Ante Budimir is going to end 2024 just as he started it with Osasuna: ON FORM! Budimir earned his second multi-goal match of the season in a 2-2 Osasuna draw vs. Villarreal. In the 8th minute of play, Budimir opened up the scoring by heading home a perfect cross. He truly is fantastic in the air when he receives proper service. Later in the 1st half, he would draw a foul in the box and convert the penalty to make the game 2-0. It’s a shame Osasuna blew the lead by conceding two goals in the 2nd half to force the draw. Osasuna currently trail Villarreal by three points for Spain’s final Champions League berth.
Budimir now has eight goals and one assist in his 14th La Liga match of the season and only trails Lewandowski for most goals in the league. It’s a shame Budimir was suspended for the Scotland match last week. He’s a great #9 point man. But who will be able to deliver service for him and Matanović in 2025?
Josip Šutalo scored his first goal of the Dutch season Sunday in a 2-0 Ajax victory over FC Zwolle. In the 63rd minute, an Ajax corner kick cleared the entire box and Šutalo cooly headed the bouncing ball home on the back post. With the win, Ajax sit seven points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven with a game in hand. Šutalo earned a 8.1 FOTMOB rating for his efforts.
Ivan Perišić got the start for PSV Eindhoven and played 82 minutes Saturday in a 5-0 win over FC Groningen. Perišić assisted on PSV’s 5th and final goal to teammate Ricardo Pepi with a perfect cross from outside the box. It was vintage Perišić with the assist. He received a 8.0 FOTMOB rating.
Joško Gvardiol got the start for Man City on Saturday as Tottenham completely dismantled the reigning English champs 4-0 at the Etihad. It was not Gvardiol’s day as he was responsible for multiple Spurs’ goals. He received a discouraging 3/10 grade from Goal.com as he “Let Kulusevski get away before the first goal then gifted Spurs the second by surrendering the ball. Tried to make amends in attack but it was just not his day.” In his defense, Gvardiol could have easily had 1-2 assists on the day but Harland and company could not finish to save their lives. Mateo Kovačić has been ruled out 3-4 weeks with an undisclosed injury he picked up vs. Portugal during the international break is not expected back before Christmas. The City midfield looked out of sync without him.
Luka Modrić came off the bench in the 83rd minute Sunday in a 3-0 Real Madrid victory over Leganes.
Yo Barurina
No Petar Sucic next to u again yday
Yikes
But also no Misic nor Ademi
It’s your responsibility to take the game by the scruff of the neck and make things happen
No ghosting – no strolling around – waiting for others to set you up on a platter – maximum effort for 90 min
Dig deep – we need to see hunger and desire
Please make Anonymous eat their words that you need Petar next to u
Tomorrows your day to shine
All the best
Anonymous
Norwich 6-1 vs Wayne Rooney
Crnac goal 82’ min – first for Norwich – played 90 min
They have been playing him as #9 finally last couple of game
Look at the pressing / hustle in 82 min to close down defender
That’s what Anonymous is talking about – we need to see this hunger and desire to make things happen
Excellent finish his left foot
8.5 fotmob 2nd highest rated (Sainz w hat trick 9.7)
Look how happy all his teammates are that he finally scored – this reaction tells us they respect him as a player / teammate and want him to succeed
https://x.com/norwichcityfc/status/1861553774478925984?s=46
Will watch these full highlights later interested to see how much involvement Crnac had in the other goals
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBnU0xRibJ8
Looks like Gvardi is bench for today’s game. Ivanusec is the starting lineup for Feyenoord.
Pasilic starting in his favored CAM position for Atalanta.
Man City 3 v Feyenoord 3
It would have been better if Gvardiol was on the bench. City leading 3 – 0 and then in the 74 min Gvardiol attempts a back pass which gets intercepted and Feyenoord score. Pep was fuming on the City bench.
Gvardiol could have done better with the second Feyenoord goal, however that was poor goalkeeping. Third Feyenoord goal probably goal keeping error again.
I think that Gvardiol needs a break, too many games, he is just making too many mistakes, and his confidence must be down.
I watched up until Gvardiol gifted Feyenoord their first goal only to check the score after and find out it was 3-3. Unbelievable. Gvardiol had a good game up until the pass back.
Ivanusec needs to find a new club. He is getting no playing time. He was playing very well for club and National Team before the injury.
Post-game press conference:
>>Guardiola also refused to blame Josko Gvardiol, whose two errors led to goals for Feyenoord.
‘He’s so young, he will learn,’ Guardiola said.
‘He was the best player on the pitch. But I will be so wrong if I point a specific thing, he is so young, he will learn.
‘He’s a fantastic player, a fantastic boy, now more than ever he must be helped.’
He’s playing way too many minutes
Keep in mind Man City playing in Club World Cup June / July
It will be 60+ games this year
And he’s basically played every game so far (also for Croatia)
Theses errors (mental lapses) are due to exhaustion -it’s obvious to see
Ivanusec doesn’t seem to have the hunger and desire to get to the next level and grab a spot on the team
This is a common problem with many of our young players
Change of team is going to do anything if he doesn’t change his mentality / focus
https://x.com/scrapytweets/status/1860807978900717572
Josko needs a vacation, playing too many games.
Josko needs to be put up front with erling it’s rather obvious he cares more about helping score than defend.
He’s had a horrific month at the back!
Lovro Majer has undergone ankle surgery according to media reports and will be out for three months. Anticipated return to training in mid-February. Really bad luck all-round for Majer, Wolfsburg and Vatreni.
Not as bad for us, as it is for him.
He’s best suited to play as an offensive oriented central midfielder, right behind the striker (where he played when he popped two goals on Bayern earlier this season)…but we already have a lot of players who can play there (ideally one of Kramaric, Luka Sucic or Baturina).
With Majer being on the team earlier than Sucic and Baturina, he could have probably nailed down a starting spot…but after Luka Sucic had a great Euro (and an even better transfer to Real Sociedad) and with Baturina doing very well with Dinamo in Champions League…it’s going to be very tough for Majer to nail down a spot on the National Team now.
Take your point, however Majer has quality in that left foot and adds depth to our squad in the event of injuries and suspensions.
Totally agree. Generally speaking, Majer hasn’t lived up to his high expectations and this should have been his breakout year. We have loads of CAM’s and even if we lost 3 more to injury, we’d have 3 more that are capable.
He’s still solid, and Dalic hasn’t really given him a fair shake when he was in full form (often playing him at RW).
Once he’s back and gets back into full form, I’d like to see us rotate him into the lineup at CAM behind the striker (battling for minutes with Baturina and Luka Sucic).
Hrvoje Smolcic has put together a string of about five very good games for LASK in the Austrian Bundesliga. He has also chipped in two goals during this run…..
He has been playing as the central defender on the center-left…probably on his way back to German Bundesliga at some point…
I realize he is not Gvardiol, Sutalo, Stanisic, Vuskovic level talent, but what is his upside looking out 2-3 years?
Is he a guy who could be a late bloomer that one day contributes to the national team off the bench? Or provide extra depth?
Vidovic did not play again for Mainz. I don’t think he was even on the bench.
This move to Mainz does not look like it has been a good move for him…not at all….what can we expect going forward into the New Year? Should he change teams? Can he change teams? Any insight?
Armindo Sieb also on loan from Bayern to Mainz
same – loan no option/obligation to buy
Sieb playing every single game – Vidovic not even on the bench
Vidovic was one of those youth players that we had high hopes for, however things have stalled big time in his development. He lacks pace and physicality, two ingredients required in today’s football if you are to play for top teams and in top leagues.
He is still young so we can only hope for better things to come, however he needs to find another club. It might be advisable to look for a move to Austria or Belgium and away from Bundesliga.
Sad
Vidovic is chauffeur for Sieb – fans don’t even know who he is, only Sieb
Check this out from Bayern loan watch episode
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_SQ8KtFchQ
The problem with him (along with almost every U21 save Vuskovic) is that don’t seem to have that inherent chip on their shoulder, desire and hunger to make it
Too focused posting on IG and playing video games (even Gattuso said this they aren’t training enough one hour a day)
Compare this to what Modric experienced growing up as well as playing w the ball hours and hours every day
Night and day
The best footballers almost always had the toughest upbringings Zidane, Ballack, our 98 generation, etc
Poverty, war, segregation etc affect their psyche and give them their drive to succeed
I think the war thing is overplayed.
Everyone is different.
Kovacic and Rakitic were kids who were pretty sheltered from everything in Austria and Switzerland…and they are better than all of our midfielders from our ’98 generation. Luka Sucic is also a diaspora kid who is looking like he will be better than Boban and that ’98 crew as well.
The issue with Vidovic is that he’s pretty much a Kramaric type. Very technically skilled and very good offensive player, but the game is moving away from slower players who lack that physicality. He needs to improve in that area, or find a team which cater to his skills more.
Majer is in a bit of a similar situation as well, where he was amazing in his first season with Rennes…but when they became more of a pressing team the following year, he ended up on the bench (despite being their prized asset). He should be fine at Wolfsburg, but he will likely never be transferred to an elite team (unless that team plays exactly to his skills and hides his weaknesses).
Better than Boban? That’s a high hill to climb. Boban doesn’t get the recognition he deserves around here. Four Serie A titles and 1 Champions League victory. Here’s an excerpt from an Italian article about the final:
Boban was at the heart of everything that was good for Milan. He played behind the strikers and pressed Barca’s defenders, not allowing them to just bring the ball out from their defence.
In addition, his passing success was 98% for the match. His vision to pick out his teammates and even tracking back to help the defence when needed, was a joy to behold. His position as the heir to Gullit was well and truly confirmed.
If Luka Sucic becomes half as good as Boban was, I’ll gladly take it.
Sutalo scored today.
7.9 rating Sofascore and 8.1 on FOTMOB.
Cross from Henderson, here is relevant portion from the commentary:
GOAL!
Goal! Ajax 2, PEC Zwolle 0. Josip Sutalo (Ajax) header from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a cross following a corner.
Looked to be the second highest rated player on the field…..
Osasuna up 2-1 in 80th minute, Budimir with both (one a PK).
It’s probably safe to say that he’s back as a starter for us.
He should have never been on the bench, especially after his great showing at the Euros.
Hopefully he don’t draw Sweden in WC from Pot 2
Kulu is one of the best midfielder in the world right now – and only 24
He’s the whole package (it’s like if u take the best of Petar Sucic, Baturina, Luka Sucic – put it in a blender – and voila you get Kulusevski)
Here is a compilation from y’day
https://x.com/fcbsena_/status/1860412071206367638
Bayraktar
Ante –
Here are the highlights of Tottenham B team vs. Man City 4-0
***.youtube.com/watch?v=hWI6gUAPtcg
Just watched MaxSport highlights Dinamo Rijeka
They didn’t show Baturina touch the ball once, lol
The only time he was even in the highlight is Pjaca shot in 2nd minute – of course Baturina strolling as last man into the box waiting for a pass
Must be tough for Baturina to show his worth vs. world-class Rijeka defenders, lol
Once again Baturina is ANONYMOUS without Petar Sucic by his side
That’s now FIVE games in last 2 months
Also Rijeka players very selfish – every one wants to be a hero taking a shot and scoring (even from long range) instead of passing it through to other open players when near/in the box – Pasalic was open a couple of times on drives forward – and players just wildly shot it instead of passing it in to him for a better shot
Rijeka could have easily scored a couple if their players weren’t so selfish (I get it they are jealous that Pasalic is called up to the NT and they aren’t so not trying to make him look even better)
Not to try to say Gvardiol was good he wasn’t.
But I’ve watched that first goal again and he was effectively picked by another Tottenham player while he was defending his man. I don’t think that’s legal. Almost like a DB getting picked in the red zone by a TE and his man gets wide open.
Refs rarely call that and I’m pretty sure it’s illegal in soccer too.
After all that, Gvardi was off today.
I’d like more clarity on the pick rule in football.
Top notch footballers will find his man with precision most of the time if not effectively checked on a cross. I dunno
Floodgates opened up after the 1st.
Tottenham B team 4-0 Man City
All four goals Gvardiol’s fault
First could have kicked ball out but didn’t than not strong enough vs Kulu – who pushed off and past him to cross to Maddison
2nd terrible pass / give away in the middle right to Maddison
3rd slow to get back to cut off Kulu cross to Solanke (his man) who assisted porro and got dragged to byeline (instead of reading the porro run in)
4th gave up trying to catch Johnson (his man) who had a free run to far post – gvardiol never quick enough to catch Johnson anyway but should have tried
Yes, Gvardiol did give the ball away, which lead to the 2nd goal. I disagree with the rest. He should have had like 3 or 4 assists, but Holaand and co. couldn’t finish anything today.
Ederson, Walker, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Lewis, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Foden, Haaland
Vicario, Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Odogie, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Son, Solange
Grealish and KDB on the bench
Gvardiol messed up on two goals against Tottenham.
Ante –
Anonymous has a brilliant branding / collab idea for you
CroatianSports.com x Nose Picking (is my favourite sport) collab
Limited edition / drop
Strong demand from Dalic’s cast of limited value misfits at a minimum
monsterry.com/products/nose-picking-favorite-sport-funny-sarcastic-humor-women-oversized-hoodie-back-jbkIGQfKlvh1
Mickey VDV still out w/ hamstring (another 2 weeks) – so will miss c.40 days
Last yr he missed 56 days + another 18 days – hamstring
2022 he was out 76 days – hamstring
Not good omen for his career
Romero – has been coming off early last few games (incl. Argentina) – he has a toe injury – that he keeps playing thru but can’t
So expect Dragusin and Davies to start at CB
Objectively – not sure Vuskovic is ready to step in to the PL (he probably needs a year on loan at Championship level after Belgium this yr) – but necessity may trump the desired path – Levy not going out to spend $$$ on 2 CBs in January – when there is a pipeline of talent coming thru (last Europa game Galatasaray – CBs Dante Cassanova (20) and Alfie Dorrington (19) were on the bench)
It’s a pity Vuskovic is not a couple years older / with a couple years more experience – as there is obvious spot(s) there for the taking
But – tbh – he wasn’t “outstanding” at the U21 from what we saw – so not sure he’s ready for PL today – biggest fear is his “speed” i.e. being to keep up with fast pace of the PL – in particular any ball over his head that ends up being a foot race (the other scenarios his positioning and anticipation will help him through)
But who knows – n.b. when Corluka was coming through – Man City didn’t only try him out in defence – but he played a few games in midfield as #6/#8 (lol) !
There is this Guns N’ Roses song called Estranged that goes “When you’re talkin’ to yourself … and nobody’s home ….. alllllllllllone.”
Here’s GN’R performing at the TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM in 2022
***.youtube.com/watch?v=EacK0_q_hIM
Even ur favourite band has to kiss the ring of the all mighty TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS – wanna know how much Levy made off ur geriatric band that nobody cares about anymore ?
Muah
Just because I know about them doesn’t mean I like them. But I will say, they sell a lot of tickets — so you are wrong about nobody caring about them. You’re often wrong (and rambling, and meandering …).
This is a Croatian sports website. I’m sure there is a Tottenham board somewhere where you can get your ya-yahs out.
“Geriatric” … clown word.
Great music is eternal and ageless. I spose Greta Van Fleet is better than Led Zeppelin because they’re not “geriatric.” Isuse.
@MART
https://croatiansports.com/croatia-0-scotland-0-245pm-et-kickoff-nations-league/#comments/513311
Hey buddy, obviously the most important thing during this recent international break was to qualify for the UNL quarterfinals and I’m glad we managed to do that and on our own terms by doing the job against Portugal.
But man… I was also very keen to see the U21s qualify for the Euros so the defeat to almighty Georgia hit me pretty hard. Our defense is absolute garbage. I didn’t watch the game but was following the score during both legs and have watched the highlights.
MART I know this is completely moot but if Cavlina didn’t get himself stupidly sent off in the first leg, do you think we could have salvaged a draw in Tbilisi? I know you mentioned we only have 2 good chances in the first half and none in the second half. Kinda feel we did oursleves in in the first leg with that bizarre own goal and playing with a man less for the last half hour…
Who knows what would have happened if Cavlina did not get red carded ?
I have a feeling that we would not have scored ?
Hvala MART. Guess it just wasn’t meant to be..