Hmm, Gornik Zabrze gets 18,000 and they get relegated. That is what happens when an owner with money comes in but does not know how to spend it wisely. It’s a real shame because their owner will most likely get bored and want to sell the team. Not to mention what will happen to their main sponsor. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, LKS Lodz have not been granted a licence due to their stadium not being up to Ekstraklasa standards. I like this because it will force all the teams to invest money into their stadiums.

I was wondering if the Ekstraklasa would go for freezing the teams in the league for a period of time. I think this would help establish the smaller teams. More focus would go on player development as opposed to signing players that will only help avoid relegation in the short term. I believe that would bring some stability and allow teams to set a solid foundation going forward.

I remember someone mentioned about the Ekstraklasa changing their schedule similar to the Russian league. I think our leagues would benefit more from playing most of their games in the summer. But then again, the PZPN should focus on providing access to indoor facilities for kids to work on their game in the winter, but that is another topic for another day.

As for Lech Poznan, I would really like to see Rafal Ulatowski given a chance. Its funny how Franz Smuda’s name got rumoured to replace Strachan at Celtic. The Scottish media went ape shit. Little did anyone know that Strachan would resign only a couple days later. But for Smuda, I really think that Poznan will really miss what he brought to the team. His record speaks for itself. However, another interesting job has opened up. I believe Energie Cockbus was relegated leading to their manager to resign. I believe that Smuda’s name was kicked around for the position as well.

On a positive note, I think Kamil Biliński is one to look for in the future.

As for clubs like Odra Wodzislaw, GKS Belchatow, Gliwice, and Bytom…. no offense to their fans but if they can only get 3-4,000 people for home games they just don’t belong in the Ekstraklasa.

It’s a shame that Gornik was relegated. I’m not at all a fan but with 18,000 fans they certainly deserve to have stayed in the top division.

I think it hurts the league to have well-supported clubs get relegated while clubs with hardly any fans get to stay…

Starosta has also been released by Sheffield.

Good for Cywka and Kupisz but I suspect it’ll end the same way as with Fojut, Bolton extended his contract a few times but never had any intention of playing him. They’re probably an insurance policy and nothing more, otherwise, Kupisz would have gotten a chance when Wigan became safe from relegation.

Zeyn S-Latef is the Polish Youth international.. Any thought where he will move to?.. Back to Sweden?.. A Polish Club?.. or will another championship side pick him up?

Regarding the violence subject; I’ll just finish with: I think the word ‘hooligans’ is too soft and more serious, more appropriate words like ‘criminals’ should be consistently used. The criminals damaging property or people in association with football matches or celebrations should face huge maximum fines and long jail sentences. And there should be continued proactive promotion of non-violence like during EURO 2008.

In the recent case of NI:
“Six were charged with murder and attempted murder, two with attempted murder and one with affray. All of them were remanded in custody.” … “Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said the investigation would receive all the resources it required and predicted that further arrests would be made in the case.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8071388.stm