Dejan Lovren (33) re-joins Olympique Lyon of Ligue 1 after his successful 2022 World Cup campaign with Croatia. He joins on a permanent deal until 2025, which would make him 35 going on 36 by the time his contract is up. Transfer probability = 100%
Mislav Oršić (30) may be leaving Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 30 for a Premier League club…finally. Bottom of the league Southampton are interested and have most recently offered shy of €6.0M, a ridiculously low offer for the dynamic winger. It was, of course, rejected, and the Saints are going to have to come back with a much better offer if they are to land Oršić’s signature in what could prove to be an excellent move for the struggling club. Transfer probability = 50%
Roko Šimić (19), currently RB Salzburg’s fourth choice striker, is loaned out to FC Zurich of the Swiss Super League. Currently the lowest scoring team in the league, they could use a young prolific striker like Šimić. My only concern is the lack of surrounding talent for the young player. Transfer probability = 90%
Josip Brekalo (24) could be on his way to AC Monza in Serie A. This would be an incredibly disappointing, but needed, move for the young winger. A year ago, Brekalo rejected an extension with Torino (currently 8th in Serie A), only to go back to Wolfsburg and receive no playing time. Now he is interested in signing for Monza (currently 14th in Serie A), when he could have had the chance to play under talented coach Ivan Jurić and Croatia teammate Nikola Vlašić. The price of the transfer is not yet confirmed. Transfer probability = 95%
Josip Juranović (27) is attracting all kinds of interest around Europe. Chelsea’s £13.0M bid was rejected by Celtic (semi-reliable source), and it is said that Monza and Torino are also interested. Transfer probability = 30%
Gvardiol is nothing more than a social smoker, right..?
Just weed. All good
Ivan Perisic can bang in goals with both legs. Why not make him right winger? Seems like Orsic has a signature move to cut back in at the box and shoot a right footer to the opposing goal post, from the left side. Rather predictable looking at his highlights, but that seems to be his most productive move.
That is a accurate assessment on Orsic. He does what he does very well and even it’s obvious it’s hard to stop.
@ maminjo
These sound like rational moves but unfortunately dalic is too much of a relationship guy. Maybe that’s ok. These are people and not Chess pieces.
He just had this massively successful World Cup experience with guys like budimir and livaja. They hugged together, cried together, sang together
After that bond, dalic is not going to turn around to budimir or livaja in the next qualifier and say thank you but your time is done
Emotionally it just won’t happen so those guys will be back unless they are injured
Interestingly we’ve gotten no nt retirements yet.
Ok Dalic.
Christmas break is over. It’s time to get back to work.
If you’re still on vacation tomorrow (Pravoslavni Božić), it means you’re a Serb.
Time to look at our gaps and slowly integrate some of our youth for Euro2024 preparation. No clearing the bench. The youth needs integration with first team players. Don’t worry, you don’t have to give them starts. You can do this in the last 10 minutes of each game if you must.
Issues at striker take first priority.
We have several striker options for the March qualifiers who have all been scoring this season.
Musa, Čolak, Ljubičić, Beljo, and possibly Šimić (now that he’s loaned out) should be scouted and heavily monitored…but it’s pretty safe to call up at least a couple of those guys right now (as end-of-the-bench backups). Don’t worry, it won’t kill you.
It’s time to send Budimir a ‘Thank You’ card for the 45 minutes he provided coming off the bench at the World Cup (then having to come off again due to weak performance).
He’s not going to realistically play now, or in two years from now, so it’s time to rip the band-aid off. Any more callups are just a waste, and is taking away from integrating a future player.
Give Livaja your saučešće and let him know that it’s time to move forward with other options too. If you don’t want to piss off Torcida or the Naš Hajduk board, you can call up Ljubičić to satisfy their needs (or just wear a retro Hajduk shirt at your next interview with a red star version of the logo). If you must, you can give Biuk a callup for the next game in Split.
Luka Sučić needs to get some of those ‘last 10 minutes’ of the game in these qualifiers (in case Modric mails it in before Euro2024).
If we’re still going with Perišić over Oršić at LW, then maybe trying Oršić at RW is something that could happen. We also have Gabriel Vidović starting in the Dutch league at LW (if we’re concerned about depth at that position behind Perišić). Again, it’s just the last 10 minutes of a game. Won’t kill you.
If Lovren won’t retire, I think at this point even he won’t kick up a big storm about one of Šutalo or Erlić starting ahead of him. It’s time to develop chemistry with our CB pairing for the next tournament. Also, if Sosa and Juranović aren’t holding their weight defensively, you need to play Stanišić some minutes, and maybe think about trying different formations with Sosa.
Again, these are ‘last 10 minute’ things that you try with the first team players.
Don’t burn 10 games before trying something new, then suddenly roll out an experimental lineup made up entirely of 11 newcomers.
Maintain our FIFA rank, maintain our Pot A seeding, don’t ruin our reputation, and plan toward the next tournament.
Thanks for your comment. You have some good pointers so I decided to give you a preview of my initial plans:
With the first qualifier at Poljud I’ll be starting Livaja at striker. Vlasic will be at RW and I’ll call up Melnjak for LB. I’m pushing for the Latvia game in September to be held at Osijek and while I’m hearing good things about Beljo, I think I’ll pander to the home crowd and have have Skoric play at CB instead of Sutalo.
Actually, I think playing in Osijek may force Dalic to try out Beljo, lol.
First time the home crowd pandering will do us good.
Maybe Marin Ljubičić gets the full 90 in Split too. 😉
Good points
Disbeliever Lukaku makes these things happen
———— to all of the blessing transfer —————
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbuAIesdyKY
if Belgium has got this believer as their goalscorer
It will make positive changes so that
our youngster’s future looks brighter!
Luka Vuskovic to be moved soon!!!
Hajduk only has his rights until Feb 24 ( his birthday at which he’ll turn 16) and be able to sign with anyone for free … at that point Hajduk only receives 200k vs 5m they can get now …
Team that want Vuskovic:
AC Milan
Rb Leipzig
Club Brugge
Brentford
Psg
Stellar performance by Milic yesterday to help Canada come from behind and defeat the USA at the World Junior Hockey Semifinals.
Milic helps Canada win gold in world juniors hockey.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnCDaeisB46/?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY=
Orsic to Southampton is official.
@Maminjo:
“Sidenote: Antonio Colak was an unused sub in the Rangers/Celtic derby. What is up with this guy and not being used in key games for Rangers?”
Hmm, I think he only just returned from injury, and Rangers has a new manager since late November…
https://www.ibroxnoise.co.uk/2023/01/its-time-for-rangers-antonio-colak-to-shine-again/
@Maminjo
https://croatiansports.com/breaking-hajduk-wonderkid-stipe-biuk-joins-lafc/#comments/492904
I love your comment above.
Really glad to know you are also of the view that FIFA/referees showed favoritism towards Messi & co. in WC2022. Getting awarded a penalty in 5 different matches… there’s gotta be something fishy going on there. Also if you ask me, the Livakovic penalty is more unjust than the Perisic penalty in WC2018.
A bit late but Happy New Year to you and everyone on CroatianSports!
what is this?!
you want Lovren to get out of his responsibility
is this the way you act_ Lovren’s boy!! ~
that penalty because of Lovren_
GO TO SLEEP ~ LOVREN’S BOY!!!
Does croatia have a top 50 player in the world right now outside of Livakovic?
Maybe gvardiol is the best bet.
Take a look at this top 50 players in the world cup list from espn before the world cup. Modric number 7 but we all know that carries a lot of legacy with it. Even when he was given the “bronze ball” trophy which I didn’t even know existed till he received, we know that carried a lot of legacy as well.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/4787456/world-cup-rank-the-50-best-footballers-of-qatar-2022
I can’t say I love what I saw from modric in that tournament. the first time to me he started to look human. Every move was a bit tougher and bit more tiring. I fear we may enter a be careful what you wish for phase with modric. We always want him to stay, but it’s possible he takes a steep and awkward decline soon. For now, he’s still serviceable.
These lists are very subjective. I wouldn’t get worked up over there not being that many Croatians on it as they’re usually biased towards players playing at the biggest clubs or for the ‘big’ nations. Some of the players on that list rarely got playing time in the WC. If they couldn’t crack the top 11 for their own NT, did they really deserve to be in the top 50?
Must be killing you inside that Croatia came third place.
🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup_awards#:~:text=Those%20who%20finish%20as%20runners,by%20Adidas%20and%20France%20Football.
The last monumental signing for a Croatian player was Luka Modric. That was 2012. What player recently has signed to a top club in a recognized and established league? I can name just one and that’s Stanisic with Bayern. Rebic isn’t getting minutes at Milan. Majer, Jurnavoic and Orsic are all in weak leagues. Players like Vlasic or Pasalic aren’t being transferred. All that’s left for potential signings in terms for youth is Sucic, Simic, Musa and Sosa. I remember when Manduzkic got signed by Bayern after the Euros when he broke out and he had an exaptational first year in the Bundesliga. He has 22 goals, 15 goals in regular and won the champions league (scored in the final too). The year later he had 26 goals and then left to Atletico which was the wrong move. Mandzo was still having 10 or above goal seasons after the World Cup in Russia. What numbers do Budimir, Rebic, Kramaric, and Brekalo put up now? None of them will put more than 10-15 goals after this season.
My apologies..Gvardiol is one too. How could I forget the Croatian Batman.
Perisic was putting up decent numbers too after our run to the final. Mandzukic peaked late for us.
Numbers aren’t everything, and Mandzukić was as great if not even better when he went to Atlético because he developed more dimensions to his game. His reason for going there was the manager and team system. What Guardiola implemented at Bayern didn’t favor Mandzukić’s way of playing. But Mandzukić was one of the best strikers of his generation. It’s hard to expect every other Croatian forward to do what he did for football.
I would argue that Kramarić is a better player now than he was in 2018, even if the numbers aren’t in his favor. Why? He has become a much better passer and one of the very best dribblers in the game; he’s developed his left foot to the point where it doesn’t matter which one he shoots with (demonstrated against Canada). Budimir hasn’t really gained or lost anything, and Rebić has arguably gained something bad, which is his overblown ego. Brekalo has improved his strength, but was foolish to go back to Wolfsburg after getting so much better at Torino. Vlasić has developed better ball control and creativity.
Pasalic tied it, in time added on, for a 2-2 final after Atalanta trailed 2-0.
It’s good to see these players get more money more exposure more experience and be upgraded. I’m excited for nations league possible finals and euro 24
Congratulations again to the Croatia NT for their medal at the World Cup!
Bravo
you know whats interesting.. even after the 2018 world cup, no croatian really became “discovered” and signed by a big club
there was the potential for vida or lovren to make some big moves but it didn’t happen
my guess is also that most of these moves will never occur
On another note, is the national team better without marcelo bozo-vic?
With bozo, they tie morroco…without him, they beat morroco 2-1
With Bozo, they lose to austria 0-3. Without him, they beat austria 3-1
With bozo, they give up 2 goals in the first half to Argnetina from defensive breakdowns… without him they only give up 1 goal on a herculean messi effort
With bozo, they are losing 1-0 to brazil… as soon as he comes up, croatia ties it up 1-1
there seems to be a pattern
Ej, the truth is back on his high horse.
The only bozo around here is you.
Nemaš pojma.
Bog i Hrvati
That’s because Croatia has been a top team for almost three decades, and nobody from Croatia suddenly gets discovered after a World Cup tournament.
Gvardiol was heavily scouted when he was still a teenager, was sold to RB Leipzig as a 19 year old, and was almost sold for 90 million Euro before this tournament.
Even guys who never left the HNL (like Oršić) were well known by Western clubs (just ask any London club how they feel about him).
Scouts from all the top teams in Europe closely follow Croatian football, so you’re not going to get into a situation anymore like what we’re seeing with some players (who come from teams like Ghana, Morocco, and Japan) surprising everyone and getting new contracts at big European clubs.
Truth your Commodore 64 needs to be upgraded before it’s too late?
The BOZO sure fooled those Italians didn’t he,capturing the SERIE A midfielder of the year last season!
I mean what do those pizza makers know about soccer anyhow?
Can you cherry 🍒 pick Any stats on Luka to see how useless he is as well??
it’s not really cherry picking. It’s just looking at the last few times he hasn’t played a full game. every time croatia seems to perform better once he leaves.
I can throw in another.
With bozo against saudi arabia, croatia was underperforming 0-0. Once he is subbed off, Croatia goes up 1-0 and almost 2-0 on another goal ruled off sides.
I didn’t cherry pick stats. I gave you the last 5 times , brozovic did not play a full game and how the team performed with him on the field vs with him off.
The results are clear. better with him off.
I wouldn’t say they’re clear, but there is something to them. I personally wouldn’t mind benching Brozovic when we know we are going to really dominate possession.
When we have Kovacic and Modric on the field at the same time with Brozovic, we don’t have an attacking midfield presence. When this happens, usually Kramaric is dropping back to fill that roll, and we have no one getting into the box when we’re distributing from the wings.
Modric and Kovacic are more deep lying playmakers. They make great passes that release play from the midfield, but rarely are they following up that hockey assist pass. So we have 3 midfielders that have some overlapping skill.
When Brozovic sits and we can have someone like Majer play as a true #10, our offense can look more fluid. It allows Kramaric to play more advanced and Majer can pick his spots to advance into the box should we be crossing in from the wings.
The downside is that if a team has a very fast counter we can be exposed as Brozo has a knack for making great tactical fouls to stop play.
Kinda hard to believe that price tag for Juranovic.
Chelsea definitely has the money to throw around (so maybe there is some truth to the price tag), but he’d be a backup once Reece James is back in a month or so.
That would be bad news for us if he loses his spot right before the March qualifiers and June Nations League games.
He’s also still in hangover mode, and stunk badly when he came off the bench against Rangers. He was still on the bench again for the next game, so I assume this means that Celtic really are planning on selling him, so they don’t want him injured. He also may still be battling an injury from the World Cup.
EPL is merciless, so I don’t want Juranovic going to Chelsea (when he’s not at 100 percent) and then fail to impress in his first game. His EPL stint could end up like Vlasic’s and Kramaric’s.
I prefer he goes to Torino or one of the other rumored teams for Juranovic. Gets to play in a bigger league, and is unlikely to lose his starting spot.
Sidenote: Antonio Colak was an unused sub in the Rangers/Celtic derby. What is up with this guy and not being used in key games for Rangers?
His successful 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign with Croatia
came from the whining and intimidation of the youngsters…
The greatest shame for the Croatian national football team 2022 `
by taking him over talented youth who can really lead Croatia to glory!
Guys that need to move immediately this winter: Juranovic, Livakovic, Orsic and Brekalo. Everyone except Brekalo on this list is currently playing outside a top-5 European league AND has hit an all-time high in value following the World Cup. Brekalo simply needs a change of scenery where he can play. Anywhere will do. Add Roko Simic to the Brekalo pile as well. Just needs some PT.
Guys that can wait to move: Gvardiol, Majer, Sosa. These guys all play in good leagues and can finish out the next 5 months with their current sides. Their value will probably stay the same no matter what happens in 2023, barring injury.
Guys that need to stay put: Sucic. He doesn’t need to move until he has a monster season in Austria. Remember what Perisic did with Club Brugge in Belgium what seems like decades ago? He was the leading Belgian league scorer before being bought by Borussia Dortmund. This is the same path Sucic needs to take.
Joško to Real Madrid?
https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/real-madrid-ready-to-move-for-rb-leipzig-defender-josko-gvardiol-4441989
I love the move to Real…but they’re deep at CB.
I don’t want them trying to put him at LB or something like that.
People may write off Monza FC but it was a former third division club (now in Serie A) that was bought by Silvio Berlusconi back in 2018 and run by his brother. They are trying to spend to be competitive in Serie A….could be interesting!
Antonio Marin went there two years ago, took photos with Berlusconi, and then couldn’t get off the bench.
Brekalo looks like an idiot turning down Jurić and Torino, to play for some obscure team that’s probably rife with corruption.
Would love for Luka Sucic to take the next step and get a transfer to Ligue 1 or Bundesliga team
I hope that Roko Simic goes to FC Zurich on loan. He needs to be playing regular football which has not been the case in the last 6 months. He even lost his starting eleven position in our U21 side with Biscan. I think he needs to look for a permanent move from Salzburg.
Ante coric and roko simic
Livakovic? gvardiol?