Nikica Jelavic

[davek]

Serious question - what's the absolute disaster about starting Jelavic against Norwich, giving him 50 minutes and then bringing on a fresh Lukaku with a point to prove if things are level?

Because we'll have wasted 50 minutes of a 90 minute game on a pointless experiment when 3 points is a must.

 

[kenada_blue]

Found his level of opposition.

 

[Tubey]

Seriously though, you do see how any talk of a player who's only scored two goals against Stevie Wonder XI in almost a year taking the place of the 5th leading scorer in the PL is ridiculous dont you?

They are 3rd in the Championship you know? Arguably, Sland were worse opposition on paper and Lukaku did sod all against them (OK, sending off aside but Lukaku came on in that game and had a header cleared off the line and put himself about more than Lukaku did all game).

Are people incapable of criticising Lukaku or something? Starstruck by a Football Manager/FIFA celebrity? Because whilst he's clearly a top, top player, he's not doing the business at present - why are people not even admitting that?

I'm a massive Lukaku fan - I'd gladly see Everton spunk £25m on him right now as the guy is going to be an absolute superstar. But that doesn't give him a free reign to be gash and not expect a challenge to his place.

He's 5th leading scorer based on what he was doing in November 2013 and before. He's not the 5th leading scorer based on his performances since. That's what "form" is all about.

 

[bluemangroup]

Because we'll have wasted 50 minutes of a 90 minute game on a pointless experiment when 3 points is a must.

This.
Top 4 is as tight as it is, we can't afford to **** up half a game trying something out.

 

[Tubey]

1. He plays to the form he's shown us in his other starts this season and does nothing to help us.
2. He gets hurt and we can't sell him.

The first point is a danger of any player. We could start Lukaku and he could put in another inept performance, for example.

The second point... well, that's valid to be fair. I think Jelavic is on his way and is in the shop window, but it's about balancing the probabilities.

 

[ilikecheese]

The first point is a danger of any player. We could start Lukaku and he could put in another inept performance, for example.

The second point... well, that's valid to be fair. I think Jelavic is on his way and is in the shop window, but it's about balancing the probabilities.

Agreed, but he still scares the crap out of CB's even if he's not scoring.

For me, if we are to drop Lukaku, Mirallas should be his replacement. Personally, I think Mirallas' best position is more central than on the wing, either up top or just off.

 

[Tubey]

Agreed, but he still scares the crap out of CB's even if he's not scoring.

For me, if we are to drop Lukaku, Mirallas should be his replacement. Personally, I think Mirallas' best position is more central than on the wing, either up top or just off.

Why? What has Kev done to deserve it? If anything, he's been even worse than Lukaku.

Again, I know he'll come good as he's a top player, but it's just random to be rewarding players for sod all!

My prediction is that Jelavic will start next game but do next to nothing - people will then say Martinez "got it wrong" etc. but the truth is he'd have got it spot on, because it'd then give him the leverage to say to Jelavic "look, you had your chance, you blew it" and the ability to say to Lukaku "look, do the business or other people will nudge you out of football in a world cup year".

I think we'll beat Norwich 3-1 with two goals for Lukaku off the bench. Bookmark me.

 

[davek]

They are 3rd in the Championship you know? Arguably, Sland were worse opposition on paper and Lukaku did sod all against them (OK, sending off aside but Lukaku came on in that game and had a header cleared off the line and put himself about more than Lukaku did all game).

Are people incapable of criticising Lukaku or something? Starstruck by a Football Manager/FIFA celebrity? Because whilst he's clearly a top, top player, he's not doing the business at present - why are people not even admitting that?

I'm a massive Lukaku fan - I'd gladly see Everton spunk £25m on him right now as the guy is going to be an absolute superstar. But that doesn't give him a free reign to be gash and not expect a challenge to his place.

He's 5th leading scorer based on what he was doing in November 2013 and before. He's not the 5th leading scorer based on his performances since. That's what "form" is all about.

You keep on saying Lukaku is out of form when we are a successful organisation with him in the team and he's scored just two games back and is 5th top scorer in the PL.

I know making the case for Lukaku's form is key to your argument that Jelavic should get a chance now, but it's a complete misreading of the situation.

You're a clever lad. I know deep down you must see and accept that.

 

[Tubey]

You keep on saying Lukaku is out of form when we are a successful organisation with him in the team and he's scored just two games back and is 5th top scorer in the PL.

I know making the case for Lukaku's form is key to your argument that Jelavic should get a chance now, but it's a complete misreading of the situation.

You're a clever lad. I know deep down you must see and accept that.

Can't take you seriously if you genuinely think Lukaku is in form. I don't think you know what form means.

 

[ilikecheese]

Why? What has Kev done to deserve it? If anything, he's been even worse than Lukaku.

I agree that he's been poor...on the wing.

As I said, I think his best position is in the middle, and I'd love to see it. We already know what Jelly gives us playing up top...if we want to experiment with Jelly's 'form' or Mirallas in the middle, I'd go for the latter.

 

[davek]

Why? What has Kev done to deserve it? If anything, he's been even worse than Lukaku.

Again, I know he'll come good as he's a top player, but it's just random to be rewarding players for sod all!

My prediction is that Jelavic will start next game but do next to nothing - people will then say Martinez "got it wrong" etc. but the truth is he'd have got it spot on, because it'd then give him the leverage to say to Jelavic "look, you had your chance, you blew it" and the ability to say to Lukaku "look, do the business or other people will nudge you out of football in a world cup year".

I think we'll beat Norwich 3-1 with two goals for Lukaku off the bench. Bookmark me.

It has to be overwhelming odds against him starting against Norwich. It's why Lukaku was rested today...to get him ready for Norwich.

If Jelavic is still here by next Saturday then yeah, he's earned the right to come on as sub once the game is under control or Lukaku has a quiet game.

 

[ijjysmith]

Christ. You lot have been arguing about this for about 2 hours.

Fact is Jelavic will be off sooner rather than later.

For me it's more important to worry about the fact that our main 2 strikers don't really have a future with the club.

Jelavic looks like he's off.
Lukaku on loan.

 

[Woolly Blue]

Qu.

I'd rather start a player who can actually score in the Prem based on this season. Simple as that really.

Ans.

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.

AS BLF has said, he might have been sold before we play Norwich but, if we sell Jelavic we'll do well to get 5 million for him. Lets not get into the "where's the money gone Bill" routine but, assumign that we then have 5 million to spend on a striker, who are we going to get that'll put pressure on Lukaku for that money ?

If Jela's still around come next w/end then I'd give him a start. and see how it goes. If he manages to play himself back into some form then we have two confident strikers for the rest of the season, who we can rotate a bit, and we probably then sell Jelavic in the summer.

If he reverts to gashdom v. Norwich then we revert to Lukaku and are still looking to sell Jela in this window

 

[Blue Cheese]

happy that he proved me wrong today, hope he can find some kind of form off the back of it. Pity it's championship opposition.

 

[Tubey]

I agree that he's been poor...on the wing.

As I said, I think his best position is in the middle, and I'd love to see it. We already know what Jelly gives us playing up top...if we want to experiment with Jelly's 'form' or Mirallas in the middle, I'd go for the latter.

I'd argue we don't. We've seen what an in form Jelavic can do when he was scoring goals for fun. We've also seen what an out of form Jelavic can do, which resembles a conference player with a hangover.

But (and admittedly it's a big but) if we get that in form Jelavic back for three months, he could very easily fire us to the Champions League. I don't see the harm in using an hour against Norwich to see if it's a false dawn or not.

As I've said, if Lukaku was even remotely in form, this conversation doesn't happen, but perhaps an ideal set of circumstances has came about for Jelavic to prove a lot of people wrong - or right.