Libor Kozák (confirmed post #190)

[john e]

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

[fredm]

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.

[Clampy]

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.

[not3bad]

We'll need better crosses than the ones Tonev was providing on Saturday to get the best out of him.

[supertom]

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.

[eastie]

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.

[aj2k77]

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.

[Damo70]

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.

[supertom]

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.

[fredm]

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.

[paul_e]

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.

[supertom]

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.

[mr underhill]

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.

[eastie]

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.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

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?