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Lech Poznan-Udinese 2:2. It’s Better Than Hitchcock.

February 19th, 2009 | By: tomasz | 23 Comments »

When we thought that Lech is no longer able to surprise us, they came up with a draw against Udinese scoring two goals in the last ten minutes of the game. One more time they proved that the game isn’t lost until it reached the 90th minute. We’re still in competition, we’ve still got something to wait for in the Uefa Cup.

First things first. I didn’t post anything lately as I’ve been on holidays since the last weekend. I wrote it in the comments today, but there are some problems with submitting them. Generally, I spend my days sightseeing and don’t have a regular access to internet, so you must forgive me the lack of new info. However, I managed to watch the game in Brussels today, in a Polish place called “The Flowers of Europe” . I’ll just post some of my conclusions as I have to get up early tomorrow for my trip to Bruges (caused almost solely by the film “In Bruges”). I’ll be coming back to Poland next week and I should return to regular posting then.

-incredible character by Lech. They prove time and time again that they are the team with the biggest balls in Poland.
- at the same time, they’ve got a tendency to lose really stupid goals, the second one being the best example.
- Rafal Murawski and Robert Lewandowski are there on the international level. Muras is extremely confident in the centre of the field. It wasn’t the most spectacular game from Lewy, but you have to take into consideration the fact that he played on the right wing. What I like about his performance is the ability to play one-two passes with midfielders and take part in the so called “combination” game. Shame he didn’t have a single chance to score.
- I may have written it earlier, but Semir Stlic has a big chance to become the most expensive player ever to come from the Polish league.
- Jakub Wilk isn’t a driving force on the wing. Just as in his debut for the national team, he played ok without really flourishing.
- Bartosz Bosacki may have earned a starting spot in Lech’s defence with this performance. This means that he’ll once again be considered a candidate for the national team.
- Lech controlled the midfield after Tomasz Bandrowski came on. Maybe I’m exaggerating his influence, but it’s a fact.
- Lech didn’t buy any new “Stilics” in the winter break. There are new players from the Balkans, but they seem to need more time to adapt.
- Lech plays a really attractive, attacking football. They exchange passes very fast for a Polish team. As a result, I expect them to have some goalscoring chances in the replay; they seem to be able to create them against all opponents. Moreover, Slawomir Peszko will return and add some speed to the right wing.
- a random thought, Franz Smuda may be ideal to prepare a national team for a big tournament. Lech looked great, both physically and motivationally, after the winter training camp. They played their last competetive game in 2008 and still managed to outrun Udinese in the dying minutes of the game. It’s something we lacked in our last major tournaments.

That’s all, I’ll cover the replay in more depth, definitely. Till next week.

Tags: Bosacki, Group A, Lech, Murawski, Peszko, Poland, Robert Lewandowski, Stilic, Udinese

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Comments

By Michal Z | February 19th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

Nice goals, glad they got em. Everything to play for in Italy next week. Also, M. Lewandowski put in a good shift against Tottenham tonight. He definately lacks pace but distributed the ball crisply and somehow, even without hooving it, managed to be in the right place at the right time for the majority of the time. Tomasz, have a good time! That was a good movie, and interestingly enough my friend knows the mother of the midget.( i know, i know, it sounds rude, but i dont know the dudes name) It’s a small world.

By kacinski | February 19th, 2009 at 8:11 pm

in honesty, I am not sure Smuda is the type of coach the national team needs. sure lech played well, and they certainly looked prepared for such a big game, however i still believe Beenhakker is the type of coach the national team needs. although the national team has not been so spectacular, yet under Leo we did qualify for the Euros and pulled off some fantastic games against portugal, czechs, and even a decent game against Germany.

by the way Lech played very well, hopefully they can shook udinese at home.

Posted from United States

By paradowski | February 19th, 2009 at 9:14 pm

IMO: Smuda was the star of the game!

Posted from United States

By paradowski | February 19th, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Sweet Justice for Arboleda after some tough luck. Turina had some good saves, maybe the conditions was cause for him not hauling in the ball that hit Arboleda for the own goal. (I haven’t seen the replay since the game) What a great comeback and so awesome that they never quit. Still disappointed because they could have won this one. Great game! Cool team! Go Lech!

Posted from United States

By paradowski | February 19th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

O’, and… enjoy that holiday tomasz!

Posted from United States

By adas | February 19th, 2009 at 11:52 pm

I only saw the first ten minutes. Its exciting to hear that they tied it in the last ten minutes. I just wonder how much the snow had to do with the game today. Udinese didn’t look happy that it was so cold. And I’m sure it must have bothered them a little that the Lech players weren’t as bundled up. I fear that next weak it will all end. I mean, its not fair that Lech was off for winter break, while Serie A was still playing. I still wish them the best. And definitely have a good time Tomasz. I took a tour of Poland six years ago. I don’t know when I’ll get another chance.

By Peter | February 20th, 2009 at 12:55 am

I know you said this wasn’t Lewy’s most spectacular game but I disagree. This is the best I have ever seen him. He dominated at times and controled the game at his pace. A few hiccups that could be related to weather but nevertheless. He also has excellent elevation and control in the air (English teams will be super fond of this) and showed it on at least once tonight.

Murawski is terrible at corners, I don’t understand why they allow him to keep taking them, I suppose you don’t have much of an option from that side. I don’t like Stilic on the other side either.

By Peter | February 20th, 2009 at 12:57 am

And Stilic is a little left footed C. Ronaldo clone. Or at least a poor version of one (still not too shabby) right down to the mannerisms and weird tightass walk.

By Peter | February 20th, 2009 at 12:59 am

I hate posting three times in a row but two more thoguhts:

1) first goal was offsides.

2) Wilk is just not very skilled, he has a great motor and some speed but is not an international level player and really probably should not be starting on Lech for big games.

By Tomek | February 20th, 2009 at 7:18 am

^It wasn’t offside. Also how can Murawski be crap at corners, since one of them resulted in a goal?

Posted from Netherlands

By drewsky | February 20th, 2009 at 8:36 am

The first goals by both teams sparked their sides when they both followed by another goal quickly thereafter.A pulsating encounter to say the least.Robert Lewandowski did have 1 shot which showed the power his foot possesses (he has a presence about him)and you have to admit Udinese were keeping close tabs on him all game long.I am very proud of this team no matter what happens in Italy.

Go Lech Poznan

Go Poland

Posted from United States

By mike | February 20th, 2009 at 8:38 am

great job Lech!

Posted from Canada

By gregorio | February 20th, 2009 at 10:09 am

i really didn’t expect such a comeback, i had to leave home some 65mins into the game so i didn’t see the best part. and once again kolejorz remined me not to lose faith in them, ever.
but the nonchalant way of conceding goals is serious. i think this is what keeps lech from reaching a genuinely european level, maybe it’s the lack of experience.
as for arboleda, he’s kind of personification of the team’s character with his fucking up first and then making up for it, scoring a goal or assisting sb else. at least one more similar situation i can recall, was it against austria wien?
generally, i think lech has little chance to pass udinese, but i’m sure we’re in for a thrilling game next week.

smuda is a manager i’d like to see our nt, as his motivational skills are crucial in that kind of work (plus a nice observation about the physical shape of lech after the break, tomasz). and with his record and experience, he has enough authority among the players. besides, his style of play is the famous “ułańska fantazja”, which is so typically polish:) yeah, he fits the nt. but only after leo finishes his job. i really hope the dutch stays until the end of contract, especially that pzpn seems not to want to fire him after the feyenoord fuss, contrary to some crappy, troublemaking journalists.

Posted from Poland

By paradowski | February 20th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

Here is the Rengifo goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0soYndbsrk
Rengifo was in the offside positon before the pass; the center defender moved back and they were even when Lewandowski passed. There isn’t a Ref. that would call that offsides. Anyway it really isn’t offside if the Ref. doesn’t call it. Ref discretion, period. Regarding the Udinese first goal, that was a great pass/center and was right-at and perfect for Quagliarella. Regarding the Arboleda own-goal, he could have moved back toward the left position toward the Udinese player, but ya’ know – deflections happen. Sorry, I’m just surprised at some of the negative comments at times about players, especially after such an amazing comeback. There is another good team out there in these games doing their best to foil our side. Good thing it wasn’t one of Smuda’s boys that fell on his ass on that set peice. And, no one of Udinese Calico was watching/marking Arboleda on his goal. There was a few times in the first half the Kolejorz could have passed instead of shot when they had numbers up front — they could have taken this game.

Posted from United States

By gregorio | February 21st, 2009 at 4:27 am

here is an analysis saying that rengifo actually wasn’t offside. i’m nt 100% convinced myself, but is’t worth having a look

http://mundialowo.blox.pl/2009/02/Rengifo-spalil-czy-niekoniecznie.html

Posted from Poland

By gregorio | February 21st, 2009 at 4:40 pm

leo will have to call up jeleń. irek had an assist today and kuba may not be ready for the qualifier against n. ireland. we have no real options

Posted from Poland

By Vitola | February 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 pm

if anyone is bored we welcome http://www.polishsoca.com/forum/index.php

By zaraza | February 22nd, 2009 at 10:56 pm

Does anyone know where to find highlights (skrot) of Lech vs Udinese?

Apparently Blaszczykowski probably won’t recover in time for the Northern Ireland match. Why hasn’t Borussia gotten to the bottom of this issue yet, it’s not normal for a player to be suffering this many muscle problems.

It looks like we’re going to have to rely on Lobodzinski (a player who’s not good enough to hold down a regular place at Wisla) or maybe Boguski who wasn’t very impressive in the last couple friendlies… The logical move, of course, would be to call up Jelen. In terms of speed and goalscoring ability, he’s light years ahead of either Lobo or Boguski. But I’m predicting Beenhakker will stubbornly choose the inferior players over someone who’s actually proven himself in a foreign league.

Posted from Canada

By chester | February 22nd, 2009 at 11:24 pm

There is always Peszko and Piszczek but of course they are both injured

By Kamara | February 22nd, 2009 at 11:27 pm

lech-udinese skrot

By Kamara | February 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 pm

lech-udinese skrot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfEb0K1ZraE&fmt=18

sorry forgot link in first post

By Michal Z | February 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 pm

Perhaps a shocking call up for Janota? I mean, after all, if anyone could possibly benefit from Leo hanging around Feyenoord it would have to be Janota. And Janczyk to a lesser degree.

By zaraza | February 23rd, 2009 at 1:29 am

Kamara, thanks for the link but I was hoping for more extended highlights. That’s just the goals and one other action.

I can’t see Janota getting a callup at this point. He didn’t even make the bench during Feyenoord’s last match.

If Beenhakker really cares about us qualifying for the WC, he has to put aside his pride and call up Jelen. It’s criminal to waste a player like him who has earned a regular place in the starting lineup of a decent team, we don’t exactly have a lot of players who can do that… Jelen can make a difference in our side with his speed, and he’s always a goalscoring threat, even when he plays on the wing.

Even if Peszko were healthy, he’s just not on the same level as Jelen. He also needs some more games under his belt before we can rely on him during qualifying matches. He seemed very nervous when he played in the Ireland friendly.

Posted from Canada

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