Much Antonio Colak’s rather nomadic, out-of-a-suitcase-and-into-the-plane-seat career has often been a tale of ‘feast or famine’.
He struggled for goals in Germany with Kaiserslautern and Nurnberg but was prolific in Croatia with Rijeka. Then came a disastrous stint at PAOK, an outstanding spell with Malmo, and a season at Rangers in which an impressive tally of 18 goals was undercut by his lack of a presence outside of the penalty box, Mick Beale’s desire for a more all-round centre-forward paving the way for an early departure.
But if Antonio Colak still made a hearty meal out of Scottish Premiership defences, then the well-travelled Croatian is going through a period of starvation in his new Italian home.
From feast, to famine.
Former Rangers ace struggling in Italy
After bursting out of the blocks at Parma – he scored three Serie B goals by early October including ‘beautiful’ finish against Catanzaro – that bright start feels increasingly like a bit of a false dawn. His most recent strike, in a 3-2 defeat to Venezia, was four months ago.
Colak hasn’t started a league game since being hauled off at harm time against Spezia in December either, and has featured only twice in the last eight league fixtures.
Colak, in truth, is something of an old-school throwback of a centre-forward in an era where strikers are expected to lead from the front, and contribute as much out of possession as in it. That rather one-dimensional skillset certainly played a part in his Rangers exit – Beale replacing him with the hard-pressing Danilo and the more mobile Cyriel Dessers – and it seems that Colak may now be running into a similar issue at Parma, with speculation over a move to Spain emerging during the January window.
“It was a match that didn’t put him in the best conditions,” Parma coach Fabio Pecchia said after that Spezia clash, Colak struggling for service and therefore largely ineffective before his half-time withdrawal (Parma Live).
“When we were far from goal, he wasn’t in the best conditions (to effect the game).”
One goal in four months
In all competitions, Colak’s tally now stands at three goals in 16 appearances. Pecchia has even admitted to calling upon alternative options in recent matches, while leaving Colak twiddling his thumbs on the bench.
But, such is the nature of Colak’s feast-and-famine career, don’t be surprised if his next club – whoever that may be – coaxes a 20-goal season out of a player who continues to veer wildly from the inspirational to the ineffective.
