Lazar Marković

[Iceman]

I read that in a Stewy voice. 

[Phoenix]

He was always raw potential with not huge amount of end product. Just because we paid 20 million doesn't change that.

[Russ Atmosphere]

He looks like someone who may never get over the shock of his introduction to a faster, harder league than anything he's been used to before. He seems ill suited to it and his passing doesn't look good enough to bail him out. Perhaps he's still getting over his injury, we'll know more by the summer.

[skend04]

The little time he had through the centre he was able to play a bit more like he can. A good run with the ball then there was a clever little first time pass that Borini wasn't strong enough to keep. He's got the ability, he just needs a run in his favoured position and not be altered to a winger.

[ZonkoVille77]

He's afraid of the tooth fairy, daffodils and 1 day old puppies. And his shadow.

[J-V]

The little time he had through the centre he was able to play a bit more like he can. A good run with the ball then there was a clever little first time pass that Borini wasn't strong enough to keep. He's got the ability, he just needs a run in his favoured position and not be altered to a winger.

 

So we've actually bought another number 10 to go along with Lallana and the other 4000 we already have at the club.  Wild I know but couldn't we have just bought one who's already better than those we bought Firminio.

[INTORRESTING]

Playing madrid away is daunting, it will only help him.

[stringvest]

I think it's good that Markovic and Lucas are getting praised for being slightly better than usual.  It will encourage them to blossom.  

[Jairzinho]

He's afraid of the tooth fairy, daffodils and 1 day old puppies. And his shadow.

 

And playing on the right.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Sterling didn't cost £20 million, Sterling was rightfully criticised for being absolutely woeful, why would anyone feel bad about that now ?? it was true. Markovic set the bar so sensationally low what he did last night is being looked on as a positive performance, amazing scenes, it's the equivalent of being bed ridden, falling out the bed and someone commenting 'well at least he moved', garbage.

[Nightcat]

Markovic and Balotelli are not responsible for selling Suarez. FSG sold Suarez to Barcelona.

 

Markovic and Balotelli never promised to be adequate replacements for Suarez either.

 

He was good yesterday.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Markovic and Balotelli are not responsible for selling Suarez. FSG sold Suarez to Barcelona.

 

Markovic and Balotelli never promised to be adequate replacements for Suarez either.

 

He was good yesterday.

 

That's good of you to say but I know what he did.

[Dr. J]

Comparing Markovic to Sterling doesn't make sense since even when he was playing poorly we could see that Sterling had bags of pace and energy. What has Markovic shown? I'm not slating the guy, I just don't see any of the physical ability he is supposed to have.

[stringvest]

Comparing Markovic to Sterling doesn't make sense since even when he was playing poorly we could see that Sterling had bags of pace and energy. What has Markovic shown? I'm not slating the guy, I just don't see any of the physical ability he is supposed to have.

 

He showed he had energy.  I am perplexed about this pace he's supposed to have.  Has he had hamstring injuries?

[Hand Shandy]

I admit I thought Markovic was quicker, but the times he was trying to run away from a defender he was usually up against Varane, who isn't exactly Gary Pallister...

[lebron]

He showed he had energy.  I am perplexed about this pace he's supposed to have.  Has he had hamstring injuries?

 

Yep. Got one in his first pre-season game if I remember correctly. Kept him out for a few weeks, and I imagine that has held him back in terms of his outright full pelt running. Seemed a bit quicker yesterday, and his run through the middle (before James hacked him down) showed good close control as well. 

 

Not even Bale would outrun Varane with the ball at his feet, so for people to beat him with a stick for lacking pace in that situation shows a clear lack of knowledge about our opponents yesterday. 

[Dr. J]

He showed he had energy.  I am perplexed about this pace he's supposed to have.  Has he had hamstring injuries?

 

I don't know. I did hear when we got him that he had lightning pace and last night the Brazilian commentators were talking the same thing, only nobody saw any of it. If he doesn't have exceptional pace then what was the point of spending 20 million on yet another average midfielder?

 

We'd have been better keeping Ibe and letting him learn his trade.

[Bjornebye]

Played well for some of last night

 

Good to see 

[The Guest]

I'm a hypocrite for saying it because I defended Sterling when he was playing poorly but this lad is fucking awful.  I actually don't care how young he is.  I know it's wrong and I'd be delighted to be proved wrong by him but fuck me he is one depressing player to watch.  He's the Lucas Leiva of wingers.  I think if Sterling had started in his place we might have got a result last night.

[skend04]

I'm a hypocrite for saying it because I defended Sterling when he was playing poorly but this lad is fucking awful. I actually don't care how young he is. I know it's wrong and I'd be delighted to be proved wrong by him but fuck me he is one depressing player to watch. He's the Lucas Leiva of wingers. I think if Sterling had started in his place we might have got a result last night.

WTF?! Has anyone actually seen Sterling play this season? I might be missing something but like Lazar our new saviour has hardly covered himself in any glory apart from a 3-4 month hot streak. Also wasn't he in the starting lineup at Anfield against Real? You know that match we lost easily? There's being critical and then there's being a spaz.

[billypilgrimnz]

Sterling has been terrible this season.

[magicrat]

Jury is still just out on Markovic for me

 

Watched him closely when I was at the Boro game and against Championship defenders he was hopeless. He does have a decent touch and some pace but crowded out the moment he gets challenged. Slightly better last night against infinitely better players so perhaps he can claim some improvement but there is still no end product and he's very lightweight,

Desperately needs to work on the physical side of his game. Sterling did it so its not impossible this lad could adjust to the PL and be half decent. Chances are though its Ryan Babel Mk2

[TheHowieLama]

He was quicker when he was playing against slower players. He was also better then.

[Phoenix]

I'm a hypocrite for saying it because I defended Sterling when he was playing poorly but this lad is fucking awful.  I actually don't care how young he is.  I know it's wrong and I'd be delighted to be proved wrong by him but fuck me he is one depressing player to watch.  He's the Lucas Leiva of wingers.  I think if Sterling had started in his place we might have got a result last night.

 

The difference with Sterling was that we didnt spend 20 million.  Money that we could have spent on someone who could make a difference straightaway.

[liverpoolsno9]

He must have something. Patience is needed.

 

 

In the summer of 2013 Benfica bought a slew of Serbian players. It was interpreted at the time as a strategy to keep star man Nemanja Matic happy and more willing to remain in the Portuguese capital. But one name stood out from the rest.

 

Lazar Markovic was billed as a global star in the making, with Benfica reportedly beating off competition from Inter Milan and Chelsea for his signature. Avram Grant went as far as to state: “I can say that apart from Ronaldo and Messi, Markovic is one of the best talents I’ve ever seen at 19 years of age.”

 

His single season at the Estádio da Luz suggests Markovic has every chance of making good on the hype.

 

The former Partizan Belgrade player whet the appetite in pre-season, his ability to dribble at lightning pace with his head up and provide an end product, be it an incisive pass or a cool finish, marking him out as something special from the beginning. Some remained sceptical about whether the scrawny teenager could translate his exciting form in low-intensity summer friendlies to the rough and tumble of top-flight competitive football. They were soon won over.

 

Markovic had opened his account in his second match wearing a Benfica shirt against Gil Vicente, and one week later he announced himself in style, scoring a breathtaking solo effort against city rivals Sporting in the Lisbon derby:

 

 

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus loves his flair players, but Markovic faced fierce competition for a starting berth in a deep and talented squad. The Serbian deserves credit for the way he quickly earned the absolute trust of the exacting coach. Indeed, Jesus was at pains to defend the player when some fans and critics were calling for him to be dropped as his form hit a lull in the run-up to Christmas.

 

The coach persisted with Markovic and his faith was rewarded. Benfica’s No. 50 was soon firing on all cylinders again. A total of 49 matches and seven goals are impressive numbers for a player who only turned 20 near the end of the season and who was playing abroad for the first time.

 

It was little surprise he became a darling of the Benfica faithful in such a short space of time. An exhilarating dribbler when in full flow, Markovic’s instinctive decision-making and gorgeous skills led to a number of memorable goals as Benfica marched to the domestic treble, exhibit two being this deftest of lobs over giant Vitória Guimarães goalkeeper Douglas from just ten yards out:

 

 

A prodigious debut season it may have been, but Markovic is not yet the finished article. He tends to go missing at times, his work-rate has been questioned (albeit an aspect he improved on throughout the season) and even his ex team-mate and compatriot Matic points to his less than perfect application in training.

 

Nevertheless, as a fellow ex-Benfica star who seamlessly made the switch to Premier League football, the Chelsea holding midfielder is convinced Markovic has what it takes to make an equally successful transition from Portuguese to English football.

 

“What can I say about our Markovic? It was excellent playing with this fantastic kid for six months. He has such massive potential that if he changed his attitude in training he could be one of Europe’s best players in his position. But he’s young, he’ll mature, and then nobody will be able to stop him!”