I thought I heard Klopas say during the last broadcast that his 6 goals have come on only 12 shots. If that's true and it wasn't the voices in my head... Well... I'm on the nut rider train irregardless.
Everybody, let's climb aboard these nuts. In 10 games into the seasn, Nikolic would already be the Chicago Fire leading scorer in: 2005 one away from 2006 2007 one away from 2008 2009 2010 2012 2014 one away from 2016 He has scored in three straight games and five of the last six. The Fire have only lost one game when he has scored and have only won one when he has not (Bastian's debut).
So a slow poacher from the Polish league can be successful in MLS? Quick, somebody go back to 2008 and stop Hamlett from making a horrible mistake!
He is a slow poacher regardless of how many he scores. That isn't meant as an insult because he is very good at what he does.
I actually was watching Nikolic closely on Saturday and he did not look at that slow. He does like to play very high up the field, but he was moving pretty well. The other player who surprised me a bit with quickness was DeLeuuw. He was all over the place, and made several 70-80 yard runs tracking back.
Pauno has to find a way to keep MDL on the field with Bastian and Niko . The more these guys connect the scarier this team is going to be. Heck, play Juninho AT RB if you have to ..lol.
I thought the link between DeLueew and Nikolic would be the primary attacking force for the Fire. I have been pleasantly surprised with the Accam to Nikolic pipeline. Or, play three at the back, as no RB is still better than Harrington at RB.
Obviously we're less than a third of the way through the season, but Niko is on pace to score 27.2 goals. The league record is 27. Thanks to the last few games, his pace is actually accelerating.
Nickolic may not be the most exciting player but he gets in the right spot at the right time and puts the damn ball in the net.
So this is what it would have been like if Frankowski ever saw the field way back when. If you get him the ball, Niko puts it in. Simple as.