Libor Kozak is making the headlines, not necessarily front page material but his recent goal against Brighton in the U21’s hasn’t gone unnoticed. Whilst Villa’s other strikers aren’t firing, Kozak had a good performance against Brighton, hitting the crossbar with a headed attempt. Before scoring the winning penalty late on in the game. During that game Ilori and Crespo both played 90 minutes.
So should Kozak be playing? I’d say yes. I’m a big fan of the Czech, despite the fact he has played fewer than 20 games since joining Villa in 2013. Throughout 2013-14 he scored 4 goals, against Norwich, Southampton, Cardiff and Stoke City. But besides that history, Kozak did score 3 goals in pre-season and was one of our inform strikers coming into the campaign. It has been clear that Sherwood did want to offload Kozak, since he failed to make the match day squad on many occasions. His only appearance so far this season has been a substitute appearance against Notts County in the League Cup. But the reason why I want him to play is because he is experienced and has a record of scoring goals. He was Europa League’s top scorer back in 2012-13.
But what about negatives? Some claim that it’s easy to say that Kozak should be playing, especially since we’re not seeing him play. As opposed to the players we are seeing playing. Kozak’s 3 pre-season goals did come in meaningless friendlies. Whilst Gestede got 22 against similar opposition last season. Perhaps we should manage our expectations towards Kozak.
It’s a valid argument, but as things stand. We really don’t have much of a choice. Gestede is our only goal scoring forward, but he really hasn’t set the League alight has he?
Away from Kozak. Ilori and Crespo might feature soon for Villa. Ilori is apparently a very fast defender and might slot in for Bacuna at right-back, who hasn’t necessarily played too well in the past few games. Or perhaps Crespo will be given a chance out wide on the right hand side. All we know is that the defence needs to be rethought because we can’t be conceding 3 goals in less than 30 minutes.
There are a couple of football clichés “Don’t change a winning team” “Ensure there is competition for places”, which can negate each other. Tim does not have the first cliché trouble because his team aren’t winning. So how for how many games should you tolerate a sub-standard display before bringing an alternative player in? In the case of a largely new squad I think you must allow until end September before consigning new players to the bomb squad – where they have to shine in practice games or the U21 matches before getting a return to the match-day squad.
But what about the old players? So far Gabby may have earned a stay of execution with his most effective show to date against Leicester, but he must now keep up that standard. Westwood is OK, satisfactory but not brilliant. Bacuna – not good at right back, should drop now unless kept for RM sub. Guzan – not good enough and 0 1 2 2 3 is getting worse.
So Kozak should have the door open, he is a Crouch style player, drifts to the back post and does not snatch at chances. I can see no reason why another right-back and keeper should not be given a starting place now.
Because we don’t have a keeper better than Guzan and Hutton’s awful so he’s not an upgrade to Bacuna. Unless Ilori who played DM for the U21’s is played there or Sherwood calls up a youth player, those 2 are going to play.
I suspect Richards will get to play RB. I have not been convinced he is a CB and the error he made v Leicester, letting a ball roll by him in the 6-yd box is something a centre half never does, even at the risk of an OG. It is instinct, and Richards lack of it is why I would like to see him at RB with Clark at CB.
If Guzan continues shipping goals at this rate he will concede 60 in the season and we will be nearly dead by Xmas. In his sole 1st team game Bunn did his best to prove you right, he isn’t an improvement. Help! What happened to that youngster from Anderlecht?
Kozak is a goal scorer. Get him in there.
I’ve never understand why manager isolate tall players in a game, when Crouch came to Villa he looked out of place but boy could he play a ball on the ground, he knew how to get away from markers and fabulous in the air, so why doesn’t Sherwood use him, either he’s a player that he thinks he’s to lanky and don’t fit his system of football ,or he’s pigheaded over something we don’t know, Yes he should use him just to confuse the opposition, I’d like to see what he can do,at the minute we just keep losing games..
Got DOL to that for getting rid of Crouch very underrated player imo
Kozak’s a solid all around player though. Yes he’s slow, but he makes killer runs, is athletic, good on the ball, all around a much better player than Gestede is and that’s what we need. Sinclair was really poor yesterday and unless he’s scoring goals, he’s useless.
Ayew again brought on and played out of position. I don’t know who Sherwood was watching when he bought Ayew, but Ayew has never been, and will never be a winger, he’s a CF. He’s not his brother, he doesn’t have the attributes to play as a winger/AM. He’s a CF who holds up the ball, brings players into the game, is strong and pretty quick and he can’t be played out of position or he’ll never get better.
Kozak can’t be kept out of the 1st team anymore, and currently Sellars should also be called up.
don’t agree with the Sinclair criticism, he is a forward, so if he scoring goals, he is doing his job. no forward scores every game. He got himself into scoring positions and he linked up well with Grealish down the left for the first half.
So for me he wasn’t bad. He did a decent job.
Agree somewhat with the Ayew analysis, he hasn’t done anything further back so far villa but he also is still so so off the pace, he dithers on the ball, takes an age to make up his mind and casually strolls into tackles and crowded areas. He simply has not adapted yet.
that said, we were 2-0 up and playing on the break, I thought it was the perfect time to bring him on to try and get him game time and get him up to speed.
I don’t think anyone would have thought we were going to lose 3-2 at that point.
it was westwood and sanchez that crapped out altogether in the last 30 mins.
but sanchez was excellent in the first half, How anyone could predict that drop in performance – I don’t know.
70 minutes of controlling a game, defending very well, and creating and scoring chances from midfield followed by a central midfield collapse and goalkeeping error ..
I am keeping my powder dry yet. Its still September, still so many new players to adapt/ gel
and we have been improving in terms of creativity.
so very mixed bag with lots potential to improve. this is not like the last few seasons where its more of the same. We have options in the squad so I am still pretty optimistic yet
Disagree, I don’t think he linked up well enough and obviously if he scores, he’s doing his job and no he won’t score every game, but when he’s not scoring he’s a waste of space on the pitch. Can’t cross well, can’t pass well, his link up play is meh and 1-2’s aren’t his thing. Shouldn’t be allowed to play 90 minutes and that’s what I was hoping from Sherwood when we signed a few strikers, not playing Ayew out wide when he doesn’t have the attributes to do so and not bringing Gestede on that late when it was going to be all Leicester and Gestede simply goes for knock downs, not holding it up.
We have options which I’m excited by but Sherwood’s got to use them.
Doesn’t matter if he’s slow as he’s surrounded by pace in greasish, Sinclair, Gil and Gabby. We’ve bags of pace to make up for it.
Agree – Ayew needs to be played as an out and out striker! I thought Sherwood said that nobody was going to be played out of position when he got the job!
I think Kozak is worthy of a place on the bench, the problem being that you would have to have the same gameplay for him or Gestede, and if you are going to take off Gestede, or bring him on, then there isn’t space for both of those strikers in the match day squad.
you either start with Gestede or Kozak or you have one or the other on the bench.
Gestede was probably fitter of the 2 in the beginning of the season and he scored on his debut. so I can understand somewhat why he has been included so far.
now .. much closer, If Kozak is fit enough for 90 mins then for me its a toss up between the 2
Give Kozak an hour and see what happens nothing to lose
I think people saying Gabby played well at Leicester are showing how low our expectations for him have gone. I don’t think he managed to hold the ball up once without giving it away the whole game. He did make a couple of nice runs and laid the ball off well for Gil’s goal…but otherwise I thought he struggled. I’m not sure Gestede or Ayew (despite us spending 13m on them) are ready to start in the Premier League, so maybe Kozak should be given a shot.
Its not like we’ve anything to lose by not putting him in. Give him 6 games and if he’s not good enough then fair enough. Sherwood has a real blind spot on some players like Gabby gil and Kozak
Slight aside, but I’ve just watched Luke Shaw’s injury tackle.
Jeez, what an awful tackle it was.
And I believe (from what I’ve been told) it didn’t even warrant a card?
I was told that it looked like Shaw’s foot was planted and it was unfortunate.
But to me, it looked like the opponent was looking to take him out.
If you watch it, watch that follow through from the back leg.
Disgraceful tackle, imo.
Badger, I had the game on TV, everybody saying it was a fowl and a red card should have been given, your right in saying he meant to take him out..a disgraceful tackle to say the least, a tackle that might ruin a players career. Hope Shaw’s OK for the future.
100% disagree, was a great tackle that if no injury occurred would’ve been applauded. Freak accident.
Can’t always stop a follow through so that’s not Moreno’s fault.
Sorry Andrew, I totally disagree, the tackle was from the side and he was on the ground and a trailing leg, we all know when them tackles come in they are dangerous, he took a leg with a trailing tackle, you cannot stop when coming in ,they are meant to stop a player full stop.
You can’t stop a trailing leg though, it’s not like you can detach it, which makes it a freak accident as they rarely happen from said tackles. It was a great tackle that got the ball and incredibly unfortunate that Shaw got injured.
I don’t think you understand me Andrew, he should not have made a tackle of that nature, its dangerous in its entirety, they are trying to not have players that can end a players playing days, it was a red card ,said by professional people, and he was lucky not to have been sent off. I’d like to hear from people on this forum share their view.
Andrew I think some perspective is needed here – if that had have to Amavi I’m certain you would had your arse in your hand about the challenge.
As for the follow through / tailing leg argument – winning the ball doesn’t mean that a foul can’t follow……..remember when Roger Johnson conceded that penalty against Agbonlahor – got the ball then fouled him.
Back to Mr Kozak and the team set up generally. First I would like to see Kozak given an opportunity – he’s more experienced than Gestede, holds the ball well and is comfortable in front of goal. If he’s fully fit he should start ahead of Gestede who needs to be eased into the PL and not over expected to repeat his goal scoring from the Championship immediately which is what I think is happening at present.
On Shabby; in my humble opinion we cannot play Shabby, Gil and Grealish in the same side so Shabby should be dropped to the bench and used as an impact sub. On the right hand side of defence I would like to see Ilori given an opportunity to play at RB as I understand he can play anywhere across the back four and has received good reviews playing for Portugal. Either Gana or Westwood can reinforce the right side of midfield in front of Ilori – I suspect we may have missed Gana more than perhaps realised on Sunday.
On Guzan – I just don’t know. His decision making at times looks very suspect and if the back four aren’t confident in his abilities…… Anyway I suspect we are stuck with Guzan for now but wouldn’t be surprised if TS is looking for a new GK.
On ilori – I have never seen him play but he is supposed to be very very quick.
Apparently he still holds the sporting club de Portugal (Lisbon) academy sprint record. That means he was quicker than Ronaldo or Nani. (When they were 17-18 – does that mitigate it? I don’t really think so)
This I would like to see
I’m not going to get into an argument on this Andrew, to me its a red card, he had intent in his tackle as far as I see it. A lucky fella ,
See I didn’t see intent at all, I saw a last ditch tackle that was fairplay with an unfortunate outcome, but I can understand not wanting to go into it further.
It is the twist before impact that sets the bones up to break easily. I had the same two bones broken in my left leg by a tackle. After playing Isthmian league level as a full back when younger and never suffering from similar tackles, this was in a Vets game. For some years I thought it was just the fact that I was older, but it was really because I was playing as winger and had twisted the foot toe-in to reduce the amount of force by which I flicked the ball forward. When playing as a full back I usually put my foot through it before a tackle and never twisted my foot.
At least now we know why Gabby hasn’t been scoring on the pitch for a while, he’s been doing all his scoring off it!, naughty boy! Allegedly
What’s Gabby alleged to have done????
Hi Bum Bum, it’s the classic ‘Love triangle’, as the tabloids love to call it. His partner and Mum of his 2 kids kicked him out after finding out he’d been having an affair, and had got that lady pregnant too. It all happened back in May, and the ‘other’ woman had the baby in early August. Seems that the tabloids were a bit late finding out about it. Maybe Gabby can be excused if his minds been elsewhere!!
Should I say ‘allegedly’ after this, just to be safe!
Yes always use allegedly as nobody knows the full story.
Allegedly. 🙂
Lol