Ante Rebić is on fire. After scoring a wunder-gol last week from 24 yards out, Rebić scored a beautiful left-footed curler from just outside the box on Saturday in a 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt draw against Werder Bremen. He was also responsible for the penalty kick call in the box against Bremen in the 68th minute. The draw puts Frankfurt only three points shy of a Champions League berth with 15 matches left in the season. Although, the way Rebić is playing, he is sure to be wooed by a much larger club in the summer.
Ante Rebić Goal vs. Werder Bremen (2:25)
Andrej Kramarić followed Ante Rebić’s lead on Saturday and scored two goals for himself in a 4-2 Hoffenheim win over Freiburg. Krama converted a panelty in the 59th before he cooly slipped the ball past the Freiburg goalie following a Hoffenheim counter-attack in the 72nd minute. Hoffenheim slip into sixth and a Europa League spot with the win but it’s even better news that Kramarić is hitting the back of the net.
Kramarić Penalty 2:35, Goal 3:00
Lovre Kalinić got his first win in England as Aston Villa defeated Ipswich Town 2-1 on Saturday. Kalinić moved to Aston Villa from Belgium earlier in the month and is now playing in England’s second division; the Championship. He will get plenty of action the rest of the season and there’s a small outside chance Villa could be relegated to the Premiership next season.
With Juve’s huge loss today it’s safe to say they miss out without Mario. Allegri said they hired Christiano to score clutch in spite of Mario being clutch. There goes the treble chance if they can’t overcome 3 goals next leg.
Now everyone is back on the Rebic bandwagon? Just stay on it because, as I have been saying for years, the boy is the real deal.
The future is now, injection of Rebic was all we needed this past summer.
You guys keep looking to the future not realizing what we have now, won’t be repeated in our lifetime..
Modric, Rakitic, Mandzukic, Perisic, Rebic, and Vrsaljko are all world class. We might never see 6 World Class Croatian players on the same team in our lifetimes. Put all your efforts into getting this core back for Euro 20 and just enjoy.
Quit talking up scrubs, and keep celebrating the crop that the war created. Tough minded talents that aren’t snowflakes.
Apparently, Hajduk has accepted a €6 million Euro offer from Man City for him and he’s already in Manchester to complete his physical on Tuesday.
Doesn’t matter if he is a Pep signing. They will loan him out immediately, and just keep loaning him out to random teams (like they do with two dozen other youths they have).
If he pans out, great. If not, oh well, it wasn’t big money for Man City anyway.
At least Hajduk sold him for double the usual (3 million) Hajduk rate.
What is the update on the Paloversa situation? If he is a Pep signing might be a very good move for him.
ROG:
https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2019/01/28/5c4f7046268e3e60738b45c3.html
I have a Chelsea jersey with Kovacic name on back does that make me a homer other mans surname on back?
I wouldn’t say Muric was never good, but he was definitely overhyped. He was showing decent potential when coming off the bench at Ajax a couple of years ago, but then he dropped off.
Ante Palaversa looks to be signing with Manchester City. He is being dubbed “Fernandinho’s replacement” but I’m not sure this will pan out. He will probably be loaned back to Hajduk, but even so, unless there is a clear plan for him to get playing time and not just be perennially loaned out, this move screams big Premier League team buying another young player and ruining his career.
Brodić and Murić were never good.
They never scored goals for any team ever, nor did they even play for the U21s.
I think the hype just came from the anti-HNS media resulting from that fallout Murić had with Mamić and Dinamo.
Marca on Modric yesterday:
Luka Modric
It was another great match for the midfielder and another great game for Real Madrid. Modric has returned and, with it, so have the team as he was key for the first two goals.
Speaking of guys not developing; remember Robert Muric and Fran Brodic….I’m not sure those guys could even start for my MLS team hahahha
There is also some good depth at CB too with guys like Katic, Uremovic and Prongracic backing up Benkovic and Caleta-Car.
Read that someone thought that Toma Basic is getting regular PT; he’s played 167 min so far this season. But hey at least he’s playing more now in the new year then in 2018. Might steal that U21 spot from Coric and Balic.
I really don’t understand why Pjaca blocked the move when Muriel joined the club. It doesn’t look like Halilovic is going to Turkey anymore, rumor is Bologna. Hopefully, Rog and Coric find a starting position somewhere as well.
There is also a rumor that Vrsaljko might have preventative surgery again to try to resolve his reoccurring knee issue.
Man, Zubac is just killing it right now. Good for him.
If he adds a long range jumper (or a three ball) he’s the next Marc Gasol.
Also, Dragan Bender has been force fed some minutes recently. Dude had a couple of good scoring games this week. But they nixed his fourth year option, so I expect him back on the end of the bench once players come back from injury.
Yea Bistrović was starting every game.
So long as these kids (and their idiot agents) understand what a good thing it is to keep playing at a high level every game and to never leave a great situation until you’ve spend at least a few years into your 20s.
Another kid that goes under the radar is Bistrović at CSKA. He’s only 20 and was a key piece in CSKA’s midfield up until his injury.
@Maminjo…I agree with you about Kulenović, he shouldn’t move until he is 21…the kid is an outstanding finisher and is consistent too…he’s drawn many comparisons to Mandžo
Toma Bašić is getting regular game time at Bordeaux?
That’s good to hear. At least one of Hajduk’s prematurely sold youngsters may pan out.
Rog, Pjaca, Halilovic, and Kovacic have too much competition (who are younger than they are) on this Croatia squad to simply sit on the bench for their teams. These next two years will determine whether these guys will ever be starting caliber players for us.
Brekalo, Vlasic, Pasalic, Rebic, Brozovic are going to be National Team regulars for many more years, and are playing regularly for their clubs. Aside from Pasalic, I would probably start all these guys over Kovacic. Also, there are some very interesting youngsters already on our U21 team that will break through over the next couple years. We simply can’t wait for Kovacic, Halilovic, Rog or Pjaca.
Re: Balic…He wasted too much time and is way too far down the pecking order for us. He can’t even make our U21 squad.
Even if he plays for this new club of his, it’s too mediocre of a team and league compared to where a lot of our other guys are playing. He would have to do something significant to even get noticed. He will probably end up like Stipe Perica career-wise.
Krovinovic needs to recover from that injury and get back to where he was a year ago. He’s game ready, but sitting on the bench for Benfica these past two months. Even if he needs a loan move to get that regular playing time, he needs to push for it.
Coric will need to push for at least a loan move no later than this summer, he can’t pull a Rog/Balic stunt and sit on the bench for YEARS and expect to develop.
Did not know about this Kulenović kid. Played on Juventus’ youth squad and gets regular time for Legia Warsaw (and actually scoring some goals) at age 19. I hope he simply DOES NOT MOVE and stays there (continuing to play for Legia and score goals). You don’t mess with a good thing, especially at that age.
Pulisic is a goof. His name shouldn’t even be mentioned on this website. Screw him and whoever looks like him!
Rog beasted against Spain at Euro 2016.
The kid has quality.
Young players need to play.
You do not improve watching.
Big time positive posts percolating!!
Samo naprijed .. Euro 2020 qualifying and U21 – Euro with Olympic berth on the line.
Rebić way more skilled than we give him credit for.
Kovač plus one in my book for saving his career.
I think we should ditch the 4-1-4-1 formation from last year based on the evolution of players since the world cup: Modric plays very far forward for Madrid now, Brozovic plays box-to-box rather than defensive “stopper”, and Rakitic has been playing effectively as a defensive midfielder.
@vuki also, great idea with the google doc
@vuki I totally forgot to mention Kulenović! He has Mandžo written all over him…he’s tall and an outstanding finisher…can’t wait to see what the future will be like for him
@CroatiaU14
Awesome posts. I completely agree. I’ve been keeping an eye on how all of our youngsters have been doing for a while now. I have a google doc with a list of all of the players 24 or younger that I think even have an ounce of potential just so I remember all of them. There are a few sleepers like Sandro Kulenovic that many people don’t know about they could become something.
And remember, guys like Rebić, Brozo, Kramarić, and our defense (minus Strinić, but it’s okay because our young guys like Benković, Jedvaj, and Čaleta-Car look really good right now) will be back at the 2022 WC if they stay in good form…you never know, maybe guys like Kova, Pjaca, or Rog will step up their game and show that they deserve a spot on the staring 11? A Rog move to Sevilla would be great for him and Pjaca should go to a middle-of-the-table Bundesliga or Ligue 1 team, kind of like Toma Bašić, the 22 year old at Bordeaux, who is playing really good right now
Pjaca and Rog have been doing nothing lately…Ćorić will probably go on loan to a lower Serie A team and Halilović will go to Beşiktaş…Vlašić, Moro, Ivanušeć, and Brekalo, however, are impressing managers around Europe…same for Benković and Livaković (I know he’s a little older). Our guys aged 17-20 are absolutely stacked…Marin, Šego, Palaversa, Josipović, Baturina, and Dira are going to be crazy good if they play up to their potentials….Antonio Marin (18), you may have seen me mention him before, is said to be the next NEYMAR because of his crazy skills and dominating scoring ability…in 4-8ish years, our team is going to be absolutely stacked
Colin Cowherd is obsessed with Christian Pulisic jock sniffer. He will be a bust over hyped like Alen Halilovic.
@ vuki
Basically by the end of THIS week (before the end of the transfer window): Pjaca, Coric, Rog, Halilovic should sort out their careers–and find a club ASAP, where they can play consistently.
So far, Balic got his move to Fortuna Sittard, it’s a good move because it’s the best he could get. A club like Ajax (known for developing youth talent) is not gonna pick him up ’cause he hasn’t shown anything at Udinie.
Another talent, Josip Misic, a 24 year old defensive midfielder apart of Rijeka’s title winning side, was rotting on the bench at Sporting CP, gotta move to POAK in Greece. He scored on his debut, hopefully this is a place where he can turn the corner…
Oh, and Ante Coric is ANOTHER that desperately needs at least a loan. Kid has hardly sniffed the field for Roma.
@Razbijac
Pjaca is quite dumb not to leave Fiorentina. They were already not starting him and then signed Luis Muriel to play the LW. He did not get in at all today.
I’ve been reading that the Rog to Sevilla deal is very close to being done. For me, that’s a good move. Their midfield is nothing special and I’m sure he’ll at least play more than he does now.
Also, I had seen Halilovic to Besiktas was a possibility a few weeks ago. I don’t know if it will happen, but he’s another that needs to move asap. He is still talented, but has no way to develop his IQ which, in my opinion, is his weakest area, if he doesn’t get playing time.
And man Rebic’s goal is a sight to behold! Just look at how he created the space for the shot outside the box–a shot fake and ball roll to his LEFT foot. Wow! Pure Class!
I just I hope Marko Rog gets that gig in Sevilla, I hate to see him rot on the bench in Napoli. The kid’s got talent.
Pjaca looks like he’s gonna duke it out at Fiorentina, after initially going Genoa. I think the Genoa move woulda been better for him, as he woulda started….
Are Croatians the best in the world at improving from 24-28?
If we ever master 20-24, then we would dominate.
We got 16-20 on lock because they get get first team action.
I am never ever writing off a Nogometaš until he turns 29.
Luka Modrić at 33 is at his best level of his career.
I feel we have something deeper then physical.
Most people can’t see it at first.
That is why these transfer moves at age 20 go south.
Solution – more Croatian mangers need to be exported along with all of our talent.
Also domestic league needs to become financially stable top to bottom. So we do not need to prematurely sell to first buyer.
Germany all day for our boys as first stop out of Croatia.
The whole league based on financial stability plays kids 20-24.
@vuki
The difference between Vlašić and Balić is their fathers.
Joško Vlašić is the greatest decathlon athlete ever from the former Yugoslavia, knows how to prepare his kids to become athletes better than anyone else.
Andrija Balić’s dad is just a dumb seljak, who burned three critical development years sitting on the Udinese bench. I’m pessimistic about this move to some no-name team in the Netherlands yielding anything for Balić. This team has probably never developed a good player in their history, nor do they even have any incentive to develop Balić if they could.
When Vlašić went to Russia, they did their research to ensure that they only pick teams that have a history of developing players and would ensure that he plays high level first team football. He’s getting all that. The situations between Balić and Vlašić (unfortunately) are completely different.
Man Rebic is really coming along
where’s Ziva with his re-bitch- comments?
Rebic as we talked about last week is so legit
When will he move to a big big club??
I’m sure they will be calling if not already are
And looks like he will make it happen for the repka
Our forward situation hasn’t been this positive in long time
Maybe ever??
The second goal was all rebics doing as well.
Not many forwards combine his power ,speed and technical ability.His cutbacks are second to none…it just feels like he’s ready to break out with a hat trick soon!
rebic is the beast
is marko rog going to sevilla?
Andrija Balic moved to Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands on loan. I saw a few posts the other day talking about him saying he is a flop. I would have to agree that he is currently a flop, but he is still very young. I still have hope for him. Maybe he will be a star in the Eredivisie like Vlasic in the Russia. Time will tell.
With Perisic, I feel like Arsenal MIGHT be a decent move, but I would think he’d rather have gone to Manchester United. His skill set would fit well in the Premier League in my opinion.
Kra is blossoming, our striker
Perišić linked to an Arsenal move.
Kramarić played a great game today…two goals and man of the match