If found, please return Etien Velikonja to Cardiff City
Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:25 am
By Scott Johnson. 
I would love Cardiff City to sign Chris Wood. I think he would be ideal; big, strong, mobile, young, every inch a Malky player.
With the club seemingly in the market for a striker, he is certainly the best available option and could be acquired for around £1m. But how can Cardiff justify spending another million on another striker when they already have a perfectly good one, yet to be unwrapped?
Etien Velikonja was a significant summer purchase from Maribor, where the Slovenian international scored 20 goals in 48 appearances. I have no idea what sort of striker he is as he has only played 30 minutes for his new club thus far, two substitute showings against Brighton and Bristol City. Whether or not he would be the ideal foil for Heidur Helguson, capable of leading the line on his own or an upgrade on Rudy Gestede, I could not tell you.
I'm not sure what Malky's intention was for Velikonja, but surely the expectation was that he would feature more than he has. Kim Bo-Kyung was also afforded a gentle introduction to the rigours of Championship football, not starting his first game until the end of October, but he had emerged from the bench four times before that and is now a regular in the squad. Velinkonja has been an unused sub on six occasions, but is more often sat in the stands than on the bench.
Malky and his staff will make a judgement based on what they see in training, but he does also have his favourites. Maybe he is not as good as Malky was expecting or is developing at a slower rate, but he scored five goals in two development fixtures in recent weeks and is unlikely to improve without more first team football. Without the reward of a run in the side, what does Velikonja have to motivate him?
Velikonja would appear as mystified as the rest of us, revealing to Wales Online that; "It is true that I have played less than I expected. When I arrived in Cardiff, it was all excellent. I played in all the matches before the start of the season, I scored a goal at Newcastle United, but then it all changed. When I got back from Slovenia duty, I moved to the bench. I cannot be satisfied, but my position is not alarming yet. I'm training good and I'm progressing. The club says that they are happy with me, I believe that I will soon get a chance." That was back in October, I wonder if the situation has become alarming yet?
Malky has since explained; "He is a young footballer with a big future. We believe in him and he is not far off now." He has cited a need for Velikonja to build up his strength but also claimed that he is working hard in training. Surely he will be afforded a start in the third round of the FA Cup, as a £1m fringe player is particularly indulgent for a club burdened with such significant debt.
Malky wanted a bigger squad but he still seems reluctant to utilise the likes of Velinkonja, Filip Kiss and, until recently, Craig Conway, who handed in a transfer request to force his managers hand. Any fringe player worth his salt will always be unhappy on the periphery and you have to sympathise with an unhappy and disappointed Velikonja, in a new country and frozen out of the side. Under these circumstances, it is also very difficult to justify the sanctioning of yet another new striker.
I would love Cardiff City to sign Chris Wood. I think he would be ideal; big, strong, mobile, young, every inch a Malky player.
With the club seemingly in the market for a striker, he is certainly the best available option and could be acquired for around £1m. But how can Cardiff justify spending another million on another striker when they already have a perfectly good one, yet to be unwrapped?
Etien Velikonja was a significant summer purchase from Maribor, where the Slovenian international scored 20 goals in 48 appearances. I have no idea what sort of striker he is as he has only played 30 minutes for his new club thus far, two substitute showings against Brighton and Bristol City. Whether or not he would be the ideal foil for Heidur Helguson, capable of leading the line on his own or an upgrade on Rudy Gestede, I could not tell you.
I'm not sure what Malky's intention was for Velikonja, but surely the expectation was that he would feature more than he has. Kim Bo-Kyung was also afforded a gentle introduction to the rigours of Championship football, not starting his first game until the end of October, but he had emerged from the bench four times before that and is now a regular in the squad. Velinkonja has been an unused sub on six occasions, but is more often sat in the stands than on the bench.
Malky and his staff will make a judgement based on what they see in training, but he does also have his favourites. Maybe he is not as good as Malky was expecting or is developing at a slower rate, but he scored five goals in two development fixtures in recent weeks and is unlikely to improve without more first team football. Without the reward of a run in the side, what does Velikonja have to motivate him?
Velikonja would appear as mystified as the rest of us, revealing to Wales Online that; "It is true that I have played less than I expected. When I arrived in Cardiff, it was all excellent. I played in all the matches before the start of the season, I scored a goal at Newcastle United, but then it all changed. When I got back from Slovenia duty, I moved to the bench. I cannot be satisfied, but my position is not alarming yet. I'm training good and I'm progressing. The club says that they are happy with me, I believe that I will soon get a chance." That was back in October, I wonder if the situation has become alarming yet?
Malky has since explained; "He is a young footballer with a big future. We believe in him and he is not far off now." He has cited a need for Velikonja to build up his strength but also claimed that he is working hard in training. Surely he will be afforded a start in the third round of the FA Cup, as a £1m fringe player is particularly indulgent for a club burdened with such significant debt.
Malky wanted a bigger squad but he still seems reluctant to utilise the likes of Velinkonja, Filip Kiss and, until recently, Craig Conway, who handed in a transfer request to force his managers hand. Any fringe player worth his salt will always be unhappy on the periphery and you have to sympathise with an unhappy and disappointed Velikonja, in a new country and frozen out of the side. Under these circumstances, it is also very difficult to justify the sanctioning of yet another new striker.
Re: " If found, please return Etien Velikonja to Cardiff Cit
Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:45 am
if he doesnt play in the facup tie i will be rightly pissed off. for years we've not had a cent to spend, always selling, to spend who knows what on a striker thats not even making the bench when with no disrespect to gestede, he isnt upto this standard of football, as much as we all love the kid. he needs to play.
sadly though, 1 game after such a long time, he wont exactly score 5 goals and make a statement, he will be rusty, you can replicate a league game with reserve matches ect, but nothing compares to a actuall league game
sadly though, 1 game after such a long time, he wont exactly score 5 goals and make a statement, he will be rusty, you can replicate a league game with reserve matches ect, but nothing compares to a actuall league game
Re: If found, please return Etien Velikonja to Cardiff City
Sat Dec 22, 2012 1:10 am
At the end of the day it could be a number of reasons.
If he isn't good enough then although its a waste if rather not see him in the team.
From what I can gather he hasn't impressed as much as hoped so they are working a bit more on his overall game and physic.
No need to write him off because he isn't playing.
If he isn't good enough then although its a waste if rather not see him in the team.
From what I can gather he hasn't impressed as much as hoped so they are working a bit more on his overall game and physic.
No need to write him off because he isn't playing.
Re: If found, please return Etien Velikonja to Cardiff City
Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:22 pm
if he isnt championship ready, do the smart thing. send him on loan to league one or two. get some games. rather than stick him in the reserves