Liverpool fans knew that they would miss Luis Suarez during his enforced ban. I’m not quite so sure that they knew exactly how bad it would be. Liverpool’s 3-1 loss to relegation threatened Bolton followed from a 0-0 draw with Stoke and it’s clear that the Reds are struggling for both goals and form.
Whilst Craig Bellamy has proven to be a remarkably astute signing, Andy Carroll is really struggling at the moment and a lack of options upfront is damaging Liverpool’s chances of finishing in the top four. Carroll didn’t look awful against Bolton, but he didn’t look likely to score either. Surely even the most optimistic Liverpool fan must recognise the need to introduce fresh-blood in this department.
The media have certainly recognise this need and played their part by linking the Reds to just about every striker under the sun.
Which brings us to this latest rumour, courtesy BBC Sport: ‘Liverpool in pole position to sign Ranger’s Nikica Jelavic’.
Jelavic’s been with Rangers since 2010, but he’s also featured sporadically for Croatia. Over the years he has proved himself to be an extremely clinical player. At Rapid Vienna he scored 25 goals in 70 appearances and during his time at Rangers he has scored a remarkable 30 goals in 45 appearances. It’s this kind of form that has seen him linked to clubs like Liverpool.
Of course, those of a pessimistic world view will be keen to point out that defending in the Scottish Premier League isn’t as imposing or as impressive as in the Premier League and that there’s no guarantee the Croat could replicate his goal-scoring form in the EPL.
But no signing is ever a sure thing (as Andy Carroll proved) and Jelavic has proved himself to be clinical over the course of a couple of seasons. He’s proved himself capable against SPL opponents and it wouldn’t cost Liverpool a fortune to test him against Premier League opposition.
The Reds need somebody who knows where the goal is, is capable of improvisational finishes (like the over head kicks Jelavic has been lauded for) and his ability with set pieces also shouldn’t be ignored.
At the moment Liverpool don’t need a big money signing, they need a smart signing. They need somebody who would be willing to take a back seat when Luis Suarez is back, but who could be relied upon to make a difference when he’s called off the bench.
In this respect, wouldn’t Jelavic be the ideal signing?
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i hope this rumour turns out to be nothing more than a sick joke. hes the next jovanovic at best
Or, to play alongside Suarez when he returns!
bring fernando torres back perfect solution
Not in a million years, my granny could score 20+ goals a season for Rangers and she has been dead for 30 years. This player is not just what we need as he is not good enough for the premiership.
Bazza you are dead right Liverpool need real stars not crap from lower leagues on the cheap.
Bit harsh mate….
So obviously you’re still alive, how many goals would you score a season for Rangers then, must be at least 3 a game??
To be fair, Jelavic can’t be no worse than Carroll
Dalglish has a keen eye for crap which is why Jelavic will fall nicely into Dalglish’s plan to build a stable of donkeys (carroll + et al) some mules (Henderson, Downing & Adam) and a few jackasses (Luca, Carragher & Johnson).
I’ve seen Jelavic in action and he seems to be a poacher which is exactly the type of player we need. We dont need a world class signing who is going to take on all of the oppo and their granny and then fluff his lines, we just need someone who can score a goal.
If he comes in and only scores 5 goals in the next calendar year, then he has done better than Andy Carroll.
Don’t wait until last minute, just get this guy FFs.
don’t bother voronin was brilliant in the german league came to prem and we all know how that turned out, scottish football is no test, get rid of players like adam henderson and especially downing as they are all gutless carroll can play well but any striker will struggle with this midfield hence suarez is strugglin aswell when he plays they should try and get hugo rodallega or give jordan rhodes a go, poss get pacheco back, blood morgan or even yakubu again he has scored wherever he’s been struggled at everton but many strikers struggle there moyes is a good manager but doesn’t really know how to attackwe are not gonna get anyone huge but these are possible and much better than jelavic
Liverpool needs a manager that can make use of the best his players can do.
Andy Carroll terrible at LFC, most promising prospect at NFC, Downing not a shadow of a player he was at Villa, Adam decent enough for 7 or so mil. but not a player you would replace Meireles with.
Henderson, good English prospect, still overpayed this summer.
I really like and respect Kenny Dalglish. I know all the players like and respect him.
But he is unable to get the best out of them, I’m sorry to say.
Even Benitez was more able to get his players preform better, not liked by us fans or the players, but we don’t need a likable person.
We need results, and need it quickly !!
We can pile-up player at the club as the budget will allow but it will not solve anything, the players we have MUST preform better.
Also this signing is more of an act of desperation to get someone to do the job Carroll should be at capable of doing for his price. Cheap signing that doesn’t show much potential.
What you see is what you get in Jelavic, and it’s not much.
As much as I hate to admit this but Dalglish is making me have a different opinion about Rafa…. Maybe he wasnt so bad.
Look mr king Kenny, I love LFC and I want to see them restored to their rightful place champions of Europe. Not just champions but play the type of football that you and Souness use to produce. If you think that the type players you have purchase will frighten Barcelona or Real Madrid… Then you had better give me a swig of your Wiskey. Listen we want quality creative players now….
P.s don’t be mad at the team you put out be mad at yourself for wasting so much money that we all trusted you to spend wisely.
It’s difficult to judge how Nikica Jelavic would do in England, because the highest level he’s played at is the Europa League with Rapid Vienna. He’s got an excellent scoring record with Rangers, but missed Europe last season through injury, and this season because of awful qualifying results.
He’s good in the air, has decent technique and can take a good freekick. He still relies on service to score most of his goals though, and that’s been one of Liverpool’s biggest issues.
Liverpool have created the 2nd post amount of chances in the league! We just need someone able to finish them off.