How would you feel....

[PaulWinch again]

Kozak actually looks good at laying the ball of when it's played into feet, so I think he could do a good job in a passing team.

[supertom]

Kozak actually looks good at laying the ball of when it's played into feet, so I think he could do a good job in a passing team.

Certainly. Kozaks strength is certainly not challenging for aerial duels with his back to goal. When we hoof it to him he struggles, but give him some delivery when he's facing goal and he looks sharp, and he looks okay when the ball is played into his feet, not when he has to try and win headers with his back to goal, or chasing balls down the channel.

I actually think Libor could have a field day with Albrighton in the side, if Alby continues getting a good amount of balls in. He did against Utd, though often we didn't have enough players in the box to attack it, and Benteke was caught leaden footed a few times.

[paul_e]

I disagree completely.  Kozaks strengths actually support us playing better football because he's not great with his back to goal and isn't particularly quick (he's not as slow as some have suggested though), if you play long balls you need a striker who is one of those things.

I can see him becoming a very good goalscorer by finding positions around the box to get 1 or 2 touch shots at goal, his goals so far back that up.

[yaliekins]

I've really enjoyed this thread, a lot of sense being spoken. I, as many others, wanted him in the first place and thought he would bring a dynamic, direct but exciting brand of football with him.  Granted, he hasn't had a lot of money to spend (more than the likes of Swansea, though) but he's got much worse squads playing a similar brand of entertaining football.

I'm now at the stage where I don't really trust him. I don't want to load him with what limited resources we have and have him fluff it like he did with Kozak. It may sound harsh and I'm more than prepared to stick by him, but it was glaringly obvious that we needed quality creative players rather than another big man up front ... Unless you WANT to play long ball football. To think we paid £7m for a 24 year old who has scored 10 in 58 (4 in 30 for Seria B team Brescia) just incase something went to pot with Benteke ... 

Whilst I'm at it, why did he bring Bowery in? I really can't stand this signing not only because he wasn't showing any promise in league 2 (17 in 101, 0 goals in 4 appearances for Barrow) but because of the opportunity cost.  He may not have cost much money, but while he is taking up a place on the bench & getting some game time, it means that our academy players and the likes of Helenius don't have a hope of showing what they can do in the first team.

Having said that, allow him to bring in a couple of players that can make an immediate impact and give him the rest of the season to show us that he has what it takes to move us forward. If he can't, I dread to think who Lerner will appoint.

[Dave]

I don't expect us to be particularly good. But I do want us to be watchable. Like the end of last season. Which is why I was so concerned by the signing of Kozak. You just don't sign a 6'5" lump if you are intent on playing like Arsenal.

Don't Arsenal have two recognised strikers on their books, one of whom is 6'5" and the other of whom is 6'4"?

The key word being 'lump'

I'd say that 'lump' is a pretty shit word rather than a key word.

Kozak's not Suarez, but he's hardly Dean Windass either.

[eastie]

I've really enjoyed this thread, a lot of sense being spoken. I, as many others, wanted him in the first place and thought he would bring a dynamic, direct but exciting brand of football with him.  Granted, he hasn't had a lot of money to spend (more than the likes of Swansea, though) but he's got much worse squads playing a similar brand of entertaining football.

I'm now at the stage where I don't really trust him. I don't want to load him with what limited resources we have and have him fluff it like he did with Kozak. It may sound harsh and I'm more than prepared to stick by him, but it was glaringly obvious that we needed quality creative players rather than another big man up front ... Unless you WANT to play long ball football. To think we paid £7m for a 24 year old who has scored 10 in 58 (4 in 30 for Seria B team Brescia) just incase something went to pot with Benteke ... 

Whilst I'm at it, why did he bring Bowery in? I really can't stand this signing not only because he wasn't showing any promise in league 2 (17 in 101, 0 goals in 4 appearances for Barrow) but because of the opportunity cost.  He may not have cost much money, but while he is taking up a place on the bench & getting some game time, it means that our academy players and the likes of Helenius don't have a hope of showing what they can do in the first team.

Having said that, allow him to bring in a couple of players that can make an immediate impact and give him the rest of the season to show us that he has what it takes to move us forward. If he can't, I dread to think who Lerner will appoint.

Interesting opinions and 1st post - welcome.

[Tuco Salamanca]

I don't expect us to be particularly good. But I do want us to be watchable. Like the end of last season. Which is why I was so concerned by the signing of Kozak. You just don't sign a 6'5" lump if you are intent on playing like Arsenal.

Don't Arsenal have two recognised strikers on their books, one of whom is 6'5" and the other of whom is 6'4"?

The key word being 'lump'

I'd say that 'lump' is a pretty shit word rather than a key word.

Kozak's not Suarez, but he's hardly Dean Windass either.

I can accept he's better than Dean Windass and maybe lump is unfair.

But the point is I am concerned that his signing is symptomatic of the direction the style of football has gone this season. Even when we were at our worst last season we didn't play as directly as we are this season. And it is god awful to watch.

I hope it's just a phase and that Kozak will turn out to be a decent footballer. However, bar one game, Lambert hasn't picked him over a player that has seemingly forgotten how to play football. Which is a bit of a concern.

[RussellC]

I honestly think that Lambert thought we would ket Kiyotake in the summer. When it emerged that we wouldn't get him, but that Kozak ( a long-term target) was available, he did what he did.

I for one actually think Kozak will be a good signing for us. I don't think he'l be easy on the eye, but I think he'll score a lot of scrappy goals for us in the next few seasons.

On the subject of Lambert going, I would worry, as I simply can't think of a realistic replacement who would do any better....? I braced myself for 2 or 3 seasons of inconsistent dross when it became apparent the money had dried-up again. As long as this is coupled with improved league-positions each season I'll continue to back Lambert.

[Toronto Villa]

I don't expect us to be particularly good. But I do want us to be watchable. Like the end of last season. Which is why I was so concerned by the signing of Kozak. You just don't sign a 6'5" lump if you are intent on playing like Arsenal.

Don't Arsenal have two recognised strikers on their books, one of whom is 6'5" and the other of whom is 6'4"?

The key word being 'lump'

I'd say that 'lump' is a pretty shit word rather than a key word.

Kozak's not Suarez, but he's hardly Dean Windass either.

I'll tell you what I didn't see that much difference between Ricky Lambert and Kozak in the game at Southampton and Lambert plays for England. Calling him a lump is not close to being accurate.

[Tuco Salamanca]

I'm now at the stage where I don't really trust him. I don't want to load him with what limited resources we have and have him fluff it like he did with Kozak. It may sound harsh and I'm more than prepared to stick by him, but it was glaringly obvious that we needed quality creative players rather than another big man up front ... Unless you WANT to play long ball football. To think we paid £7m for a 24 year old who has scored 10 in 58 (4 in 30 for Seria B team Brescia) just incase something went to pot with Benteke ... 

Yep, we are absolutely crying out for a creative midfielder. Was there not one in the whole of world football who would have improved us and was attainable? Maybe there wasn't but I'd hate to think that was the case.

[eastie]

I'm now at the stage where I don't really trust him. I don't want to load him with what limited resources we have and have him fluff it like he did with Kozak. It may sound harsh and I'm more than prepared to stick by him, but it was glaringly obvious that we needed quality creative players rather than another big man up front ... Unless you WANT to play long ball football. To think we paid £7m for a 24 year old who has scored 10 in 58 (4 in 30 for Seria B team Brescia) just incase something went to pot with Benteke ... 

Yep, we are absolutely crying out for a creative midfielder. Was there not one in the whole of world football who would have improved us and was attainable? Maybe there wasn't but I'd hate to think that was the case.

Unless of course he has someone lined up who is well worth waiting for - hopefully we will find out one way or another soon enough.

[garyshawsknee]

PL doesn't come across as a mug, so he must see that our midfield is so one dimensional at the minute and that a different kind of midfielder is needed, well i effing hope he does.

[Clampy]

I've really enjoyed this thread, a lot of sense being spoken. I, as many others, wanted him in the first place and thought he would bring a dynamic, direct but exciting brand of football with him.  Granted, he hasn't had a lot of money to spend (more than the likes of Swansea, though) but he's got much worse squads playing a similar brand of entertaining football.

I'm now at the stage where I don't really trust him. I don't want to load him with what limited resources we have and have him fluff it like he did with Kozak. It may sound harsh and I'm more than prepared to stick by him, but it was glaringly obvious that we needed quality creative players rather than another big man up front ... Unless you WANT to play long ball football. To think we paid £7m for a 24 year old who has scored 10 in 58 (4 in 30 for Seria B team Brescia) just incase something went to pot with Benteke ... 

Whilst I'm at it, why did he bring Bowery in? I really can't stand this signing not only because he wasn't showing any promise in league 2 (17 in 101, 0 goals in 4 appearances for Barrow) but because of the opportunity cost.  He may not have cost much money, but while he is taking up a place on the bench & getting some game time, it means that our academy players and the likes of Helenius don't have a hope of showing what they can do in the first team.

Having said that, allow him to bring in a couple of players that can make an immediate impact and give him the rest of the season to show us that he has what it takes to move us forward. If he can't, I dread to think who Lerner will appoint.

I get where you're coming from with Bowery. I wouldn't say he's fluffed it with Kozak.

[Ron Manager]

PL doesn't come across as a mug, so he must see that our midfield is so one dimensional at the minute and that a different kind of midfielder is needed, well i effing hope he does.

In that case he must also observe that whoever he selects in the full back positions cannot actually defend with any kind of quality.

[bobdylan]

PL doesn't come across as a mug, so he must see that our midfield is so one dimensional at the minute and that a different kind of midfielder is needed, well i effing hope he does.

In that case he must also observe that whoever he selects in the full back positions cannot actually defend with any kind of quality.

But don't you think we could get away with that given Clark's improved form, and if Vlaar and Okore were fit, if the front 3 were banging in goals for fun like last season and we signed a creative midfielder?