Due to star midfielder Mateo Kovačić’s recent injury, a spot has just been opened in Croatia’s midfield. The obvious replacements are Nikola Vlašić or Mario Pašalić in an attacking midfield role, with the likes of Josip Brekalo or Nikola Vlašić on the right side.
I’d like to propose an alternative. His name is Lovro Majer. We’ve all heard his name and know him as a talented midfield prospect, but for one reason or another, players like Vlašić, who haven’t really proven themselves any more than Majer has, are regarded as much better footballers. Just take a look at how bad Dinamo Zagreb have been struggling since his departure (and Joško Gvardiol’s). Majer won the HNL player of the year award last season and was off to a fantastic start to the season this year, before being transferred to Stade Rennais for a surprisingly low fee of $13.20 million (USD). He suffered an injury after arriving but has recently gotten back into form.
This article will focus on a statistical analysis between Lovro Majer and Nikola Vlašić, proving Lovro is, at the very least, worthy of a spot on the senior National Team.
Lovro Majer (23)- $14.30M
This season, in just 42 minutes of play in Ligue 1, Majer has already recorded an assist. If we go back a few months to his start of the season with Dinamo, Majer amassed 5 goals and 4 assists in 13 matches (10.2 calculated games). He recorded well in the shots per game department (2.4), his scoring frequency was pretty high (every 103 minutes), he put up a minimum of 2 key passes per game, and won 57% of his duels.
Last year, Majer recorded 11 goals and 14 assists in 46 games (36.5 calculated games). He created 12 big chances and averaged 2.1 key passes per game. He maintained 85% pass accuracy as well as holding an extremely high 70% dribbling success rate.
Nikola Vlašić (23)- $33.00M
Nikola Vlašić dominated the Russian league. There’s no denying that. However, his recent form has been extremely worrying. For West Ham, Vlašić is yet to score or assist in 8 games (4.5 calculated games). Even before, in 5 games with CSKA Moscow this season, Vlašić failed to score a single goal and recorded 1 assist. Vlašić, like Majer, did well in shots per game for CSKA this season (2.4), he had 1.1 key passes per game, 84% pass accuracy, 70% successful dribbles (however, he only averaged 1 per game), and won a measly 44% of his duels.
Last year, Vlašić recorded 12 goals and 6 assists in 34 matches (33 calculated games), 4 shots per game, 4 big chances missed, 7 big chances created, 81% pass accuracy, 54% successful dribbles and 42% duels won.
Comparison of Important Statistics for an Attacking Midfielder:
Statistically speaking, Majer was better than Vlašić as far back as last season, even in the same tournament (Europa League) where Majer performed much better. Although Vlašić brings us a scoring threat, Majer has proven that he can score at an even higher rate and can set up goals better than he can score them (something Vlašić lacks). It is shocking to me that Majer hasn’t gotten a full 90 minutes with the National Team when players like Ivanušec, Brekalo, Jakić and Vlašić, who are as young and unproven as Majer, have (without criticizing any of those players, as they are all great in their own respect). Who knows, maybe Lovro Majer is the Vatreni’s recipe to success as he might just link up with players like Kramarić and Modrić perfectly. Heck, he’s already got an assist in about 15 minutes of play for us.
What do you guys think about Lovro Majer? Does he deserve his chance, considering Vlašić’s poor form?
I couldn’t agree more. Majer deserves a shot. A great dribbler. He should have been brought into the mix sooner.
Im kinda in the pro-Vlasic camp. His goals carried us in the last campaign, i know he can do it again. And when it was all on the line v Scotland he stood up. I think i have faith in him,
Vlasic might not be in good form but he plays for a top 10 team in the best league in the world
Pog…he doesn’t play and thats part of the problem!
Class is permanent, form is temporary. Give him a minute. Let’s see what he looks like past the Xmas break. I’m looking a little further ahead than our next 2 games
I don’t really rate him.
Doesn’t look nearly athletic enough nor is he some wizard on the ball. His Croatian debut was 4 1/2 years ago. He’s obviously not shown enough
I agree a lot with this article. I’m not saying Majer should start or anything, but in nations league if majer is playing for his club he should be given chance in that role behind the striker. Majer and sucic ar the only natural players we have who can play that position. I’m just saying try it out in nations league.
Regarding vlasic people who say he should play in his natural position what it is it? That’s the problem with vlasic he doesn’t have one. If any he is a striker that’s it. He’s not a winger and he isn’t really a attacking midfielder. Whenever he plays on the right side he just floats to the middle and juranovic is on his own, whenever he plays attacking midfielder he isn’t good at linking everything in the middle of the park. All our core players have played well in top 5 leagues, vlasic has proven so far to be a good Russia player.
Against shitty nations we can get away with it but once we’re in a tournament having a player who plays who offers little but might score isn’t enough. In order to justify starting vlasic he needs to score more to offset his over all play. And if you look at his overall production rate it’s noting special. Once we qualify for World Cup Dalić need to insert youth and give opportunities to those who are playing and playing well no more gimmies.
excellent post!
Well, being that soccer is not a statistical sport unless you are comparing specific aspects of a game, this article proves nothing. Playing for dinamo in HNL is a walk in the park for everyone in their starting 11 for the most part (besides petko). Vlasic on the other hand leading up to the euros was our most in form player after modric. if you don’t believe me, go watch the nations league games and check who scored for ratings. Majer has talent but to be worked into the first team for HNS you cannot just bag a few stats and play. We have guys starting and scoring for Lazio (caugh caugh Bašić) who never get called up. Budimir bagged goals and he wasn’t playing either. So by this logic why should we play Majer ? Inexperience is one reason, and the second being that we’ve seen his type of player for the last 20 years coming out of croatia. it’s nothing new. talented 8s and 10s are constantly being produced every generation, nothing spectacular. On the other hand if you maybe spoke about Sučić, i’d probably take the argument more seriously…
I thought this was funny:
“soccer is not a statistical sport unless you are comparing specific aspects of a game”
and then this: “and check who scored for ratings”
Its true we have many 8’s and 10’s but very few of the highest quality.
Vlasic has not proven much and it shows at his club. Talking about him is one thing but the reality is, he’s on the bench at his club and thats what matters the most!
You mentioned the HNL is garbage, Russia was a step higher…and now that Vlasic is in top 5 league he’s riding the pine.
Not sure what point you are trying to make Mate?
Majer has a strong offense over his agency and he first need to make some impact on international level
If you think Majer is of the same quality as Basic and Moro, then you obviously haven’t watched him in the last 2 years.
Vlašić is more proven for the National Team and has only been mediocre for us when deployed as a RW player.
Every game he’s played for us as a central midfielder (behind the striker) has resulted in a goal, assist or an overall solid game.
With Kovačić being out, and the opponent being Russia (players who are probably familiar to Vlašić) it is the safest bet to start Vlašić in the central midfield with Modrić and Brozović.
Now, the only issue is Vlašić’s recent form.
But it’s not like Majer is in full form either (having come back from injury himself).
Majer deserves a bigger shot to play for us, but it’s a hard sell to have him do this in these critical qualifiers.
Maybe off the bench against Malta to see what kind of impact and chemistry he has with Luka and Broz. Then decide if you want to continue it in the Russia game.
I mean, Vlašić is only more proven because he’s been given the chance. I agree with this being too critical a moment to try new things, I was thinking more for the next run of games (assuming we qualify). It baffles me how Majer hasn’t had a start yet.
It’s all timing.
Vlasic got his chance when Rakitic screwed us over and suddenly retired after being indecisive and non-committal before those Euro qualifiers last year. We had a gap in CAM with Rakitic gone and Kovacic having a mediocre season. It was the perfect opportunity to try out Vlasic, who was killing it in the Russian League (and did well in Champions League that season too)…and he had the best possible debut by going on scoring streak with us.
Currently, Lovro is competing with a lot of players now.
Ivanusec only got the callup ahead of Lovro because he’s seen as more capable of playing RW (which seemed to be a position of concern for Dalic prior to the Euros after playing Krama, Vlasic and Ivanusec there during the tournament).
Kovacic is having a great year, Ivanusec is having a solid one too, and now Luka Sucic is suddenly breaking out (and the hype about him is beginning to look real). Even obscure guys like Jakic are suddenly having good years. With Luka and Marcelo as staples in the starting eleven, it only leaves one spot for another central midfield player.
Bad news for Lovro is that there are other youngsters coming up, so he has a two year window to show what he can do (or he will end up like Toma Basic or Nikola Moro, permanently on the outside looking in).
Yes true, Vlasic is “more proven” and at this point, he’s the better option. Vlasic does score and this is important…my only issue with him is that he’s inconsistent. Is that because Dalic plays him out of position…maybe?? Overall, we do need a right sided player, we need Vlasic to play in “his” best position and we need Krama in his best position…how does that look?
I think it’s largely been when he’s played at RW where he’s had his mediocre games for us.
Even when he had that knee injury before the Euros, and he was out of form for us…he still scored against the Scots from his central midfield position.
It just seems like whenever he plays RW, is when he is most invisible.
I really don’t want us starting Vlasic unless it’s in a central midfield role.
He just ends up gravitating toward the center anyway, and we have nobody on the right side.
definitely good points!
Now that the LB position has become one of our deepest spots on the field, RW is really the greatest position of need and teams know when scouting us that if they can somewhat slow down the left flank (Perisic and Sosa) we ain’t going to produce too much from the right flank. If we could be more dangerous from the right, it would open up other things in the middle and on the left.
Yea, which is why we should have Juranovic making runs on that right side…but also try out a 3-5-2 so he can focus on the offense and we can stick someone more defensively capable at RCB like Duje, Stanisic or Pongracic.
This is a tricky situation.
Majer was at Dinamo until recently and then he got injured. Why did Ivanusec get a call and Majer didn’t…not sure?!
Vlasic on the other hand, has been a discussion piece for us for the past 3 seasons and unfortunately, I don’t feel he has risen to his best. Watching in previous seasons playing in Russia isn’t a good indicator of you ask me. I don’t buy the hype about Vlasic until I see it for myself…regularly….and he’s nowhere near the quality we want him to be at the moment. Don’t drink the cool-aid folks, he’s good but hasn’t proven much.
We will have to wait and see how Majer does in France and hopefully he can show he’s a solid option.
Majer should 100% have a bigger role