Remember our first piece on Bilic, where we talked about his need for a striker at West Ham? That need has been fulfilled by the greatest striker Croatia has ever seen play, in Scotland, for the Rangers, between 2010- 2012. Nikica Jelavic signed a 2 year – £3M deal with the Hammers. Not only did Bilic pick up a striker, he also managed to get Victor Moses (Chelsea) and Alex Song (Barcelona) on loan deals. Before his match on Saturday, Bilic told media that his bench lacked depth because they had let a number of players go after not fitting into the West Ham system. Whether the players didn’t fit his system or he needed to free up space for these transfers, Bilic was able to add some serious fire power to an offense that needed a little bit more.
This move for Jelavic is a no brainer. The £3m price tag shows his value in the Premier League these days, which is a great chip to have on your shoulder if you’re a 30 year old striker trying to prove your worth. He’s also got a great chance to rise in the ranks, after Sakho has netted 0 goals and has been hampered by injuries. If Jelavic can grab at least 1 goal in 2 games, he’s going to be starting for the Hammers. Does Jelavic actually have a chance to start, or are you just writing this for clicks? Did Slaven Bilic play guitar in a rock band? The answer to both of those questions are the same, so you do the math.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaW0lDAiLfQ
What’s your take on Jelavic? Is he washed up, or do you think Bilic will be able to squeeze that final bit of glory out of the 30 year old striker?
Fair point Stipe
Not being smart however sometimes coaches won’t start a player when they aren’t 100% and that’s why they bring the player on in the last 15 minutes
Jelavic was such a fluke. Yea he did well in Scotland amd one season with Everton. One good season in the EPL. Than came Euro 2012. Scored a lucky goal against Ireland. And then what? NOTHINGGGGG. I lost all respect for him when he didn’t play against Spain in the 3rd game because he had the ” flu ”
Awww poor guy was to sick to play in what was Bilic’s last game unless we advanced out of the group . Also what Bilic and Srna had said prior to the game against Spain ” that Croatia will have to play a perfect game to beat Spain. ” So Jelavic didn’t play cause he had the flu. We played with one striker up front, Mandzukic. Who knows, maybe if Jelavic wasn’t sick maybe Bilic still would have played with that format. But WHAT REALLY GOT ME UPSET was when In the final minutes of the game, guess who desides feels all better? That fuckin faggot Jelavic. Comes in with ten minutes cause he probably tells Bilic he feels ok now and he could play. Fuckin waste of space. What??? All of a sudden Jelavic wasn’t sick with the flu. If you tell your coach your sick before the game, then don’t play at all. Don’t sub in the game with 10 mins left and do nothing at all when you have MODRIC, RAKATIC, MANDZUKIC PLAYING THERE FUCKIN HEARTS OUT. Yea I was pissed when RAKATIC headed the ball straight at Cassilas with a perfect outside the foot pass by Modric. Fuck it, shit happens. Even shiendfeld or however you spell his name played his ass off, I’ve never seen him play like that since. That was the best game he ever played for Croatia. But poor Jelavic was too sick to play, but shows up at the end anyway, why? Did he want to trade jerseys with someone from Spain???? I lost all respect for Jelavic
Jelavic was red hot in the premier league that first spring he spent with Everton. I hope he can get somewhat close to that again. The NT needs some depth behind Mandzukic.
@Ziva
Re: your statements “Just because a Croat is coaching a team doesn’t mean he will go after Croatian players.” and “He’ll attract hrvati if they are a fit to the club, not because they have the same nationality.”….
No way does West Ham go after Halilovic or Jelavic if Bilic wasn’t there to push for it, and he is absolutely being biased because of their relationship and nationality.
In terms of “fit”, Halilovic with his size and inexperience is probably a bad fit for West Ham and the EPL in general. I don’t even think Bilic has ever met the kid either, yet he tried to get him for some reason.
Honestly, Jelavic is not even worth 3 million pounds. He’s definitely on the decline, has had multiple mediocre seasons in a row, just had serious knee surgery, and is still not impressing with Hull even in the 2nd division (having score only one goal, which was a penalty, in 4 starts).
3 million pounds is 4 million Euro, which could have probably netted them a young prospect from our junior NT. Or could have gotten them a pretty solid loan agreement with a better player, instead of just two years of a declining Jelavic.
But Bilic is a good guy, he knows Jelavic personally and is probably trying to help him out. There were literally no takers for Jelavic amongst the other EPL teams. His strong interpersonal skills, however, have always been Bilic’s downfall.
Let’s just hope Olic and Pranjic don’t start! Major Face-palm if that happens ya know…
apparently Pjaca is starting tomorrow…
who will execute expert dives in this game then?!
i’m a bit worried..
we were talking about Vrsaljko starting on RB the other day and then I think Poglavnik or Maminjo asked me why…
With @SrnaDarijo suspended for the @EuroQualifiers in #Baku, Luka Modrić of @realmadriden will be #Croatia captain: “I’m proud and honoured”
so Vrsaljko should get the start!
“Fit” being equal the Hrvati connection is an advantage.
The same with Jorge Mendez and Mourinho with their Portuguese connection.
Of course Bilic is not taking a scrub just because he is a Hrvat.
Don’t be afraid of the Croatian ONEness that pervades the Universe.
ZDS
He’ll attract hrvati if they are a fit to the club, not because they have the same nationality.
Business is all relationship.
Transfer business is ALL relationship.
Real Madrid and Man U have an adversarial relationship, hence the De Gea debacle.
OFCOURSE Bilić will be attracting Hrvati to Westham when possible. It has a natural connection to Hrvati.
The same way Dutch players put up with Van Gaal and his corny ego.
I hope Kramaric gets some minutes this next two matches. He can contribute going forward and he is too young and talented to not be on the pitch on a regular basis.
Apparently it does…
Just because a Croat is coaching a team doesn’t mean he will go after Croatian players.
Leicester wouldn’t give up Kramaric to West Ham, even on a loan deal.
Leicester doesn’t have depth, and If they suddenly struggle to score, they will look real stupid having sent their most expensive signing over to a team that is directly competing with them in the standings.
Kramaric scored last week in a League Cup match. He’s probably in full form and ready to go, it’s just that they are doing so well without Kramaric and Ulloa right now.
I’m surprised he didn’t try to pick up Kramaric.
@bobby……signed him for depth. He was going to get more playing time with Hull. West Ham was never an option for Halilovic. barca had no interest in sending him to England. Plus, I don’t think he would have received a work permit anyway.
Valencia, Sahko, and Carroll (when healthy) will be ahead in the pecking order. Jelavic is a simply depth signing. All three players are much better than him and offer more in attack.
So Bilic is an Ustasa loving Croat, good man.
@Maminjo – Exactly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb8xTA4ufx0
Cool interview with Bilic after the Liverpool win. “We parked the bus, but we didn’t put the hand break on” – haha
Bilić is a good guy and a die hard Croat.
No way does West Ham look at bringing in Halilović or Jelavić if not for him.
Good that we have a Croat coach in the EPL that would push for and play Croat players. It would’ve been nice if it was a young player who needs playing time (i.e. Kramarić), instead of an already retired NT player.
@ Ziva – Wait, why do you think West Ham signed Jelavic in the first place?
Is Jelavic worth an article ? He said he’s not playing for the repka anymore didnt he? So who really cares. If he scores 50 goals a season it makes no diff cos who gives a toss about shit ham utd
@ Bobby V…….what coach didn’t give one of our players a fair chance? I don’t think. Bilic will not give Jelavic any more or any less playing just because he is a Hrvat.
Is the azer vs cro game being televized in canada?
@suie mi
Great news. I checked on Monday and it showed no coverage so glad they decided to televize it.
Croatia – Azerbaijan will be televised on ESPN3 at 11:50AM EST.
Finally a situation where a Croatian coach can now give one of our players more than a fair chance of playing – even if he isn’t in form. Jelavic won’t have any excuses.
We should all be nice toi Jelavic. If not, his uncle could come after you.
I say he sticks around for maybe another season in the EPL and then does a farewell tour in the HNL.
Nice write-up and all, but since he’s off the repka radar – I won’t be following him that much.
For all you Canucks I just checked and the Norway-Croatia game will be shown live on Sportsnet1 in Canada @ 12 noon….enjoy!
3 million is a small risk for West Ham. If it works, great. If not, they didn’t lose anything.
They might be able to get something out of him before his career flatlines.
Based on their history together, if Bilic can’t light a fire under him you might as well stick a fork in him. I have to think Bilic would not have risked his reputation and 3 M pounds if he didn’t think it was possible. Vidjet cemo!