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

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

I could be wrong but didn't Benteke flick the ball on to Kozak from Guzan's goal kick?

[LeeB]

I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

I could be wrong but didn't Benteke flick the ball on to Kozak from Guzan's goal kick?

You are as Kozak was subbed for Benteke.

[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 ...

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

we'll see, if he's with us next season.
Difficult to have any sort of reasonable debate about the near-future line-up when things at the club are so ambiguous. I'd imagine the agents of the reasonable players will be looking for the exit door PDQ - uncertainty breeds flight in situations such as this; typically, the good go and the remainder feed on yet more mediocrity.

[paul_e]

Surprised at the criticism Kozak is getting. He looked a very capable goalscorer to me, and having scored four league goals in a handful of games, I'd expect double figures if he can play a full season. He looks cumbersome and doesn't have much pace, but he can certainly take a chance and technically, he's fairly sharp. I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

When he and Benteke are fully fit again, I'm not too worried about goals. It's the time until then which concerns me. We need either a bargain signing of a striker, a season-long loan, or a proven goalscorer on a free, to tide us over until then.

The bit of skill you mention from that match, along with a few others, is exactly why I think he'll score goals.

Stats wise he had 12 shots, hit the target with 8 and scored 4.  I'm pretty happy with a striker that hits the target  2 in 3 and scores 1 in 3.

Lets compare that to:

Wilfried Bony (who i rate very highly and who had an excellent season) - 106 shots, 40 on target, 16 goals.
Daniel Sturridge - 97 shots, 44 on target, 22 goals.

I'm not saying he's as good as either, that's not the point, the point is, from what we've seen, he will score goals if we get him into shooting positions rather than having him do donkey work chasing long balls all the time.

[LeeS]

Surprised at the criticism Kozak is getting. He looked a very capable goalscorer to me, and having scored four league goals in a handful of games, I'd expect double figures if he can play a full season. He looks cumbersome and doesn't have much pace, but he can certainly take a chance and technically, he's fairly sharp. I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

When he and Benteke are fully fit again, I'm not too worried about goals. It's the time until then which concerns me. We need either a bargain signing of a striker, a season-long loan, or a proven goalscorer on a free, to tide us over until then.

The bit of skill you mention from that match, along with a few others, is exactly why I think he'll score goals.

Stats wise he had 12 shots, hit the target with 8 and scored 4.  I'm pretty happy with a striker that hits the target  2 in 3 and scores 1 in 3.

Lets compare that to:

Wilfried Bony (who i rate very highly and who had an excellent season) - 106 shots, 40 on target, 16 goals.
Daniel Sturridge - 97 shots, 44 on target, 22 goals.

I'm not saying he's as good as either, that's not the point, the point is, from what we've seen, he will score goals if we get him into shooting positions rather than having him do donkey work chasing long balls all the time.

You make a good point, Paul. But being a top drawer striker is more than just finishing the chances you are given. It is knowing where to be and how to play to get those chances. I haven't seen enough of Kozak to know whether he has that knack of being in the right place at the right time, or creating a shooting chance under pressure. If he is going to score 15-20 then he needs those attributes.

[fredm]

Surprised at the criticism Kozak is getting. He looked a very capable goalscorer to me, and having scored four league goals in a handful of games, I'd expect double figures if he can play a full season. He looks cumbersome and doesn't have much pace, but he can certainly take a chance and technically, he's fairly sharp. I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

When he and Benteke are fully fit again, I'm not too worried about goals. It's the time until then which concerns me. We need either a bargain signing of a striker, a season-long loan, or a proven goalscorer on a free, to tide us over until then.

The bit of skill you mention from that match, along with a few others, is exactly why I think he'll score goals.

Stats wise he had 12 shots, hit the target with 8 and scored 4.  I'm pretty happy with a striker that hits the target  2 in 3 and scores 1 in 3.

Lets compare that to:

Wilfried Bony (who i rate very highly and who had an excellent season) - 106 shots, 40 on target, 16 goals.
Daniel Sturridge - 97 shots, 44 on target, 22 goals.

I'm not saying he's as good as either, that's not the point, the point is, from what we've seen, he will score goals if we get him into shooting positions rather than having him do donkey work chasing long balls all the time.

You make a good point, Paul. But being a top drawer striker is more than just finishing the chances you are given. It is knowing where to be and how to play to get those chances. I haven't seen enough of Kozak to know whether he has that knack of being in the right place at the right time, or creating a shooting chance under pressure. If he is going to score 15-20 then he needs those attributes.

I think that is the one thing about Kozak, he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time and can create a shooting chance under pressure.  Chase a ball down the flanks - no chance, he hasn't got the pace but he has the knack of scoring goals if the ball is played into the right areas. IMO.

[fredm]

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
[/quote]

With a decent coaching team who can get Gabby and Andi to move about across the front three and run into space etc. then there would be goals in them.  It's when they stand holding hands and wondering what the midfield are going to do with the ball instead of giving them some options that we have trouble.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

I could be wrong but didn't Benteke flick the ball on to Kozak from Guzan's goal kick?

You are as Kozak was subbed for Benteke.

He wasn't.

[tomd2103]

I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

I could be wrong but didn't Benteke flick the ball on to Kozak from Guzan's goal kick?

You are as Kozak was subbed for Benteke.

He wasn't.

I thought they played up front together in the first half of that game. 

[adrenachrome]

I remember watching the WBA match; we were 2-0 down, and Kozak controlled a long goal kick (obviously) from Guzan instantly, bringing it down and then hitting a first time volley which nicked the top of the crossbar. I thought then that he's got a bit about him.

I could be wrong but didn't Benteke flick the ball on to Kozak from Guzan's goal kick?

You are as Kozak was subbed for Benteke.

He wasn't.

Both players started the game with Gabby And Andi W on he bench

Libor Kozak clipped the crossbar at the other end in the 25th minute, receiving the ball from a Christian Benteke header before pulling off a sweet strike on the half-volley

http://www.premierleague.com/content/premierleague/en-gb/matchday/matches/2013-2014/epl.match-report.html/west-brom-vs-aston-villa

[peter w]

Also Kozak got a touch from Guzan's launch for Weimann to score v Man City.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Let me get this straight, he got 4 goals in 8 starts and 7 subs appearances, in his first season in the league, in a team that was playing the ball to him as if he was a target man (which he isn't) and which has very little width and no attacking midfielder and some people think he'd struggle to get 10 in a full season... really?

It's bollocks, having said that the longer he's out of the side the more like Pele he'll become

[pauliewalnuts]

Also Kozak got a touch from Guzan's launch for Weimann to score v Man City.

I don't think he did - if he had, it would have been offside. Or I at least remember the discussion re that at the time.

[PaulWinch again]

Let me get this straight, he got 4 goals in 8 starts and 7 subs appearances, in his first season in the league, in a team that was playing the ball to him as if he was a target man (which he isn't) and which has very little width and no attacking midfielder and some people think he'd struggle to get 10 in a full season... really?

Precisely, I think he's a clever player and a useful member of the squad.

[hilts_coolerking]

In the context of our squad a player like Kozak is gold dust because he scores goals.  It remains to be seen whether that's all he does.