European football thread (CL, Europa)
- Thread starter Duke
- Start date
He's a bit older than most players who make the step upwards, but that can be explained.
A lot of good talents in the Dutch league surface at clubs outside the top echelon. The traditional path is from Dutch subtop to Dutch top to European subtop and from there maybe European top.
Pranjic didn't want to leave Heerenveen for a Dutch top side (Ajax, PSV) because of club loyalty. Now it didn't really influence his ability and growth as a football player, but it did influence his image.
What Flip said is also true, you can't judge a player based on half a year.
The reason I responded so agressively is that I hate the whimsicalness displayed so often in football.
You want a good example?
Daniel Pranjic, (very) important for Heerenveen, moves to Bayern, doesn't play much and often out of position. Result? He gets pissed on after half a year.
Eljero Elia, important for Twente, moves to HSV, plays a lot ON position, revelation of the Bundesliga, after the same six months.
With the right club and in the right position, you'd all be fapping over his passes and goals now.
Pranjic as our LB maybe worked in the Euros 08 because we had Niko Kovac there doing his defensive duties as he always had. One he retired, it's like we lost another defender, and obviously Pranjic not being a natural LB or a defensive minded player was raped by anyone on the left.
You can watch our qualifying matches, our left was always exposed, and we didn't have an adequate replacement (Babic at Zaragoza hasn't had a lot of playing time, he was generally our LB).
Now we have a few work-horse youngsters like Strinic (Hajduk) and Bartulovic (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk) and others who are playing great, and Pranjic will be on our left midfield from now on, and probably during our next Euro campaign. I'm more than confident that he will do great.
That's my 2 cents on him.
You can watch our qualifying matches, our left was always exposed, and we didn't have an adequate replacement (Babic at Zaragoza hasn't had a lot of playing time, he was generally our LB).
Now we have a few work-horse youngsters like Strinic (Hajduk) and Bartulovic (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk) and others who are playing great, and Pranjic will be on our left midfield from now on, and probably during our next Euro campaign. I'm more than confident that he will do great.
That's my 2 cents on him.
He's great on the club level, look at his goal scoring record, it speaks for itself, but for the NT ... he's frustrating to watch.
He's had maybe only a handful of good games for us, else from that, bah. I'd rather give youngsters like Kalinic, Mandzukic and Rukavina a chance.
Problem is Bilic seems to think Olic is godly, and if Olic keeps scoring at Bayern, it's just gonna reinforce Bilic's opinion that he's still useful for our NT ... when in fact, he is not.
I will forever remember Olic's shot to the bar against Turkey when it should have been an easy tap in. Modric freaked the fuck out and kept donkey kong punching the ground. I'll be on my death bed and yell out to the Gods.. DAMN YOU OLIC... DAMN YOUUUUUUU *death gurggle*
He's had maybe only a handful of good games for us, else from that, bah. I'd rather give youngsters like Kalinic, Mandzukic and Rukavina a chance.
Problem is Bilic seems to think Olic is godly, and if Olic keeps scoring at Bayern, it's just gonna reinforce Bilic's opinion that he's still useful for our NT ... when in fact, he is not.
I will forever remember Olic's shot to the bar against Turkey when it should have been an easy tap in. Modric freaked the fuck out and kept donkey kong punching the ground. I'll be on my death bed and yell out to the Gods.. DAMN YOU OLIC... DAMN YOUUUUUUU *death gurggle*
Team of the group stage
(4-4-2)
GK: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow): The Russian international showed why he is in such demand with a series of blinding performances behind a creaky CSKA back line. Particularly outstanding against Manchester United in Moscow.
RB: Mathieu Chalme (Bordeaux): It could really have been any member of a Bordeaux defence that was breached just twice in the group stage, but Chalme gets the nod. You can hardly go wrong when you are being coached by Laurent Blanc.
CB: Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal): The Belgian has proved an instant hit at the Emirates, making a mockery of the popular wisdom that new signings need time to bed in. Even scored on his Champions League debut with the Gunners against Liege on Matchday One.
CB: Bruno Alves (Porto): Was a villain last season when his terrible backpass cost Porto a place in the semis, but has redeemed himself with a series of commanding performances at the heart of a defence that conceded a mere three goals in six games.
LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea): He might not be popular, but he is extremely good. Cheryl's husband has taken his game to a new level in the last 18 months and barely put a foot wrong in his four group stage appearances.
RM: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): Completely irrepressible. Injury meant Ronaldo only played 270 minutes of group stage action, yet he is the competition's top scorer with six. Make sure you see his free-kick against Marseille, hit from so far out it crossed a time zone on its way into the net.
CM: Anderson (Manchester United): The consensus opinion of the Brazilian is that he has not done the business for United, yet he was the club's outstanding group stage performer. He played five out of six games and was an effective midfield fulcrum.
CM: Xavi (Barcelona): The champions' defence spluttered early on before finally coming to life. Despite failing to record an assist (according to the official statistics), Xavi's slick passing and speed of thought inspired the crucial 2-0 win at home to Inter.
LM: Juan Vargas (Fiorentina): The Peruvian livewire has been in magnificent form, both with his set pieces and from open play. The wing-back turned midfielder crosses the ball as well as anybody and was instrumental in Liverpool's demise.
FW: Luis Fabiano (Sevilla): The perfect second striker. Fabiano piled up two goals and four assists as Andalusians romped through the group. His partnership with Fredi Kanoute is the main reason Sevilla are a team to be feared in the last 16.
FW: Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg): It was not the striker's fault that the German champions went out. He is the real deal, and proved his worth with four goals - finding the net home and away against Manchester United - while strike partner Grafite added three.
Champions League - Team of the group stage - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
what do you think?
(4-4-2)
GK: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow): The Russian international showed why he is in such demand with a series of blinding performances behind a creaky CSKA back line. Particularly outstanding against Manchester United in Moscow.
RB: Mathieu Chalme (Bordeaux): It could really have been any member of a Bordeaux defence that was breached just twice in the group stage, but Chalme gets the nod. You can hardly go wrong when you are being coached by Laurent Blanc.
CB: Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal): The Belgian has proved an instant hit at the Emirates, making a mockery of the popular wisdom that new signings need time to bed in. Even scored on his Champions League debut with the Gunners against Liege on Matchday One.
CB: Bruno Alves (Porto): Was a villain last season when his terrible backpass cost Porto a place in the semis, but has redeemed himself with a series of commanding performances at the heart of a defence that conceded a mere three goals in six games.
LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea): He might not be popular, but he is extremely good. Cheryl's husband has taken his game to a new level in the last 18 months and barely put a foot wrong in his four group stage appearances.
RM: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): Completely irrepressible. Injury meant Ronaldo only played 270 minutes of group stage action, yet he is the competition's top scorer with six. Make sure you see his free-kick against Marseille, hit from so far out it crossed a time zone on its way into the net.
CM: Anderson (Manchester United): The consensus opinion of the Brazilian is that he has not done the business for United, yet he was the club's outstanding group stage performer. He played five out of six games and was an effective midfield fulcrum.
CM: Xavi (Barcelona): The champions' defence spluttered early on before finally coming to life. Despite failing to record an assist (according to the official statistics), Xavi's slick passing and speed of thought inspired the crucial 2-0 win at home to Inter.
LM: Juan Vargas (Fiorentina): The Peruvian livewire has been in magnificent form, both with his set pieces and from open play. The wing-back turned midfielder crosses the ball as well as anybody and was instrumental in Liverpool's demise.
FW: Luis Fabiano (Sevilla): The perfect second striker. Fabiano piled up two goals and four assists as Andalusians romped through the group. His partnership with Fredi Kanoute is the main reason Sevilla are a team to be feared in the last 16.
FW: Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg): It was not the striker's fault that the German champions went out. He is the real deal, and proved his worth with four goals - finding the net home and away against Manchester United - while strike partner Grafite added three.
Champions League - Team of the group stage - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
what do you think?
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