The Weekend Water Cooler

Per @Bartolec request – here is Kotarski scouting from Nov 4th match

Highlights [In link, # = S]:

x.com/#pursOfficial/status/1986161599200006243

Thoughts/observations:

– Pre-game line-up in the tunnel. Vicario tried to establish contact / shake hands with Kotarski, he looked over a couple of times (obviously they’ve never met before). Kotarski just ignored him and played w his gloves. This is just dumb and shows he’s insecure – if Donna (maybe “the” best keeper in the world) didn’t exist – Vicario would be #1 for Italy and is a much better keeper than Kotarski. He needs to grow up and join the keeper union and not act “too cool for school” – he could learn a thing or two from him on how to stop a ball

– Kotarski is very comfortable with the ball when dealing with a press – he’s able to effectively play it from the back – his short passes to team-mates was very good / accurate. His long-ball distribution 3/4 downfield (or more) was OUTSTANDING and perfectly accurate a number of times (see: 10:27, 16:09, 26:38, 45:05 (ET of 1st half) from the game to watch examples)

– 16:49 he made an easy save into his chest from an Ugodie outside of the left-foot shot thru legs of the defender with spin and slight movement (not shown in highlights above)

– 18:20 first goal – up to the first goal – #ottenha# had issues creating – so basically Kotarski gave them a goal to get them started – read on SN a comparison of him vs. Liva – and that he is “wild” (while Liva is “calculated”) – this goal shows this – he comes racing out and completely misses Johnson with the tackle – the replay from behind the net shows his slide was 5+ yards away from Johnson – i.e. he wasn’t anywhere close to Brennan – so there was no point sliding, other than knowing he made a mistake rushing out and decided to slide just to do something – terrible decision making and terrible read – just terrible – even if he was closer to Brennan and comes sliding out like that Brennan could have easily just moved the ball a bit, take the tackle and generate a red card – again, just terrible anyway you look at it – once this goal goes in #ottenha# get going and have momentum (before this goal they didn’t) – this context is important bc beyond the goal it changed the game dynamics

– 50:35 second goal – Kotarski came out but again – terrible read and decision making here again – he comes out – than stutters and stops – not sure what to do realizing he’s caught – he doesn’t commit but keeps going towards the ball – he needed to get to the ball first – but given his uncertainty and delay – by the time he gets to the ball and kicks it – Muani is right in front of him and blocks it – at that time Kotarski rushes back – but it’s a mess – and as the ball is retrieved by Muani (incredible touch) and passed centrally to Odobert who shoots for the goal – Kotarski isn’t able to get over

Both goals 100% Kotarski’s fault – there is “wild” and than there is just I have terrible decisions making and dumb judgement goalkeeping – these two examples are the latter – maybe all the Neck Ink has seeped into his brain and causes these mal-functions ?

– 57′ Brennan red card – after the red card – Copenhagen played worst – and #ottenha# played better lol

– 63:40 third goal – Micky VDV – runs from his 18 yard box to Copenhagen 18 yard box – going through / past SIX Copenhagen players in the process (for all of you who keep telling Anonymous CB speed doesn’t matter lol) – it’s a goal of the year contender – Kotarski should have been able to save the shot with this right hand (needed better anticipation as there was only a shot to worry about, no pass options) – but was weak and let it past him – bc he didn’t save it – he’ll forever be on highlight reels as the keeper that let Micky score that beautiful goal – of course one of the six Copenhagen players should have taken a tactical foul on VDV at some point during the run (shambolic defending) so he never gets to the 18 yard box (VDV did similar plays vs. Man U and Everton – so everyone knows it’s in his locker to do this)

– 66:35 forth goal – Kotarski angle/over commitment to Romero who passed it – was his downfall – you can tell by looking at Romero’s body shape and head down and angle that he was going to pass it across – but Kotarski didn’t read it well enough to start getting over – if he did he might have been able to save it – again if his hands are stronger maybe he could/should have saved it with his palm – maybe if he gets some tattoos on his hands, they will become stronger? Can’t hurt to try I guess

– There was four other chances that Kotarski didn’t save which could have also been goals – first half Muani shot it wide (Kotarski did ok to make himself “big” here but there was still a gap b/w him and the post) and another he headed it just over the cross-bar – second half Richarlison headed it and bounced off the cross-bar (no save) and also shot a penalty off the cross-bar (again no save) – if those balls were all bit more accurate but a couple of inches – it could have been 7-0 or 8-0 – no cap

Between Dortmund and #ottenha# performances – wonder if Dalic is thinking of rescinding his Kotarski invite ? He’s clearly not ready for top-tier/level opposition – that’s why he’s playing / moved to crappy Denmark and before was only in crappy Greece – it’s crazy he thinks he deserves to be Croatia #1 (fake it till you make it I guess) and also why Anonymous tells you Dalic/us learn nothing when you throw Kotarski in vs. Gibraltar (or some crap team) where he faces zero shots (although kind of makes sense to play him those games – not bc of his keeping ability – but bc of his distribution from the back) – god help us if you play Kotarski vs. France in the NL last year or a high-caliber team like that

On the neck tattoos – they are just dumb and shows his primitive mentality – no issues with tattoos themselves (couldn’t care less) – but it’s silly getting “gangster-like” tattoos when he’s not “living that life” – he’s saving (or trying) to save balls for a living – it’s just fake and wanna-be – if he wants to go “live that live” go live it – but don’t pretend to “be about it” with neck art – it’s contrived, primitive and doesn’t intimidate anyone – Dalic should honestly tell him to got to a Tattoo removal place and get the neck ink off his neck – similar to when he told Jakic to take the dumb braids out of his hair