Niko Kranjcar's future

dinamovac11 · Nov 26, 2005

Biscan? He is struggling at Pao. I wanted him in the NT last season but right now I don'y know if he even deserves it.

IVO · Nov 26, 2005

I think that's too big a change heading into the WC. I like the 3 man backline not only because it's worked well but also because we don't have proper wing backs. Simunic can't offer anything in terms of running up the wing and feeding crosses (niether can any of the other CB's) and Seric is a disaster in defence and nothing special offensively. In that 3 man midfield, Srna would not be able to use the wings as much because of the gap it would leave and he's much better on the flank. I'm all for pulling Tudor back into the D but it is true that Biscan is struggling (and wouldnt' be called anyway) and I don't feel we have somebody to take Tudor's place. Niko Kovac runs so much and does so much of the dirty work in the mid that you can't take him out, we'd struggle without him.

Dr. Luka Kovac · Nov 26, 2005

diablo said:
You know shit.
Why not to tell us those stories, are you trying to protect us from someone or something?
Why an 19/20 year old kid (captain of the team) cools his ba**s on training, finishes always last during running sessions instead as a captain being an example how to give you best on trainings and matches?

He plays very well in the NT! C'mon,don't make me laugh.

I can think of only one game he played well - Bulgaria in Sofia.
He is good,talented player but doesn't give what he is capable of giving.
Now it will be, he scored againt Brasil, he scored against that one,he scored against this one, bla,bla,bla.

With his attitude towards games he will still be nothing more but talented player with occasional flashes of good moves during 90'min of play.

seems like you have watched him on the trainings. i bet you never watched a single training of him.
i cannot discuss with you because you don`t have a clue about football; denying that kranjcar did well in the qualifications and only picking that match in sofia is very poor. besides, i cannot believe what formation you made orkan? you are kidding by taking balaban behind one or two attackers, this guy must out anyway. you want seric in the team?? Thanx, he got his chance twice and he failed like the biggest loser.you want biscan?? c`mon this is not polo, but football.
i will tell who is in for the NT from those younger guys: cico will take modric, dudu, pranjic (if he continues well in heerenveen), carevic, and he will watch petric in basel (but mladen must show more in the next months).

Dr. Luka Kovac · Nov 26, 2005

and i forgot: i have another favourite ---> Nikola safaric!!!
this kid rocks, he has to get a chance, he plays a good season and he is my potential new giresse!!

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 26, 2005

IVO said:
I think that's too big a change heading into the WC. I like the 3 man backline not only because it's worked well but also because we don't have proper wing backs. Simunic can't offer anything in terms of running up the wing and feeding crosses (niether can any of the other CB's) and Seric is a disaster in defence and nothing special offensively. In that 3 man midfield, Srna would not be able to use the wings as much because of the gap it would leave and he's much better on the flank. I'm all for pulling Tudor back into the D but it is true that Biscan is struggling (and wouldnt' be called anyway) and I don't feel we have somebody to take Tudor's place. Niko Kovac runs so much and does so much of the dirty work in the mid that you can't take him out, we'd struggle without him.

I agree it would be too big a change, but that would be our best lineup.

I realize Simunic cant run up and down the wing, but that is why Srna is there, Simunic can play in this system because he is technically gifted and a nice passer.

I dont see how this lineup prevents Srna from using the wings. Where is there a gap??? That is why there is 11 guys on the pitch who can run and play football. I think Srna can be more effective because he can play off of Balaban and Modric. They can hold the ball and make runs, and not play hot potatoe which will open it up for Srna runs without the ball.

Seric is not a disaster defensively, he has NEVER played this role for our current national team, and offensively he has more pace and a better cross than anyone on our left side. Seric is having a VERY GOOD year at Pao and is probably our fastest player. He takes alot of corners and free kicks for Pao, I dought they think he is a disaster offensively he knows who to play pushing up.

"Niko Kovac runs so much and does so much of the dirty work in the mid that you can't take him out, we'd struggle without him."

How do you know we would struggle without him??? Based on what??? Maybe we would be better playing with a taller, stronger central mid who can actually open up a play with a nice ball every now and than and hold possesion of the ball without losing it after a few touches. And please dont tell me Biscan cant run, I have seen him play dozens of times. He can run, period. And not just for a big guy

Ero · Nov 26, 2005

I think that without N. Kovc this team is definitely weaker. The hustle, the defensive assingments, his detirmination and will power are unrivaled in the ro NT.

I've seen people make a donkey of Biscan...

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 26, 2005

We played with 4 in the back in France and we had only one "proper wing back", Jarni.

You want to pull Tudor back into D with three in the back,so Im assuming you want to move R Kovac to the right, but than who plays next to N Kovac in the mid??? Leko. Vranjes??? Your kidding right????

Tudor is our most creative cent mid right now, if we pull him back with this current team and formation out offense would even be worse than it is now. Teams would load up on Srna and dare Kranjcar, Kovac, and whoever else to beat us. It would be ugly to watch.

Guys, we have to wake up. Our team succeeds beacause of defense and heart, our offense is below average IMO. How many goals have we scored this campaign during the run of play??? Do we play attractive football???? Not what im watching. Our offense is give Srna or Prso the ball and watch and hope they do something great.

We have to defensive mids, Tudor, a defender, is our most effective offensive player in the mid. Our "attacking" mid, cant run 15 meters with the ball without losing it or looking like a slob, so he plays hot potatoe with it and gives it to who??? Srna or Prso as soon as he gets. How often does Kranjcar take a blast from the edge of the box like a player at his pos is supposed to do??? When has he scored a meaningful goal off of a great shot???? He played ONE game the way he is supposed too and coincidentally it was our best performance.

Im just sick of watching our team slowly become a defensive oriented team, who fouls and flops, and cant create oppurtunities through talent and skill. We are not the 98 team, but we are not as bad offensively either as we have been showing. The lineup I suggest is one that would work and allow us to play the way we are capable of instead of playing like Scotland.

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 26, 2005

Ero said:
I think that without N. Kovc this team is definitely weaker. The hustle, the defensive assingments, his detirmination and will power are unrivaled in the ro NT.

I've seen people make a donkey of Biscan...

We managed to get results without N Kovac during the Baric years, and we are more talented now with Tudor, Srna, Babic etc.

If he is made a donkey, thats why there is Tudor and R Kovac behind him.

11 guys are supposed to be able to play offensive and defensive within there expected assignments.

Even if who put N Kovac instead of Biscan, who isnt no Beckenbauer by any stretch, the lineup I have suggested is our best and would be most effective IMO.

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 26, 2005

I would really like some critiques and suggestions on why the lineup woudlnt work. Please assume N Kovac will be the cent mid, because I realize Biscan will not play for us, I put him there because of what I think is our best lineup, not most realistic.

Please show me where we would be "weaker' than our current team both offensively and defensively. I would greatly appreciate it. thanks!

pulezan · Nov 26, 2005

i look forward to this kind of lineup for 06,

keeper(anyone but butina,he makes too many blunders,korea,zlatan,
this years cl come to mind-right now i would give that spot to didulica.

tomas,tudor,r.kovac,simunic(with tudor taking more offensive role with
his nice passes and others covering for him)

srna,modric,n.kovac,babic(sorry although this is nikos thread modric
is the man to create on the midfield,n.kovac has to be there because
every team needs a pitbull in that spot with todays tempo on
that level-both wing players are great)

da silva,klasnic(prso is on a downfall and his age ain't helping-olic would
be a great sub and balaban i don't want to ever again see on this team)

Ero · Nov 26, 2005

Orkan_Dugi Rat said:
We played with 4 in the back in France and we had only one "proper wing back", Jarni.

You want to pull Tudor back into D with three in the back,so Im assuming you want to move R Kovac to the right, but than who plays next to N Kovac in the mid??? Leko. Vranjes??? Your kidding right????

Tudor is our most creative cent mid right now, if we pull him back with this current team and formation out offense would even be worse than it is now. Teams would load up on Srna and dare Kranjcar, Kovac, and whoever else to beat us. It would be ugly to watch.

Guys, we have to wake up. Our team succeeds beacause of defense and heart, our offense is below average IMO. How many goals have we scored this campaign during the run of play??? Do we play attractive football???? Not what im watching. Our offense is give Srna or Prso the ball and watch and hope they do something great.

We have to defensive mids, Tudor, a defender, is our most effective offensive player in the mid. Our "attacking" mid, cant run 15 meters with the ball without losing it or looking like a slob, so he plays hot potatoe with it and gives it to who??? Srna or Prso as soon as he gets. How often does Kranjcar take a blast from the edge of the box like a player at his pos is supposed to do??? When has he scored a meaningful goal off of a great shot???? He played ONE game the way he is supposed too and coincidentally it was our best performance.

Im just sick of watching our team slowly become a defensive oriented team, who fouls and flops, and cant create oppurtunities through talent and skill. We are not the 98 team, but we are not as bad offensively either as we have been showing. The lineup I suggest is one that would work and allow us to play the way we are capable of instead of playing like Scotland.

man, there are so many things wrong with that post that I have to reply.

1. In 1998 we played a classic 3-5-2 formation. Our midfielders were Stanic, Boban, Asanovic, Jarni and Prosinecki, Jurcic and Soldo coming in.

2. Kranjcar's formation and tactics is giving us some great football, and we have scored from open play.

3 vs Hungary from open play (Prso, Klasnic, Leko)
3 vs Iceland (Prso, Balaban x2)
3 vs Malta (Prso, Tudor, Kranjcar)
3 vs. Bulgaria (Babic, Tudor, Kranjcar)

that's 12 goals from open play. Not to mention the sitters we've missed over these and other games to score more from open play.

We are playing the most fluid we've played since the 98 generation.

Is there room for improvement? Of course..but to say we don't score from open play is simply not true. We scored more from open play than penalties

Ero · Nov 26, 2005

Prso out for 06?

are you mad? He's is far and away pur most useful player...even at his age...him and Srna.

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 26, 2005

If we play a 4-4-2 with 4 stoppers in the back, and a mid like Kovac, our offense will continue to sputter and rely on individual plays.

Playing a 4-3-2-1 with Seric as a wing back with Babic on the left, and Simunic behind Srna(he does double work) it would allow us to play a more control game because of Modric, Balaban, and or Da Silva all being closer to our mid and being able to run and play with the ball at there feet. All three of these guys are perfect for the role.

Balaban and Da Silva are not classic forwards. Balaban is oppurtunistic and has a VERY GOOD shot and he can shoot it while off the dribble(this is what we lack in the middle of our offense) Modric never stops moving and is very creative, the Croatian Zola(this is also something we lack in the middle). Da Silva may be the best dribbler of the bunch.

Playing Balaban behind Prso, with an active, involved player like Modric will make Prso, Srna, Babic, Modric, Balaban all better players and vice versa.

Ero · Nov 26, 2005

I don't see how changing a formation that works after grueling qualifiers will help any team.

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 26, 2005

Ero said:
man, there are so many things wrong with that post that I have to reply.

1. In 1998 we played a classic 3-5-2 formation. Our midfielders were Stanic, Boban, Asanovic, Jarni and Prosinecki, Jurcic and Soldo coming in.

Where was Simic than??? I believe Soldo, played every game for us, could be wrong, I gotta check. Jarni was a wingback, with Asanovic playing as a left mid. Prosinecki played half the time, and Bilic and Stimac were stoppers. Show me where we played a classic 3-5-2

2. Kranjcar's formation and tactics is giving us some great football, and we have scored from open play.

3 vs Hungary from open play (Prso, Klasnic, Leko) in one game with 10 men

3 vs Iceland (Prso, Balaban x2) same as Malta, and they played a game without Gudjonson

3 vs Malta (Prso, Tudor, Kranjcar) is 3 goals in 2 games something to be proud of against Malta, how many did Sweden have? 25??? :howler:

3 vs. Bulgaria (Babic, Tudor, Kranjcar) in one game, the best performance to date

that's 12 goals from open play. Not to mention the sitters we've missed over these and other games to score more from open play.

12 goals in over 900 minutes of open play, with the like of Malta, Iceland, and even Hungary. Im not really impressed

Plus, I realize Portugal was a friendly, and we were short handed(as were they) but the offense was absolutely attrocious. I rate ourselves against the great teams, like Portugal, etc not Malta and Hungary.

Thats 3 straight games without a goal in open play, Sweden(without Zlatan) Hungary, and Portugal. I cant help be pessimistic when our best players, in there most effective postions, are not out on the field and we are not producing.

pulezan · Nov 26, 2005

ero,we don't want to see another japan or portugal .
just happy to be there,i'm sick of it !
there are lot improvements to be done to this team and some
new players like modric and da silva really gives us hope that
we could do better.discussing formations and options is a good
thing-to see everyones point of view .

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 26, 2005

pulezan said:
ero,we don't want to see another japan or portugal .
just happy to be there,i'm sick of it !
there are lot improvements to be done to this team and some
new players like modric and da silva really gives us hope that
we could do better.discussing formations and options is a good
thing-to see everyones point of view .

Amen!!!!

Orkan_Dugi Rat · Nov 27, 2005

Ero said:
I don't see how changing a formation that works after grueling qualifiers will help any team.

Football is a game, and the job of any good coach is to put his BEST players on the field, in the BEST positions which allow them to utilize there skills best.

Putting Balaban next to Prso as a classic forward, is not utilizing his skill best.

Leaving a guy like Babic to create all our offense on the left side of the field, is not utilizing him in the best way. Srna can handle that role, Babic cant. (Modric in front of him, Seric behind him, we can play off both sides of the field)

Putting an overweight, slow, lazy kid as our lone attacking mid is not utilizing our talent as a team in the best way.

Making Dado Prso have to receive the ball 15 meters from the midfield because our cent mids cant create for him, is not using his talents to the fullest.

Do you get the point?? Thats why theres friendly games, to try to techniques and players. You gotta have vision and balls to be a great coach and-or player.

P.S. I was watching Milan vs Benfica the other day from 95, My God I was sick to my stomach. I forgot what it was like to watch a real "midfielder" like Boban. He was doing it all, pace, making runs, playing defense, some world class through balls, was constantly involved. It brought a

to my face....

IVO · Nov 27, 2005

Seric is a disaster in defence which is why he never succeeded in Serie A in general but especially when played a LB. Offensively we have Babic to work the left flank anyway and it's not like Seric is gonna take his spot. I'm not saying that Seric sucks offensively, but he's not our best option for the left and if he was, I would consider it a weak point in the team. Doing well at Panathanaikos isn't that big a deal in my eyes.

Niko Kovac has an excellent workrate. He's got good speed (at least compared to our other options there) and you can't discount what a grinder like that does for your team. Every team needs a guy who's gonna tackle well to get the ball back and in general make it difficult for the opposition when they have the ball. The reason we would suffer without him is because we'd need a similar player to take his spot which we don't have.

As for Srna, in your lineup you'd have a 3 man midfield while Balaban and Modric would focus much more on offense. As a result, Srna will not be able to make his runs unless one of those guys drop back to fill that gap which defeats the whole point of having them up there to begin with. There's really no point in playing with 4 at the back if 3 of them are central midfielders because you're in essence taking a midfielder and throwing him at LB when you already have 3 stay at home defenders. You're weakening the midfield without strengthening the defence. There's no point in comparing to 98 because that team had much better offensive strength than our current one does.

I don't understand about Tudor, you put him in your defensive line and now you're criticizing me for agreeing with you

Or maybe I misunderstood...

Don't get me wrong, I like a 4-3-2-1 but we just don't have the players for it.

dinamovac11 · Nov 27, 2005

I don't get how people can talk about the WC starting team already. Between now and then players should be tested like Modric and Eduardo, and after we get to see everybody, then we can talk about formations, starting teams etc etc...

In my opininion, we need to really find a central midfielder from somewhere, and I don't mean by searching the globe for someone who might have a Croatian great grandmother.

Orkan_Dugi Rat said:
Balaban is oppurtunistic and has a VERY GOOD shot and he can shoot it while off the dribble

damn, didn't know Balaban could play basketball.

Niko Kranjcar's future

dinamovac11

IVO

Dr. Luka Kovac

Dr. Luka Kovac

Orkan_Dugi Rat

Ero

Orkan_Dugi Rat

Orkan_Dugi Rat

Orkan_Dugi Rat

pulezan

Ero

Ero

Orkan_Dugi Rat

Ero

Orkan_Dugi Rat

pulezan

Orkan_Dugi Rat

Orkan_Dugi Rat

IVO

dinamovac11

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities