Well, at least until 2014.
Croatian striker Nikica Jelavić was benched Monday night for 20 year-old Chelsea loaner Romelu Lukaku. After only one assist and zero goals in the first five games of the season, Jelavić rode the pine Monday night as Everton defeated Newcastle United 3-2. But what’s more important is what his replacement, Lukaku, did.
The future Belgian star did more for Everton in one half than Jelavić has been able to do the entire 2013 for the Toffees. Lukaku scored twice in the first half and assisted on Ross Barkley’s 25th minute goal using a crisp through-ball to split the defense. Lukaku is on a 1-year loan from Chelsea for the 2013-14 season, and with Everton currently utilizing only one striker in their formation, looks to have knocked Jelavić out of the starting XI.
Jelavić will surely be used late in games for his fresh legs in goal scoring scenarios, but his confidence has to be shot after his performance the past 12 months. Even with the Croatian national side, Jelavić is behind Mandžukić, Olić and Eduardo on the striker depth chart. At 28 years old, have we already seen the best Jela has to offer?
Lukaku highlights Monday night
Don’t really follow bball, couldn’t even tell u if there’s an Aussie league, rofl. But Bogut represents aus, ziva is right about that. I have less interest even than with Bernard tomic and that is saying something
@Mate
Agreed. He’s fast, big, and can kick the shit out of the ball. Everything England looks for in a striker.
@Lebo
I know what you’re saying with jelavic, and hopefully he transfers out of Everton, I think we all hope to the bundesliga
However, unlike most people, I still think lukaku isn’t any good, not because jelavic is better, but because I genuinely believe lukaku is a big dumb animal without any real skill, so he’ll fit in perfectly in England as a striker.
@Mate
Croatian mentality passed down from generation. Also the normal way people think these days with all the information thrown at them. I really thought that assist would help Jelavic get his scoring boots back with some much needed confidence, but once I saw Chelsea dumped Lukaku I knew it was over. I think most Everton fans knew it was over.
Look at what Lukaku has done in the past season and a half, and you’ll scratch your head as to why Mou dropped him in the first place.
@ Iggy
do you have a man crush on Bogut?
Porcelain doll Bogut……..good laugh. How much longer before he hurts another toe nail or has a badly gone plucked eyebrow before he goes on the injured list.
Last I checked he plays under the Aussie flag, so he is not holding the torch for anyone.
CSR mojo is real!
That being said Jelavic has run himself into the ground at Everton. As Martinez shifts Everton’s style all their players will retain their legs.
@ FAUX CRO
Let’s get Jelavic to the Bundesliga getting his game back. He can regain his form. His game his not based on speed and will have good 4-5 years left in the tank.
@ CSR
can we get an interview with Bogut. Reports are he is healthy and in great shape. Love to see him have productive year as he holds the nba torch for the prva generacija.
Denis,
Stimac got the gig, didn’t he??
CSR curse…. hahahahaha…
How about Stimac? I interview Stimac, dude loses the HNS presidency, but becomes puppet of Croatian national team. Win or lose for big Igor?
Who has scored more in recent months: Jelavic or the nuns at the catholic grade school down the street. I’m going with the nuns.
@Croatia vs. Antwerp
I’m not saying the Belgian league is bad. I’m just saying that Jelavic is above that league. The Belgian league is filled with talented prospects, but it’s just a stepping stone for these guys to leave for bigger leagues.
Every talented player in that league is between 19-23 years of age, and anyone older than that is just some veteran who never had the talent to play in a bigger league. Jelavic would outshine any of those veterans with his talent, and he’d out-experience any of that 19-23 year olds who have skill. He doesn’t belong in Belgium. He is better than that league.
Scotland and Austrian league are even lower than Belgium and he already destroyed those leagues as a less experienced player.
Not sure why you believe that there is “NO WAY” that Jelavic is a ‘Lige Petice’ caliber player. The coach for Hamburg was having a hard on when he thought he could snag Jelavic this past summer.
He doesn’t have to star on a team like Borussia Dortmund to be a regular starter in the Bundesliga. But if a guy like Halil Altintop can start on a mid-tier squad and is considered a Bundesliga caliber player, you can’t tell me that Jelavic isn’t.
from the summer, but it shows that coaches think highly of Jelavic
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jul/22/hamburg-nikica-jelavic-everton
I love the roller coaster ride you guys go on with these players. Plays well, aaaaaa he’s awesome; gets benched, dude blows and he should play in the Slovenian second division
On another note, turns out kelava is playing well at udinese, an Italian newspaper had him player of the game for udinese last week and on team of the week for all of serie a week before
@ IvicA
The Belgium league isn’t that bad, it’s produced so many talented Belgium national team players recently. I think Anderlecht would be a good place for him. Oh and he’s no stranger to this league, he did play for Zulte Waregem in 07-08.
Another shot would be Austria, where he found fame in Rapid Vienna, or perhaps he can try his luck in Scotland again, it worked the first time.
But dear me, Jelavic is in NO WAY a Liga Petice player. The mere suggestion is ludicrous. But he can sure tear it up in ancillary leagues.
@Ante K:
CSR curse, love it.
@ Lebo,
Try explaaining the first interview I had with Nash…he gave it to me but I had to beg….wife pops out Brazilian kid weeks later…ouch…
Nash gives us an interview: Traded to the Lakers with major contract.
http://stream.nbcsports.com/liveextra/#replays
Now that the English premier league rights have been awarded to NBC, this is the website to watch live and replays of games, including a few other sports as well.
The replays last for only a week or so.
@ Lebo,
HAHAHA!!!
Not upset, but the CSR jinx is in full affect.
Modric gave me interview: great season thus far.
Jelavic did not: you guys know the rest
Redknapp gives me interview in 2010: Spurs make CL
Kranjcar gives me interview in 2010: Hero for Spurs when he comes back from injury
Baricevic gives me interview at his wedding: happily married 1year
Jason Kidd interviews with me: wins NBA championship
Corluka turns down interview in 2010: gets benched at Spurs
Cilic offers us interview in 2011, we can’t do it due to scheduling: now he’s banned…
The proof is in the pudding boys. You don’t give CroSports an interview…a shitty season is upon you.
any chance for kalinic still to develop and become something of a player?
As we can see, Ante is still pretty upset Nikica did not give us an interview at Dodger Stadium.
The dude’s confidence is shot. The guy is just a poacher and decent header of the ball. Not fast and can’t really dribble. Besides the headers and poacher finishes, the guy can hit with his left and off of free kicks. With his confidence back, he would rock any non top 4 league. Although, Kalinic is of the same skill set and he’s not that much better in Ukraine. That being said, Everton is probably the best team Jelavic will ever play for. Lets hope, this wakes him up as some of the pressure of being a starting striker might be a good thing.
Too funny.
Yeah he will regain his form sitting on the bench watching others score.
Forget a top four league. He won’t destroy the Belgian either. Too much emotion with some of the posters here.
Jelavic isn’t a complete striker, but his goals @ Rangers and Everton were not flukes.
They were all fairly similar. Service into the box and one touch finishes.
He will regain his form and everybody will be singing his praises.
We all knew that was a fluke when he got to Everton. He and the club rode that hot streak.
If Jelavic needs playing time he can always join my small goals squad. We are always looking for poachers up front.
@ ivica
well said. jelavic is a decent player, but not the star we had hoped for when he went on that crazy run in the epl. he can still play in a big 4 league and is a solid finisher when given service.
Jelavic belongs in the Belgian league? Really? I think we’re blowing things out of proportion here a bit.
First of all, Jelavic does not belong in the Belgian or Greek leagues. He would flat out destroy the Belgian league. Heck, even Ivan Santini has like 7 goals in 9 games this year so far in the Belgian league and he hasn’t even sniffed the national squad.
Jelavic is a good player. He’s just not the player we were hoping he was when he blew up in that half-season he played at Everton. I still consider him a better striker than Eduardo, and he still possesses the skill to play on a decent team in the Lige Petice. He just wouldn’t be a starting striker on a top-5 team in these leagues, as he’s better off on a mid-table team. He could easily start and play well for a team like Hamburg in the Bundesliga, which isn’t too shabby.
big 4 league, thanks
Sude Mi – I’m pretty sure Armada means Big 4 League (Spain, Germany, England, Italy) type of player.
Yea he is playing bad but evey one of u guys was riding his dick before the EUROS. He got a lil bit of money prolly a lot more pussy, and he became complacent. As him being over? Idk
Everton is considered a “big 4” team? Since when?
Nikica isn’t a ‘big 4’ player… If I were him, I’d take a small step back down and play for one of the big Greek or Belgium teams, the Eredivisie or maybe a big Swiss team and hopefully get on a team that regularly makes it into Europe – from there he can build his confidence, get back in form and take it from there. Nikica has no business at some big English, German, Italian or Spanish team, unless he goes to some mid table/low table team in one of those leagues…
Jelavic was always a man punching above his weight, he belongs in the belgium league at best or in Greece playing for PAOK or Panathinaikos, Sorry Jela but your days playing in the big league are numbered..
It was all going SUPA for him, 12 Goals from 16, Everton even invited his brother Tihomir on a month long try out, & he was playing for GOSK in BiH at the time, lol who would have predicted his world fall apart from there.. ??? I predicted
Well, this isn’t a big surprise is it..
Lukaku stored, Jela’s done, he’s got to go somewhere else anyway, and he should have already, clearly Everton isn’t working for him. I don’t think he’s international level but im happy for him to prove me wrong, you never know what a change of club can do for someone.. a happy player is a good player (look at my man DEJAN LOVREN since he left Lyon)
I didn’t see the game.
Miralles provided service to Lukaku?
He hasn’t done anything for Jelavic,except ruin good passes.
Perhaps it is a Belgian bias.
Jelavic should shake the dust off his feet, walk away and ply his trade somewhere else.
What are the chances he winds up at QPR or Hamburg?
Change is good. Hamburg or another decent Bundesliga club may be able to pick him up for a song.
Let’s see Lukaku deliver the goods consistently for the season.
*followed …immigrant
In the first goal Lukaku missed a header and the defender miss played it.The shot was easily set up by Mirallas but the goal was a huge goalie mistake since it was shot right at him (weaker foot still).
The through ball was very nice.
His 2nd goal was another miss played header by the defender fallowed by the goalie also missing the ball for an easy tap in.
So Lukaku didn’t do much for the goals and I didn’t see what else he did during the game. That being said Jelavic’s form has left him since that decent preseason start.