On why we don’t necessary need Adrian Sikora.

Every once in a while there’s a player experiencing an unbelievable run of form. At the same time all the media in the country wants this player in the national team right away. This month everyone’s attention is on Adrian Sikora.

First of all, a quick glance at Sikora’s career:
Season 2002/2003 Gornik Zabrze 13 games/6 goals
Season 2003/2004 Gornik Zabrze 13/4
                                Groclin Grodzisk 12/6
Season 2004/2005 Groclin Grodzisk 15/7
Season 2005/2006 Groclin Grodzisk 26/5
Season 2006/2007 Groclin Grodzisk 29/12
Season 2007/2008 Groclin Grodzisk 18/14
Polish national team: 2 games/ 1 goal (meaningless friendlies as far as I remember)

Any conclusions? Firstly, he’s been scoring regularly for six years now. Secondly, he’s never been a regular national team player. Thirdly, he’s never played under pressure for top Polish clubs (Wisla, Legia). He’s also never proved himself in the European competition. What I’m aiming at is that this whole why-won’t-Leo-call up-Sikora? case is just a storm in a teacup. It just seems that the press has nothing to write about. Come on, the guy is 28 and he still haven’t managed to spark some serious interest from the clubs abroad. And where would you see him play? As a lone striker? Have you ever seen Leo playing a 1,70m lone striker? He’s not a winger and he can’t play as an attacking midfielder. As far as I’m concerned, he just doesn’t fit and it’s too late for a serious chance for him. I completely trust Leo’s judgement on this one.

I also don’t like the press constantly judging who does and who doesn’t deserve to play for the national team. Every month, or every week even, they find a new player who “deserves” a chance to play with an eagle on his chest. The only time when they were right was when Janas, under pressure, finally called up Tomek Frankowski. Other than that, those players (Jarka, Chalbinski, Burkhardt, Strak, Giza, Chmiest to name a few) quickly returned to their little above the average level. Of course, the press have the right to praise the players, but if they were to nominate the ones for the national team there would have to be fifty slots in the squad.

I’m also writing this note because of the criticism that some young players of Leo’s choice receive nowadays, Michal Pazdan in particular. In this case the press states that the Gornik play doesn’t “deserve” to be in the squad. I agree that he is not yet the league’s top defender/defensive midfielder. However, Leo calls up players like Pazdan, Lisowski, Pawelec, Kuklis, Majewski, Pawlowski, Grosicki, Danch or Kokoszka not because he expects them to fight against Germany or Croatia at the Euros but because he sees some potential in them and wants to speed up their progress. To put it simple, they’re the players that can play an important role in the future (2012, Euro Champs in Poland anyone?). I can see this potential in Pazdan; I’ve already written that he looks elegant on the ball and can distribute it well, provided he doesn’t play under pressure. And that’s why Leo wants to keep an eye on him, to see when he’ll learn to play with an opponent on his back. Sikora is a different kettle of fish, he is 28 and he can’t be considered as a prospect for 2012. He is having a great season, but for the reasons I mentioned above, I don’t see him as a player capable of strengthening our current squad. I wonder who’ll be the media’s favourite next week.

Acquafresca update: Dmac wrote under the Acquefresca post that Roberto decided to play for Italy. There still no confirmation of his decision in the Polish press or on the Polish web sites. Zibi Boniek claims that he’ll make up his mind at the beginning of April and that we shouldn’t rush him or put any pressure on him. There was also some speculation about a new player that Leo found in England. It can be either Lukas Jutkiewicz or Phil Jagielka, both from Everton. The latter, speaking to Super Express, dismissed any possibility of playing for Poland. Can’t blame him, he’s having a great season and is very close to earning his first England cap. Jutkiewicz, on the other hand, is a player that we’ve been observing for some time now. I think there’s every possibility that he’ll play for Bialo-Czerwoni in the future.

Breaking news: Acquafresca said a polite thank you and decided to remain an Italian. No hard feelings Roberto, good luck in your Squadra Azzura carreer.