Nikica Jelavic

[PeterMeter]

So, in truth, all of us who have some sort of basic understanding of football need to just ignore all the spastics who repeatedly claim that he has lost it and that it is the usual 2nd season syndrome. It's more of a worry that we are not playing all that well as a team and we have no squad depth. He's creating space, and getting on the end of chances. Good enough for me.

 

[Stend]

When you solely watch him and his movements it's actually fantastic. The amount of times I've seen him in good positions waiting for that first time pass and somebody doesn't give it is unreal. Everything has been unlucky for him. The bounce if the ball etc.

 

[Tubey]

Should have had an assist and a goal last night, both didn't happen because of a crap finish from Gibson and a terrible pass from the wing (think it was Pienaar) when he had ghosted into loads of space in the box and the ball got pinged a yard behind him.

He's not playing badly at all, he's just not scoring. And yes, there is a difference.

Stop talking sense lad. Jelavic is proper dog turd and we all know it.
Nah seriously, agree with everything.

His poor form this season will be forgotten if he scores the winner at Wembley and we lift the cup.

So, in truth, all of us who have some sort of basic understanding of football need to just ignore all the spastics who repeatedly claim that he has lost it and that it is the usual 2nd season syndrome. It's more of a worry that we are not playing all that well as a team and we have no squad depth. He's creating space, and getting on the end of chances. Good enough for me.

When you solely watch him and his movements it's actually fantastic. The amount of times I've seen him in good positions waiting for that first time pass and somebody doesn't give it is unreal. Everything has been unlucky for him. The bounce if the ball etc.

Yayy common sense prevails!

Agree with all the above (except Stend on the "unlucky" bit; I think his finishing has actually been poor, but that's just an aspect of his performance as you say, not the be all, end all of it).

PeterMeter: Definitely.

 

[Bluenose1995]

end of the day its alright having him "get into good space" but that means sweet FA if we dont have a striker that is putting them away on a consistent basis, the same argument went for sewer rat last year he was excellent of the ball but he couldnt finish and it cost the RS, if he continues to not score come the summer we either keep him and flog anichebe and bring in a finisher, or we flog jela as he doesnt look good at all looked like a pissed up pub player yesterday with the flu.

 

[Tubey]

end of the day its alright having him "get into good space" but that means sweet FA if we dont have a striker that is putting them away on a consistent basis, the same argument went for sewer rat last year he was excellent of the ball but he couldnt finish and it cost the RS, if he continues to not score come the summer we either keep him and flog anichebe and bring in a finisher, or we flog jela as he doesnt look good at all looked like a pissed up pub player yesterday with the flu.

So, if you were in charge at Liverpool last year, you wouldn't have sold Luis Suarez in the summer for buttons based on his short-term goal conversion rate. Which probably wouldn't have been the best idea in retrospect would it?

Like I said earlier in the thread, best way to sum it up is this - finishing is confidence, movement is intelligence. You panic when the movement disappears, not the finishing.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

I assume "means nothing" has some hitherto unknown meaning in your world.

And once again, your chronic lack of footballing knowledge on show:

The run to get in to the position to distract the 'keeper wasn't "good fortune", it was intended. He didn't just wonder into that role aimlessly for a laugh.

When all you've got left is semantics, then you're spent.

I made it perfectly clear both before & after that post, exactly what I meant. However, for the obtuse, pedantic & hard of thinking, I'll re-iterate.

You could have a striker who's movement was first class, but had 2 left feet, he would ulitmately be viewed as a crap striker, as he wouldn't score goals. So good movement without any end product is ultimately futile, if you can argue why that simple statement is wrong, rather than merely posting some faux intellectual, pompous put down attempt, then do so.

As for Osmans goal last night, Jelavic had an air shot at the ball & therefore totally stuffed up his goal attempt, if you can class that as 'intended' then you're on crack.

 

[Stend]

This spell sort of reminds me of Torres baron spell at Liverpool I hope it dont turn out the same.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

So, if you were in charge at Liverpool last year, you wouldn't have sold Luis Suarez in the summer for buttons based on his short-term goal conversion rate. Which probably wouldn't have been the best idea in retrospect would it?

Like I said earlier in the thread, best way to sum it up is this - finishing is confidence, movement is intelligence. You panic when the movement disappears, not the finishing.

For every Suarez there's a Torres or two........

Torres movement is still Ok, but you'd not fancy him to score in a brothel most weeks.

 

[davek]

When all you've got left is semantics, then you're spent.

I made it perfectly clear both before & after that post, exactly what I meant. However, for the obtuse, pedantic & hard of thinking, I'll re-iterate.

You could have a striker who's movement was first class, but had 2 left feet, he would ulitmately be viewed as a crap striker, as he wouldn't score goals. So good movement without any end product is ultimately futile, if you can argue why that simple statement is wrong, rather than merely posting some faux intellectual, pompous put down attempt, then do so.

As for Osmans goal last night, Jelavic had an air shot at the ball & therefore totally stuffed up his goal attempt, if you can class that as 'intended' then you're on crack.

Agree 100%. By the same logic as is being used here by some, I look forward to the next barren spell in front of goal for Victor and all the plaudits he'll get for his movement creating space for others.

Unbelievable. The fact of the matter is that simply stepping over the white line onto a pitch and wandering near to a danger area involves some reaction by the opposition. That cant be dressed up as 'assists' and 'creating space'...or rather it can, but that'd be a bit desperate.

 

[Tubey]

When all you've got left is semantics, then you're spent.

No semantics whatsoever. I'm using YOUR words. Here's your post:

An intelligent run that creates space means nothing without a finish to take advantage of it

Black and white right there and you're completely wrong - there's no way to read that sentence without concluding you're wrong at best or, more probably, a stark-raving lunatic idiot with about as much footballing knowledge as a potato.

You like arguing with me, but there's four other people quoted above laughing off what you're saying too - if they're all wannabe Jose Mourinho's smoking crack, take it up with them too.

But you won't. You're one of "those types" who never admit they're wrong, because the world is black and white to you. So there's simply no point continuing to discuss it.

 

[pfim]

So, if you were in charge at Liverpool last year, you wouldn't have sold Luis Suarez in the summer for buttons based on his short-term goal conversion rate. Which probably wouldn't have been the best idea in retrospect would it?

Like I said earlier in the thread, best way to sum it up is this - finishing is confidence, movement is intelligence. You panic when the movement disappears, not the finishing.

Suarez had 17 goals last year. He's also a much better striker which buys him some leeway.

Look, I don't want to flog him off to Dundee or anything, but Jelavic needs to score goals.

 

[Tubey]

Agree 100%. By the same logic as is being used here by some, I look forward to the next barren spell in front of goal for Victor and all the plaudits he'll get for his movement creating space for others.

Unbelievable. The fact of the matter is that simply stepping over the white line onto a pitch and wandering near to a danger area involves some reaction by the opposition. That cant be dressed up as 'assists' and 'creating space'...or rather it can, but that'd be a bit desperate.

Jelavic's movement is far and away superior to Anichebe's, even now when he's "out of form". I think you're smart enough to know that, and I think you're smart enough to know that you don't judge a striker's performance by goals alone.

I don't even think that can be debated.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Agree 100%. By the same logic as is being used here by some, I look forward to the next barren spell in front of goal for Victor and all the plaudits he'll get for his movement creating space for others.

Unbelievable. The fact of the matter is that simply stepping over the white line onto a pitch and wandering near to a danger area involves some reaction by the opposition. That cant be dressed up as 'assists' and 'creating space'...or rather it can, but that'd be a bit desperate.

lol at the example of Victor. I'm sure he'd have been lauded for his 'intended' assist, in dummying the keeper with his airshot last night

Jelavic is way off form & anyone who has a clue about the game can see it. He needs a spell on the bench, but due to our paper thin squad we can't withdraw him from the limelight for a few weeks. I hope we get to see the lad who terrified defences last season, back with us again. But the lad we're watching at present is a shell of that player.

 

[Tubey]

Suarez had 17 goals last year. He's also a much better striker which buys him some leeway.

Look, I don't want to flog him off to Dundee or anything, but Jelavic needs to score goals.

This answers that better than anything I can say really:

Compare a few strikers last season to this season:

Rooney 27 (10 this year)
Aguero 23 (9)
Dempsey 17 (5)
Adebayor 17 (2)
Holt 15 (5)
Cisse 14 (6= Same as Jelavic)

Maybe none of them are able to cope with life as a PL striker for a top PL team either?

Much, much, much more to performance than goals.

 

[flibbyflob]

Last night he looked sharp again and was lively all night, previously some of the zip had gone from his game. I think it is just a matter of time now before he starts scoring again instead of wondering where the next goal is coming from.