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Showed he has what it takes again today, I felt. Really impressive from a 20 year old. Super sharp touch, great one touch link play and he's so strong.
Interesting to see which players looked comfortable at that level generally.
Sadly Kone looked out of his depth all game.
Thought Dunne did well but then go horribly exposed by Summerville for their second.
For me Madsen looks like a Premership class centre mid. Stood out all game as our Rolls Royce player.
Smyth was the big surprise IMO. Really held his own. Was pretty magnificent.
Few times since Christmas - West Ham, Birmingham and Saturday - he's brought the ball down with back to goal under real pressure in midfield and spread it wide well. That's big improvement and suggests he's heading in the right direction.
Yes, he can do it. But the fact that you can remember individual instances from a striker with more than 40 appearances suggests he's not doing it very often.
All that said, I think it's harsh to judge pretty much any striker here based on the teams they've generally been playing in. I wouldn't say any since Jordan Hugill's Skied It and Nakhi Wells have been gifted with a large amount of decent service. I'm certainly not anti-Kolli, just not convinced. Honestly, if we can find a way to give him the ball in space outside the box two or three times a game I'd be very happy with him.
Yes, he can do it. But the fact that you can remember individual instances from a striker with more than 40 appearances suggests he's not doing it very often.
All that said, I think it's harsh to judge pretty much any striker here based on the teams they've generally been playing in. I wouldn't say any since Jordan Hugill's Skied It and Nakhi Wells have been gifted with a large amount of decent service. I'm certainly not anti-Kolli, just not convinced. Honestly, if we can find a way to give him the ball in space outside the box two or three times a game I'd be very happy with him.
He's played 2096 minutes of first team football, the equivalent of 23 matches. Rarely has he started and even more rarely has he played the 90.
I think he is a skillful player and excellent goal scorer. The rest of the game, positioning, possession, passing etc he is still learning at this level.
Similar to Eze and others, when he has the equivalent of 75 appearances, we shall have a reasonable idea of how well he is adapting and how far he might go.
He's played 2096 minutes of first team football, the equivalent of 23 matches. Rarely has he started and even more rarely has he played the 90.
I think he is a skillful player and excellent goal scorer. The rest of the game, positioning, possession, passing etc he is still learning at this level.
Similar to Eze and others, when he has the equivalent of 75 appearances, we shall have a reasonable idea of how well he is adapting and how far he might go.
Good post.
I think I got my maths right: He averages 47 minutes per appearance and I don't think he's ever completed a 90?
Feels like he is both being hobbled and expected to score us goals. My instinct is they (whoever is the leading voice on selection) think he is arrogant / difficult and think restricting time on pitch will resolve that.
Problem is, they didn't reckon for a massive injury crisis, and don't consider how their own hubris is interpreted.
He's played 2096 minutes of first team football, the equivalent of 23 matches. Rarely has he started and even more rarely has he played the 90.
I think he is a skillful player and excellent goal scorer. The rest of the game, positioning, possession, passing etc he is still learning at this level.
Similar to Eze and others, when he has the equivalent of 75 appearances, we shall have a reasonable idea of how well he is adapting and how far he might go.
Exactly. It’s a bit like when we had Andre Gray: excellent goal scorer but didn’t do as much as other players in other areas. When you’re playing a struggling team like Portsmouth that doesn’t matter so much, but when you’re up against stiffer opposition it’s much more obvious.
I think he can learn this stuff but I wonder if he thinks he doesn’t need to, unlike Burrell, Kone, Madsen etc. hence the cooler treatment of Kolli. He’s not alone I’m sure other players aren’t aware of what they need to learn to improve - Dozzell might be another one as he seemed to improve after being moved on from us and Birmingham.
I might be completely wrong and he might be being totally mismanaged but I think you can see from watching him where he can improve and if he’s not listening to that then he may not be given the most opportunities.
Look, he’s not a bad player, in fact he’s a very good one and we don’t know where his ceiling lies. Getting the ball into him, with space to shoot…we could be onto something.
But I’ve not seen enough (yet), which convinces me he’ll be as successful or even close, to say a Chair or an Eze. And to be clear, there’s no shame in that. Eze is a generational talent, and I still think Chair’s our best player. But when you speak to some people, they see Kolli as being on their level or capable of getting to it. I don’t see that. Hope I’m proved wrong.
Look, he’s not a bad player, in fact he’s a very good one and we don’t know where his ceiling lies. Getting the ball into him, with space to shoot…we could be onto something.
But I’ve not seen enough (yet), which convinces me he’ll be as successful or even close, to say a Chair or an Eze. And to be clear, there’s no shame in that. Eze is a generational talent, and I still think Chair’s our best player. But when you speak to some people, they see Kolli as being on their level or capable of getting to it. I don’t see that. Hope I’m proved wrong.
That’s probably because most tend to compare Kolli to a Chair (or Eze) as their existing levels today rather than when they were Kolli’s current age. It’s recency bias. So there is always going to be a mismatch.
But anyone who has watched Eze and Chair come through the older age academy setup will see a lot of raw talent and developmental similarities with Kolli. There was also a comparable stat going round which Kolli tops i think, ahead of both Eze and Chair at the same age/appearances.
I personally wrote on this messageboard about Eze and Chair way back when, Sinclair Armstrong, and Alex Aoroha (ACL killed him just as he was breaking through). And Kolli was also highlighted as a standout. Everyone else, I haven’t ever bothered to mention, as there was zero chance they would make it (and they didn’t…). But Kolli is right up there in terms of raw and natural talent.
That’s probably because most tend to compare Kolli to a Chair (or Eze) as their existing levels today rather than when they were Kolli’s current age. It’s recency bias. So there is always going to be a mismatch.
But anyone who has watched Eze and Chair come through the older age academy setup will see a lot of raw talent and developmental similarities with Kolli. There was also a comparable stat going round which Kolli tops i think, ahead of both Eze and Chair at the same age/appearances.
I personally wrote on this messageboard about Eze and Chair way back when, Sinclair Armstrong, and Alex Aoroha (ACL killed him just as he was breaking through). And Kolli was also highlighted as a standout. Everyone else, I haven’t ever bothered to mention, as there was zero chance they would make it (and they didn’t…). But Kolli is right up there in terms of raw and natural talent.
Kolli is 21, admittedly only turned 21, but when Eze was 21 he won our player of the season award and was bought by Palace for big money. Next season, I can't see Kolli getting close to that, and think his objective should be to try and establish himself in the first team. If he manages that, he'd have done fantastically well.
With Chair, when just turned 21 (so same age as Kolli), he did a league 1 loan with Stevenage, at the end of which their Manager said he was "‘the best player that has ever worn a Stevenage Football Club shirt’. Now, if Kolli went on loan to Stevenage or another league 1 club, I'm sceptical he would return with that level of praise but I could be wrong.
The key difference for me between the three is how they look after the football and their decision making which I think Kolli lacks at times. I can see him getting better at this, and can see him being decent for us, but I don't think its 'recency bias' to suggest he's not at the same levels as those two at the same age, which as I've made clear, isn't a criticism of him, because not many are.
Kolli is 21, admittedly only turned 21, but when Eze was 21 he won our player of the season award and was bought by Palace for big money. Next season, I can't see Kolli getting close to that, and think his objective should be to try and establish himself in the first team. If he manages that, he'd have done fantastically well.
With Chair, when just turned 21 (so same age as Kolli), he did a league 1 loan with Stevenage, at the end of which their Manager said he was "‘the best player that has ever worn a Stevenage Football Club shirt’. Now, if Kolli went on loan to Stevenage or another league 1 club, I'm sceptical he would return with that level of praise but I could be wrong.
The key difference for me between the three is how they look after the football and their decision making which I think Kolli lacks at times. I can see him getting better at this, and can see him being decent for us, but I don't think its 'recency bias' to suggest he's not at the same levels as those two at the same age, which as I've made clear, isn't a criticism of him, because not many are.
For whatever reason, Chair isn’t around for comparison, but Kolli is and he’s finally playing.
As a result, Kolli’s level/value/skill is the only thing we can really evaluate at this stage of the season and I think it’s quite encouraging if he’s given more game time.
He’s neither Eze or Chair - but he’s an asset, goal scorer and one of the few that’s come through the system and gives a shit about the club.
I admire all of those things and the assists/goals too.
Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
Kolli is 21, admittedly only turned 21, but when Eze was 21 he won our player of the season award and was bought by Palace for big money. Next season, I can't see Kolli getting close to that, and think his objective should be to try and establish himself in the first team. If he manages that, he'd have done fantastically well.
With Chair, when just turned 21 (so same age as Kolli), he did a league 1 loan with Stevenage, at the end of which their Manager said he was "‘the best player that has ever worn a Stevenage Football Club shirt’. Now, if Kolli went on loan to Stevenage or another league 1 club, I'm sceptical he would return with that level of praise but I could be wrong.
The key difference for me between the three is how they look after the football and their decision making which I think Kolli lacks at times. I can see him getting better at this, and can see him being decent for us, but I don't think its 'recency bias' to suggest he's not at the same levels as those two at the same age, which as I've made clear, isn't a criticism of him, because not many are.
Kolli has contributed 14 G/A in only 22 full game equivalents. 0.6 G/A per game. At championship level. That is far superior than both Eze and Chair. Sorry, but these are the cold hard facts.
Regardless, it’s not really worth the debate, because as ever, time will tell, as it always does.
And really, it’s all about game time for Kolli, of which he’s had very little. That is how you develop as a player - and how you reach your potential - and is what Eze and Chair were both afforded.
In his Watford post match presser, Stephan makes some interesting comments about Kolli, basically saying his current form is due to him training better. It suggests Kolli has had an attitude issue, which he's now put aside.
Personally, I think getting a run in the side in his preferred position has given Kolli an uptick in confidence which is so needed for a young player to fully express themselves.
In his Watford post match presser, Stephan makes some interesting comments about Kolli, basically saying his current form is due to him training better. It suggests Kolli has had an attitude issue, which he's now put aside.
Personally, I think getting a run in the side in his preferred position has given Kolli an uptick in confidence which is so needed for a young player to fully express themselves.
He definitely expressed himself with his goal celebration @dmm
One of his best halves for me. More of the same now!
He definitely expressed himself with his goal celebration @dmm
One of his best halves for me. More of the same now!
The celebration was a pointed reply to Watford; one of their players celebrated like that in an international game and said, in the week, he'd celebrate the same at QPR.
In his Watford post match presser, Stephan makes some interesting comments about Kolli, basically saying his current form is due to him training better. It suggests Kolli has had an attitude issue, which he's now put aside.
Personally, I think getting a run in the side in his preferred position has given Kolli an uptick in confidence which is so needed for a young player to fully express themselves.
Think it’s a bit much to label it as an “attitude” issue given Stephan’s remarks. At the end of the day, we know Stephan demands huge intensity and levels, and then there is the natural intensity of the championship, which is completely different step up from u21 football.
Could be just a youngster learning what is the required level needed to compete. And it could also be a raft of other things, given rumours, which probably also shouldn’t be discounted here in the overall picture.
But regardless, all in all, it’s fantastic he is now getting regular game time. He was brilliant in the first half yesterday.
In his Watford post match presser, Stephan makes some interesting comments about Kolli, basically saying his current form is due to him training better. It suggests Kolli has had an attitude issue, which he's now put aside.
Personally, I think getting a run in the side in his preferred position has given Kolli an uptick in confidence which is so needed for a young player to fully express themselves.
He definitely expressed himself with his goal celebration @dmm
One of his best halves for me. More of the same now!
Well that is a different press conference than a couple of weeks ago before our 3 game winning streak look at how happy JS is here. A lot of people were wondering if his job was on the line before Leicester going off his body language and answers he was giving but its all good now . Remember we have Chair and Madsen and Burrell sitting in the stands also these last few games could be great fun if we keep streaking (not the guy in the back of the stand stripping off kind ) Happy Easter to everybody
In his Watford post match presser, Stephan makes some interesting comments about Kolli, basically saying his current form is due to him training better. It suggests Kolli has had an attitude issue, which he's now put aside.
Personally, I think getting a run in the side in his preferred position has given Kolli an uptick in confidence which is so needed for a young player to fully express themselves.
Sounds like he was struggling in training for whatever reason. Easy to jump to ‘attitude’ issues. From What I’ve heard he has an excellent attitude but for whatever reason was struggling . Agree with Wilkins that has bulked up and looks a real player all of a sudden.
One thing I found weird in that clip . It’s not a major thing just something that doesn’t ring true having been in hundreds of dressing rooms all be it another life time ago or anybody that’s been involved in any sort of football be it club , Sunday league or school ….when a physio, member of staff, member of a medical team tells the manager / head coach that “Kolli needs to be subbed”, there is no way ever ever ever that he is not asking “why?”. Why does he?
He said he doesn’t know what the problem is with Kolli, he just needed to come off. That just wouldn’t be the case . On top of that he wouldn’t have wanted to change anything as we were playing really well. He would have asked why .
Is this the club again not wanting us to know anything about injuries so JS has to lie about it to the media and us ?
I don’t know . In isolation it’s nothing . But the drip drip drip of nonsense coming out of that part of the club is annoying me .
Great young player. Not everyone has to be an Eze or Chair to still be celebrated. The fact is he's the best academy player we've produced in years, has end product, gets the crowd going and isn't afraid of responsibility.
He's also the only attacking player in our squad other than Chair that noticeably wants to shoulder the burden of winning the game. He wants the ball, wants to score, wants to do everything he can to get that result. There's a lot to be said for that kind of shameless approach to needing to win, and there's not enough of it even amongst the better players in our team.
He's still inconsistent with performances, seems to pick up injuries a lot, and it's odd that even at this point he's seemingly incapable of doing 90mins, but his stats for minutes to goal involvements is really good and becoming a big enough sample size to suggest it's not an anomaly. If nothing else he's proven a genuine backup option in the most difficult and expensive position to fill, and I hope he cracks on and gets to double figures before the end of the season.
Also a shout-out to Kone, it must be a dream for strikers to play alongside him, and not a surprise Burrell and now Kolli are getting goals with him taking so much attention and playing selflessly.
Great young player. Not everyone has to be an Eze or Chair to still be celebrated. The fact is he's the best academy player we've produced in years, has end product, gets the crowd going and isn't afraid of responsibility.
He's also the only attacking player in our squad other than Chair that noticeably wants to shoulder the burden of winning the game. He wants the ball, wants to score, wants to do everything he can to get that result. There's a lot to be said for that kind of shameless approach to needing to win, and there's not enough of it even amongst the better players in our team.
He's still inconsistent with performances, seems to pick up injuries a lot, and it's odd that even at this point he's seemingly incapable of doing 90mins, but his stats for minutes to goal involvements is really good and becoming a big enough sample size to suggest it's not an anomaly. If nothing else he's proven a genuine backup option in the most difficult and expensive position to fill, and I hope he cracks on and gets to double figures before the end of the season.
Also a shout-out to Kone, it must be a dream for strikers to play alongside him, and not a surprise Burrell and now Kolli are getting goals with him taking so much attention and playing selflessly.
Great young player. Not everyone has to be an Eze or Chair to still be celebrated. The fact is he's the best academy player we've produced in years, has end product, gets the crowd going and isn't afraid of responsibility.
He's also the only attacking player in our squad other than Chair that noticeably wants to shoulder the burden of winning the game. He wants the ball, wants to score, wants to do everything he can to get that result. There's a lot to be said for that kind of shameless approach to needing to win, and there's not enough of it even amongst the better players in our team.
He's still inconsistent with performances, seems to pick up injuries a lot, and it's odd that even at this point he's seemingly incapable of doing 90mins, but his stats for minutes to goal involvements is really good and becoming a big enough sample size to suggest it's not an anomaly. If nothing else he's proven a genuine backup option in the most difficult and expensive position to fill, and I hope he cracks on and gets to double figures before the end of the season.
Also a shout-out to Kone, it must be a dream for strikers to play alongside him, and not a surprise Burrell and now Kolli are getting goals with him taking so much attention and playing selflessly.
Great post.
In total agreement and here's hoping he gets to double figures by way of goals before the end of the season. Six goals (1 in the league cup) in the derisory amount of playing minutes afforded him, is an impressive haul.
Undoubtedly the best academy player followed by Morgan, but this was known before the start of this season and nothing has changed in that regard.
Had we given him more playing minutes, instead of persisting with a series of underwhelming performances from the likes of Saito, we would now be on the cusp of the play-offs.
I should say that I really like Kolli and always have done since first seeing him in DS games. I could well be wrong in how I interpreted Stephan's comments but that's how it came across to me. Even if I'm right, given the difficulties the lad appears to have had to deal with, it would not be surprising that he's not always been in the best frame of mind.
Anyway, what's more important is he's hitting his straps now and beginning to show what great potential he has.
I should say that I really like Kolli and always have done since first seeing him in DS games. I could well be wrong in how I interpreted Stephan's comments but that's how it came across to me. Even if I'm right, given the difficulties the lad appears to have had to deal with, it would not be surprising that he's not always been in the best frame of mind.
Anyway, what's more important is he's hitting his straps now and beginning to show what great potential he has.
With his injury issues this past 2 seasons and our current team woes, maybe they’ve simply had to ease him back to fitness so that he doesn’t break down again, and thus he’s not been able to train properly until recent weeks. The medical team not taking any chances tells me he’s still pretty fragile. I think any attitude talk is very wide of the mark.
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