PLETIKOSA PRAYS FOR A TRANSFER
The Russian Premier League will resume its season this Saturday after a short one-month long summer break. Spartak Moscow currently sit in third place only four points behind leaders FK Rubin Kazan.
Although Spartak is doing well this season, Croatian goalie Stipe Pletikosa has not been involved in any of his club’s games since a 3-1 loss to FC Moscow on April 11th. That means Pletikosa has not played competitive soccer in three months! This is an absolute disgrace for Croatia as they cannot use Pleti if he is out of form.
It bothers me that Spartak has not yet unloaded Pletikosa this summer. They had a perfect window of opportunity in the past month and did nothing with it. If Stipe doesn’t make a move happen soon his Croatian career could very well be coming to an end should he remain a #2 in Russia for another year.
LATEST NEWS ON PLETIKOSA, FROM JUNE
Let the debate begin…
WHERE WILL KLASNIĆ PLAY NEXT?
Ivan Klasnić is coming off a horrible season with Ligue 1 side Nantes where he only scored six goals in 28 appearances. Now that Nantes has been relegated back down to the French second division, no one expects Klasnić to stay with the team.
His best move is to move back to Germany where he had so much success with Werder Bremen. Schalke or Stuttgart would be ideal for Klasnić.
This post was written due to popular demand by Prva Generacija.
Its quite interesting that Palermo are seeing Igor Budan as part of there plans next season. Who knows maybe he could experience a revival. Palermo seem to suggest that Budan had a genuine injury problem last season rather than just being unfit and that he is now fully recovered. Will be intriging to monitor the guy. Its notable that Kalinic is also attracting average sides like Bologna and Portsmouth. I think he could prob go in next 3 weeks. Portsmouth certainly have the money to afford the transfer. Maybe though this a message to him that he has do something more noticable than what he's done so far. Actually looking back on it, maybe him scoring in the Under 21's might have actually got him more interest than being benched for the last year.
Mate Bilic has also signed a new contract with Sporting Gijon so he'll have another year in Spain's top flight to try and show Prosinecki that he is not worthless.
FYI Stipe Is once again on the bench for Spartak in their July 11th match.
I think it's already safe to say that Bilic is ok with Kovac being around the squad.
Kovac around the national team should only happen if Bilic is for it. Once done as a player, you are done. You are no longer a member of that team. Time to move on. Last thing we need now is someone who is considered to be in the running as the next coach to be around the team. It leads to second guessing the moment something goes wrong. I appreciate everything Kovac did as a player, but he should only be allowed near the team now if Bilic gives the green light. He already has the assistants he wants around him, so I see no need for Kovac.
Yes its quite worrying about Pleti. I hope he moves as it sounds like he could be in limbo all season like he was at Shaktar. I definitely think Klasnic will move. He prob will go out on loan for a season to Hertha, Hanover or someone.
Galinovic is certainly an obvious one. But there are some players Bilic just feels he must keep like Vejic, Drpic and some he just does not even give friendlies to like Ruki, Bilic and Galinovic. I'm looking forward to seeing his squad in the next months as Kovac being a year older, Drpic in second division and with Juric and Vejic being a year older you'd imagine he'd want to freshen things up. Someone mentioned Niko Kovac being next coach – i can't see what harm it is to have him around the squad straight away. He should certainly be around the squad. Kovac at least was the example of the complete professional which Prosinecki and Asanovic never were. Pros and Asanovic were totally gifted – that's fact but sometimes great players cannot judge people with other qualities. I'd rather have Niko Kovac going out watching a player to give his opinion on whether they deserve a call up than Prosinecki to be honest.
Another little bit of news Tomo Sokota has joined Lokeron.
Does Croatia have a friendly soon as i know England have one arranged against Holland? The lack of match practice Bilic is giving to the squad is also a bit of concern considering there is so much to try out.
I heard Tottenham were interested in Plete's services. I know there definately in the market for a keeper. As for Klasnic I think he belongs in Bundesliga he was greast at Werder unfortunately the doctors there tried to ruin him. I don't think Plete moves anywhere or starts for Spartak before our next qualifier August 12th against Belarus. Runje had a terrible performance against Ukraine and I don't think Bilic is going to start Runje against Belarus I know I wouldn't. No reason to start Pletikosa either the only option is Mario Galnovic and I'm all for it. I think he's a proven keeper that Bilic seems to resist from using and it's about time he did. He's 6'6 so he's tall as Cech and he has plenty of Champions League experience so that's not an issue either. It makes perfect sense and it's far from the gamble of allowing Plete to start after not playing a competitive match in 3 months or letting Runje blow it for us again.
I'm hoping Pletikosa goes to Hamburg or another Bundesliega team. It's the highest scoring league so he'll be tested more. Plus he'll enjoy the finest beer in the world in Deutschland.
The asses have gone to great lengths to insist they're not racists, posting lengthy, formal responses to UEFA on their website, and yet they make monkey sounds when certain players touch the ball. If the taunts are the actions of a few individuals, then I would hope Torcida and/or White Boys would call upon their 8,000 members to put an end to it. In short, I hope they'll stop wasting time arguing about the meaning of the Confederate Flag and get their shit together!
Yeh it's going to be interesting seeing how Hajduk fans and Torcida treat their new Nigerian striker.
Here's his highlight clip…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2v5x12PfZ4
@ Tom Hajduk the WHITE BOYS haha nothing is going to stop them sadly but maybe…this might just ease it a bit…
Hajduk signs 23-year-old Nigerian
Isah Abdulahi Eliakwu.
Check out his highlight reel on Slobodna Dalmacija.
Hajduk's had a very busy offseason. I must say, I can't wait for them to begin their Europe League campaign.
He looks like a potent goalscoring threat. If nothing else, having a black man on the team should encourage racist fans to ease up on Dinamo's black players. I hope so, as the racist chants are ugly and embarrassing.
Here's the most recent news I could find:
http://english.sport-express.ru/news/13_3643/
I'll post it above.
wasnt stipe rumored to go to hamburg a few weeks ago?
Apparently youngster Filip Ozobic has finally signed for Spartak.