Nikica Jelavic

Groucho · January 4, 2014

He's had plenty of opportunities to impress and has failed, however today may just inspire some confidence.

Even if he plays for a move, we'll benefit.

Brennan · January 4, 2014

Tubey said:
It doesn't work that way! Form is what they're doing now, or in a reasonable amount of time going backwards - not months on end.

For example, Benteke is "out of form". If I were to apply the logic you lot are to Jelavic, then I'd be looking at last year and saying that Benteke is still in form. It doesn't work that way.

Lukaku - Last month's form, one goal, multiple poor performances.
Jelavic - Last month's form, two goals, good cameos off the bench, good 90 minute performance.

I'm NOT saying he's "the answer" or should start every game, but he very clearly should be given the start against Norwich to prove whether it's a fluke or not. If he screws up and looks useless, so be it, but you reward the possibility of good form.

He's started five premier league games this season. How is that not enough chances ?

Toffe3m4n · January 4, 2014

Brennan said:
Not sure what threads you've been reading mate, been plenty of praise for him. What people aren't agreeing with is this idea that as a result he should start against Norwich. Whole different thing.

We're in a position to rotate, and as of right now he's still our player. Therefore I just don't see the sense in dropping him right off the back of a good performance like that, it certainly isn't benefitting him. Rom hasn't exactly been at the races recently either so where is the issue?

ilikecheese · January 4, 2014

So...he's not been absolute sh*te for a couple of games...calling him 'in form' is a wind up.

navidson · January 4, 2014

It's a disgrace really for a club of our stature to have such a dearth of striking options at the moment

We have an on-loan youngster as our main striker
We have a back up striker whom it seems cannot do right for doing wrong with quite a sizeable proportion of our fanbase - I'm not a massive fan of Jelavic, but he deserves credit for a job well done today

Beyond those 2, we have kids

Is there any other team in the league with such a thin squad of strikers (And i'm not including Mirallas, Naismith and all those other 'false number 9's')?

If we had another first team striker (Which we undoubtedly should have) then this Jelavic/Lukaku argument would be less of an issue.

Brennan · January 4, 2014

Toffe3m4n said:
We're in a position to rotate, and as of right now he's still our player. Therefore I just don't see the sense in dropping him right off the back of a good performance like that, it certainly isn't benefitting him. Rom hasn't exactly been at the races recently either so where is the issue?

We're chasing 4th place, we play the best team we can at this stage.

Martinez gave Jelavic a load of chances in the league this year, he even started against West Ham after we'd got Lukaku. He was then taken off after 45 because he was really, really bad.

He played well, but we were playing a Championship side. Every time he's been given a chance in the league in the past 11 months he's failed. Five starts and four subs this season, zero goals.

Tubey · January 4, 2014

Azzurri said:
Honestly Tubey, Jelavic did well today but in the past you've given him credit for blinking and breathing.

'Well he brilliantly ran towards the goal when we had the ball. If Coleman had rifled a pass 80 yards Jelavic would have scored a first time overhead kick but he doesn't get the service.'

You credited him for fresh air shotting a cross that eventually went in against Oldham.

....

Tubey said:
Today was his worst game for Everton. I think it goes beyond a lack of confidence now. Last season I supported him as the effort was there and his movement was decent. Today, nothing worked. His hold up play was abysmal and he offered absolutely nothing. The entire first half was like playing with 10 men.

Saying?

Baines' left foot · January 4, 2014

Martinez is playing this perfectly. He's trying his best to act as if he'd like Jelavic to stay, that he understands why he'd like to leave because of the World Cup coming up, but that it won't come at expense of the team.

It's plainly obvious that Jelavic isn't in Martinez's plans and that the sooner he is sold, the better as it'll free up some funds for another addition. Hopefully whatever we can get for him will be put together with whatever money we already have to get 1 or 2 decent additions.

SpeedEFC · January 4, 2014

At the end of the day if you want to encourage competition then you should be showing that when you play well you get a chance to play well in the next game, don't do it there then you get dropped; simple as. Granted he did score his 2 goals against a dire QPR team but 2 goals in the FA cup are still 2 goals scored and that is what you have your strikers there for. Also, if Jelavic does stink the place out as some people seem all too happy to see then it's not like we've shipped Lukaku back to Chelsea, he'll be waiting on the bench chomping at the bit to show Martinez who's the top striker at Everton. You can't deny Lukaku has been a bit out of sorts the past month and I reckon he's a bit tired, if Jelavic shows he can do a job for 60 minutes that gives Martinez a bit of room for manoeuvre when it comes to managing Lukaku.

Brennan · January 4, 2014

Baines' left foot said:
Martinez is playing this perfectly. He's trying his best to act as if he'd like Jelavic to stay, that he understands why he'd like to leave because of the World Cup coming up, but that it won't come at expense of the team.

It's plainly obvious that Jelavic isn't in Martinez's plans and that the sooner he is sold, the better as it'll free up some funds for another addition. Hopefully whatever we can get for him will be put together with whatever money we already have to get 1 or 2 decent additions.

Hopefully he's out the door before the Norwich game.

davek · January 4, 2014

Tubey said:
What has 35 games ago got to do with January 2014???

You go on what is in front of you - Jelavic starts, scores two goals. That's his "form". 35 games ago is a statistic.

"Form" implies recency.

You look at form as a game to game thing?

That is mad.

Tubey · January 4, 2014

SpeedEFC said:
At the end of the day if you want to encourage competition then you should be showing that when you play well you get a chance to play well in the next game, don't do it there then you get dropped; simple as. Granted he did score his 2 goals against a dire QPR team but 2 goals in the FA cup are still 2 goals scored and that is what you have your strikers there for. Also, if Jelavic does stink the place out as some people seem all too happy to see then it's not like we've shipped Lukaku back to Chelsea, he'll be waiting on the bench chomping at the bit to show Martinez who's the top striker at Everton. You can't deny Lukaku has been a bit out of sorts the past month and I reckon he's a bit tired, if Jelavic shows he can do a job for 60 minutes that gives Martinez a bit of room for manoeuvre when it comes to managing Lukaku.

Bold bit is common sense to me - like Football 101. Actually, the whole post is.

If nothing else, Jelavic should start next game just to kick Lukaku up the arse.