Ekstraklasa Winter Transfer Report.

February 23rd, 2011 | by: tomasz | Comments(11)

It’s getting closer and closer; this upcoming weekend the Ekstraklasa will come back and give the meaning to the lives of Polish fans again. I can already feel it in the air: the sound of fans chanting, the smell of ‘fresh’ grilled sausages, the queues to the toilet and the overcrowded buses and trams that take you to and from the game. Oh, and the always green and flat pitches that provide a surface for the spectacle of the highest quality. Alright, joking aside, I can hardly imagine the start of Ekstraklasa as I’m currently freezing my ass to death in -15C temperature. There is no way I can survive 90 minutes outside in such conditions (not that I didn’t try). The one thing, though, that gives me some warmth and thrills is the thought of admiring new players that will enter the Polish pitches after winter. Here is who’s worth having a closer look at.

New players in the Ekstraklasa:

Marcelo Moretto (Arka Gdynia, GK): after Wojciech Kowalewski opted for an offer from Cyprus Arka was desperate to find a decent keeper. Surprisingly, they found a one I’ve even heard about earlier (due to CL games against Barcelona). Moretto is a former Benfica and AEK Athens keeper, though he didn’t manage to establish himself at either of those clubs. He had one good season, but it was five years ago. His current form is a big mystery.
Ermin Seratlic (Jagiellonia Białystok, AML): a Montenegro U21 international whose main strenghts are dribbling ability, crossing and speed. Showed in the friendly games that he can be a player who’ll replace Kamil Grosicki at Jagiellonia.

Sander Puri (Korona Kielce, AM): an Estonian international who has the Greek club Larissa in his CV. According to Korona’s coach Marcin Sasal he’ll bring the biggest improvement to his team.

Vojo Ubiparip (Lech Poznań, ST): can Lech make it with yet another striker? After a huge success that was Artjoms Rudnevs’ transfer Lech officials decided to find a backup for the Latvian attacker abroad (and released Artur Wichniarek and Joel Tshibamba). Ubiparip was closely scouted while playing in the Serbian league (6 goals this season) in order to limit the risk of failure, but even Lech transfer commitee makes mistakes (Gordan Golik, Haris Handzic). So far, Ubiparip has shown potential in Lech’s friendlies, but we won’t learn uch about him as long as Rudnevs is Bakero’s first choice.

Michal Hubnik (Legia Warsaw, ST): Takesure Chinyama has injury problems all the time, Michał Kucharczyk is too young and Bruno Mezenga simply isn’t good enough for the starting spot. Legia desperately needed a new striker and they found him in the Czech Republic. Hubnik managed to score 12 goals in 17 appearances for Sigma Olomouc this season, which is a very respectable result. He also played twice for the Czech national team. What’s a bit worrying is that, at the age of 27, this is the first so spectacular season in his career (6 goals in the whole season was his former record). He’s loaned for the rest of the season.

Cwetan Genkow (Wisła Kraków, ST): a player whose task is to replace Paweł Brożek as Wisła’s top goalscorer. His attributes may be good enough for the Ekstraklasa: he was a star in Bulgaria (11 goals for Lokomotiw Sofia this season, former top goalscorer), but he failed to make a step forward in Russia, where Dinamo Moscow proved too big a challenge for him.
Maor Melikson (Wisła Kraków,M): an Israeli local star for whom this is the first foreign club. A big risk for Wisła, especially that Melikson isn’t even a regular for the Israeli national team. Still, there must be something about this player since Wisła officials fought really hard to purchase him from Beer Sheva. Expected to play as a winger or a playmaker. Has got Polish citizenship (wink, wink).

Kew Jaliens (Wisła Kraków, DC): possibly the biggest name that has ever came to the Ekstraklasa (WC 2006 participant for Holland), thanks to the contacts of the Dutch management (coach Maaskant, sporting director Stan Valckx). He’s definitely past his best (didn’t have a regular place at AZ Alkmaar lately), but his experience and skills should be enough to star in the Ekstraklasa.
Michaił Siwakow (Wisła Kraków,M): wasn’t good enough to break through in Serie A, but a player who at such a young age attracts an interest of an Italian club must possess some potential. Adds more competition to an already packed Wisła midfield. Loaned for half a year.

Deniss Rakels (Zagłębie Lubin,ST): comes to Poland with a Latvian league top goalscorer title and an opinion of the most talented Latvian player (he’s only 18). On paper, it looks like a pefect deal.

Same old players, new surroundings:

Piotr Giza (Legia Warsaw-Cracovia, MC): WC2006 partcipant and formerly one of the most promising Polish playmakers returns to his home club after a largely unsuccessful time spent in the capital. May still be a joy to watch after he won’t have to deal with the pressure that was put on him in Warsaw.
Bartłomiej Grzelak (Sybir Nowosybirsk-Jagiellonia Białystok, ST): another Legia reject who, provided he stays healthy, can add some quality to the league. Still, he’s not a type of player that will win Jaga games single handedly.
Rafał Murawski (Rubin Kazan-Lech Poznań, MC): the biggest tranfer in the Ekstraklasa brings back the Polish international back to Poznań. If Muraś finds the motivation to give his best Lech will have the strongest midfield in Poland (Injac, Krivets, Bandrowski) and should control most of the games. The pressure is on Murawski to deliver.
Hubert Wołąkiewicz (Lechia Gdańsk-Lech Poznań, DL\DR\DC): a player that Bakero needed in defense to install a serious rotation system. Isn’t good enough to replace Arboleda, Bosacki or Wojtkowiak, but will enter the field each time the aforementioned players have injury or disciplinary problems.
Krzysztof Król (Chicago Fire-Polonia Bytom, DL): one of few Polish natural left backs is making another step backwards by moving from MLS to the relegation threatened Polonia Bytom, simply because he wasn’t good enough to be kept at Jagiellonia. This is his last opportunity to become someone important in Polish football.
Adam Kokoszka (Empoli-Polonia Warsaw, DC): Leo Beenhakker’s favourite proved to have much less potential than the Dutch coach expected and, after an initial positive start, failed to break through at Serie B’s Empoli. With Jodłowiec, Pietrasiak and Sadlok in the middle of Polonia’s defense he won’t have it easier in Warsaw.
Maciej Sadlok (Ruch Chorzów-Polonia Warsaw, DC\DL): it was high time for the Smuda hopeful to change clubs for a one with an ambition and to play under some serious pressure. Smuda wants to use Sadlok as a left back, but in all probability he’ll play in the centre of Polonia’s defense.

Anyone I missed? Which transfers are you most excieted about?