This article is written by James Murphy and is courtesy of our partner website FootballFancast.com. Read the latest news and blogs at FFC. – ed
Milan Jovanovic has been restricted to just four Premier League starts for Liverpool and has failed to make an impact on Merseyside since joining the club on a free transfer. The big Serb striker initially agreed to join Liverpool while Rafa Benitez was in charge at Anfield but joined up with the club after the Spaniard had been replaced by Roy Hodgson. With a change in management it would seem the Liverpool man is in no way part of Hodgson’s plans.
It would be fair to say that he has struggled to demonstrate to the Liverpool boss that he is worthy of a place in the starting line-up but – despite interest in his signature from abroad – the 29-year-old maintains he will fight for his place at Anfield. With this admirable attitude I’m left surprised as to why the Serb has still been restricted to appearances from off the bench – would it be out of the question to think the striker is being badly treated? Jovanovic has said quite recently:
“Since I moved to England I’ve done everything regarding my job the way the coach wants from me. I was really focused on not making many tactical mistakes. I’ve not done things my way. I didn’t do things my way, I didn’t take risks with my moves and actions. I’m just thinking about Liverpool. I’ll stay here because I’m no quitter or a person who doesn’t fight.”
With such a positive attitude I can’t help but feel Hodgson is poorly treating the former Standard Liege man. With Hodgson keen to offload players in order to acquire new ones come January, it would not surprise me if Hodgson is giving Jovanovic the cold shoulder in a bid to force the Serb towards the Anfield exit door. It is thought that the Liverpool boss is in the market for a more potent striker, maybe in the mould of Carlton Cole or Johan Elmander.
Am I alone in thinking that this is rather harsh as Jovanovic has hardly been given a chance to prove that he could be the ideal striking partner for the classy Fernando Torres? For me, the Serb has most definitely been unfairly treated and the situation that he currently finds himself in is no fault of his own.
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I think jova is a special player. No one doubt about his quality, even the Italian Giant, AC Milan respect his skill and ability. I agree with the writer. The main problem now is that liverpool was managed by wrong manager. Roy is the nice person, but he is NOT the Liverpool Manager..
Jova is a decent player but not good enough for a club like Liverpool. He got to 29 years old and was only at Standard Liege so he is not a top class player.
Benitez bought far too many poor free transfers and never seemed to learn it’s a whole different world for these no name players coming to one of the world’s biggest clubs like Liverpool and expecting them to replicate the form their did for a club like Standard Liege. If they are young they might improve but not at 29.
Yet another poor signing by Liverpool.
Just because Jovanovic was only at Standard Liege doesn’t mean he’s not good enough for Liverpool. He scored 52 goals in 116 appearances there and some of the time, not even as a striker. There are many, many players who only come good by age and I really don’t think because he’s already 29, he’s only going to get worse.
And also, like you said, he’s a free transfer anyway so it’s not a big deal if he doesn’t live up to expectations. I wouldn’t call him a poor signing cause he hasn’t even been given a chance and prove himself whereas the likes of Konchesky and Poulsen, who cost up to 10 mil together, have had their chances and we’ve seen that they’re not good enough. If we are to criticise the new players this season, have a look at Poulsen and Konchesky, not Jovanovic.
The situation he finds himself in is Roy’s fault. He isn’t Roy’s signing, Rafa signed him on a free transfer last season. Jovanovic’s goalscoring record at Liege speaks for itself and no doubt this player has the quality to play for a big club. Even the likes of Milan and Real Madrid wanted him. I agree that his performances at the beginning of the season weren’t great but he needs time to adapt to English football. Roy hasn’t given him a chance and what’s worse, he hasn’t even been coming on from the bench.
If he can’t deliver on the left wing then Roy should give him a chance up front with Torres. His goals against Northampton and Steaua show that he’s a natural goalscorer who can score with his feet and head. He’s quite strong and he’s fast so I think he can do a good job up front. Instead of playing Ngog in the starting XI, give Jovanovic a chance up front, he’s a guy who can score goals. I really hope Roy plays him more often now and give him a run in the team. After all, his record and quality is exceptional.
Jova is a good striker.
Hope ROY will give more chances to him.
Put Babel-Jova or Jova-Torres upfront..and let see what’s going to happen…
He deserver to be treated better. I hope he get his chances sooner rather than later.
If not, when there’s statement that he made insulting Roy after this since Roy not giving him enough chance, I’m going to support that statement.
ROy better leave.
win-lose-win-lose situation under Roy not gonna help club reach top 4.
it is better to lose-lose-lose, then Manager sacked and replace with better Manager then we win-win-win-win…
i agree…this inconsistent form and a mixture of win-lose results might be gud enuf for mid table teams like fulham but this is liverpool and we are expected to win every game we play and we have to be consistent in order to have any hopes of reaching the top 4…
i wud much rather lose a few games and have roy sacked and then start winning consistently…
i think hes been treat badly and deserves more of a chance instead of 5 mins at the ends of games
From what he has done on the pitch I do not believe he is a good enough player. I struggle to see that he is a quality player – I have seen no quality – he made a powerful 20 yard run in the first half against Arsenal on the first day of the season and has done next to nothing since. He is lacking any pace and he seems unable to lift his head to see what is around him when he gets the ball at his feet.
I am no fan of Hodgson, however, limiting the time Jova has on the pitch is one of the few things he has got right.
I would have loved this guy to be a success but he just doesn’t seem to have it – a very mediocre player I’m afraid.
You have seen no quality because Roy hasn’t give him a chance. He either sits on the bench for the whole game or plays the last 5 mins, how is he suppose to show his quality? “He has none next to nothing since”, he scored two goals in three starts against Northampton and Steaua…How can you agree that Roy is right in limiting Jova’s time on the pitch when his record and quality speaks for itself. He can only prove his worth and show his quality if Roy gives him a chance in the team.
It doesnt make sense a foreign player, Jovanovic is given 4 starts and deemed not good enough while Joe Cole who has played all his career in the premiership has featured in about 12 games so far and its felt he needs more time. Common sense would have this the other way around but then again this is Liverpool. A club that overpays to attract talent and undervalues to sell on. Robbie Keane bought for £20mln then gone for £12mln, Aquilani £18mln and possibly going for £12mln, Johnson £18mln but touted to go at £12mln. Got Joe Cole with a sign on fee of £5mln and £90k a week to boot when Chelsea were not prepared to go higher than £75k a week for him.
Give him a chance to show his worth, good record of scoring at international level. Hodgson MUST go.
“More potent striker in the mould of Carlton Cole or Johan Elmander” You having a laugh! This is partly why we’re in the trouble we are. If this is the kind of player we’re in the market for, god help us. Jovanovic has been treated poorly by Hodgson but he is a squad player that’s all. We have some decent players at Liverpool with some promising youngsters, but unfortunately as long as Roy is in charge we don’t have the right manager to manage or motivate the players to the standard we expect.
To make a point about Torres, no excuses for him, he has looked totally disinterested for a while now and as much as he is a class player you want someone who is willing to sweat blood for the shirt, and he clearly isn’t willing to. Poor form is tolerated to a degree, lack of effort isn’t. In my humble opinion I’d sell him and get someone in who is willing to die for the shirt, who I don’t know, but Cole or Elmander, DO ME A FAVOR!
Another point I forgot to add about Torres, I think now he has a young family don’t be surprised if the missus wants to return home to bring the kids up. He’s an unhappy man (obviously) so it won’t be a shock to me if that excuse surfaces, you heard it here first!
Jovanovic is an average player at best. The Belgian league is a poor standard as is emphasized by the abysmal impact in the Champions League. Torres is a disgrace and is clearly trying to force Liverpool to sell him in January abroad or to moneybags Man City so that he can get higher wages to compensate for the increase in the income tax rate that is coming into effect in April 2011. Fans would need to wake up to the fact that the high profile players at Liverpool do not give a damn about the club and I include Jose Reina in this, for supposedly the best goalie in the world he has been a human sive in goal this season. Reina, Skyrtel, Konchesky, Cole, Gerrard, Kuyt and Torres should all be sold in January which would raise about 100 million. This club has the fourth highest wage bill in the Premier League but yet it finds itself in midtable only 6 points above 3rd last which is a disgrace when one sees the abysmal standard of the Premier League this season. Hodgson clearly does not give a damn-his only interest this season is the tinpot Europa League. This season is a complete write off as the club is heading for a points total in the region of 52 points with this idiot manager and current squad. Liverpool should buy Gary Cahill, Charles Nzogbia, Andy Carroll and Fabrice Muamba in January and promote Mavinga, Kelly, Wilson, Shelvey, Wisdom, Ecclesston, Amoo and Coady in to the Premier League games.
You’re off your head lad.