Libor Kozak

[ozzjim]

They looked a pair tonight for the first time this season

I was in awe of his fitness levels for a guy who has not started for 2 years. Garde please don't sell him!

[Olof's Beard]

He's no Benteke, but he's a heck of a lot better than anyone else we have in the same position. As much as anything, by not playing he has been protected from the confidence vacuum that exists at Villa Park. Him, Ayew and Gil looked like a well balanced front three.

We have all heard so much about Kozak's rumoured bad attitude but it was hard to spot it today. His first game for years and he worked pretty chuffing hard as far as I could see. He helped out defensively and did plenty of closing down.

[LukeJames]

We have all heard so much about Kozak's rumoured bad attitude

I don't think I have heard anybody question his attitude in all the time he's been at the club.

[Pete3206]

Finally Kozak back and he's here to stay

[Villa in Denmark]

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.

If that had been Gestede instead of Kozak, I don't think Westwood would have even bothered trying to play that pass.

[Villa in Denmark]

They looked a pair tonight for the first time this season

I was in awe of his fitness levels for a guy who has not started for 2 years. Garde please don't sell him!

I thought that there might have been the first glimmer of a partnership between Ayew and Kozak tonight as well.

[Olof's Beard]

We have all heard so much about Kozak's rumoured bad attitude

I don't think I have heard anybody question his attitude in all the time he's been at the club.

Garde has hinted at commitment issues and rumours of his lack of willingness to work after his injury have been very much prevalent on this site over the course of the season. There has also been talk of him not impressing at all for the U21s. Unless I have imagined it all?

Kozak will never look incredible, even in the U21s, but he is a goalscorer and you could see he wanted to get into positions to score. Other players trusted him and tried to find him. He didn't have to be a world beater to make a big difference, I hope he stays.

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

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

Wow.

[saunders_heroes]

Just read that it was Kozak's first league appearance for two years. Well I've never been a big fan but he looked decent tonight.

[Olof's Beard]

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

Wow.

In all fairness, name a player who played worse.

It's actually quite hard, but for all the right reasons. For once.

PWS's use of the word 'comfortably' might be a bit harsh, mind.

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

Just read that it was Kozak's first league appearance for two years. Well I've never been a big fan but he looked decent tonight.

How refreshing was it to have a big man up front working so hard, not just up front but at the back too?

Remi Garde will be absolutely delighted with him. He showed today how a striker can impact a game, even when they're not given barely any opportunities to score. Although he did conjure up that one shot out of nowhere that the keeper managed to get down to.

[PeterWithesShin]

Yeah "comfortably" may be too harsh, but as OB says, that's for the right reasons. I'd definitely stick with him although if he's ready for two games in less than a week may be a factor.

[SoccerHQ]

He's limited but what I like is he makes good runs off the ball, couple of times he was just offside, hopefully that's just a lack of match fitness so the timing is out but at least he moves as Rudy is simply statuesque.

[not3bad]

They looked a pair tonight for the first time this season

I was in awe of his fitness levels for a guy who has not started for 2 years. Garde please don't sell him!

I thought that there might have been the first glimmer of a partnership between Ayew and Kozak tonight as well.

I feel optimistic that these guys could make a good forward pairing if given the chance.

[Bully2345]

After watching Gestede and Agbonlahor play statues, it's refreshing to see a striker making runs and trying to find space. Well done, Libor