I bet I wasn't alone in worrying - and almost predicting - about Jelavic being asked to "work the channels" by Moyes when the new season kicked off. One full pre-season with Moyes. It's happened with a few other forwards in the past, hasn't it?
Cant disagree with this. Moyesy should just make Jela make runs between the width of the 18 yard area. Let Felli be the one who goes wide and then we can hit him on the diagnal and have the wide men, Jela and running on midfielders get on the end of his knock downs or be there and there abouts for when he brings it down?!.
But in Jelavic's defence, he isnt getting anywhere near the service he did like last season!. He gets no through balls, he doesnt get early balls into box, no cut backs, nothing of late. And cos he's not getting goals or a look in, his confidence as took a knock.
Watching today, and alot of times this season, down our left we work it and have an opportunity to cross and either Baines or Pienaar play an extra, unnecessary pass. By then Jelavic, Fellani and who ever else have made there runs into the box, front post, back post or wherever and the ball never comes, so they have to move again but cos there not moviung on the run, it's easier for defenders to pick em up!.
If, after weve worked it outwide, we put in an early cross, Jelavic and Felli have made there runs and get half a yard on there marker or above em early and have a chance of scoring but it rarely happens!.
And without Gibbo in the side, a through ball from deep to allow Jelavic to run on to after he's pulled on to the shoulder of the last defender, is none exsistent!.
And there's been times this season where the likes of Osman (like today in 2nd half) & Pienaar get to byline within the 18 yard area and should cut it back to Jelavic as he pulls off the last line of defence brilliantly but they ignore him and try to play it through the 6 yard box and cos its conjested it gets cut out and comes to nothing!.
Jelavic puts a shift in and makes good runs and pulls off defenders but cos he doesnt get picked out or spotted and doesnt score cos of a result of that, he gets questioned wether he's good enough or not?!. He's definitely good enough as weve already seen but cos of a lack of service his confidence is taking a battering cos he isnt getting the goals.
We need to get him working within the perimeters of the penalty box and looking to get him in on goal with better quality, and get decent, early balls into box to give him the chance to score cos this season, he's been badly starved of any decent service!. He's not a striker of the Rooney or van Persie mould, who can make chances for themselves, he thrives on movement within the box and being picked out. Thats why he's so good at one touch finishes, cos if you can find him and pick him out, 9 times out of ten he'll bury chances.
