yesterday:

CryerRovers Andrew Cryer

Kean said Niko still has future at the club but that Benji looking more dangerous in training. Official line.

Just shut your face Kean.

Our opposition will be hanging themselves in fear.

[Baz]

Five goals, hardly outstanding? It's more than the others have managed (in league). Perhaps if he had a run in the team he would have scored more. He scored two against West Brom away, maybe it would have been logical to play him in the next game he was available for selection. - If he hadnt have got himself sent-off maybe he would have done. However by the time he was available Roque had been brought in, and that chance was gone.

Irrelevant that he's playing well internationally? Yes irrelevant, we play in the EPL against teams far better than most international teams.Wasn't good enough to keep his place under Sam? What you mean playing as a lone striker? Largely without midfield supporting him with any kind of service? Did you ever see Alan Shearer playing as a lone striker? I did a few times and he struggled. I also saw Chris Sutton playing as a lone striker and he struggled. Or are you talking about in the cup where Kalanic was scoring when playing alongside another striker? Did you attend those games? If you had have done, you may have seen some potential.

I've been going on Ewood since '85, so have seen a fair few strikers over the years - good, bad and ugly - I see little more potential than we have now from Kalinic and to me he's plainly not good enough. Yes he lost his place under Sam when we were, as now, playing 4-5-1 - thats a fact. He's not good enough under that system so lost his place - the decision of 2 managers (wether you like them or not). I guarantee you that had Shearer or Sutton been playing in a 4-5-1 for us they would have been good enough, both on goals scored and all round game to keep their places in the current team.

Even ignoring the above, Kean hasn't given him a fair crack despite him scoring in the last couple of games he gave him an opportunity in. - personally I've seen enough to know he's not good enough.

Consolation goal? So the team are playing poorly and he manages to score a goal despite being on the pitch for less time than the other players. Isn't that a good thing from an individual perspective? - Yes but maybe the Villa defenders were on cruise control by that point? Maybe not?

The others offer more to the team? Care to elaborate? I can't see this, from any of them. The only player that shows any kind of potential is Rochina who is looking great in the reserves. Benjani tries but struggles (and even he hasn't had a fair go). Roberts has had far too many chances. Mame Diouf, our other top scorer, also frozen out. The natural choice to replace Hoillet when he went off at the weekend. - OK - Roberts has pace and power, Mame similar, Benjani has a decent shot, a bit of pace and strength. Roque is good technically and very good in the air, also has the ability to hold the ball up under pressure. Rochina I havent seen yet.

Roque - a mistake bringing him back, looks disinterested, Steve Keans signing so he's ever present. I hope he can come good however, for the clubs sake.

I'm amazed that at a time we need goals, some fans think it's a good thing to completely freeze out a striker from pitch, bench and reserves, who has scored the most goals - and is in good form for his national team.

We are putting 3 or 4 strikers on the bench most weeks , he's obviously dropped below them in the managers ratings. Who is he keeping out of the croatia team, and what are their scoring records this season against EPL standard teams?

[Exiled in Toronto]

He scored 4 goals in 6 games, easily his best run of form for Rovers after he spent a while struggling to get to grips with the English game.

Then he got dropped, and hasn't been played since.

That's all we need to know.

It's all you need to know

He dropped himself with his stupid sending off. He was brought back, started away at Chelsea and was absolutely appalling, got subbed at halftime - a common occurrance this season - RSC played the 2nd half 10 times better and that was that. Plus we have reverted to one up front where he has failed repeatedly.

[Uddersfelt Blue]

I'm sorry but we simply cannot afford to alienate first team players like Kalinic and Givet

Kean, Andersen and Venkys have screwed up big time and we will suffer the consequences. Just hope they learn from their misatkes

Looking forward to a home game at the Galpharm Stadium next season and I will enjoy it just like many of the games I've watched over the past 47 years.

Frankly, I don't really care if we get relegated as long as we rebuild the team and get shut of some of the deadwood

[Tom]

I'm sorry but we simply cannot afford to alienate first team players like Kalinic and Givet

Kean, Andersen and Venkys have screwed up big time and we will suffer the consequences. Just hope they learn from their misatkes

Looking forward to a home game at the Galpharm Stadium next season and I will enjoy it just like many of the games I've watched over the past 47 years.

Frankly, I don't really care if we get relegated as long as we rebuild the team and get shut of some of the deadwood

It would seem Kean, Venkys and Anderson are pretty blameless in the Givet situation.

[Kelbo]

I'm sorry but we simply cannot afford to alienate first team players like Kalinic and Givet

Kean, Andersen and Venkys have screwed up big time and we will suffer the consequences. Just hope they learn from their misatkes

Looking forward to a home game at the Galpharm Stadium next season and I will enjoy it just like many of the games I've watched over the past 47 years.

Frankly, I don't really care if we get relegated as long as we rebuild the team and get shut of some of the deadwood

ie. Kean, Anderson, Venkeys for a start, plus Anderson Jnr etc

[Exiled in Toronto]

Just to add context to the oft quoted "4 goals in 6 games" he's on form etc, 2 of those goals were scored last year! Not quite sure how that automatically means he is in form in the middle of April.

They are all crap anyway - the goals that'll keep us up will come from elsewhere in the team

[booth]

If he hadnt have got himself sent-off maybe he would have done. However by the time he was available Roque had been brought in, and that chance was gone.

OK - Roberts has pace and power, Mame similar, Benjani has a decent shot, a bit of pace and strength. Roque is good technically and very good in the air, also has the ability to hold the ball up under pressure. Rochina I havent seen yet.

Roque hasn't exactly set the world alight himself as he.

And if we were playing 4-5-1, with the midfield not supporting the front man as we did under Allardyce (and sometimes under Kean) Shearer and Sutton would have struggled. Both thrived off the support from their strike partner. And both struggled in the few times they had to play alone upfront. It's a difficult role for any striker, regardless of age or quality.

I'm not saying Kalanic is a superstar, but he deserves a chance when we're struggling for goals and no one else is providing them. Especially as Kean is now playing two up front. Whenever Allardyce chose to play two up front in the cup matches last season NK was a different player.

Your reasons for preferring Roberts and Roque are based on past glories. Both are older now, and both are showing it. Roberts for example is 33. Good for short periods and even then his finishing is poor. Even in his younger days he struggled in the premier league. Roque is an expensive hark back to the Hughes days but without the goals. He doesn't look like a £90,000 a week man, and he's had one good season in the premier league. Both are getting on, and are past their peak. Kalinic on the other hand has room for improvement, has scored this season, and is scoring for his country.

Regardless of what you think about international football (which is dubious, to be polite), him scoring for his country, and under a quality manager like Bilic, is a positive thing. It should be used to build the lads confidence. Instead his confidence has been knocked and knocked.

He was brought back, started away at Chelsea and was absolutely appalling, got subbed at halftime - a common occurrance this season - RSC played the 2nd half 10 times better and that was that. Plus we have reverted to one up front where he has failed repeatedly.

At Chelsea... Great example because the whole team shone that day didn't they?! That was the game where Chris Samba gave a disaster of a backpass, which led to the goal from the corner? Should we have dropped him too, he was having a nightmare at the time.

[Torgeir]

I suppose Torres is complete crap because of his goal scoring prowess at Chelsea.

Daft comparison. Torres has proven himself on the world stage, Kalinic hasn't. As much as I would like to believe that Kalinic will eventually provide the goods, there's no guarantee that he will.

[67splitscreen]

Nicko, Nicko to be sold.?????

My link

[booth]

Nicko, Nicko to be sold.?????

My link

Hasn't Kean since said he still has a future at the club?

I would be very disappointed if Kalinic leaves and Roberts stays, very disappointed.

[JAL]

CryerRovers tweet yesterday:

CryerRovers Andrew Cryer

Kean said Niko still has future at the club but that Benji looking more dangerous in training. Official line.

How standards have fallen ! if there is a degree of accuracy in this then you have to question the defenders capabilities.

Crap at the back, crap up front is simply not my kind of entertainment.

[Baz]

And if we were playing 4-5-1, with the midfield not supporting the front man as we did under Allardyce (and sometimes under Kean) Shearer and Sutton would have struggled. Both thrived off the support from their strike partner. And both struggled in the few times they had to play alone upfront. It's a difficult role for any striker, regardless of age or quality.

I'm not saying Kalanic is a superstar, but he deserves a chance when we're struggling for goals and no one else is providing them. Especially as Kean is now playing two up front. Whenever Allardyce chose to play two up front in the cup matches last season NK was a different player.

Your reasons for preferring Roberts and Roque are based on past glories.

We've played 4-5-1 more often than not under Kean - and did so until Nelsen was injured on Saturday. Pointing out he's (very) slightly better in a 4-4-2 isnt much help when we mainly play 4-5-1.

Shearer played a fair bit of lone frontman at Newcastle with Bellamy supporting him from wide-right. Didnt really affect his scoring rate. Just on chances missed this season by Kalinic I reckon Shearer would be in double figures, and Shearer was capable of creating his own chances, and his allround play was great too. Have a look at some of the headed chances he missed away to Blackpool as one example I can think of straight away.

Cup matches are mainly played with reserve team sides now.

My preferences for the others are based on this seasons performances, and knowledge of their abilities and disadvantages.

As for international football - well to be polite - how many international teams would survive in the premier league? Greece, Chile, Australia, Norway and Japan are all in the top 25 in the FIFA rankings at the moment.

[booth]

We've played 4-5-1 more often than not under Kean - and did so until Nelsen was injured on Saturday. Pointing out he's (very) slightly better in a 4-4-2 isnt much help when we mainly play 4-5-1.

Shearer played a fair bit of lone frontman at Newcastle with Bellamy supporting him from wide-right. Didnt really affect his scoring rate. Just on chances missed this season by Kalinic I reckon Shearer would be in double figures, and Shearer was capable of creating his own chances, and his allround play was great too. Have a look at some of the headed chances he missed away to Blackpool as one example I can think of straight away.

Cup matches are mainly played with reserve team sides now.

Hang on, did you see the cup match against Chelsea last season?

And Shearer playing the lone frontman at Newcastle with Craig Bellamy? There's a huge contradiction somewhere there, I don't think I need to point it out.

Now I'm not for one moment saying Kalinic is as good as Shearer, I was saying I've seen Shearer play for Rovers upfront on his own, on very few occasions, and he didn't flourish as he did alongside Newell/Sutton. I was using that as an extreme example to point out that the lone striker role is bloody difficult, Shearer being one of the best strikers to grace the EPL.

However Bellamy would compliment any striker better than any of our forward players. How would Shearer fare playing lone striker with the service he'd get from our current team, or supported by say Jason Roberts? Better, yes, but would he be playing as well as he did with Newell/Sutton/Ferdinand/Bellamy?

4-5-1 only works if the midfield is supporting the front man. As it is, all of our forwards will struggle in that role. It just so happens that statistically Kalinic has struggled the least.

[Brfcrule1]

Baz wrote:

Has Kalanic scored in his most recent games for Blackburn Rovers? Hasnt played recently as deemed not good enough. Last scored a consolation goal after coming on as sub in a game we were losing heavily. THIS IS A FIRST YOU ARE BLAMING NIKO AS THE REASON FOR LOSING SO HEAVILY TO CHELSEA i THINK YOU WILL FIND IT IS THE MANAGER'S FAULT IF HE DOES SET THE TEAM UP RIGHT HARDLY RIGHT TO BLAME A STRIKER WHO WAS NOT EVEN ON THE PITCH!

Is Kalanic our top scorer in the league? Yes with 5, hardly outstanding. MAYBE NOT, BUT IT IS STILL 5 MORE THAN OUR OTHER STRIKERS WHO QUITE FRANKLY ARE PATHETIC JUNIOR EXCLUDED THE REST ARE DOG S****

Is Kalanic our joint top scorer in all competitions? See above

Is Kalanic enjoying his best run of form internationally? Irrelevent YES IT IS RELEVANT HE SCORES REGULARLY AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL IS THE CLUBS TOP SCORER & AT THE MOMENT NONE OF OUR STRIKERS ARE PUTTING THE BALL IN THE ONION SACK & DON'T LOOK LIKELY.

Has Kalanic had a decent run in the team under Steve Kean? Wasnt good enough to keep a place under Sam, same under Kean.HOW YOU CAN MAKE A STATEMENT LIKE THAT IS BEYOND ME HOW CAN YOU SAY HE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH IF HE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE IN THE 1ST TEAM WITH ANOTHER STRIKER?.

Who of our other strikers is looking ever like scoring? None - but neither does Kalinic - the others offer more to the team. THIS IS THE BEST ONE OF THE LOT HAVE YOU HAD A LOOK AT THE STATISTICS HE IS THE TOP SCORER SO THAT SLIGHTLY BLOWS YOUR THEORY UP IN SMOKE HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SCORING & THE BEST THE OTHERS OFFER MORE TO THE TEAM THIS WILL BE INTERESTING LIKE WHAT? jASE COULD NOT HIT A COW'S A*** WITH A BANJO ROCKY LOOKS TOTALLY UNINTERESTED BENJANI HE HAS HARDLY SET THE EPL ON FIRE & MAME DIOUF IS PACE AND NOTHING ELSE HAS HARDLY NO GOALSCORING RECORD TO BE PROUD OF OK THEY MAY HAVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL ATTRIBUTES BUT THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD WHAT WE NEED NOW IS STRIKERS WHO CAN PUT THE BALL IN THE BACK OF THE NET & NONE OF THEM LOOK LIKELY & ONLY GOALS NOW WILL KEEP US IN THE LEAGUE HOLD-UP PLAY IS ALL WELL AND GOOD BUT IF NO-ONE IS THERE TO PUT THE BALL IN THE BACK OF THE NET IT IS POINTLESS JUNIOR EXCLUDED.

Kean said Niko still has future at the club but that Benji looking more dangerous in training. Official line. THIS GUY REALLY IS CLUELESS CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THAT BALD HEADED T*** IT IS ALL WELL AND GOOD BEING GOOD IN TRAINING BUT IF YOU CAN'T REPLICATE THAT FORM ON THE PITCH THAT COUNTS FOR NOTHING HE SAID BEFORE ROQUE WAS SCORING LOTS IN TRAINING MAYBE SO BUT IF HE DOESN'T DO IT WHEN IT REALLY MATTERS IT COUNTS FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AS IF WE DO NOT START SCORING REGULARLY SOON POINTS WILL NOT COME SIMPLE AS THAT.

Booth said:Hasn't Kean since said he still has a future at the club?

I would be very disappointed if Kalinic leaves and Roberts stays, very disappointed.

THIS GUY SPEAKS PERFECT SENSE TO LOSE OUR TOP SCORER & KEEP A GUY WHO MISSES OPEN GOALS FOR FUN WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTING & WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK TO HAUNT US I STILL GET NIGHTMARES WONDERING HOW ROBERTS MISSED THAT OPEN GOAL AGAINST SUNDERLAND!.

[tony gale's mic]

Just to add context to the oft quoted "4 goals in 6 games" he's on form etc, 2 of those goals were scored last year! Not quite sure how that automatically means he is in form in the middle of April.

They are all crap anyway - the goals that'll keep us up will come from elsewhere in the team

Why does it matter when they were scored? Fact is he scored 4 goals in his last 6 appearances for Blackburn Rovers (ncluding 2 goals on the 28th December 2010) and didn't get a look in afterwards.

It's all you need to know

He dropped himself with his stupid sending off. He was brought back, started away at Chelsea and was absolutely appalling, got subbed at halftime - a common occurrance this season - RSC played the 2nd half 10 times better and that was that. Plus we have reverted to one up front where he has failed repeatedly.

RSC has been apalling this season and hasn't scored for Rovers.

In fact, Kalinic's goal tally of 5 league goals this season betters or matches Roque's season tally for every season bar one in his twelve seasons in European football. And Kalinic has barely got a look in for half the season.

[Stuart]

Anyone comparing Kalinic with Shearer is setting themselves up for a big disappointment...

[JMillZz]

Anyone comparing Kalinic with Shearer is setting themselves up for a big disappointment...

If you read the guys post he isn't comparing them at all. He was saying even Shearer, one of the league's best ever strikers, struggled being alone up top.

[den]

If you read the guys post he isn't comparing them at all. He was saying even Shearer, one of the league's best ever strikers, struggled being alone up top.

and that lines him up for a fall as well.

When did anyone see Shearer struggle - anywhere?

Shearer could hold the ball up anywhere on the pitch. He could hold off the toughest defenders. He could beat them in the air and turn them on the ground. He could outrun them as well. He could score from anywhere on the park and he could create his own chances. He had one of the hardest sots I've ever seen. He could/did score 30 league goals three seasons running.

So, what are we saying about Niko? He struggled like Niko does playing up front on his own? Tell me this. From those qualities that Shearer had, which ones does Niko have?

Shearer, struggle

[Kamy100]

Niko has been talking to Sportske Novosti:

"I don't know anything about me being transfer listed".

"I still have a contract for the next two years but, yes, if nothing changes before the summer, then I will have to find a new club.

"But, nobody has transfer listed me. The only truth is that I'm unhappy with my status.

"Why? Well, because I'm not playing, but I still believe in myself and I'm sure that I will soon be in the first XI again.

"I would just be happy if somebody would tell me why I have been pushed aside since my return from national team action."

[CAPT KAYOS]

Looking forward to a home game at the Galpharm Stadium next season and I will enjoy it just like many of the games I've watched over the past 47 years.

Frankly, I don't really care if we get relegated as long as we rebuild the team and get shut of some of the deadwood

UB - is the Gasworks' still open?

Always been a good away day in Udds!