Lazar Markovic

[Zapater]

I'm not a huge believer in having to bulk up to play football. Just look at the german national side, all incredibly fit skinny lads, its the pace, technique, work rate and mentality that does the business.

Markovic needs to find the mental strength to compete here, then the rest should fall into place. Its his mentality thats lightweight in my eyes, he needs to believe in himself.

I agree with you, I don't really think it matters if you're big or small (people saying that players like Shaqiri are carrying too much muscle are equally ridiculous). Plenty of players with no strength, size, agility etc have made a good career for themselves in all of the top leagues.

Markovic hasn't really played so it's too early to say, he hasn't been awful overall, he was quite poor yesterday, but worked hard and recovered a bit in the second half. It was reassuring that he didn't hide because his first half was a bit disastrous.

Re: Ozil. Everyone says he's ****, but he plays out of the position 90% of the time and was one of the top of the list for chances created in the league last season. According to whoscored he got 9 assists and 5 goals from 25 appearances last season which represents a very good return for me. Another one that people make their mind up on as it's popular opinion. His distance covered stats are also often very good despite people saying his workrate is ****. He's not good at defending, but **** he isn't a defender.

[Tatterdemalion]

Read the first ten or so pages on Henderson

Absolutely. Was looking at those the other day. He was getting an absolute pasting and now he's deemed requisite.

[Kenneth]

But as with much of the early criticism of Henderson, it was as much the fact that we spent our budget from a big sale on players with potential when we really needed proven players to walk straight in take us up a level, or keep the level of quality we had. We came second last year and needed to add some quality to allow us to compete in the league and the CL. Lallana could be argued to fit into that category at a push, Markovic doesn't really and Balotelli could only be if buying on the basis of reputation. We've bought badly and it will probably cost us our place in the top four when we should have been cementing it. Markovic may have a big impact in a year or two, but that might be too late.

[Tatterdemalion]

But as with much of the early criticism of Henderson, it was as much the fact that we spent our budget from a big sale on players with potential when we really needed proven players to walk straight in take us up a level, or keep the level of quality we had. We came second last year and needed to add some quality to allow us to compete in the league and the CL. Lallana could be argued to fit into that category at a push, Markovic doesn't really and Balotelli could only be if buying on the basis of reputation. We've bought badly and it will probably cost us our place in the top four when we should have been cementing it. Markovic may have a big impact in a year or two, but that might be too late.

Just don't see that. We haven't got the money to buy the likes of Di Maria (for e.g.). The truth is that these days, a player of that ilk will cost over £120m over 5 yrs. There is much better value in looking at tomorrow's stars even if some don't make it. Besides, we needed more than one. If Moses is on your bench - you've problems...

[Kenneth]

If we'd bought a good striker we would probably be ok, and that is a bigger issue than spending so much on Markovic, unless we didn't have sufficiant money because of it.

[Tatterdemalion]

If we'd bought a good striker we would probably be ok, and that is a bigger issue than spending so much on Markovic, unless we didn't have sufficiant money because of it.

So which striker do you think we could have bought, but didn't bid for?
Let's assume Balo and Marko fee and wages combined - by my reckoning something in the region of £75m over 5 years, fee plus wages.

[RedRum]

He's clearly better than what he's showing, what concerns me a little is where his supposed lightning pace appears to be? Doesn't look quick in the slightest to me

Sterling makes him look like Lambert.

Not to worry, he is capable of it

Lazar Markovic Amazing Goal Against Sporting HD: [ame="http://youtu.be/uZn2aOqEHAc"]Lazar Markovic Amazing Goal Against Sporting HD - YouTube[/ame]

[RedRum]

He's clearly better than what he's showing, what concerns me a little is where his supposed lightning pace appears to be? Doesn't look quick in the slightest to me

But as with much of the early criticism of Henderson, it was as much the fact that we spent our budget from a big sale on players with potential when we really needed proven players to walk straight in take us up a level, or keep the level of quality we had. We came second last year and needed to add some quality to allow us to compete in the league and the CL. Lallana could be argued to fit into that category at a push, Markovic doesn't really and Balotelli could only be if buying on the basis of reputation. We've bought badly and it will probably cost us our place in the top four when we should have been cementing it. Markovic may have a big impact in a year or two, but that might be too late.

The bigger picture for me is Rodgers is working with 9(?) new players with early season injuries to many first team players. These guys are new to his methods and how he wants them to play. That first season Rodgers came in there were very few consistently impressing week in week out. It took time for him to get his methods across. I'm not saying he is a miracle worker but let's give the new players time to adjust to a new style of football and see how it goes. Rodgers even said the reason was the new players himself. You never know, Balotelli may be a different player a year from now. As for Markovic, just look at the progress Sterling made under Rodgers.

[captainfog]

Lazar wasn't bought to start week in week out. He's been bought to add depth to the squad with a view to him developing into a top player.

[alonso14]

Markovic had a very slow start in benfica too but picked up dramatically after Christmas. We need to give him some time.

[SB]

Markovic had a very slow start in benfica too but picked up dramatically after Christmas. We need to give him some time.

Too many ppl want to be the ones to say ' i told ya so' when a player fails

[baitman]

Is markovic the geeky lad out of big bang theory.

[The_weatherman]

Is markovic the geeky lad out of big bang theory.

You'll have to elaborate further......

[baitman]

So true, no none geeks

In spain and on phone but sussed how to open a new tab, geeky eh.

Its the guy called Leonard. Johnny galucki

[Norbs]

Not to worry, he is capable of it

Lazar Markovic Amazing Goal Against Sporting HD: Lazar Markovic Amazing Goal Against Sporting HD - YouTube

The commentary