Can Everton Stop Bojan Krkic?
Credit: Goatling/Flickr
He’s one of the most exciting players in the Premier League right now and is really starting to show us all just why there was so much hype surrounding him when he first arrived on the scene at Barcelona all those years ago.
Now 24 and doing his utmost to revive his career in England, former AS Roma, Ajax and AC Milan star Bojan Krkic has received a real boost to his confidence in recent times with a series of fantastic displays and great goals, prompting the question: ‘Just where did it all start to go wrong at Barcelona?’
It’s hard to say, but one of the main reasons was probably the fact there were just so many household names in the Barcelona squad when he was there, too many for even a player who had netted over 500 goals for the various Barca youth teams.
Without any fear, this could be Bojan’s chance to shine, and against a rickety Everton back-line, he might just steal a goal or two
But with Everton confronting him on Boxing day, his resurgence also prompts yet another question – one that’s far more pressing for The Toffees; ‘Can they shut him down and nullify his effect?’
Again, it’s difficult to say. A player who normally possesses bundles of energy, it will be interesting to see how the jam-packed festive period is taking its toll and whether he’ll be feeling a bit too jaded to procure his usual lung-bursting runs.
Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin have not been having a great tie of things at the back this season in the league and with the third-joint worst defensive record in the league, this match is set to be a real test for them.
With a consistent stream of games now coming thick and fast for the player who’s turned out for Catalonia numerous times, he’s now getting what he never got under Pep Guardiola, and the progress he’s been making as a result has been phenomenal and it’s really beginning to show now.
As reported by the Mail On Sunday, Krkic’s father has expressed his annoyance at exactly why he was so often left out of that star-studded team:
"“Guardiola didn’t give him continuity. In the Copa del Rey, Bojan was the top goalscorer for Pep. In La Liga, he could score one or two goals, but then not play again for weeks. It is very curious.”"
Hinting at a period of unrest in the Catalan club’s history, Bojan Sr. was quick to point out that another reason behind his eventual departure from the club was due to a lack of welcome from certain sections of the changing rooms:
"“They were international stars,’ says Bojan Sr. ‘They saw a little boy starting games. Sometimes, Ronaldinho was on the bench and Bojan starts. You can imagine, eh? Not easy. It became very difficult, he wasn’t welcomed in by everyone.”"
Having mixed it with the best of the best, Bojan has likely overcome much of the anxiety and pressure he once felt and seems much more at home with The Potters than he ever did with the La Liga outfit, and he’s unlikely to feel too put off by the thought of playing away to Everton in the coming days.
Without any fear, this could be Bojan’s chance to shine, and against a rickety Everton back-line, he might just steal a goal or two.
Sitting in behind the strikers, he’s been enjoying a lot of freedom to express himself, pick smart passes and work hard off the ball, causing him to become a real fan favourite already.
It’s up to Everton to stop him, but if there’s one man who might just be able to do it, it’s Muhamed Besic.
Having already proven himself against Lionel Messi at the World Cup this summer, he has the capacity to stop simiar types of players and that experience could well come in handy.
Do you think Everton can stop Bojan?