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The First Annual Polish World Cup Blog Awards. VOTE NOW!
Comments(40)Welcome to the First Annual Polish World Cup Blog Awards. My name is Tomasz and I’m your host on this site. Your task is simple, you’re to choose the Polish player of the year, the best newcomer and the biggest disappointment. Show me who you love and who you love to hate. I welcome all the regular readers, people who visit the site from time to time and even those who don’t know a thing about Polish football (just choose a name that sounds the funniest to you). And the nominees are:
The player of the year:
Jakub Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund): a dynamic right winger and possibly the best dribbler that came from Poland in the last ten years. By many he’s regarded as the only Polish outfield player who can have a successful career at a top European club. Was mostly injured in the first half of the season and couldn’t take part in Euro 2008 (which was one of the reasons for our failure). This season he established himself as one of Dortmund’s key players and sparked interest from the likes of Liverpool. Great games in national team against the Czech Republic or Ireland.
Artur Boruc (Celtic Glasgow): one of the top European goalkeepers. Already a legend at Celtic Park, he added a third consecutive SPL championship title to his long list of achievments. The most charismatic character in Polish football. Was Poland’s best player at Euro 2008, astonishing everybody with amazing displays against Germany, Croatia and, especially, Austria. Became Poland’s national hero in the summer. Had an awful second part of the year, both for Celtic (games against Rangers or Hibs) and Poland (mistake against Slovakia). Still, he manages to attract interest from Bayern Munich.
Pawel Brozek (Wisla Krakow): Poland’s top striker at the moment. He’s been Polish league’s best player this year, playing on a level unavailable for other Ekstraklasa stars. Won the Polish championship and the Golden Boot award for the 2007/08 season. Leo Beenhakker wasn’t convinced about his usefulness to the national team until the second part of the year. Played his first great match for the Bialo Czerwoni against the Czech Republic and established a strong position in the national team. Should leave Poland in the summer transfer window, dreams about a move to the Spanish La Liga.
Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan): one of the most universal Polish midfielders, useful both in attack and defence. Kept a steady, high form throughout the whole of 2008. In terms of the national team, advanced from a backup player status to being one of the starters. Had a great second part of the year advancing with Lech Poznan to the 1/16 of the Uefa Cup (something that’s rarely achieved by Polish club teams). Crucial in Lech’s attractive, offensive strategy; was finally able to show on the international stage what he shows week in week out in the Polish league.
Artur Wichniarek (Arminia Bielefeld): the best Polish striker who isn’t playing for the national team. The only Polish player that manages to score regularly in one of Europe’s top leagues. The best striker in Arminia Bielefeld’s history, earned a nickname King Arthur for his achievments. Unfortunately, he wasn’t given a proper chance in the national team and was unable to prove his worth on the international scene. A strong character he is, Wichniarek decided to resign from playing for Leo Beenhakker.
Who’s Polish player of the year?
( polls)
The best newcomer:
Tomasz Bandrowski (Lech Poznan): one of the best defensive midfielders in the Polish league. A player that struggled to get a game for Energie Cottbus in 2007 became one of the most interesting young Polish players playing in Ekstraklasa after first a loan move, and then a permanent deal at Lech Poznan. Good at keeping up the ball and winning it. Caught Leo Beenhakker’s eye, already earned a full cap for Poland. His role in the national team should be bigger in 2009.
Rafal Boguski (Wisla Krakow): the most versatile and hard working Polish midfielder/attacker. Won the Polish championship with Wisla Krakow and managed to end Radoslaw Matusiak’s Biala Gwiazda career. After Pawel Brozek, he became Wisla’s strongest link; able to play as a winger, offensive midfielder and a striker. At the beginning of 2008 he was a fringe player for the national team, received regular call ups in the second part of the year and ended the 2008 with two good games against Ireland and Serbia. Has a chance to become a starter for Poland in 2009.
Robert Lewandowski (Znicz Pruszkow/Lech Poznan): the most talented Polish striker. Won a golden boot in the 3rd and 2nd division playing for Znicz Pruszkow before earning a transfer to Lech Poznan. Took the Polish league by storm scoring eight goals for Kolejorz before the winter break. Improved his goalscoring record both in the Uefa Cup and in the national team. At 20, he’s already Poland’s backup striker. Sparks interest from abroad; Ajax, Napoli and Fiorentina have already been mentioned as the next destination for Lewy. Coaches say he’s got a proper approach to his career.
Radoslaw Majewski (Groclin Grodzisk/Polonia Warsaw): one of the most skillful playmakers in the Polish league. Had a great first part of the year when he guided Groclin Grodzisk to winning the Ekstraklasa Cup. Had a great game for the Polish U21 against England, after which there was a lot of speculation about a possible move to Premiership. Axed at the very last moment from Poland’s Euro squad. His career was slowed down by a drinking incident in Lviv and average performances after the move to Warsaw. Unable to establish a strong position in the national team in the second part of 2008, will be given a chance in 2009.
Piotr Polczak (Cracovia Krakow): a player who became one of the most respected central defenders in the Polish league in 2008. Quickly adjusted to Ekstraklasa level after moving from the second division GKS Katowice. Has physical attributes that perfectly suit him for the position of central defender. Played twice for the national team, didn’t let anybody down on both occasions. Leo Beenhakker treats him as the future successor of Michal Zewlakow and Dariusz Dudka.
Who was the best newcomer?
( polls)
The biggest disappointment:
Jacek Krzynowek (VFL Wolfsburg): spent the whole year on Wolfsburg’s substitute bench. Was to be one of Poland’s leaders during Euro 2008, but failed to influence any of the games. His dribbles were very predictable and his shots mostly missed the target. Didn’t have a single impressive game for Bialo Czerwoni in 2008. Still called up to the national team, but not because of his great form but because of lack of decent left wingers in Poland.
Wojciech Lobodzinski (Wisla Krakow): started the year with a great performance against the Czech Republic, which later proved to be his only good game in 2008. Was to replace Kamil Kosowski as Wisla’s winger, but managed to lose his place in the squad to the young Patryk Malecki at the end of the year. After Blaszczykowski’s injury he was Poland’s starting right winger at Euros, but the tournament’s high level turned out to be out of his reach. Stopped getting call ups to the national team in the last couple of months.
Radoslaw Matusiak (Wisla Krakow/ SC Heerenveen): his downfall started in 2007, but was in full bloom in 2008. Decided for a transfer to Wisla in order to prepare well for Euro 2008, but lost his place in Wisla’s attack to Rafal Boguski. Was to be brought back to shape during pre-Euro training camp, but was in such a poor form that Leo Beenhakker opted for Marek Saganowski instead. Was to revive his career at SC Heerenveen, but was released from the Dutch club after the manager stated that he’s not good enough. Retired from football for the second part of 2008 and signed a contract with the second division Widzew Lodz in the last couple of days.
Ebi Smolarek (Racing Santander/Bolton Wanderers): Polish player of the year 2007 failed to repeat his performances in 2008. Gradually lost his place in Racing Santander, who desperately tried to sell him in the summer transfer window. Moved to Bolton Wanderers on loan, but mostly watches Premiership games from the perspective of a substitute bench. Is yet to score in England. Was Poland’s biggest hope for a successful Euro 2008 campaign, but failed to create a single goalscoring opportunity in the games against Germany and Austria. Remains an important Bialo Czerwoni player (scored twice in the recent qualifiers), but lost his status as the biggest star of the team.
Maciej Zurawski (Larissa): a symbol of Poland’s failure during major tournaments. For the third time in a row the pressure of performing well when the world’s eyes are on you was too much for him. A team’s captain that was unable to install a winner’s mentality in his teammates. Ended his Euro 2008 participation after 45 minutes against Germany and one missed chance. The aforementioned game may as well has been his last for the national team. Had a moderate year for Larissa, but the Polish fans can’t help feeling that he was destined for greater things than playing for an average Greek club.
Who was the biggest disappointment?
( polls)
I’ll check the results after the New Years’ Eve. Have fun.
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 40 comments.
Read the rest of the comments
Actually El-Abdouni is retiring from football, or so I read on PolishSoccer.
Stulin is said to be promising but it’s hard to keep track of German-based players. Those free translators can be useful for some language but where German is concerned they usually come out with completely unintelligible text.
Thanks for that info on Jutkiewicz. The Polish media didn’t mention his debut… I guess hyping fourth division players takes up too much of their time.
Posted from 
Canada
According to this site, Jakub Blaszczykowski refused to sign an ew
contract with BVB Dortmund. Liverpool has contacted him again.
What do you guys think of this?
Posted from 
Netherlands
consider this:
a chain is only as strong as its weakest liked – therefore – the squeaky wheel must get the grease
two very popular idioms, and they seem to realate to the polish nt perfectly
anyways i’ve been reading this blog for quite a while now and would like to that tomasz for his interesting articles
cheers
Posted from Canada
^Nevermind, it was all just a stupid rumor…Kuba didn’t even get a new contract…
http://sport.onet.pl/74318,1248685,1888203,,blaszczykowski_nie_dostal_zadnej_oferty,wiadomosc.html
Posted from Netherlands
The popular choice for player of the year seems to be Artur Boruc, I agree. Not to discount what Brozek and Wichniarek did., but Boruc played the past year on a world class type level. Then again, Lech Poznan would not be as good without Murawski. Kuba also came on strong in the second half of the year.
Robert Lewandowski was the best newcomer. However, I will reserve my judgement because I don’t want to raise my expectations to unreachable levels and then resent him for not achieving my unrealistic goals for him. Smolarek and Matusiak come to mind. Then again, Lewandowski has accomplished what very few before him have even come close to at such a young age. His transfer abroad will be very important for his growth and development.
My biggest disappointment is Radoslaw Majewski and all our young prospect who fail to make it abroad because of a lack of hard work, determination, and the desire to become great. Also, the unwillingness to adapt to the culture and learn a new language. Not to forget about being a professional and taking their football careers seriously. Sort of like Wichniarek who realized this a little too late in his career. If only half of them were as hard working as Kuba we would not be asking foreigners who once saw Poland on a map to play for our national team.
Lack of work ethic is certainly one of the reasons why some of our young players fail abroad (Grosicki being the textbook example). But I would say that naivete also plays a huge role. Our young players are just too trusting of managers who string them along for years with empty promises. Players like Cywka, Kupisz, Fojut etc. keep believing they’ll get a chance even though the manager constantly overlooks them during injury crises and won’t play them even when the match is safely won.
Earlier this season Wigan was winning 4:0 with about twenty minutes left, Kupisz was on the bench, great opportunity to blood a youngster you’d think.. but the manager chose to sub in only older players… Is it that Kupisz and Cywka don’t work hard enough? I find it hard to believe as they’re regularly lauded as Wigan’s best players in reserve outings. But when you read the comments on a Wigan forum, it seems hardly anyone really believes these two will get a chance in the first team… So you have to wonder if our players’ faith is justified. I think our young players need to examine more closely whether the club they’re at has a real desire to gradually blood youngsters (many Dutch clubs) or whether the young players are simply cheap insurance in case a plague wipes out half their squad and will never get a chance otherwise (Wigan, Bolton).
Posted from Canada
Our young players don’t succeed because they don’t take the opportunity seriously. Every single one of us grew up with a dream of becoming a world-class footballer but these kids have the chance of playing professional football. (People would love to be in their places) All we see on TV is the fame and the riches footballers have. But they don’t show you how much running, training, and hard work they put in. endless sprints, eating right, not being able to go out and party every night, this is a life style and a choice they make. These kids need to realize they have a great chance of making good money, and maybe one day represent Polska. But before that’s going to happen they need to make a choice if this is a life style for them, and get their act together.
first of all happy new year everyone. and thank you tomasz
for your great work. i am an australian who after meeting my polish girlfriend has become a huge polish football fan.as my polish is still coming along i am very thankfull for your english reports.
i was wondering if anyone can tell me why on a few websites about euro 2012 krakow is only a reserve host city for the event. as the city is home to a big polish club in wisla krakow and the city itself is a main tourist attraction, why was it not a listed host city. is their something i am missing here? please let me know. i do understand that it is a shared event with the ukraine but i guessed that krakow was a must city to host.
go poland, and all the best to the team in 2009.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
For me player of the year = The player of the year
The best newcomer is Rafal Boguski because every time I see Lewandowski he gets the ball to far in front of him. Biggest disappointment for me is Smolarek.
Posted from 
United States
Mateusz, I wouldn’t tar them all with the same brush. I mean, we’ve all heard about Grosicki’s problems but as for the rest, there really isn’t any indication that they’re not taking their opportunity seriously. Fojut got a lot of praise during his loan spell, Kupisz and Cywka are cited as the best players in Wigan’s reserve games, it sounds like they’re working hard and doing their best to impress the manager.
Marco, I think it’s got something to do with the stadium but I haven’t really been following the preparations for Euro 2012.
Posted from Canada
Cywka finally made an appearance today, coming on in the 74th minute of the FA Cup match against Tottenham. He assisted on Wigan’s only goal.
Posted from Canada
Zaraza, I think Cywka did a decent job as well. Didn’t lose the ball, had a decent cross, brought the ball down a couple times, and had a crack at goal. Not bad for a 15 minute run out. Hopefully he’ll get another chance. Now I hope Jutkiewicz gets a chance tomorrow.
Thanks guys for all the input you’ve produced during the last week. I’ve just come back from new year’s eve holidays (Krakow looks great this time of a year) and will write a summing up note on the awards on Monday. I’ll also prepare a look through all the Polish transfer rumours for you.
@Marco
Krakow, together with Chorzow, are backup cities, in our original Euro bid Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Poznan were listed as host cities. Maybe their officials didn’t believe we have a chance of being awarded the tournament and didn’t put as much effort as other cities did. Krakow is building a new stadium, but they will be awarded Euro games only when one of the hosts fail to prepare properly or when Ukraine gets only two host cities.
Posted from 
Poland
No Chorzow??? Damn 
Poland plays like 10 times better there…
Posted from Netherlands
Not a bad day in the FA cup for us. Rasiak scored the only goal against Scunthorpe and Ebi finally netted one six minutes off the bench against Sunderland.
gdzie te wyniki wujek bo zem ciekaw chyba nie chcesz zeby wkurwil ?
Posted from Poland
no saganowski in southampton side today against man u. shame i would have loved to see him play. could this be that they are planning to sell him to an english club and therefore not cup tie him. i think it would be much better for him to look to main land europe again.
Posted from United Kingdom
Good news! Dawid Janczyk is loaned by CSKA to Lokeren (Belgium), he will play regularly
Marco, Saga did not play because he has not yet received international clearance since returning from Aalborg.
thanks michal for the info. i was misinformed by the english papers which stated yesterday that saga could for the 3rd time this year play against man u if slected.they never mentioned about the international clearance. this explains my suprise in not seeing him on the team sheet.
Posted from United Kingdom
I was surprised as well, so decided to look into it a bit. It’s a shame, third time lucky, right? I was also sort of surprised not to see Kuszczak take the goal for Man U. I don’t understand why van der sar wasn’t rested. Fergie is not one to be reasonable though. 
Kuszczak bench warming was a disappointment as both liverpool and chelsea used reserve keepers for their 3rd round cup games.
Is there any new news in poland on kuba move away from germany? as a life long liverpool fan nothing could please me more then to see him in a red shirt.
Posted from United Kingdom
^Apart from those rumors I posted, nope.
Posted from Netherlands
i wasn’t going to reply since it’s a rumor, but got my hopes up months ago – i’d really like to see kuba wear the red and the liver bird.
Posted from United States
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I know Alan Stulin is representing Poland. And about Nori El-Abdouni, never heard of him but from what I found he is set to play for Poland.