Your favorite bow-wielding striker is staying in London.
After his first year in the Premiership with Fulham FC, Mladen Petrić has signed with West Ham United on a free transfer for the 2013-14 season. Lead striker Andy Carroll is injured which can very well see Petrić get a nod in Sam Allardyce’s starting XI. The 32 year-old Petrić has previously played for Basel, Borussia Dortmund, Hamburg and Fulham before signing with West Ham. In 45 appearances for Croatia, he has scored 13 goals, none more important than his left-footed strike from outside the box in 2007 at Wembley to kill England’s hopes of a Euro 2008 bid.
Expect 5-7 goals from Petrić this season; with two of them coming from the penalty spot. Will he be Fantasy Premiership material? My magic 8-ball says “doubtful.”
Petrić highlights with Fulham
Try living in Toronto, fucking shitty leafs talk all the time. And yeah I used to be a big NHL guy, but over the years I have just been completely turned off by it, in large part due to over exposure. If I’m in the mood for sports talk I’ll tune into the Buffalo feed over the two Toronto feeds that are pretty much all hockey all the time.
Faux Cro, here in toronto no one gives a shit about the cfl. It’s bigger in small (read: hick) markets where it’s the only game in town.
Hockey was cool for awhile.
NHL sucks now.
The over-exposure in this market and the shitty quality of about 4/5 of the games has ruined it for me.
1st 3-5 pages of sports in The Province newspaper are about the Canucks and its fuckin early September!
There’s absolutely no American city that’s like this.
Drives me to watch just about any other sport.
Do Canadians generally watch American/Canadian football?
I thought ice hockey and curling were the hot ticket.
@Faux Cro
The CFL has never done it for me.
I even played football for a few years, and Canadian rules too.
It’s a great game up here but its just not marketed very well and 8 teams makes for a pretty lame league.
Loved the Birds during the Buddy Ryan, Gang Green, Randall Cunningham years and I’ve never jumped ship.
I see them every time they play in Seattle and this year I’m making the trip down to Oakland (god help me!) to watch them.
@Poglavnik:
A Canadian from British Columbia following American Football and a team from Philadelphia to boot?? WTF?
@Ziva:
The US went up and Croatia has gone down.
Armada,
Was a big Favre fan growing up, LA didn’t have a team…the rest is history. I like the midwest fanbase for whatever reason. They put a little more “umph” into their teams than the rest of the nation.
I’m also a huge Kansas basketball supporter as well…
WTF is this egg-ball shit u mofos are talking about ???
@matesic
Mexico is statistically out of the convo for Brazil.
@ Kvartuc
how does a guy from sunny Southern CA become a Pack fan?
I love how Chip Kelly still didn’t think the pace of the game was fast enough. He wants to kick it up a notch next week.
And nope! No love for the boys in Philly! (More so with baseball and hockey), but I do like watching the Eagles play. Bucs and Steelers are going to be awful this year, so I’m not too worried about any rivalry right now.
Number 11 is my favourite!
Philadelphia freedom
Chip Kelly’s offense arrived with a bang in week one of the NFL season.
Originally Published: September 11, 2013
By Rick Reilly | ESPN.com
1K
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Rob Carr/Getty Images
Eagles coach Chip Kelly had a lot to smile about after watching Michael Vick against the Redskins.
TheNewPhiladephiaEaglesplaysoUsainBoltOnDoubleEspressofastitfeelslikethis.
I watched their blurry coming-out party from the sideline Monday night during their hit-and-run 33-27 sprint past the Washington Redskins, and I’m still not sure what I saw. But I know:
1. This is a revolution.
This is not going away. This is not a gimmick. Chip “Machine Gun” Kelly is in the NFL to stay. This isn’t No Huddle. This is No Blinking. This is Nowhere to Hide.
The Eagles ran more than 30 plays in the first quarter, 53 in the first half. The play-by-play guy needed to be an auctioneer. I could see the Redskins’ flushed faces. They didn’t seem to know whether to make soup or do their taxes.
“Once you get tired, the mind goes at times,” Redskins LB Brian Orakpo explained. “Guys start missing assignments and missing tackles.”
2. This is not replicable by scout teams.
Practice against weak facsimiles all you want. Until you’re out there and the Eagles are blowing by you like autobahn traffic, you can’t know. Ask the Redskins.
“They had us off-balance all game,” veteran DB DeAngelo Hall said. “A couple of times, we thought it was one thing and it was something else. I didn’t think that offense would be like that. I didn’t think they’d be able to jump on us like that.”
It all comes at you way too fast. What are coaches going to say to their gassed defenses?
Damn it! We’ve GOT to work on our spasming!
3. This is a whole new headache for Roger Goodell.
In the past, with concussions, guys would pretend they weren’t injured. Now, against the Eagles, they pretend they are. You’re going to see more injuries than on “Grey’s Anatomy” during Eagles game this season, all as fake as the ones Patrick Dempsey operated on.
(And by the way? The Redskins are the worst actors this side of January Jones. I swear I thought I saw Kedric Golston grab the wrong leg in the first quarter. Guess we know who the Designated Diver is on the Redskins.)
There is a solution: If the refs have to stop play to check on you, you cannot return until the next quarter. If there’s less than two minutes left in the next quarter, you sit the following quarter.
What’s the alternative? Send refs to med school?
Sorry, DeMarcus, I’m going to need to see bone.
4. This is going to be fun.
Unless you’re on defense. Then you’d better have oxygen ready.
5. This changes everything.
Philly will have to double-lock the door to keep free agents away this offseason. Turns out young fast men in their 20s love to have fun.
And why not? Football is still a game, after all. Why can’t it be fun? Why can’t practices be set to really loud, cool music? Why can’t it be crazy and freewheeling and nuts? Who likes field goals? “I never thought football has to be like a business,” Kelly said Monday night. “We don’t treat it like one. It’s a game.
“Oh, man,” DeSean Jackson said, beaming, a man who looked as if he’d forgotten to take his Xanax the past two seasons. “I felt like a kid in a sandbox.”
6. This might be the year LeSean McCoy wins the MVP.
He’s going to touch the ball more than the center. He took over the NFL rushing lead this season — by halftime. (He had 115 yards by then, 184 in the game.)
Last season, McCoy averaged 16.7 carries a game. Monday night? He carried it 31 times. The Blur gave him so much alone time, you’d have thought he had measles.
“There’s so much room and so much space to make plays,” McCoy said afterward. He was grinning like a teenager whose dad just gave him a new Porsche.
[+] EnlargeLeSean McCoy
Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
LeSean McCoy ran — a lot — in Week 1 of Chip Kelly’s game plan.
7. This is worth keeping the kids awake for.
For instance: I saw something in the first quarter I’d never seen before. The Eagles had just come up short on third down and immediately went for it. There wasn’t a thought, a notion, an inkling, a pause, a blink, a nothing. WR Riley Cooper was even motioning for them to go faster. No looking at coaches. No asking upstairs. They were going for it absolutely and unequivocally and every guy on the team knew it. Vick converted it three seconds later. Cool.
8. This is going to blow through your DVR settings.
“It was a crazy game,” Vick said. “I’ve never been a part of anything like it … When the first quarter was over, I thought we were about to go into halftime. It was unreal. The only thing I can say is, it’s gonna be a long season.”
Especially for 300-pound defensive ends.
9. This is dangerous.
Kelly had better find a Kevlar jersey for Vick. The Blur is so Big Sky-open that Vick often had nobody in front of him to block. He took a black-and-blue truck full of hits. “Ahh, it’s OK,” Vick tried to say. “That’s why I weigh 220 pounds now.”
That’s your plan?
10. This was history.
It must be what it felt like when professional football’s first legal forward pass was thrown in Massillon, Ohio, in 1906.
And before you ask — I was off that day.
11. This is going to make a lot of smart guys look dumb.
The week before the Monday night game, Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett was playing Niagara Falls to Chip Kelly’s little candle.
“I’ve watched 23, 24 [University of] Oregon films,” Haslett said. “I watched what [the Eagles] did in preseason. If they can do anything else, God bless ’em.”
Consider them blessed.
12. This is just the start.
Vick said they showed only 60 percent of their offense Monday. And Machine Gun Kelly didn’t think it was fast enough.
“I felt like it was slow,” Kelly said. “I’m not joking … We left the ball on the ground too much. We didn’t get the ball to the officials. We could have sped things up … between plays. That’s something we need to work on.”
Ican’tfreakingwait.
Also, no way is Chip heading back to college anytime soon. And i’m not talking about the 18 month NCAA suspension placed on him.
The man is like a football savant!
Talk about “jock-sniffing,” I don’t think I’ve ever loved someone I didn’t know, so much!
@Ante
Thanks buddy!
The Pack will getting an up close look at “The Blur” in about a month! 🙂
Injuries is my only concern.
Vick got hit way too many times on Monday for my liking.
We’re not gonna play 100 mph all game. Our offense has different speeds and we’ll keep the defenses off balance all year.
Whoever has Shady Mccoy in Fantasy Football Leagues will be laughing to the bank!
31 carries, 184 yards. Was the NFL’s rushing leader by halftime. This from a guy who averages 16 carries a game.
@ Poglavnik,
Enjoy the Madden show while it lasts. No way does this Philly team stay healthy at this pace. Vick will get hurt before week 9 the way Chip’s running this offense.
It was only one game…maybe he pulls back on the throttle this weekend…but if he doesn’t. Good luck in your future coaching career back in college.
He’s running a college offense in the NFL. Why can’t you do that?
Because:
1) College teams can have more players than the NFL’s 53 cap limit…meaning they can stay fresher, longer
and
2) There’s absolutely ZERO defense in college football. Only a few top ten teams have solid defenses that don’t give away 20+ yard drives every set. Entirely different story in the NFL.
So to you Poglavnik, I wish your Eagles a healthy season.
Go PACK Go!!
@Colin
No love for your interstate rivals?!
You guys have way too many Bowls to be jaded.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited or liked this team more! I’ve been a fan for nearly 25 years and that includes some seasons where I could barely stomach what they were doing. i know i’m getting ahead of myself but after one week the only team in the NFC that worries me is San Fran.
I’m going to be nice and just say I have a strong disliking for Philly, but I’ll tell ya, there won’t be a more fun team to watch this year than them, and I don’t even watch a lot of football. I even found myself cheering for them last week. Mike Vick is making his big comeback.
Life is great for us Philly faithful!
In Chip we trust!
@ Colin
Thank you and thanks to the Bucs for gifting us with that win. It’s not like we’re winning more than 6-7 games this year anyway, so I appreciate the genorosity!
Ziva – Nobody saw the Jags. Who watches them? It was probably blacked out in Jax.
Hell, they thought they were playing basketball they way they were scoring two points.
Shit, did you guys see my Jacksonville Jaguars.
Don’t talk to me about pain, Armada. I assume you watched the Jets-Bucs game last week? -____-
I appreciate continued prayers for my NY Jets.
for those that watched the game last night… you’ll understand my pain.
-Bafoon for a coach.
-Starting RB, WR’s and TE who probably wouldn’t have a starting spot anywhere else in the league
-A rookie QB (who is showing promise – fala bogu that the Sanchize era is over)
All the makings of an epic season.
At least the D is looking somewhat solid. But that fight at the end? Now half our O line might be suspended for next game?
Sweet.
@Faux Cro – I was born & raised in New Orleans. I’ve lived here my whole life, except for the few years I spent screwing around at LSU. There are a lot of Dalmatinci in New Orleans. Also, I understand that many people in Biloxi, MS, have roots on Brac. Commercial fishing industry was a big draw for Croatians to the Gulf Coast.
Regarding the FIFA rankings……..Puppet Sukker and Strucnjak Stimac kept telling us this was a top 10 FIFA team we have. Well, since those two bozos have taken over, our ranking keeps sinking.
@Faux Cro………By thye same logic, how can Cro remain in the top 10 when they lost at home to Scotland?
Actually, I said Modric was a world class player. That was the reason I expected him to excel right away at Real Madrid. When he didn’t, I began to question my thoughts about him.
Jury is still out on Saric. Playing good at Eurobasket is one thing. Making an impact in the NBA is another. I’m beginning to come around on Saric, but I still think he is too slow to play the 3 spot. I don’t know what his ceiling is. Some of you think he will be a star just because he is croatian (blind homerism). I don’t, I can separate where a player is from in discussing him honestly. If he can have the career of Dejan Bodiroga, I would be happy. I think he can be a more athletic version of Bodiroga – and if he is – that will be great for Cro hoops.
for all you guys ripping on the USA……remember this……they hve done more at the last three world cups than our Hrvatska has. The US has actually made it out of the group phase in 2 of the last 3 World Cups, and won a game in the knockout stage. Have we????? Don’t let the facts get in the way of a flawed argument.
How can you lose to Costa Rica 3-1 and move up the rankings to 13?
I suppose BiH and Mexico boosted the US.
First you said Modric was NOT a world class player. When he struggled to settle into Madrid after his transfer saga from Spurs and your idol Levy held him hostage to the last days of the window.
Then you said Saric has “NBA flop” written all over him.
Funny how you can write about Rakitic’s missed header against Spain every other week but YOU want us to forget about the BS opinions that you portray as fact about our people.
Again I appreciate your insights, but when you portray Ziva Sranje as Ziva Istina. I will let you know.
And our basketball team are playing their hearts out for Croatia. Respect.
“Stay Istina my friend.”
Bog I Hrvati.
@F1:
I don’t expect the US to do well @Brazil. It all depends on their group when they get there.
Their last group was England, Slovenia, Algeria. I would love for Croatia to get this group then or now.
Their division is weak (including Mexico) and Mexico is playing poorly on top of that.
The victory over BiH was great, although it was only a friendly. I think they also beat Italy in a friendly a while back. That probably wouldn’t happen in a competitive match.
Is there any motor racing in croatia ?
Kimi Raikkonen will be coming to the end of his career soon be nice to see a countryman make it to F1 one day so i’ll have someone else to support! heh heh heh..
First Modric?????? What on earth are you talking about?
@Faux Cro
It will only get worse, watch the USA overtake us
@ Ziva
Brother the basement has failed you !
We are all Croatian. I have met Petrovic and Suker etc…We treat each other as equals. Again there are so few of us. It is silly to big time each other.
Vukojevic is an unskilled scrub.
I would hang with Suker in South Beach but wouldn’t have him leading our Savez.
You do have a point of a pervasive arrogance of our people. But that is just ego based BS.
I great people with respect as we are all connected through the soul.
Come out the basement and join the party.
First Modric NOW Saric?
Dalmatians are the best athletes in the world.
And yet your basement goggles skew your perspective.
Recognize!
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/index.html
Any thoughts on the new rankings?
I know nobody agrees with me but im a supporter of petric. the guy can play, he doesnt mind pulling the trigger from far out. hopefully he has a good season and maybe gets a call up for the world cup. I am still all for jelavic, give him time.
Poglavnik said it best,
“Nothing wrong with admiring a person in any walk of life, and showing your admiration or respect for them.
At the same time it’s a pretty thin line between being respectful, and intrusive when bothering someone that you don’t personally know.”
Any Everton striker would be lucky to get 10 goals in a season. Who was the last Everton striker to do that??
@Ziva:
I was in Stop and Shop the other day and I went out of my way to find and thank the manager for something. The man was appreciative. Perhaps I am a supermarket jocksniffer.
When you find what you are looking for with the TV, please share it with us.
@Maro:
Are you born in bred in New Orleans? My sister has travelled a lot in the south and was surprised by the amount of Croats in Miss. and Louisiana.
@Nepoznat:
Reading your comments makes me feel like a dinosaur.
@ Mucki Provokator!
nice username haha
I always thought of using the nickname Joca Mastercard..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGNeHOV5w44
^ ^ ^ ^
That was NOT Poglvanik!
Croatia
You have to feel a little sorry for the Croatians, given they were drawn against the indomitable, the wonderful, the unbeatable (according to the cool kids) Belgians, who are just a point away from securing their qualification. Indeed, they could secure that point in Zagreb next month, when they face Igor Stimac’s side. Croatia would be in rather better touch with the leaders were it not for an inexplicable home defeat to Scotland in June, a result that would lead many an international manager to consider a walk in the woods with pa’s old service revolver. Even if Croatia do manage to beat the Belgians, the chances of automatic qualification are slim – Marc Wilmots’ side host Wales on the final day. The play-offs await.
nepoznat, can you stream saan.tv with the mac mini
Hell score 5 goals maybe 8 tops if he gets chance to play. Thanks Petric for that 2007 goal that knocked those arragant Brits out
@nepoznat…..thanks, might go that route.
15-25 goals??????????? so you think he will be on of the top 5 goal scorers in Engalnd because that is where 25 would put him.
I think he will be lucky to reach double figures.
I think jela will have a stellar season. God help me I like the guy and I believe he’s in for a 15-25 season goal haul.
And if jelavic was on his own I would approach him congratulate him and give him a nice tug job.
Who’s with me!
@Ziva get a Mac Mini from 2010 or newer and use it in combination with your set top box. Watch TV from STB when you want to, and watch internet streams of games, channels, movies, whatever plus all of your digital media from the Mac Mini when you want that.
Mac Mini works with the Apple Remote or you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse/trackpad if you want/need to
Nothing wrong with admiring a person in any walk of life, and showing your admiration or respect for them.
At the same time it’s a pretty thin line between being respectful, and intrusive when bothering someone that you don’t personally know.
thanks for the suggestions. I prefer a set top box so i don’t have to use my computer to navigate and change channels.
@nije bitno…….it appears that package doesn’t feature HRT1 and HRT2. They have the same HRT channel for the diaspora that these older companies provide.
I disagree with Ziva on this one. Ziva does make a good point but I dont think that Adame falls into the “jocksniffing” pot by his actions.
As far as Vukojevic being a “dick”, I agree. All Vuki had to do was say “thank you”, “thanks for supporting us” and ended it like that. He could have turned his shoulder after and went on with his business.
If Vukojevic was having dinner with his girlfriend, then that would have been a different story.
As far as Jelavic being “ready for this season”, sports is 50%(at least) mental. I remember an NBA analyst say that he knows if an NBA player will be great just by the way he walks up to the podium after he is drafted. “great players glide to the podium, draft busts walk up to the podium as if they have two left feet.”
Sometimes it just takes a 2 minute conversation to find out where a player’s head is at.
Last week, JR smith was quoted in saying: “Knicks will win the NBA championship this year.” Dude wont be healthy in time for the nba season. Knicks dont have a 5% chance. With one comment, any idiot can conclude that Smith might have beat out Metta World Peace to the Lamar Odom dumbest player in the league award.
@ziva istina
There is a satellite dish just like that my dad has it, he paid a one time fee and can watch endless channels with no monthly bills i will find out how he did it and what satellite it is
And i personally think that its great to run into your national heroes/favorite Cro athletes, we “jock sniff” so much on this website like little school girls but when the opportunity arises to meet them in real life we are not allowed? I would love to meet Cro-cop or Goran Ivanisevic or Davor suker one day. Wouldn’t you?
@Ziva forget the splitter… if you don’t already have a Mac Mini 2010 or newer as your HTPC hooked up with your TV (you REALLY should btw) or you want a much cheaper option get a Google Chromecast $35:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromecast/#netflix
It plugs into your TV HDMI port and let’s you send anything from a Chrome browser from your PC straight to the TV wirelessly
never looked into it or anything, but is it possible to get Kanal RI, TV Istra, or any of those regional channels (Televizija Dalmacija is another that comes to mind) here in the US? Anyone ever see it on satellite?
Ziva – http://www.croatiantv-america.com/
@ Ziva – probably not the answer you are looking for, but, I have an amplified splitter that allows you to send your video signal from your computer to both your monitor and your TV. SaanTV looks excellent on my televison with that set up.
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/SIIG-video-splitter-2-ports/2878096.aspx?cm_mmc=ShoppingFeeds-_-GoogleBasePromo-_-Cables/Audio/Video%20Cables-_-2878096_SIIG%20-%20video%20splitter%20-%202%20ports_SII-CE-VG0A11-S1
Does anyone have any good recomendations for live croatin streaming services.
I want to be able to watch all the HRT channels, Nova and RTL live on my TV. I know there is a serb company that offers a set-top box to watch those channels along with BiH, Serb, Crna Gora and Macedonia tv channels….all live. I rather not pay a serb company for it.
is there a Cro company. i know there is one that offers Cro tv (you need to install a sat dish), but you don’t get live programming.
I know about Saan.tv, but i want it on my tv and not on my computer.
thanks in advance….
A link to watch Hajduk-Dinamo, this Saturday, 1PM Eastern US time.
http://www.tportal.hr/sport/prvaliga/285763/Hrvati-u-dijaspori-opet-mogu-gledati-derbi-Hajduka-i-Dinama.html?utm_source=facebooktportal&utm_medium=fanpagetportal&utm_campaign=facebookshare
@jm……Saric does look good. I still question if he is quick enough to platy the 3 in the NBA. But, very surprised so far. He is a better ball handler than I thought, much better. Might have to revise the predection about him.
@nije bitno………The one thing I like about Split (because I did notice it the most in Split) is how the average person basically will go out of their way NOT to make contact with an athlete or celebrity over there. Splicani are fucked up but one of those fucked up qualities is that the average person considers himself better than theypical athlete or celebrity you see walking around in Split. We could all learn a lesson from that.
@Armada…..in that situation I would say “cestitam” and leave it at that. If the dude replied and appeared reciprical to a conversation then I would engage. But, I’m not the type of person that would be at a rally at the airport or the trg. I’m the type who would celebrate (and believe you me, I would celebrate) at a cafe with friends watching everything on TV.
@Adame…….well, then don’t call Vukojevic a dick because he wanted to be left alone. Some people prefer to be left alone and not get involved with crazy strangers. It’s nice that jelavic engaged you. No issues with that. I think its great when any of our players act normal to the public, but don’t call someone a dick because they wanted to be left alone. For all we know, Vukojevic could have looked at you and thought you were nuts. Who knows. My point is not to paint someone the bad guy over a two-second encounter.
Armada – good question but highly doubt Ziva would be coming back from Zrce lol
Jelavic is the man!
If only his skills were as great as his heart.
@ziva I’m sorry for being a proud Croatian and wanting to congratulate the people who represent my country. So for me to randomly run into Jelavic and Vuko in the airport and me saying hey “great job the other night” is jock sniffing, well then i guess im a jock sniffer. I dont see anything wrong with it in fact i was very excited to meet these guys. Idk how wanting to meet some of your favorite athletes is demeaning and a disgrace. Jelavic seemed excited that someone actually recognized him in the airport. Good thing you werent there cause if you went up to him we wouldve noticed you were a faggot from the get go.
@ Ziva
hypothetical situation for you…
Croatia somehow manage to win the WC this upcoming summer. You’re by chance at Pleso the same day the NT flys back in and is greeted to a hero’s welcome. Although you’re not there for the home coming (perhaps a connecting flight from Pag after a 2 day rager at Zrce?) you undoubtly see the throngs of people there to welcome the NT back.
So you’re in some corridor trying to walk out of Pleso, turn the corner and you accidently bump into Mario Mandzukic, who scored the game winner in the WC final.
You’re telling me you wouldn’t get wide eyed a bit, stop, congratulate him and maybe give him a handshake? Find that hard to believe… Doubt you would just walk by him in that situation and pretend like you don’t know him.
Ziva – thats all fine and dandy but remember these “stars” were nobody’s before and they prob did the same thing. Vukojevic is not a star, heck you probably have a bigger fan following on this site than he does as a professional athlete.
Through your posts, i see that you have been to cro many times. You know what its like over there brate, its not strange to have Oliver Dragojevic pissing in a urinal next to you at some disco while he’s on his break from the concert you went to attend. The “celebrities” (if thats what you want to call them) over there aren’t treated like celebrities in the states.
I think Jelevic is just more down to earth and maybe a more social person and thats why he took the time to talk to Adame and Vukojevic is just a stuck up prick that likes to think hes someone special when in reality he would get on his knees and prob start sucking anyone of his american fav celebrities dick.
hoops crushes finland. 5 in a row. @ ziva. saric looking legit 🙂
@Adame………so, do you always walk up to complete strangers and tell them good job. That’s textbook jock sniffing 101 right there.
I’ll never for the life of me understand why people have the need to go up to athletes/celebrities and kiss their ass.
You going up to someone who you don’t know is a form of self-demeaning yourself. Why would you disgrace yourself like that. I don’t know if you fall into this category or not, but all the earmarks are there. people like you will go up to someone they don’t know and then hit their phone and text friends “hey guess who i just saw”.
Re: the new rankings
10 is pretty realistic for us. Elo rankings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Football_Elo_Ratings) have us at 13 and I would put us somewhere in the 10-15 range.
Both Elo and FIFA rankings are skewed…. England shouldn’t be in the top 10, but I wouldn’t rank the USA ahead of them. Belgium is a top side, but I feel like 6 is a bit high for them. With Elo, it has Brazil at 2 which is laughable…
@Faux Cro – good link on the youth academies. Chicago Fire run an affiliate program in New Orleans that is pretty good. My 3 year old participates in the U5 program. It’s complete chaos…really funny to watch! Thank God they wear shin guards.
Perisic did shit the bed. I think one guy the NT can rely on will be Rebic. Have a good feeling about him. I hope to say the same about Halilovic sooner rather than later.
re: Jelavic
funny part is a lot of you were riding Jelavic’s dick prior to the Euro when he was scoring for Rapid Wien/Rangers
a lot of our guys kill it in mediocre leagues and then come to a big boy team or league can’t cut it….
I’ll admit it, I was all over Ivan Perisic when he was on fire at Brugge; speed, great with both legs, would pull the trigger from outside the box and was pretty accurate – then he moves to Dortmund and now Wolfsburg and what has he really done? Nothing. I thought he was going to be a huge difference maker for the NT too and now look … in the prime of his career and he can barely hold down a starting spot on the NT
Croatia fell to number 10 in the fifa rankings… I know the rankings don’t mean much but we have fell 6 spots with Stimac as coach.
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/izbornice-sve-ide-po-planu-novi-pad-na-fifinoj-ljestvici-hrvatska-deseta-na-svijetu/700087.aspx
I think we all expected this.
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/nastavljaju-se-provokacije-mihajlovic-pozirao-s-majicom-vukovar-na-cirilici-/700005.aspx
@ziva istina no need for the attitude. I think hes going to have a good season because he seemed confident and eager to get going. not cause i had a convo with him you. And i said vuko is a dick because i congratulated him on his performance Friday against Serbia and he didnt smile, say anything or even give a thumbs up, just continued to clean his gucci bag. If someone told me i did a good job (stranger or not) i’d at least give em a thank you.
@Adame……..so jelavic is going to have a good season because you had a short conversation with him??????????
why is Vukojevic a complete dick? Maybe it has something to do with a complete stranger like you walking up to him. I hear this all the time that so and so player from the repka is a dick. I always ask why. And usually the response is that so and so player didn’t want to talk to me or take a photo with me. So, if a complete stranger comes up to you and starts asking you questions about your profession are you going to talk back to him or engage. I sure would not.
More props bets on Jelavic:
What number will be higher:
Missed headers from Rakitic this season or goals from Jelavic in EPL play.
The amount of dives by Srna in Champions League play or goals from Jelavic in EPL play.
The amount of Olic-style goals by Mandzukic for Bayern or goals from Jelavic in EPL play multiplied by 3.
STDd currently being carried by Corluka or goals from Jelavic in EPL play.
Jelavic? goals? ha!
Here is another prop bet: who will stay with there team longer, Petric or Jelavic?
@iggy jelavic is going to have a good season this year. I met him at the airport in Zagreb Monday (surprisingly no one else recognized him) and we talked for like 3 minutes. I told him i hope we make it to brazil and he said that we would. He’s also looking forward to the season with Everton. He seemed confident so lets see what happens. Also i met Vukojevic, hes a complete dick.
I like that prop bet: More goals in the EPL this year, Jelavic or Petric?????
Thanks for the link @Faux Cro, I will use this for my son Luka and eventually Sebastian (he is only 7 months)
so if he gets 5-7 goals this year as claimed in the article, how many more will that be than jelavic? 4-6 or 5-7 ?
I like Petric too, but he is long in the tooth and not suited to the English game.
Good for him getting another decent contract before he downgrades to the Swiss or Croatian league. WOW I sound like Ziva.
@ Faux Cro
Vucetic is from the island of Vir, near Zadar.
A buddy of mine is a Vucetic and I told him to lend his cousin some of his goalie knowledge.
Ironic that Mexico gets a Croat with over 20 years experience at the national level and Croatia gets Stimac.
If Vucetic gets to el tri to Brazil then he is the real deal.
Petric played great on that rain soaked night at Wimbly when smacked that ball in the back of the net. I like his game, as he can shoot from distance.
http://academy.demosphere.com/Clubs/index_E.html
This is for everyone in the US with children that play soccer. It is a list of all US soccer academies.
Ante Razov coaches at the LA Galaxy’s.
http://www.socceramerica.com/article/53704/vucetich-is-favored-to-replace-tena.html
Mexican of Croatian descent is going to be the next Mexican NT coach.
© foto di Andrea Ninni/Image Sport
According to football press:
Napoli and AS Roma are now much keen on Croatian Under-21 international half-forward Marcelo Brozovic (20), recently scouted by both Serie A giants. Currently on a deal with Dinamo Zagreb until June 2019, the player has been already drawn towards Genoa and Liverpool as well.
There’s a croat who can score from the penalty spot????