EDUARDO TO WEAR #11
Eduardo da Silva is off to Ukraine. The ‘Brazilian-born Croat’ has signed with Shakhtar Donetsk in a £6million move, Daily Mail has reported. Eduardo has not been the same player after the tragic broken leg he sustained in February of 2008. Hopefully, this move will revamp his career as he still has potential.
EDUARDO INTRODUCTION CEREMONY IN DONETSK
Eduardo moves from arguably the most physical league in the world to Ukraine where the only major competition will come from Dynamo Kyiv. Dudu joins fellow Croatian international and Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna in Donetsk as well as a number of Brazilians: where Eduardo was born and raised. He will have a starting spot locked up with Shakhtar baring injury and will also play in the Champions League group stage; where he can potentially meet former club Arsenal.
EDUARDO WILL NOW PLAY FOR THE UKRAINIAN CHAMPS
Most thought that Eduardo would be loaned out to a French or Spanish side for a year, not transferred as far as Ukraine. This is a fantastic move in Dudu’s career. He is guaranteed first team football on a Champions League side with Srna and fellow Brazilians making the move easy. Eduardo should score 16-18 goals this season in Ukraine. Anything under that should be considered a bust considering the poor competition among the lower Ukrainian sides.
Can this move get Eduardo back into 2007 form and ultimately help him become a threat on the Croatian national side again?
"yes a 6.
and you think a 6 is a good enough goalie to take us to the euro finals?!!!???"
Drazen Ladic is a 6… He took Croatia to third place…
You're gonna have to do better than that. you're playing with big boys now.
I was watching Delac today for the U-19 team….. he was sweating bullets facing France's U-19 players… This kid is nothing more than a kid… Croatia can bring him as a third keeper only to sit on the bench..
I'm not a huge Runje fan… However, I think he's the best we got… If Runje struggles at Lens, losing his starting job… Pleti rides the pine at Tottenham… then we dont have a choice but to go with Subasic… then Blazevic… then MLaden Petric…. remember that PK save…haha..
@Alex
I followed Runje all of last season and was responsible for the Croatians in France for Croatians Around Europe.
"Ligue Un has the lowest goals scored and shots-on-goal of the big 5 leagues."
You make a good point and I agree with you on this. Runje was only tested a few times a game. So either he made a few great saves or Lens would go down 1-0.. or 2-1.. EPL, Bundesliga, and La Liga are the three greatest leagues in the world. I dont think Runje would do half as good in these leagues. However, Runje has kept Lens in the game in most of the games this season, earning player of the year honors by various french publications.
What is the likelihood Hajduk will sign Vranjes? Is this all hype or is there some truth to it? 'Any thoughts?
Bijeli vjeruju da će Vranješ od vikenda biti njihov
Highlights of Hajduk's 6-1 win…
http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hajduk/tabid/83/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/110608/Default.aspx
On the heels of the draw against HSV and now this, I'd say the boys are in good form heading into this week's Europa League qualifier, no?
Denis,
One thing I have to disagree with is your emphasis of Runje's 8 clean sheets. Ligue Un has the lowest goals scored and shots-on-goal of the big 5 leagues. 8 clean sheets is good, but let's look at the context. Would he have had 8 clean sheets in the Bundesliga or EPL? I doubt it.
The keeper (for the future) that no ones mentioning is Antolovic. I believe he just transferrd to Legia Warsawa from Cibalia(?). This looks an excellant move as Legia produced Boruc and Kuscak (and I believe Fabianski). Unlike Delac, he'll actually get games in addition to working with a quality coaching staff. The best Delac can hope for is being loaned out to QPR or some other Championship side.
Too bad we can't simply take Pletikosa's organization skills and ability in the air and combine it with Runjes shot stopping + one-on-one skills to create the "Ultimate Croatian Keeper"….until then, I'd take Pletikosa anyday- just look at Runjes record (wins, goals allowed) to Pletikosa's. There's simply no chemistry with Runje, and I say that as someone who originally wanted Runje as #1…
yes a 6.
and you think a 6 is a good enough goalie to take us to the euro finals?!!!???
If Stipe was healthy and playing week in and week out in top form he would be a 8
Runje is horrible, Yes experience is key knowing the game is key,and knowing the your team is key
but what if you can not execute?
hmmmmm
put Delac in Devolpmenment get his ball rolling, have him ready for 2014 give Subasic a chance
what do we do if Pletikosa rides the bench at Hotspur?
who do you ideally see between the sticks for us in qualifying and and the aucutal tournament
Great move for Eduardo, I believe he will receive a lot more playing time on the pitch and will be back in form within a few months.
@ Anonymous #1,
You know you're Ukrainian stuff. Where are you writing us from?
I mentioned 16-18 goals for Eduardo. I failed to mention that I believe he has all three competitions (UPL,Ukrainian Cup,Champions League) to do it in.
I think Eduardo has a new lease on life now with Shakhtar. A new beginning with Croatians and Brazilians all around him. He will fit in well. Do you only see him scoring 7 or 8 goals? I don't think so.
@ OLUJA,
First of all I would like to officially welcome you to CSR…and second of all, I have to disagree with you.
Goalies get clean sheets in the MLS because no one can hit frame…not because because they have great goalies. And you mention international football knowledge. I believe you just compared the MLS to Ligue 1, arguably a top 5 league in the world. Hmmmmm….
Runje is good for his size. He in no way has a goalkeepers body. Too short. But he's scrappy and aggressive in the box. Watch some of his Lens highlights from last season. He saved Lens points and draws nearly every week.
The goalie position is not built for a young player like Delac. It's about respect and trust. That is why goalies can play into their late 30's. It's 90% knowledge of the game and your team.
Pletikosa is still Croatia's #1 if healthy and playing every week. He never stops screaming at the team from the back for 90 minutes. He had a bad game against England because we let Walcott run around like a little jackrabbit in an open field.
If your solution is a 17 year old Delac then you are crazy. Modric, Kranjcar, Simunic and Corluka are supposed to listen to this kid barking orders from goal- that's even if he gets it out. He's not ready…and someone said it before "If he has a bad game then his career is over and morale is shot" …
If Delac is the real deal…he has a solid 12-15 years in front of him….Whats the rush?
@oluja,
welcome aboard!
A few questions for you…
1) Where are you writing us from?
2) Where do you rate Runje on a scale of 1-10?
I rate Runje a 6… I'm not arguing that Runje is a Casillas, I am arguing that he's the best we have available.
Your counter for Runje's 8 clean sheets is that "goalies in MLS have 8 clean sheets"… since this is your first comment I will let this one slide.
Last question,
What do I have to learn about international football?
i have been reading CSR for a good 10 months now, first time commenting
and Denis i must disagree with you
Runje is garbage.Goalies is the MLS have 8 clean sheats haha
Stipe has no chance if he rides the wood all year
DinamoDennis is not the one who needs to learn plenty about International football, quite on the contrary its you
@dinamodennis,
"Id rather have to inexperienced young keeper then a shitty old experienced keeper. "
You obviously dont have a clue about goalkeepers. Keepers can play in their 30s, while most field players start to decline every year after 30.
So let me get this straight, you would start Delac against Latvia and Greece in September over Pletikosa and Runje?
Kid, you have plenty to learn about international football. It was not a fluke that Runje has started every game for Lens last year when he was healthy. Its not a fluke that Lens finished 11th in League 1 this season, higher than PSG, Toulouse, and Sochaux.. It was not a fluke that Runje had 8 clean sheets.. Runje was viewed by many as the player of the season for Lens…
Bottom line, people look to experience…
I didnt say that you "asked a question"
"You answered your first sentence with your third sentence."
1st sentence- "We need a new goalie piriod!"
3rd sentence– "We have always been soft when it comes to goalies"
We will ALWAYS be soft when it comes to goalies.. Runje and Pleti are by far the best keepers Croatia ever had.
Would I like Casillas between the pipes? Yes. However, we dont have a Casillas available…. and most likely never will.
Croatians are quick to bring up the problems…. and look for someone else to come up with the solutions..
So your solution is to start Delac against Greece… Just think if Delac gives up a soft goal,or worse, Croatia loses 2-0… Delac' career is finished.
from Ziva — "there is a big difference with playing in qualifiers and playing for Hajduk against Cibalia."
learn from the wise one my friend
@anonymous,
iker casillas is a legend… a keeper like him comes around once every 10 years…. lets not go to extremes here. Also, please sign in..
sad to see dudu leave the EPL. i don't see why he couldn't play somewhere else in england (everton or maybe villa) or spain. at least at shaktar they will see champions/europa league action for most of the year. but if he stayed in the EPL we'd get a chance to see him play on Fox Soccer Channel or ESPN every once in a while.
i agree with the goalkeeper issue. Why doesnt Matej Delac get a call to the NT. He doesnt have to start, just being with the national side as a backup or 3rd stringer would be great for him to learn. supposedly the kid has a world of potetntial. Why do we keep babying such players. Iker casillas was the starter for RM in champions league finals at the age of 19-20 and look what happened to him.
true, but you have to have talent. Kelava is not it.
Subasic….don't know about him at the international level either. I have not seen him make any glaring mistakes with hajduk, but there is a big difference with playing in qualifiers and playing for Hajduk against Cibalia.
It doesnt have to be Delac, just a younger goalie. Kelava, Subasic, there is alot more! Just give em a chance!
Delac is years away from being a keeper on the international level. You don't want a guy going from playing in the cro league in front of 500 people to starting Euro qualifiers.
I am not convinced about Delac, Chelsea or no Chelsea. I am willing to bet that Delac will never see a meaningful minute for Chelsea.
I agree give Delac a chance! Id rather have to inexperienced young keeper then a shitty old experienced keeper. THey will both make the same stupid mistakes….the difference being a younger keeper will learn for it where as an older one will not!
I dont buy that stipe and runje are our best.
@Denis
"We need a new goalie piriod! Stipe and Runje are no good. We have always been soft when it comes to goalies"
You answered your first sentence with your third sentence."
But i didnt ask a question….
@DinamoDennis,
"We need a new goalie piriod! Stipe and Runje are no good. We have always been soft when it comes to goalies"
You answered your first sentence with your third sentence.
Croatia has never produced great goalkeepers. This will probably continue..
Runje and Pletikosa are sadly the best keepers Croatia has ever had.
Yes, Drazen Ladic had a great run in world cup 1998, but what has he done in his 20 year career…. 16 years at Dinamo Zagreb..
Marijan Mrmić, Vladimir Vasilj, Tonči Gabrić, Mario Galinović, Tomislav Butina, and Joey Didulica. Here is our history of goalkeepers… most of them have a dificult time getting out of the HNL….
I am happy with Pletikosa and Runje…. I am accepting the fact that they are the best we have available.
Subasic and Delac still have to prove themselves…..
just like Ziva istina says: "I guess it boils down to this…who do you want as the GK…Pletikosa, Runje or Subusic."
Pleti has been on the sidelines for a long time now, I'm not sure that a move to Tottenham is wise if he will be riding the pine.
What about Delac from Chelsea?
I think sometimes people hate a player and they unjustifiably put blame on him when he does not deserve it.
I'm no Pletikosa fan either, but he was excellent during the Euros. In the group matches and and in the loss to Turkey.
He was terrible in the England debacle in Zagreb. No question about that.
I guess it boils down to this…who do you want as the GK…Pletikosa, Runje or Subusic.
There is nobody else.
@ DD (hope you're not because I question your sobriety)
You can't blame a goalie for a 0-0 tie or a any clean sheet. Secondly that was Runje in net for that israel game. Thirdly that Macedonia game was played in a pig pen. You gotta give the benefit of the doubt on that one.
By no means am I a pleti fan. But I just had to chime in given your examples given.
Lastly, its an admiring quality to have a goalie (any goalie) that can go for long spells without seeing the ball but still show up when it matters most. Even if it is just one shot a game. Usually goalies fall asleep under those circumstances.
Just sayin!
@ Nepoznat
Really ?? Are you watching the same qualifying games that I am ??
For euro when we beat england 2-0 he had two shot on net..both were long range.
When we beat israel 4-3 he had 4 shots on net and saved one.
When we tied russia 0-0 he had one shot on net
When Macedonia beat us 2-0 he didnt save a shot
He sucks! Plain and simple! I cant remember one game that he saved for us! When cro plays good D hes good cause he doesnt get any work.
When were playing shitty D its all over! His goal to shot ratio is laughable!
DinamoDennis I disagree, Stipe was called the best goalie of Euro 2008 by at least one analyst. I have no complaints about him being our #1, I just want him to get playing time so he is ready for Euro 2012 qualies and tourney
Re: DinamoDennis
I'm not saying that Drpic or Vranjes should be anywhere near Croatian squad. I'm just saying that our of nearly all Croats abroad that only Vranjes, Klasnic and Drpic have no sorted there future. If you consider how many Croats are abroad that is pretty impressive that only three have not sorted there future. That bodes well for the Euro's.
The point was about how across the board players are getting themselves sorted rather than highlighting anyone. Just saying Drpic and Vranjes haven't found a new club yet and along with Klasnic are the only ones oh along with Pletikosa of course but am sure he'll sort that in next two weeks.
There has been some news about Pletikosa starting at Tottenham, not being a stand-by. Gomez really sucked two years ago but his last season was pretty good.
Pletikosa is a good goalie for the NT. He's very vocal and he's agressive in the air. He owns the penalty box area. The only thing I have against Runje is he's not as assertive and he doesn't pull the ball from the air enough-both of which Pletikosa does well.
We need a new goalie piriod! Stipe and Runje are no good. We have always been soft when it comes to goalies
@ razor5556…..It sure helps, but reason Spain won the WC is because they have the most talent, not because they all play together. It helps, dont get me wrong, the majority of the line up is from Barca and Real Madrid, but they are talented.
Ukraine league is not as bad as some think. Yes, its always Dynamo and Shaktar for first and second, but they have had decent results with some other Ukraine clubs maiking it into the group stages of the Europa League/UEFA Cup in recent years.
Pletikosa…..will be a back up at Tottenham, he needs to find a club where he can play.
Guys… don't forget we still need to get Stipe playing again to have any hope in competitions as we need some talent and height between the sticks which Vedran Runje clearly can not provide.
I know he's 'supposed' to go to Tottenham but that's what has been said the last 2 transfer periods to no avail. Also a lot of Tottenham supporters are convinced he would just be the backup goalie there so he may not get much work outside of practice there anyways
Its great for Dudu and Croatia!!
He will score plenty and he will regain his top form fast!
@dinamofan
I agree that everything is falling into place nicely. All the players are making good choices and will get plenty of playing time. But please please leave out Vranjes and Drpic….forever!! They should never be on the national team ever again! Klasnic just has to find a club and were good to go!
Nah Eduardo will score plenty in the Ukrainian league. If anyone follows the exploits of Mladen Bartulovic they'll know that even he scores plenty from left back so Eduardo should find the net.
I'm very optimistic about Croatia. Practically everyone is positioning themselves so that they play within their clubs and a number of players moved up a level in the summer. if we even look at croatian footballers as a whole its only Vranjes, Klasnic and Drpic who have not sorted out their future. The rest have.. I think the competition is best thing for Croatia. Hopefully Slaven Bilic will recognise the right players and be able to coup Gavranovic, Jajalo, Perisic and Vuckcevic as i'm sure they'll have a great season this year.
What a great move for Eduardo & Croatia, he will be playing alongside fellow Countrymen Srna, which will Give the 2 more time to get to know each others game,Should have major benefits for our natonal team..
Its no suprise when you see Spain winning the world cup, for this simple reason, most of them play together on a consistent basis..
we have the 3 at Tottenham which could soon be 4, We have the 2 at Bayern Munchen, & now the 2 at Shaktar..
Hopefully we'll reap the rewards of this in the next few tournaments..
Can somebody let Shakhtar's marketing people know that their spell check doesn't work?
Waxtap is not Shakhtar. Boomshakalaka.
@anonymous,
please sign in. Where are you writing us from? I like your analysis on the Ukrainian league and I agree. Shakhtar had trouble last season, winning most contests 1-0 even against bottom dwellers.
Welcome to Donbass Arena, Eduardo!
But Ante Kvartuč (well, like 99% croats) heavily underestimate ukrainian league.
Also '16-18' in almost unrealistic since UPL among the most physical in the world and every club plays against Shakhtar like it's a Champions League final. But there's no so much of free space like he had in England, most of Shakhtar opponents just lock themselves with 11 players into their penalty box and do anything to prevent Shakhtar score.
He's best striker we have for now but he's not guaranteed a place into starting lineup.
But I hope we'll help him regain his majestic form.
good luck Eduardo, I hope you can regain your form and will be rooting for you wherever you go!
see the NY/NJ crowd tomorrow night!