Nikica Jelavic

[davek]

I disagree, I think he's actually got less to his game than a traditional poacher, or at least a good one. I've said before about his runs in behind, often they're decent runs and he bases a lot of his game on them, but how often have you seen him get into a one on one with the keeper? He's not quick, he can't outmuscle centre backs and you rarely see him get through in yards of space, which would indicate that his runs aren't brilliant anyway.

As much as he tries to get involved in the rest of the game, I don't think getting himself about cuts it to be honest. He doesn't offer much in general play. There have been similar types of players over the years that have a far superior all round game. The thing is most of them have cost a decent amount of money, whereas we have someone who cost 5 million as our main striker.

Absolutely nailed it.

IMO, ball gets fizzed across Jelavic's path he'll get a foot on it and guide it dangerously toward goal; anything taking more thought than that and he's nowhere near top quality. His movement is what you'd expect of any Championship forward.

You'll never ever see him score the type of goal that say Beckford scored against Chelsea last game of the 2010/11 season. Just not got it in his locker.

 

[bluebottle]

In the old days poachers weren't quick though, that's why I didn't compare him to someone like Owen, for example. An Ian Rush wasn't rapid, for example, but he got on the blind side of defenders early and often.

I disagree on your analysis of him there though. His running is top drawer IMO - you have to watch him off the ball to get an accurate view of his overall play.

For example;

http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2012/...pienaar-jelavic-hibbert-heitinga-goals-video/

Hate using that clip over and over again but it's a great example - not his actual goal, but Pienaars. If you watch, he makes the run in behind, drags a defender away, Pienaar is then not closed down until it's too late, he gets the shot off and scores.

That's what I mean by intelligence. You can say that's what you'd "expect" a striker to do, but there definitely is an art to doing it well.

I appreciate what you're saying though; I wouldn't claim he's the complete striker, but I wouldn't say he's massively limited either. I see enough quality there, and it was evidenced by his stellar performances over a sustained period of time last year - that sort of quality doesn't just disappear totally, and it hasn't with Jelavic.

We should do this agreeing thing more often. I think the amount of time he finds himself in space to, at the moment, miss those chances, is a testament to his ability to make runs. The key to this, I think, is finding the policy which allows him to find his first touch again, which would allow him more time to take his finishes and stop snatching at them. I think the reputation of being a one touch finisher has been detrimental in that sense as well.

 

[Tubey]

Absolutely nailed it.

IMO, ball gets fizzed across Jelavic's path he'll get a foot on it and guide it dangerously toward goal; anything taking more thought than that and he's nowhere near top quality. His movement is what you'd expect of any Championship forward.

You'll never ever see him score the type of goal that say Beckford scored against Chelsea last game of the 2010/11 season. Just not got it in his locker.

If that were true mate, he wouldn't get near nine goals in thirteen Premier League games. Ask Dave Nugent.

 

[micknick]

Absolutely nailed it.

IMO, ball gets fizzed across Jelavic's path he'll get a foot on it and guide it dangerously toward goal; anything taking more thought than that and he's nowhere near top quality. His movement is what you'd expect of any Championship forward.

You'll never ever see him score the type of goal that say Beckford scored against Chelsea last game of the 2010/11 season. Just not got it in his locker.

Beckford- a player who you slated the hell out of when he was with us.

 

[Brennan]

Absolutely nailed it.

IMO, ball gets fizzed across Jelavic's path he'll get a foot on it and guide it dangerously toward goal; anything taking more thought than that and he's nowhere near top quality. His movement is what you'd expect of any Championship forward.

You'll never ever see him score the type of goal that say Beckford scored against Chelsea last game of the 2010/11 season. Just not got it in his locker.

You mean where the ball got a ridiculously lucky deflection of two players ?

 

[davek]

You mean where the ball got a ridiculously lucky deflection of two players ?

Yes, he did get the rub of the green. But it required a bit of pace and strength to make that run and goal.

I wish we still had him here, tbh.

 

[Brennan]

Yes, he did get the rub of the green. But it required a bit of pace and strength to make that run and goal.

I wish we still had him here, tbh.

Will never understand why he was sold.

 

[bluebottle]

Will never understand why he was sold.

profit?

 

[Gwladys Nights]

I liked Beckford as well. That Chelsea goal is the funniest of all time.

 

[Tubey]

We should do this agreeing thing more often. I think the amount of time he finds himself in space to, at the moment, miss those chances, is a testament to his ability to make runs. The key to this, I think, is finding the policy which allows him to find his first touch again, which would allow him more time to take his finishes and stop snatching at them. I think the reputation of being a one touch finisher has been detrimental in that sense as well.

I don't just mindlessly disagree with everything!!!

There have been occasions where he has actually just refused to take the first time shot on, which is again confidence-based. Last night he did it; there was a gaping chance for him to shoot but he spurned it and looked for the pass, think it was second half when Pienaar laid him in, can't remember exactly.

You won't see me defending his finishing or decision making when the shot is on, because at the moment he really is woeful in that area. But if he nets one, I think he'll net another - before people start, I know it's been said before (after Spurs, for example) but I think it's still by and large true. He's a quality player in my books but definitely a confidence player.

And Mick, it's my day off! I'm just talking Everton on an Everton forum because I'm an Evertonian!!!

 

[micknick]

profit?

Yeh hes pulling up trees where he is now as well. Top Premier league player eh

 

[Eric Djemba-Djemba]

Will never understand why he was sold.

It's not even like we used the money to bolster our squad.

 

[micknick]

And Mick, it's my day off! I'm just talking Everton on an Everton forum because I'm an Evertonian!!!

Was a joke mate. You and foot long have been like a pair of dogs with something bone like in appearance

 

[bluebottle]

Yeh hes pulling up trees where he is now as well. Top Premier league player eh

It was a little callous, but the right decision I think. He did have something about him though and he may well have proved useful too. Ah well.

 

[Brennan]

Yeh hes pulling up trees where he is now as well. Top Premier league player eh

He scored 10 goals for us in his first premier league season. What he's done since leaving us matters not a jot.