Libor Kozák (confirmed post #190)

[danlanza]

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.

[PaulWinch again]

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.

[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.

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.

[olaftab]

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.

[danlanza]

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.

[b23]

"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.

[PeterWithesShin]

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.

[dave.woodhall]

"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?

[Tayls_7]

"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!

[sirlordbaltimore]

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.

[not3bad]

"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.

[SoccerHQ]

Ah yes I got confused with Gray briefly coming back in the mid 80s.

[rob_bridge]

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.

[SamTheMouse]

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.

[supertom]

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.