Lithuania-Poland 2:0. Regular Irregularity.

March 27th, 2011 | by: tomasz |

porazka I hesitated a bit to write a review of our loss against Lituania. First of all, I didn’t want to post an emotional, full of resentment and anger note. Secondly, it’s hard to make any foregone conclusions after this game as it was hard to make any of those after our win against Norway. The fact is that we can’t expect any sort of consequence from our team: neither a string of great performances, nor abysmal ones. This is a team without any sort of regularity, a team that doesn’t guarantee any kind of stability. Probably even Franz Smuda doesn’t have a slightest idea about how our team will perform in the next game. We can as well win against Greece on Tuesday and nobody will remember the Kaunas disgrace.

Lithuania-Poland 2:0 (Saulius Mikoliūnas 18’, Edgaras Česnauskis 29’)
Poland: Sebastian Małkowski – Łukasz Piszczek, Arkadiusz Głowacki, Kamil Glik, Maciej Sadlok – Adrian Mierzejewski (46’ Kamil Grosicki), Dariusz Dudka (85’ Tomasz Jodłowiec), Rafał Murawski (46’ Sławomir Peszko), Jakub Błaszczykowski (85’ Szymon Pawłowski), Ludovic Obraniak (69’ Roger Guerreiro) – Robert Lewandowski (73’ Michał Kucharczyk)

As expected, the pitch in Kaunas was in horrible state. Still, it can’t be treated as an excuse for the Biało Czerwoni. They should win against opponents like Lithuania in all kinds of circumstances, be it snow or 40 degrees heat. Our rivals boasted players like Tadas Labukas or Tadas Kijanskas in their starting lineup, both average Ekstraklasa footballers at best. They also rested their biggest stars, Semberas and Sernas, before the all important game against Spain. We played our strongest possible lineup. In the beginning, it was visible that we are a more skillful team. The pressing was quite well organised, we regained possession quickly and easily and the defense was confident and calm. The only problem was that we didn’t create goalscoring opportunities, but it seemed that it was only a matter of time. Surprisingly, the Lithuanians managed to strike first. A fast counter after our corner kick, the usual bad luck/wrong decision from Głowacki, poor positioning from our keeper and the Lithuanians were in front. This is when we stopped playing. The team had no idea how to react and let the opponents take control of the situation. We wasted precious time in the first half when, instead of scoring as fast as possible, we gave the game away. We also gave away the second goal, a similar situation to the first one where poor defending and a nice shot from outside the area gave Lithuanians a two nil lead. This was the moment to react, a moment to show the character. Where was Kuba Błaszczykowski when we needed him? Why Rafał Murawski didn’t lead the team forward? Why was Obraniak so careless? These are supposed to be our leaders and I expect them to handle a situation like losing an unexpected goal against a weaker opponent. Instead, the team started playing like in the worst Smuda times: unorganized pressing, too much space between the lines and defenders running all over our own half, but not covering the opposing players well. We only regained the control of the situation in the dying minutes of the first half when Robert Lewandowski and Obraniak wasted chances that should have given us a draw.

I’ll give that to Smuda, he reacted very quickly to the result. He replaced the bland Murawski and Mierzejewski with Peszko and Grosicki. Our striking force was now much more powerful. Practically, we didn’t leave the opponents’ half and created numerous chances that normally must be converted. Lithuania had one great chance in the second half when Widzew’s Panka hit the post. We had ones from Lewandowski, Grosicki, Peszko or Roger. Still, this wasn’t a well organized and carefully fought out attack, it was more of a chaotic behaviour of a desperate group of people. We tried everything: once Kuba was a winger, then he played in the middle, Peszko changed positions as often, Grosicki was at times a striker and at times a winger, Obraniak was all over the pitch as well. I call it creative chaos, a tactical idea that the sum of skills of all the players simply must bring some positive results. It brought the chances, but it didn’t bring the goals. Still, I’d much prefer if we had some well considered idea for these types of situations, not base everything on improvisation of the offensive players. Yes, we can try it against Lithuania when we have more skillful players, but at Euros we’ll play against superior and much better organised teams. That’s when we need a plan, a strategy, a series of automatic movements that can lead to success. On European scale, we don’t have players that will win us games without being ‘driven’ by a leader from the bench. We’ve got players who need the right guidance, who can’t be left to do anything they want on the pitch. The problem with Smuda’s team is that it doesn’t offer any sort of stability, it’s hard to see any progress or the effects of Smuda’s work. We base our results on whether Lewy has a good day, Kuba can come up with a dribbling or two or Ludo’s surprising shots. We don’t base it on a plan, an idea that players follow in each and every game. There is nothing we can be one hundred percent sure of when it comes to Smuda’s team.

lewy Players’ ratings (1-10):

Sebastian Małkowski 4: had two shots on goal to deal with and let both of them in. I have a feeling that Boruc would have saved at least one of those.
Łukasz Piszczek 4: quick, made himself available in the offense a lot, but didn’t cover his position at the back well. Too easily outrun on one or two occassions. I expect more from one of Bundesliga’s better full backs.
Kamil Glik 3: this was the Glik that we all hate to watch: a player who’s always a split of second too late and loses his head quickly when the situation goes out of hand.
Arkadiusz Głowacki 4: it’s simply unbelievable that he always has to be involved in conceding a goal when he plays for the national team. I bit better organised than Glik, but overall a very average performance.
Maciej Sadlok 3: how may times must Smuda check that he’s not a natural left back? Tries his best, but he won’t overcome the shortcomings in pace and one two passes.
Rafał Murawski 3: should organise our attacks from the back, but disappeared completely after we lost the first goal. Must prove that he’s a leader of the team in those kinds of situations.
Dariusz Dudka 4: played according to his abilities and didn’t make any spectacular mistakes. Didn’t strengthen our midfield much as well.
Adrian Mierzejewski 3: one good pass to Lewandowski is not enough from such a creative player. Tried to find himself a place on the pitch, both in the middle and on the left wing, but failed to influence the game.
Ludovic Obraniak 3: warming Lille’s bench left a mark on him. He doesn’t ‘feel’ the game as he used to, is often careless and not confident enough in his moves. Poor set pieces this time.
Jakub Błaszczykowski 4: is in poor form at the moment, doesn’t take the players on with as much ease as he used to. Woke up too late in the game, drove the team forward only in his last twenty minutes.
Robert Lewandowski 5: a very good game if it wasn’t for all the wasted opportunities. Kept the ball very good, feels at home in combinational game, tries much more dribbles than before.
Kamil Grosicki 5: did what was expected of him: caused chaos in Lithuanian defensive line. The fastest player we have on our team. Should have scored when he shot after Roger’s free kick.
Sławomir Peszko 4: tried very hard to impress, but had problems to find himself a place on the pitch. Maybe the fact that we had four wingers in the lineup at one time didn’t help. Had one great dribble on the right wing.
Roger Guerreiro 5: this is a type of situation where he proves most useful, when the whole opposing team is concentrated on defense. Tried to apply some organization to our attacks.
Michał Kucharczyk 4: a lot of movement and ambition, but he’s far behind Lewy in skills department.
Tomasz Jodłowiec and Szymon Pawłowski: didn’t play long enough.

ludo2 Conclusions:

- it’s been year and a half since Smuda took control of the team and it’s still hard to notice any positive effects of his work. The team doesn’t have his signature, it’s a collection of players who sometimes have a good day, but more often not.
- it’s not like we have tons of great keepers. No 7 (Małkowski) is definitely worse than No 1 or 2 (Fabiański and Szczęsny).
- Kamil Glik and Arkadiusz Głowacki are not answers to our problems in the middle of the defensive line. Their style of play is just too similar: they’re aggresive and always try to get in front of the opponent. At times, they fail to do that. We need at least one centre back with better positioning and passing ability, a ten years younger Żewłakow would be perfect.
- I don’t want to write once again about the left backs.
- Rafał Murawski doesn’t look as physically well prepared as he was when he played for Rubin. I know that Ekstraklasa has lower demands, but it doesn’t mean you can get lazy.
- we’ve got a problem with Ludo Obraniak and his limited playing time this season. He’s not at his physical best and he also doesn’t look mentally confident at the moment. He desperately needs more minutes at Lille.
- all the problems at Polonia Warsaw are getting to Adrian Mierzejewski. Another drawback is that Smuda isn’t sure how to use him; is he a central midfielder or a winger? Time to decide.
- Kuba Błaszczykowski hasn’t been giving the team as much as he should in the last games. It’s been some time since his last spectacular perfromances for Dortmund or Poland.
- Kamil Grosicki can be very useful to the team. His speed can surprise any defender in Europe.

That’s football, sometimes your onlu shot goes in (as vs. Norway), sometimes the only shot against you go in. Still, if we are to achieve any success at Euros we shouldn’t even let Lithuania take those shots. We’re a long way from having a prepared team for the Euros.

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Comments

By Radek | March 27th, 2011 at 9:43 am

Well, its not just on this site that people are calling for Smuda’s head, check this article out, and look at the poll results! http://www.futbolnews.pl/rozgrywki/reprezentacja-polski/artykuly-reprezentacja-polski/art,391,plan-awaryjny-kto-za-smude.html

I think we still have time to get a new coach, as long as he comes in BEFORE the summer.

By msudzi | March 27th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

The only time I’m seen Poland to go at any level is with counter attacking. Is it me or is Kuba at best average for Polska. When we had scappy players like that dude was-something with the broken leg playing in Belgium and the other Lewandowki playing in Ukraine we were at our best. We should go back to that becuase talent wise we are nothing to write home about and they are lazy. Lithuania set back all game and we loose 2-0 to a team that wears green and yellow playing on a high school pitch, and don’t act lick this is a once in a while thing they have beaten us 3 out of 4 times. Fans what to talk about Boruc yea thats what we another good goalie.

Posted from United States

By msudzi | March 27th, 2011 at 12:49 pm

Sorry just woke up my spelling sucks, what I wanted to say was yea thats all we need another goalie. We are throwing stones while others are shooting at us.

Posted from United States

By witold | March 27th, 2011 at 1:37 pm

I agree with you Radek, the French NT has waited to long to understand that, we have the time for a new coach,the only hope that something will change. If we don’t change Smuda for a good coach with a solid reputation who doesn’t need to show his big ego to be respected by his players, we will have 11 sheep who go cheerfully to slaughter…

Posted from Canada

By adas | March 27th, 2011 at 2:11 pm

@ tomasz,

good article. I’m glad you point out that the players showing up for national duty aren’t actually showing up. I think people like witold, msudzi, and bigcmos who think Smuda is the only problem, or even the biggest problem are wrong. msudzi is on to something with the scrappy players though. I want guys playing who really want to play and who won’t dissappear because one goal is scored only to wake up when it’s too late. Poland is just not a truly talented team right now. I get the feeling that if the Euro wasn’t in Poland, these players wouldn’t really be interested in playing.

By JZ | March 27th, 2011 at 3:03 pm

The title is dead on “Regular Irregularity”.

We will probably beat or tie Greece who are ranked 10th & we will be scratching our heads trying to understand the last two results.
The bottom line is we have no depth in our squad & getting players like Arboleda & Perquis will help.
Even at striker we could use Aquafresca because if Lewy goes down who do we have?

All hope is not lost, we have a year to practice & get better.

By bigcmos | March 27th, 2011 at 5:04 pm

@adas – Smuda is the main problem and that is my opinion and many others share the same view. You may not but that’s up to you.

What is your argument – basically you are saying players are not playing up to their level on the NT as they play Club Level.

As far as I am concerned Smuda has the easiest coaching job around – You select the best possible candidates from all players that have Polish roots and put the team together to work as one.

In a year and a half what have we accomplished under him? I will tell you – won against a strong Ivory Coast. WOW!!!!

And you are trying to single out players, clearly it is the coach the system he attempts to use is shit, he positions players in the wrong formation non stop, he plays players in areas they are not comfortable for example using Jakub Blasz as an ATM what the fuck is he doing? He is experimenting because his stupid plan is NOT working what so ever.

Every game I watch I scratch my head and think there is no sync in this system and the tactics are foolish and once again there is nothing that has improved in a year and a half. WE have actually gotten worse!

And if you can’t see that then you are blind. These players aren’t focused these players arn’t playing their hearts out these players looked lost..What the fuck do you think the coaches job is? It is exactly to solve these problems and make them want to play….heres another example Radoslaw Majewski played well in earlier months gets a call up and Smuda plays him for 8 minutes – Majewski is pissed and angry because he sees the field for no time…Smuda dislikes the fact that he is angry and says players should want to play even one minute – then he never calls him up again and says he doesn’t want players like this……this is not hockey SMUDA you fucking reject!

By bigcmos | March 27th, 2011 at 5:07 pm

Ohh before you say I forgot to point it out – we beat Norway 1-0 as well barely.

By marcin | March 27th, 2011 at 5:18 pm

Radoslaw Majewski wasn’t playing well and shouldn’t have even gotten those 8 minutes….

By bigcmos | March 27th, 2011 at 5:33 pm

@marcin – Well thats your view, obviously he played well enough to get a call up…but what the fuck is the point of giving a player 8 minutes its just a waste of fucking time. This is soccer not hockey.

Give him 30 and if he shits the bed bad enough then dont call him up again but at least give the man a chance to showcase himself. For God sakes that’s what Friendlies are for to test players that may be a useful addition!!!!

By Radek | March 27th, 2011 at 5:33 pm

msudzi is right, we need players like Wasilewski and M.Lewandowski to come back and show the young boys how its done. I don’t care what many of you say, but the the rookies we have in defence, just plain suck and panic once we are losing. Get Wasyl to come back and to scare the opponents a bit, get M.Lewandowski to come back and be a strong leader, because obviously its still too much of a task for Kuba. Oh, and get Boruc to come back so that he can restore some order in the chaotic defensive mess we are in. Last but not least, fire Smuda and get a new coach before its too late.

You all think we will win against Greece? LOL not so sure about that, I have a feeling it won’t be pretty!

By adas | March 27th, 2011 at 5:44 pm

@bigcmos

You’re right, I don’t agree with you. I think it’s foolish to blame Smuda mostly. I think you’re rating the players on the team as more talented than they are. They can’t carry themselves outside of their clubs, that’s as much if not more on the players. I don’t care that they’re played out of position. That’s a weak excuse. They should still know how to dribble and pass and shoot and defend. Soccer is a lot like basketball. True the positions are specialized, but you play both sides of the field, offense and defense. Look when R. Lewandowski runs back to help out the defenders. It makes a huge impact. If the players aren’t responding because they’re not being played in their preferred positions, then they need to grow up. This isn’t American football where you have a specialized role and that’s it. So go on hating Smuda and only Smuda. But I ask you this, in the ideal situation who do you think could come in and coach the team to their maximum potential? The Polish is quite a joke. The PZPN is a joke. The coach is a joke, and I say the players are a joke right now as well. That’s four parts of Polish football that suck. You really think switching one piece out will make a difference? Don’t forget about the PZPN. They’ll mess things up for a foreign coach as though the national team were Polonia Warszawa. Just remember that.

By adas | March 27th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

^The Polish League is quite a joke.

By adas | March 27th, 2011 at 5:47 pm

And I disagree with your theory that Smuda’s time is running out. With all the injuries on the team currently, I have a feeling he’s gonna get more leniency with the results. He will coach next summer no matter what the results. Don’t forget who his friends are, his bosses. He’s on board until Euro 2012 is over. We have no control over that.

By bigcmos | March 27th, 2011 at 5:57 pm

PZPN is a joke the coach is a joke and Polish football youth system is a joke as well. The players are talented but are not used to their full potential. If you think that bad positioning is a bad excuse then just have a look at Sadlok – his pace is shit he has no offensive clue but he is asked to play as a wingback and get up field and help the offense…in turn he is lost and doesnt know how to get back properly..if he played as a CD(natrual position) then he would not have to go up as much and control the line and finally help….he is in a bad position and he is failing bad.

I see what you are saying about playing both positions you are right you do have to do both to play well…and in a country of 10 million people we cant find players like this? Instead we rely on the same players that continue to make the same mistakes under one big idiot name SMUDA.

I said from the start I wanted a Polish NT manager bad and not someone to translate jak ma sie gracz from a foreign coach! But, not this coach has just finished eating up my last nerves I have no faith in him and you can also see the players do not believe at all.

The coach controls the team it is evident he has lost control so yes cut his ass out..bring in a coach that can control the room. Look at Boruc, he was so succesful at Celtic he had his issues but the coach dealt with him why cant SMUDA because he has no people person skills. Right now I truly believe SMUDA believes he is bigger than the team and he will cut and take whom ever he desires no one talks back to him or they get cut too….what the fuck is that a coach or a fucking jail guard??

By adas | March 27th, 2011 at 8:08 pm

Again, I’m not defending Smuda. He’s a problem. But you putting everything on him is ridiculous. Who can Poland hire in the short time left who will really make an impact? Don’t forget, if we were talking in terms of fantasyland where Poland can hire the best coach out there, my opinion would be different. In our world, who is gonna coach? Who’s gonna come into our hot mess? And do you really think Smuda’s friends at the PZPN are gonna take away his chance to coach at the first and only Polish hosted tournament? Not gonna happen.

Personally, I don’t know that there is enough time for a coaching change to make a difference. That’s my opinion. And as for his big ego, he’s not the first or the last coach who will let that get in his way. But the players are playing to make Poland look good, not Smuda. If they can’t check their egos, they’re just as guilty as him in that department.

By adas | March 27th, 2011 at 8:08 pm

By tommy | March 27th, 2011 at 9:11 pm

first of all, its 16 months we’re talking about… thats far from short term. second, a coach’s job is to motivate and put the players in their best positions… something clearly lacking now. third, we could easily solicit an international coach based solely on the stage we will show his talents… the pzpn would need to shell out A BIT MORE cash but what would u rather have a team that has a shot to win games or an embarrassment?

Posted from United States

By adas | March 27th, 2011 at 9:39 pm

tommy, 16 months is a long time for international duty where you don’t have access to the players week in and week out? No, it’s not. Especially when the schedule consists of only friendlies.

Secondly, I’m serious with this one, the PZPN won’t hand this chance over to a foreign coach. They won’t take this away from Smuda.

Third, I don’t think Poland is a hot commodity for a foreign coach who is actually worth it. The players aren’t as talented as some of us fans believe. I don’t think they’d gamble at a chance to have a blemish on their resumes. I go back to Leo for that. He was first a hero, then he was a bum. I don’t think 16 months is enough time to become a hero. We are going to see this very team play, with it’s deficient players and Smuda as the coach.

I mean, at this point, I really believe our Dortmund trio are more concerned with keeping their jobs at Dortmund rather than anything they believe they can achieve in 2012. No coach will change that. Nothing will make Poland favorites to win this tournament. I think the players have accepte that. Their a team with their tails between their legs. They only have heart when they win.

By paradowski | March 27th, 2011 at 10:11 pm

I left comment on previous page just now before catching-up on this post. Part of that comment is in line with msudzi above about scrappy players — some tougher hard working players (particularly on D and D-mid) would help a lot with the skilled players we have in the attacking roles.

Posted from United States

By J | March 28th, 2011 at 10:51 am

How could Glowacki and Malkowski possibly be given a rating of 4 alongside Piszczek and Kuba? and even higher than Ludo’s rating of 3?? Really??? They deserved a well earned 0 if anything.
Smuda..I can understand giving a coach with a vision time to prove his vision for the team and ignore the advice of others. HOWEVER, once this vision or lack thereof has been PROVEN to fail, a great leader must have the HUMILTY to admit he was wrong and ask for help. Smuda’s ignorance and stubborness will seemingly follow him to the grave. A sign of a doomed leader.
I’m ready for a new coach, today. Done.

By marcin | March 28th, 2011 at 11:06 am

Kuba hasn’t had a good game in ages. Not for Dortmund, not for the NT. Whats going on? He lost his spark.

By MarcinO | March 28th, 2011 at 12:31 pm

At least now we know why Wenger convinced Koscielny not to play for us. Our national team can and will make any quality player look like crap. Crap by association, if you will. I think there are some fundamental problems that continue to cripple this group of players, coaches, and the rest of them. When our most recognized name, Jelen (yup sad but true), doesn’t want to play for us, sure blame all the injuries or current form, but that says a lot. At the end of the day he sees the nonsense that is the national team and he picks up a mysterious injury just to get away from this negative influence.

By Radek | March 28th, 2011 at 2:03 pm

PZPN PZPN, JEBAC JEBAC PZPN!!!

Posted from Canada

By Szymon | March 28th, 2011 at 8:49 pm

Gents;

Its sad to say but I think changing the coach now will not help the NT… we are only 18 or so months away form the tournament and on a good day the new coach will only have two or so months (in total) of playing time and gelling to now our team, this is not enough. In prep for the euro the F***ing PZPN should have payed the money and employed a coach that knows his football inside out and does not try and convince people that he does (this is what Smuda does best). In saying this I will not blame Smuda for our failure but the likes of Lato and other people who have no clue about football (maybe they should be in charge of table tennis)

I mean look at people like Hiddink, he did wanders with Korea, Australia, and Russia…. I believe that we have as much talent as these countries but it takes a good coach to bring this out in players, not a guy who thinks he is god (to himself)…. Sure it would have costed a bit more to get someone like that and yes maybe our alcoholics at the PZPN will have some withdrawal symptoms for not buying vodka for the next three years but at least we will avoid embarrassment during Euros…

I’m a proud Pole and I love my football and it gives me the shits that our team will be laughed at during the tournament that we are hosting,,, last years game against Spain was the perfect example of this and maybe a sign of things to come next year.

Posted from Australia