Libor Kozak

[Prague John]

Decent article below on ESPN re Kozak (probably first in national media I've seen).

All very strange that he is not even getting on the bench in last few games, especially as Gestede seems to be very limited. Given situation at Villa, my guess is that the club have identified Kozak as one to get rid of because of wages.

espnfc.co.uk/club/aston-villa/362/blog/post/2749468/ libor-kozak-waiting-for-second-chance-at-aston-villa

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Libor Kozak waiting for second chance at Aston Villa that may not come.

Libor Kozak uploaded a picture on his Instagram account on Dec. 5. It was an image of him, wearing the pale blue shirt of Lazio, arm raised in celebration after scoring for the Serie A club.

It was a picture from before his £5 million transfer to Aston Villa in the summer transfer window of 2013; before the double leg fracture which has completely stalled his career; and before he became unfortunate enough to be stranded somewhere between the fringes of the first team squad and the U21s. Villa host Arsenal on Sunday and the 26-year-old is likely to be uninvolved yet again.

Kozak doesn't post often on Instagram -- his previous image was from four weeks previous, toiling away in a fitness session -- and so the message provides a fascinating, if brief, glimpse into his psyche. He's a player who remains on the outside of the first team picture and, like many athletes, finds solace in remembering happier times when the going is tough.

The Czech striker is in his third season as a Villa player and he's played 14 times in the Premier League; only eight of those have been starts. Every Villa supporter knows his unfortunate story. He was signed by Paul Lambert, practically right on transfer deadline day, primarily as a back-up to Christian Benteke and though the squad seemed light in other areas -- notably attacking midfield -- within weeks he was proving his value.

He came off the bench to replace an injured Benteke at Norwich in September and scored the only goal of the game within two minutes. When the big Belgian was fit again, sometimes Lambert paired Kozak with him and further goals followed -- the second in a 2-0 win at Cardiff, one in an excellent 3-2 victory at Southampton. Just before Christmas 2013 came his fourth in a Villa shirt, scored in a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.

Libor Kozak Aston Villa
Libor Kozak's Villa career started full of promise, but it's been a nightmare for the Czech ever since.
Kozak played twice more before disaster struck -- a badly broken leg sustained in training. Comeback targets came and went, complications and further operations ensued. The 2014-15 season was devoted to rehabilitation; a season and a half completely wiped out. Yet he emerged from the darkest of periods to play a full part in the club's preseason programme this summer and with other strikers moving on -- not just Benteke but Andreas Weimann and Darren Bent too -- Kozak appeared to have a fresh chance.

In the build-up to the current season, then manager Tim Sherwood understandably strengthened his striking options by bringing in Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede, but with a move for Emmanuel Adebayor falling through and youngster Calum Robinson being loaned out there seemed to be opportunities for Kozak. That hasn't been the case. Despite showing up well in the summer friendlies -- scoring twice against Wolves the notable performance -- he hasn't played a single minute in the league this season. And his only senior appearance came as a late substitute in August's Capital One Cup match against Notts County.

Instead, Kozak has ploughed on, confined in the main to playing for the club's Under 21s. If anything, his current status at Villa is causing nothing but more confusion. He's playing regularly in these games, so he's obviously fit, and he's scoring goals, too -- a late equaliser against Blackburn at the end of November, and two against Derby on Monday. He also started in a recent 5-2 friendly win over Fleetwood alongside other senior players but whereas Jores Okore has since been brought back into the starting lineup and Adama Traore is regularly in the first team squad, Kozak appears no closer to a breakthrough.

At the same time, there was reportedly loan interest in him from Celtic in the summer and most recently from Birmingham City, but the player is still at Villa. If he's not wanted, there were options to allow him to move on. He's also taking up the centre-forward role in what is essentially the reserve team, a place which could go to a promising younger player. The point is, there does seem to be a plan for him. What that is, and when it will be executed, is not clear.


"I have the feeling for many reasons that he could not do better than we are doing at the moment," Villa manager Remi Garde told the Birmingham Mail recently, suggesting that Kozak's immediate prospects don't appear to be bright. Many supporters would question that opinion, though. The team is clearly struggling and obviously not blessed with prolific goalscorers. While Ayew is starting to thrive, Gestede is beginning to look out of his depth and Garde's reluctance (and Sherwood's reluctance before that) to even try Kozak is strange.

The Czech international is a difficult striker to categorise. Though he's 6-foot-2, he's not especially strong in the air -- not like Gestede, anyway -- and he's definitely not quick. But technically, he's quite tidy and his movement is superior to Gestede's. Kozak could work well alongside Ayew and he does seem to have that gift of being in the right place at the right time -- that goalscorer's instinct of sniffing out a chance. Villa desperately need someone with a prolific presence in the opposition penalty area.

He might leave in the January transfer window. Although, he may still be at the club, plugging away in the U21s, come the end of the season -- by which time Villa could be relegated and his contract will be weeks away from expiring. He may not be the answer to the club's goalscoring problems, but surely he deserves a decent opportunity at least? He's been patient enough and worked hard for it.

Whether Garde sees it the same way only time will tell. Jack Grealish, who played alongside Kozak in that U21 game, has been tipped to return to the squad for the fixture against Arsenal, but the double goalscorer will probably be on the outside looking in once again.

Kevin Hughes covered Premier League football at Match magazine and was later deputy editor of Sport. You can follow him on Twitter @KevHughesie.

[Ajdainty89]

So yeah....

Certainly didn't see anything in tonights game to suggest Rudy is a harder worker then Libor
Other then maybe needs abit more real match fitness and not a reserves match.

Overall thought he done a good enough job for me tonight.

[supertom]

Yep. Keep him in the side.
The reality is, short of a loan signing we'll not be getting a decent forward in. Libor for all his faults works bloody hard but he also has good movement in and around the box and an ability to get a chance away. He somehow got that shot away which almost caught Hennessey out, and the offside was very tight.

He's earned a run in the side and lets face it, Gestede also looks a completely dejected figure right now. It's probably not doing him any good to play him apart from anything else.

[LukeJames]

His flick ons to Ayew worked 3 or 4 times, his movement was decent (especially for the off side chance) he put himself about and won headers in our box, he's not going to bang in 15 goals before the end if the season but he gives us much needed heart and work rate which brings others into play, he offers us so much more than Gestede, the shirt has to be his now.

[Nastylee]

He moved. That's all we need to know when comparing him to Rudy. He's surely worth a run in the team now.

[PeterWithesShin]

Have to be honest and say I thought he was comfortably our worst player tonight, but he was still better than Rudy.

[aj2k77]

We need a proper Striker.

[Fasth56]

How come we know better than 4 Villa managers, that he should be playing?

[rob_bridge]

The Big K did well. FFS everyone it's his first proper games in ages.

Far far better than Gestede.

[caster troy]

The guy hasn't played for 2 years and he still looked miles better than Gestede. He deserves a few games now.

[postal]

How come we know better than 4 Villa managers, that he should be playing?

When Rudy is the alternative, play him as he knows how to kick a ball, and hold it up. Yes, not the best tall forward we have ever have, but he deserves the nod over Rudy, who might learn something.

[Clampy]

The guy hasn't played for 2 years and he still looked miles better than Gestede. He deserves a few games now.

I said that during the game. He needs a run of games because he did look a bit rusty but he looked so much more mobile than Gestede.

[pauliewalnuts]

The guy hasn't played for 2 years and he still looked miles better than Gestede. He deserves a few games now.

I said that during the game. He needs a run of games because he did look a bit rusty but he looked so much more mobile than Gestede.

Yes, and he's got a football brain, too, which makes a huge difference.

I know he was offside and fluffed it anyway, but Gestede wouldn't have had the brains to even try to get onto that lovely Westwood through ball.

[supertom]

The guy hasn't played for 2 years and he still looked miles better than Gestede. He deserves a few games now.

I said that during the game. He needs a run of games because he did look a bit rusty but he looked so much more mobile than Gestede.

Yes, and he's got a football brain, too, which makes a huge difference.

I know he was offside and fluffed it anyway, but Gestede wouldn't have had the brains to even try to get onto that lovely Westwood through ball.

His movement on the chance that lead to the corner for our goal was good and if you watch the replay of the goal itself, when Hennessey drops it, if it comes forward, Libor is getting there ahead of any Palace players. He's got a poachers instinct. I've said it before but he's got a lot of similarities to Klose. Albeit he's the poor mans version.
Give him a run. Get him sharp and he could contribute goals. He may also exploit any space that Ayew creates with his skill.

[themossman]

If we're not going to sign a striker we could do worse than going with him supplying ayew, with both up top.