Squad Watch: Week 10. Ireneusz Jelen Shines In France.

Ireneusz Jelen scored yet another goal in the French Ligue 1. Marcin Wasilewski became Anderlecht’s third best scorer after netting his eighth goal of the season. Pawel Brozek had a brace at the weekend and is close to winning both the Polish championship with Wisla and the golden boot for himself. Robert Lewandowski kept Lech Poznan’s title dreams alive after scoring the sole goal in their game against Lechia Gdansk.

Goalkeepers:

Artur Boruc (Celtic Glasgow)- 90 minutes against Hibernian
Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal London)- 90 minutes against ManUtd
Wojciech Kowalewski (Iraklis Thessaloniki)- end of season
Tomasz Kuszczak (ManUtd)- on the bench against Arsenal
Sebastian Przyrowski (Polonia Warsaw)- 90 minutes against Jagiellonia, note 6
Lukasz Zaluska (Dundee United)- 90 minutes against Hearts

Defenders:

Barosz Bosacki (Lech Poznan)- not in the squad against Lechia, injury
Dariusz Dudka (AJ Auxerre)- 90 minutes against PSG
Seweryn Gancarczyk (Metalist Kharkiv)- 90 minutes against Chernomorets
Pawel Golanski (Steaua Bucharest)-didn’t play against Rapid
Tomasz Jodlowiec (Polonia Warsaw)- 90 minutes against Jagiellonia, note 6
Adam Kokoszka (Empoli F.C.)-on the bench against Mantova
Marcin Komorowski (Legia Warsaw)- 90 minutes against Polonia B., note 5
Marcin Kowalczyk (Dinamo Moscow)- 54 minutes against Saturn
Michal Pazdan (Gornik Zabrze)- 90 minutes against Odra, note 5
Piotr Polczak (Cracovia Krakow)- 90 minutes and a goal against GKS Belchatow, note 7
Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht)- 90 minutes and a goal against Racing
Jakub Wawrzyniak (Panathinaikos)- not in the squad against Larisa, doping ban
Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (Lech Poznan)- not in the squad against Lechia, injury
Michal Zewlakow (Olympiakos Pireus)- end of season

Midfielders:

Tomasz Bandrowski (Lech Poznan)- 45 minutes against Lechia, note 5
Rafal Boguski (Wisla Krakow)- not in the squad against LKS Lodz, injury
Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund)- 90 minutes and an assist against Arminia
Roger Guerreiro (Legia Warsaw)- 49 minutes against Polonia B., note 4
Jacek Krzynowek (Hannover 96)- 90 minutes against Wolfsburg
Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk)- 59 minutes against Zoria
Wojciech Lobodzinski (Wisla Krakow)- 14 minutes against LKS Lodz
Radoslaw Majewski (Polonia Warsaw)- 90 minutes and an assist against Jagiellonia, note 4
Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan)- 90 minutes and an assist against Lechia, note 6
Szymon Pawlowski (Zaglebie Lubin)- 65 minutes a goal and an assist against Motor Lublin, note 6
Sławomir Peszko (Lech Poznan)-90 minutes against Lechia, note 6
Bartosz Salamon (Brescia)- on the bench against Grosseto
Lukasz Tralka (Polonia Warsaw)- 90 minutes against Jagiellonia, note 4
Jakub Wilk (Lech Poznan)- 45 minutes against Lechia, note 5

Attackers:

Pawel Brozek (Wisla Krakow)- 90 minutes and two goals against LKS Lodz, note 8
Dawid Janczyk (Lokeren)- 77 minutes against Mechelen
Michal Janota (Feyenoord Rotterdam)- not in the squad against NAC Breda
Ireneusz Jelen (AJ Auxerre)- 83 minutes and a goal against PSG
Robert Lewandowski (Lech Poznan)- 90 minutes and a goal against Lechia, note 7
Dawid Nowak (GKS Belchatow)- 90 minutes against Cracovia, note 5
Lukasz Piszczek (Hertha Berlin)- 90 minutes against Schalke
Grzegorz Rasiak (Watford)- end of season
Marek Saganowski (Southampton)- end of season
Ebi Smolarek (Bolton Wanderers)- not in the squad against Hull
Lukasz Sosin (Anorthosis Famagusta)- end of season
Artur Wichniarek (Arminia Bielefeld)- 73 minutes against Dortmund
Maciej Zurawski (Larissa)- 90 minutes against Panathinaikos

I’m still short of time (waiting for those holidays) so, just as a week ago, only a quick news flash today.

We can now truly call Ireneusz Jelen one of French Ligue 1 brightest stars. The Polish striker scored an incredible goal against PSG proving that he’s in the best form of his life. Even though Jelen signed a new contract with Auxerre, it doesn’t mean he won’t move anywhere in the summer. According to his manager, PSG asked for his services, but you all know that “confirmed info” and “managers” don’t really go together in the same sentence. Nevertheless, I’m sure that Jelonek will receive some nice offers in the summer. Should he accept them? In terms of the national team, I’d prefer him to stay at Auverre where he’s the biggest star and the whole tactics is based on his abilities. On the other hand, if a top European club is interested in his services it would be a shame if Jelen is not given a possibility to prove himself on the top level. In other words, I don’t think our striker should move to the club of the same status. I also read today that Jelen may not be available for the upcoming national team friendlies. He’s to undergo a backbone surgery during the Bialo Czerwoni trip to Africa. The problem is not yet resolved, but I think Leo will allow Jelen to take a rest. It’s better to have a healthy striker for the qualifiers rather than a physically unprepared one. After all, it’s a good occasion to give Dawid Janczyk a chance.

It’s still extremely close at the top of the Polish Ekstraklasa. All three championship contenders won their games and maintain a chance for the title. Wisla’s Pawel Brozek and Lech’s Robert Lewandowski both confirmed that they are currently the best strikers playing in Poland. Broziu looks quite fresh for a player that has just recovered from a serious injury. Lewandowski has scored in the fourth game in a row and is a key element in Lech’s fight for the title. Legia played without Chinyama, but still managed to defeat Polonia Bytom thanks to the young striker Adrian Paluchowski. Now all three clubs face tricky away games (Lechia vs. Wisla, Polonia Warsaw vs. Lech, Slask vs. Legia) that may decide the future of the Polish championship. Be sure to tune in to the Polish Ekstraklasa next week.

Marcin Wasilewski is having an incredible season. He scored his eighth goal, but it wasn’t enough for Anderlecht to win the title. Now Wasyl will face Standard Liege in two legs that will decide about who’s wearing the crown in Belgium. In a shocking end of the season the Standard’s keeper saved the last minute penalty to even get them to those play off games. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Don Wasyl.

If you haven’t already heard, Ebi Smolarek is close to signing a contract with Aris Thessaloniki. One of the candidates for the post of the club’s president claims that he’s already reached an agreement with Ebi. It’s certain that Smolarek won’t remain at Bolton. It also doesn’t seem that Racing Santander are much interested in his services. The most important goal for Ebi right now is to find a club where he’ll play regularly.

Tomasz Kuszczak won the Premiership championship (though he wasn’t given a medal, not enough games played). Jacek Krzynowek is close to winning the Bundesliga championship as he played four games for Wolfsburg in the beginning of the season.

Jakub Wawrzyniak may be banned till the end of 2009 for his doping stupidity. The player will return to Legia as Panathinaikos won’t buy him out in the summer.

Highlights: Jelen’s incredible strike against PSG

Another goal by the prolific Wasilewski

Blaszczykowski’s assist against Arminia

Robert Lewandowski’s winning goal against Lechia

Piotr Polczak keeps Cracovia’s hopes of avoiding reegation alive

Pawel Brozek’s brace against LKS Lodz here and here

Seriously, if you know how to embed the videos from the Ekstraklasa page let me know. I’m a bit slow with computers.