Will We Qualify?

Remember Quali for 1990

Do you remember those days ? We had not qualified for Mexico and were only 4th in our group behind France, Bulgaria and GDR by losing all three matches abroad. Then we failed to qualify for EC 88 by losing 1-4 in the decissive match in Beograd against England. My god, that generation was really crap.

This one is different. We must be honest, we missed this WC because of 3 bad matches under Djokic in 2000. After that, we didn`t shine, but we played solid and the results were good. If Slovenia hadn`t won luckily, narrowly in Switzerland and against Russia at home, we would have gone 2nd. and don`t forget the big gap to Swiss, that also shows our quality. We aren`t that bad.

After 88 there was qualification for Italy and no-one expected nothing against France and Scotland but we threw out the 3rd placed team of Mexico because we had relied on both, experience (Susic, Vujovic) rising stars (Stojkovic) and young prospects (Prosnecki, Savicevic). That was the clue.

You see it can go faster up then we might think. Look at Poland or rejuvenated Ireland. We should concentrate on WC 2006 but taking any chance to qualify for Portugal 2004 with -

a good mixture

Don`t be always so pessimistic.

Ok..the problem that Yugoslavia (soon to be Serbia and Montenegro) has is the same problem we have in Croatia and that is that there is a large gap between the "Old guys" and the "young guys." There is not bridge of good talented say 27 or 28 years olds that form a perfect bridge to the older generation of players. We have that same problem and it showed in the Mexico game early this morning (NY time). So, both our countries have to face up to the "growing pains," and I guess we have to get used to some losing for the next few years.

But, there is good talent where the future will be fine.

Here's the other problem. The players rather than either stay in the domestic league, or go to a lesser team in say Serie A or the EPL, these guys go to teams where yes, they will get paid well, but, they also ride the bench and are not regulars in the line up. This hurts the players development, especially in this day and age where the big clubs like a Manchester United buy these young 21 and under guys who have the talent, but their development is retarded by the fact that they get no playing time what so ever except with the reserve team (if they are lucky). I know players have to look out for themselves, especially as they get older, but sometimes they have to sacrifice some pay in order to get playing time to develope their games in live game situations and then they will get paid the big bucks down the line.

Somehow, this comes down to one thing....and I think it was mentioned before, let the players stay in their own domestic league and grow with their clubs..and have some kind of transfer rule where the kid can only leave after he is 23 or so to the big clubs in Europe.

To show an example, Mexico. Pretty much that who team plays in the Mexican league. It is not that great of a leauge, but the players get to play 5 out of every 6 games, they play 90 minutes, get in form and in shape...this helps a great deal. They pay is not great but they get paid much more than the regular people and can retire comfortably.

Well he should call up Jugovic and Drulovic, maybe Jokanovic but not Mijat and Miha. Sure Mijat was the best player in Spain in the mid 94 - 98 but now he is way past his prime as is Miha. We need players that have not got huge egos. I think we will qualify anyhow, probably in 2nd place behind Italy and face someone in the play offs. What do you guys think the team should be up front. Mine would be;

GK Jevric
CB Mirkovic
CB Stefanovic
CB Djorovic
RWB Lazetic
LWB J. Stankovic
CM D. Stankovic
CM Ilic
CM Ivic
CF Milosevic
CF Kezman

That would be it for now, i think it is a good blend of youth and experience without any major egos. Jugovic and Drulovic would be bench players for me to do a job if needed.

a quicky!!!!

i would play 4-4-2

jevric

mirkovic saveljic stefanovic and duljaj

lazetic stankovic djordjevic and ilic

kezman and milosevic


i put saveljic in because i know he knows Bata very well so it will be a good couple. I'm not very sure about WHERE to put them, meaning left/right, but they seem the best players to me.

ps
get rambo as a sub, for laza, or vice versa
LAKU NOC

For 4 - 4- 2 you need fast and capable central defenders, ours are not bad but I wouldn't classify them as fast.

Anyway, I vote for 3-5-2 with the following players.
NOTE: the inclusion of Mijat and Jokan is done only because I know we have no other choice, it will happen whether we like it or not.
And I guess thepretenders defence of older players and using France as an example doesn't work anymore... :tongue:


__________________Jevric

_________Mirkovic___Bunjevcevic_____Djorovic


________________Jokanovic (Duljaj)

Lazetic____Stankovic_____Mijatovic (Ilic)__Djordjevic


____________Kezman________Milosevic (Kovacevic)


If Bunja doesn't recover from injury, replace him with Djora and put Krstajic on the left.
Of course we have other good options as well, such as Dzodic, Obradovic, Gavrancic, Stefanovic, Lalatovic etc.


Naprijed plavi!!!