himwill

Posts: 559

January 17 Tbh Jelavic has still had a lot of chances and missed them. I think it's more a mix of lack of confidence because he's missed a few and defenders know how to play against him. When you first come into a new league teams don't quite know how to play against a player but soon learn how to stop them. He just needs to lift his game a little bit and he'll be back amongst the goals.

NSNO

Posts: 3,248

January 17 Liverpool Echo:
NIKICA JELAVIC is having to learn to cope with the scrutiny prompted by his first six prolific months at Everton, admits Phil Jagielka.

The Croatian striker scored 11 goals in 16 games after joining the Blues for £5.5m from Rangers in January last year, but has struggled to continue that scintillating form into this campaign so far.

Jagielka insists that defenders across the Premier League will have studied the 27-year-old’s traits in the penalty area, and that Jelavic must now find a way to thrive regardless.

He said: “It’s what happens in the Premier League. You’ve got people watching you and with no disrespect to what has happened at his other clubs, when he came in nobody really knew what he was going to do.

“Some of the first touch finishes that he had last season were brilliant. Whether he can do that week in week out for a longer period you never know. People watch videos now and find out how to play against people. They’ll have a rough idea of where he stands and where he wants to receive the ball, which makes Jela’s job harder.

“People are talking as if he’s only got one or two but he’s got seven. It proves how well he did last season and it’s better when people are talking about you rather than not. He’s got all of our backing and we’re all hoping it’s only a matter of time before he’s scoring every week and challenging to be top scorer.”

The England defender believes that David Moyes’ decision to deploy Marouane Fellaini in a more advanced attacking role this season has also had an impact on Jelavic’s goal-scoring exploits.

“This year we’ve had different options to try and score with Felli going up there and posing a different threat,” he said. “He’s had all the limelight and Jela has maybe not had as much to feed off, whereas last season everything that went into the box was for Jela. It’s just a different challenge.

“We’ve got no issues, we see him every day and he scores every day so it’s just one of those things. If we’re doing OK without him scoring all these goals then hopefully he prefers it from January onwards and it’ll be the time we need him to score. We’ve got away with him not scoring as many as we thought he may have done so far.”

Jagielka said he is particularly impressed with Jelavic’s efforts to turn provider for his team-mates, and singled out his assist for Victor Anichebe during the recent 2-1 victory over Newcastle as an example of his efforts.

He added: “He set Victor up in the Newcastle game whereas previously he might have been the one in Victor’s position.”

cjohno

Posts: 5,468

January 17 hes been andy johnsonized, sick of seeing him constantly on the wing chasing aimless balls, closing down the full backs etc etc etc, get in middle stay in middle score goals, will improve when mirallas comes back he links up well with jelavic., agree about felliani as well he doesnt create fk all for jelavic, put felli back in centre and give naismith a run in behind jelavic and see how he goes, jelavic has said how much he likes playing with naismith so give the partnership a run.

Ivdlit

Posts: 2,162

January 17 Instead of Jelly, start calling him Jela or Niki and he will score. COME ON JELA! We know you're a class player and always do. COYB NSNO

bennythemole

Posts: 2

January 17 jelavic needs to work harder like he did in the spurs game when he went charging across park and the crowd roaring with aproval he went on to score.but is no good with defender at his back always going over far to easy no pace a good 6 months down hill since he is 3rd choice for his country and they aint that good up front i dont think he is going to be a prolific  goal scorer for us would like him just to score in tight games but he aint been doing that.and for naismith not a chance we are so far out of his leauge its unreal this squad has improved 10fold some players just cant keep up howard naismith fizzer at least with him its legs but still 110% may be jelavic if he dont sort himself out fast.oh yeah victor aswell others have improved 

cjohno

Posts: 5,468

January 17

Dick Van Dyke said:

He's scored 6 this season. Not brilliant, but that's better than before he arrived. I can see him getting around 15 by the end.

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he has the ability to be 20 goal a season striker, considering the chances weve made this season hes been unlucky that a decent percentage of them havent fell for him,

cjohno

Posts: 5,468

January 17 im happy with jelavic anyway i think hes a natural goal scorer and his luck will change, i dont think its a confidence issue i just think its how weve been playing lately as a team, weve stopped the fast short passing and getting baines and piennar to the dead ball line, we use to play a lot of low balls across the face of goal, lately it seems to be more of a direct ball down the middle to felliani. and i think jelavic is better coming onto the ball from wide positions, as shows with his one touch finishes, i dont think hes a back to goal striker.

weebs

Posts: 79

January 17 Moyes' curse on strikers continues