Kone: Everton fans haven't seen the best of me yet

, 30 June, 73comments  |  Jump to most recent

Arouna Kone is hoping to return fitter and stronger next season so that he can prove he can cut it at Everton.

The Ivorian lost a year to a serious knee injury suffered early on in his Blues career, one that required reconstructive surgery and many months of rehabilitation.

He completed a full recovery and made 17 appearances in all competitions last season but has thus far managed just one goal since arriving from Wigan Athletic for £6m two years ago.

Now, feeling physically better, Kone is hoping to finally make his mark at Goodison Park and render calls from fans for Roberto Martinez to invest in a new striker moot.

"In terms of my injury, last season really helped me to come back and get fitter," he told Everton's official website.

"When I left Wigan, I knew I was coming to a bigger club, a successful club," he said on evertonfc.com, "and I knew that being surrounded by such a great group of players could have a great impact on myself, so to suffer the injury that I did was very difficult.

"I feel a lot better physically now. The few games that I was able to play last season allowed me to regain a lot of my confidence, which is very important.

"Now it's all about this summer and this pre-season and making sure I set out as I mean to go on. The fans haven't been able to see me at my very best level, but I hope I can get there next season and show them what I am about.

"I am hungry to do that and I want to prove I can cut it here."

 

Reader Comments (73)

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Brian Porter
1 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:15:29
I think Kone had more than enough chances to show us his capabilities last season, and failed miserably to show anything resembling the skill or the effort required of an Everton striker.

Sorry, but he should be offloaded and a new, proven Premier League striker brought in to provide Lukaku with some serious competition for the number one striking role. Kone just isnÂ’t it.

Darren Hind
2 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:18:11
Don't tell us ,Mate... Show us.
Denis Richardson
3 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:19:49
I feel a bit sorry for him but fact is weÂ’ve seen very little over 2 years, regardless of injuries.

If heÂ’s fit, I hope he can contribute over the coming months. Either way, I doubt heÂ’ll be getting a new contract next year, so he'll just be backup for 12 months.

Paul Kossoff
4 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:20:15
My God, stating the obvious, Kone. We haven't seen anything that says you are better than Victor or Jellie.

Agree, Brian (#1), he has to be offloaded now.

Ross Edwards
5 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:22:10
He can show it elsewhere. Get rid. Get a new striker in because if Lukaku gets injured and Kone replaces him weÂ’re screwed. HeÂ’s shocking.

Although no doubt Henen is our striker Â’signingÂ’ because Martinez probably thinks that heÂ’s Â’in a good momentÂ’ or that Â’his willingness to prove his abilities here shows his strength of character and phenomenal mentalityÂ’, which means heÂ’ll get another chance.

Charlie Burnett
6 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:25:12
Surely he was employed to score goals — 1 goal in two years, taking £30-35k a week, he should be wearing a mask; he is robbing us blind. I wonder if he has been fasting like he was when we first signed him, or has that religious nonsense gone out the window because here he is saying he's going to be super fit for the start of the season...
Mike Gaynes
7 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:31:53
I still remember the guy who left Heitinga for dead. Kone should be given one more chance to prove heÂ’s still that guy.

And if heÂ’s not, thereÂ’s plenty of time to offload him. Right now he would bring pocket change.

Matthew Johnson
8 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:54:25
Biggest. Understatement. Ever.
Ian Jones
9 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:44:52
I agree with Mike. Give him a chance to see what he can do. I imagine it takes time to recover from the kind of injury that he had. Also his confidence will be low. I would be interested to see what he can do given proper pre-season.

I think he got back into the team at a time when confidence amongst the team and us fans was low. Chances for forwards were few and far between. But I think he is an intelligent player and was short of match fitness and confidence.

I have some faith in him. Would rather keep some cash. Persevere with Lukaku and some of the U21s like Long. See what they can do.

James Flynn
10 Posted 30/06/2015 at 18:43:10
Offload him to where? Pay him his final yearÂ’s wages and a fond farewell? Good wishful thinking on either of those.

HeÂ’s here for this season. LetÂ’s hope his knee, and the muscles around it, are fully fit, sturdy, and ready for one more shot at contributing something.

Nick Armitage
12 Posted 30/06/2015 at 19:10:19
How can you feel sorry for someone who has earned millions for scoring once and missing two sitters in two years?

I donÂ’t see anything in him or his game that makes me think weÂ’ve got a player here. He was generallly shit at Wigan as well.

Steve Hogan
13 Posted 30/06/2015 at 19:15:12
Given his injury record over the last two years, and the fact heÂ’s had his knee Â’reconstructedÂ’, itÂ’s almost a certainty heÂ’ll break down again as soon as he sees competitive action.

Only Everton sign players who are carrying an injury (and a serious one at that) before they sign on the dotted line. Nice money and work if you can get it.

Sorry to cast further doubts on his chances of setting the Premier League alight, but this league is simply too fast and physical to be carrying a Â’sicknoteÂ’, no matter how genuine he is, when he tells us we havenÂ’t seen the best of him.

Please file under Â’Never Should Have Been Signed'.

Conor Skelly
15 Posted 30/06/2015 at 19:26:39
KoneÂ’s a decent player. From what little IÂ’ve seen of him with us he can hold the ball up well and his finish away to Newcastle was quality. DonÂ’t write him off yet. As for him being shit at Wigan well that simply isnÂ’t true. He was very impressive at Wigan.
Paul Mackie
16 Posted 30/06/2015 at 19:35:48
He looked absolute shite the few times he played last season. So many misplace passes and woeful misses. Get rid.
Clarence Yurcan
17 Posted 30/06/2015 at 19:43:44
Â’EreÂ’s whatÂ’s gonna happen next season: KoneÂ’s gonna bag 12 goals. Lukaku will score 25 -- in the league alone. Deolefu will tally 12 goals -- to go along with 19 assists. Everton will be the most shocking league winner since Nottingham Forest since 1978. YouÂ’ll alla dmit you were wrong abour Roberto. Places your wagers now, and reap the rewards come next spring.
Colin Glassar
18 Posted 30/06/2015 at 19:49:49
He’s going to stay whatever we think so let’s hope he has a good season and then sell him to someone like Sunderland or WBA for £10m.
Like Gibson he seems to have some chronic muscle weakness so this will probably be his last season anyway.
Ian Bennett
20 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:00:54
Col - he’s out contract next season, so the chance of a fee is looking slim. £6m squandered.
Karl Jones
21 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:06:19
One of the worst CFs IÂ’ve seen at Everton...Even when he was fit when he first joined, he was missing sitters. get rid of him as soon as possible and replace him with someone hungrier for goals.
James Stewart
22 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:12:42
No shit Sherlock. If I were him IÂ’d be keeping my head down and mouth shut. He looked laughable towards the end of the season and way below the required level
Jay Harris
23 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:26:12
I was told 18 months ago that his knee was not able to stand up to the rigours of the Prem.

He has done nothing to disprove that statement.

We should have got rid when he was touted as being fit again.

Lost wages, missed opportunity.

Ray Roche
24 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:32:42
Clarence Yurcan #17

Drugs. Just say no.....

Alex Kociuba
25 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:35:23
It is a gamble to say heÂ’s anything other than shite, but IÂ’ll stick my neck out and say I think heÂ’ll end up good. Once he gets a proper run of games I think weÂ’ll see quite a skilful and inventive player who will hopefully complement Lukaku.
Alan McGuffog
26 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:43:34
This would be hilarious were it not so bloody tragic. DonÂ’t have a pot to piss in and we blow what little we have on this geezer
Richard Reeves
27 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:40:30
If someone came in with an offer, £2 mill maybe? I'd take it and have Chris Long take his place.
Chris Regan
28 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:47:32
Like a few have already said we signed him injured, thatÂ’s disgraceful. What ever he had is gone, the injury and his age count against him now. For me he ranks as low as NYarko & Brett Angel, possibly Stuart Barlow, Clause Thomson or Mitch Ward.
Lee Courtliff
29 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:55:56
He could be the number 10 weÂ’ve been waiting for !!!!!

Seriously, itÂ’s hard to see him contributing much. We only play one striker and Lukaku is clearly first choice.

So Arouna will be limited to sub appearances and cup matches. Not exactly a lot of minutes to build up real match fitness , is it ?

And he turns 32 in November. Other clubs wouldn’t bat an eyelid at £6m but to us it was a lot at the time and that’s something some will hammer Martinez for.

Geoffrey Risebrow
30 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:53:08
Some of the comments are completely OTT. LetÂ’s at least see how he does in pre-season and the opening few games of the season before we give a final verdict. I agree that he has been poor, before and after his injury but it was a horrific injury in fairness. I am not holding out a lot of hope due to his age and injury doubts but give the lad a chance. We need to sign a goalscorer regardless
Colin Williams
31 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:46:04
The lad has been very unfortunate with injuries -that donÂ’t make him a poor player! - the lad has lots of ability to play an offensive role. I wish the 28 million flop had half his technical/ tactical ability and mobility.

People who slag him off, know....very little about what to look for in a player in his position. All they see is an injury! They never look at the extent/ seriousness and rehab that the player would need to recover and play again at the top level.

Gavin McGarvey
32 Posted 30/06/2015 at 20:37:11
There were a lot of doubters when we signed him and unfortunately they have been proven right. It was definitely an unusual signing for us, as there was no chance of a sell on fee, and he wasnÂ’t a young prospect. The fee was high-ish I thought, and some suspected it was a favour to Wigan from BK.

I hope we get at least one semi-decent season out of him, but itÂ’s not looking likely. I didnÂ’t know he had an injury when we signed him. If he did that makes it even more unusual as we have been fairly conservative in signing injured players.

I feel for him. A lot on here talk about money, but I bet itÂ’s not easy being a footballer and stuck on the sidelines for 2 years. The moneyÂ’s a given, and itÂ’s not like they are stacking shelves. Surely they all want to be playing (even if it doesnÂ’t appear that way at times).

Thankfully we have Lukaku, but we could do with an extra forward or at least introducing an academy player to try and bring through a prospect of our own. I would like to see McAleny given a few games.

David Harrison
34 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:09:52
HowÂ’s he going to get better at 34? File under dead wood.
Brin Williams
35 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:14:27
Kone: Everton fans havenÂ’t seen the best of me yet.

Rephrase Â’Everton fans have seen nothing from me yetÂ’

Brian Keenan
36 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:24:37
Bye and he has white hair in which is nice or is it grey?
Gavin Johnson
37 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:11:15
When we signed him there were actually a number of clubs looking at him - including the RS. Newcastle also matched our bid, so it wasnÂ’t only Martinez who saw something in him. I was underwhelmed with Kone as a signing but I do remember reading he had a fair number of assists as getting into double figures for Wigan so who knows what could have been, had he not nearly busted his kneecap.

The only club I could envisage taking a chance on him would be Levante in La Liga and even if, weÂ’d only get a couple million at best. They saved his career after he had another career threatening injury while at Sevilla. So we can all but hope.

I donÂ’t actually think he was as ineffective as some on here. He gave opposing defenders something to think about when they were set out to deal with Rom. But I do think he could have been played on the right of a front three rather than putting Rom on the right flank as he sometimes played there for Wigan. I can only surmise this was because heÂ’s lost a yard of pace and was never 100%, which is no surprise really.

When allÂ’s said and done I think people shouldnÂ’t be too harsh over his signing. He didnÂ’t cost us anything if you think we got the same fee for big Vic and KoneÂ’s proved he is a top striker at some points in his career, something Vic has never managed to do.

Joe Edwards
38 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:33:17
I am sorry but Stuart Barlow & Brett Angell were better than Kone. Get rid to someone like Watford or Bournemouth asap.
Eddie Dunn
39 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:37:52
Mike,(7), "left Heitinga for dead". Quite a few did that without moving very quickly.

I genuinely feel sorry for Kone – bad luck with the injury etc, but he just isn’t top quality. saw him warm-up at Swansea, and he couldn’t hit the goal with three shots, with no defenders and all the time in the world.

He is getting around £30k to do this job, so sorry, – no room for sentiment... offload please!

Stephen Brown
40 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:46:57
Kone - Everton fans havenÂ’t seen the best of me!

In other news - David Cameron and Boris Johnson are a bit posh!

Adolf Hitler was a tad aggressive!

Rob Dolby
41 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:49:00
The Stracq showed us more than Kone and he was shocking. This fellow could partner Brett Angell in an all-time worst 11. Time to move on.
Bob Hannigan
42 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:49:27
IÂ’m basically a soft touch, but at 32 years old in November IÂ’d say give him a chance until the January 2016 window and if he hasnÂ’t hit the back of the net regularly, show him the door. Sorry, we need to move on. NEXT!

IÂ’m from the colonies, so a question for those with more knowledge of the EPL contracts. Is a players contract guaranteed like most in the US of A, except for the NFL?

Murdo Laing
43 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:46:07
Pure folly by Martinez to sign him in the first place. Kone is sadly never going to establish himself in the first team, despite the fact that he does have qualities, nous, and experience that Lukaku lacks right now (eg, hold up play). File under "unfulfilled career despite second chance" alongside another worthy crock, Darren Gibson.

Pains me to say it, but we are a club that cannot afford older players with repeat prescriptions. Loan Kone out, cover half his wages, and consider either Mirallas or even Deulofeu for the CF position if Romelu is unfit or out of form.

Andy Crooks
44 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:51:57
ItÂ’s not his fault he got an injury, nor indeed that Martinez paid too much for him. He was not shite at Wigan and he may well do a good job for us. I would happily see Martinez gone but heÂ’s not going yet. He rates Kone, so, in these days of hope for a new season, I just hope it works out.

Also, using the period of time heÂ’s been with us to berate his goal ratio is simply overkill. He should,in my view , be judged when he is fit and has a run in the side. It is frustrating to see a player with long term injuries but talking of getting shot of Kone or Gibson is nonsense. Like it or not they are entitled to be paid when hurt.

Paul Jeronovich
45 Posted 30/06/2015 at 22:11:00
Shit, simple as. We can argue this one all day but he is utter garbage. Take a look at his record, journeyman at best and we have sorted his retirement fund. Get rid. I would rather give Chris Long a go rather than keep him on the books.
Shane Corcoran
46 Posted 30/06/2015 at 22:18:08
Charlie #6, if ever a post showed the futility of stats, itÂ’s yours.

One goal in two years when he was either injured or not match fit for about three quarters of that time.

Peter McCann
47 Posted 30/06/2015 at 22:58:21
If you think Kone is bad who remembers Rod Belfitt and Bernie Wright. Another two great signings by the Blues. Kone simply joins a long list.
Paul Thompson
48 Posted 30/06/2015 at 22:58:03
Like other, I feel sorry for him and I have to admit I thought he looked ok for Wigan. But he was bloody awful last season. IÂ’ve seldom seen a forward who looked more clueless. As heÂ’s unlikely to be going anywhere soon, I hope for a miraculous turnaround.
Dick Fearon
49 Posted 30/06/2015 at 22:52:40
The most likely reason this bloke is still on the books is his contract and no club wants him.

Soon we will be into pre season fitness training while he will be in the middle of Ramadan.

Andy Crooks
50 Posted 01/07/2015 at 00:51:14
Dick, I often agree with your views but that last comment seems unfair. Also, perhaps he is "utter garbage", but IÂ’ve not seen enough of him to take that view and I donÂ’t know who has.
Craig Fletcher
51 Posted 01/07/2015 at 01:22:45
I feel sorry for the bloke given his injury record with us; but unfortunately in football (and with the wages we pay), there is little room for sentimentality.

This season will be the last for him anyway in an Everton shirt (didnÂ’t he sign a three-year contract in July/August 2013?) so I imagine heÂ’ll be a bit part player until heÂ’s released this time next year.

Barry Jones
52 Posted 01/07/2015 at 02:10:22
If he was 25, I would persevere. He is the wrong side of 30. It wonÂ’t get any better with either his fitness or his confidence. I cannot see a great contribution this season but I would love to be proved wrong.
Mark Andersson
53 Posted 01/07/2015 at 02:32:42
Well, I know nothing about football, but he has a better first touch than Rom and thatÂ’s all I can remember of him last season.

He is staying so he gets my support until he proves all these people right. .

Dick Fearon
54 Posted 01/07/2015 at 02:31:51
Andy (#50), my admittedly harsh words about Kone stem from bitter experience of being taken for an expensive ride by Andy van der Drunk.

According to Martinez, due to Ramadan, Aroune was behind the rest of the squad with his pre-season fitness regime and unfit to play. Then followed a catalogue of mysterious injuries that he found difficult to shake off.

You may remember a similar never ending list of excuses from AvdM. I was accused by other Twebbers for describing him as a fraud. In the drunks own words, I was vindicated... and now I see the same pattern developing with Kone.

Steven Jones
55 Posted 01/07/2015 at 06:09:28
Good – well said Kone!

Upbeat, hopeful and determined ... a great attitude to take into pre-season...!!

Joe Foster
56 Posted 01/07/2015 at 07:09:49
Upbeat but still crap.
Steven Jones
57 Posted 01/07/2015 at 07:31:37
Not if he can produce his best form Joe ...

His finishing has let him down but his movement, link up play and runs in behind and between defenders has been very good ... certainly not crap.

Jon Thomas
58 Posted 01/07/2015 at 08:07:53
It makes me cringe every time I think he has the Number 9 jersey.
Ian Jones
59 Posted 01/07/2015 at 08:21:22
Charlie at 6. Sorry but perhaps a bit harsh to mention religious nonsense
Andrew Ellams
60 Posted 01/07/2015 at 08:35:08
HeÂ’s average at best, probably better than Lukaku and bring others into play will never score half the amount of goals.

What Martinez needs to think about is that if Lukaku picks up a bad injury after 31st August, is this the man to lead out line long term? And if he answers yes to that, heÂ’s barmier than I thought.

Ernie Baywood
61 Posted 01/07/2015 at 08:42:24
Saw enough of him prior to his Everton Â’careerÂ’ to know heÂ’s a half decent player.

I thought he was a bad signing from the start simply due to his age and limited ability. Half decent was as good as it was ever going to get.

That said, he hasnÂ’t had a chance to prove me wrong and his injuries have been terrible luck for him and us. LetÂ’s hope he can get back to being half decent for a season unless someone else wants to waste money on him.

Drew O'Neall
62 Posted 30/06/2015 at 21:43:35
When you have been out for a long time, all sorts of other issues occur apparently unrelated to the primary injury.

It looked like he couldnÂ’t trap a bag of cement on occasions but when you are unfit that can happen.

As Mike Gaynes says, heÂ’s worth next to nothing at the moment so we can only benefit by giving him a full pre-season and the first few games to showcase his talent, if he has any left, to us and the rest of the world, at that point we are in the best position to either retain his services or attract an appropriate offer.

For what itÂ’s worth, I have always thought Kone to be a useful, intelligent player and I think he would have proved to have been a successful Martinez signing at Everton had it not been for an unforeseeable injury.

William Bibby
63 Posted 01/07/2015 at 09:07:16
Too right, mate... not seen anything of you yet!

Taxi for Kone!

Sam Hoare
64 Posted 01/07/2015 at 09:21:04
Hope he gets fully fit for a sustained period and we may yet see what he is capable of. My hopes are pretty low and IÂ’m more interested to see what Chris Long can do in preseason.
Jimmy Byrne
65 Posted 01/07/2015 at 09:30:39
Hardly the best pre-season preparation with Ramadan just starting. I recall he was suffering fatigue last year because his fasting was affecting his training. I hope he proves me wrong but I don’t think he is a Premier League player – even as a squad player.
Clive Rogers
66 Posted 01/07/2015 at 09:39:55
Everton are the only club in his career to have paid a fee for him. That tells everything about him, and about us!!!
Andrew Ellams
67 Posted 01/07/2015 at 09:55:38
I just hope that if Long does make a breakthrough this year and impresses that people can lay off the Rodwell & Barkley type hysteria and adulation until the lad properly develops and cements his place.
John Keating
68 Posted 01/07/2015 at 10:22:13
Kone should be passed on to Wigan asap, thatÂ’s about his level. We have to put our youngsters on the bench and whenever possible during the game bring them on. We have a few good young lads coming through but the only way we will really know if they have a PL future is to blood them at that level.

Browning came on at Anfield and did great then disappeared! Galloway did well in the last couple of games and probably learned more in those games than 5 years in the reserves.

We have to get rid of Kone, Hibbert etc and get the youngsters on the bench.

Tony J Williams
69 Posted 01/07/2015 at 12:51:02
I think he has been mis-quoted by the journo.

What he said is that he was hungry, due to his fasting and the journo just filled in some blanks and viola – a story

James Marshall
70 Posted 01/07/2015 at 13:04:02
I think we have seen the best of Kone.
Charlie Burnett
71 Posted 01/07/2015 at 13:10:10
Ian (#59),

I wonder, do we still pay him when he refuses to train with the squad because he canÂ’t drink fluid or eat the correct food at the correct times? LetÂ’s just give all the players extra break while were at the part of the year when we need to boost our fitness.

And I used the word Â’nonsenseÂ’ because when he arrived at the club it was a big dilemma about when we were going to see him play? Everyone waiting for that time because he had to wait longer to get himself match-fit. Next year, we hear heÂ’s working through fasting because he feels like he needs to show and prove what he can do. Now we have this headline so, for me, this tells me is he also going to get himself super fit or is he going to take the time off again.

Don’t jump the gun when religion comes into it at the end of the day we have to say it as it is. Half our team is catholic, I imagine – do you think 10 am Sunday morning they’re all at mass and Kone there running around on his own? I don’t think so, mate.

James Byrne
72 Posted 01/07/2015 at 13:28:40
Sorry, Kone, but I personally wonÂ’t be seeing the best of you or any of the other Everton players next season; I didnÂ’t renew my three season tickets that IÂ’ve been buying for the last 10 years based on the complete garbage I watched for most of last season.

Tom Bowers
73 Posted 01/07/2015 at 13:43:37
His fitness hasnÂ’t helped but we will never know what contribution he would have made last season if not injured. Kone has the ability to score goals but needs an extended run, which he wonÂ’t get whilst Lukaku is around, and he isnÂ’t getting any younger.
Barry Jones
74 Posted 01/07/2015 at 13:42:53
Dick (#54) I feel that your comments have a lot of substance especially when you look at his career. It is a catalogue of disaster and injuries. If any CFO of a club had read it, they would immediately close the cheque book.

In 2007, when playing for PSV Eindhoven, he returend late from Ivory Coast and missed a chunk of pre-season work, really angering the club.

The same year he contracted malaria (something that you keep forever by the way)

2007, PSV lost patience and he was transferred to Sevilla for 12 M euros on a 5 year deal

2008, After one year at Sevilla the club wanted to move him on as his form was poor. Unfortunately for Sevilla, he tore a cruciate at the start of the 2008-09 season while playing for Ivory Coast

2010, Sevilla eventually ship him out on loan to Hamburg and he had an equally disastrous spell. Hamburg shipped him back to Sevilla, where he scored one goal in 40 appearances

2011 Sevilla sell him to Levante, where he had his only really successful period, prompting Wigan to pay €3.5M for him in 2012. The rest we know.

If you were hiring someone and they gave you this CV, would they make it to the interview?

Ernie Baywood
75 Posted 01/07/2015 at 14:06:50
A torn cruciate and a dose of malaria in a decade of football hardly constitutes a catalogue of injuries.

We slate Everton when we sign a player who then gets injured, forgetting that the vast majority donÂ’t get injured upon arrival. And do we really think weÂ’re the only club that has happened to?

Hindsight is great. But amongst the criticism of his signing (and there was plenty, lots justified) I donÂ’t recall anyone saying he was injury prone.

Amit Vithlani
76 Posted 01/07/2015 at 14:22:52
His signing was a gamble. GBP 6m was a big fee to pay for a 29-year old with one good season under his belt. His injury was extremely unfortunate, but it ultimately resulted in the risk taken back-firing on us.

If he can contribute 4-5 goals next season that is good enough as he is nothing more than a back up. Hindsight is a wonderful thing as someone pointed out and we just need to make the best of it.

I think we need a proper forward to put the pressure on Lukaku. Kone brings a different style and therefore can have a role to play, but Lukaku needs to feel real competitive pressure for his spot.

Austin would be a terrific acquisition if we had the cash.

Jack Cross
77 Posted 01/07/2015 at 14:38:56
That Kone is shite, get shut. Rhodes would do a better job than him, even though lower league. Even Britt Assomalonga, good striker. Some crackers in lower divisions. They won't have to do much to do better than Kone.


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