Does Obraniak Fit In?

Not to sound like a broken record but I hope Beenhakker talks to Laurent Koscielny, a centerback who was excellent this past season in Ligue 2 and is currently attracting interest from a number of Ligue 1 clubs including PSG, Auxerre, Marseille etc. Koscielny is French-born but from his surname he probably has some Polish background so perhaps he’d be interested in playing for us.. the PZPN should at least talk to him! We are in desperate need of new centerbacks.

Posted from  Canada

Left wing is where Obraniak is destined to play. He’s too much of a goal-scorer to be anything else. That being said, until Ebi stops scoring goals for Poland, I am definitely not giving up on him yet. Sure, he scored 4 against a weak opponent, but 4 goals is 4 goals. I didn’t see Robert Lewandowski or Jelen netting 4. The team is destined for a revival, I’m sure of it. The squad is too good – let them have their vacations, and then let’s see how well integrated the team is.

Posted from  United States

Zaraza you should email the pzpn about Laurent Koscielny. It might be worth a try I’m gonna try to find the email of the foreign scouting guy and give it go myself tomorrow if get a chance.

Its time to do what my high school coach used to say get your best 11 out there and get her done. The time for talk is over,

Posted from  United States

Definately should play Obraniak on the left and bring Ebi in more central, like Nick said Ebi scores to much to not be playing, he’s our top scorer at the moment and thats without even playing regular club football.
The pace of our attack would scare most teams to death, imagine… Obraniak on the left, Kuba on the right, Jelen up front with Brozek or smolarek up front alone with Jelen just behind him, then you have several options for the centre, Roger distributing, Murawski up and down a midfielder with pace, and we still have Both lewandowski’s to consider Janczyk, Boguski and Peszko. Other than defence our squad looks very tight, we have some very good players available to us now and this is why the past two frendly results dont worry me at all, how many of the above players played in these frendlies???

Posted from  Greece

Great Obraniak highlights – thanks tomasz. He sure does look versatile and can play anywhere up front. My thoughts are in line with Wejher’s comments, though I wouldn’t mind seeing Obraniak more to the center also. We have some nice depth on offensive positions now! Hope the guys can all stay healthy.

Now if only Leo and PZPN will focus on improving the defense. I tried to find more information on zaraza’s nice-find, center back Laurent Koscielny. Here is an interview in French, I can’t understand but some of you may: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjLI-kmd8Qg. And stats of his young career: (looks like he starts ever game he is in: http://www.ligue1.com/joueur/index.asp?no_joueur=107496 . Having Obraniak on the team could even make the idea of playing for Poland more comfortable for Koscielny.

Also if left back Sebastian Boenisch could improve the team, then I think PZPN and Leo should try to persuade him to play for Poland (if not too late/FIFA rules). Should not care too much what he said before; with the opportunities for good defenders on the Polish side, it could be in his best interest to play for Poland.

Posted from  United States

That video is pretty impressive. Its already been said, but we definitely have some good attacking options now. You have to put Obraniak out on the left, Krzynowek has been good for a long time but Obraniak is an immediate upgrade and adds some freshness that has been lacking with Krzynowek in the midfield. I’m hoping Ebi finds a place to play for next season, he is too dangerous to leave out of the squad. Even without playing for his club this year he has shown that he is still our best goal scorer.

Hopefully PZPN goes after this Koscielny guy, our options on defense are very limited. There’s nothing to lose by contacting the player and seeing whether playing for Poland interests him, worse that could happen is he declines. But if he hasn’t been capped at even the youth level for France and with a Polish last name then its worth the effort to pursue.

Based on the video, Obraniak seems to be exactly the kind of “Fire” the NT has been lacking…I can see great things happening with him joining the squad.
Go Ludo!

Posted from  United States

Koscielny seems to have already the Polish nationality:
http://www.manager2foot.com/index.php?to=fiche_joueur2&id_joueur=97217

and

http://www.fmeurope.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8189&start=45&sid=0096231f9036184788d04aedd7532c56

…il n’a cependant pas encore tranché entre défendre les couleurs de la selection Française ou Polonaise… He didn’t choose yet if he wants to play for France or Poland

Laurent Koscielny: Since 2007 with Tours FC had 8 goals in 75 games. Not bad for a central defender. He’s 186cm (6′1″?) and 75kg.

I wonder if hes related to Jaroslaw Koscielny of Odra Opole.

However, on this website it states that he played 33 games for national. I’m sure that was not for the senior team.
http://www.footballdatabase.eu/football.joueurs.laurent.koscielny.11501.en.html

http://www.transfermarketweb.com/index.php?action=read&idsel=36194

This website has his nationality as France/Poland
http://www.footballworldsgame.com/football-database/player/laurent-koscielny-70976/

http://72.14.205.132/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.footmercato.net/Koscielny-pret-a-discuter-avec-le_article34697.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLaurent%2BKoscielny%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DmSJ%26sa%3DN%26start%3D10&rurl=translate.google.ca&usg=ALkJrhiyNve2gKSw8lYZxQkRx-lWNPFHMA

He has been mentioned before: http://www.polishsoccer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8544&sid=baa5fc09c93131e7bdbf60e54c1c4058

For fans of Obraniak: http://www.polishsoccer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13686&start=20&sid=f6180f847f2e2ec238d05a7939304690. scroll down to see the pic.

Sebastian Latowski
Data Ur. 31.03.1990 Bydgoszcz
Narodowość Polska/Niemcy
Klub: Hannover 96 U-19
Pozycja:Obrońca

Christian Jendrossek
Data Ur. 24.04.1990
Narodowość: Niemcy/Polska
Klub:Chemnitzer FC U-19
Pozycja:Napastnik

Marcel Platzek
Data Ur.21.05.1990
Narodowość:Niemcy/Polska
Klub Rot Weiss Essen U-19
Pozycja:Napastnik

Patrick Podrygala
Data Ur.10.05.1991
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Klub:Hertha Berlin U-19
Pozycja:Pomocnik

Daniel Ujazdowski
Data Ur.24.06.1991
Narodowość:Niemcy/Polska
Klub:Hertha Berlin U-19
Pozycja:Obrońca

Sebastian Kmieć
Data Ur:16.06.1990
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Klub:Werder Brema U-19
Pozycja:Prawy Pomocnik/Obrońca

Tom Nowak
Data Ur:15.08.1990
Narodowość:Niemcy/Polska
Klub:Rot-Weiß Erfurt U-19
Pozycja:Obrońca

Christoph Grabinski
Data Ur:12.03.1990
Narodowość:Niemcy/Polska
Klub:FC Carl Zeiss Jena U-19
Pozycja:Pomocnik

Nico Granatowski
Data Ur.03.06.1991
Narodowość:Niemcy/Polska
Pozycja:Napastnik
Klub:VfL Wolfsburg U19

Daniel Latkowski
Data Ur.
Narodowość;Niemcy/Polska
Pozycja: Obrońca
Klub:VFL Osnabruck U-19

Waldemar Sawitzki
Data Ur:
Narodowość:Niemcy/Polska
Pozycja: Pomocnik
Klub:VFL Osnabruck U-19

Sebastian Malinowski
Data Ur:
Narodowość:Polska
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub FC Basel

Kristijan / Krystian Boskovski / Boskowski
Data Ur: 14.06.1987
Narodowość:Polska/Macedonia
Pozycja: Napastnik
Klub:FK Rabotnički Kometal Skopje

Jorn Nowak
Data Ur/25.04.1986
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja.Obrońca
Klub:Rot-Weiß Erfurt

Maciey Zieba
Data Ur.24.01.1987
Narodowość:Polska
Pozycja:Napastnik
Klub:Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Nick Meace
Data Ur.
Narodowość:Polska/Anglia
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub:Wigan Athletic

Philipp Kulecki
Data Ur.31.01.1990
Narodowość:Niemcy/Polska
Pozycja:obrońca
Klub:1.FC Union Berlin

Kevin Adamski
Data Ur.21.02.1991
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:obrońca
Klub:1.FC Union Berlin

Philip Malinowski
Data Ur.15.10.1991
Narodowość: Niemcy/Polska
Pozycja: Pomocnik
Klub.1.FC Union Berlin

Tom Pohanka
Data Ur:27.04.1992
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub: Hansa Rostock

David Blacha
Data Ur: 22.10.1990
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Pomocnik/Napastnik
Klub:Borussia Dortmund

Daniel Ginczek
Data Ur: 13.04.1991
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Napastnik
Klub:Borussia Dortmund

Martin Zakrzewski
Data Ur:21.07.1990
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub:Borussia Dortmund

Patrick Koronkiewicz
Data Ur:13.03.1991
Narodowość:Polska /Niemcy
Pozycja:Napastnik
Klub:Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Dominik Kruczek
Data Ur:11.11.1991
Narodowość:Polska
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub:Borussia Mönchengladbach U-19

Tomasz Welnicki
Data Ur: 18.03.1990
Naraodowość:Polska
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub:VFL Bochum U-19

Matthias Ostrzolek
Data Ur:05.06.1990
Narodowość:Polska
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub VFL Bochum

Sebastian Czajkowski
Data Ur:03.01.1991
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Napastnik
Klub:Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen

Michael Gardawski
Data Ur.25.09.1990
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Napatsnik
ub: 1.FC Koeln

Martin Zurawski
Data Ur.12.08.1990
Narodwość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub:Jahn Regensburg U-19

Lukasz Olbrich
Data Ur:08.02.1990
Narodowość;Polska
Pozycja:Prawy Obrońca
Klub:1.FC Kaiserslautern U-19

Alan Stulin
Data Ur: 05.06.1990
Narodowość:Polska
Pozycja:Pomocnik
Klub:1.FC Kaiserslautern U-19

Adrian Saletnik
Data Ur: 28.04.1991
Narodowość:Polska/Niemcy
Pozycja:Obrońca
Klub:Kickers Offenabach U-19

Impressive list. It’s too bad there are so many Poles that have to choose between Poland and Germany, but at the same time it’s a good thing because they get to develop in the German system.

Has anyone been able to log into the Polish SOCA! website? They redid it but I”m not sure if they’re finished and I cannot log in…

the shot-gun approach is good too; I hope the PZPN is aware and scouting ALL the potential. Still, zaraza: thank you for making many of us aware, and fixing our radars to some potential kick-ass potential in Koscielny and others and sparking contributions above.

Is Martin Zurawski related to Maciej?

Regarding Polish SOCA: at http://twitter.com/polishsoca the ‘red type’ are links to columns, and I see the forum is back on line http://www.polishsoca.com/forum/. http://www.polishsoca.com/ doesn’t seem to be available yet, unless a user name and pass word get you to another web spot.

the polishsoca thing won’t let me log on either. but i heard that they reset the whole system anyways so i dunno.

Posted from  Canada

chester, my Polish is kind of embarrassing but I hope someone writes them an email. Koscielny would be an excellent asset for us, he was considered one of the best defenders in Ligue 2.

French reports say that he has signed for Lorient (10th in Ligue 1 in 2008-09). There was also interest from bigger clubs but he wanted to be assured of regular playing time. Smart choice.

Witold, good work, I hadn’t noticed that he was already has dual citizenship. This is excellent news for us, the PZPN better get to work on convincing him to play for Poland!

Neither Wikipedia nor Transfermarkt mention any appearances for France so those national stats have to be youth matches.

Posted from  Canada

Ok I sent an email to Maciej Chorazyk, I hope he understands my attempt at Polish

Posted from  Canada

I can’t be certain, but I’m pretty sure that the PZPN knows about all of these. I don’t think failing to gather youth from other countries is because they don’t know about them. Its probably more that its hard to sell Poland to anyone who has a chance to play for more “respecatble” teams. You know, the kind that have World Cups to their names as opposed to third place finishes that happened years before they were born. Its similar to club football. If you got a chance to work your way up through a ManU roster, you probably won’t waste your time playing in the Ekstraklasa. Just the way of the world right now. But in time, the PZPN may get better at recruiting these kids. The national team playing better would be a big help. So would getting a big name to coach the team when Beenhaaker leaves. Its a shame that the stars of the past haven’t done much to help out since they’ve retired from playing.

I don’t think it should be that difficult to convince them, sure Poland doesn’t have an impressive record in terms of football, but it’s one of the largest countries in Europe and growing rapidly in economic importance. It’s football results will follow too.

There is definitely a problem in convincing players in Germany though, but I’m not sure it’s because they don’t want to, it’s more that they don’t really have a choice. Apparently young players will get more chances and support if they’re seen as German talents. That’s why so many players choose to represent that country and continue to do so even when they have no real chance of breaking into Germany’s senior NT. They do it out of self-interest, not genuine attachment to Germany.
It was quite laughable when a German football official recently claimed that the German NT only consists of players who feel a really strong tie to Germany. What about Podolski who, when asked about his favorite music, food, etc, listed only Polish stuff. Or even Klose, his kids will have to learn German in kindergarden because the family speaks only Polish at home!
Their behavior in private strongly indicates they only chose Germany for personal gain, at home they continue to consider themselves Polish.

On a related note, a few months ago, Wichniarek talked about how Polish players in the Bundesliga are treated much worse than players from any other country. They’re only shooting themselves in the foot. The Bundesliga’s attempts to expand the market in Poland will never have much success unless they change their attitudes and bring in more Polish players. How are Poles supposed to become interested in the Bundesliga if there are hardly any players from our country, and German-born players with Polish roots are discouraged from representing Poland? Only makes me even less interested.

Posted from  Canada

*its* football results

Posted from  Canada

Lato says he is going to personally meet with Boenisch, Aquafresca, and Filipe Kasmirski, to see if they are interested in playing for Poland. I doubt if he will or the meetings will do anything.

If Lato is able to convince any of these three i will have a new found respect for the man. As long as he puts effort into getting international players then pzpn will become a step better. As for Aquafresca I live in New York and there is the US version of Super Express newspaper that my father buys todays newspaper has interview with Aquafresca’s mom that says that her still is uncertain about Italy and Poland. Also that he once told her he was gonna play for Poland just for her because he already plays in Seria A for his father.

Sure Obraniak is a good player but probably if he really suit to the team the chief of the Poland National Team Mr.Leo he will give a Ludvic call.
Everbody knows about what kind of player we talking about.
The first let a give chance to the youngest players from Germany.
Invest in future,for good and strong team,maybe there might be a world class talent’s.

My opinion is,and I bet 4 Martin Zakrzewski-Borussia Dortmund and I saw player in macedonia Kristijan Boskovski-Rabotnicki Skopje

And definetly Maciej’s Chorazyk scouting network it’s poor
Martin Zakrzewski is going to have good future,but Germans will grab him soon

Im not sure to agree with you,need understand to the pzpn staff cause there are plenty polish players around,but is gonna be good if everybody will be seen in football camp sponsored by pzpn and been selected the right players

Thats the choice how does it work