Andrej Kramarić netted a hat trick in the first Bundesliga weekend of the season Saturday in a 3-2 Hoffenheim victory over newly promoted German club Holstein Kiel. Krama converted from the penalty spot, headed home a free header in front of the net and tapped in a “gimme putt” to secure the hair trick. Krama needs to play as a supporting striker and not a wing. He’s not a winger and Dalić needs to stop pretending he is. Also, Kramarić needs to be taking all penalty kicks moving forward instead of Modrić. Historically, Krama has been near automatic from the spot and Modrić is average at best. I get he’s the captain, but you need to call a spade a spade at the end of the day. That should be automatic in the Croatian locker room as of two years ago…but what do I know?
Lovro Majer scored two goals for Wolfsburg Sunday in a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich. The first goal came from the penalty spot and the second was an easy tap-in right in front of goal. Majer received an 8.6 MOTM rating from FOTMOB for his efforts. Not a bad start to the season by any means.
Mateo Kovačić was taken off in the 50th minute with what looked like a leg injury. It didn’t look great and we will monitor his situation to see if any games will be missed in August/September. ManchesterEveningNews. Manchester City defeated Ipswich Town 4-1. Gvardiol played the full 90 minutes and received a 6/10 from Goal.com as he “Focused on defending, which he did well, and let the experts do the attacking.”
Marin Ljubičić scored the opening goal of the match for LASK in a 2-1 loss to Austria Wien Sunday.
Luka Modrić came off the bench in the 69th minute for Real Madrid in a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid Sunday. There was not much for him to offer during this 20-minute appearance.
Luka Sučič remained on the bench as an unused substitute Saturday in Real Socieded 1-0 victory over Espanyol.
First interview Crnac
His English is very good (better than you’d maybe think)
Maybe he can give Satulo lessons ?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5BBGexxMksE
Crnac played 88 min for Norwich Sat (after only arriving in England Wed)
Would be good to focus on / highlight players that are actually starting for their teams (not bench warmers and/or coming on for cameos)
Here is a nice write-up w/ initial perspectives – apparently his fitness levels are off the charts
https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/24541104.analysis-ante-crnacs-norwich-city-debut-blades-draw/
Next game Crystal Palace tomorrow EFL 2nd round
Hopefully they can keep US’ Josh Sergeant who plays as #9 so he has some quality around him – but apparently there is interest from PL teams to scope him up this window…
https://croatiansports.com/dinamo-defeat-qarabag-3-0-90-minutes-away-from-champions-league-football/#comments/510937
@MART, thank you! 🙂 I’m relieved to know the severity of Stanisic injury isn’t as bad as ACL. But yeah you’re right, any knee surgery is serious enough and we have to see how Stanisic does when he returns… my guess is he suffered a complete tear of the ligament which is why he had to go under the knife. Thankfully Bayern has said they won’t be out to get another RB in response to Stanisic’s injury. I really hope Stanisic can return to light training by late November… if he’s still totally unfit at that point, I fear Bayern/Kompany will change their mind and start dipping in the transfer market during January.
Hmm we have a growing number of injury concerns… apart from Kovacic, Majer and Erlic came off injured last weekend. Jakic, who can play RB, has a calf injury according to Fotmob. Hope it’s nothing serious for all these guys.
And I wonder if Sucic is rusty as he hasn’t played much since EURO: no pre-season with Salzburg and currently settling in at Real Sociedad.
Great weekend for our “wingers”, Karma and Majer. These guys should be playing their natural positions. And our natural wingers should be playing wing. Really not rocket science.
Marco Pasalic w a proper beautiful goal – alongside an assist on 1st
Rijeka 2nd in table – yet Dalic will refuse to start a player from Rijeka (never mind call up)
Crazy stuff
Although it’s great we have Moro and his one cap as standby just in case one of the three dm we called up Kova Jakic P sucic gets a boo boo
Why don’t they give Sandro Kulenovic a chance as striker for our repka?? I know it’s dinamo but still give him a chance, banging goals all over the place!!
Yeah, and he’s been scoring or assisting goals consistently for a few seasons now. He’s more fit than Petković and is more direct in front of goal
A lot of guys getting injured. This will be a test of Croatia’s depth.
If the entire squad got injured we still wouldn’t call up a winger / Marco Pasalic….
Real’s first goal was an unlucky defection off of Juric. I don’t think I saw Biuk on the squad list at all.
Mbappe looking pedestrian so far, but yes it’s early.
Yo Dalic –
Erlic just went off injured 18 min
Marco Pasalic basically scored another goal direct free kick corner
Can we call up (and start) Marco pasalic for Sep nations league ??? (We never needed 6 CBs anyways…. While calling up zero wingers)
Thx
Managing Madrid
Luka Modric—7: In his new role, consistently brings serenity and fluidity to the match in the final 30 minutes.
Yo Dalic
Did u watch Spurs vs. Everton y’day and see 19 y.o. Odobert starting in the wing ?
Here are the highlights
x.com/search?q=odobert%20vs%20everton&src=typed_query&f=live
This is the exact kind of player we need
Pacey, direct, technical, passing, unpredictable (down the flank vs. cut inside)
While Odobert didn’t score – he was key in drawing Everton players toward him – thus opening up more space in the centre
This is the exact kind of player we could have used at the Euros (instead of clogging the middle with all 10 of our players, lol)
Spurs 4th goal y’day
Please watch
U will see why speed is important at CB (in any position really)
Mickey VDV intercepts the ball at the top of his own 18 yard box
And sprints the entire field – past 2-3 Everton players
To Everton’s 18 yard box – where 4 Everton players are trying to swarm him – until he passes it to Son – who finishes
The run doesn’t happen if Mickey VDV isn’t the fastest player in league
Just imagine if Gvardiol could increase his speed from here – he would be even that much better
Sadly – I doubt Spurs will be able to keep Mickey VDV – he is a future CB at Real Madrid (or equivalent) in a couple yrs time
Majer with two goals (one a PK) sees Wolfsburg tie it v. Bayern after being 2-0 down. Ten minutes to go.
Please compare / contrast
Jarrod Bowen goal vs. Crystal Palace y’day
Marco Pasalic goal vs. Istra last week
The goals are 1000% identical (in every single way – starting pass/receiving the ball, positioning, run, movement, drop of shoulder, shot (placement and strike rate), etc etc etc)
U will not find two goals more identical in your life – it’s actually pretty crazy
This is why Anonymous said many times before/during the Euros – that Marco Pasalic is our own Jarrod Bowen – hopefully the pea brains now understand the comparison
Bowen played at Euros at RW (would have started if not for Saka)
While Marco Pasalic didn’t see a minute at the Euros and is only on standby list for upcoming Nations League, lol
Speaking to the media after the game, Guardiola admitted that while he has not consulted with the club doctors, he believes it is only a knock, and the midfielder could be back in time for the next game.
Kramaric should take penalties for the national team. He seldom misses. No idea why modric is taking and missing many of the penalty kicks.
I 2nd that.
Kramaric should take penalties for the national team. He seldom misses. No idea why modric is taking and missing many of the penalty kicks.
Too bad about Kova. He was playing really well and starting to take his game to a new level. It looked like his knee got hit awkwardly. Hopefully the injury is nothing major.
Little concerning that sucic hasn’t really gotten any time at socidad
Why is Sučić not playing concerning you? He joined the club 3 weeks ago, and it’s match day 2. He got his feet wet last weekend, and will have to earn minutes like everyone else.
You are new to watching soccer, yes?
Man if kova is out for a bit
Looks like we will maybe see the sucic cousins and baturina get more time then expected
We are really only left with king luka and majer for experience
But I’m ready to see what sucic and baturina can do
I have not seen Petar play. Who does he most resemble of guys we have had in the past??
Can’t see Kovacic’s injury being long term. Looks like he received a slight blow to his quad which gave him a charley horse, or a contusion for those under 45 years old. I believe if he had gutted it out for another five minutes and warmed up the injured tissue that he would have been able to finish the game without the injury being an issue. Once he sat down and the injured area cooled down, then it gets really sore.
Kramaric with 2 today
He had a hat-trick.
Krama seems to finish seasons off with a bang and now start them
He’s played much better for us in his later years
How can we unlock him somehow for the last probably tourney of his career at World Cup??