KRANJČAR CELEBRATES A FANTASTIC DAY
The English Premiership had some rare midweek matches to showcase where a couple of Croatians definitely showed up to play. Tottenham Hotspur took on Manchester City Wednesday at White Heart Lane in North London. The Spurs desperately needed a win to stay in the Champions League mix and avoid a slide down to mid-table status. Niko Kranjčar made sure that no such thing would happen. Kranjčar played the full 90 for Tottenham and scored two goals (37′,90′) in a 3-0 win over City. Niko opened up the scoring with an easy tap-in off his own rebound in the first half.
KRANJČAR GOAL IN FIRST HALF
After Jermain Defoe helped Tottenham take a 2-0 lead in the second half, it appeared that three points were headed in the Spurs direction. Well, no one informed Kranjčar as he absolutely tore Manchester City a new one in injury time. He took a short corner, got the ball back, went around Emmanuel Adebayor and nutmegged City keeper Shay Given all in about 3.5 seconds. An absolutely brilliant goal.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was full of praise for Lennon after the match, but felt Kranjčar was unlucky to miss out on the man-of-the-match award. “I would think Niko Kranjčar must have been close,” Redknapp said. “I don’t know what he’s got to do to get a ‘man of the match’ after that performance.
Vedran Ćorluka played his usual 90 helping Tottenham claim a clean sheet while Luka Modrić remained on the bench as an unused substitute.
CHECK THIS KRANJČAR GOAL OUT!
KLASNIĆ STEALS THE GAMEWINNER
Ivan Klasnić had a beautiful assist and the game-winning goal on Tuesday as the Bolton Wanderers defeated West Ham United 3-1 to bring themselves out of the relegation zone for the time being. Klasnić is on an absolute tear as of late. What could it be? The wet English weather? The change of scenery? It couldn’t possibly be the horrific English food. Who knows?
BOLTON MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
IN OTHER ENGLISH NEWS FROM MIDWEEK…
Nikola Kalinić officially cannot buy a goal. He played the entire match in a 2-1 loss to Birmingham. Kalinić had a prime opportunity to tie the game up late in the second half off a corner kick but had his header stoned cold by the face of a Birmingham defender. It’s going to start to get mental for the young Croatian. Let’s see if he can fight through this unlucky slump.
Eduardo came into a tied game against Burnley in the 64th minute for fellow striker Theo Walcott. Dudu however couldn’t help Arsenal find the back of the net one more time as the Gunners could only manage one point against newly promoted Burnley at Turf Moor. Is it time to panic about Eduardo yet? I would think so.
There is no way Petrovic would have been traded in that time. He was at the end of his contract and trade was not possible. The big rumor at the time was that he would return to Europe and either go back to Real Madrid or one of the top teams in greece or Italy.
The watched the Kukoc interview when it was originally aired. He actually came acorss pretty good in that interview.
I have to disagree, respectfully of course. If Petrovic hadn't passed away, he for sure would have been an NBA All-Star. I believe he was also in talks of being traded to the Bulls at that time, though Petrovic was also considering a move back to Europe. Imagine if Petrovic was on the Bulls of the 90's…
Kukoc always was a pizda in my books. Check out this Nedjeljom u Dva episode.
the money didn't make Kukoc soft….he was a prick from day one. Radja is a good dude, he just lacked any discipline.
Our best national basketball team was in Barcelona '92. That's when alot of Croats were drafted in the NBA. Then they all got soft from the money. Radja, Kukoc, etc..all disappeared. Petrovic is still the most accurate shooter in NBA history.
I would not say the greatest. There is some debate with that. Sabonis was a great player and god only knows what could have been if he was healthy. But, Petrovic is in the discussion and probably at the top.
We are quick to point out that Hrvatska has never been the same since Petrovic's death, which is true. But, even if he never died, we would have seen the same results. He was 29 at the time of his death, so he probably had another 3-4 years in him. So, maybe Cro would have done something at the 1996 Olymic games, but anything after that would have been the same. Kukoc was no team leader and has and had an oversized ego.
Croatian basketball (or Croatia for that matter) has never recovered since losing Drazen Petrovic, easily the greatest European basketball player of all time.
Ukic cant shoot….he needs to go back to Europe.
@Boris
"kobe never should have had the chance to win it at the buzzer because the time down the court before that he traveled AND committed a charge"
Im not sure on the charge, but it was a definite travel. Worst case scenario for the Bucks, it should have been a foul on the floor and no continuation.
NBA loves stars is correct.
I agree with you that Ukic is screwed. he went from a team with a couple of decent point guards, to Milwaukee, a team with two that are playing great basketball.
@ziva istina
"NBA basketball is garbage until the playoffs"
I disagree. There are some good regular season battles. Baseball is garbage till the playoffs.
I'm not a fan of Kobe as a man, however, I am a fan of Kobe as a basketball player. Without a doubt the best in the world.
"Kobe is a perfect fit for the LA crowd. A fake player for the fake LA fans."
Bottom half of Staples Center is filled with celebrities. Most of them never picked up a basketball in their lives.
Ukic is an NBA player. He will get his chance.
the whole arsenal team is crap at the moment…eduardo will bounce back…
NBA basketball is garbage until the playoffs….Kobe is a predator on the court and a sexual predator off the court, rapist!!!. Great talent, but about the fakest human being you will ever find. I still get a laugh from his post-game title celebration after last year's finals and how he staged the entire ceremony to include his fat ass wife and his agent. Kobe is a perfect fit for the LA crowd. A fake player for the fake LA fans.
Ukic needs to keave the NBA and return to Europe. Kid will never do anything in the NBA with that jump shoot of his.
@ ante re: ukic's bucks
as a bucks fan that listened to the game on the radio and saw the highlights later online, kobe never should have had the chance to win it at the buzzer because the time down the court before that he traveled AND committed a charge, and because the nba refs love the stars, he got the foul and one. total bullshit. with regard to ukic, he's struggling to get minutes with the bucks because he's playing behind both brandon jennings and luke ridnour, who are both playing well. unless one of them gets hurt, he won't see significant minutes with the bucks this year.
as for klasnic, he definitely deserves a shot at starting for the NT. i never understood why he didn't start or at least play more in euro 2008. he always creates problems for defenders. had he been in the game earlier against turkey, maybe OT and PK's wouldn't have been necessary.
i've heard that bolton might not want to keep him after the loan expires. if he keeps up this form, there has to be an EPL team that will want him.
I think Arsenal are at the stage of just needing one peice to their jigsaw. They have all the young promising talents they need. They need a finished article. A guy like Fabiano will ensure success in the next two years. I think Dzeko is too expensive and rumours suggest Wenger does not want to pay that much for a guy who lets face who has just 1 and half years of success and only played his first season of Champions League football. I think Dzeko and Bentner are about the same. If Bentner went to Wolfsburg he'd prob do exactly the same.
Arsenal definitely will keep Van Persie and Bentner so i think its gonna have to be Eduardo and Vela who have to go and lose their playing time when everyones fit. Plus Arshavin can play up front as well.
I'm baffled about how someone would think nobody would want Eduardo.. Especially Sevilla who are a mid to top 8 Spanish side. How did Kanoute get to Sevilla? To go to Sevilla from Arsenal you have to drop your form just like Eduardo has done. Surely we are not now thinking Eduardo is so bad that he needs to come back to Dinamo? I'm sure his goals to minutes record is still very good even after the injury. Of course a team like Sevilla will take him. They do have a 35 year old Ivica Dragutinovic you know.
Dzeko is brilliant though, and young enough to suit Wenger. Eduardo should leave for more playing time, since Arsenal are almost certain to buy a striker in January – he's good enough to start for the midtable clubs, or maybe somewhere like Spain would be better for him right now. At Arsenal he has too much pressure to deliver quickly, which isn't good for his confidence.
Kranjcar has been brilliant since going to Spurs, whenever he plays well the whole team does well. I'm especially impressed with how hard he's working. He is undroppable at the moment and I think he and Modric can fit in the same team – it might be a bit lightweight, but Huddlestone is slower and doesn't offer anything defensively either. Klasnic has also been great for Bolton so far, I hope they sign him.
Kalinic is working hard but pretty unlucky so far, a bit more composure in front of goal would help but he is trying hard and better than their other options like Roberts. I'm sure the goals will come.
Isn't Chelsea's whole team around 29 years old. To win a title you need to buy the best and there is very few better than Fabiano. If they buy people like Dzeko or Chamahk they won't win any titles..
another one of your wacked out ideas…. Why would Sevilla take an unproven Da Silva since his injury. Plus, Fabiano is 29 years old. If Arsenal is going to buy a forward, they will buy someone a bit younger.
I watched the whole of Blackburn and Spurs games. I think Kalinic wasn't that bad. He nearly scored with a header which hit Seb Larson in the face on the goalline. Kranjcar was excellant and Klasnic is totally clinical at present. Its great to see him, Budan and Knezevic back to somewhere near their best.
Eduardo is basically at a massive club. one of the best on the planet and that's his problem. Arsenal are expected to win every match and Eduardo's injury was too bad for him to suddenly be 100% again. He needs games to work his way back in. He's lot his goalscoring rhythm. 80% of the league would take Eduardo in a shot though. If i was Wenger i'd probably give up on Eduardo and Carlos Vela cos Wenger is starting to come under pressure in England to deliver a title and spend money which everyone knows he has. He is actually losing players cos he won't spend big money. Hleb, Flamini and Toure all left cos Arsenal wouldn't step up to the next level. I think he needs one big name striker and he'll have the right time to win a title. Sadly that's means Eduardo out. I think he should put Eduardo and Vela in a deal to bring Luis Fabiano to Arsenal. That's probably all they need is a big strong striker that don't get injured all the time. Plus Eduardo will be brilliant at Sevilla.
Looks like Dinamo's Europa League season is about to end…..
At the Olympics I think they really played well, probably above their heads. We have a nice team, but not one differance maker, not even for the european game.
I agree ziva. Even if they lose all their games, qualifying for the world championships is still an accomplishment.
However, I watched some of their Olympic games last summer and they have a good shot at finishing third in group stage.
just making the basketball tourney is an accomplishment.
Yes, I dont think Eduardo is going anywhere. No team is willing to take a chance on him and continue to pay his contract.
How will Luka Modric return into this Tottenham lineup? I am interested to see Kranjcar and Modric both line up for Tottenham and how this will effect team chemistry.
Kalinic is still a kid playing with men. AS long as he continues to play in the premiership he will be fine.
For the first time in a long time I am excited about Croatian basketball. Top 4 teams qualify for the round of 16. USA and Brazil are good, however Slovenia is beatable. If I remember correctly, we beat them in qualifying this year. I am shooting for a third seed.
Da Silva is not going anywhere. He is a 2nd choice forward for Arsenal at the moment. The only way he will leave Arsenal is if he asks the club to release him at the end of the season. And lets face it, he wont do that because no other team will pay him his current salary. Wenger is doing the right thing for Arsenal with the way he is playing him.
off topic, but……Yes, Cro is in the same group as the US. they will have a tough time getting by in that group, besides the US are slovenia and Brazil. Both teams are better than Cro.
Croatia is in a group with USA for the B-ball world championships.
Kalinic needs to pray to the allmighty Lord, Its like some 1'z put a curse on him, if he has faith, the curse will be broken…
Kranjcar's goal was #2 on Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays of the Day only behind Kobe Bryant's game-winning buzzer beater in OT against Roko Ukic's Bucks.
Also, check out the new Euro 2012 logo. Can you say 'Gay'?
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/news/newsid=934513.html
And why are they having this unveiling outside in winter? It's like -5 C. Good job guys!
@ Ivica,
A loan move, very interesting stuff to ponder. Wenger is already without Bendtner and van Persie, can he afford to loan out Eduardo and get someone as good in the winter window?
He would definitely fit in Portugal, but what about a midtable Spanish club, ummmm say Sporting Gijon. Let him play with Bilic every week.
Eduardo won't do anything in Champions League, we know that. Maybe with the FA Cup coming up he can score 3-4 goals a game again and boost his self-esteem. He needs a talking to. His spot on Croatia as starting striker is not guaranteed come August, I can guarantee that!
Kranjcar has been great to watch lately!
Klasnic is also a great signing.
5 starts, 5 goals
Kranjcar is by far the best signing in the Premiership this season. He has totally revived his career and found his passion again.
Maybe Dudu needs a "confidence building assignment"? Send him out on loan outside of the English Premiership for the rest of the season. For some reason, the first league that comes to mind for me is Portugal. The guy is not getting any time at Arsenal and can't do anything with the playing time he does get. He needs a change of scenery. Let's not forget, Wenger wants to buy a new striker in January.