Libor Kozák (confirmed post #190)

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

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 .......

[Monty]

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.

[ozzjim]

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.

[Monty]

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.

[BC54 VFC]

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.

[PaulWinch again]

He did really nicely apart from the goal as well.

[paul_e]

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.

[silhillvilla]

Happy for the lad. Bags of potential.

[Monty]

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.

[villa kicks]

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

[Ads]

He reminds me of Crouch in the sense that he is all arms and legs.

[Monty]

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.

[darren woolley]

Nice to see him get a goal one of plenty I hope.

[SoccerHQ]

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?

[Toronto Villa]

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.