[Archived] Potential Summer Transfers (2010)

[MWGR2]

Considering Givet and Nozinz have been excellent successes I would say that is a bit harsh. We have spent well and performed well becuase of it.

Strikers have been a bit of a problem though with Di Santo and Kalinic flopping.

Kalinic flopping?! Pardon?!

[Bobby G]

Kalinic needs someone to take the goalscoring burden off his shoulders. Maybe someone with the experience of Janko wont be bad, although he has stalled in his development.

[Exiled_Rover]

Kalinic needs service!

[MarkBRFC]

Kalinic needs service!

In my opinion we would see the best of Kalinic playing off a target man in a 4-4-2, he'll never make a lone front man. I don't see the big man enploying that formation too often though so "impact" sub might he his role next season.

[joey_big_nose]

Kalinic flopping?! Pardon?!

I'm not saying he is a bad player but he hasn't scored goals and that is what we need. Agree he should continue to make progress next season but this season it is hard to say anything other than showning talent but little product so far. We have created quite a lot of chances but he has not finished them. Dunn has been a better golscorer.

It is quite accurate to say that he has been a bit of a flop so far.

[Hughesy]

Nicko, do you know anything about Seb Larsson's contract negotiations? I like the lad, think he can deliver a good ball and he's caused us problems down the years. Think he'd be worth a go on a freebie.

They had an option to add another 12 months to it, which they took up - as he said he wouldnt be signing a new deal....so he is probably available for a decent price.

He has good delivery on him, but has stalled abit over the last 2 years.

[vintageadidas]

I'm not saying he is a bad player but he hasn't scored goals and that is what we need. Agree he should continue to make progress next season but this season it is hard to say anything other than showning talent but little product so far. We have created quite a lot of chances but he has not finished them. Dunn has been a better golscorer.

It is quite accurate to say that he has been a bit of a flop so far.

Yes, do not back down JBN! I totally agree with you, at this present moment in time he is a flop as far as i am concerned. He has not shown me anything to change my mind either.

[sparkspakespoke]

Yes, do not back down JBN! I totally agree with you, at this present moment in time he is a flop as far as i am concerned. He has not shown me anything to change my mind either.

He most certainly is a flop at the moment. How many goals did he get last year? He may have some potential and he may play better in a different system but based on his performances last year, and the price we paid for him, he is a flop

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

He most certainly is a flop at the moment. How many goals did he get last year? He may have some potential and he may play better in a different system but based on his performances last year, and the price we paid for him, he is a flop

From zero to hero and back again in only a few games.

I agree the jury is still out - but it is far too early to describe him as a flop. His performances last season ranged from average (after he had bedded in)to good (A Villa match). If he continues like last season - £6m was too much - but wouldn't describe as a flop. However - if he fulfills some of the promise he showed at times and continues to improve - £6m may be a bargain.

[Hughesy]

From zero to hero and back again in only a few games.

I agree the jury is still out - but it is far too early to describe him as a flop. His performances last season ranged from average (after he had bedded in)to good (A Villa match). If he continues like last season - £6m was too much - but wouldn't describe as a flop. However - if he fulfills some of the promise he showed at times and continues to improve - £6m may be a bargain.

Agree totally - to call him a flop after playing his 1st season in bits, mainly as a lone striker is stupid.

If thats the case Ronaldo was a flop in his first season...or Henry was a flop!

I see alot of good signs in Kalinic - I know it didnt happen, but their were so many nearly last season it was riduculous - he had perfectly good goals taken off him against United & Spurs away.

[BPF]

The jury is indeed still out on Kalinic.

I don't think anyone will say that he shows no sign of being able to make it at this level (ala Di Santo). However, there are two major points which need assessing:

1. Can he fit into our style of play? He is certainly not lone striker material and never will be.

2. Six million has returned two league goals thus far. Those of you who rank him as our best player, I hope you are right, but we'll have to see.

I'm going to come under fire here but I think on plenty of occassions this season we have looked more dangerous when Roberts is on. Unless we get a striker in, we could really struggle for goals next season.

[Amo]

£6m for two league goals in 26 appearances is getting into Kevin Davies territory. I don't think it's entirely attributable to Kalinic, though. Playing without a midfield is hard work for any striker.

[modes98]

He most certainly is a flop at the moment. How many goals did he get last year? He may have some potential and he may play better in a different system but based on his performances last year, and the price we paid for him, he is a flop

21 starts returning 6 goals in your first season in a foreign league as a 21/22 year old is pretty good. Next season he will push on if we can create the chances for him.

We haven't paid £6m for him to do really well in season 1, that would have been a big bonus. He is a development prospect, so you want to see him progressing and scoring more and more goals. Which has did do last season.

Playing without a midfield is hard work for any striker.

Hard work? Without a midfield a striker like Kalinic can't be expected to score. He would have to beat all 4 defenders on his own and then slot it past the keeper.

To say the guy has talent is an understatement. He finds goal scoring positions for fun, once he starts to convert the majority of them we will have a top player, although not for long before Man City buy him for £200m.

[bluebruce]

I think you'll all be eating your words on Kalinic come the end of next season, if Sam has the sense to play him often enough. I think it is stat-fiddling to say he has only scored two goals when he has scored 6 in all competitions (and most of them against Prem opposition), and I think it is ignorance to forget how he had two perfectly fine goals disallowed and came extremely close to scoring several more. Yes, he only did score 2 in the Premiership, playing in patches and always being taken off early when playing well. But I think those who don't expect a lot more of him next season are not paying enough attention. Speaking of Davies though, yes, he was terrible with us. Remind me, how did he turn out when Sam got his hooks into him? And as a lone striker, mind?

[Veevs]

Firmly in the Kalinic camp here.. Good touch, gets into the right positions, young and will excel with a Guti style player being able to set him up.

I also have a feeling we will be changing tactics a bit next season, looking at the likes of Dindane etc I would seriously not be suprised to see us switch to more of a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 (with more mid support)

But back on subject.. Was there any further movement on the Boselli or other striker links?

[Kelbo]

I'm not saying he is a bad player but he hasn't scored goals and that is what we need. Agree he should continue to make progress next season but this season it is hard to say anything other than showning talent but little product so far. We have created quite a lot of chances but he has not finished them. Dunn has been a better golscorer.

It is quite accurate to say that he has been a bit of a flop so far.

Totally inaccurate, taking the ball continually with your back to goal is not his game, Dunny gets the ball facing the opposition goal, much easier to get a strike at goal!!

[sparkspakespoke]

Just to clarify I dont think that Kalinic is a bad player, I also think he has potential. I just think he had a bad season. Two league goals and one good peformance (Villa) is not a good enough return for 6 million, he should be able to play up front on his own as Sam was clearly alwas going to play that system. I am hopeful that next year will be better for him, but this season was poor.

[Ricky]

If Sam was always going to play him up front on his own why did he buy a player that isn't suited to that role. He should have bought a player comfortable playing in that position.

I rate the lad but think we'll have to change the way we play to get the best out of him, will Sam do that after just finishing 10th in the league.... I'm not so sure.

[Torgeir]

Big Sam said from the get-go that Kalinic needed time, and he was prepared to give it to him. He wasn't supposed to be a player for this season so I will reserve judgement until after the 2010/11 campaign.

So should you.

[Hughesy]

21 starts returning 6 goals in your first season in a foreign league as a 21/22 year old is pretty good. Next season he will push on if we can create the chances for him.

To say the guy has talent is an understatement. He finds goal scoring positions for fun, once he starts to convert the majority of them we will have a top player, although not for long before Man City buy him for £200m.

Agreed - He showed his talent with another 'goal' disallowed when he controlled, span and wack into the top corner!

I think you'll all be eating your words on Kalinic come the end of next season, if Sam has the sense to play him often enough. I think it is stat-fiddling to say he has only scored two goals when he has scored 6 in all competitions (and most of them against Prem opposition), and I think it is ignorance to forget how he had two perfectly fine goals disallowed and came extremely close to scoring several more. Yes, he only did score 2 in the Premiership, playing in patches and always being taken off early when playing well. But I think those who don't expect a lot more of him next season are not paying enough attention.

Spot on Blue Bruce - If Kalinic plays most games next season then id expect minimum of 15 goals in all comps.

[patrickvalery]

Lets put things into perspective. If we put aside the fee and imagine he'd come through the ranks we'd be gushing about him. His technical skill is extremely good for a young lad. This technique and his intelligence is what excites me most. Also having had a season of being the lone striker will have done wonders in toughening him up. I agree there is better lone striker types we could have had for £6m. However, as the Kevin Davies debacle last summer proved, the majority believe we should invest in youth. I am confident in what i have seen of him to predict he will have a big future. If we can enhance our attacking options in the summer he can interchange between positions. Drop deep and make things happen or actually get chances to get shots away facing the opposition goal.

This summer should be exciting times for us. We are actively looking for attacking options rather tahn personnel who are designed to defend. Lets try to enjoy some of this close season and see what next season brings.

[joey_big_nose]

Totally inaccurate, taking the ball continually with your back to goal is not his game, Dunny gets the ball facing the opposition goal, much easier to get a strike at goal!!

I am a bit confused by this. He has shown skill and ability but to be brutally honest Andrews adn Roberts have contributed more to our tenth place than Kalinic has.

2 goals, maybe a couple of assists, relatively little time on the pitch. When I say he is a flop it is not based on his talent as much as does he offer what we need? At the moment he does not.

I fully support him and want him to do well, but lets not delude ourself, we have to get vastly more out of him. That means Kalinic wokrking hard and intelligently to improve his effectiveness, and Sam finding a system that exploits his talents.

[The Rover of Finland]

Niko didn´t score much but he was a bit unlucky too. No stats but did anyone in PL have so many post shots and headers than him? He is skillful but still a littleweight against PL defenders. He will improve his lacks and become a very good striker. We need a new first choice but Niko is still big part of our future. At the moment he needs a striker alongside but not likely that Sam plays two up front. I liked 3-5-2 formation a lot at Molineux. Maybe used more next season. New striker and experienced midfielder is what we need most. Guti would be great but Sam will have a huge task to bring here.

[RIML]

Niko didn´t score much but he was a bit unlucky too. No stats but did anyone in PL have so many post shots and headers than him?

Going slightly off topic but yes Wayne Rooney trust Martin Tyler/Opta with the stats although this was back in February.

WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT?

In terms of the Premier League Nikola Kalinic has hit the woodwork on just two occasions. The boys at Opta have given us the stats you want and Wayne Rooney leads the way in terms of hitting the post or crossbar. The Manchester United striker has hit it six times this season, one more than Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia.

[andyroversmad]

There is a Kalinic thread, so please make use of that.

What a waste of time reading the last 2 pages.