Libor Kozák (confirmed post #190)

[PaulWinch again]

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.

[paul_e]

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.

[SashasGrandad]

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.

[chrisf]

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.

[SoccerHQ]

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.

[SoccerHQ]

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)

[eastie]

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.

[eastie]

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 .

[silhillvilla]

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.

[Ian.]

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.

[OCD]

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.

[Tayls_7]

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?

[David_Nab]

Scored in 3 games we have won and Yesterday , not a bad start to be fair.His hold up play is getting better also.

[not3bad]

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.

[dekko]

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.