Who is to blame for Perišić’s average season at Tottenham? The Premiership or Perišić’s decision to move to England at age 33 (now 34)?
He was thriving at Inter Milan in a much less demanding Serie A. However, with contract negotiations not looking promising, he followed former manager, Antonio Conte, to North London. Now Conte has been sacked and Perišić is playing for a club that will surely miss out on Champions League football next season. Spurs pulled a Croatia v. Wales this week and allowed Everton to equalize in the 90th minute to chop the points in a draw. Now Spurs sit tied on 50 points with both Manchester United and Newcastle with both of those clubs having two extra matches to play. Only two will play CL next season.
It was thought Perišić would be slinging crosses to the head of Harry Kane all season. Instead, Perišić only has one goal and five assists in 27 Premier League matches this campaign. In the twilight of his career, it it obvious he has lost a step (and some speed) down the left flank. England certainly isn’t the right place for him. But who to blame for his C- season? The league or Perišić for moving so late in his career? I honestly thought he would have three goals and 10 assists at this point in the season. It just didn’t happen.
And then there’s Mateo Kovačić, who is currently part of the sinking SS Chelsea. Granted Kova already has a Champions League and Europa League title to his name at Chelsea since moving over from Real Madrid in 2018. However, he and Chelsea haven’t gotten close to battling for a Premiership title in the past five seasons. The closest they got was finishing 19 points behind City in 2021 and 2022. They finish top-4 to play CL but domestic football has been anything but competitive for the Blues. The 2023 season has been the worst yet with the club sacking both Tuchel and Potter. Kova got his CL trophy with Chelsea but West London should not be his home moving forward. A move back to Italy this summer would be the wisest decision.
DCC and Oršić are having nightmare seasons at Southampton. Oršić isn’t even playing for the 20th place club in the Premiership and will surely leave in the summer when they are relegated. Maybe he goes back to Dinamo. But what a disaster!
We can’t forget what happened to Eduardo in his first season at Arsenal. He broke his leg and was never the same after that. Kramarić was never allowed to get off the ground at Leicester during the 2015 season. He was loaned out to Hoffenheim and the rest is history.
Why has England been such a ‘soul sucking experience’ for Croatians this century? Modrić has been the only bright light amongst Croatians when he played for Tottenham. An honorable mention must go out to Niko Kranjčar for his time at Portsmouth and Spurs. Ćorluka scent five years in England between City and Sours but never panned out to be the defender City paid for in his first year.
So what is it about Croatians in England underperforming the past 15 years? Is it something in the water or something else?
Spurs ran Ivan into the ground he never should of been playing wing back up front would been nice or even a false 9 POS Za dom spremni =U= Rob Nikada
How was Vlasic not mentioned here?
Everybody thought he was exposed after excelling in Russia. In reality, the Hammers coach just didn’t know how to use him. He played him in positions he wasn’t natural in, and that led to utter failure.
Fast forward to his time in Italy, and Vlasic is flourishing again because he’s playing in his natural position.
Boksic played well in the EPL and the tail end of his career.
Not a very convincing article……Suker, Da Silva, Boksic, Bilic, Asanovic, Stimac, Kranjar, Corluka, Nikica Jelavic, Dejan Lovren, Mario Stanic, Igor Biscan, Klasnic. Imagine if some of these players were in their prime when they went over.
Yea, a lot of our guys tend to go to Serie A, Bundesliga or even La Liga over EPL…so the EPL rarely gets our top players, and if they do, it’s mostly guys who are already out of their prime like Boksic, Klasnic, Petric, Perisic, etc.
This goes back to Yugo times, where nobody from Croatia went to England, and would almost always end up in regional foreign leagues (like Italy, Austria or Germany) or they’d go to Spain.
I don’t think we had a single player play in EPL prior to the late 90s when guys like Asanovic, Jerkan and Stimac went over there.
Whereas in the past (going back to the Yugo era), we had guys like Skoblar playing in France, Cico playing in Austria, and Vulic in La Liga.
The English premier league is extremely physical and the number of matches played is relentless. There’s no winter break here, compared to in most other leagues in Europe. Perisic left it two or three years too late to come to England – it’s a massive gamble to come here when you’re 33 years old and arguably a step or two past your best.
Some of our more physical players have done well in England however – look at Stimac and Bilic (OK, not this century I agree) or Lovren. I’d argue that Kovacic’s move to Chelsea and the premier league has actually improved his play for us and made him more versatile. Gvardiol would also likely fit in well with the style of play in the premier league. But it’s not best suited for most of our players who rely on technical skills and don’t have the same physical angle to their game, I agree.
Perišić has played well.
Spurs are a mess.
They lack a midfield and a manager and are still fighting for CL places.
Dinamo sacked the TV Repairman after today’s debacle ?
I am actually in England as I right this.
Many footballers fail in England. It is the intensity and you need to be athletic and mentally tough.
Some of our weak/slow mental midgets can’t hang here.
This dude however had no problem:
CM – Luka Modric – 8/10 – Quiet in the first half and then went full Luka Modric in the second. One of the greatest footballers we’ve ever seen.
Actually mind blowing how we beat nations who have more professional footballers than we have people.
Real Modrić getting ready to put Chelsea to the CL sword. Nice little farca beat down today!!
Somebody please find and post the “monster tackle” thet I just witnessed from Gvardiol for Leipzig. Please dedicate it to those who think he is overrated. Unbelievable.
Robbie Prosenecki lit it up with Portsmouth. On the field and off the field with Marbie reds. Sucker, Stimac, Bilic and Asanovic all did well in the epl.
Luka Modric with a wonderful assist.
Luka assist, Benzema gol.
Small sample.
It’s only four players (Kovacic, Perisic, Duje, Orsic) and Kovacic is actually doing well at Chelsea, so he’s not a good example to include in this list.
Perisic is in the tail end of his career. He’s slowed down physically, so the timing of moving to a faster/running league is wrong. This was just a money move.
Orsic is a career journeyman and late bloomer. These guys usually need the right conditions to succeed.
Duje was pretty much already out of the National Team before he moved to England. He’s plateaued the past few years and is just a depth player for injuries (if that).
Generally, our playing style is better suited in leagues like Serie A and La Liga (which is why guys like Modric, Suker, Jarni, Rakitic, Prosinecki, Boban, and even guys like Peternac and Budimir are legend with their teams).
But we do have guys who would excel in the EPL (like Mandzukic, Olic, Broz, Gvardiol or prime-Perisic) where players like Kramaric or Majer would be better suited for Serie A and La Liga. We have a pretty good variety of players.
Sibenik pull off the last-minute win!
They 100% deserve better than second to last in the HNL, they’ve really got some great talent this year (Rogic, Mina and Arai all playing really well)
Dinamo loses 2-1 to Šibenik in the semifinals of the Hrvatski Kup on a 94th minute goal by Duje Čop.
And Cacic gets the sack.
Our guys are unable to adapt to the speed of the game in the Premier League.
I hate the Brits, but England didn’t do anything to our guys.
I thought Oršić would succeed, but he looked lost when given the chance.
Re watched the u21 high lights against England
Kotarski looked really sharp
How’s his club progress?
Let’s hope he pans out for the repka
Prob should include Dejan Lovren here as well on the positive side. Although he’s a lightning rod for criticism, it’s undeniable that he had some very strong years as a starting CB for Liverpool during which he developed alot (though he tailed off at the end). He was their main starter the year they got to the CL final, and also contributed at least a little the following year when they actually won the CL.
The style of English football is fast, physical, and direct, generally speaking. Croatian players excel at a very different approach (“walking football” was the term used during the last WC) that prizes ball control, moving in small spaces, and picking out passes that split defenses without needing to outrun opponents. That’s how football is played in most leagues, actually. England and MLS are the outliers. If you watch the best teams in European competition, they aren’t wining because they have more muscle. They win because they control the ball well, defend well, and make smart passes that lead to clean finishes. All of these Croatian players who have struggled in England are excellent footballers. That’s precisely why they struggle in England.
Kovacic and Modric have succeeded in England because they were able to adapt to the speed of the game. I’m a bit surprised by Perisic although 34, I would have thought that he would have been more successful. Vlasic, Corluka, Kranjcar, DCC are just too slow to succeed in England.
Orsic is no Speedy Gonzales but he in no mug either when it comes to pace. Playing for a relegation bound team which lacks quality does not help and he has not been given an opportunity to prove himself. Having said all that, sadly I don’t think that he has the quality to play in the EPL ?
Corluka and Niko did fairly well at Tottenham they weren’t PL all stars but they both contributed,and I would hardly call them busts in England.
Kranjcar was one of Tottenham’s leading scorers when he played for them.
Perisic and Son don’t work, but Son is an integral part of the team. When Perisic started, it was just crosses into Kane while Conte tried to figure out how to get he and Son on the same page.
One thing I did notice about Perisic in EPL vs Serie A was his lack of defending. Italy is more team chess match, while EPL is more physicality and 1 on 1. He’s been dusted a few times.
Players that have flourished in EPL also have become a necessity to the team instead of an added tool. Because of that, they get to control the game more. Perisic is an addition to an existing foundation, so he gets less touches and the game isn’t necessarily run through his side.
Can’t say much for the others
But it’s obvious that Perisic should have made the move after Russia
It seems like he always wanted to go to England
He got his wish
Maybe timing was just wrong
Maybe it was the wrong team
Any ways
What’s the best move for him next year?
He’s for sure going to hang on till Euro for us
I don’t believe it’s a lack of skill thing why Croats don’t do well in England as a whole
But for now let’s hope our guys stay in Spain Italy Germany
Hoping Dinamo just buys back orsic
Heck bring DCC with him especially if sutalo is sold off
Tho I’m sure he would see it as a step down