Just Don’t Take Me Too Seriously.

December 23rd, 2008 | by: tomasz | Comments(13)

There aren’t many “Polish” matches played before Christmas, so I decided to bring a smile to your face…by laughing at myself. I had a look at the notes I managed to have produced throughout the year and what particularly stroke me was that, well, I wasn’t always accurate in my judgement. Maybe, after all, I’m not the expert I aspire to be; it’s time to demythologize myself. I hope you’ll find this entertaining.

Here are some extracts from my notes that didn’t survive the clash with reality:

Magic looks ok to me, you can see that he’s forgetting about his Celtic depression; I’m confident he’ll be in shape when Euro comes.- after watching one of Magic Zurawski’s game for Larissa. I always had a soft spot for Zuraw’s abilities. In reality, he was in such a great shape during Euros that he managed to injure himself in the first half against Germany.

Still has plenty of room to develop and it seems that he’ll be one of our strongest links in Austria- after Wojciech Lobodzinski’s tranfer to Wisla Krakow. He became one of our weakest links in Austria and Wisla fans are still cursing the day he signed a contract with Biala Gwiazda.

Still, it seems that Kaz is finally getting accustomed with the life at a big club.- about Przemyslaw Kazmierczak’s situation at FC Porto. He got so accustomed to life at a big club that he now can’t get accustomed to life at a small club, Derby County.

Pawel Brozek and Tomasz Zahorski proved to be the best local striking prospects, scoring a goal each.- which is true about the first player, but I terribly overrated Zahorski’s abilities. Fortunately, an expert of Leo Beenhakker’s status did the same.

Potentially, he’s got everything that a striker needs: height, speed, technique and heading ability.- what was I seeing in Zahorski? This affection was probably due to the fact that he comes from Olsztyn, a place where I spent all my summer holidays.

He has definitely grown to become one of the most significant Santander’s players, but sometimes doesn’t start because of the manager’s squad rotation system.- about Ebi’s situation at Santander. He proved so important to them that they tried to offload him anywhere possible during the summer transfer window.

Finally proved that he’s not there on the international level.- about Pawel Brozek, who luckily proved me wrong in the game against the Czech Republic.

The guy has potential; I just hope Leo won’t forget about him when he’ll anounce his 30 player shortlist for the Euro next week.- about Kamil Grosicki, who was another player to fool me this year. Grosicki didn’t even manage to become a regular at the mighty Sion.

Cons: I really can’t find any. Well, he’s rotated at Racing Santander.- my unshaken belief in Ebi Smolarek, a perfect player.

The Celtic’s season seems to be over as well as Gordon Strachan’s career at the Celtic Park. What does it have to do with Boruc? I imagine that the new manager will carry through a small revolution in the squad.- writing off Celtic before the end of the season wasn’t my wisest choice. Needless to say, both Strachan and Boruc are still there.

The thing is Radoslaw Matusiak will almost certainly go to the Euros.

It is almost just as obvious that Leo will include Matusiak in the final Euro squad.- I was under an influence of Matusiak’s goal against Belgium for a very long time.

He’s just this sort of player that can be great when he’s in shape- about Mariusz Jop, who, of course, proved me wrong in the game against Austria.

He’s still not what you would call a classy player, but he’s perfect for a backup.- a bit more realistic about Jop’s skills, but still not accurate enough.

We need Smolarek as a lone striker- my conclusion after one of the friendlies. Ebi played as a lone striker against Germany and Austria and we know how it all ended.

Magic Zurawski was as dynamic as in his best years for Wisla. He moved to the centre of the field very often and wanted to take part in every offensive play. He made decisions very fast and tried to speed up the game with one touch passes. It was the best Zuraw that I’ve seen for a long time.- getting overexcited about Magic Zurawski after the Albania friendly. I don’t have to add that Magic quickly managed to bring me down.

Roger will be a substitute during the Euros. There is absolutely no way he can play instead of Smolarek, Zurawski or Krzynowek in the first squad.- a conclusion after the Denmark friendly. Roger became our best outfield player during Euros.

Drives our team forward with every move, one of only a few Polish players that can win a match by himself. I always feel a thrill when he’s preparing to take a shot.- getting overexcited about Jacek Krzynowek. During Euros this thrill changed into irritation.

I’m sure he’ll handle the pressure well.- believing in Ebi’s winner mentality before Euros.

I want to get drunk with happiness tonight. It’s a perfect occasion: a game against Germany. We’ve never won against them. This could be history in the making. And we can be a part of this history. I want to tell my grankids about this night. I don’t want to hear that our players our worthless and that Germans are unbeatable. I want to believe that we can do it. I want to scream my lungs out tonight. FOR POLAND! Football is an emotional game. Let’s switch off our brains and turn on our hearts.- getting a bit too emotional before the game against the Germans. Probably, I was already a bit drunk (with emotions that is).

I’m almost sure that he’ll win a starting place in France. Auxerre is not the richest of clubs and if they spend 2,5M on a player they must believe in him.- Dariusz Dudka’s career in France didn’t go as well as I expected.

Why the hell do you resign from playing in the best Polish club when you don’t have an interesting offer on the table. I would only understand such a move if there was a club observing Kokos for a long time, a one that contacted him a lot earlier.- criticising Adam Kokoszka for a trial at Empoli. Kokos’ move to Italy later proved to be one of the best Polish tranfers of the year.

Radek will probably get his chance this term; firstly because Heerenveen paid 3M for him a year ago and want to make some money back, secondly because thay sold their best striker Miralem Sulejmani to Ajax.- what is it with Radek Matusiak that I’ve been fooled by him so many times. Shortly after I’d written that he decided to retire.

He won’t probably be loaned out this season. One of only 4 centre backs in the squad (3 if they sell Meite), should get his chance this season.- forgive me for not being an expert in Jaroslaw Fojut’s status at Bolton.

Has to play regularly on a high level to be called up for a minor friendly game.- about Sebastian Tyrala, who was called up after playing for Dortmund’s reserves (4th Bundesliga that is).

It looks as if he’s finally got rid of health problems.- about Ireneusz Jelen, who then spent most of the season on an injured list.

10th on the keeper list- judging Lukasz Zaluska’s chances of playing for the national team. He became our nr 3 shortly afterwards.

Ireneusz Jelen may as well be Leo’s mystery new striker.- it, of course, turned out to be Pawel Brozek.

If Brozek, Ebi or Lewandowski don’t score against Slovenia and San Marino then Konig Artur will just have to be called up.- I wasn’t aware of the scale of the conflict between Leo and Konig Artur.

Artur Boruc is back for good.- after the Czech Republic game. Three days later Artie lost the game against Slovakia for us.

There you go, I hope to write a similar article next year. An extract like this would be perfect:

We’ll now most probably face two years without a competetive game- how stupid I was not to believe that Poland would win the qualifying group.

Other news: Finally a wise move from Dawid Janczyk and CSKA Moscow. One of the most talented Polish players was loaned out to Lokeren in Belgium; a club where there await him to be their starting striker. Even though this move comes half a year too late, I strongly support it. At 21 it’s crucial for Janczyk to play every week in competetive games. If he does well he may easily become our 3rd choice striker behind Pawel Brozek and Robert Lewandowski.

Radoslaw Matusiak rose from the death and signed a contract with Widzew Lodz. The fact that he’ll only play in Polish second division shows that he wants to return to professional football in a quiet way. Nevertheless, Leo’s assistant, Rafal Ulatowski, already stated that Radomatu can count on a call up once he starts scoring regularly.

The Goal Hunter is back, Tomasz Frankowski signed a contract with Jagiellonia Bialystok. I’m sure the 2006 WC qualifiers legend is still able to teach Polish youngsters a trick or two.

According to Przeglad Sportowy, Lukasz Gargula accepted Wisla Krakow’s contract offer. Legia Warsaw also competed for Gargula’s signature, especially that they have an offer from Dynamo Moscow lined up for Roger. If what PS writes turns out to be true Roger’s winter transfer will be in doubt. I think both Gargula and Roger need to move in order to refresh their careers.