The Paul Lambert thread - poll reset after our capitulation to Hull

[saunders_heroes]

Kozak is a good player. He finds space and can stick it away. He looks ungainly because he is so tall and unfortuantely the squad grew lazy and thought he was a target man. But if we could sign a couple of creative midfielders, be they loan signings or whatever, who have an eye for a killer ball, then he will score us plenty.

Wouldn't go that far, but agree that judgement should be reserved on him for now.  I think he will need a strike partner to play alongside him though as he doesn't look mobile enough to play up front on his own.   

I think Kozak will get 15-20 a season if we can keep him fit and play to his strengths, the key is we need to avoid the mindset that he's a big guy so we can lump the ball at him, he's not a target man.

Can't see him getting anywhere near that amount of goals. I know he scored a few before he was injured but on the whole he looked bloody hopeless.

[saunders_heroes]

I actually was really impressed with Bowery's shifts in the last couple of games.  He had a lot of pressure on him, especially with the lack of starts.  He looked more dangerous than Gabby to be fair and knew how to hold the ball up.  Id have no issues him remaining as a back up striker.

Against Man City he looked embarrassingly out of his depth, and apart from one or two games he's looked out of his depth at Villa since he got here.
He shouldn't be at our club, full stop.

[Mister E]

Kozak is a good player. He finds space and can stick it away. He looks ungainly because he is so tall and unfortuantely the squad grew lazy and thought he was a target man. But if we could sign a couple of creative midfielders, be they loan signings or whatever, who have an eye for a killer ball, then he will score us plenty.

Wouldn't go that far, but agree that judgement should be reserved on him for now.  I think he will need a strike partner to play alongside him though as he doesn't look mobile enough to play up front on his own.   

I think Kozak will get 15-20 a season if we can keep him fit and play to his strengths, the key is we need to avoid the mindset that he's a big guy so we can lump the ball at him, he's not a target man.

Can't see him getting anywhere near that amount of goals. I know he scored a few before he was injured but on the whole he looked bloody hopeless.

perhaps that says more about your judgement than PL's ...

[Clampy]

Maybe 15-20 might be stretching it a little but I do think he has goals in him. I liked what I saw of him personally.

[LeeB]

I actually was really impressed with Bowery's shifts in the last couple of games.  He had a lot of pressure on him, especially with the lack of starts.  He looked more dangerous than Gabby to be fair and knew how to hold the ball up.  Id have no issues him remaining as a back up striker.

Against Man City he looked embarrassingly out of his depth, and apart from one or two games he's looked out of his depth at Villa since he got here.
He shouldn't be at our club, full stop.

Wasn't that his first start? And didn't he basically cause the confusion which let Weimann in for the winner? And on what basis shouldn't he be here?

[Clark W Griswold]

I think Benteke and Kozak up front with Bacuna on the right of midfield and a new player who can deliver a good ball on the left to wang crosses in the box for them. Get a good defensive (experienced) midfielder behind an Advancing Delph from midfield and that should be our line up in midfield and attack. Keep Gabby, Weimann, N'Zog and Westwood as the main back up.
In defence, i would get a new left back and an experienced tall centre back who can lead the team, and play him initally with Vlaar but longer term with Okore. I'd put Lowton back at RB.
I would like to see us able to keep possession of the ball next season, but have some height in the team to improve us dramatically from set pieces both defending and attacking. Hopefully we can pick up more points over the season by working on this.

[Ads]

Kozak is a good player. He finds space and can stick it away. He looks ungainly because he is so tall and unfortuantely the squad grew lazy and thought he was a target man. But if we could sign a couple of creative midfielders, be they loan signings or whatever, who have an eye for a killer ball, then he will score us plenty.

Wouldn't go that far, but agree that judgement should be reserved on him for now.  I think he will need a strike partner to play alongside him though as he doesn't look mobile enough to play up front on his own.   

I think Kozak will get 15-20 a season if we can keep him fit and play to his strengths, the key is we need to avoid the mindset that he's a big guy so we can lump the ball at him, he's not a target man.

Can't see him getting anywhere near that amount of goals. I know he scored a few before he was injured but on the whole he looked bloody hopeless.

Looked hopeless in what way?

[saunders_heroes]

Kozak is a good player. He finds space and can stick it away. He looks ungainly because he is so tall and unfortuantely the squad grew lazy and thought he was a target man. But if we could sign a couple of creative midfielders, be they loan signings or whatever, who have an eye for a killer ball, then he will score us plenty.

Wouldn't go that far, but agree that judgement should be reserved on him for now.  I think he will need a strike partner to play alongside him though as he doesn't look mobile enough to play up front on his own.   

I think Kozak will get 15-20 a season if we can keep him fit and play to his strengths, the key is we need to avoid the mindset that he's a big guy so we can lump the ball at him, he's not a target man.

Can't see him getting anywhere near that amount of goals. I know he scored a few before he was injured but on the whole he looked bloody hopeless.

perhaps that says more about your judgement than PL's ...

I know a player out of his depth when I see one.

[saunders_heroes]

I actually was really impressed with Bowery's shifts in the last couple of games.  He had a lot of pressure on him, especially with the lack of starts.  He looked more dangerous than Gabby to be fair and knew how to hold the ball up.  Id have no issues him remaining as a back up striker.

Against Man City he looked embarrassingly out of his depth, and apart from one or two games he's looked out of his depth at Villa since he got here.
He shouldn't be at our club, full stop.

Wasn't that his first start? And didn't he basically cause the confusion which let Weimann in for the winner? And on what basis shouldn't he be here?

Because he's shit basically.

[PaulWinch again]

Kozak is a good player and he'll help the side when he comes back. I reckon he's probably a 10-12 goals a year striker. Bowery on the other hand is not good enough and should go.

[saunders_heroes]

Kozak is a good player and he'll help the side when he comes back. I reckon he's probably a 10-12 goals a year striker. Bowery on the other hand is not good enough and should go.

I'm sure Kozak will improve but I think he'd score between 5 and 10 league goals maximum personally.
Bowery on the other hand is absolutely shit.

[sirlordbaltimore]

 
If Kozak ever scores above 10 league goals in a season i'll happily donate £20 to H&V

Looks bog standard to me, and one dimensional with no pace. All things we used to level against Bent in fact.

We've got a major problem up front without a doubt. Gabby & Weimann might as well be sold off if Lambert's staying as neither will score many played wide in a three pronged attack. Bowery, bar his one decent appearance against Hull looks every inch a lower championship player and God knows when Benteke will be back.

This is exactly why a takeover and new manager can't come quick enough really, we need a complete clear out with no sentimentality clouding it. Gabby should be first out the door

[sirlordbaltimore]

I'm sure Kozak will improve but I think he'd score between 5 and 10 league goals maximum personally.
Bowery on the other hand is absolutely shit.

IMHO, any decent midfielder should be aiming for 5-10 goals never mind a 7m striker. If that's all we think he's going to score then surely it doesn't say much about him

[Clampy]

Kozak's got that poacher's knack about him which I like. He scored four before he got himself injured which wasn't too bad really considering he came off the bench for most of the games he played in.

[Ads]

 What was it about the way he ghosted in between the two Southampton defenders to pot a header home or had the intelligence to pull off the Cardiff defender to slot another one home?

What was it about him scoring in the first few minutes of English football or having the nous and anticipation to get on the end of a Peter's error at Stoke that leads you to the conclusion that he is out of his depth or hopeless?

I find that ridiculous to be honest. Our midfield and defence lumping aimless balls to him or for him to run onto can fairly be described as hopeless, but to say Kozak is borders on the ridiculous.

He's a good player. Not a world beater, not as good as Benteke, but a good player nonetheless.

Bowery impressed against Hull because our expectations were so low. He may make it at Championship level, but he isn't a top flight player.