Croatian talents Marin Ljubičić and Martin Baturina could not have asked for better starts to the 2022-23 season. The two have already combined for 10 goals and two assists through the first two weeks of the young season. With Sučić, Gvardiol, and Stanišić joining the Croatian A-team, Igor Bišćan’s U-21s might’ve just found their newest superstars…
Let’s start with 20 year-old striker Marin Ljubičić.
Since joining Austrian side LASK on loan from Hajduk Split, Ljubičić has scored 9 goals in only four matches – let that stat line sink in. He leads the Austrian Bundesliga in goals scored (6) and total goal contributions, and is averaging an incredible 8.23 SofaScore match rating through three league matches. In his first match for LASK, Ljubičić scored a hat trick vs. Schwaz in the Austrian Cup while playing only 61 minutes. Only a few weeks later, he knocked four goals past Wolfsberger in a 5-1 victory in league play. Keep in mind that Wolfsberger are a Europa League caliber squad.
Ljubičić hasn’t played more than 75 minutes in a single match this season. However, he’s made each minute count for his new team, scoring 64% of his shots and finding himself involved in a goal every 25 minutes. Hajduk is receiving lots of criticism for letting Ljubičić leave on a loan after showing many promising signs during the 2021-22 season. But let’s be honest – with Livaja and Kalinić in the lineup, how much time would the 20 year-old see in his natural position? Through only four matches, Ljubičić has already caught the eyes of scouts and football fans across the world. If he continues to find the back of the net at a consistent rate, a huge offer will come knocking on his door.
Sučić, Šimić, and now Ljubičić. The Austrian league will be a treat to watch for Croatians this season!
Now, let’s talk about 19 year-old midfielder Martin Baturina.
It’s safe to say that Baturina has been Dinamo Zagreb’s most impactful player this season. Baturina has scored and assisted once through three league matches this season, and put on a midfield masterclass against Ludogorets in Champions League qualifying. Despite having Mišić, Ademi, and Ivanušec as midfield options, most of Dinamo’s attack has flown through Baturina this season. His poise, agility, and phenomenal dribbling technique sets him apart from pretty much every other player on the pitch.
Baturina is truly a joy to watch on the field. When he receives the ball, it’s evident that he already has his next move all sorted out in his head. Almost like a quarterback, Baturina often drops within Dinamo’s backline to spark an attack from the defensive third. He can play the 6, 8, and 10 positions all at once.
Hmm, another short, Croatian midfielder from Dinamo Zagreb that can orchestrate, defend, and impress any crowd in front of him. Wonder who he watched growing up…
Ljubičić is a bizarre situation.
The kid is an elite talent and Hajduk give him away for a loan with like a €2 million option to buy from LASK?
LASK can sell him for €20 right now?!
What type of retard ćevapi are they eating at Hajduk?
I need to see this kid exploding for us down the middle this September.
This is just the type of breakthrough talent we have been needing up top.
Rebić – Ljubičić – Perišić
Svi Splićani up top.
Speed – explosive – power
I want to see pace up top to create space for Modrić in Qatar. I am tired of watching Luka over work for us.
Let his 37 yr old Self have some horses around him for once.
I wouldn’t call up Rebic again if he hasn’t sorted out his relations with the team.
I would keep Perisic on the Left side and with Sosa behind him bombing on down with overlapping runs and helping out with the attack.
Majer has had gimmic’s on the Right wing with the NT and he hasn’t been bad, he can still create chances.
https://www.marca.com/en/football/2022/08/09/62f23c05ca4741f22f8b45cd.html
Nice read on Ljubicic.
As well as a nice read on Baturina. Looking forward to seeing these talents grow.
U14
After you finish explaining what you meant by “despite” to slavonac (not the first time I’ve seen a slavonac need words explained), i would like to know what you meant by “paying” in your title “Ljubičić & Baturina: Time To Start Paying Attention”.
Does “paying “ refer to some kind of financial transaction we’re supposed to be engaging in.. or maybe it’s referencing the transfer window…or a broader theme about how time is precious..
U14, can I ask what you meant by this?
“Despite having Mišić, Ademi, and Ivanušec as midfield options, most of Dinamo’s attack has flown through Baturina this season”
Ademi has scored some very important goals recently, Misic is a defensive midfield player that does a really good job of distributing….Ivanusec has been average!
When you say “despite “ having those players around Baturina…what did you mean? I live Baturina and i think he’s a super player but I’m a little confused what you meant by saying “despite “? His teammates in midfield have been pretty good! Usually when someone uses the word “despite” it means the player is surrounded by crappy players and they are performing….which I would totally disagree with you in this case!
Slavonac, good question!
Your point is correct, I could have used a different word in this case. However, by using “despite”, I meant it as…
Even though he has other reliable players around him, he’s still managed to have much of Dinamo’s offense flow through him
Ademi has been super clutch so far this season, and has found the end result. But I’ve noticed that Baturina has orchestrated much of Dinamo’s attack, and the impact he’s had as a young, breakthrough player is quite impressive considering the talent around him
In conclusion, Baturina is overperforming around solid players!
Alright thanks! I agree with you …good analysis!
Maybe we are over analyzing and he meant he is a good player in his own right. Could just be a simple grammar error and nothing more.
Noone is perfect! Cough Botswana United comment I had a while back instead of saying Man U… Nothing against Botswana that is ..
What’s going on with biuk?
But hajduk hanging onto a washed up kalinic rather then developing the young one properly is just backward thinking
You have livaja
Keep him and get the young kid into the mix properly
Yeah I am still not sure why Nikola Kalinic was put on the team. His issue with the National squad would have been enough for me to turn him down. I don’t really see much in terms of contribution.
Hey at least hajduk only loaned him rather then sold him for a cool mill to pay the utilities
Glad he found his place hopefully
It’s early and the hot can get cold but the kid does have promise no doubt
Keep that midfield factory going
It’s just so impressive cause now we have a steady supply of potential forwards and defence which truly wasn’t nearly as abundant till recently
And before “ziva” calls me out for being a homer
Facts are facts
Unfortunately, LASK has an option to buy at only 2.4 million Euro.
If this kid is for real, then Hajduk just handed LASK a free 10-15 million euro.
There’s the hajduk we all know:)
If he keeps his current form does Dalic call up Ljubicic for September UNL games.
This current “9 goals in 4 games” form?
He’d better! lol
There are four more games in August for LASK, so if Ljubičić can manage several more goals I don’t think even Dalić can ignore that.
I’m fully expecting 18 goals from Ljubičić by the end of August.
Haaland is my baseline for him.
If he doesn’t hit 18 by August 31, then we stick with Musa (who I almost already forgot about).
Musa has to work his way off the bench at Benfica though.
Dalic takes way too long to recognise players and call them up.
Musa was killing it and our most in form striker at the start of the year, was completely snubbed and only got the call in June.
It took Dalic too long to call up Sutalo and Erlic over Mile Skoric again, too late and it should’ve been done earlier.
Even if Ljubicic keeps this up, Dalic wouldn’t call him up cos he’s so in love with Kramaric and even if he did, he would manage it like what he did with Gvardiol in the Euros.
What do you reckon’s going to happen to Roko simic this season considering it’s Sesko and Okafor as starters?
Hopefully Šeško is sold. He’s already receiving alot of interest.
Either one of them tbh is good enough for Simic.
Baturina moves and touches the ball like boban
I’d like to see more of baturina. Does anyone have a highlights video they can share?
Ljubicic. I’ve watched the highlights of all LASK matches this season to see how he is doing. It’s not just how many goals he’s scored, it’s the type of goals and his general play. His first goal in his first match. Was a stunning left foot finish into the top corner with little backlift. Fantastic technique. His link up play is fantastic, he knows when to dribble, when to pass and when to hold the ball. And he looks completely confident. Like a world class striker.
Now. It’s the Austrian league. Not a top league. I know. But I give you another detail. Watch his first goal against wolfsberger this weekend. (His first of 4). It looks like a routine header. But keep your eye on ljubicic as he moves into the box, not the winger with the ball. At exactly the right moment he takes one step to the left away from the ball and then cuts in front of the defender to his right. This allows him to score. Even strikers in top leagues struggle with this at times. They run toward goal hoping the ball hits them. Often it doesnt because the defender has the line. This is the art of master strikers. If you watch great goalscorers this is what they do. They make it look easy but it’s not. Even mandzukic was not as good at this as ljubicic is already. He’s very good believe me.