Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: ozzjim on September 01, 2013, 08:49:49 PM
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Well Kendrick pretty clear in his article that Kojac is the only one we are after tomorrow.
Can't say I am not a tad underwhelmed. Very low spend despite a number of big earners gone, I though the club would push the boat out for 1 Benteke like signing to add creativity.
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@MatKendrick: Not Kojak, or Prozac: Villa's surprise deadline day target is.... Libor Kozak #avfc http://t.co/VGwrOjK0xt http://t.co/TMlANKkwSq
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FFS. We need an attacking midfielder and/or a winger.
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Simon Dawkins mk II
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I must say I'm a bit surprised as i Thought we were ok for forwards and his 0 goals in 18 serie A games last season is hardly inspiring - good record in cups though.
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didn't someone say Faulkner said this last signing will be a game changer . errrr basketball ???
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Don't need a striker, we need an attacking midfielder.
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First time with a Lambert signing, I really fail to see the point. If someone like Ince is available at 8m, and they want Hutton and Ireland, do the deal and sort out a player who might make an impact on the first team. No real challenge to Gabby and Weimann or cover worried me a lot. Especially as Tonev looks like one for next season, just getting experience and up to speed this from what I have seen so far.
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In Lambert I trust.
I could say that i'm a touch disappointed, but with Benteke staying and the signings we have already made i'm not going to go all Rita Hayworth about it as i'm delighted with what we have.
And we have to remember that this is a long term project, we aren't suddenly going to sign every player we need for every position in 3 windows.
Think back to the last day of the McLeish reign and then look at how far we have come and what we are trying to do. I am one happy bunny with what we have done in a little over a year.
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Kendrick hasn't had a great summer regarding villa deals this year, lets hope we have a rabbit still to be pulled from the hat that will surprise us all.
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In Lambert I trust.
I could say that i'm a touch disappointed, but with Benteke staying and the signings we have already made i'm not going to go all Rita Hayworth about it as i'm delighted with what we have.
And we have to remember that this is a long term project, we aren't suddenly going to sign every player we need for every position in 3 windows.
Think back to the last day of the McLeish reign and then look at how far we have come and what we are trying to do. I am one happy bunny with what we have done in a little over a year.
I feel the same. For a long time, even the MON years when we get we were on the up and results were getting better I always felt we needed to make signings to get us excited. Now though with Lambert I feel confident with the early signings and progress we have already made that we are going to be fine and as you say it still work in progress.
If we get someone else in, great, if not, no worries.
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Maybe lambert is worried that if benteke gets a bad injury we may be light in that area although i would have thought helenius was bought partly as cover for him.
I wonder if Kozak will provide competition for Weimann and gabby , not sure if he can play a wider role but if lambert has targeted him he must have good reason.
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@MatKendrick: Just to clarify, if the Libor Kozak deal goes through, it would be a permanent move, not a loan #avfc
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A bit of a confusing one but... oh well.
I think we all agree that we need a playmaker and I actually would have liked another backup centre half.
I have no idea why we'd need this guy if none of our senior strikers are leaving. Except as a back up target man to Benteke, who can't pay every match I suppose.
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
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I really do not pretend to understand this one at all. Big bloke who heads the ball, which would require width. Just seems very, very odd to me.
Bracing themselves for a huge Benteke bid.
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4 million too. That is a lot for Lambert. Something isn't quite right with it.
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4 million too. That is a lot for Lambert. Something isn't quite right with it.
Do we know that it is £4million though?
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Euros perhaps?
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I can't help but think that something could happen with Benteke. Why else would we sign another man mountain centre forward? On a permanent deal?
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I really do not pretend to understand this one at all. Big bloke who heads the ball, which would require width. Just seems very, very odd to me.
Bracing themselves for a huge Benteke bid.
Dont say that mate,thought were out the woods..
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4 million too. That is a lot for Lambert. Something isn't quite right with it.
Either Lambert has decided we can play 4-2-4 or as you say, something is not quite right. The idea of any of our forwards leaving makes me sad. I like them all, including Bowery.
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@MatKendrick: Just to clarify, if the Libor Kozak deal goes through, it would be a permanent move, not a loan #avfc
They just have to fix the Libor rate and the deal's done
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Did Kozak score any of his Europa League goals against good teams? No league goals last season is worrying me a bit but apparently he only started 5 league games, so maybe it's not as bad as it sounds.
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Did Kozak score any of his Europa League goals against good teams? No league goals last season is worrying me a bit but apparently he only started 5 league games, so maybe it's not as bad as it sounds.
The word from the serie A fans I know* is that he is a very average player who is good at headers.
Then again I had heard and though Beneteke was shite when he arrived & Sylla so....
*ok one bloke on a message board
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I remember when a poster in Belgian thought that Benteke was worth a million tops when we bought him. In fact I remember quite a few saying Benteke was shit even after he'd been playing for us for a few months.
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I am going to hold out hope that a creative player arrives as well as this lump. I am also going to hope he is a good lump.
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I have to admit, after seeing Fabian Delph's transformation into a very good player following THREE AND A HALF YEARS of being completely rubbish, I'm inclined to give players a bit more time before I write them off.
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I have to admit, after seeing Fabian Delph's transformation into a very good player following THREE AND A HALF YEARS of being completely rubbish, I'm inclined to give players a bit more time before I write them off.
Me an all.
Somewhere now in China or somewhere, Marlon Harewood is bagging his fifteenth hat trick of the season and fulfilling that promise the "i'll judge him on what he does from now on, not what he did in the past" posse saw in him.
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I remember when a poster in Belgian thought that Benteke was worth a million tops when we bought him. In fact I remember quite a few saying Benteke was shit even after he'd been playing for us for a few months.
I did as well. Based on seeing him play for Belgium close to our signing. He was garbage and foozled up every chance he was fed by some of the best midfielders in the world during that game. I thought we were in for a dud. He has proved me wrong...so far.... I am ready to pounce any time you start failing tekkers , anytime ;)
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Maybe this is the guy we've been hankering to replace Emule ever since he bundled his way out of Bodymoor one last time.
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Watching clip usually makes me feel better. Watching clips of Kajak reminds me of the why?? feeling I had when MON signed Marlon
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Scratching my head over this one, if there's any truth in it that is
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Wonder what that means for Bowery?
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I was just thinking earlier in the week, "what would we do if benteke was out?"
Helenius just looks a very different type of player, and playing gabby there would involve a very different sort of style. Weimann couldn't do it. So I don't mind a new option as a target man. Will he come just to be backup though?
But he doesn't look to have great stats or video clips. Or even good ones.
I still want a creative central midfielder.
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Having seen the lazio players u tube vid. Can't see any redeeming features.
Oh well, in lambert we trust..
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Well didn't we buy Balaban after watching video footage? Maybe the same logic can work in reverse. If a video can be made to make a player look good a video could be made to make a player look bad...................I hope.
If true Lambert was know something about this guy.
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So we have written him off before he has even signed for us!
Lets just see what today brings.....
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Big lump Libor seems to have only made 5 starts for Lazio with 14 sub appearances last year,so the 0 in 18 might be misleading.Could also be used for a last 10 min. aerial bombardment if we need to break a side down.
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I think it's all a bit of hot air really. I'm not sure we'll see anyone else in. The Czech fella might not sound brilliant but my figuring is, that if he's playing for Lazio and is a Czech international he can't be all that bad. I'd guess he's a very Lambertesque sort of signing where we've seen something the club he's at perhaps hasn't. I don't think many were massively impressed with the Benteke videos before we signed, and again, youtube is a cruel mistress sometimes.
Sessegnon is a fairly decent player. I think he'd provide good competition to Gabby and Wiemann, though in all honesty I think N'Zogbia has just as much ability and perhaps just as much of a penchant for the inconsistent.
Bentdner? Ha ha. No. That would essentially be admitting that Helenius is the poor mans Bentdner. Bendtner is shite.
If Helenius goes out on loan I'd be surprised. If we get in another forward, then I could see the logic. Let Niklas get a couple of months regular playing time in the Championship to toughen him up, so he's ready to come back for Xmas and the busy period.
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I'm not gonna pretend to know anything about Kozak other than what I've read on here and wikipedia, but here's a couple of quick points:-
Sometimes, players simply don't fit a league/country/style of play and you don't see the best of them. His record with Opava and the various national sides, so excluding Italy, is 24 goals in 53 games. He went to Lazio as a 19 year old. We know Lambert has a good eye for spotting a player.
I'm not sure where he'd fit in exactly, but if Lambert thinks there's a playre there that's good enough for me.
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Put it this way: Bowery or a Czech international?
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Put it this way: Bowery or a Czech international?
I'd take the Czech mate :)
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"Lazio website Lalaziosiamonoi.it claims the deal struck for striker Libor Kozak is worth €9 million in total. €7.5 up front and €1.5 million in bonuses." If this is true then he must be highly rated by Lambo.
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Another striker though? Helenius hasn't had a go yet
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I'm not quite sure why everyone's so surprised by this one. The reality is that if Benteke gets injured / suspended / tired / out of form, we simply don't have an able deputy to come-in for him.
With the squad as it is, this would effectively mean changing our entire system due to the loss of one player. By the looks of things Kovac will give us the option to simply bring in a like-for-like player to Benteke (even if not as good), as-and-when needed.
If he proves to be a hit, it'll also give us a ready made replacement for when we cash-in on Benteke. If not, then I'm sure he'll still be a better squad option than Jordan Bowery.
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For me Helenius is very different to Benteke. It's why I think they could actually do quite well together if and when that happens.
I do think Benteke's physicality is important to how we play. As the focal point up front he wins most of his headers and holds the ball up well. That's I guess why Kojak might be a better option as a direct replacement if Injuries dictate.
It's a lot of money though. What you could argue is that he's more suited to the English game than the Italian game. He had an impact in the Europa league last season clearly, so he can't be a bad players.
I would guess if Kojak does arrive. Then we may well see Helenius go on loan temporarily. A month or two.
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I'm not quite sure why everyone's so surprised by this one. The reality is that if Benteke gets injured / suspended / tired / out of form, we simply don't have an able deputy to come-in for him.
With the squad as it is, this would effectively mean changing our entire system due to the loss of one player. By the looks of things Kovac will give us the option to simply bring in a like-for-like player to Benteke (even if not as good), as-and-when needed.
If he proves to be a hit, it'll also give us a ready made replacement for when we cash-in on Benteke. If not, then I'm sure he'll still be a better squad option than Jordan Bowery.
i'm surprised, all seems a bit odd to me
you would think that its getting to late now for a monster bid for Benteke,
but i'm a bit of a worry wort and cant help fearing the worst
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If the amount of bookings we've picked-up in the first few games is an indicator of what's to come, we're going to need at least 2 players for every position in order to cover suspensions.
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Put it this way: Bowery or a Czech international?
This is probably the only way it makes sense to me. Lambert's decided Bowery isn't good enough, or just not ready yet, and is bringing this guy in as an upgrade. If so, then I'd expect to see Jordan go out on loan, but the window for Championship loans doesn't close today, so this may happen after the other guy comes in.
Presuming there's any truth in it, of course!
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This is a strange 1 but maybe PL sees Helenius as the 10 we need. On top of that maybe Benteke wants to play a bit deeper and can be the number 10?
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"Kozák finished the season as the top scorer in the Europa League with 10 goals throughout the competition."
According to Wikipedia. So he's obviously no mug.
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This is a strange 1 but maybe PL sees Helenius as the 10 we need. On top of that maybe Benteke wants to play a bit deeper and can be the number 10?
We tried N'Zogbia in that role last season, but his lack of tracking back and work rate left us exposed as we weren't strong enough in midfield to cope with just having 2 there. Now, we may have improved and I like Westwood and Delph, but I still think any player infront of them needs to put a shift in. You tend to get that from a midfielder playing further forward than you do from a striker playing deeper.
I think Helenius, from what little I've seen of him, is suitable to it from an attacking perspective, but I do worry about us defensively if he did.
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This is a strange 1 but maybe PL sees Helenius as the 10 we need. On top of that maybe Benteke wants to play a bit deeper and can be the number 10?
When you've got the best goalscorer in Europe it'd be a bit stupid to have him playing deeper.
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This is a strange 1 but maybe PL sees Helenius as the 10 we need. On top of that maybe Benteke wants to play a bit deeper and can be the number 10?
He's capable. More than capable. Even if we played him wide as well you'd more than fancy him to come up with a goal or two. He looks great hitting the flanks, and he looks great dropping off. If we want to bombard teams a bit, then we could conceivably play Benteke off of Kozak.
Kozak to me seems a more immediate option. Perhaps Lambo's thinking is that Helenius isn't quite ready to be the main man if he gets thrown in if Tekkers is injured. Likewise whether Wiemann is a 15 goal striker is also up for debate, if he were to move more centrally. At the moment, if Benteke went out injured I'd worry about playing Wiemann as the middle man. He's not quite got the nous just yet. Gabby could play there effectively but doesn't score enough.
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Still struggling to see the point. Much prefer an Ince or Fisher type player than a big lump who seems to cost a lot!
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This is a strange 1 but maybe PL sees Helenius as the 10 we need. On top of that maybe Benteke wants to play a bit deeper and can be the number 10?
When you've got the best goalscorer in Europe it'd be a bit stupid to have him playing deeper.
If he dropped off he'd still score most of our goals to be honest. He's that good.
I would also imagine this wouldn't be a first option but perhaps an option in certain games, or during certain games. Throw Kozak on, have Benteke play just off him.
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"Kozák finished the season as the top scorer in the Europa League with 10 goals throughout the competition."
According to Wikipedia. So he's obviously no mug.
He also has a record of one goal every four games. That doesn't sound great but that is in Serie A and for the national team.
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It's nice that people are trying to see the good side of it but I don't remember reading many "we need a big, burly fella to cover for Benteke" posts prior to yesterday, especially one with an unimpressive scoring record.
As Rich says, it's a bit of a headscratcher akin to Harewood. MON had a lot of goodwill from the fans at the time so we didn't make a huge deal about it. Likewise "In Lambo We Trust +1" so I think people are going out of their way to make sense of it. The main difference I guess is we had loftier ambitions in 2007 and Harewood was less of an unknown quantity.
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This is a strange 1 but maybe PL sees Helenius as the 10 we need. On top of that maybe Benteke wants to play a bit deeper and can be the number 10?
When you've got the best goalscorer in Europe it'd be a bit stupid to have him playing deeper.
If he dropped off he'd still score most of our goals to be honest. He's that good.
I would also imagine this wouldn't be a first option but perhaps an option in certain games, or during certain games. Throw Kozak on, have Benteke play just off him.
It's worth noting I mean a genuine 10 (playing 5-10yards behind a main front man) rather than an attacking midfielder. We've seen that Benteke can bring players into the game and pick a pass, we know he can find space in the box, behind another target man who is occupying the defenders he could be superb there in short spells (the last 15-20minutes of a game when we're hunting for a goal). If you want to play someone there for 90 minutes then you need a midfielder instead but for short stints I can see the value of having the option. I'd like to see a midfielder in the mould as well (Will Hughes has been my choice all summer) but I can understand how another big centre forward gives us options.
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This would be Lambert's most expensive signing for us, wouldn't it?
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
he will help defend set peices
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I think Benteke still is - €8.5m wasn't it?
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This would be Lambert's most expensive signing for us, wouldn't it?
I'd be surprised if we are paying more for him than we paid for Benteke.
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We may well need to have two big buggers upfront, 4-3-1-2 type formation.
Benteke is getting more attention and tends to be picked up by the centre half who is more dominant in the air, if we've got two big fella's upfront then teams are either going to have problems against us.
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Still struggling to see the point. Much prefer an Ince or Fisher type player than a big lump who seems to cost a lot!
We all have our opinions and PL getting Kozac in will be proved one way or another in the next few weeks.
PL's done a decent job of buying players so far, so I hope this one will be a success as well. The fans don't have all the information Lambert has, so we are unlikely to see the reason Lambert's bought him until he plays and in what role he'll be asked to play.
Villa need a mid fielder but presumably, there wasn't anyone Lambert could afford or wanted. For me Ince is over rated.
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It's nice that people are trying to see the good side of it but I don't remember reading many "we need a big, burly fella to cover for Benteke" posts prior to yesterday, especially one with an unimpressive scoring record.
Our manager, who has a pretty damn good record in the transfer market, is about to sign a young International Striker from Serie A. I’m not quite sure what there is to not be happy about…?
Whether or not 'we need him' is surely secondary to the question of whether or not he'll improve our squad...?
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
Best form of defence is offence. 😃
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I imagine by signing another forward we are beginning to know what Spurs fans felt in signing yet another midfielder. That said, we do play with three forwards so I imagine we want some cover, flexibility and options in keeping that style of play. I would liked to have seen an attacking midfielder but I'll also be interested to see where Kozak fits in.
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Whether or not 'we need him' is surely secondary to the question of whether or not he'll improve our squad...?
Not really, though.
He might improve our front line by giving us more options, but if - for example - he's the only signing we've got money for, then we'd have been better off buying an attacking midfielder, which is what we really need.
I'm not necessarily making that argument, just pointing out that it's not really just about whether someone will improve our squad, it's about whether he'd improve our squad where we most need improvement.
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I just can't see Lambert spending a chunk of change on a player that he doesn't rate, he really doesn't strike me as an impulse buy type. And given his track record so far, if Lambert rates him then he's good enough for me.
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
Best form of defence is offence. 😃
Of attack. This is not America.
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According to someone in VT, the real fee is around 4-4,5 million quids, not 7,5 million euros (6,3 million quid).
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Maybe we're not looking at an attacking midfielder because Grealish is more in Lamberts plans than we think? He's certainly got the skills we need in there.
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
Best form of defence is offence. 😃
Don't get me wrong, a Czech International and player at a club like Lazio should have something about him, and he gets a welcome from me, but i really think we are failing to address the more important requirement of an experienced central defender or defensive central midfielder once again. And i think this place will be in uproar a few months down the line when good teams with good tactics keep slicing through us like a knife through butter like Liverpool did in the first half last week, and so many did last season. I think we are better for Okore and Luna, but still not quite there.
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
Best form of defence is offence. 😃
Don't get me wrong, a Czech International and player at a club like Lazio should have something about him, and he gets a welcome from me, but i really think we are failing to address the more important requirement of an experienced central defender or defensive central midfielder once again. And i think this place will be in uproar a few months down the line when good teams with good tactics keep slicing through us like a knife through butter like Liverpool did in the first half last week, and so many did last season. I think we are better for Okore and Luna, but still not quite there.
If you expect to see us playing in a way that stops goals like the liverpool one then I'm fairly sure you're going to be disappointed. If, however, you expect to see us creating chance like we did in the 2nd half vs Arsenal then you'll probably enjoy this season.
We don't need a central defender this window, we have 4 who all deserve a chance to prove themselves and we won't sign a midfield destroyer under Lambert, they just don't fit the model.
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£7 million fee is fairly substantial for us, I'd be expecting him to have an impact if he joins.
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Lambert has obviously seen the chance to sign a player that he rates. It provides cover for Benteke that we don't really have, is an upgrade on Bowery and is also perhaps seen by Lambert as a replacement for Benteke if he leaves next summer.
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I don't think the fee will be £7m. £5m max.
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I don't think the fee will be £7m. £5m max.
I trust you will be posting the shirt stretching pic that confirms the deal for later pws ?
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Has he signed yet?
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Has any fee reported since Lambert came here been close to what we actually paid?
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I thought we'd done with strikers who didn't score when Ivanhoe left. Very strange transfer.
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Maybe Lambert's gone a bit doolally and thinks he's buying Jan Koller from Dortmund?
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Maybe we're not looking at an attacking midfielder because Grealish is more in Lamberts plans than we think? He's certainly got the skills we need in there.
There are carr-others.
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Lambert has obviously seen the chance to sign a player that he rates. It provides cover for Benteke that we don't really have, is an upgrade on Bowery and is also perhaps seen by Lambert as a replacement for Benteke if he leaves next summer.
Sums it up nicely
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Welcome the new Rambo
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Maybe we're not looking at an attacking midfielder because Grealish is more in Lamberts plans than we think? He's certainly got the skills we need in there.
There are carr-others.
Not at the club right now though.
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
Best form of defence is offence. 😃
Don't get me wrong, a Czech International and player at a club like Lazio should have something about him, and he gets a welcome from me, but i really think we are failing to address the more important requirement of an experienced central defender or defensive central midfielder once again. And i think this place will be in uproar a few months down the line when good teams with good tactics keep slicing through us like a knife through butter like Liverpool did in the first half last week, and so many did last season. I think we are better for Okore and Luna, but still not quite there.
If you expect to see us playing in a way that stops goals like the liverpool one then I'm fairly sure you're going to be disappointed. If, however, you expect to see us creating chance like we did in the 2nd half vs Arsenal then you'll probably enjoy this season.
We don't need a central defender this window, we have 4 who all deserve a chance to prove themselves and we won't sign a midfield destroyer under Lambert, they just don't fit the model.
We need a captain. An experienced player who can lead the rest of the team. I would say that central mid would be preferable to centre back, as i agree that Okore looks good, but would take either. I wasn't so much concerned with the goal Liverpool scored as that was a quality move by Liverpool rather than bad defending, but i was concerned with how our lightweight looking and inexperienced midfield got overrun throughout the first half, which ultimately led to the defeat. We have some very talented players in that midfield but we lack the type of player i'm referring to.
I think a very promising squad will still be missing a vital ingredient if we don't address it.
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Yep, experienced defensive player needed, not another goddam forward.
Best form of defence is offence. 😃
Don't get me wrong, a Czech International and player at a club like Lazio should have something about him, and he gets a welcome from me, but i really think we are failing to address the more important requirement of an experienced central defender or defensive central midfielder once again. And i think this place will be in uproar a few months down the line when good teams with good tactics keep slicing through us like a knife through butter like Liverpool did in the first half last week, and so many did last season. I think we are better for Okore and Luna, but still not quite there.
If you expect to see us playing in a way that stops goals like the liverpool one then I'm fairly sure you're going to be disappointed. If, however, you expect to see us creating chance like we did in the 2nd half vs Arsenal then you'll probably enjoy this season.
We don't need a central defender this window, we have 4 who all deserve a chance to prove themselves and we won't sign a midfield destroyer under Lambert, they just don't fit the model.
We need a captain. An experienced player who can lead the rest of the team. I would say that central mid would be preferable to centre back, as i agree that Okore looks good, but would take either. I wasn't so much concerned with the goal Liverpool scored as that was a quality move by Liverpool rather than bad defending, but i was concerned with how our lightweight looking and inexperienced midfield got overrun throughout the first half, which ultimately led to the defeat. We have some very talented players in that midfield but we lack the type of player i'm referring to.
I think a very promising squad will still be missing a vital ingredient if we don't address it.
Agreed. Barry on loan would have been a good shout.
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I suppose this could be Benteke's replacement signed a year early. I can see the logic in that but I'm not sure this is the right guy based on his stats. Equally I can't say that he is rubbish either, as in I know nothing about him.
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Agreed on the Barry suggestion (but permanent 2 year deal). It would stick in the throat a bit, but he's exactly what we need right now.
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I suppose this could be Benteke's replacement signed a year early.
That had crossed my mind too.
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Agreed on the Barry suggestion (but permanent 2 year deal). It would stick in the throat a bit, but he's exactly what we need right now.
Not mobile enough by a number of degrees, our game, defensively, is to press the ball when they make mistakes and steal possession. Barry doesn't fit with that. It's also why we work quite well despite being such a youing side, the fitness plays a big part.
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These days I can't think of Barry without thinking of another man featuring in the news today.
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I still think Barry coming home would have been a very good move. Lead the team, teach Westwood a bit, release Gabby and Weimann over the top as he used to Young, and generally add a bit of calm to our game, which in truth we have lacked since Stan fell ill. I am sure this bloke is a decent player, Lambert has not bought a total duffer yet, but not what we need at all.
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It's an interesting one isn't it? I don't think anyone really expected another striker to come in. Maybe he thinks Helanius is going to take longer to adapt than he thought. In any case, it's definatley time to send Bowery out on loan.
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I still think Barry coming home would have been a very good move. Lead the team, teach Westwood a bit, release Gabby and Weimann over the top as he used to Young, and generally add a bit of calm to our game, which in truth we have lacked since Stan fell ill. I am sure this bloke is a decent player, Lambert has not bought a total duffer yet, but not what we need at all.
A bit of calm experience would be a help, yes, but Barry is far too immobile these days for our midfield.
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He probably deems Albrighton and Bowery as not up to it, Helenius and Tonev as back up for Gabby and Weimann and therefore needs a back up for Benteke.
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I still think Barry coming home would have been a very good move. Lead the team, teach Westwood a bit, release Gabby and Weimann over the top as he used to Young, and generally add a bit of calm to our game, which in truth we have lacked since Stan fell ill. I am sure this bloke is a decent player, Lambert has not bought a total duffer yet, but not what we need at all.
A bit of calm experience would be a help, yes, but Barry is far too immobile these days for our midfield.
I disagree. He is slow yes, but with Delph and KEA or Sylla or Westwood they would do much of his running. Positionally he is intelligent, and would be a good leader.
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It's an interesting one isn't it? I don't think anyone really expected another striker to come in. Maybe he thinks Helanius is going to take longer to adapt than he thought. In any case, it's definatley time to send Bowery out on loan.
Or, he sees Helenius as the the player in the hole, behind a large front striker.
There are now pletny of options in attacking MF and attack.
I'd like to see the plans for when we do not have possession.
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I thought we'd done with strikers who didn't score when Ivanhoe left. Very strange transfer.
He scored 10 goals in 11 starts in the Europa League including a hatrick against Stuttgart. Are you intimately aware of his performances in Serie A were? Did he start all of his games or was he struggling to find the net in sub run outs? His all competitions goal record was 10 in 30 last season, which is not far off Weimann's 12 in 38 and we have no idea about the sub/start balance of those and what kind of player he is (outright striker or someone who gets assists).
I find it interesting that people seem to think they know a player better than Lambert who hasn't really dropped many clangers in the transfer market. Especially when its a player nobody on here had heard of until yesterday and the limit of their scouting expertise is looking at YouTube and Wikipedia.
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I've never heard of him before but in Lambert we trust like others I would have liked Barry to come back just the sort of player we need.
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He probably deems Albrighton and Bowery as not up to it, Helenius and Tonev as back up for Gabby and Weimann and therefore needs a back up for Benteke.
The quotes H. hodgson put out from his faulkner chat suggested the signing would have a first team impact and make a difference , a back up reserve striker for around £7m doesn't fit into that bracket .
He may well be a good signing but i would have liked an attacking midfielder for a similar price who could make a bigger difference.
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Did you trust the tweets of HHodgson? Strange Eastie. I post tweets as rumour for conversation, but should not take them as the truth.
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Did you trust the tweets of HHodgson? Strange Eastie. I post tweets as rumour for conversation, but should not take them as the truth.
I didnt trust them as gospel but looking at his track record he seems a genuine enough guy and i have no reason to doubt him in what he said regarding faulkner - derby i believe would take £6m for will hughes and i would have been happier to take that option .
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If the price is anywhere near £7 million, that would indicate that PL sees him as more than a back up option.
He had two big forwards up top for Norwich, so perhaps he sees him as a partner for Benteke. Or it at least increases our options and gives us the scope to go that way, maybe even with Helenius behind that pair as a traditional no.10. Giving us just about the biggest front three in world football.
I agree, it doesn't seem an area where we need to be distributing what bit of money we have. But we thought the same about our forward line last year - bigger priorities, and all that. And that didn't turn out too bad in the end.
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derby i believe would take £6m for will hughes and i would have been happier to take that option .
Why exactly do you believe that?
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He probably deems Albrighton and Bowery as not up to it, Helenius and Tonev as back up for Gabby and Weimann and therefore needs a back up for Benteke.
The quotes H. hodgson put out from his faulkner chat suggested the signing would have a first team impact and make a difference , a back up reserve striker for around £7m doesn't fit into that bracket .
He may well be a good signing but i would have liked an attacking midfielder for a similar price who could make a bigger difference.
Who's saying this fella is a back-up for anyone? If he's an international and has a good scoring record in the Europa then I'd like to think he'll be playing regularly; perhaps Weimann's slot is under threat from Kozak.
I believe we have some great options up front; I'd like to see some more options when not in control of the ball
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Maybe we're not looking at an attacking midfielder because Grealish is more in Lamberts plans than we think? He's certainly got the skills we need in there.
There are carr-others.
Not at the club right now though.
Gardner?
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derby i believe would take £6m for will hughes and i would have been happier to take that option .
Why exactly do you believe that?
Because thats the minimum figure Nigel clough mentioned - he wouldn't consider less than £6m but i think would be tempted at that price - although this late in the window there would be no chance to spend the cash so its not going to happen in any case .
My main point being that if we have paid £7m for Kozak i would rather have used that cash for Hughes .
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I thought we'd done with strikers who didn't score when Ivanhoe left. Very strange transfer.
He scored 10 goals in 8 starts in the Europa League including a hatrick against Stuttgart. Are you intimately aware of his performances in Serie A were? Did he start all of his games or was he struggling to find the net in sub run outs? His all competitions goal record was 10 in 30 last season, which is not far off Weimann's 12 in 38 and we have no idea about the sub/start balance of those and what kind of player he is (outright striker or someone who gets assists).
I find it interesting that people seem to think they know a player better than Lambert who hasn't really dropped many clangers in the transfer market. Especially when its a player nobody on here had heard of until yesterday and the limit of their scouting expertise is looking at YouTube and Wikipedia.
Stats (http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/libor-kozak/leistungsdaten/spieler_63824_2012.html)
I don't know if that link will work exactly but:
5 starts - subbed off in 2 of those after 56 and 78 minutes.
14 subs appearances - 7 of which were 17minutes or less.
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derby i believe would take £6m for will hughes and i would have been happier to take that option .
Why exactly do you believe that?
Because thats the minimum figure Nigel clough mentioned - he wouldn't consider less than £6m but i think would be tempted at that price - although this late in the window there would be no chance to spend the cash so its not going to happen in any case .
My main point being that if we have paid £7m for Kozak i would rather have used that cash for Hughes .
I don't think it would be an either/or situation, i get the impression that the money is there if Lambert wants to spend it. Hughes would be a superb signing but it won't happen in this window, maybe in Jan, I think he'd definitely interest Lambert as he'd really work in our side.
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I hope to god Lambert isn't thinking of trying a two man midfield with four strikers again ...
But i'd welcome a change of tactics and this over reliance on playing two forwards out wide for sure
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Just like Benteke, he will be the new Bosko Balaban. You'd really think some folks would have learnt from what some said about Benteke a year ago that it is very daft to write off a player before he has had a chance.
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But i'd welcome a change of tactics and this over reliance on playing two forwards out wide for sure
I wouldn't want to change what's working for us to be honest. The front three we have now are fine.
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Just like Benteke, he will be the new Bosko Balaban. You'd really think some folks would have learnt from what some said about Benteke a year ago that it is very daft to write off a player before he has had a chance.
Usually.
(http://www.fansfc.com/UploadedImages/Players/herewood_633567286290625000.jpg)
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Just like Benteke, he will be the new Bosko Balaban. You'd really think some folks would have learnt from what some said about Benteke a year ago that it is very daft to write off a player before he has had a chance.
I'm not sure many are writing him off , I'm certainly not , just expressing a surprise that we signed another forward rather than an attacking midfielder - i hope Kozak does well for us and he gives us another option .
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Maybe we're not looking at an attacking midfielder because Grealish is more in Lamberts plans than we think? He's certainly got the skills we need in there.
There are carr-others.
Not at the club right now though.
Gardner?
Possibly, he really needs a run out on loan though for me, 2 injuries like he's suffered is mentally damaging as much as anything, I'd like to see him prove to himself he's ok at a championship side before being put into a premier league midfield (the games are so tight in midfield that you get no time to find your feet).
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We're paying nowhere near 7m for Kozak, closer to 4m tops.
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Hmmm. What concerns is that PL did all his business very early, unusual for us and impressive. This late bid for a big striker obviously brings concerns about Benteke and his immediate future (?). Or is that really done and dusted.
Still, we do need injury cover and the Prem will work Benteke out, so it's another option maybe.
I still think we need a nasty, leader, fighter type player in midfield. We have been too nice for years now. BTW good luck to wee BB.
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He probably deems Albrighton and Bowery as not up to it, Helenius and Tonev as back up for Gabby and Weimann and therefore needs a back up for Benteke.
The quotes H. hodgson put out from his faulkner chat suggested the signing would have a first team impact and make a difference , a back up reserve striker for around £7m doesn't fit into that bracket .
He may well be a good signing but i would have liked an attacking midfielder for a similar price who could make a bigger difference.
Who's saying this fella is a back-up for anyone? If he's an international and has a good scoring record in the Europa then I'd like to think he'll be playing regularly; perhaps Weimann's slot is under threat from Kozak.
I believe we have some great options up front; I'd like to see some more options when not in control of the ball
He will have a first team impact, he'll be replacing Benteke when we get our 10pm monster bid and the difference he'll make to the balance sheet is about £33 million!! ;)
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Just like Benteke, he will be the new Bosko Balaban. You'd really think some folks would have learnt from what some said about Benteke a year ago that it is very daft to write off a player before he has had a chance.
Usually.
(http://www.fansfc.com/UploadedImages/Players/herewood_633567286290625000.jpg)
Of course, but we all knew plenty about him as he was about 28 when he signed and had played in this country his whole career. I'm willing to bet some of those doubting Kozak haven't seen him play more than a few times, if that. I've certainly never seen him play that I know of.
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We're paying nowhere near 7m for Kozak, closer to 4m tops.
I think 9m euros was the fee quoted on a lazio website earlier which may well be where nursey and kendrick are getting the fee from .
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We're paying nowhere near 7m for Kozak, closer to 4m tops.
I said the same a few pages back, but I went for £5m tops.
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We're paying nowhere near 7m for Kozak, closer to 4m tops.
I think 9m euros was the fee quoted on a lazio website earlier which may well be where nursey and kendrick are getting the fee from .
7 million euros at best. Cover/competition for Benteke, good business IMO
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We're paying nowhere near 7m for Kozak, closer to 4m tops.
I think 9m euros was the fee quoted on a lazio website earlier which may well be where nursey and kendrick are getting the fee from .
As a rule of thumb the selling club will always include all potential bonus payments in the fee. The initial fee will be a lot lower than that I'm sure.
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Lambert doesn't strike me as a panic buy manager. What I think he is doing is building a squad of players with the long term in mind. That may mean that if the player he wants for a certain role (the mystical #10 for example) isn't available, or available at the right price he will wait. Frustrating for us right now but for long have we complained about the lack of a squad and competition for places?
Considering our squad and where we were, and more importantly what the possible future was if things didn't change fast, when the final whistle blew at Carrow Road 16 months or so ago, i'm absolutely delighted with where we are right now and what we have.
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Any pictures from BMH?
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Any pictures from BMH?
I doubt there will be any until he has officially signed.
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Well obviously we'll give the lad our support and hope for the best, but the instinct is that this looks a bit profligate.
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Has Archie been on to give us his verdict yet?
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Lambert doesn't strike me as a panic buy manager. What I think he is doing is building a squad of players with the long term in mind. That may mean that if the player he wants for a certain role (the mystical #10 for example) isn't available, or available at the right price he will wait. Frustrating for us right now but for long have we complained about the lack of a squad and competition for places?
Considering our squad and where we were, and more importantly what the possible future was if things didn't change fast, when the final whistle blew at Carrow Road 16 months or so ago, i'm absolutely delighted with where we are right now and what we have.
Agree - we have had a very good 6-7 months, even if the first 8 months (January especially) of PL's reign were amongst the most painful of the last 25 years.
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Maybe we're not looking at an attacking midfielder because Grealish is more in Lamberts plans than we think? He's certainly got the skills we need in there.
There are carr-others.
Not at the club right now though.
Spoilsport.
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If it really is £7m, well, that would equal his previous highest transfer which was also on a big striker...but at 24, with a slightly Heskeyish record, is this really the best - and most required positionally - we could have got for that money? I have to say, extremely sceptical about this.
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If we have £7 mill for another forward I assume we must have plenty for an attacking mid when the right one comes along.
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Has he signed yet?
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A couple of reports say that he's a versatile attacking player, so I wonder if his record is as much a product of being played on the wing rather than just being a bit like Heskey? It also suggests to me that he provides an option to rotate in for any of our attacking three rather than just Benteke.
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@MatKendrick: Only a matter of time before Libor Kozak is unveiled as an #avfc player, I think. Just finalising the finer details at the Heath of Bodymoor
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There's a been a question mark over how the majority of our signings would adapt to the Premiership, so far this summer. Tonev from the Polish league, Helenius and Okore from Denmark and Bacuna from Holland. Now we’re on the brink of signing a full International form Lazio. Aside from his bitty league record, he was the top-scorer in last season’s Europa League (including a hat-trick against Stuttgart). Gven Lambert’s recruitment history thus far, I’m actually quite excited about this one.
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It's not a bitty record, it's an average-to-poor record. Look, I'm glad it's Lambert and not me doing the transfers because he clearly knows what he's doing, but I think this is a misstep. We already have a tendency to lump the ball aerially - we don't need any more encouragement.
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Have you seen him play?
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It's not a bitty record, it's an average-to-poor record. Look, I'm glad it's Lambert and not me doing the transfers because he clearly knows what he's doing, but I think this is a misstep. We already have a tendency to lump the ball aerially - we don't need any more encouragement.
If he doesn't play as an out and out centre forward it's not that bad.
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Yes, I watch a depressing and life-wasting amount of Serie A. However, I haven't seen him play all that much because frankly he doesn't play all that much. He's not terrible, decent first touch and able in the air and all that - it's just that he's another bit-part big striker who lumbers on when the game's being chased and is perennially uninspiring. The odd good game, but I think Lazio will be delighted with £7m (and I hate it when Lazio are delighted with anything).
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It's not a bitty record, it's an average-to-poor record. Look, I'm glad it's Lambert and not me doing the transfers because he clearly knows what he's doing, but I think this is a misstep. We already have a tendency to lump the ball aerially - we don't need any more encouragement.
Give Lambert a chance on this Monty - after many years / multiple managers he finally got Gabby into his best position.
His record on front players is pretty smart
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Yes, I watch a depressing and life-wasting amount of Serie A. However, I haven't seen him play all that much because frankly he doesn't play all that much. He's not terrible, decent first touch and able in the air and all that - it's just that he's another bit-part big striker who lumbers on when the game's being chased and is perennially uninspiring. The odd good game, but I think Lazio will be delighted with £7m (and I hate it when Lazio are delighted with anything).
That description has a familiar tone, I don't think it's far off what Belgian Villa was saying about Benteke this time last year.
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Yes, I watch a depressing and life-wasting amount of Serie A. However, I haven't seen him play all that much because frankly he doesn't play all that much. He's not terrible, decent first touch and able in the air and all that - it's just that he's another bit-part big striker who lumbers on when the game's being chased and is perennially uninspiring. The odd good game, but I think Lazio will be delighted with £7m (and I hate it when Lazio are delighted with anything).
Thanks for that. Now I'm a bit more dubious about him. What's his pace like?
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It's not a bitty record, it's an average-to-poor record. Look, I'm glad it's Lambert and not me doing the transfers because he clearly knows what he's doing, but I think this is a misstep. We already have a tendency to lump the ball aerially - we don't need any more encouragement.
Give Lambert a chance on this Monty - after many years / multiple managers he finally got Gabby into his best position.
His record on front players is pretty smart
He does have a good record but he also has a tendancy to overrate size. It paid off with Benteke and with resurrecting the career of Grant Holt, but it looks less clever with Steve Morison and Jordan Bowery.
We'll see on Kozak, but my first instinct is that we don't really need another big man centre forward. Also, he's not a full international - got called up for the Czech squad but didn't actually play. Of course, I hope I'm wrong and he's a genius, but we'll see.
Thanks for that. Now I'm a bit more dubious about him. What's his pace like?
It isn't, particularly. Not bad when into his stride but takes him a while to get there, very slow acceleration. Bit like Carew.
That description has a familiar tone, I don't think it's far off what Belgian Villa was saying about Benteke this time last year.
Well here's hoping, but Benteke was two years younger and already a goalscoring full international for a much better national side.
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I think Paul Lambert realised we need another big striker upfront to help Benteke to Bully two central defenders easier. I mean Liverpool mark Benteke out and he become ineffective as he can't bully Toure. Plus it might help us to improve aerial strength for set pieces and knock down ball for Benteke to pouch. Don't know much about the Kozak
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We shall see. I am uninspired purely on the view position wise it seems an odd signing. Lambert has a great record and is a bargain hunter so he must have something.
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It's not a bitty record, it's an average-to-poor record. Look, I'm glad it's Lambert and not me doing the transfers because he clearly knows what he's doing, but I think this is a misstep. We already have a tendency to lump the ball aerially - we don't need any more encouragement.
Give Lambert a chance on this Monty - after many years / multiple managers he finally got Gabby into his best position.
His record on front players is pretty smart
He does have a good record but he also has a tendancy to overrate size. It paid off with Benteke and with resurrecting the career of Grant Holt, but it looks less clever with Steve Morison and Jordan Bowery.
We'll see on Kozak, but my first instinct is that we don't really need another big man centre forward. Also, he's not a full international - got called up for the Czech squad but didn't actually play. Of course, I hope I'm wrong and he's a genius, but we'll see.
Thanks for that. Now I'm a bit more dubious about him. What's his pace like?
It isn't, particularly. Not bad when into his stride but takes him a while to get there, very slow acceleration. Bit like Carew.
That description has a familiar tone, I don't think it's far off what Belgian Villa was saying about Benteke this time last year.
Well here's hoping, but Benteke was two years younger and already a goalscoring full international for a much better national side.
I thought he had 4 caps at full international level?
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You may want to turn the music down, or maybe up. Depends how deaf you want to be.
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Eastie, I must be wearing my orthopaedic shoes because I stand corrected.
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He'll need a good 3-6 months to settle in to the club and a different Country/Language, particularly arriving very late in the transfer window (more MON's style!). Can't see him starting too many games, but I'll trust PL's judgement on this one.
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It's not a bitty record, it's an average-to-poor record. Look, I'm glad it's Lambert and not me doing the transfers because he clearly knows what he's doing, but I think this is a misstep. We already have a tendency to lump the ball aerially - we don't need any more encouragement.
Give Lambert a chance on this Monty - after many years / multiple managers he finally got Gabby into his best position.
His record on front players is pretty smart
He does have a good record but he also has a tendancy to overrate size. It paid off with Benteke and with resurrecting the career of Grant Holt, but it looks less clever with Steve Morison and Jordan Bowery.
We'll see on Kozak, but my first instinct is that we don't really need another big man centre forward. Also, he's not a full international - got called up for the Czech squad but didn't actually play. Of course, I hope I'm wrong and he's a genius, but we'll see.
Thanks for that. Now I'm a bit more dubious about him. What's his pace like?
It isn't, particularly. Not bad when into his stride but takes him a while to get there, very slow acceleration. Bit like Carew.
That description has a familiar tone, I don't think it's far off what Belgian Villa was saying about Benteke this time last year.
Well here's hoping, but Benteke was two years younger and already a goalscoring full international for a much better national side.
I know what you're saying, but signing players for value means judging them in a way few others do. Maybe they've noticed him improving, and have decided to strike while they can get him on the cheap.
We seem adept at not just finding golden nuggets, but exploiting contractual clauses too.
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It's not a bitty record, it's an average-to-poor record. Look, I'm glad it's Lambert and not me doing the transfers because he clearly knows what he's doing, but I think this is a misstep. We already have a tendency to lump the ball aerially - we don't need any more encouragement.
Give Lambert a chance on this Monty - after many years / multiple managers he finally got Gabby into his best position.
His record on front players is pretty smart
He does have a good record but he also has a tendancy to overrate size. It paid off with Benteke and with resurrecting the career of Grant Holt, but it looks less clever with Steve Morison and Jordan Bowery.
Take your point about Bowery - since he's young I would imagine PL will give him another 6-9 months, see if he shows signs of devleopment and - if not - and then sell on; possibly at a small profit.
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He'll need a good 3-6 months to settle in to the club and a different Country/Language, particularly arriving very late in the transfer window (more MON's style!). Can't see him starting too many games, but I'll trust PL's judgement on this one.
Maybe with that in mind he's being brought in as a longer term successor for when Benteke leaves?
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You can hardly use Bowery to judge his ability in the transfer market. A young kid who cost virtually nothing and if we sold him today we make our money back on. The kind of no lose punt we should have been making far more often over the years.
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Kozák's goal-scoring record isn't too dissimilar to Andy Wiemann's. Would we all be turning our noses-up if we were about to sign him...?
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Bowery would hold his own in the championship i think and would have benefitted from a loan move - as pws says , a no risk deal and worth the punt on him.
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You can hardly use Bowery to judge his ability in the transfer market. A young kid who cost virtually nothing and if we sold him today we make our money back on. The kind of no lose punt we should have been making far more often over the years.
I'm merely saying that he has a definite tendancy to overvalue size in players. It's been present throughout his career and Bowery seems definitely an example to me.
LeeB, I like your 'strike while the iron's hot' thesis there. There's no question that he has been improving, and people had high hopes for him as an 18 year old or so. I hope you're right, it would be a very astute signing under those circs. I just hope it transpires that way.
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Bowery would hold his own in the championship i think and would have benefitted from a loan move - as pws says , a no risk deal and worth the punt on him.
I would like us to see us loan Bowery out to a Championship club now. One that will give him a run of games.
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You can hardly use Bowery to judge his ability in the transfer market. A young kid who cost virtually nothing and if we sold him today we make our money back on. The kind of no lose punt we should have been making far more often over the years.
I'm merely saying that he has a definite tendancy to overvalue size in players. It's been present throughout his career and Bowery seems definitely an example to me.
LeeB, I like your 'strike while the iron's hot' thesis there. There's no question that he has been improving, and people had high hopes for him as an 18 year old or so. I hope you're right, it would be a very astute signing under those circs. I just hope it transpires that way.
I like it too, as it's fits in with the belief that we're building for the long term.
And just going back to Lambert overrating powerful strikers, it's a German thing innit? All of their successful teams, domestic and international, seem to have some big lumbering ox who nobody rates yet he scores a truckload of goals.
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I would take it that if we are spending 7 mil now, it is giving us time to bed him in before Benteke is off in Jan.
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I would take it that we are building a squad for the long term and that Benteke will be a Villa player come February.
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I've seen nothing at all from Bowery to suggest he’d even make much of an impact n the Championship. He seems to have no weaknesses as a player, but no really strengths either. He was pretty much anonymous in all of the pre-season games he featured in, when that was his chance to really get himself noticed. Come to think of it, you never hear of him making much of an impact when he plays for the U21s either.
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I would take it that if we are spending 7 mil now, it is giving us time to bed him in before Benteke is off in Jan.
Cant see him being sold until at least after the World Cup finals next summer .
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I would take it that we are building a squad for the long term and that Benteke will be a Villa player come February.
Normally I would agree, but the like for like type and the fee make me suspicious. We need that money spent elsewhere IMO. It's good forward planning because if we tried to replace Benteke with a great wedge of cash in our back pocket, we all know what would happen.
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Kozac seems to be a decent goal scorer when he starts he only started 5 out oh his 19 league apps and played on average 38 mins a game. He was the europa league top scorer last season with 10/11 games he isnt a replacement foe benteke at all I dont think. Benteke is going to get kicked alot this year and if hes out for a month we only have helanius. 5 million is nothing these days and his reported salery is only 300k a year in italy so not a massive problem if he fails to fit in. All things consideres cardiff are about to pay 4 million for odemwinge! Im glad we are shopping abroad. I also dont think this guy is our only planned signing I think an attacking midfielder will still arrive. Maybe even that other lad from inter.
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He was also linked with AC Milan earlier in the summer.
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I thought we'd done with strikers who didn't score when Ivanhoe left. Very strange transfer.
He scored 10 goals in 11 starts in the Europa League including a hatrick against Stuttgart. Are you intimately aware of his performances in Serie A were? Did he start all of his games or was he struggling to find the net in sub run outs? His all competitions goal record was 10 in 30 last season, which is not far off Weimann's 12 in 38 and we have no idea about the sub/start balance of those and what kind of player he is (outright striker or someone who gets assists).
I find it interesting that people seem to think they know a player better than Lambert who hasn't really dropped many clangers in the transfer market. Especially when its a player nobody on here had heard of until yesterday and the limit of their scouting expertise is looking at YouTube and Wikipedia.
I'm simply going off the fact that since he moved to Italy from the Czech 2nd division he's scored 14 goals in 88 appearances - that's Ivanhoe territory. Yes he had a great Europa League campaign last season but footballing history is littered with players who won golden boots in individual tournaments and did sod all else through their career. Didn't Milan Baros win the golden boot at a Euro Championships?!
And if your argument is that he doesn't start games, well why is that? I'm not sure pointing out that better players got the nod ahead of him is the best way of justifying his ability.
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I'd rather have had Finnbogason for the same sort of outlay
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I thought we'd done with strikers who didn't score when Ivanhoe left. Very strange transfer.
He scored 10 goals in 11 starts in the Europa League including a hatrick against Stuttgart. Are you intimately aware of his performances in Serie A were? Did he start all of his games or was he struggling to find the net in sub run outs? His all competitions goal record was 10 in 30 last season, which is not far off Weimann's 12 in 38 and we have no idea about the sub/start balance of those and what kind of player he is (outright striker or someone who gets assists).
I find it interesting that people seem to think they know a player better than Lambert who hasn't really dropped many clangers in the transfer market. Especially when its a player nobody on here had heard of until yesterday and the limit of their scouting expertise is looking at YouTube and Wikipedia.
I'm simply going off the fact that since he moved to Italy from the Czech 2nd division he's scored 14 goals in 88 appearances - that's Ivanhoe territory. Yes he had a great Europa League campaign last season but footballing history is littered with players who won golden boots in individual tournaments and did sod all else through their career. Didn't Milan Baros win the golden boot at a Euro Championships?!
And if your argument is that he doesn't start games, well why is that? I'm not sure pointing out that better players got the nod ahead of him is the best way of justifying his ability.
When the player in front of you is Miroslav Klose then it's probably a fair way of justifying that he hasn't started. Klose is after all, the other big forward at Lazio. Kozak hasn't been able to get into the line up ahead of him but that shouldn't be a way of justifying that he's not good enough.
I would also suggest that the English game is more suited to a player like Kozak. Hopefully he'll come and have a good impact. He looks useful in the air. It's a bit early to be comparing him to Ivanhoe. Heskey's major problem, has always been injuries. If he could have stayed fit and healthy throughout a full season he'd have been a far more useful option over the last 5-10 years, regardless of not being a regular scorer.
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Have we signed Kojak yet?
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Scored a hat trick against Stuttgart last season too
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1 goal in 4 for the Czech Republic.
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Lambert has obviously seen something he likes there. It makes me wonder a little bit what Helenius and Bowery were bought for, but I'm happy to see how he turns out.
I do wonder if that's really all our business done for the day, though. I think we've a decent squad but not many options when we need to unlock a defence who aren't making things easy for us.
I don't think we are necessarily going to struggle in the league without that player, but I think we'd do considerably better if we had one.
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I have always had the feeling that Bowery would join the long list of forgotten players at Villa down the years. Not quite a Boulding but you catch my drift?
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Bout time Woodward came out with his cheesy interview - maybe the translator is struggling to understand our jack.
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Lambert has obviously seen something he likes there. It makes me wonder a little bit what Helenius and Bowery were bought for, but I'm happy to see how he turns out.
I think Helenius is one for the future but I never understood the Bowery signing and I still don't.
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Lambert has obviously seen something he likes there. It makes me wonder a little bit what Helenius and Bowery were bought for, but I'm happy to see how he turns out.
I think Helenius is one for the future but I never understood the Bowery signing and I still don't.
At that price it was no real risk , he wasnt that bad , not a premier player but there were far worse than him last season.
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I just hope his arrival means doesn't mean we're turning our back on sexy football.
If he can make anything like an impression that his compatriot, the much-maligned Milan did for us, (different decade but same money and same age I think) I'll be quite happy. Just keep him out of the Mailbox. That's what did for Baros.
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Lambert has obviously seen something he likes there. It makes me wonder a little bit what Helenius and Bowery were bought for, but I'm happy to see how he turns out.
I think Helenius is one for the future but I never understood the Bowery signing and I still don't.
I am not judging the bloke as I've not seen much of him, but I remember I read a Chesterfield forum on the day he signed for us, and their fans were amazed.
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I know nothing about the guy but do know that Lambert seems to have an eye for a player so I trust his judgment. As for helenius and Bowery, I think the former has a big future with us and the latter it was worth a punt as cost next to nothing.
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Bowery I guess was a bit of a punt. He wasn't really much of a regular or stand out performer at Chesterfield, in League 2. For me, I'd give him a year on loan in the Championship. See if he can make that leap. He's had the biggest leap to make of any of Lambo's signings. Westy and Lowton had played League 1 and were key players in their respective sides.
Bowery certainly isn't going to make an impact in this league as things stand. I don't think Lambert will put him in the side if Benteke was to get injured.
Also might it be possible that Lambert has looked at Kozak before? It might be that we made tentative inquiries in the last few windows but he's only really become available now. I don't think Lambert does out of the blue most times. I would say he's probably been looking at Libor for a while now.
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still could not see the point of signing Bowery . Sorry
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Lambert has obviously seen something he likes there. It makes me wonder a little bit what Helenius and Bowery were bought for, but I'm happy to see how he turns out.
I think Helenius is one for the future but I never understood the Bowery signing and I still don't.
I am not judging the bloke as I've not seen much of him, but I remember I read a Chesterfield forum on the day he signed for us, and their fans were amazed.
Yeah but people in Chesterfield are still amazed when they see fire.
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Lambert has obviously seen something he likes there. It makes me wonder a little bit what Helenius and Bowery were bought for, but I'm happy to see how he turns out.
I think Helenius is one for the future but I never understood the Bowery signing and I still don't.
I am not judging the bloke as I've not seen much of him, but I remember I read a Chesterfield forum on the day he signed for us, and their fans were amazed.
Yeah, I spoke to a Chesterfield fan not long after we signed him and his view was that Bowery didn't really stand out in the Chesterfield side and was staggered we'd signed him.
And for those who point out he cost virtually nothing, whilst I accept that limits the risk I still don't get it. We should be buying players because they improve the team, not because they're cheap.
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Im sure we had reserves just has good
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Im sure we had reserves just has good
Grealish, Robinson and Burke all stood out far more in pre-season. I'd happily throw any of them in before JB.
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Confirmed on the website.
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Shirt stretch time.
(http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/e1/10/0,,10265~12194017,00.jpg)
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Welcome to the greatest football club in the world Libor.
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Welcome aboard Kojak.
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Welcome aboard Libor. Good luck to you. I think he'll do alright. It allows us to rest CB in the cups and some league games if needs be.
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Lambert has obviously seen something he likes there. It makes me wonder a little bit what Helenius and Bowery were bought for, but I'm happy to see how he turns out.
There will be some signing that just don't come off, or more to the point that the fee paid is their actual value.
In these instances then it tales a brave manager to jettison them quickly rather than let their pride take over.
I'm not suggesting that this is the case with either Bowery or Helenius, more commenting on our apparent strategy in the transfer market.
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Number 27 so 23 is still unassigned... interesting.
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It's nice to sign a player (and I'm not complaining really), but we really could do with a midfielder.
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He's been chasing him for a while then so they've done well to keep it quiet.
Welcome to VP Libor.
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Number 27 so 23 is still unassigned... interesting.
Might get interesting in January but I cannot see a "swoop" happening in the next 4-5 hours.
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Well he has been working on the deal for months shows he has been a big part of the Lambert plan.
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Welcome Libor. Here's hoping you do scandalously well.
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Welcome to Villa Libor.
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This years Benteke is my prediction. A wild one I know.
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Paul Lambert expressed his delight after the groundwork put in over several months resulted in the transfer deadline day capture of Czech international striker Libor Kozak from Serie A side Lazio.
The 24-year-old top scorer in the Europa League last season with 10 goals, Kozak put pen to paper on a four-year deal to 2017 and the Villa manager emphasised the powerful addition his seventh summer signing will be as his evolving, young squad seek to build on a solid start to the season.
Lambert said: "We've been on this one for the last few months, trying to bring him to the Club, so I'm delighted to get it across the line.
"Libor has an unbelievable scoring record in the Europa League, incredible really. He wasn't given much opportunity for Lazio in Serie A but he showed proper potential in leading the line there at a strong club with a great tradition and we need somebody like him as we only have Christian Benteke really as a main target man.
"He'll take that burden off Christian and he'll add greatly to what we've got, with the likes of Nicklas Helenius, who's a different type of player, Gabby Agonlahor, Aleks Tonev and Andi Weimann in that area of the pitch where we can hurt teams. Libor's powerful, too, and I'm looking forward to working with him. We needed to bring in someone like Libor to help the overall philosophy to work.
"It's a matter of him now integrating with the group, which he'll do. We've brought in seven players this summer and we're trying to build the squad. It's getting there, no doubt about that and we'll keep building it."
Kozak won the first of his four caps for the Czech national team in a November 2012 friendly against Slovakia. He has scored one international goal - in the Czech Republic's most recent game against Hungary last month in Budapest - and he is eager to work hard for Villa in the Barclays Premier League and tap into the experience he has acquired from playing alongside the likes of Lazio's Miroslav Klose.
"I'm really happy to be at Aston Villa and I'm ready for this new step in my career," said the 6ft 4ins Kozak.
"I hope it's a good step for me and also for Villa because everything is about the team. This is a big club, a very historic club with a fantastic fanbase and, for me, this is really important. From when I was a young boy, I have dreamt of playing in the Premier League and to do this with a club such as Villa is incredibly motivating. It's real now and I'm very happy about this.
"I leave it to others to speak about me but I hope I can help Aston Villa in the games and I hope to score goals as well. I will speak about Villa and the Premier League to Petr Cech and Tomas Rosicky on international duty and I'm sure they will be able to tell me really good things from the games they have played against Villa this season. Yes, I scored goals in the Europa League last season and I'm happy about this because it's not easy but I know it won't be easy either to score goals in the Premier League so all my focus will be on this now.
"Playing with such a strong player as Miroslav Klose, I hope I was able to learn something from him and I also hope, with this experience, to help improve Aston Villa. My ambition is to contribute as much as I can to the team, to score goals and to fit in with my new team-mates. I know I must also play well for the manager. I spoke to him, he said he's happy that I've arrived here and he wants me, which is very important. I'm really looking forward to this new step and challenge."
Kozak joined Lazio in July 2008 from Czech Second Division side Slezsky FC Oprava. He went out on loan after a season with the Rome club to Serie B side Brescia where he scored four goals in seven starts and 22 appearances from the bench.
He returned to Lazio where he has played 79 times in all competitions, scoring 22 goals.
Kozak was the top goalscorer in the 2012-13 Europa League with 10 goals. He scored a hat-trick against Stuttgart in Rome to send Lazio into the quarter-finals of the competition where they lost to Fenerbahce.
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If he has been after Kojak for a while you never can say for definite but I reckon that's us done.
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Welcome Libor good luck and interesting that Lambert says he's a different type of player to Helenius.
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3 forwards over 6ft 3"
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Welcome Libor.
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This years Benteke is my prediction. A wild one I know.
He's got to past last year's Benteke to get into the team.
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Welcome Kozak, who loves ya baby!
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Welcome Libor. Here's hoping you do scandalously well.
Rolls eyes..........lambert rates him.......rolls eyes at self
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Welcome Mr Kozak!
I look forward to you making a good impression upon Messrs Terry, Ferdinand, Kompany, Olsson etc!
:D
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Welcome to villa libor,speaks decent english too which is a bonus.
Lambert seems really happy to get him so a good day indeed with bannan and Ireland gone.
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Didn't expect a striker but no reason to doubt Lambert, gives us more depth, more options. For the first time in a long while a couple of injuries won't mean us having to change half the team around to accommodate.
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Try this for optimistic. He reminds me of a young Big John.
If he was fit and actually applied himself he would not have been playing for us.
This one is younger and hungrier to prove a point. Sounds a good punt to me.
Thought number two. This lad might be a menace on set pieces. Both scoring and defending.
Perhaps I have gone a bit overboard in trusting Lambert but you never know.
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Welcome Libor.
I know nothing of him, but it really does seem like Lambert has seen something in him from the comments.
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Has any club ever had 3 such big units to choose from up front and yet played so much football rather than rely on predictable hoofing?
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Has any club ever had 3 such big units to choose from up front and yet played so much football rather than rely on predictable hoofing?
Thing is I wouldn't say Helenius is a 'big unit', he's tall but he's pretty wiry.
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Lambert said in interview that this signing would ease some of the pressure on Benteke (which will only grow and grow with the media attention here and in Belgium leading up to the WC), so another option up top can only really be seen as a good thing. I saw him once for Lazio in the Europa League last season and didn't think much - but he went on to be the top scorer in the competition so who am I to judge. Another international who has something to prove to get on the plane to Rio next summer, hopefully he'll take his chances when called upon and enable us to make a run in the cups, while putting less pressure on our first XI, which should realistically be our goal this year. Welcome aboard!
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You know what I mean though.
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Has any club ever had 3 such big units to choose from up front and yet played so much football rather than rely on predictable hoofing?
Thing is I wouldn't say Helenius is a 'big unit', he's tall but he's pretty wiry.
Surprisingly strong though, I thought. I remember watching the Rotherham defenders trying to muscle him off the ball. They couldn't get near him.
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I don't know anything about him but, if he understudied Miroslav Klose, that makes for an interesting addition.
Let's hope so.
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3 forwards over 6ft 3"
Put them on together and you never know we might score from a bloody corner!!
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So what was the fee or do we not know? (hoping someone will save me from trawling through previous pages).
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Did he have a word with Baros
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Did he have a word with Baros
Well he obviously didn't have one with Berger otherwise he would had a two page spread in the paper begging Liverpool to sign him.
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3 forwards over 6ft 3"
Put them on together and you never know we might score from a bloody corner!!
Not with Tonev taking them we won't!
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Kozak on You tube
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In the USA, today is "Labor Day" at Villa its "Libor Day"
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Looks big and strong and good in the air.
Great for set pieces and just the thought of him teaming up with Benteke for a game or two must put the shits up most PL centre backs!
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3 forwards over 6ft 3"
Put them on together and you never know we might score from a bloody corner!!
Not with Tonev taking them we won't!
He's only took one and Vlaar scored from it. Jog on!!!
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3 forwards over 6ft 3"
Put them on together and you never know we might score from a bloody corner!!
Not with Tonev taking them we won't!
He took them during one match and we scored from a corner in that match.
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Has any club ever had 3 such big units to choose from up front and yet played so much football rather than rely on predictable hoofing?
Bayern had Klose and Gomez for a while I think and I wouldn't say they every hoofed it. In fact German clubs often have a lump upfront that they use as a fulcrum.
The Lambert comments certainly suggests that our tactics are more established now with a definite policy to have a big guy upfront.
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Is Lambert already looking at Benteke's replacement too...
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Brilliant news..benteke will have to play for his place now! Good move by PL.
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Welcome LIBOR; hope you like your new BASE.
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Was not really expecting anybody through the doors today, so quite happy for a new addition.
Only worry for me is that why a CF.
I think Helenius is probably A couple of seasons away from being ready.
With Tonev, Gabby and Weimann though, seems a strange buy.
And now for my concern, is he looking for a replacement for Tekkers after the world cup ?
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What a day, fantastic business, no idea about this fella. That is the norm now with our manager. I trust him 100% though. The fantastic business I'm on about though is not the incoming (which might be) but getting rid of Ireland, bloody well done. I hope he does well so he never comes back.
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I forgot to say, welcome to Villa Kozak! You and Benteke up front will be pretty scary.
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Just watched the interview with Woodward.
Kozak said VP is beautiful and the fans are beautiful!
He obviously has a wonderful imagination as well as a knack for scoring goals! ;-)
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Just watched the interview with Woodward.
Kozak said VP is beautiful and the fans are beautiful!
He obviously has a wonderful imagination as well as a knack for scoring goals! ;-)
On the whole we're a pretty ugly bunch of c***s. YES I'M TALKING TO YOU. Can't beat a bit of delusion 😃
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My take:
Helenius is for the future. Too much of step up for this year.
Benteke is key to us, if he gets injured or loses form then we have no one that can enable us to play the same system.
The new chap gives us an alternative option, he can come in for Benteke without us changing too much or even play alongside him. It also means that if the worst happens next summer then we have a similar player who will be settled ready to pick up the mantle.
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Welcome Libor. Have a Balti tonight at Stoney Lane and enjoy the views.
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Number 27 so 23 is still unassigned... interesting.
Just saw Beckham driving down Lichfield road......
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Is this guy any good ?
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No idea who you are, but welcome and I hope you're better than Benteke (who I also knew nothing of before we signed him)!
If not, then if at least you put in 100% effort every game, then we can't ask for anymore (well, apart from at least 20 goals a season!).
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Welcome Libor. Have a Balti tonight at Stoney Lane and enjoy the views.
Then come up our end and have a few pints of Batham's!
Welcome to the West Midlands Kojak!
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Did he have a word with Baros
Well he obviously didn't have one with Berger otherwise he would had a two page spread in the paper begging Liverpool to sign him.
Ha ha ha, excellent.
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Bannan, Ireland out, Kozak in. No idea who he is but he's gonna be ten times better than the other two shysters
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Just catching the end of this but I reckon this lad is Benteke's replacement and Helenius will become a versatile option in attack and midfield. I'm sure someone has already mentioned this earlier in the thread. Irrespective, welcome to the best club in the world Libor.
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Welcome LIBOR; hope you like your new BASE.
I see that you "rate" him already
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Number 27 so 23 is still unassigned... interesting.
Just saw Beckham driving down Lichfield road......
More likely to be Michael Jordan
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Welcome Libor. You must have something if you've played for Lazio. I think i said a similar thing when we signed Martin Laursen.
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Really exciting times down B6 8)
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Always exciting when we sign a foreign striker no one's heard of for big money. Let's hope this guy is more Benteke than Balaban.
Would've still preferred an AM though.
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I do quite like that Lambert loves a striker. He's signed 4 in a year so far. O Neill's only solid piece of striking business, no matter how often we just cried out for a goal poacher, was Carew and that was as much to get rid of Baros. It's hard to tell who pushed more for that deal, O Neill or Houllier. He then got Harewood later that summer. Then it was 18 months of wait to get Heskey when we should have got Bent earlier. Perennial links to Defoe never came off.
O Neill loved signings center halves.
Lambert loves signing front men.
I know which I prefer.
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Welcome Big Man. Good luck wearing the finest football colours in the world.
And good bye to 2 lightweights.
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Welcome LIBOR; hope you like your new BASE.
I see that you "rate" him already
I wouldn't SWAP him for anyone, especially once I heard he'd got a CAP. I bet PL didn't have to grab him by the COLLAR to get him to sign. Just hope he doesn't end up on the FLOOR like Heskey.
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Will he get the 18 shirt ?
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Coming from one Macron club to another, he at least won't be surprised when the logos come off his shirt and training gear after one wash.
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Will he get the 18 shirt ?
He's taken the 27.
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Helenius is one for the future and a different player.
If Kozak looks decent this season, I think there's a pretty good chance he'll be leading the line for us next year. And I don't mean playing alongside Benteke.
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Saha interviewed on Radio 5 ,having played with Libor at Lazio,thinks that he's mobile and suited to the English game.
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Just catching the end of this but I reckon this lad is Benteke's replacement and Helenius will become a versatile option in attack and midfield. I'm sure someone has already mentioned this earlier in the thread. Irrespective, welcome to the best club in the world Libor.
Just read something very similar on the ESPN website...sounds like a good shout.
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I like the fact that he's big and ugly
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For me, signing a backup (and future replacement) for Benteke was second only to a No10 in terms of transfer priorities, so I'm happy.
His overall scoring record isn't amazing (although Andi Weimann's isnt much better) but we know how diligent Lambo & Co are when it comes to scouting signings and making sure we know exactly what we're getting. I'd say 5-7 million quid and a four year deal says they're pretty sure he'll be worth it.
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I just read that he only started 5 league games last year, which makes his stats look a bit better.
It's good to have squad options. I do think he's benteke's replacement though, probably after the World Cup.
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I haven't got time to read all of the thread and i'm sure most of this has already been mentioned, but he was obviously playing second fiddle to Klose in the league and getting his chance in Europa. His record in that seems decent.
All of the comments i've seen from the Italian side seem to think he'll be a good fit for the Prem.
Also at the moment if CB does come off, we don't hang on to the ball up front well at all, hopefully this will remedy that.
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(http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7393/n2kl.jpg)
Libor at the 2011 Lazio Summer camp.
Nice guy but a mediocre player. Very good only with the head, whereas he is absolutely uncapable to play football with his feet, even if he was appreciated for his committment.
H reminds me a player of the 80's, Mark Hateley.
I have always seen Miro Klose sincerously incredulous, and a little bit amused, that Libor played in Serie A and still could not complete with accuracy even the most simple passage (but Klose hasn't seen Richard Dunne, it goes without saying :D).
He did not score one goal in the last Serie A campaign, where the defences are very strong and good on tactics, whereas he scored a lot in Europe, against average teams.
All in all, he can be only a reserve of Benteke, that may be of some utility when the opponents park the bus in their box and you need some one that can score with the head.
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H reminds me a player of the 80's, Mark Hateley.
His dad played for us. Didn't know that, did you?
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Let us hope that Archie's post has the same effect as Belgium Villa's one on Benteke this time last year.
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H reminds me a player of the 80's, Mark Hateley.
His dad played for us. Didn't know that, did you?
Touchèe. . .
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H reminds me a player of the 80's, Mark Hateley.
His dad played for us. Didn't know that, did you?
Touchèe. . .
And they are, apparently, the only English father and son to score 200 goals each. His dad once played for Small Heath and, I kid you not, was signed off on the sick with depression.
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Let us hope that Archie's post has the same effect as Belgium Villa's one on Benteke this time last year.
He can give his honest contribute to the cause, and he will do this as long as we won't have too high expectations.
These are the goals that he can score: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ahdAtgCn6ug&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DahdAtgCn6ug
(The TV commentator, a mad Lazio fan, is a little bit mental, as you won't fail to note)
@ Dave: absolutely brilliant, as usual.
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Mark Hately was my brother's hero back when he played for Rangers. He does media work up here and his hair has gone completely white.
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TBH Archie, I don't expect to have another Benteke on our hands and expect you to be right in this case, it was just the last time we had an opinion on an unknown striker from someone who saw them regularly and was based in their Country, it was Belgium Villa and the report was almost a carbon copy of yours. "Can head the ball", "Not great though", "Surprised we bought him".
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yeah well I used to watch Tony Hately - and my hairs gone white.
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TBH Archie, I don't expect to have another Benteke on our hands and expect you to be right in this case, it was just the last time we had an opinion on an unknown striker from someone who saw them regularly and was based in their Country, it was Belgium Villa and the report was almost a carbon copy of yours. "Can head the ball", "Not great though", "Surprised we bought him".
Yes I know, but as he played for my beloved team, having seen him a lot of times, I can say that I know him very well. Lazio, that are very short on strikers (there is only Klose at a certain level, and infact they play 4-5-1) sold him, and Libor did not score one goal in all the last Serie A campaign. These are facts, not my opinion.
So said, I hope that in England, where (even after the . . . French revolution), the style of play is still more physical than in Italy, where games are more tactical (ok, boring), and the defenders stronger, he can do better.
But what is for sure is that, as we say in Italy, a donkey could never become a horse.
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Archie you sound like the Belgian Villans that claimed we signed a duffer in Benteke. I ask that you take that observation as a compliment and that Kozak becomes a very popular player for us.
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Mark Hately was my brother's hero back when he played for Rangers. He does media work up here and his hair has gone completely white.
He reminds me of Terry Nutkins these days. As for Kozak, he speaks good English and praised the personal touch of Paul Lambert.
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A donkey could never become a horse
Maybe that's what Shrek should have been about.
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(http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7393/n2kl.jpg)
Libor at the 2011 Lazio Summer camp.
Nice guy but a mediocre player. Very good only with the head, whereas he is absolutely uncapable to play football with his feet, even if he was appreciated for his committment.
H reminds me a player of the 80's, Mark Hateley.
I have always seen Miro Klose sincerously incredulous, and a little bit amused, that Libor played in Serie A and still could not complete with accuracy even the most simple passage (but Klose hasn't seen Richard Dunne, it goes without saying :D).
He did not score one goal in the last Serie A campaign, where the defences are very strong and good on tactics, whereas he scored a lot in Europe, against average teams.
All in all, he can be only a reserve of Benteke, that may be of some utility when the opponents park the bus in their box and you need some one that can score with the head.
He reminds me cross between Vladimir Smicer and Christopher Ecclestone.
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Having trawled the interwebs for opinions of people who actually watch Serie A, it seems to be split about 60/40 between people who dont rate him, and people who say that hes good and only couldn't get into the team because he had to compete with Klose.
I want us to play him up top with Benteke, just to see the fear in the centre back's eyes ahahahahahaaaa
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All we need is for Stuart to say he's shit and we're good to go.
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Welcome Libor
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TBH Archie, I don't expect to have another Benteke on our hands and expect you to be right in this case, it was just the last time we had an opinion on an unknown striker from someone who saw them regularly and was based in their Country, it was Belgium Villa and the report was almost a carbon copy of yours. "Can head the ball", "Not great though", "Surprised we bought him".
Yes I know, but as he played for my beloved team, having seen him a lot of times, I can say that I know him very well.
No worries mate. Benteke played one season for me little sisters favourite team... ;-)
I reckon he'll miss a few sitters early on and we'll all ask why in October...
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I think he will do what is expected of him - give his all, score a fair amount of headers, be a nuisance and probably be unspectacular.
I do, however, think he will be a popular player.
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All we need is for Stuart to say he's shit and we're good to go.
We need him to miss a few chances having scored for the czech republic for that to happen, then he'll be proven not good enough because he can score internationally but misses the same chances in the league. Also the common belief that you don't worry if a striker isn't scoring so long as he's still getting chances will have to be completely wrong.
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I just read that he only started 5 league games last year, which makes his stats look a bit better.
It's good to have squad options. I do think he's benteke's replacement though, probably after the World Cup.
No chance, if Benteke leaves (I don't think he will that quickly) PL will have upwards of £40M at his disposal to buy a replacement in the region of £10-15M
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Having watched a sad amount of Serie A I have to agree with Archie. I think £7m is a lot to pay for him, and he's not necessarily what we needed either.
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I think Lambert and his scouts have done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt on transfers. They don't seem to make panic buys and I doubt would spend this sort of money without being convinced he's worth it. No offence to anyone, but I trust their judgement on players much more than someone who's watched a few Serie A games
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I think Lambert and his scouts have done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt on transfers. They don't seem to make panic buys and I doubt would spend this sort of money without being convinced he's worth it. No offence to anyone, but I trust their judgement on players much more than someone who's watched a few Serie A games
You could have addressed me directly, you know. And for what it's worth, I trust Lambert's judgement on transfers more than mine as well. But I'm entitled to my view and I'm entirely unconvinced by this. Even Ferguson signed Djemba-Djemba - nobody's perfect.
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Seems a huge amount for a reserve with a barely 1 in 4 goalscoring record. Not £27m for Fellaini huge, but pretty huge.
He looks like being our plan B or C in circumstances such as the last 20 mins of the Liverpool game. I'd have preferred a creative midfielder/no.10 but Lambert's transfer record has been pretty tidy so far so who am I to argue?
UTV
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That big rubbish Belgian bloke turned out half decent.
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Kozak was not good enough for the Italian Serie A, this is a fact, as he played there 4 seasons and never gained a role in the starting XI at Lazio that had only one good striker (before Rocchi, then Klose), and for this reason were obliged to play with a 4-5-1- formation.
And another fact is that he is very good with the head, and very, very bad with the feet.
But still i think that he can play a role in the games against small teams, when they park the bus in the box.
Infact, even if the Premier League is much more competitive than the Serie A, I think he could be more adapted to English football, as it is more physical and there are much many crosses than in italy, where the traditional winger's role is almost disappeared.
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Benteke's replacement 12 months early maybe? Whatever reason he's been signed he's an addition to the squad and after years of reading on here of posters bleating about the lack of foreign signings, a bit of the unknown should be welcomed.
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According to HairyHands at Villatalk the fee was 4-4,5 million pounds, not 7-7,5m and Guardian also reported 5m.
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I like the fact that he's big and ugly
Got nothing to lose when you're giving 100% and smash your face off another opponents hopefully prettier face.
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According to HairyHands at Villatalk the fee was 4-4,5 million pounds, not 7-7,5m and Guardian also reported 5m.
That would make it slightly better, but only slightly as it's multi-millions on a player I'm not convinced we'll need. But hey, it's Lambo's squad, and his comments did not indicate he was planning to revert to some MONish 4-4-2, so as long as Benteke stays fit we'll be alright.
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According to HairyHands at Villatalk the fee was 4-4,5 million pounds, not 7-7,5m and Guardian also reported 5m.
In today's crazy over-inflated world of Transfers, £5-7M is absolute peanuts! Fellaini £27.5M? McCarthy £15M? Kozac's fee is hardly a gamble in today's market.
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I think we need to give him a chance before we write him off, Yes I'd have liked another defender or a new merse but I trust Lambert and it's a welcome change from Zat Knight and Marlon Harewood
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He could be a Marlon, just we do not know until he starts to play as he has never played in this division before.
I will reserve any judgement until he has played several games and will not be too scathing (if required) until next season as KEA, Petrov and others have shown that a first season can't always be used to judge how well they will do. Also, by that point Kozak might be our lead striker when CB leaves for Real for £90m
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He could be a Marlon, just we do not know until he starts to play as he has never played in this division before.
I will reserve any judgement until he has played several games and will not be too scathing (if required) until next season as KEA, Petrov and others have shown that a first season can't always be used to judge how well they will do. Also, by that point Kozak might be our lead striker when CB leaves for Real for £90m
True, but we knew Marlon would be a Marlon. And he was a right Marlon.
At least there's a degree of excitement with a guy you've never heard of...
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Benteke's replacement 12 months early maybe? Whatever reason he's been signed he's an addition to the squad and after years of reading on here of posters bleating about the lack of foreign signings, a bit of the unknown should be welcomed.
I was thinking the same re a replacement for Benteke. Clearly Lambert has scouted him for quite a while so its not a panic signing.
But with Kozak on the books there is a danger we will play 442 a lot more this season and our side is clearly not set up to play this way. Just hope Lambert hasnt made a MONesque mistake and risked upsetting the balance of the side to try and accomodate two up front.
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Benteke's replacement 12 months early maybe? Whatever reason he's been signed he's an addition to the squad and after years of reading on here of posters bleating about the lack of foreign signings, a bit of the unknown should be welcomed.
I was thinking the same re a replacement for Benteke. Clearly Lambert has scouted him for quite a while so its not a panic signing.
But with Kozak on the books there is a danger we will play 442 a lot more this season and our side is clearly not set up to play this way. Just hope Lambert hasnt made a MONesque mistake and risked upsetting the balance of the side to try and accomodate two up front.
From Lambo's comments he's talked about him being 'another target man' and 'leading the line' and 'taking the pressure off Benteke', so I think he won't play them in a 4-4-2. That was my concern as well, but I think we can rest easy.
For me, the problem doesn't lie in his being an unknown - on the contrary, he's quite well known, and has some well known flaws. But hey, Lambert's certainly earned a hell of a lot of leeway and good will with transfers, so here's hoping.
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Benteke's replacement 12 months early maybe? Whatever reason he's been signed he's an addition to the squad and after years of reading on here of posters bleating about the lack of foreign signings, a bit of the unknown should be welcomed.
I was thinking the same re a replacement for Benteke. Clearly Lambert has scouted him for quite a while so its not a panic signing.
But with Kozak on the books there is a danger we will play 442 a lot more this season and our side is clearly not set up to play this way. Just hope Lambert hasnt made a MONesque mistake and risked upsetting the balance of the side to try and accomodate two up front.
I don't think he's a replacement, I just don't think Lambert thinks that way, I see him as an option, nothing more or less. As I said yesterday, I can see him being used, at least sometimes, to allow Benteke to find a bit more space by dropping a few yards deeper.
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I think he will do what is expected of him - give his all, score a fair amount of headers, be a nuisance and probably be unspectacular.
I do, however, think he will be a popular player.
You reckon? We don't have a great track record of liking tall centre forwards who don't score goals (Ivanhoe, Crouch, Harewood, etc).
Oh, and 'A donkey could never become a horse' is a fantastic saying!
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I think Lambert and his scouts have done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt on transfers. They don't seem to make panic buys and I doubt would spend this sort of money without being convinced he's worth it. No offence to anyone, but I trust their judgement on players much more than someone who's watched a few Serie A games
You could have addressed me directly, you know. And for what it's worth, I trust Lambert's judgement on transfers more than mine as well. But I'm entitled to my view and I'm entirely unconvinced by this. Even Ferguson signed Djemba-Djemba - nobody's perfect.
Quite right, everyone is entitled to their view and opinion, just yours are mostly negative, and in this case, before he's even played a game.
Lambert will make mistakes with his signings, but they won't be apparent if this is true for Kozac for a while, so let's contain judgement until there something to judge.
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He could be a Marlon, just we do not know until he starts to play as he has never played in this division before.
I will reserve any judgement until he has played several games and will not be too scathing (if required) until next season as KEA, Petrov and others have shown that a first season can't always be used to judge how well they will do. Also, by that point Kozak might be our lead striker when CB leaves for Real for £90m
True, but we knew Marlon would be a Marlon. And he was a right Marlon.
At least there's a degree of excitement with a guy you've never heard of...
Better the Devil you don't know................
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I think Lambert and his scouts have done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt on transfers. They don't seem to make panic buys and I doubt would spend this sort of money without being convinced he's worth it. No offence to anyone, but I trust their judgement on players much more than someone who's watched a few Serie A games
You could have addressed me directly, you know. And for what it's worth, I trust Lambert's judgement on transfers more than mine as well. But I'm entitled to my view and I'm entirely unconvinced by this. Even Ferguson signed Djemba-Djemba - nobody's perfect.
Quite right, everyone is entitled to their view and opinion, just yours are mostly negative, and in this case, before he's even played a game.
Lambert will make mistakes with his signings, but they won't be apparent if this is true for Kozac for a while, so let's contain judgement until there something to judge.
How are my views 'mostly negative'? I always thought I was a bit of a happy clapper on here.
And just because you haven't seen Kozak play a game, doesn't mean I haven't. LeeB may be right in the several good defences of the signing he's put down here, or Archie and I may be right by being sceptical, but we shall see. I'm entitled to compliment or criticise the manager however I see it.
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If they start together, I still think it will be a 4-3-3 formation.
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But with Kozak on the books there is a danger we will play 442 a lot more this season and our side is clearly not set up to play this way. Just hope Lambert hasnt made a MONesque mistake and risked upsetting the balance of the side to try and accomodate two up front.
Before Gabby came back last season, he used the wingbacks system to try and accomodate two strikers (Benteke and Weimann). I can see him possibly trying a diamond or something, but Lambert is no standard 4-4-2 man.
As it goes, my personal opinion is he'll be cover and competition for Benteke and we'll only see them both on the pitch at the same time through a substitution when we're chasing a goal.
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I have never seen him play, but I think it makes sense squad wise.
We can keep our shape now without Benteke (if not our potency). We have two big un's to play through the middle, Tonev adds compeition to Gabby and Andi and Helenius is something a little different to all of them.
How good he is, I have no idea, but Lambert has been chasing him for a long time and I trust he is more Benteke than Burke.
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When he plays I think it'll be alongside Benteke with Weimann or Gabby in behind and a midfield 3 behind them.
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I think Lambert and his scouts have done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt on transfers. They don't seem to make panic buys and I doubt would spend this sort of money without being convinced he's worth it. No offence to anyone, but I trust their judgement on players much more than someone who's watched a few Serie A games
You could have addressed me directly, you know. And for what it's worth, I trust Lambert's judgement on transfers more than mine as well. But I'm entitled to my view and I'm entirely unconvinced by this. Even Ferguson signed Djemba-Djemba - nobody's perfect.
Quite right, everyone is entitled to their view and opinion, just yours are mostly negative, and in this case, before he's even played a game.
Lambert will make mistakes with his signings, but they won't be apparent if this is true for Kozac for a while, so let's contain judgement until there something to judge.
How are my views 'mostly negative'? I always thought I was a bit of a happy clapper on here.
I also don't see how someone's views being "mostly negative" is in some way wrong in any case.
They're every bit as valid as the next man's views. It's like when Nigel Kennedy had his rant about the new policy of being careful with money.
I agree entirely with what Lambert is doing and why he's doing it, but I can see that NK, like the rest of us, have every right to disagree if we want.
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And I agree almost entirely with Lambert apart from about two things - and hopefully it'll turn out I'm wrong and I'll disagree on no things.
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When he plays I think it'll be alongside Benteke with Weimann or Gabby in behind and a midfield 3 behind them.
Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole like that. Weimann possibly is, plus Tonev and Helenius should be also.
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I don't see why Lambert needs to change his tried and trusted system. It works perfectly well the great majority of the time against most teams. What this does is offer another player that might fill Benteke's role when the big man is given a rest, or Lambert might just put them on together if we come against a team that is doing well against our Plan A. Like Liverpool last week, it might have been something to try. We just don't know, but in my opinion we look very dangerous with a central target man and two quick and busy wide forwards to supply and support.
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I think that's what this is (at TV said above) another option for Benteke if he needs a rest or is injured.
although, obviously, Benteke is actually an uninjurable robotic beast sent from another planet and thereby immune to such concerns
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The Bentekinator?
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Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole
Judging by the amount of kids he's got he is
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Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole
Judging by the amount of kids he's got he is
Oooooooosshhhhhh!
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Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole
Ignoring the jokes:
Gabby has played brilliantly this year in precisely that position. The team sheet may have him listed on the left of a 3 but that's not where he's played, the majority of his best work has involved drifting deep and central and coming on to the ball at pace, With Benteke drifting between their right centre back and right back to open a bit of space. We've done it a hell of a lot of times since January and created lots of chances with it, our whole front 3 is very fluid and they all find and create space for each other.
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Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole
Judging by the amount of kids he's got he is
Oooooooosshhhhhh!
It were proper bo, I tell thee.
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When he plays I think it'll be alongside Benteke with Weimann or Gabby in behind and a midfield 3 behind them.
Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole like that. Weimann possibly is, plus Tonev and Helenius should be also.
I think it's the position where Gabby is most effective.
His breaking through for his two goals at Norwich last season were pretty much from that position, as were his runs at the Arsenal defence that created two penalties on 17th August.
I wish he'd do it more often as well as drifting wide from time to time and testing the full-backs.
Playing wide all the time limits his scope and threat imho.
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Good spot Paul E - that is exactly what we do. Which is great if the opponents are trying to attack us as there is space to attack into. It's shit if the opponents sit deep like Liverpool as neither Gab nor Andy are natural wingers and lack the dribbling abilities to take opponents on and beat them.
We were light in the striker department after DB went so I can see why Lambert might have done this. I also live in hope that it may signal that we develop more than just the one way of playing - with more balls into the box against the right opponents.
But to be honest I was also slightly disappointed as I wanted a tricky playmaker or winger to help feed the beast - not this lads fault though - and as far as heads on sticks go - Peter Withe didn't do too bad for us.
The one thing we seem to be getting with Lambert is surprises - long may they be nice surprises.
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When he plays I think it'll be alongside Benteke with Weimann or Gabby in behind and a midfield 3 behind them.
Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole like that. Weimann possibly is, plus Tonev and Helenius should be also.
I can't see us going back to the diamond too easily. It was ditched fairly readily. Not much width in that side!
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Gabby has made the hole his own.
Libor will bore through it all.
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Gabby has made the hole his own.
Libor will bore through it all.
Gabby's made every hole his own.
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Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole
Ignoring the jokes:
Gabby has played brilliantly this year in precisely that position. The team sheet may have him listed on the left of a 3 but that's not where he's played, the majority of his best work has involved drifting deep and central and coming on to the ball at pace, With Benteke drifting between their right centre back and right back to open a bit of space. We've done it a hell of a lot of times since January and created lots of chances with it, our whole front 3 is very fluid and they all find and create space for each other.
I've noticed that a lot too. It's also saw it demonstrated by one of those infographic thingies* Benteke's average position on the pitch it's surprising left sided, which clearly creates a void for Gabby and Weimann to exploit.
* (found it) See the bottom of this article:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/05/premier-league-preview-aston-villa
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Thanks for posting the link, DL, that really is a very well written article.
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Even if he isn't nearly as good an all round player as Benteke, he is big and strong and can crash about creating spaces for the other two strikers in much the same way as above.
Can't wait to see if he can actually play football as well.
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Interesting that he asked for the move, and has said Lambert has been tracking him for months. Lazio have said he is one of the most professional players they have ever known so helped the move by lowering their demands. Fair play, sounds like a good egg as a bloke. He does seem a bit thorough our Lambert.
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Interesting that he asked for the move, and has said Lambert has been tracking him for months. Lazio have said he is one of the most professional players they have ever known so helped the move by lowering their demands. Fair play, sounds like a good egg as a bloke. He does seem a bit thorough our Lambert.
really respect this approach. I'd rather have this type than the players who shave bits off their eyebrows and drive ridiculous Bentleys
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As ozzjim alluded to he does sound like a Lambo type of player.
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/lazio/news/lazio-hail-professional-kozak_102728.html
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Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole
Ignoring the jokes:
Gabby has played brilliantly this year in precisely that position. The team sheet may have him listed on the left of a 3 but that's not where he's played, the majority of his best work has involved drifting deep and central and coming on to the ball at pace, With Benteke drifting between their right centre back and right back to open a bit of space. We've done it a hell of a lot of times since January and created lots of chances with it, our whole front 3 is very fluid and they all find and create space for each other.
I've noticed that a lot too. It's also saw it demonstrated by one of those infographic thingies* Benteke's average position on the pitch it's surprising left sided, which clearly creates a void for Gabby and Weimann to exploit.
* (found it) See the bottom of this article:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/05/premier-league-preview-aston-villa
I loved that graphic when I saw it because I'd been saying to people in the office (who all assumed he was a bit of a head on a stick despite me pointing out the quality of most of his goals) for weeks that he likes to drift left and allow space for Gabby inside and I was getting nowhere with them, so that article was linked rather heavily on my mail system.
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by the looks of the small you tube video of him, he does like a goal celebration
lets hope he gets plenty of them with us
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I have shied away from youtube since we signed Salifou. His clip was about him getting a booking.......
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I have shied away from youtube since we signed Salifou. His clip was about him getting a booking.......
You mean he made it on to a pitch?!
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I have shied away from youtube since we signed Salifou. His clip was about him getting a booking.......
You mean he made it on to a pitch?!
That night in Moscow was his chance.
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I loved that graphic when I saw it because I'd been saying to people in the office (who all assumed he was a bit of a head on a stick despite me pointing out the quality of most of his goals) for weeks that he likes to drift left and allow space for Gabby inside and I was getting nowhere with them, so that article was linked rather heavily on my mail system.
Your office is filled with people happy to discuss in-depth Villa tactix? And you live in perhaps the coolest country in the world. Lucky feckin' sugarbag.
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Don't think Gabby is suited to playing in the hole
Ignoring the jokes:
Gabby has played brilliantly this year in precisely that position. The team sheet may have him listed on the left of a 3 but that's not where he's played, the majority of his best work has involved drifting deep and central and coming on to the ball at pace, With Benteke drifting between their right centre back and right back to open a bit of space. We've done it a hell of a lot of times since January and created lots of chances with it, our whole front 3 is very fluid and they all find and create space for each other.
I've noticed that a lot too. It's also saw it demonstrated by one of those infographic thingies* Benteke's average position on the pitch it's surprising left sided, which clearly creates a void for Gabby and Weimann to exploit.
* (found it) See the bottom of this article:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/05/premier-league-preview-aston-villa
I loved that graphic when I saw it because I'd been saying to people in the office (who all assumed he was a bit of a head on a stick despite me pointing out the quality of most of his goals) for weeks that he likes to drift left and allow space for Gabby inside and I was getting nowhere with them, so that article was linked rather heavily on my mail system.
My brother pointed this out to me. I hadn't noticed previously. It was a good spot by him though I wouldn't tell him that.
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I am in Rome at the moment and keep asking the local bar keeps/waiters etc about this guy, but nobody seems to support Lazio.
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Ads go to the square and ask da MAN himself. Like to know what he thinks?
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I am in Rome at the moment and keep asking the local bar keeps/waiters etc about this guy, but nobody seems to support Lazio.
Lazio are the club of the Campagna, the area around Rome.
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Lazio are the club of Lazio,thats the province that contains Roma,Campagnia is the province of Napoli.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Campagna
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Thats true of ancient times,look at the modern map,ie google map of lazio.
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Lazio are the club of Lazio,thats the province that contains Roma,Campagnia is the province of Napoli.
If you're trying to be clever I'd check your spelling.
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Not arguing or anything, but I have visited Rome a few times and follow AS Roma. Lazio v Roma traditionally is based on politics. Roma = left wing, Lazio = right wing (hence Di Canio and the salute).
A bit like us and Blues; we are the normal, sensible, well rounded fans with a balanced political outlook. Blues are knobs, who know nothing and believe everything whilst grunting.
I could be wrong...
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Not arguing or anything, but I have visited Rome a few times and follow AS Roma. Lazio v Roma traditionally is based on politics. Roma = left wing, Lazio = right wing (hence Di Canio and the salute).
A bit like us and Blues; we are the normal, sensible, well rounded fans with a balanced political outlook. Blues are knobs, who know nothing and believe everything whilst grunting.
I could be wrong...
You're not, Rotters!
Your description of us, and THEM, is incredibly accurate!
:D
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Doesn't campagna just mean countryside?
The province is definitely called Lazio as far as I know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lazio_in_Italy.svg
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Doesn't campagna just mean countryside?
The province is definitely called Lazio as far as I know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lazio_in_Italy.svg
The province is Lazio, but the immediate area is the campagna.
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Doesn't campagna just mean countryside?
The province is definitely called Lazio as far as I know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lazio_in_Italy.svg
Just speculating on the right wing / left wing thing, but if Roma is the team of the city (unionised workforce etc) and Lazio of the surrounding countryside, perhaps the two are linked?
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Same as Boca etall
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Doesn't campagna just mean countryside?
The province is definitely called Lazio as far as I know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lazio_in_Italy.svg
"Campagna" means country side, but the "Campagna Romana" is a term used to describe the countryside surrounding Rome.
Campania is a province of Italy, which contains Naples.
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Lazio are the club of Lazio,thats the province that contains Roma,Campagnia is the province of Napoli.
If you're trying to be clever I'd check your spelling.
Ive checked and double checked chap.Lived a year and a half in Italy,got on ok with the lingo.
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apart from adding Gs where they dont need to be,oh well.
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apart from adding Gs where they dont need to be,oh well.
And as has just been pointed out, using the wrong words now and again.
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I loved that graphic when I saw it because I'd been saying to people in the office (who all assumed he was a bit of a head on a stick despite me pointing out the quality of most of his goals) for weeks that he likes to drift left and allow space for Gabby inside and I was getting nowhere with them, so that article was linked rather heavily on my mail system.
Your office is filled with people happy to discuss in-depth Villa tactix? And you live in perhaps the coolest country in the world. Lucky feckin' sugarbag.
Offer a norwegian a chance to talk about English football and they jump at the chance, it means I have to listen to lots of discussion about Arsenal, Manu and liverpool though. Thankfully most of them at my office are on the slightly more intelligent side of the scale so you can criticise things about the clubs without it descending into nonsense. Most of them like Villa at the minute as well (except the bitter Gooner) and 2 of the liverpool fans rave about Delph after the game last week, they can't believe how good he was.
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Lazio are the club of Lazio,thats the province that contains Roma,Campagnia is the province of Napoli.
If you're trying to be clever I'd check your spelling.
Ive checked and double checked chap.Lived a year and a half in Italy,got on ok with the lingo.
It is "Campania" around Naples. "Campania", so you can't have checked very much.
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I loved that graphic when I saw it because I'd been saying to people in the office (who all assumed he was a bit of a head on a stick despite me pointing out the quality of most of his goals) for weeks that he likes to drift left and allow space for Gabby inside and I was getting nowhere with them, so that article was linked rather heavily on my mail system.
Your office is filled with people happy to discuss in-depth Villa tactix? And you live in perhaps the coolest country in the world. Lucky feckin' sugarbag.
Offer a norwegian a chance to talk about English football and they jump at the chance, it means I have to listen to lots of discussion about Arsenal, Manu and liverpool though. Thankfully most of them at my office are on the slightly more intelligent side of the scale so you can criticise things about the clubs without it descending into nonsense. Most of them like Villa at the minute as well (except the bitter Gooner) and 2 of the liverpool fans rave about Delph after the game last week, they can't believe how good he was.
The Liverpool game wasn't even one of his better games. They should have seen him in the Arsenal or Chelsea games.
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I loved that graphic when I saw it because I'd been saying to people in the office (who all assumed he was a bit of a head on a stick despite me pointing out the quality of most of his goals) for weeks that he likes to drift left and allow space for Gabby inside and I was getting nowhere with them, so that article was linked rather heavily on my mail system.
Your office is filled with people happy to discuss in-depth Villa tactix? And you live in perhaps the coolest country in the world. Lucky feckin' sugarbag.
Offer a norwegian a chance to talk about English football and they jump at the chance, it means I have to listen to lots of discussion about Arsenal, Manu and liverpool though. Thankfully most of them at my office are on the slightly more intelligent side of the scale so you can criticise things about the clubs without it descending into nonsense. Most of them like Villa at the minute as well (except the bitter Gooner) and 2 of the liverpool fans rave about Delph after the game last week, they can't believe how good he was.
The Liverpool game wasn't even one of his better games. They should have seen him in the Arsenal or Chelsea games.
Thta's what I've been telling them. His cup goal went down well too. They all, without any real prompting from me, think we've got a get chance at 7th, as I said, my entire office really like the way we've gone about things in the last year, it helps that they're all terrified of our strike force, although they still think Gabby is the danger man rather than Benteke. Oh and the arsenal fan is gutted that they didn't get Okore, he's been going on about him constantly since the Chelsea game.
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I noticed that whoscored has his defensive contribution as a positive (although I'm not sure whether that is just for the single cup game that is listed for this season, or his overall assessment) I'm wondering whether Lambert sees him as a Mandzukic like option for extra forward defensive pressure. Mandzukic isn't the most technically gifted striker, but his pressing and harrying create problems for the opposition defenders and extra space for the BM attackers with more guile to exploit.
Or I could just be clutching at straws while hoping that we emulate a very successful team that we have absolutely nothing in common with.
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I am in Rome at the moment and keep asking the local bar keeps/waiters etc about this guy, but nobody seems to support Lazio.
Go to a fancy dress shop. Hire a Hitler outfit. They will soon flock to you.
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Interesting shout on the Mandzukic comparison. Not sure if we set-up that similar to Dortmund or Croatia though?
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Lazio are the club of Lazio,thats the province that contains Roma,Campagnia is the province of Napoli.
It is "Campania" around Naples. "Campania", so you can't have checked very much.
OK who s right here?
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Here is how I see it,Lazio are named after the province that contains the city of Rome,Campagna mens countryside (the countryside around rome was nicknamed campagna felix,hence the confusion in that rome was in "campagna",however the neighbouring province to the south of lazio is called Campania,which is the province that contains Naples,phew.
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Interesting shout on the Mandzukic comparison. Not sure if we set-up that similar to Dortmund or Croatia though?
one small issue mandzukic player for bayern munchen not dortmund.
as a part time dortmund fan i can say i think lambert wants to set up like them i.e
Weidenfeller
(am)Piszczek—Subotic—Hummels—Schmelzer
Gundogan—Bender—
(am)Blazchokovski (AM)Gotze (am)Reus
Lewandowski
(am)= attack minded
1 very attack minded fb with the other providing the assistance Luna and lowton, gundogen bags of energy oozes class at times can run the show delph hopefully.
blaz and reus have pace for days so to speak, incredibly fast and both can finish and ofcourse the 2 crowning jewls lewandowski and benteke i would say we arnt to far off there mold bander would be there equililant to sylla/kea
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Interesting shout on the Mandzukic comparison. Not sure if we set-up that similar to Dortmund or Croatia though?
one small issue mandzukic player for bayern munchen not dortmund.
as a part time dortmund fan i can say i think lambert wants to set up like them i.e
Weidenfeller
(am)Piszczek—Subotic—Hummels—Schmelzer
Gundogan—Bender—
(am)Blazchokovski (AM)Gotze (am)Reus
Lewandowski
(am)= attack minded
1 very attack minded fb with the other providing the assistance Luna and lowton, gundogen bags of energy oozes class at times can run the show delph hopefully.
blaz and reus have pace for days so to speak, incredibly fast and both can finish and ofcourse the 2 crowning jewls lewandowski and benteke i would say we arnt to far off there mold bander would be there equililant to sylla/kea
I can see Bacuna pushing Lowton for the RB position this season.
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Interesting shout on the Mandzukic comparison. Not sure if we set-up that similar to Dortmund or Croatia though?
To be honest, from what I can tell Lambert appears to be copying Dortmund's model to the letter.
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Sorry, of course Mandzukic plays for Bayern. Was pretty key in the European Cup final.
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Sorry, of course Mandzukic plays for Bayern. Was pretty key in the European Cup final.
not the worst mistake to make really, a plastic manc was raving about how well ruud van had played for united at the weekend a month after he had joined real madrid! now i know some man u fans are glory hunters but you would expect them to know who played for them
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Lazio are the club of Lazio,thats the province that contains Roma,Campagnia is the province of Napoli.
It is "Campania" around Naples. "Campania", so you can't have checked very much.
OK who s right here?
do any of you actually know anything or is it all gleaned from the internet
I know nothing but I would imagine a Roman might have the same discussion on their forums regarding areas like Toxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside, Wirral
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Times atlas chap.
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Lazio are the club of Lazio,thats the province that contains Roma,Campagnia is the province of Napoli.
It is "Campania" around Naples. "Campania", so you can't have checked very much.
OK who s right here?
do any of you actually know anything or is it all gleaned from the internet
I know nothing but I would imagine a Roman might have the same discussion on their forums regarding areas like Toxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside, Wirral
John, for 5 years I had a boss from Rome and was lucky enough to go there 10-12 times over that period. His basic statement of fact was that 80% of the city support Roma and most of the remainder support Lazio ( glory hunting Juve fans mean it isn't all of the remaining 20%). The surrounding province is very much Lazio territory.
Based on the discussions in the office his 80% Roma fans rule seemed accurate. Our main man was an unstable sociopath and was thus a Lazio fan.
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But isnt this similar to the popular claims that blues have more fans in brum than villa, city more in manchester than united, everton more than liverpool? None of which are actually true- just people bring wilfully contrary, essentially.
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do any of you actually know anything or is it all gleaned from the internet
I know nothing but I would imagine a Roman might have the same discussion on their forums regarding areas like Toxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside, Wirral
Well, I don't know about the others, but I lived in Italy for two different spells, and my general knowledge of geography is enough to tell me that the region in which you find Naples is "Campania" not "Campagna".
My knowledge of the Italian language also informs me that "campagna" is the italian word for "country side", but I also know that "Campagna Romana" is the term used to describe the countryside around Rome.
These are pretty big geographical facts, you don't really need a micro knowledge of Italian geography to know these things.
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But isnt this similar to the popular claims that blues have more fans in brum than villa, city more in manchester than united, everton more than liverpool? None of which are actually true- just people bring wilfully contrary, essentially.
It is very similar. But in my experience, it is also accurate.
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Libor - I don't rate him
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Roma and Lazio play in the same stadium, Right ?
Why is it that when Roma play there is very little trouble. When Lazio play the Curd Nord is populated by Nazi loving spunk bubbles who are controlled by some twat with a megaphone shouting political shite ? Just a question like.
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Libor - I don't rate him
The "rate" thing was done and dusted a few pages back mate.
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if you think I'm ploughing through 26 pages of shit just to check whether I'm duplicating a weak joke.....
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Roma and Lazio play in the same stadium, Right ?
Why is it that when Roma play there is very little trouble. When Lazio play the Curd Nord is populated by Nazi loving spunk bubbles who are controlled by some twat with a megaphone shouting political shite ? Just a question like.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/nov/29/roma-fans-banned-tottenham-attack
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1405358/eight-wounded-in-fan-violence-before-rome-derby?cc=5739
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/4979396/Arsenal-fan-attack-puts-Romes-Champions-League-final-date-under-fresh-scrutiny.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=99834&page=1
I don't know. Tell us.
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Don't forget this one Dave - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6528049.stm
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if you think I'm ploughing through 26 pages of shit just to check whether I'm duplicating a weak joke.....
It's not all shit! Just about 90% of it.
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If you want Roman football in easy terms.
Both teams have fans who are up for a ruck against big target teams in European matches. Roma are traditionally the team of the working class. Lazio have a significant problem with anti semitism and fascism.
To be honest, neither are sides I'd have much empathy for.
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Libor - I don't rate him
I have no interest in him.
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Oh crap it's started again...
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Can't we exchange these jokes for different ones?
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Roma and Lazio play in the same stadium, Right ?
Why is it that when Roma play there is very little trouble. When Lazio play the Curd Nord is populated by Nazi loving spunk bubbles who are controlled by some twat with a megaphone shouting political shite ? Just a question like.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/nov/29/roma-fans-banned-tottenham-attack
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1405358/eight-wounded-in-fan-violence-before-rome-derby?cc=5739
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/4979396/Arsenal-fan-attack-puts-Romes-Champions-League-final-date-under-fresh-scrutiny.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=99834&page=1
I don't know. Tell us.
That is European games, not bar one Italian domestic games. And Lazio and Roma always kick off, same as us and Blose.
Sorry ,bar two games. That walk across that bridge is dangerous, been there 3 times myself. Get there early is the answer and when English clubs play there it is a mixture of both Roma and Lazio idiots doing the stabbing.
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Roma and Lazio play in the same stadium, Right ?
Why is it that when Roma play there is very little trouble. When Lazio play the Curd Nord is populated by Nazi loving spunk bubbles who are controlled by some twat with a megaphone shouting political shite ? Just a question like.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/nov/29/roma-fans-banned-tottenham-attack
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1405358/eight-wounded-in-fan-violence-before-rome-derby?cc=5739
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/4979396/Arsenal-fan-attack-puts-Romes-Champions-League-final-date-under-fresh-scrutiny.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=99834&page=1
I don't know. Tell us.
That is European games, not bar one Italian domestic games.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/seriea/story/hellas-verona-travels-home-by-train-after-bus-attacked-by-roma-fans-violence-090213
http://in.reuters.com/article/2008/01/21/idINIndia-31512220080121
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2305961/Roma-v-Lazio-Fans-stabbed-brutal-clashes-police-mar-Rome-derby.html
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/seriea/story/nine-arrested-after-coppa-italia-violence-in-rome-052713
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Can't we exchange these jokes for different ones?
Don't bank on it.
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Can't we exchange these jokes for different ones?
Don't bank on it.
I reckon we should sign that Ross Barkley. He'd sort it.
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I'll give up on trying to get a Spear of Destiny joke in. And just post the song instead.
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Libor - I don't rate him
I have no interest in him.
He'll be fine, as long as we ease him in gently.
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Libor - I don't rate him
I have no interest in him.
He'll be fine, as long as we ease him in gently.
He is not a new Porn actor you know.
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Libor - I don't rate him
I have no interest in him.
D'you think Sir Merve had some role in his move?
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Lambert talking about resting Benteke, so Libor might get his chance soon:
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/aston-villa/news/lambert-benteke-may-need-rest_103197.html
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Interesting piece from mat kendrick-
Wherever he was on transfer deadline day former Lazio star Simone Inzaghi was probably breathing a big sigh of relief.
Now a coach at the Rome club’s academy the striker, capped three times by Italy, is their record goalscorer in European competition with 20 goals. It was widely believed that total was safe – virtually unreachable for anyone.
Next best was Tommaso Rocchi, stuck on 12 after his nine-year stay in the Italian capital ended with a move to Inter Milan in January.
But Inzaghi could have been forgiven for getting a little twitchy last season when Libor Kozak brought his European total to 11 as Lazio reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Those strikes came in just 18 matches, meaning his average was 0.6 goals per game. Indeed the giant Czech was the top scorer in the tournament for 2012-13 ahead of the likes of Edinson Cavani and Fernando Torres.
Sometimes numbers say it all and Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert must have munched a few poignant statistics before acquiring Kozak’s services for £7 million.
Kozak has shown that, provided the right amount of game time and enough space, he’s able to score goals against Europe’s finest – namely Sporting Lisbon, Panathinaikos, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Stuttgart.
Sceptics maliciously state that he didn’t find the target in Italy’s Serie A last season.
But if you consider the pecking order at Lazio (Miroslav Klose, Sergio Floccari), the system (4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1) and the infamously tight Italian defences, then it’s not all his fault.
Libor Kozak celebrates after scoring for Lazio
Kozak needed and needs minutes on the pitch to be at his best – but in the previous seasons he has showed that he can make the most of the few chances he gets. In the 2010-11 season many sat up and took notice as he netted five times in his first 12 appearances.
But most of his goals were coming off the bench. By that point, in February, Kozak had managed just 504 minutes of action to be precise.
This meant that he had scored a goal every 100 minutes and 48 seconds, better than people like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Samuel Eto’o and Antonio Di Natale.
In a stalemate against AC Milan, the Rossoneri’s CEO Adriano Galliani complained about the striker’s attitude against opposing defenders stating that he had “flogged defenders for the whole game.”
In fact, he spent the game trying to defend the few balls he got in the face of some tight and uncompromising man-marking.
In 2011-12 Kozak started just four matches and came off the bench in 13 more but still managed to score four times (one against Inter).
The craziest game that season was the one against Cesena where former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu and Vincenzo Iaquinta gave the guests a double lead.
Kozak entered the fray in the second half only to be replaced himself after 38 minutes – but not before scoring an incredible winner.
Then, last season he started just five games with 14 substitute appearances.
Clearly the most recent bosses during his time at Lazio, Edy Reja and Vladimir Petkovic, thought he worked best as an impact substitute as 14 of his 36 appearances in the last two seasons came in the last 15 minutes of the game.
Despite this, he still managed to score a brace against Fiorentina, Mura, Panathinaikos and a hat-trick against Stuttgart in the rare occasions in which he got a start.
Possibly neither Reja nor Petkovic found the way to deploy him in a proper strike partnership. Not even pairing him with former Birmingham forward Mauro Zarate worked well enough to earn him a regular starting spot.
His first manager in Roma, Delio Rossi (now at Sampdoria) was clearly unimpressed despite handling him his full debut in Turin against Juventus on the last day of the season in 2009, just one day after his 20th birthday.
When Kozak scored his first official goals in a Lazio shirt, Lazio president Claudio Lotito pointedly spoke in front of the cameras and stated that those goals were proving his critics wrong.
He didn’t mention Rossi but everyone knew that Lazio’s former manager had once stated that Kozak couldn’t play football. In fact, he is one of the shrewd signings that has made “stingy” Lotito famous in Italy.
Lazio’s president turned a very healthy profit this week after capturing him for a mere £1m in February 2008, after Kozak failed to impress Harry Redknapp in a trial at Portsmouth in Pompey’s FA Cup winning season – with the now QPR manager possibly expecting him to be the next Peter Crouch.
Kozak had scored 11 goals in 26 games with Opava, managing to top the goalscoring chart in the Czech second division, but clearly that wasn’t enough.
When he joined Lazio some fans were happy, because scrolling down the pages on Wikipedia, they found out that he was born on May 30, the date arch-rivals Roma infamously lost the European Cup on penalties against Liverpool in 1984. Kozak was born five years later to the date and it was considered as a positive omen.
Ultimately though he could not bear another season spent mostly on the bench – especially after netting his first goal with the Czech Republic against Hungary in the summer.
At Villa Park – where Lazio famously won the last ever Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999 – Kozak will fulfil his boyhood dream of playing in the Premier League. And hopefully for Villa fans, he’ll get more time on the pitch to fulfill his goalscoring potential.
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Its not quite in agreement with Archie but a Lazio fan I know reckons he is like Big John but with a better attitude to his profession. That would do for me.
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Seems to be an easy target to substitute cos he's so bloody nice.
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We could do with Colin Murray and that muppet from 4-4-2 taking the piss like they did with Benteke.
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Its not quite in agreement with Archie but a Lazio fan I know reckons he is like Big John but with a better attitude to his profession. That would do for me.
Interesting reading the views of those who watch more Italian football than we do, and his record in domestic football there is pretty unimpressive.
However, you do sometimes find players who just don't prosper in the game in certain countries (which could be why he has such a good record in European competition). Long time ago, obv, but remember Ian Rush here, and Ian Rush at Juventus.
I am impressed, though, that Lambert has clearly scouted him out a while ago, spent a long while making the signing happen, and delivered him, so I look forward to seeing what he can do.
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when it comes to transfer deals the Lambert trust bank shows a healthy credit balance. I don't get the impression he's the type to shell out decent money if it hasn't been thought through. I see that no so-call "experts" sniggered at Kozak as they had when Benteke signed.
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Interesting....
New signing Libor Kozak says ' only time will tell ' what his role at Aston Villa will be after a brief chat with Paul Lambert last week.
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He just grabbed one for the Czech Republic against Italy! Nice to have some different international matches to keep tabs on haha!
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Nearly scored another just as I flicked it on. I must say I like the look of him.
EDIT: Just saw the goal, very well taken. It looked like the cross was too far away from him but he tucked his leg around it to score in the far corner. Lovely.
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Good stuff.
Didn't Benteke join and then go and get the winner for Belgium against the Dutch straight after?
The omens are good.
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Must have been a sweet feeling to score against the country who have just got rid of you.
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He upgraded, they didn't get rid of him.
That's a great finish from Kozak btw.
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Having been completely underwhelmed at first he is growing on me. Scores the winner on Sat against the ugly Zebras and I will be loving him.
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Crikey, nice elbow work, Libor!
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Crikey, nice elbow work, Libor!
Fuck yeah!
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Nice goal, mind.
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Crikey, nice elbow work, Libor!
Fuck yeah!
See the size of the gash in his head?
What was that film where someone shouts something along the lines of "fuck yeah, did you see his fucking head split open?".
Think it was a Vietnam film. Fuck, that's going to annoy me now.
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He'll do for me.
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Crikey, nice elbow work, Libor!
Fuck yeah!
See the size of the gash in his head?
What was that film where someone shouts something along the lines of "fuck yeah, did you see his fucking head split open?".
Think it was a Vietnam film. Fuck, that's going to annoy me now.
Now you've got me bugged, cheers.
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Stitch that Jimmy!
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Yeah, really nice finish, looked like the cross was too far in front of him but he did really well to get a clean strike on it.
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Crikey, nice elbow work, Libor!
Fuck yeah!
See the size of the gash in his head?
What was that film where someone shouts something along the lines of "fuck yeah, did you see his fucking head split open?".
Think it was a Vietnam film. Fuck, that's going to annoy me now.
Now you've got me bugged, cheers.
i knew my brother would know.
Platoon @ 2.34:
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I was called 'razor elbows' when I played football, I'm also the same kind of build as Kozak.
I never, deliberately elbowed anybody - I'm sure its just height difference.
I was crap however.
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Great finish fo that goal, he reminds me of McInally.
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Lots of decent strikers struggle to score in the italian league, dennis bergkamp only really scored in the uefa cup for inter before joining arsenal, henry essentially struggled at juve as well.
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Lots of decent strikers struggle to score in the italian league, dennis bergkamp only really scored in the uefa cup for inter before joining arsenal, henry essentially struggled at juve as well.
The Italian league isn't generally a place where the Kozak brand of CF normally flourishes. It's normally the poachers, speedsters or more technical kind of forwards who shine in that league.
I think Libor will be more suited to the English game. He looks awkward to play against. There's a definite Crouch vibe to him, but he looks stronger with it
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Was this his full debut for the Cheques?
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Was this his full debut for the Cheques?
No, he played in the previous game but drew a blank.
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I was called 'razor elbows' when I played football, I'm also the same kind of build as Kozak.
I never, deliberately elbowed anybody - I'm sure its just height difference.
I was crap however.
I was called Psycho.
No idea why. ;-)
I was also crap...however.
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Nice goal, mind.
Great finish, but what a ball in!!
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Yeah, the whip on the cross was begging to be put away. Do we have the boyz that can do the same?
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A good finish by Libor let's hope he can do that at the Villa.
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A good finish by Libor let's hope he can do that at the Villa.
I'm pretty confident he's going to be really useful, more down to the poor quality of the league (Nothing against Libor mind)
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Libor Kozak is expected to be among the substitutes on Saturday – but Paul Lambert has promised the big Czech is not just at Villa to warm the bench.
Lambert believes Kozak has the pedigree to play regularly in the Premier League after his Europa League exploits and the experience of playing for his country.
The 24-year-old joined Villa for a fee believed to be in the region of £6 million when he arrived on a four-year deal from Lazio on deadline day.
He made a quickfire return to Italy with his national team in midweek, opening the scoring before the Azzuri hit back to win 2-1.
“He’s different, but I know he can score goals,” said Lambert. He’s a handful, he’s played in a league renowned for some of the hardest defending you can come up against.
“It’s really tough to get away from a defender in Italy. His goalscoring in the Europa League was incredible. He scored at an incredible rate at a level when you’re up against top players.
“I don’t know what happened at Lazio, what went on which meant he couldn’t get many starts in Serie A but he knows where the goal is.
“He scored a brilliant goal the other night against Italy in a real high-pressure game, so I don’t have any worries about him at all.
“I don’t bring players in to say ‘you can sit on the bench for six months’. He’s here to help and that’s what he’ll do. We’ve got options now. I can do what I want because he’s a No.9, which is what I think we’ve needed.”
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Odd that he says we've 'needed a number 9' - we've got one of the best number nines in the world at the moment (that's no exaggeration), and we have no player to link from midfield and create things other than N'Zogbia - bombed out and injured anyway.
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I happen to think Benteke is a lot more than just a traditional number 9. My guess is that if they ever played today Benteke has the ability and intelligence to play just behind Kozak. I wouldn't expect Kozak for example to chip a pass like Benteke did for Delph against Rotherham, or run through, batter defenders as he did against Malaga. I would expect him to be a nightmare in the box and not afraid to mix it up with anyone. That's just my take on it because sometimes they will need to play together, and other times he will rest Benteke and play Kozak up on his own.
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To be fair he may mean another number 9 is what we've needed.
I think it'll be interesting to see how our side develops this season. Lambert settled on the 4-3-3 system last season after much experimentation. Given the extra players we now have, it's quite possible that process will be repeated until he settles on a new formation, which may well not be 4-3-3.
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Odd that he says we've 'needed a number 9' - we've got one of the best number nines in the world at the moment (that's no exaggeration), and we have no player to link from midfield and create things other than N'Zogbia - bombed out and injured anyway.
I've said before I'm convinced he thinks there is more to Benteke's game than being an out and out 9, for one Benteke is a much better passer than he gets credit for, I really think we'll see Benteke play in the 10 position a few times this year.
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Like he says we have more options and Kozak is a far better option than bowery, i think he will play with benteke at times and with helenius also in the wings it keeps the pressure on those on the team to deliver or lose their place - exciting season ahead.
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Odd that he says we've 'needed a number 9' - we've got one of the best number nines in the world at the moment (that's no exaggeration), and we have no player to link from midfield and create things other than N'Zogbia - bombed out and injured anyway.
I've said before I'm convinced he thinks there is more to Benteke's game than being an out and out 9, for one Benteke is a much better passer than he gets credit for, I really think we'll see Benteke play in the 10 position a few times this year.
Benteke has an eye for a defence splitting pass, to be sure, and sometimes he pulls it off to spectacular effect; but quite often the ball goes alarmingly astray setting up the opposition with a promising attacking position. I firmly believe that if this were not the case, Wenger would have bid heavily for him.
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His decision making needs to improve I agree, but if it does he can become a very effective striker playing 9 or 10, which will only increase his value further.
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Benteke could play as a number 9, 10, 11. He'd probably make a good job as a number 1 and still score 15 goals a season. Ha ha.
But yeah, I'd guess that Libor is more of a pure 9. Benteke can slip anywhere in our attacking positions and still be effective. Helenius seems to be more of a number 10 type. I also think Lambert rates Wiemann as a potential number 10 as well (he said so a while back in an interview IIRC). So looking logically, having loaned out Bent who is about as number 9 as they come, I think there's logic to that signing.
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I'd be pretty annoyed if he starts tinkering before we've got some points. I'd prefer it he started changing formations etc when players are tired or if we lose form, not now when we're arguably going well.
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A few months ago an article (that I can't find/be bothered to find) came out about Benteke and the Belgium national team. They play with one up top (either 'Teke or Lukaku), but for 30 minutes or so at the end of one of the early summer internationals they played both of them at the same time (apparently having never really tried it or trained for it). Benteke naturally dropped back a bit deeper, supporting Lukaku and leaving him to lead the line. I'm pretty sure there are quotes from him saying he was happy to drop back and play as a supporting striker/playmaker when needed.
I think a comparison with Drogba is relevant - he scores loadsa goals, but can be just as effective creating for others. In a few years time when he hits his peak, Benteke is going to be a very well rounded player. He is already tbh, but there really is no limit to how good this lad could turn out to be!
EDIT: Sorry, thought I was in the Benteke thread. To bring it a bit back on topic, it wouldn't suprise me if we ended up seeing something like a 4-4-1-1, with Kojak leading the line, and Benteke playing in the hole. You could also probably put Benteke up top and play Helenius, Tonev or even eventually Weimann in the No10 role. Either way, buying another great big classic number 9 has given us a bit more flexibility, and may even have solved the No10 problem.
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A few months ago an article (that I can't find/be bothered to find) came out about Benteke and the Belgium national team. They play with one up top (either 'Teke or Lukaku), but for 30 minutes or so at the end of one of the early summer internationals they played both of them at the same time (apparently having never really tried it or trained for it). Benteke naturally dropped back a bit deeper, supporting Lukaku and leaving him to lead the line. I'm pretty sure there are quotes from him saying he was happy to drop back and play as a supporting striker/playmaker when needed.
I think a comparison with Drogba is relevant - he scores loadsa goals, but can be just as effective creating for others. In a few years time when he hits his peak, Benteke is going to be a very well rounded player. He is already tbh, but there really is no limit to how good this lad could turn out to be!
EDIT: Sorry, thought I was in the Benteke thread. To bring it a bit back on topic, it wouldn't suprise me if we ended up seeing something like a 4-4-1-1, with Kojak leading the line, and Benteke playing in the hole. You could also probably put Benteke up top and play Helenius, Tonev or even eventually Weimann in the No10 role. Either way, buying another great big classic number 9 has given us a bit more flexibility, and may even have solved the No10 problem.
the very last bit is important, Kozak is a genuine 9, of that there is no doubt, Benteke is clearly an excellent 9 as well, but none of the others really are, so previously Benteke had to play the 9 role because we had no choice, now we can tinker with moving him around.
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Sorry, no way is Benteke a number 10. Just because he can pass it doesn't make him a playmaker - it makes him a competent top-flight footballer. He's a brilliant furthest-man-forward striker, excellent finishing, formidable hold up play and yes, passing and interchanging. No way is he a number 10 though, it's just not happening.
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Sorry, no way is Benteke a number 10. Just because he can pass it doesn't make him a playmaker - it makes him a competent top-flight footballer. He's a brilliant furthest-man-forward striker, excellent finishing, formidable hold up play and yes, passing and interchanging. No way is he a number 10 though, it's just not happening.
Agreed, given the lack of a no. 10 signing the only other formation option I think we may see is Kozak and Bentek as a two up front with one of Gabby or Weimann is behind.
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I think your definition of a 10 is pretty rigid though Monty, personally I think Benteke could be highly effective given a bit more freedom to find space without it leaving us with no one in the box. His natural game is to drift out left and try to find gaps between the centre back and full back but at times that has left us with no one to 'hit' in the centre because Weimann is deeper joining up play and Gabby is always looking for gaps to sprint into. I can therefore see the value, in games where we can't break through playing Benteke off Kozak might give him a bit more time to find the little gaps in and around the box which is comfortably his best attribute. I can see him developing similarly to Bergkamp in his position, maybe a 9 and a half?
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Benteke and Helenius are both very mobile big men, and PL had a complement for Kozak's mobility when he signed as well... It will be interesting to see if he opts for using all 3 on occassions with Benteke moving to Gabby's position on the left and Helenius coming in for Weimann on the right.
It would be a first for me, seeing a three man forward line that moves well that is all over 6'3". Would work well in FIFA ;).
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I reckon part of Lambert's thinking is that Premiership defences will have started to learn how to play Benteke. Bringing in Kozak adds a new ' unknown' factor into the attack as well as potentially giving Benteke more space.
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I reckon part of Lambert's thinking is that Premiership defences will have started to learn how to play Benteke. Bringing in Kozak adds a new ' unknown' factor into the attack as well as potentially giving Benteke more space.
Agree Mister E. PL mentioned not long ago how Much pressure is on Benteke, and Kozak will be a as he puts it a "handful" Got a feeling Kozak is is going to be a lot more influential than what we are expecting .......
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I think your definition of a 10 is pretty rigid though Monty, personally I think Benteke could be highly effective given a bit more freedom to find space without it leaving us with no one in the box. His natural game is to drift out left and try to find gaps between the centre back and full back but at times that has left us with no one to 'hit' in the centre because Weimann is deeper joining up play and Gabby is always looking for gaps to sprint into. I can therefore see the value, in games where we can't break through playing Benteke off Kozak might give him a bit more time to find the little gaps in and around the box which is comfortably his best attribute. I can see him developing similarly to Bergkamp in his position, maybe a 9 and a half?
9 and a half would leave us really short in midfield though. Benteke is not going to become a pressurising pest off the ball if we lose it. If he plays with Kozak, it's two big blokes in a 4-4-2 - probably a diamond 4-4-2 because Lambert has a brain and doesn't want us to vacate the centre, but it will be a 4-4-2 with Benteke as an out and out striker.
I wouldn't say that I have a particularly narrow-minded view of the number ten position, just that the position itself is a fairly narrowly defined one. The number ten does certain things that no other player on the pitch does, and also does other things which are the jobs of two positions, namely press and possess like a midfielder but also know when to take risks like a striker. Watch Ozil today for what a number ten should do - Benteke may be good dropping deep and helping out, but that's not the same as being a number ten.
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If we play 2 up, I can see it being more a 4-1-3-2. But I can't see it suiting Weimann that well.
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If we play 2 up, I can see it being more a 4-1-3-2. But I can't see it suiting Weimann that well.
Only if it's an Italian sort of formation with the 1 very defensive and the 3 pretty up-and-down, like a midfield of Ambrosinis. I agree, that really wouldn't suit Weimann at all, but if it suits Kozak and Benteke then it has its place as a system.
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Welcome LIBOR; hope you like your new BASE.
I see that you "rate" him already
I wouldn't SWAP him for anyone, especially once I heard he'd got a CAP. I bet PL didn't have to grab him by the COLLAR to get him to sign. Just hope he doesn't end up on the FLOOR like Heskey.
That's why we signed him up,
That's why we signed him up,
That's why we signed him up,
That's why we signed him up.
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He did really nicely apart from the goal as well.
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yep, Kozak looked solid for a guy just starting out in a new league, first chance he clearly didn't want to use his left and had to go at the near post but the movement to give Gabby an angle and the finish for the goal were impressive. I think he'll prove a good signing.
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Happy for the lad. Bags of potential.
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He did really well to get the ball out of his feet for the one-on-one he missed before he scored. That miss would have been nerves to some extent, but also we're just so used to the calm brilliance of Benteke that we forget that other strikers are mere humans. Did well to get the second chance in though.
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Great game and a real handful . Showed far more than any nowrich strikers and was constantly fouled because they didn't know how to deal with him . I really think he can be a big hit in the premier league and see him scoring regularly just like the beast. What I like about his play is that he is technical and knows howto find his team mates also a great aireal threat. Superb signing again by lambert.boys top quality
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He reminds me of Crouch in the sense that he is all arms and legs.
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He reminds me of Crouch in the sense that he is all arms and legs.
I think it was Frank Skinner who said that going for a header with Crouch was like someone throwing you a bicycle. 'He's all sharp edges,' he said.
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Nice to see him get a goal one of plenty I hope.
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He reminds me of Zigic a bit....bear with me. Obviously not bankrupting the club but someone who isn't hugely mobile but will still cause defences problems and think he'll be one of those players that pops up with important goals for us.
The finish could've been better considering Ruddy was pretty much over the left but they all count.
The one I'm most intrigued about is Mount Helenius, I've liked what I've seen from his little cameos, maybe short term he could play the number 10 role in a 4-4-1-1, maybe in the home games?
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He reminds me of Zigic a bit....bear with me. Obviously not bankrupting the club but someone who isn't hugely mobile but will still cause defences problems and think he'll be one of those players that pops up with important goals for us.
The finish could've been better considering Ruddy was pretty much over the left but they all count.
The one I'm most intrigued about is Mount Helenius, I've liked what I've seen from his little cameos, maybe short term he could play the number 10 role in a 4-4-1-1, maybe in the home games?
I think we might see him a bit more on Tuesday. I think Lambert might try a different approach against Spurs with Kozak up top and Helenius just behind.
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4-4-1-1 at home,could be what we need,good thinking HQ
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He reminds me of Zigic a bit....bear with me. Obviously not bankrupting the club but someone who isn't hugely mobile but will still cause defences problems and think he'll be one of those players that pops up with important goals for us.
The finish could've been better considering Ruddy was pretty much over the left but they all count.
The one I'm most intrigued about is Mount Helenius, I've liked what I've seen from his little cameos, maybe short term he could play the number 10 role in a 4-4-1-1, maybe in the home games?
I think we might see him a bit more on Tuesday. I think Lambert might try a different approach against Spurs with Kozak up top and Helenius just behind.
I would like to see that.
Helenuis should've had more minutes this season, he looks like the type of forward who can drop deep which we need in home games.
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Kozak occupies defences Lambert likes the big man up there and when he's not scoring it'll create opemingd for the pacey strikers
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Kozak occupies defences Lambert likes the big man up there and when he's not scoring it'll create opemingd for the pacey strikers
Problem is barring Gabby we don't have pace options. It is something we need.
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Kozak occupies defences Lambert likes the big man up there and when he's not scoring it'll create opemingd for the pacey strikers
Problem is barring Gabby we don't have pace options. It is something we need.
Tonev is really quick, but as we saw today he needs a while to settle.
As for Kozak, was impressed by his movement off the ball - he might not be the natural finisher that Big Chris is, but hes getting in the right places.
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Can anyone explain why this guy cost £7m+. Has anyone seen him play other than the few Villa games?
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Can anyone explain why this guy cost £7m+. Has anyone seen him play other than the few Villa games?
As that's what Lazio accepted and what our final offer was.
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They didn't see us coming, did they?
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The only time he played consistent football, the Waffa Cup, he scored 10 goals.
All we know so far is that he's not as quck as the Beast and its not a good idea to keep launching balls at him.
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Can anyone explain why this guy cost £7m+. Has anyone seen him play other than the few Villa games?
He cost that much because Lambert thought he was worth it. Given PLs record of signing strikers for that price I'm willing to give him a little longer before complaining about his cost. As always he needs to learn how to fit into the team and the team need to learn how to get the most out of him, that's not something that can be achieved in 4 games.
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Not critiscising him, just don't think he looks like he has the tools that make you a £7m hitman. More £2-3m.
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Not critiscising him, just don't think he looks like he has the tools that make you a £7m hitman. More £2-3m.
Someone said exactly the same about a player we bought last summer.
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Not critiscising him, just don't think he looks like he has the tools that make you a £7m hitman. More £2-3m.
Someone said exactly the same about a player we bought last summer.
I remember during Benteke's first few games there were a lot of people highly doubting him and complaining about the cost. We've gotta give this guy some more time.
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Not critiscising him, just don't think he looks like he has the tools that make you a £7m hitman. More £2-3m.
Lamela cost Spurs £30m (no goals), Soldado cost £28m (1 league goal). £7m (1 league goal) sounds a bargain compared to those two deals.
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They can afford to be splashy with their cash given the Bale revenue.
£7m is a lot for us these days and a half-decent playmaker may have been a wiser option.
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They can afford to be splashy with their cash given the Bale revenue.
£7m is a lot for us these days and a half-decent playmaker may have been a wiser option.
what none of us truly know is what the club have made available to Lambert in terms of finances. Maybe, the player he wanted in the AM position just wasn't available this summer for any number of reasons and he used some of the money he had on a player he pursued. It's only speculation to think otherwise. Lambert has proven since coming to the club that he is very careful over his transfers.
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They can afford to be splashy with their cash given the Bale revenue.
£7m is a lot for us these days and a half-decent playmaker may have been a wiser option.
what none of us truly know is what the club have made available to Lambert in terms of finances. Maybe, the player he wanted in the AM position just wasn't available this summer for any number of reasons and he used some of the money he had on a player he pursued. It's only speculation to think otherwise. Lambert has proven since coming to the club that he is very careful over his transfers.
It's also worth remembering that we signed a guy who's looking very accomplished at full back and most people think will become a very good player further forward for less than a million, if the 7m striker doesn't turn out well I'm fairly sure the overall business will be positive, again.
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The only time he played consistent football, the Waffa Cup, he scored 10 goals.
All we know so far is that he's not as quck as the Beast and its not a good idea to keep launching balls at him.
Not being funny Ads, i would take the Waffa cup every year.
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Does Kojak not make the Czech Squad ?
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He will score plenty of goals for us
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He will score plenty of goals for us
I agree
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He will score plenty of goals for us
I agree
Nice one Deano. He will score lots of goals once he is settled in.
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Does Kojak not make the Czech Squad ?
Wasn't he suspended for this one due to the racking up of cards?
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He will score plenty of goals for us
I agree
Nice one Deano. He will score lots of goals once he is settled in.
I don't think he'll be the sort of player to start week in, week out. I see him as a Solskjaer sort of player, or perhaps a more apt comparison would be Crouch for England (and Liverpool I suppose). He'll come in some games, or from the bench, and he's awkward to play against (probably with sometimes too). He'll score a few goals along the way though, no question.
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Not completely related to Kozak, but here seems as good a place as any to put it. I wonder why we never went back in for Jelle Vossen?
Only 24, by all accounts he was the player we went to see when we spotted Benteke, scored more goals that season than Benteke did that season and they're clearly used to playing (and playing well) together.
Seems odd that we've never been linked with him since. Unless Genk saw how we turned Bentete from a £7m striker into a £40m striker and have just quoted us ridiculous figures.
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Not completely related to Kozak, but here seems as good a place as any to put it. I wonder why we never went back in for Jelle Vossen?
Only 24, by all accounts he was the player we went to see when we spotted Benteke, scored more goals that season than Benteke did that season and they're clearly used to playing (and playing well) together.
Seems odd that we've never been linked with him since. Unless Genk saw how we turned Bentete from a £7m striker into a £40m striker and have just quoted us ridiculous figures.
I can't remember where, but I'm sure I heard Lambert say something about Vossen not being up to much.
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I know some people are writing him off already and I know he's struggled somewhat, however I think that's the fault of the team.
They play as if he is a like for like replacement for Benteke. For most of his time on the pitch he had the ball slung up for him to head on or do something in the air. I just don't see him as this sort of player, I think he makes clever runs and wants the ball to feet.
In the 5 minutes before CB came on we played it into his feet 2/3 times and he turned his marker and caused problems. I'm pretty sure if we played this way he'd look a lot better and have a bit more confidence.
I'm glad to see CB back but hope that PL works in training to get the side looking to play this way when LK is on the pitch.
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I know some people are writing him off already and I know he's struggled somewhat, however I think that's the fault of the team.
They play as if he is a like for like replacement for Benteke. For most of his time on the pitch he had the ball slung up for him to head on or do something in the air. I just don't see him as this sort of player, I think he makes clever runs and wants the ball to feet.
In the 5 minutes before CB came on we played it into his feet 2/3 times and he turned his marker and caused problems. I'm pretty sure if we played this way he'd look a lot better and have a bit more confidence.
I'm glad to see CB back but hope that PL works in training to get the side looking to play this way when LK is on the pitch.
Agreed, and has been said a million times already, Benteke was pretty bad for his first 4 or so games, missing sitters etc.
He could be terrible, he could be great, its far too early to tell.
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I know some people are writing him off already and I know he's struggled somewhat, however I think that's the fault of the team.
They play as if he is a like for like replacement for Benteke. For most of his time on the pitch he had the ball slung up for him to head on or do something in the air. I just don't see him as this sort of player, I think he makes clever runs and wants the ball to feet.
In the 5 minutes before CB came on we played it into his feet 2/3 times and he turned his marker and caused problems. I'm pretty sure if we played this way he'd look a lot better and have a bit more confidence.
I'm glad to see CB back but hope that PL works in training to get the side looking to play this way when LK is on the pitch.
I agree, I actually think him and helenius could make a good partnership from what I've seen, Helenius has the brians and skill to come a bit deeper and work the ball into the right areas for kozak, I'm surprised we haven't seen more of them together.
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Think he'll be a score of late winners off the bench for us rather than a prolific scorer, not ready to start and trouble the best premier league defences.
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Maybe he can be our Dirk (Kuyt, not Diggler).
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I would be interested to see Kozak alongside benteke as they could be a decent partnership - certainly not suited to the lone role up front.
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If playing as a target man in a 433 isn't his role, what is? His touch is awful, he can't head the ball and he's really slow. I hope he proves me wrong but I can't see it at the moment.
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new country, new league, new team. Some players can just slot in, most take a little time.
Anyone who has moved abroad with work knows that it is a massive transition. Finding a home, trying to keep your family happy and then also trying to perform for your new employer.
I think he looks a real handful. I wouldn't imagine any defence would fancy taking on him and Benteke.
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If we start helping him out on the pitch a bit more then that would help. Keep the ball on the deck more, and get it into his feet. He's struggling with aerial duels at the moment. Center backs climb all over you in this league, more so than Italy, so right now he's gone from winning half his aerial battles in Serie A, to about 20-30% in this league.
Even if he does win a header, he's so isolated most times that no bugger will benefit from it.
We need to calm our play down sometimes. Sometimes it's just better to keep the ball rather than rushing it forward when there's nowt on, or just punting it hopefully up to the big man up front. We just need to be a bit considered. We can't play our attacking football at full pelt all the time. The players don't have the technique and inevitably we lose it.
I wouldn't say Kozaks touch is really poor either. I just think that's part of lacking in confidence and adjusting to how little time you get in this league. That will get better (I hope). He needs to improve his movement though and if needs be drop back to get in the game. He's being isolated but part of that is his own doing.
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Really nice to see him get a second goal, and in front of the Holte no less. Does anyone know what his song is? Kept hearing people trying to get it going yesterday but I didn't recognise the tune.
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Really nice to see him get a second goal, and in front of the Holte no less. Does anyone know what his song is? Kept hearing people trying to get it going yesterday but I didn't recognise the tune.
To the tune, and I use the word advisedly, "No Limits":
Libor
Libor Libor
Libor Libor
Libor Libor Kozak
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It was disappointing to see so many people being overly critical of him during the Hull match thread, in a game where no player really stood out. Players need time to adjust, especially those coming from other leagues. Even the best players rarely hit it off immediately and the game is littered with expensive failures that never make it. With all of our players give them some support and if they have the right attitude they'll come through. The one thing about all of Lambert's buys is that they all have the right personality and commitment to be successful.
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
Off course he has quality. He made several runs that needed the right supply. That's what chemistry is all about on both sides. The other players in time will understand where he wants the ball and Kozak will also make intelligent runs into space to receive and bring others into the game. I really don't understand how anyone can legitimately write him off so quickly.
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
Off course he has quality. He made several runs that needed the right supply. That's what
is all about on both sides. The other players in time will understand where he wants the ball and Kozak will also make intelligent runs into space to receive and bring others into the game. I really don't understand how anyone can legitimately write him off so quickly.
Because patience in football is a thing of the past. Just like standing and fair ticket prices.
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hes scored 2 in 7 so far
So If we see 11 golas in his first season I would be pleased
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
I fail to see how you can criticise a striker in a game where he scores.
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
I fail to see how you can criticise a striker in a game where he scores.
Do you believe he's showed glimpses of a £7m player at all so far?
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
I fail to see how you can criticise a striker in a game where he scores.
Do you believe he's showed glimpses of a £7m player at all so far?
Accepting that he obvioulsy lacks pace, I thought some of his first touches and link-up plays were excellent yesterday. I doubt we'll see him scoring some of the individual goals that Benteke succeeded with last season but he might turn into a reasonable P'ship striker, in time.
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
I fail to see how you can criticise a striker in a game where he scores.
Do you believe he's showed glimpses of a £7m player at all so far?
Yes he has , he has scored twice and only started 3 or 4 games - he was twice denied from headers yesterday and his movement helped create weimanns goal against city - we haven't played to his strengths when we used him as a target man but he has certainly shown enough in his opening few games to suggest he could be useful - give the guy a chance for Christ sake!
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
I fail to see how you can criticise a striker in a game where he scores.
Do you believe he's showed glimpses of a £7m player at all so far?
Plenty. The goals he's scored, for a start.
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His header for the goal was excellent and a really tough thing to do.
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
I fail to see how you can criticise a striker in a game where he scores.
Do you believe he's showed glimpses of a £7m player at all so far?
Plenty. The goals he's scored, for a start.
Ok fair enough.
If he ends up scoring 1 in 3 or 4 or 10ish goals per season that's not a bad record and I hope he does.
To me he looks very slow, doesn't win enough duels in the air and on yesterdays performance Benteke and him need to work up a partnership because on a few occasions they were both going for the same balls and not playing off each other.
On the plus side his header was great from an awkward position, his hold up play was better and his awareness to play off the smaller man when crosses came in was good. I just find it hard to see a place for him if the team develops the style Lambert I think wants it to with the mobility factor.
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So far he's scored the only goal in a game and the second in a 2-0. That's two points, possibly four knowing our penchant for throwing away leads, he's got us and that might could repay his transfer fee by the end of the season.
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To me he looks very slow, doesn't win enough duels in the air and on yesterdays performance Benteke and him need to work up a partnership because on a few occasions they were both going for the same balls and not playing off each other.
How many times had they played together before yesterday?
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To me he looks very slow, doesn't win enough duels in the air and on yesterdays performance Benteke and him need to work up a partnership because on a few occasions they were both going for the same balls and not playing off each other.
How many times had they played together before yesterday?
None. That's why i'm saying they need to work on the partnership. Some have a natural link up, complimentary styles. These two don't and will need to work at it in training.
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None. That's why i'm saying they need to work on the partnership. Some have a natural link up, complimentary styles. These two don't and will need to work at it in training.
I've got to admit that benteke and Kovac are not what you'd typically choose as a partnership.
Sutton and Shearer had a bit of success but that was a long time ago and I fear that football's changed a fair bit since then. I hope Lambert doesn't become too keen to pair them together as I think midfield will suffer long term.
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One thing that irks me is the issue of his cost.
He's a young international and it was probably more like £4m plus add ons.
It's not 1998 anymore, that money doesn't buy you the finished article.
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One thing that irks me is the issue of his cost.
He's a young international and it was probably more like £4m plus add ons.
It's not 1998 anymore, that money doesn't buy you the finished article.
It's so ridiculous to be harping on like £7m being such an immense amount of money. In PL terms it's nothing at all, and even for us, not remotely close to some of the money we've spent. And like many of our other deals it likely isn't £7m at all but closer to what you're suggesting. He's a young international footballer with loads of potential.
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One thing that irks me is the issue of his cost.
He's a young international and it was probably more like £4m plus add ons.
It's not 1998 anymore, that money doesn't buy you the finished article.
It's so ridiculous to be harping on like £7m being such an immense amount of money. In PL terms it's nothing at all, and even for us, not remotely close to some of the money we've spent. And like many of our other deals it likely isn't £7m at all but closer to what you're suggesting. He's a young international footballer with loads of potential.
I think it's actually a decent amount in the new financial frame of reference we're operating in, to be honest. It's certainly the top end of fees I can see us paying for a while.
None of that, however, explains how it is possible to decide he's shit after such a short period. I just don't get it.
People having reservations, yes. People doubting him, yes. But this week I've seen people actually writing him off as rubbish.
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One thing that irks me is the issue of his cost.
He's a young international and it was probably more like £4m plus add ons.
It's not 1998 anymore, that money doesn't buy you the finished article.
It's so ridiculous to be harping on like £7m being such an immense amount of money. In PL terms it's nothing at all, and even for us, not remotely close to some of the money we've spent. And like many of our other deals it likely isn't £7m at all but closer to what you're suggesting. He's a young international footballer with loads of potential.
I think it's actually a decent amount in the new financial frame of reference we're operating in, to be honest. It's certainly the top end of fees I can see us paying for a while.
None of that, however, explains how it is possible to decide he's shit after such a short period. I just don't get it.
People having reservations, yes. People doubting him, yes. But this week I've seen people actually writing him off as rubbish.
It's no surprise- some were writing off benteke after he had played a similar amount of games last season - especially after the saints away game .
Kozak is doing fine .
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Kozak is doing fine
Absolutely
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Personality and commitment is useless without any quality. I wasn't too impressed with Kozak yesterday, he's too slow to play with Benteke. We shall see!
How unimpressed were you with his goal?
I think Shola Ameobi scored a goal once, so I'm not sure that's the best argument Dave.
From what I've seen of Kozak, he looks like he could become a reasonable striker in the league. I don't think him playing alongside Benteke is going to bear much fruit in the long run though. I think Kozak could flourish in a side that plays with a lot of width.
I fail to see how you can criticise a striker in a game where he scores.
Plenty criticised Bent for his lack of an allround game despite scoring goals.
A striker can score in a game, but still play poorly (not that I think Kozk did yesterday)
I agree that Kozak hasn't looked too bad so far, and has come up with a couple of important goals
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All too common for fans to write players off after 1 or 2 games. I recall Bacuna was slagged off by some after his first few games. Petrov and Angel took a whole a season to really reach the levels we remember them for (remember WM constantly slagging off Petrov but that's another thread!). Lambert appears to have patience and a lot of belief in the players he signs and hopefully work with them to develop their game. Yesterday's performance was not fantastic from Kozak but you could see he is improving.
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He scores 2 goals in 7 appearances , if he plays 25 games and get 7 goals this season , I think be a success. Barring Benteke who had a really impressive first season name another villa player striker who come from in last 20 years with a really impressive strike rate?
Angel was 1 in 4, and and same is Gabby's and in recent years those 2 are viewed as demi gods by certain parts of our support, so lay off him
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He's not fantastic in the air with his back to goal so we just need to be mindful of how we use the guy and make his job easier. Get balls into the box and he showed on a few occasions he's got good movement. The goal was a little scrappy but it went in. In the first half he had that header against the post which was good. Granted he was just offside, but he'd shown some clever movement initially to free up some space. Had the ball come half a second later, he'd have been on.
Keep it to his feet, and give him some good service in the box and he'll do okay.
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He scores 2 goals in 7 appearances , if he plays 25 games and get 7 goals this season , I think be a success. Barring Benteke who had a really impressive first season name another villa player striker who come from in last 20 years with a really impressive strike rate?
Angel was 1 in 4, and and same is Gabby's and in recent years those 2 are viewed as demi gods by certain parts of our support, so lay off him
While thinking about previous strike rate's, I stumbled upon the fact that Milan Baros now plays for Medical Park Antalyaspor. He may have been the worst marquee signing in history.
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So far he's scored the only goal in a game and the second in a 2-0. That's two points, possibly four knowing our penchant for throwing away leads, he's got us and that might could repay his transfer fee by the end of the season.
He played an important part in the winner against Man City as well. Despite not getting a touch, it was his challenge that allowed the ball through for Weimann to run onto.
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So far he's scored the only goal in a game and the second in a 2-0. That's two points, possibly four knowing our penchant for throwing away leads, he's got us and that might could repay his transfer fee by the end of the season.
He played an important part in the winner against Man City as well. Despite not getting a touch, it was his challenge that allowed the ball through for Weimann to run onto.
Yup.
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So far he's scored the only goal in a game and the second in a 2-0. That's two points, possibly four knowing our penchant for throwing away leads, he's got us and that might could repay his transfer fee by the end of the season.
He played an important part in the winner against Man City as well. Despite not getting a touch, it was his challenge that allowed the ball through for Weimann to run onto.
That's grasping at straws a little.
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So far he's scored the only goal in a game and the second in a 2-0. That's two points, possibly four knowing our penchant for throwing away leads, he's got us and that might could repay his transfer fee by the end of the season.
He played an important part in the winner against Man City as well. Despite not getting a touch, it was his challenge that allowed the ball through for Weimann to run onto.
That's grasping at straws a little.
Not really. Yes we relied on a defensive mistake there, but his constant challenging for the ball caused them problems that day.
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So far he's scored the only goal in a game and the second in a 2-0. That's two points, possibly four knowing our penchant for throwing away leads, he's got us and that might could repay his transfer fee by the end of the season.
He played an important part in the winner against Man City as well. Despite not getting a touch, it was his challenge that allowed the ball through for Weimann to run onto.
That's grasping at straws a little.
Although it's just as well he didn't get a touch, as Weimann would have been offside.
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He makes the defenders work and do what they would rather not do.
It may not be striking genius but if he's making the opposition constantly uncomfortable then he's doing a good job.
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As I said yesterday, if we are going to be direct at home, it is better to have 2 men up than 1. He holds it well, brings others in and I thought actually helped Benteke get in the game a lot more than if he was on his own up top. He is not pretty, and is certainly a yard short of being a top player, but he will be effective against the type of side we played yesterday.
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I think its a fair comment about the side he played Ozzjim. He looked ok yesterday, but had a bit of a shocker against Spurs
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He makes the defenders work and do what they would rather not do.
It may not be striking genius but if he's making the opposition constantly uncomfortable then he's doing a good job.
I honestly don't think I saw him win a flick on yesterday against Caulker and Turner. As others have mentioned it is still very early days for him and he definitely needs time.
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He won 3-4 in the first half.
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I hope he gets more game time, and we get to see what he can do,
because i'm convinced he has been bought in as Bentekes replacement when he goes, whenever that is,
but I do think Lambert has tried to fill the gap before it opens, which is something of the forward thinking we all wanted to see from our manager
whether he will be good enough is unclear at this stage, and replacing Benteke in the future is a big task if not imposible one
but he is at least showing signs and it will do him no harm to keep popping the ball in the net as he did at the weekend
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He makes the defenders work and do what they would rather not do.
It may not be striking genius but if he's making the opposition constantly uncomfortable then he's doing a good job.
I honestly don't think I saw him win a flick on yesterday against Caulker and Turner. As others have mentioned it is still very early days for him and he definitely needs time.
Despite his height he is poor when the ball is played up to him in the air. However when he was given it on the deck he controlled it and brought others into play very well I thought. The moral? Play it into his feet and not keep humping it downfield in the air!!
Also he managed to get his head onto some of the crosses as well as his goal so obviously knows how to find space in the box. Again that will require a change of tactic as if you are to have crosses going in then there must be someone in a wide position to deliver them.
A fair bit of work needed on the training ground I think.
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I thought he did ok on Saturday. He saw a lot more of the ball anyway and I reckon he'll weigh in with a few as the season goes on.
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We'll need better crosses than the ones Tonev was providing on Saturday to get the best out of him.
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We'll need better crosses than the ones Tonev was providing on Saturday to get the best out of him.
All Tonev needs to do is get his head up and have a bit of composure. He rushed some crosses and played a few blind. He's running at people and beating fullbacks which is a good start. I think the delivery will come.
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We'll need better crosses than the ones Tonev was providing on Saturday to get the best out of him.
All Tonev needs to do is get his head up and have a bit of composure. He rushed some crosses and played a few blind. He's running at people and beating fullbacks which is a good start. I think the delivery will come.
Agreed, seems a bit rushed with his final delivery - that will come and a bit of composure with that final ball will make all the difference.
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I thought Tonev gave us something we normally lack, someone going past a player. Apart from Benteke muscling his way past people we tend to pass sideways once we encounter someone so it was good to see Tonev stretch them. His crossing and shooting is cack at the moment but that can be worked on.
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We'll need better crosses than the ones Tonev was providing on Saturday to get the best out of him.
All Tonev needs to do is get his head up and have a bit of composure. He rushed some crosses and played a few blind. He's running at people and beating fullbacks which is a good start. I think the delivery will come.
Maybe some of the other players need to watch how Tonev plays. He fired a couple across on Saturday that were easy for the keeper but would have posed problems if a Villa player or two had got themselves close to goal ready for the cross.
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We'll need better crosses than the ones Tonev was providing on Saturday to get the best out of him.
All Tonev needs to do is get his head up and have a bit of composure. He rushed some crosses and played a few blind. He's running at people and beating fullbacks which is a good start. I think the delivery will come.
Maybe some of the other players need to watch how Tonev plays. He fired a couple across on Saturday that were easy for the keeper but would have posed problems if a Villa player or two had got themselves close to goal ready for the cross.
Certainly. It's not just the forwards either, our midfielders seem to think there's some kind of forcefield that won't allow them into the penalty area in open play. Someone like Ian Taylor would have been busting a gut to break into the box and get on the end of Tonevs crosses, regardless of whether they'd reach his bonce or not.
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We'll need better crosses than the ones Tonev was providing on Saturday to get the best out of him.
All Tonev needs to do is get his head up and have a bit of composure. He rushed some crosses and played a few blind. He's running at people and beating fullbacks which is a good start. I think the delivery will come.
Maybe some of the other players need to watch how Tonev plays. He fired a couple across on Saturday that were easy for the keeper but would have posed problems if a Villa player or two had got themselves close to goal ready for the cross.
As I said, plenty of work to be done on the training ground. Then perhaps they might look as if they are not complete strangers who have been thrown together.
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I thought Tonev gave us something we normally lack, someone going past a player. Apart from Benteke muscling his way past people we tend to pass sideways once we encounter someone so it was good to see Tonev stretch them. His crossing and shooting is cack at the moment but that can be worked on.
This is why I'd like to see Robinson, Carruthers and Grealish get some cameo appearances before the end of the year, all 3 have a knack of drifting away from tackles, if they can translate that to the first team they'll all be great options to change the game later on.
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I thought Tonev gave us something we normally lack, someone going past a player. Apart from Benteke muscling his way past people we tend to pass sideways once we encounter someone so it was good to see Tonev stretch them. His crossing and shooting is cack at the moment but that can be worked on.
This is why I'd like to see Robinson, Carruthers and Grealish get some cameo appearances before the end of the year, all 3 have a knack of drifting away from tackles, if they can translate that to the first team they'll all be great options to change the game later on.
Yeah I'd definitely like to see them come in. We're really lacking in a bit of attacking guile, so why not give these lads a go. They've all got ability and a touch of flair.
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
Absolute tosh.
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
Paul Franks, is that you?
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
Yeah, 10 appearances, 5 goals, proven to be a load of shit via that tricky second season syndrome....
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
Paul Franks, is that you?
Oh you spoilsport , you have won a beanie hat and wm mug :)
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
Second season syndrome? Benteke looked good and was scoring goals before he was injured this season.
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What I liked about Kosak on Saturday was his perseverance - he had 3 attempts at scoring at the Holte end and eventually one went in.
Luckily he missed his first try as we were kicking the other way at the time!
Our lack of goals at home has been even worse when most of the goals (in recent years) that we have managed always seem to be down the other end. Hopefully they will want to score a few more now they see how popular they can become!
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I think he did ok on Sat I really do. Considering the games against the sides around us are going to be won generally through a bit of attrition and muscle, he gave us that, brought people into play and worked his knackers off. He is not Benteke of course, but then only the other genetically modified Belgian in the league is anywhere close to the beast. He looked much happier in a 2 with Benteke than ambling about on his own, and we were much more effective with 2 to hit rather than 1. Scores 7-8 goals this season in the league and the 6 or so million will not have been badly spent realistically.
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Marshall pulled off a great save to deny him around 10-15 minutes before Bacuna's goal. Let's stick with him, he could be useful.
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
.....You're just a restaurant in Ludlow.
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
You said we'd cop a Chelsea-style drubbing off Man City after the Spurs game in the cup, so forgive me if I take your forecasts with a pinch of salt, Nostradamus.
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
Paul Franks, is that you?
If he were Paul Franks then he would have found a way to compare us negatively with the Pride of the Midlands.
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To précis his previous 5 posts:
1) Asking for Lambert to be sacked if we failed to beat Cardiff.
2) Calling the manager a useless turd and asking for him to be sacked forthwith after the Everton defeat.
3) Stating we'd be drubbed by Man City, 1-4 at best.
4) Stating that bar Benteke and maybe Okore, all Lambert's signings are not good enough and that Lambert is "shite".
5) Stating that we would be obliterated Chelsea style by Man City
I am almost certainly correct, he is far too positive to be Paul Franks and there is no mention of the Pride of Midlands and their "far superior" goal difference.
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If this guy is Benteke's replacement we're fucked. Total shite and to think we might have snagged Finnbogason for less money. Having said that, Benteke is looking increasingly detached and frustrated - second season syndrome? lack of service? or a combination of the two. Who knows but a big offer in January and he'll be off.
Absolute tosh.
Spot on Eastie.
The Big K worked his socks off on Satutday, is already getting used to the pace of the Premiership thus supplementing skills gleaned in SerieA.
Has been instrumental in sealing 2 home league wins
Others may have prefered we plunged for Altidore
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Thought Kozak did really well v Cardiff, some good hold up play and a real improvement in terms of adapting to the pace and physical ness of the PL.
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To précis his previous 5 posts:
1) Asking for Lambert to be sacked if we failed to beat Cardiff.
2) Calling the manager a useless turd and asking for him to be sacked forthwith after the Everton defeat.
3) Stating we'd be drubbed by Man City, 1-4 at best.
4) Stating that bar Benteke and maybe Okore, all Lambert's signings are not good enough and that Lambert is "shite".
5) Stating that we would be obliterated Chelsea style by Man City
I am almost certainly correct, he is far too positive to be Paul Franks and there is no mention of the Pride of Midlands and their "far superior" goal difference.
Has the said Doom monger offered a clear and practical alternative to the current incumbent? And has he faith that the owner and CEO can readily recruit said individual bearing in mind their record previously could be considered sub optimal.
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To précis his previous 5 posts:
1) Asking for Lambert to be sacked if we failed to beat Cardiff.
2) Calling the manager a useless turd and asking for him to be sacked forthwith after the Everton defeat.
3) Stating we'd be drubbed by Man City, 1-4 at best.
4) Stating that bar Benteke and maybe Okore, all Lambert's signings are not good enough and that Lambert is "shite".
5) Stating that we would be obliterated Chelsea style by Man City
I am almost certainly correct, he is far too positive to be Paul Franks and there is no mention of the Pride of Midlands and their "far superior" goal difference.
I think the word you're looking for is 'misery arse'.
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To précis his previous 5 posts:
1) Asking for Lambert to be sacked if we failed to beat Cardiff.
2) Calling the manager a useless turd and asking for him to be sacked forthwith after the Everton defeat.
3) Stating we'd be drubbed by Man City, 1-4 at best.
4) Stating that bar Benteke and maybe Okore, all Lambert's signings are not good enough and that Lambert is "shite".
5) Stating that we would be obliterated Chelsea style by Man City
I am almost certainly correct, he is far too positive to be Paul Franks and there is no mention of the Pride of Midlands and their "far superior" goal difference.
I think the word you're looking for is 'misery arse'.
A succinct, incisive and accurate way to annotate such consistently negative views.
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My favourite part of Saturday was on the way home, doing impressions of Libor Kozak running across the park. It was like a SEN sports day
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I though Libor did well on Mobday night however not sure if he fits in with Benteke?
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I though Libor did well on Mobday night however not sure if he fits in with Benteke?
I don't think he does. Either or for me.
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Any body want to have a pop at him now ?
Didn't think so. Like i said earlier, give the bloke a chance.
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Any body want to have a pop at him now ?
Didn't think so. Like i said earlier, give the bloke a chance.
I like him. Hard worker. Most of his struggling has been because of how the team is playing it to him. You don't want Libor trying to win high hoofs with his back to goal, or chasing balls in the channel, because he's struggle. He'll bust a gut trying but it's clearly not his game.
Get it into his feet, and get him some good service from wide too. We saw what a good cross could result in. He's shown signs in other games too.
3 goals thus far for essentially our second choice front man isn't too shabby. I think he'll turn out to be a solid signing. Won't play week in week out, but he'll be reliable. Get him the right service and he'll contribute.
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I'm delighted for him
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I'm very pleased for him too.
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I don't really understand why so many people were so quick to write him off.
He looked like he was trying his best to make it work, and has scored the odd goal.
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He's doing alright considering he's come to us while we have forgotten how to create chances and play creative football. Fair play to him, I'm really pleased for him too.
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He is shit
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He is shit
And scores goals.
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Any body want to have a pop at him now ?
Didn't think so. Like i said earlier, give the bloke a chance.
Well you certainly left a big enough gap between your two sentences for people to trash him. ;)
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I'm very pleased for him too.
Hear hear.
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He is shit
He's very far from 'shit'. Give him a f#cking break!
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He is shit
So what does that make Soldado ?
I like him - Lowton in and Bacuna further forward would get him some decent delivery and he would thrive on it IMO
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He's starting to strike me as more of a poacher. His passing and ball control is off, but he showed tonight and also against Norwich and Cardiff that he's got a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and he's got one hell of a header.
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Any body want to have a pop at him now ?
Didn't think so. Like i said earlier, give the bloke a chance.
Well you certainly left a big enough gap between your two sentences for people to trash him. ;)
Deliberate tayls, deliberate. 8)
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He's starting to strike me as more of a poacher. His passing and ball control is off, but he showed tonight and also against Norwich and Cardiff that he's got a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and he's got one hell of a header.
It's not just that, as I said at the start of the match thread (page 4 i think, with the normal posts per page setting) he's much better facing the goal, he looks lost with his back to goal and struggles to be involved but as soon as you get him facing the right way he's dangerous, we need to get people beyond him and get him coming on to the ball, he'll score regularly once the team learns how to use him properly he'll score goals.
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First cross into him and he scored!
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I can take him being shit if he keeps scoring. He a decent striker and knows where the goal is.
3 goals in what 5-6 starts . We not had a back up striker like that for years
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
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That was a truly world class celebration today.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Are you a blue nose or just a tool
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Are you a blue nose or just a tool
Aren't they the same thing?
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Are you a blue nose or just a tool
Less of that please.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
It's bollocks because it is absolute bollocks.
I spotted your Kozak miserablist routine before kick off, so it's no surprise that you're still having a pop - despite him having just scored for us. It kind of limits how shit a game he's had, doesn't it, him having scored?
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
Have you seen the game? Just wondering.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Are you a blue nose or just a tool
Less of that please.
Come on peter can you not see a wind up merchant ??
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
It's bollocks because it is absolute bollocks.
I spotted your Kozak miserablist routine before kick off, so it's no surprise that you're still having a pop - despite him having just scored for us. It kind of limits how shit a game he's had, doesn't it, him having scored?
I wish I was saying how great he is but, sadly, I don't see what you all see.
You're basically having a go at me for not rating a player, do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?
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Still no excuse for breaking site rules. I don't agree with him but I don't resort to personal insults.
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Before the match:
He's lost the plot. An out of form Benteke is better than Kozak, fuck me.
I'm allowed to think Kozak is useless. I hope he proves me wrong.
During the match:
Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that.
Shortly after that one:
He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
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Still no excuse for breaking site rules. I don't agree with him but I don't resort to personal insults.
Peter I don't going to argue with you but he make stupid statements and will continue to .
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
It's bollocks because it is absolute bollocks.
I spotted your Kozak miserablist routine before kick off, so it's no surprise that you're still having a pop - despite him having just scored for us. It kind of limits how shit a game he's had, doesn't it, him having scored?
I wish I was saying how great he is but, sadly, I don't see what you all see.
You're basically having a go at me for not rating a player, do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?
I see three goals, two of them winners, in six starts. What do you see?
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Before the match:
He's lost the plot. An out of form Benteke is better than Kozak, fuck me.
I'm allowed to think Kozak is useless. I hope he proves me wrong.
During the match:
Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that.
Shortly after that one:
He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
So, what's your point?
Another thing, is there a quick way to quote multiple posts on this forum?
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I wish I was saying how great he is but, sadly, I don't see what you all see.
You're basically having a go at me for not rating a player, do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?
You are missing the fact that not thinking he is shit does not mean you think he's brilliant.
It strikes me as really odd that, just after a match in which he scored one of the goals in a 3-2 win away at a side that had conceded a couple of goals at home all season, you feel the need to come back again and reiterate how shit he is.
I'm not having a go at you for not rating a player, I am pointing out the flaws in your moaning about Kozak at this point in time.
Maybe a better goalkeeper would have saved Gabby's shot, maybe a better centre half wouldn't have been put on his arse by Gabby, maybe a better centre half wouldn't have stood off Delph for so long and let him get that shot in in the first place.
You're entitled to your view, despite your attempts to play the "what, I am not allowed to have an opinion" card, but don't be surprised if people point out the gigantic, glaring flaw in your argument.
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9 points he got for us this season he is shocking really poor
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Before the match:
He's lost the plot. An out of form Benteke is better than Kozak, fuck me.
I'm allowed to think Kozak is useless. I hope he proves me wrong.
During the match:
Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that.
Shortly after that one:
He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
So, what's your point?
Another thing, is there a quick way to quote multiple posts on this forum?
My point - if it isn't massively clear from those posts - is that you've clearly decided already he's shit, and nothing - not even scoring - is going to put you off that conviction.
"A better goalkeeper would have saved that" indeed.
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Perhaps Richard is a brummie based member of the ''Beijing Casuals''!!!!!
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Thanks Dave. I'm absolutely non plussed by the negativity about him,he's exceeding my expectations.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
It's bollocks because it is absolute bollocks.
I spotted your Kozak miserablist routine before kick off, so it's no surprise that you're still having a pop - despite him having just scored for us. It kind of limits how shit a game he's had, doesn't it, him having scored?
I wish I was saying how great he is but, sadly, I don't see what you all see.
You're basically having a go at me for not rating a player, do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?
I see three goals, two of them winners, in six starts. What do you see?
Bent scored goals but he offered us nothing else. Kozak tries but I don't think he has much ability.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
It's bollocks because it is absolute bollocks.
I spotted your Kozak miserablist routine before kick off, so it's no surprise that you're still having a pop - despite him having just scored for us. It kind of limits how shit a game he's had, doesn't it, him having scored?
I wish I was saying how great he is but, sadly, I don't see what you all see.
You're basically having a go at me for not rating a player, do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?
I see three goals, two of them winners, in six starts. What do you see?
Bent scored goals but he offered us nothing else. Kozak tries but I don't think he has much ability.
Sigh!
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Such an ugly player to watch....not my type of centre forward if I'm honest but as I said after Norwich I get the feeling he'll score some important goals for us, a sort of cheaper Zigic.
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He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
Jesus Christ, what a load of utter, utter bollocks.
There's a limit to how bad a game he can have had, what with him having scored.
Why is it bollocks? Because I have a different opinion to you?
I'm not alone either. The match thread was full of people saying he was having a poor game.
It's bollocks because it is absolute bollocks.
I spotted your Kozak miserablist routine before kick off, so it's no surprise that you're still having a pop - despite him having just scored for us. It kind of limits how shit a game he's had, doesn't it, him having scored?
I wish I was saying how great he is but, sadly, I don't see what you all see.
You're basically having a go at me for not rating a player, do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?
I see three goals, two of them winners, in six starts. What do you see?
Bent scored goals but he offered us nothing else. Kozak tries but I don't think he has much ability.
As Dave said, though six starts, three goals, two winners.
That surely buys him a bit of time?
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A striker who scores goals. What do you want a Heskey who don't !
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Before the match:
He's lost the plot. An out of form Benteke is better than Kozak, fuck me.
I'm allowed to think Kozak is useless. I hope he proves me wrong.
During the match:
Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that.
Shortly after that one:
He had a really bad game today. I don't even think his header was that good, a better goalkeeper would've saved that IMO. Just my opinion.
So, what's your point?
Another thing, is there a quick way to quote multiple posts on this forum?
My point - if it isn't massively clear from those posts - is that you've clearly decided already he's shit, and nothing - not even scoring - is going to put you off that conviction.
"A better goalkeeper would have saved that" indeed.
If Kozak proves me wrong, I'll be thrilled but I can't sit here and pretend he's great when I don't truly feel that.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
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He is clearly a trier which gets him time in my book. Fact is he has to be there making the run to get the goal. Sling the ball in from out wide at home with him and Tekkers up top and you will win more than you lose, I would bet a lot on it. Might not be pretty, but it would be damned effective.
Kojak and Benteke need Lowton and Bacuna down the right and someone from the left supplying some bullets for them.
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Bosko you state you don't like him but he scored more than benteke gabby and weinmann have done in last 2 months .
What do you want to actually do....., ?
I am at loss with you
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
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Settling in to the nature of the game over here. I've not been blown away by him. However he's not exactly receiving the type of service a six foot plus striker might wish and yet he is scoring goals. The timing of his run for the header tonight was spot on, Tekkers would have been a yard and a half offside. I'd much rather have a happy Benteke playing up front but give the man credit for scoring his only chance of the game. Credit too for KEA for a spot on cross. We won, could we please stop bickering, I WAS cock-a-hoop, cheer up.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
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It's really quite simple, the team don't know how to use him properly just yet. The odd times that he's been given the ball in the right areas he's worked the keeper or scored, whilst he's still settling in with the club and the league (which generally takes a few months) I'll happily accpet him working hard and scoring important goals. Hell, if he never improves but he continues to work his balls off and score important goals we'll have very little to complain about. In my opinion he's proved a good signing so far, he's not on a par with Benteke at his best but then only a handful of strikers in the league are so that's no great shock.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Just get off his back. He moved to a new country and got a scoring record of 1 in 2 in a team not on fire!
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I must say he hasn't impressed me much. Taken his goals well, looks like he tries, but I just don't think he is that good. You know when you just don't see it? I'm the same with Tonev.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Just get off his back. He moved to a new country and got a scoring record of 1 in 2 in a team not on fire!
This for me. Thank you richardhubbard.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
Erm... perhaps when you said this?
"Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that."
As opposed to:
YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get in!!!!!!!!!
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
That's total shit tbh, the keeper did well to get a hand on it at all, yes it was close to him but a header with that much power from that range would need a wonder save to keep it out, you're only saying a better keeper would've saved it to allow you to continue down the 'he is shit' line that you're on, I doubt any keeper in the league would've kept that out and I'd be very surprised if any ex-player, pundit or journalist even suggest otherwise.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
Erm... perhaps when you said this?
"Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that."
As opposed to:
YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get in!!!!!!!!!
I stand by that too.
I did actually have a "YESSSSSSSSSSS" in that post but I deleted it as Osvaldo scored before the post sent.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
Erm... perhaps when you said this?
"Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that."
As opposed to:
YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get in!!!!!!!!!
I stand by that too.
I did actually have a "YESSSSSSSSSSS" in that post but I deleted it as Osvaldo scored before the post sent.
It took you 5 minutes to type the post? Given that Kozak's goal was timed at 64 minutes and Osvaldo's at 69? You're tying yourself up in knots here aren't you?
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
Erm... perhaps when you said this?
"Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that."
As opposed to:
YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get in!!!!!!!!!
I stand by that too.
I did actually have a "YESSSSSSSSSSS" in that post but I deleted it as Osvaldo scored before the post sent.
It took you 5 minutes to type the post? Given that Kozak's goal was timed at 64 minutes and Osvaldo's at 69? You're tying yourself up in knots here aren't you?
It actually did. I went to tell someone the score before writing it.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
Erm... perhaps when you said this?
"Honestly, that was a shit header from Kozak. A better goalkeeper would've stopped that."
As opposed to:
YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get in!!!!!!!!!
I stand by that too.
I did actually have a "YESSSSSSSSSSS" in that post but I deleted it as Osvaldo scored before the post sent.
It took you 5 minutes to type the post? Given that Kozak's goal was timed at 64 minutes and Osvaldo's at 69? You're tying yourself up in knots here aren't you?
It actually did. I went to tell someone the score before writing it.
In the next street ?
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It's a little strange how I have to explain why I took five minutes to make a post. Is there some kind of rule I don't know about?
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When everyone tells you you're wrong, or at least verging on making an arse of yourself you might want to accept you're wrong or at least in danger of making an arse of yourself. Holds true for most things in life and acts as an indicator to acknowledge you need accept a change in your perspective.
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Does he have to score better looking goals to prove you wrong?
I'll happily accept plenty of scruffy ones.
No, he just has to improve his game. I don't care if he scores goals from one yard out or 40 yards out.
Well he did score a goal, and you're still moaning that it wasn't a very good goal.
When did I moan about his goal? I only said a better goalkeeper could've saved it because it was straight at him and Gazzaniga is useless. It was a good run to meet the cross though!
That's total shit tbh, the keeper did well to get a hand on it at all, yes it was close to him but a header with that much power from that range would need a wonder save to keep it out, you're only saying a better keeper would've saved it to allow you to continue down the 'he is shit' line that you're on, I doubt any keeper in the league would've kept that out and I'd be very surprised if any ex-player, pundit or journalist even suggest otherwise.
This.
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Can we stop the mass quotathons please. My eyes are bleeding!
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I said it before and i'll say it again, I think Kozak is a good player.
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I said it before and i'll say it again, I think Kozak is a good player.
There's definitely a decent player in there, I just think he needs a while to adapt to the pace of the game.
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I said it before and i'll say it again, I think Kozak is a good player.
There's definitely a decent player in there, I just think he needs a while to adapt to the pace of the game.
I said to my son before he scored that I liked the cut of his jib. And then had to attempt to explain what I meant by that.
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I said it before and i'll say it again, I think Kozak is a good player.
There's definitely a decent player in there, I just think he needs a while to adapt to the pace of the game.
Agreed. I do like the look of him. 3 goals already is not a bad return and it'll only do his confidence the world of good.
And it wasn't a shit header, he was in the right place at the right time like all decent strikers are.
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He is still adapting to the PL but I think the man is a warrior. The Man Citeh game was enough to see his potential, he led the line and gave their centre backs a right going over, was out on his feet when taken off. Good knack of picking up goals as well. I'm happy to give him more time.
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I think its a case of its hard to type with one hand. Windows 8 on the go, illegal Villa stream on one side of your screen, two blond college girls on the other was it? Hmmm? Marevlous.
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He's shown signs of decent movement at times, so we need to give him the service. He had that chance a few games back (can't remember). He hit the post, although it was given off side. But he'd showed clever movement to get into that position. He also had that good chance against the Tescos, a decent volley which skimmed the bar.
If the team uses him better I think he'll be good. I think we've seen that if you get good delivery to him, he'll get you goals.
For me Libors struggles were summed up perfectly yesterday in a moment that someone sent a pass for him to chase down the channel. He got the ball, dribbled with it down the wing for a bit. Not one Villa player got close to support him. The lad has no pace, he's got no place being on the wing, but if you send him chasing something, he will chase it because he works bloody hard. It just perfectly summed up how difficult we make it for him sometimes. Likewise when we hoof it up to him. He's not a striker who'll win lots of aeriel duels with his back to goal. He needs at his feet, not 20 yards above his head or down the channel, into his feet, and he needs good service into the box. The wing backs delivered the square root of chuff all yesterday.
And that header was good. Good movement initially and enough power on it that the keeper couldn't do handle it. Besides, we should have been testing this keeper far more yesterday. Whipping crosses and set pieces over his head, having cracks from distance. He looked nervy all game. How fantastic the header was is also irrelevant as it went in the back of the net.
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He is still adapting to the PL but I think the man is a warrior. The Man Citeh game was enough to see his potential, he led the line and gave their centre backs a right going over, was out on his feet when taken off. Good knack of picking up goals as well. I'm happy to give him more time.
Well said.
He's only going to get better, his work ethic will see too that, and it will get the fans behind him too.
I think he's got tremendous potential, his movement and anticipation in the box is already good, he attacks the bloody ball and he can finish. Add on being built like a shithouse and a decent touch and you've got the makings of a bloody good centre forward.
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As he's never going to be quick I'd like to see him put on some timber. I'd be happy to give him some dietary tips.
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When everyone tells you you're wrong, or at least verging on making an arse of yourself you might want to accept you're wrong or at least in danger of making an arse of yourself. Holds true for most things in life and acts as an indicator to acknowledge you need accept a change in your perspective.
Nope, I'll stick to my opinion until Kozak shows me I'm wrong.
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When everyone tells you you're wrong, or at least verging on making an arse of yourself you might want to accept you're wrong or at least in danger of making an arse of yourself. Holds true for most things in life and acts as an indicator to acknowledge you need accept a change in your perspective.
Nope, I'll stick to my opinion until Kozak shows me I'm wrong.
So for example scores some goals?
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ok, what does he need to do to make you move from 'he is shit' to being sensible? 3 in 6 starts isn't enough so what does he need to do?
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This is boring me now, can you guys just drop it? I haven't been impressed, you have. Let's leave it at that.
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This is boring me now, can you guys just drop it? I haven't been impressed, you have. Let's leave it at that.
It's not a matter of people dropping it, it's a thread about Kozak, after all.
And it doesn't really look like a lot of people saying they've been impressed, either, it's more a case of people disagreeing that he's shit. Which is not the same thing.
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This is boring me now, can you guys just drop it? I haven't been impressed, you have. Let's leave it at that.
Have you got to the bit where you're not allowed to have an opinion yet?
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Dunno, but maybe Boskodjembasalifou might just be a wind up merchant?
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He doesn't win enough headers for someone of his size. I've just looked at the stats and in 66 minutes, Kozak won 5 aerial duels, whereas Benteke won 7 in 24 minutes.
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The guy's doing all right for me at the moment. 3 goals so far is not a bad return given the (horrible phrase) "game time" he has had, especially when he has not played in England before.
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The Big K is doing quite nicely at the moment.
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He doesn't win enough headers for someone of his size. I've just looked at the stats and in 66 minutes, Kozak won 5 aerial duels, whereas Benteke won 7 in 24 minutes.
And Benteke scored how many with them??
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Bosko is allowed his opinion so we should all probably just leave him alone and agree that he is totally and unequivocally wrong.
The thing I think he is missing is that it is his first season in the hardest league in the world. He did well in Italy as it is a slower game over there but give him time to adjust and he will prove his worth. Look at Drogba - slated for his first season and then went on to be the most dominating attacker the league has probably ever known without an abundance of pace.
I would also point him to the individual threads of Brad Guzan, Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar who have had many a chimp slating them to the high hilt as no way near good enough UNTIL they are given a chance to settle in and adjust to this level. Now probably our 3 best performing players.
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It's also worth pointing out that our playing style isn't great at the moment - 23% of possession last night. There is a point that he could have held the ball up better but the team as a whole needs to get better at retaining the ball. Not only is he playing his first games in a very different league but he's doing so in a side that gives the ball away almost instantly. Some of the best strikers in the world would struggle in that environment. All we can do is watch our evolution and see where his place is in that team.
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It's also worth pointing out that our playing style isn't great at the moment - 23% of possession last night. There is a point that he could have held the ball up better but the team as a whole needs to get better at retaining the ball.
As I mentioned on the transition thread, last night we completed only 49% of our passes - the lowest by any team in a match this season in any of the five major European leagues.
We absolutely need to stop giving the ball away so cheaply all the time.
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First, that was an absolute beauty of a cross for him to score from.
Second, he has single-handedly got us 3 points this season against Norwich, killed off the game on 80+ minutes against Cardiff, and contributed to another 3 points last night. So he's doing alright as far as I'm concerned.
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He's now scored more goals than any of Bent, Fletcher, Wellbeck, Osvaldo, Eto'o, Hernandez, Berbatov, van Wolfswinkel, Crouch, Torres or Ba despite not being at the club until September.
He's clearly not Suarez, but he's doing just fine so far.
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It's also worth pointing out that our playing style isn't great at the moment - 23% of possession last night. There is a point that he could have held the ball up better but the team as a whole needs to get better at retaining the ball.
As I mentioned on the transition thread, last night we completed only 49% of our passes - the lowest by any team in a match this season in any of the five major European leagues.
We absolutely need to stop giving the ball away so cheaply all the time.
Absolutely spot on, it has to be the most essential part of our game to improve immediately
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It's also worth pointing out that our playing style isn't great at the moment - 23% of possession last night. There is a point that he could have held the ball up better but the team as a whole needs to get better at retaining the ball.
As I mentioned on the transition thread, last night we completed only 49% of our passes - the lowest by any team in a match this season in any of the five major European leagues.
We absolutely need to stop giving the ball away so cheaply all the time.
I'll be stunned if Lambert doesn't try to address this even if publicly he's blowing it off. I'm sure that we took an approach last night to allow them to play with it is their own half as much as they wanted, but no manager wants to keep giving the ball away or promotes shit passing or control. Last season we scored some lovely goals through passing and movement and at some point we are going to click again. I think a lot starts with Benteke being Benteke which he isn't right now. Once the old Benteke returns we will be better in other areas of the game.
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We seem to have resolved our defensive issues. The next step in our evolution should be to move the ball better. To a degree that could be improved on right away but I want us to be regularly controlling games and having the possession stats to back it up. To get it to the point that I want it to will probably take longer. It might be something that we're commenting on next season with regard to how much it's improved.
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We seem to have resolved our defensive issues. The next step in our evolution should be to move the ball better. To a degree that could be improved on right away but I want us to be regularly controlling games and having the possession stats to back it up. To get it to the point that I want it to will probably take longer. It might be something that we're commenting on next season with regard to how much it's improved.
yep, it's just part of the things we still need to work on and improve which is a lengthy list for any team that hasn't won things in a while. I think another area is set piece delivery and goals scored from indirect free kicks. We don't score enough, and I believe Okore will play a prominent part in that. In the little he played you could see a little bit of the wreckless abandon of Martin Laursen and I think he'd have been a real nuisance in the opposition box.
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It's also worth pointing out that our playing style isn't great at the moment - 23% of possession last night. There is a point that he could have held the ball up better but the team as a whole needs to get better at retaining the ball.
As I mentioned on the transition thread, last night we completed only 49% of our passes - the lowest by any team in a match this season in any of the five major European leagues.
We absolutely need to stop giving the ball away so cheaply all the time.
Talking about giving the ball away, what the fuck is uo with our throw ins? Constantly throw it to the opposition
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We seem to have resolved our defensive issues. The next step in our evolution should be to move the ball better. To a degree that could be improved on right away but I want us to be regularly controlling games and having the possession stats to back it up. To get it to the point that I want it to will probably take longer. It might be something that we're commenting on next season with regard to how much it's improved.
yep, it's just part of the things we still need to work on and improve which is a lengthy list for any team that hasn't won things in a while. I think another area is set piece delivery and goals scored from indirect free kicks. We don't score enough, and I believe Okore will play a prominent part in that. In the little he played you could see a little bit of the wreckless abandon of Martin Laursen and I think he'd have been a real nuisance in the opposition box.
Westwood's delivery has been getting a little better. Baker got on the end of one yesterday and put it wide when he should have done better.
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Stuart, is that you again?
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Bosko is allowed his opinion so we should all probably just leave him alone and agree that he is totally and unequivocally wrong.
The thing I think he is missing is that it is his first season in the hardest league in the world. He did well in Italy as it is a slower game over there but give him time to adjust and he will prove his worth. Look at Drogba - slated for his first season and then went on to be the most dominating attacker the league has probably ever known without an abundance of pace.
I would also point him to the individual threads of Brad Guzan, Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar who have had many a chimp slating them to the high hilt as no way near good enough UNTIL they are given a chance to settle in and adjust to this level. Now probably our 3 best performing players.
He didn't do well in Italy, not sure where you've got that from.
I've always rated Guzan and Delph. Vlaar was awful last season, it's fair to say he deserved the criticism he was receiving. I just don't see Kozak ever being more than a squad player but I understand I'm wrong, he's the new Drogba etcetc.
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He didn't do well in Italy aside from being the top scorer in the Europa League last year...
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Bosko is allowed his opinion so we should all probably just leave him alone and agree that he is totally and unequivocally wrong.
The thing I think he is missing is that it is his first season in the hardest league in the world. He did well in Italy as it is a slower game over there but give him time to adjust and he will prove his worth. Look at Drogba - slated for his first season and then went on to be the most dominating attacker the league has probably ever known without an abundance of pace.
I would also point him to the individual threads of Brad Guzan, Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar who have had many a chimp slating them to the high hilt as no way near good enough UNTIL they are given a chance to settle in and adjust to this level. Now probably our 3 best performing players.
He didn't do well in Italy, not sure where you've got that from.
I've always rated Guzan and Delph. Vlaar was awful last season, it's fair to say he deserved the criticism he was receiving. I just don't see Kozak ever being more than a squad player but I understand I'm wrong, he's the new Drogba etcetc.
Blimey, you don't give up do you? Can you not see that he doesn't need to be Drogba or shit as you are screaming yet again? He hasn't set the world alight but then again he hasn't done that badly for a young kid in a new league. Are you honestly that stubborn? And you go again with Vlaar being awful. No he wasn't. Did he have some bad games, yes, but awful, all season? Not even close.
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I wish Benteke was so shit that he'd score 3 in 6. In fact I wish all our players were that shit.
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
I thought you were bored by this?
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I am.
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
given a 1 in 2 record isn't good enough for you I assume you must think he was really, really shit in Italy. Although actually I think it was you that said that scoring isn't that important and it's about allround performances, so I guess his 1 in 6 record is meaningless really as only by watching his all round game can we have any idea how good or shit he was.
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
given a 1 in 2 record isn't good enough for you I assume you must think he was really, really shit in Italy. Although actually I think it was you that said that scoring isn't that important and it's about allround performances, so I guess his 1 in 6 record is meaningless really as only by watching his all round game can we have any idea how good or shit he was.
Alright then, forget his 1 in 2 record. Are you impressed with him?
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Stuart, is that you again?
Beat me to it.
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
given a 1 in 2 record isn't good enough for you I assume you must think he was really, really shit in Italy. Although actually I think it was you that said that scoring isn't that important and it's about allround performances, so I guess his 1 in 6 record is meaningless really as only by watching his all round game can we have any idea how good or shit he was.
Alright then, forget his 1 in 2 record. Are you impressed with him?
When you say we should forget a forward's goalscoring record in order to judge him I think it's time to realise you're making a bit of a tit of yourself.
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I certainly don't think he is shit. I also don't think he is fantastic. There is a middle ground you know.
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Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
And your point is what?
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
given a 1 in 2 record isn't good enough for you I assume you must think he was really, really shit in Italy. Although actually I think it was you that said that scoring isn't that important and it's about allround performances, so I guess his 1 in 6 record is meaningless really as only by watching his all round game can we have any idea how good or shit he was.
Alright then, forget his 1 in 2 record. Are you impressed with him?
When you say we should forget a forward's goalscoring record in order to judge him I think it's time to realise you're making a bit of a tit of yourself.
Forwards need to do more than just score. Look at Benteke, he contributes massively even when he isn't scoring.
Out of interest, what's your opinion of Darren Bent? Should we ignore the flaws in his game because he scores?
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I certainly don't think he is shit. I also don't think he is fantastic. There is a middle ground you know.
I'd go along with that. To be fair, he's been partnered with Benteke in some of the games he's played in which hasn't really worked.
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Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
And your point is what?
Toronto Villa said he wasn't. I was replying to him without quoting the post.
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
given a 1 in 2 record isn't good enough for you I assume you must think he was really, really shit in Italy. Although actually I think it was you that said that scoring isn't that important and it's about allround performances, so I guess his 1 in 6 record is meaningless really as only by watching his all round game can we have any idea how good or shit he was.
Alright then, forget his 1 in 2 record. Are you impressed with him?
When you say we should forget a forward's goalscoring record in order to judge him I think it's time to realise you're making a bit of a tit of yourself.
Forwards need to do more than just score. Look at Benteke, he contributes massively even when he isn't scoring.
Out of interest, what's your opinion of Darren Bent? Should we ignore the flaws in his game because he scores?
fuck me. The TEAM won yesterday. He played a part and he scored.
I'd hate to be stuck in an elevator with you. I'll be wanting the thing to suddenly to the ground and crash.
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Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
And your point is what?
Toronto Villa said he wasn't. I was replying to him without quoting the post.
that's because he wasn't awful. It's no different to your ridiculously stubborn position on Kozak.
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Hey, if you think a 1 in 6 record in Italy is good, then fair enough.
Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
given a 1 in 2 record isn't good enough for you I assume you must think he was really, really shit in Italy. Although actually I think it was you that said that scoring isn't that important and it's about allround performances, so I guess his 1 in 6 record is meaningless really as only by watching his all round game can we have any idea how good or shit he was.
Alright then, forget his 1 in 2 record. Are you impressed with him?
When you say we should forget a forward's goalscoring record in order to judge him I think it's time to realise you're making a bit of a tit of yourself.
Forwards need to do more than just score. Look at Benteke, he contributes massively even when he isn't scoring.
Out of interest, what's your opinion of Darren Bent? Should we ignore the flaws in his game because he scores?
If he scored as regularly as Kozak is I wouldn't mind.
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Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
And your point is what?
Toronto Villa said he wasn't. I was replying to him without quoting the post.
He wasn't poor last year, he was trying to adjust to the Premiership. And this year he is better. It happens.
There's a very good chance Kozak will have got used to the English game by then as well, but if you want to write him off in December, then fine.
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Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
And your point is what?
Toronto Villa said he wasn't. I was replying to him without quoting the post.
He wasn't poor last year, he was trying to adjust to the Premiership. And this year he is better. It happens.
There's a very good chance Kozak will have got used to the English game by then as well, but if you want to write him off in December, then fine.
It may seem like I am but I'm not writing him off yet! I haven't been impressed and yes, I think he's shit but opinions change.
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Vlaar was awful last year, don't pretend he wasn't.
And your point is what?
Toronto Villa said he wasn't. I was replying to him without quoting the post.
He wasn't poor last year, he was trying to adjust to the Premiership. And this year he is better. It happens.
There's a very good chance Kozak will have got used to the English game by then as well, but if you want to write him off in December, then fine.
It may seem like I am but I'm not writing him off yet! I haven't been impressed and yes, I think he's shit but opinions change.
What a classic cop out after several posts of arguing. Marvellously stupid.
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by calling him shit you are writing him off, how can you not realise that?
If you weren't writing him off you'd be saying that you expect more, 'he is shit' is a definitive statement that doesn't give room for any other interpretation.
Personally I think he's a good finisher but needs to get the ball to feet, preferably facing goal, he looks a much better player then than when he's having long balls fired onto his head. Therefore I firmly believe the team need to adapt to him as much as he needs to adapt to the league. If everyone manages that he will score regularly enough to be a valuable part of the squad, even if he isn't as good as Benteke.
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He's made what, half a dozen appearances so far. Far too early to be writing him off.
One thing though, he's scored some goals in a side that most agree isn't hugely creative.
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It was great to see a proper celebration into the crowd, loved it.
Did he get booked for doing it by the way?
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I didn't see him get booked, but expect he was.
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He was booked.
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I haven't written him. But I think he's shit.
Brilliant
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He was booked.
Personally I hate bookings for Celebrating goals.
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He was booked.
Personally I hate bookings for Celebrating goals.
So do refs but it's a UEFA/FIFA thing. It's made even more stupid when players take their shirts off at the end of a game without punishment. I think it came about when there was a phase of players wearing t-shirts underneath with messages on them and then lifting their shirt when celebrating. I think that had to be banned but they made a mess of it.
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I like him. He gets in where it hurts.
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I don't think he is terrible at holding up the ball... very few players can hold up the ball for the length of time required to arrive to support with the system we were playing yesterday. He'd be 1 vs 4 for 5 seconds, in a normal system he would only need to hold on to it for two or 3 before support arrived which I think he is very capable of... not brilliant, but more than serviceable. It's more his layoffs and passing that I worry about.
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He is taking a while to come up to the speed of the English game versus Italy. I love his scrappy finishing and he gets into some very good positions. His passing is pretty godawful right now, it has to be said so is Benteke right now. Dunno if its nerves or formation.
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Based on the evidence I have seen so far he's like Bent in the sense he scores goals but looks a bit limited as a footballer. However he looks like he'll throw himself about a bit and has often been described as a "trier" in this thread. Add in the fact that with his build he's a more natural fit to play 4231, 433 and the cheaper wages then I think he seems to be a decent upgrade on Bent as our reserve striker.
What's not to like, so far?
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He's done a good job in a struggling team - scored goals, put huge amount of effort in. I'm very pleased he signed.
I suggest anybody who thinks he is a shit player should get a seat right on the edge of the pitch. When a ball is belted by the keeper or defender at speed, it is actually bloody hard to control.
To get a goal when the team has 27% of possession should also be applauded!
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He's done a good job in a struggling team - scored goals, put huge amount of effort in. I'm very pleased he signed.
Were Lazio struggling when we signed him?
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He's done a good job in a struggling team - scored goals, put huge amount of effort in. I'm very pleased he signed.
Were Lazio struggling when we signed him?
It's interesting that, although his scoring record in Serie A was poor, his record in the Europa League was excellent. Top scorer the one season, in fact (err, I think).
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He's done a good job in a struggling team - scored goals, put huge amount of effort in. I'm very pleased he signed.
Were Lazio struggling when we signed him?
It's interesting that, although his scoring record in Serie A was poor, his record in the Europa League was excellent. Top scorer the one season, in fact (err, I think).
And I think he only started 16 games in all for Lazio. That's in 4-5 years at the club. They've had some good forwards there so he couldn't get much of a sniff, particularly since they've had Klose.
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He's done a good job in a struggling team - scored goals, put huge amount of effort in. I'm very pleased he signed.
Were Lazio struggling when we signed him?
It's interesting that, although his scoring record in Serie A was poor, his record in the Europa League was excellent. Top scorer the one season, in fact (err, I think).
And I think he only started 16 games in all for Lazio. That's in 4-5 years at the club. They've had some good forwards there so he couldn't get much of a sniff, particularly since they've had Klose.
Great player to learn from though, movement and anticipation second to none.
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He's done a good job in a struggling team - scored goals, put huge amount of effort in. I'm very pleased he signed.
Were Lazio struggling when we signed him?
It's interesting that, although his scoring record in Serie A was poor, his record in the Europa League was excellent. Top scorer the one season, in fact (err, I think).
And I think he only started 16 games in all for Lazio. That's in 4-5 years at the club. They've had some good forwards there so he couldn't get much of a sniff, particularly since they've had Klose.
Great player to learn from though, movement and anticipation second to none.
Yep. His goal the other day was very Klose-esque.
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It was Klose, but hardly a tap in.
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It was Klose, but hardly a tap in.
(http://rbtwelsh.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/basilbrush.jpg)
boom boom.
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And I think he only started 16 games in all for Lazio. That's in 4-5 years at the club. They've had some good forwards there so he couldn't get much of a sniff, particularly since they've had Klose.
Out of interest, who are these good forwards you speak of?
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And I think he only started 16 games in all for Lazio. That's in 4-5 years at the club. They've had some good forwards there so he couldn't get much of a sniff, particularly since they've had Klose.
Out of interest, who are these good forwards you speak of?
I thought you were bored of talking about it?
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And I think he only started 16 games in all for Lazio. That's in 4-5 years at the club. They've had some good forwards there so he couldn't get much of a sniff, particularly since they've had Klose.
Out of interest, who are these good forwards you speak of?
I thought you were bored of talking about it?
I'm asking who the good forwards are that Lazio have had recently. Nothing about Kozak.
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And I think he only started 16 games in all for Lazio. That's in 4-5 years at the club. They've had some good forwards there so he couldn't get much of a sniff, particularly since they've had Klose.
Out of interest, who are these good forwards you speak of?
I thought you were bored of talking about it?
I'm asking who the good forwards Lazio have had recently. Nothing about Kozak.
Well you could have googled it, but never mind.
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Klose
Heranes
Rocchi
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Klose
Heranes
Rocchi
I'll give you Klose, he might be old but still has it.
Hernanes is a midfielder.
Rocchi hasn't been good for a few years now.
Surprised you didn't mention Floccari, although he's average too.
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Also Keita Balde Dialo, Emilano Alfao and Brayan Perea although i'm not sure if they were there when Kozak was there.
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Or even just read the six or seven previous posts that mentioned Klose as first choice. And the season before Klose signed, Zarate was their first choice.
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Also Keita Balde Dialo, Emilano Alfao and Brayan Perea although i'm not sure if they were there when Kozak was there.
Keita and Perea both arrived in the window Kozak joined us. Alfaro was on loan last season somewhere I think.
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Klose
Heranes
Rocchi
I dont sit and study italian football teams i got a family and kids to raise, probably not like you on championship manager all night
I'll give you Klose, he might be old but still has it.
Hernanes is a midfielder.
Rocchi hasn't been good for a few years now.
Surprised you didn't mention Floccari, although he's average too.
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Klose
Heranes
Rocchi
I dont sit and study italian football teams i got a family and kids to raise, probably not like you on championship manager all night
I'll give you Klose, he might be old but still has it.
Hernanes is a midfielder.
Rocchi hasn't been good for a few years now.
Surprised you didn't mention Floccari, although he's average too.
Zarate was at the club when Libor joined and was there a few years. Granted, how good you consider him is another matter. But Blose fans thought he was a worldy based on the dozen or so games he played for them. Not getting much of a sniff with Klose at the club is hardly surprising, you're talking about one of the best in the business in the last decade plus. And he's still delivering at 35.
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Importantly Klose arrived just after Kozak turned 22 at that age very few players are firmly established so being abit part player before then isn't really indicative of anything other than he's not a genuinely world class talent. After that Lazio generally play 451 or a derivative of that, when the regular '1' at the sharp end of that is one of the best strikers in Europe (with a 1 in 2 record for the club) from the last decade it's not a massive disgrace to not start many games, much like he probably wouldn't be starting for us if Benteke was in the same form that he started the season with.
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Zarate was at the club when Libor joined and was there a few years. Granted, how good you consider him is another matter. But Blose fans thought he was a worldy based on the dozen or so games he played for them.
Yeah but then again, Geoff Horsfield was a "legend" for them, so it's all relative.
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Zarate was at the club when Libor joined and was there a few years. Granted, how good you consider him is another matter. But Blose fans thought he was a worldy based on the dozen or so games he played for them.
Yeah but then again, Geoff Horsfield was a "legend" for them, so it's all relative.
Literally just reading 'Geoff Horsfield' made me shudder.
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I think he is top draw.
His movement and endeavour is excellent and if he had a proper attacking midfielder behind him he would score even more.
I also like that he celebrates like I would, straight over the boards and into the crowd.
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No worries about Kozak - quality player who will score many goals in claret and blue .
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I think he is top draw.
His movement and endeavour is excellent and if he had a proper attacking midfielder behind him he would score even more.
I also like that he celebrates like I would, straight over the boards and into the crowd.
Agree with this. Cracking signing.
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Yesterday he had a gift however the way way he put it away in one movement was class.
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It was a good finish which should've got us a point. Does anyone know if he got booked for his celebration?
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I thought he was pretty unlucky with the one begovic pushed over the bar as well, he had to stretch to get the shot away which meant he couldn't quite control it as well as he'd have liked, was still a good save though, even though it was close to Begovic it was coming at him pretty quick.
I also think he was slightly unlucky with the one where he was offside from the albrighton cross (on about 10mins) it was a great cross and kozak was only a few inches off, he's definitely got it in his locker to get on the end of those crosses.
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It was a good finish which should've got us a point. Does anyone know if he got booked for his celebration?
No
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He's proving to be part of my current new obsession. £5-7 million and Lambert buys well. Less than that and he buys inconsistent at best.
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He's proving to be part of my current new obsession. £5-7 million and Lambert buys well. Less than that and he buys inconsistent at best.
Which is why if we start seeing Lambert making more signings in that range I think we'll see a big improvement.
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He's proving to be part of my current new obsession. £5-7 million and Lambert buys well. Less than that and he buys inconsistent at best.
Which is why if we start seeing Lambert making more signings in that range I think we'll see a big improvement.
I agree I think the time for sub £5 million squad fillers has gone and we need to start adding quality now.
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He's proving to be part of my current new obsession. £5-7 million and Lambert buys well. Less than that and he buys inconsistent at best.
Which is why if we start seeing Lambert making more signings in that range I think we'll see a big improvement.
I agree I think the time for sub £5 million squad fillers has gone and we need to start adding quality now.
Looking at the bundesliga table and the form of Julie B's obsession I think we may well revisit that one either next month or in the summer, and I'd be very happy about that.
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I think he is top draw.
His movement and endeavour is excellent and if he had a proper attacking midfielder behind him he would score even more.
I also like that he celebrates like I would, straight over the boards and into the crowd.
Shame their keeper stopped him scoring a 2nd.
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Yesterday he had a gift however the way way he put it away in one movement was class.
I thought that when I first saw it but what Kozak did was read the fact that the defender might head it back to his keeper and gambled. I'm with Ads, I think he's class ... Oh, no, I remember now. He's really shit. What a totally shit goal that was.
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He;s doing fine, 4 goals in 12 prem appearances.
He's an interesting player for a number of reasons. I've been talking a bit about him on the other site so thought I'd lift a few of those comments for discussion here:
"but to me he's like a low cost version of Zigic. We all love Ziggy because he's single handedly try to bankrupt SHA but he has popped up with important goals for them, just look at the carling cup run.
Kozak will never reach a Benteke level of goalscoring of 15-20 league goals as he's too limited for that and the better defences in the league will mark him out of games. The two Spurs games for example he barely got a kick in either.
But he's shown he can score no problem against the bottom half teams, Norwich, Cardiff, Stoke (in a false position of 10th they are not better than Swansea).
He's someone who will get 10-11 in the league over a full season, a bit like Gabby so a solid squad option to have.
We can't fall into a trap of thinking he can just replace Benteke, that would be an error and too much for him and us."
"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Before my time but many rave how good Andy Gray was in the 80s then we had Ormondroyd and Cascarino....
In the 90s I loved Dion Dublin, less so Heskey, more so Carew and more recently Benteke.. And I always smile when Crouch gets a good reception off us annually considering the abuse he got when he was here and a young striker learning the game.
So a real mix bag of big strikers over the last 30 years. Some have been adored by the Holte (I forgot Mcanally who has his name in the chant of course) but some poor ones who were scapegoats at one time.
What it does show is we've had so many managers who've preferred to go down that route then get in some technical strikers who can drop off the frontline and link with the midfield e.g. Robbie Keane. That's probably part of the reason why we've never broken into the elite.
Now...Kozak. I can't say he's my favourite type of forward to watch, I prefer watching strikers with skill like Benteke or pace so I like watching Gabby on form. Or Weimann unless I imagine his good form last season.
But Kozak is effective....in some games. 4 goals from 12 appearences is not the worst start for this league, It compares with that Soldado fellow and I have no idea if Kozak takes a decent pen or not.
He's a good squad option for us, no more no less. We've had many more less effective strikers down the years."
"Yes for here and now, Kozak certainly deserves a start and I'm sure he'll continue to chip in with goals throughout the season.
Long term though I'm thinking this. Kozak is our leading striker next year and you just know our braindead footballers will look up, see a giant upfront and it will be hoof hoof hoof just like it was second half yesterday. He don't score with the regularity Benteke was (and being our main striker he'd be expected to) and the crowd will start getting on his back.
I liken this to a bit like Andy Carroll at Liverpool. I'm sure he was capable of scoring a decent amount of goals for them but Rodgers decided just having a bit man up top would limit their overall game and hinder Suarez. He got that call right.
What I want to see next season is a new good striker replacing Benteke aided by a number 10 and Gabby giving us pace as a front three. With Kozak and Weimann if he actually remembers he's a decent player as able back up
I'm thinking more long term and life after Benteke and the role he will play in that.
This to me will give a big indication of how successful Lambert will be here, it's a big decision to make.
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I think he is top draw.
His movement and endeavour is excellent and if he had a proper attacking midfielder behind him he would score even more.
I also like that he celebrates like I would, straight over the boards and into the crowd.
Limited against the top teams though surely Ads? He didn't have a kick in either game v Spurs (back when they were decent defensively)
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Those 4 goals in 12 games - how many games has he actually started ?
He knows where the net is and for a striker thats the main thing - i rate him.
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I think he is top draw.
His movement and endeavour is excellent and if he had a proper attacking midfielder behind him he would score even more.
I also like that he celebrates like I would, straight over the boards and into the crowd.
Limited against the top teams though surely Ads? He didn't have a kick in either game v Spurs (back when they were decent defensively)
His movement led to the chance for Weimann to net the winner against city - a lot of people missed that .
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Went to St Mary's for the 2-3 win and thought Kozak was exceptional. Strong, intelligent and is a natural goal scorer. Think he will be great for us, especially next season.
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He's a quality player and he's proved he will score goals if given the chances. Looks like he's going to be a good signing for us.
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He's clearly a good finisher. A bit like Bent though in the sense that he doesn't seem very involved but has a talent for being in the right place at the right time.
It will be interesting to see how he looks once he's better settled and we've got more players around him that can bring out the best of him. Somebody mentioned a playmaker in behind him that can play him through. It's interesting that Lambert's been using Weimann in that role recently. It's clearly the way he's thinking. Right now the team is more set-up for the big hold-up player in the middle.
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He;s doing fine, 4 goals in 12 prem appearances.
He's an interesting player for a number of reasons. I've been talking a bit about him on the other site so thought I'd lift a few of those comments for discussion here:
"but to me he's like a low cost version of Zigic. We all love Ziggy because he's single handedly try to bankrupt SHA but he has popped up with important goals for them, just look at the carling cup run.
Kozak will never reach a Benteke level of goalscoring of 15-20 league goals as he's too limited for that and the better defences in the league will mark him out of games. The two Spurs games for example he barely got a kick in either.
But he's shown he can score no problem against the bottom half teams, Norwich, Cardiff, Stoke (in a false position of 10th they are not better than Swansea).
He's someone who will get 10-11 in the league over a full season, a bit like Gabby so a solid squad option to have.
We can't fall into a trap of thinking he can just replace Benteke, that would be an error and too much for him and us."
"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Before my time but many rave how good Andy Gray was in the 80s then we had Ormondroyd and Cascarino....
In the 90s I loved Dion Dublin, less so Heskey, more so Carew and more recently Benteke.. And I always smile when Crouch gets a good reception off us annually considering the abuse he got when he was here and a young striker learning the game.
So a real mix bag of big strikers over the last 30 years. Some have been adored by the Holte (I forgot Mcanally who has his name in the chant of course) but some poor ones who were scapegoats at one time.
What it does show is we've had so many managers who've preferred to go down that route then get in some technical strikers who can drop off the frontline and link with the midfield e.g. Robbie Keane. That's probably part of the reason why we've never broken into the elite.
Now...Kozak. I can't say he's my favourite type of forward to watch, I prefer watching strikers with skill like Benteke or pace so I like watching Gabby on form. Or Weimann unless I imagine his good form last season.
But Kozak is effective....in some games. 4 goals from 12 appearences is not the worst start for this league, It compares with that Soldado fellow and I have no idea if Kozak takes a decent pen or not.
He's a good squad option for us, no more no less. We've had many more less effective strikers down the years."
"Yes for here and now, Kozak certainly deserves a start and I'm sure he'll continue to chip in with goals throughout the season.
Long term though I'm thinking this. Kozak is our leading striker next year and you just know our braindead footballers will look up, see a giant upfront and it will be hoof hoof hoof just like it was second half yesterday. He don't score with the regularity Benteke was (and being our main striker he'd be expected to) and the crowd will start getting on his back.
I liken this to a bit like Andy Carroll at Liverpool. I'm sure he was capable of scoring a decent amount of goals for them but Rodgers decided just having a bit man up top would limit their overall game and hinder Suarez. He got that call right.
What I want to see next season is a new good striker replacing Benteke aided by a number 10 and Gabby giving us pace as a front three. With Kozak and Weimann if he actually remembers he's a decent player as able back up
I'm thinking more long term and life after Benteke and the role he will play in that.
This to me will give a big indication of how successful Lambert will be here, it's a big decision to make.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
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Scored in 3 games we have won and Yesterday , not a bad start to be fair.His hold up play is getting better also.
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Yesterday he had a gift however the way way he put it away in one movement was class.
I thought that when I first saw it but what Kozak did was read the fact that the defender might head it back to his keeper and gambled. I'm with Ads, I think he's class ... Oh, no, I remember now. He's really shit. What a totally shit goal that was.
Remember a better 'keeper would have saved it.
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I think the comparisons with Bent are accurate in so far as his positioning and reading of the game are top notch, and his finishing isn't bad either.
The big difference between the two is whereas Bent would stroll around just off the Centre Back's shoulder waiting for service, Kozak spends the whole game running the channels, drawing defenders out of position, challenging for headers - just generally doing the all round donkey work that won't win many plaudits, but can help you win games.
A good example was at home to City - I dont think he had a shot on goal all match, but you can be damn sure Kompany and Nastasic knew they'd had a game, he roughed them up all 90 minutes and it was him that created the space for Andi's winner.
Also, he's a big, goofy looking fucker and he jumps into the stands to celebrate, he's ace.
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Those 4 goals in 12 games - how many games has he actually started ?
He knows where the net is and for a striker thats the main thing - i rate him.
I rated him when we signed him. Quality player. Shame that he has had so much stick from some people. How things change.
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He seems decent enough to me, but like others have said £5-£7 million the signings look good. We need more of those now, because we are short of quality.
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Those 4 goals in 12 games - how many games has he actually started ?
He knows where the net is and for a striker thats the main thing - i rate him.
I rated him when we signed him. Quality player. Shame that he has had so much stick from some people. How things change.
Same here, glad to see that people are now coming round to him and appreciating what he does for the side.
I think in some cases it wasn't so much they were having a pop at him but felt the money should have been spent elsewhere.
He could be an integral part of our team in future years.
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He seems decent enough to me, but like others have said £5-£7 million the signings look good. We need more of those now, because we are short of quality.
I suggest that if we do sign anyone in January we should go for £10/15M defender and midfielder otherwise not bother.
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Those 4 goals in 12 games - how many games has he actually started ?
He knows where the net is and for a striker thats the main thing - i rate him.
I rated him when we signed him. Quality player. Shame that he has had so much stick from some people. How things change.
Same here, glad to see that people are now coming round to him and appreciating what he does for the side.
I think in some cases it wasn't so much they were having a pop at him but felt the money should have been spent elsewhere.
He could be an integral part of our team in future years.
I agree, totally eastie. He will do a very good job for us.
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
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I think this £5-7m thing is a bit of a red herring. Aren't there only two who have cost that much? Kozak and Benteke. Okore is next highest at £4m? So surely a bit of a small sample to draw conclusions from.
And I didn't call you Shirley.
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
How long ago do you think these players played, and how old do you think 'we' are?
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
How long ago do you think these players played, and how old do you think 'we' are?
We missed Andy Lochead!
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I think he'll be a good squad player for a couple of years. Doubt he'll ever shift up any gears to be a regular or that we'll recoup what we paid for him mind. Simply because he doesn't appear to have that little something extra to his game. Well, at the moment at least.
Given service or a defensive lapse he'll notch a few more, i'm predicting 11 this season.
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
How long ago do you think these players played, and how old do you think 'we' are?
Well, Andy Gray came before Peter Withe.
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Ah yes I got confused with Gray briefly coming back in the mid 80s.
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Ah yes I got confused with Gray briefly coming back in the mid 80s.
And he (Gray) was not the Talisman at that time. Besides he was only that good the first time because of Little.
As for The Big K - I am a fan. He seems to be bothered and has done ok. 1 in 3 is not bad. If he carries on his scoring record will eclipse many of his ilk in recent(ish) Villa history - Geddis, Cascarino, Collymore, Balaban to name a few.
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Considering he's only just arrived and is playing in a struggling side, he's doing really well. He's not very mobile but I like the fact that he clearly has a good footballing brain and proper striker's instincts. He showed that within about a minute of making his debut, where he made a great run for the goal at Norwich.
It's just a shame his teammates seem to think he's some sort of Andy Carroll clone who's only good in the air. He can hold it up well enough, but he's clearly better when it's played to him on the deck. I agree with whoever said he'd look a lot more threatening with a proper midfield behind him. I like him.
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Libor has good movement in the box. I'm also thinking of a couple of nearly moments too. There was a shot where he hit the post against Sunderland (I think), though he'd been ruled offside (very tight call). But his movement for that was very good. Similarly yesterday, Albrighton played a cracking ball. Libor went half a second too soon and was offside, but it was still promising. It showed if you get him the right service he'll be a threat. Obviously he was also unlucky not to score against WBA, and in that other chance he had yesterday too. A couple of very good instinctive strikes.
I think as long as we use him right, and don't expect him to have his back to goal challenging for high balls all game, or making runs into the channel (which we're forcing him to try too often), he'll prove good value. Whip in good balls between the pen spot and the 6 yard spot and he'll be very good. The goal he scored for the National side against Italy, just after joining us, was a great example of his strength.
Most of us were left scratching our heads, and he can look a bit uncouth and gangly at times (as many slender big men do), but he's awkward to play against, and he's got a brain on him too. Going back to the chance yesterday which Begovic saved well, and the volley against the bar at WBA, and he's almost scored from nothing on both occasions. He's got a spark in and around the penalty area. It's about the service we give him. I thought he'd thrive having Albrighton supplying him, and I hope that will prove the case in the coming games.
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He is an interesting one. He almost makes you think 25 million for Benteke and 4 6-7 million signings into the side around Kozak might be the best way for the team to move forward. He can score goals with the supply.
Him and Gabby together in a 4-4-2 at home might work really well.
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I think this £5-7m thing is a bit of a red herring. Aren't there only two who have cost that much? Kozak and Benteke. Okore is next highest at £4m? So surely a bit of a small sample to draw conclusions from.
And I didn't call you Shirley.
When i suggested it I specifically said anyone we'd spent decent money on, I include Vlaar and over £3m and Okore at around £4m. I don't think anyone else was over £2m from what I've read but it is tough to know for sure. Those 4 are definitely the 4 biggest fees Lambert has paid and 3 have played really well and the other had a few games of looking genuinely world class before his injury.
After that I'm happy with Bacuna (for the free kicks), Westwood, Lowton and Steer as being part of the squad. Luna, Bennett and Sylla could go either way, along with Tonev and Helenius who need time to settle so I'd give them all until the summer. KEA and Bowery I'm decided on as not good enough and they're the 2 I'd be looking to replace in the window, with a genuine defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder.
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
How long ago do you think these players played, and how old do you think 'we' are?
Well, Andy Gray came before Peter Withe.
The caveat was big tall target man. Gray was no height at all.
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but you applied it to Kozak who isn't a target man. I've pointed this out enough times now that I'd hope people start paying attention to me soon. The key,above all else, for a targetman is that they can play with their back to goal. Kozak isn't good with his back to goal, turn him around and have things happening in front of him and he's sharp and alert, as well as being a decent finisher and good in the air. To make the most of him we need to start putting the ball in front of him in the box, do it regularly and, in slight disagreement with SHQ, I think he can be a 15-20 a season man in the premier league.
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Yep Kozak isn't a target man at all.
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Just look at this suave bastard:
(http://i.imgur.com/HnWxHLp.jpg)
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Kozak can be a target man, but it's useless thinking like that because the midfield pump it up long to him, and he wins it - with no support around him whatsoever.
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He's not the type to lump aimless balls to. But he's decent at playing with his back to goal and acting as a wall to play balls up to. I also think he seems to have good movement. Unfortunately we don't really have the midfielders to consistently pick him out
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Our defence and midfield do not lump the ball forward to find a target man. They would do it if we had Barry Bannan playing centre forward. They do it because it is the safe, easy, lazy, soft option. The long ball forward in the air is the stock in trade of players who either are not good enough or do not have the confidence to play the ball with precision and speed along the ground.
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Just look at this suave bastard:
(http://i.imgur.com/HnWxHLp.jpg)
"No Mr Bond, I expect you to die!"
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Just look at this suave bastard:
(http://i.imgur.com/HnWxHLp.jpg)
"No Mr Bond, I expect you to die!"
Next frame , mr Kozak to break.
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After that I'm happy with Bacuna (for the free kicks), Westwood, Lowton and Steer as being part of the squad. Luna, Bennett and Sylla could go either way, along with Tonev and Helenius who need time to settle so I'd give them all until the summer. KEA and Bowery I'm decided on as not good enough and they're the 2 I'd be looking to replace in the window, with a genuine defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder.
Agree with your view here about the incomers but I'd add that Baker is not good enough and needs replacing with a decent footballing CB (Clark is good enough but Baker ain't). We cannot rely on Brittle Ron and Okore remaining fit and available throughout a season.
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(http://i.imgur.com/HnWxHLp.jpg)
So, who's your next 'hit'?
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
But not before I was born.
Peter McParland (the finest Villa player I have ever seen) was basically a left winger who could fill in from time to time as a centre forward
he was not a target man in any sense of the word.
Big Tony Hateley was a goalscoring machine in a very poor team.Probably in the top three of all time in the air but lower league standard on the floor.
Keith Leonard had excellent skills for a big man but very little pace.A serious injury cut short a very promising career.
Doog was a big character (at all his clubs) but did very little at Villa Park. Came good at Leicester and then Wolves.
Pongo Waring was before even my time! His goalscoring record speaks volumes.
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Pongo was quick with his hands wasn't he?
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
But not before I was born.
Peter McParland (the finest Villa player I have ever seen) was basically a left winger who could fill in from time to time as a centre forward
he was not a target man in any sense of the word.
Big Tony Hateley was a goalscoring machine in a very poor team.Probably in the top three of all time in the air but lower league standard on the floor.
Keith Leonard had excellent skills for a big man but very little pace.A serious injury cut short a very promising career.
Doog was a big character (at all his clubs) but did very little at Villa Park. Came good at Leicester and then Wolves.
Pongo Waring was before even my time! His goalscoring record speaks volumes.
Keith Leonard was a clever footballer and his career could well have developed further were it not for the injury he sustained.
Other CF of the 70's: Sammy Morgan, Terry Donovan - both pretty limited but effective.
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"Villa fans have always had a strange relationship with big tall targetman strikers...all started with the legend of Peter Withe.
Peter McParland? Tony Hately?
Leonard ? Dougan ? Pongo ?
My guess is that this happened many years ago.
Before we were born.
But not before I was born.
Peter McParland (the finest Villa player I have ever seen) was basically a left winger who could fill in from time to time as a centre forward
he was not a target man in any sense of the word.
Big Tony Hateley was a goalscoring machine in a very poor team.Probably in the top three of all time in the air but lower league standard on the floor.
Keith Leonard had excellent skills for a big man but very little pace.A serious injury cut short a very promising career.
Doog was a big character (at all his clubs) but did very little at Villa Park. Came good at Leicester and then Wolves.
Pongo Waring was before even my time! His goalscoring record speaks volumes.
When you say the greatest player you've seen at villa are you talking about strikers or do you rate him above mcgrath?
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McParland could play across the front line. He was by common consent the best winger we've had since Charlie Athersmith, a world-class international centre-forward for Northern Ireland and Danny Blanchflower regarded him as the best inside-forward in the world. He's also Villa through and through, a truly great man in every sense.
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McParland could play across the front line. He was by common consent the best winger we've had since Charlie Athersmith, a world-class international centre-forward for Northern Ireland and Danny Blanchflower regarded him as the best inside-forward in the world. He's also Villa through and through, a truly great man in every sense.
Indeed , still does some work on AVTV on occasions and very passionate about the club - only seen the fa cup final of 57 when he played but looked an excellent player.
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Centre Forwards nicely summed-up by Ron Manager and Peter McParland accurately described by Dave W; although he neglected to say he was also as hard as nails. Time can dim the memory but, I can barely ever remember McParland being out through injury.
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The best way to sum him up is to say that at an FPA event his table had the longest queue for autographs. If that's not enough, standing in the queue waiting for Peter McParland's autograph were Gordon Cowans and Gary Shaw.
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The best way to sum him up is to say that at an FPA event his table had the longest queue for autographs. If that's not enough, standing in the queue waiting for Peter McParland's autograph were Gordon Cowans and Gary Shaw.
wow !
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Centre Forwards nicely summed-up by Ron Manager and Peter McParland accurately described by Dave W; although he neglected to say he was also as hard as nails.
Yep, Ray Wood can vouch for that!
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I think it's on the BBC video of the Villa history that I have where it's shown Peter saying about the Wood incident that "when speaking to other goalkeepers' around the country they always said that, you wouldn't have done that to me...because I'd have got out of the way!"
Sums him up perfectly, like all true hard men, they never have to talk about how hard they are.
I forgot to add, it's becoming sad that there are fewer of us left that can remember seeing him play in his prime.
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7 minutes in - there's no way Ray Wood had that ball fully under control - it was there to be won!!
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7 minutes in - there's no way Ray Wood had that ball fully under control - it was there to be won!!
I loved watching that again Adam, thank you. In this day and age he would probably be facing criminal charges! A different world now. As a traditionalist I thought the game was being devalued when 'they' outlawed goalies collecting back passes and allowing players to wear numbers other than 1-11.
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Christ its grim oop north and wet and cold! Peter McParland was and is the greatest Villa player I have ever seen. That includes such wonderful players as Gerry Hitchens and Paul Mcgrath. As Dave said he was rock hard and raided with power. I only remembered a couple of hours ago that he also filled in between the sticks if Nigel Sims got injured. There were no subs in those days!
I think there is a picture of him in goal against Liverpool (or it could be Everton) around somewhere.These days it would be called multitasking. I remember my dad saying 'he was bloody crazy!' as goalkeepers had little or no protection in the 50's .
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Has anyone mentioned that Peter had a terrifically hard shot as well? In the days when footballs were akin to cannonballs. A hero in the true footballing sense, I genuinely feel sorry for the generations that never got to see him play.
I don't know why but, my memories of his goal scoring exploits are that the majority of his goals scored at Villa Park seemed to be scored at the Holte End. I'm probably wrong but, that's how I remember it.
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Ok History lesson over back to Kozak. Originally I couldnt see anything in him but in his last four games he has come on really well.Still dont think he will score a lot but could form a good partnership with Benteke in the second half of the season.
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He's scored the same amount of league goals as Soldado who cost £23m more.
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Has anyone mentioned that Peter had a terrifically hard shot as well? In the days when footballs were akin to cannonballs. A hero in the true footballing sense, I genuinely feel sorry for the generations that never got to see him play.
I don't know why but, my memories of his goal scoring exploits are that the majority of his goals scored at Villa Park seemed to be scored at the Holte End. I'm probably wrong but, that's how I remember it.
He did and so did Harry Burrows who followed him on the left wing. But the hardest shot of anyone belonged to Stan 'The Wham' Lynn who had a kick like a mule. I think he knocked the Cardiff City goal keeper out with one of his piledrivers.
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McParland could play across the front line. He was by common consent the best winger we've had since Charlie Athersmith, a world-class international centre-forward for Northern Ireland and Danny Blanchflower regarded him as the best inside-forward in the world. He's also Villa through and through, a truly great man in every sense.
I went to school with 2 of his nephews and one of them, Jimmy, was in my class. Looked just like him, too.
My Dad, also from N.I. was a massive fan and insisted on taking me to VP rather than The Sty for my first football league game (I grew up in Northfield) almost 47 years ago to the day. So I probably have the great man to thank for this life changing event.
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Hang on, though, Pat Murphy reckons that Kozak is 'just a lamp-post'.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Who to believe?
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If he played for WBA he'd be the second coming of Cyrille Regis in Murphy's mind.
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Kozak's celebrations are absolutely world class.
Watch his face as he does them, he's having the time of his life.
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Kozak's celebrations are absolutely world class.
Watch his face as he does them, he's having the time of his life.
He learned all his moves from look-alike French heart throb Jean Paul Belmodo:
(http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/36100000/Jean-Paul-Belmondo-image-jean-paul-belmondo-36169255-1600-1048.jpg)
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One of the few upsides of our season following the pattern of last, is that from now till the end of the season Libor will absolutely tear the Premier League up.
My new favourite player.