Libor Kozák (confirmed post #190)

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[Small Rodent]

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.

[Dave]

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.

[stubbsyandy]

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

[Toronto Villa]

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.

[OCD]

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.

[Toronto Villa]

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.

[Phil from the upper holte]

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

[OCD]

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.

[PeterWithesShin]

Stuart, is that you again?

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

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.

[Richard E]

He didn't do well in Italy aside from being the top scorer in the Europa League last year...

[Toronto Villa]

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.

[PeterWithesShin]

I wish Benteke was so shit that he'd score 3 in 6. In fact I wish all our players were that shit.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

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.