Next on this list is Niko. From an unknown source- apparently Niko is "close to completing a move to Sunderland". They must have a squad as big as ours- mostly other teams castoffs. Anybody know anything about this? I don't want him to go, but surely he will be in the same position battling for a guaranteed place. Can someone check on Charlie- make sure he's happy.
I think Niko would be guaranteed to start games with us, I dont understand why he doesnt start more for you guys. Quality player. I hope this comes off.
He doesn't start for us because Harry is stubborn and insists on overworking the same starting 11 for all competitions. I don't want Niko to leave. He's a game-winner.
Does anyone know if Harry has named the team for the Hearts game? Niko should play- apparently Modders is injured.
Harry is really beginning to get on my tits now. I can see us starting September minus both Modric and Kranjcar. All he has to say to Kranjcar is that he'll get loads of playing time and follow through on that. As someone else said Kranjcar is a game winner I wish the FA would get rid of Capello now so Harry can take his place. Harry is now beginning to undermine his own good work.
Perryman, the unknown source you had would appear to have been pretty accurate. it's on sky sports now. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11675_7107113,00.html I'm very disappointed by this. £2 million for Niko was one of the best bargains we've picked up in a long time. I honestly can't believe we're letting him go andnot playing him more. it's beyond me. fair play to sunderland though, as solid says, he's a game winner. Great signing if they pull it off.
I like Kranjcar. Unfortunately for him, if all our players are fit, we have better options. For me, he's a good squad player - but a regular first choice? No. Hopefully, if he stays, he'll get plenty of time to show what he can do in the Europa league.
Would this be a chance perhaps for players like Livermore to be elevated to the squad. I have only seen him play once- I think it was against Stoke last season and he looked ok. Those that have seen more of him might have a different opinion.
We win more games when Kranjcar plays and he'll get you plenty of goals for a midfielder. Unfortunately, too many people refuse to acknowledge this, preferring Modric who brings players into the game but not necessarily with the desired end result. Whereas Kranjcar will have a go from distance and get you a goal from nothing
I'm with you gericalo. Krancjar directly impacts on a game but with Modric's style we need everyone else to be at the top of their game as well. ( Not that this is Modric's fault...it's just the way things are). I'm sure that if Harry used Krancjar as first or second sub he would be happy to stay with us. This smacks of not so great management. What has Krancjar done to have been frozen out so much?
I think in Rugby terms, Kranjcar is a useful player when you're "on the front foot" However, would I want him beside me in a battle? No.
Neither would you want Modric. You'd want Sandro, Joey Barton, Diarra, etc. What kind of of comment is that? You need both artists and grafters
What I was getting at is, the guy doesn't put in the effort required. Particularly when things aren't going our way. For me, once again, he's nothing more than a decent squad player. No pace, poor workrate, and can't, or won't tackle back.
Always playing Modric would be fine with me if we had strikers who would even threaten to score goals...
And yet, he was one of the main reasons we got 4th the season before last. He came on and got us 6 points last season that I can remember. So what if he doesn't tackle back or his workrate is poor, when a player can turn draws into victories or defeats into draws with just one kick that's worth it's weight in gold. We drew so many games last season that we should have won. These were the kinds of games where the previous season, with Kranjcar playing, we were converting into wins. Last season with Modric and his better workrate they were still draws.
The main reason for lack of progress last season was, lack of strikeforce. Yes, Kranjcar will get you one or two cracking goals, but he's not a striker. Yes, every team has some "stars" in it. However, take Barca; their team is packed with players who would walk into any team in thw world. Yet still, there is no room for anybody who doesn't work his arse off. If Barca won't tolerate laziness - perhaps we can learn a thing or two from them.
