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Vodka Let Us Live…Peszko And Iwański Expelled From Smuda’s Team.
Comments(19)
Alcohol: the biggest entertainment and the biggest disease in the Polish society. Footballers are not free of this disease; they’ve always been drinking and it seems that even with Smuda’s strong objection they continue to do so nowadays. The trick is not to get caught. Peszko and Iwański were too drunk to remember that.
In case you didn’t know, Franz Smuda allowed the players to drink a beer or two after the game against Australia in Kraków. For some, one beer wasn’t enough and the ‘party’ moved to Maciej Iwański’s room. Everything would have been fine if it wasn’t for the fact that Iwański and Sławomir Peszko were so drunk that the left the room and started behaving loudly on the corridors of the hotel. Guess who they met at their most vulnerable. Yep, Smuda’s assistant coach Jacek Zieliński. Iwański and Peszko decided to tell Zieliński in the face that they have absolutely no respect for his coaching skills. Hence, at the same time they ended their international career for the time being. The statement from Franciszek Smuda at the PZPN site reads as follows: The national team has its own rules regarding discipline. From the beginning I’ve said that in this team I won’t tolerate this sort of behaviour. If someone breaks the rules he has no right to play for the national team. So, the rules were broken and Smuda acts now like a just sheriff who punishes the criminals. He made a clear statement when he took over the team that any examples of heavy drinking will be severely punished and that he won’t forgive this sort of behaviour easily. We should back up the coach’s actions and be happy that we’ve got such a charismatic manager who won’t allow the players to take control of the team, right? Applause for Smuda! Well, not exactly, as there are many doubts surrounding the Kraków drinking night:
- first of all, why do we learn about it two weeks after the game and not directly after the incident. Moreover, we don’t learn about it from Smuda, but from the journalists. Where is the harsh Smuda who would punish the players on the spot? Would he react if the story didn’t leak out to the press? Now Smuda says that he didn’t want to make the atmosphere surrounding the Biało Czerwoni worse. Great work coach, now the atmosphere is just perfect. Lack of transparency is what irritates me here the most. It seems that once again our players’ additional ‘training sessions’ were to be swept under the carpet.
- do you really believe that Peszko and Iwański were the only ones drinking? Hooray, let’s make a two men party, that always works. It’s clear that more players took part in the drinking sessions. I remember my school trips from when I was young, it was almost impossible not to be involved in getting drunk (the one who doesn’t drink will tell the teachers!). Hence, Peszko and Iwański are not punished for being drunk, but they’re punished for being idiots enough to make noise on the corridor in the middle of the night and for undermining the coaching skills of the assistant coach. In other words, Smuda’s rules about the no drinking policy don’t really apply here. If they did, he’d have to expel at least a half of the team.
- actually, Smuda wasn’t even in the hotel when the drinking session happened. He decided to sleep at home in Kraków. That’s a perfect strategy when you want to implement a no drinking policy: not be present to witness anything. After all, you can always say ‘I haven’t seen it’.
- remember Smuda’s words about not at all being forgiving? Well, he’s quickly changing his rules in this respect: When a child does something wrong, the parent is first angry, but after some time he’s ok with it…I don’t know if it eases off in this case. If it does, it won’t be very fast. On the other hand, never say never…
- finally, reports surface that the players were drinking after the Ukraine game as well. That’s much worse as they still had one more game ahead of them. Was this to be swept under the carpet as well? Smuda doesn’t know anything about it as he had his own visitors that night. Ups, there goes the harsh sheriff…
Drinking: the eternal problem of Polish sportsmen. It’s impossible that the coach controls a group of adult men twenty four seven. What’s more, sometimes spending nice time together can do wonders for the team chemistry. The only problem is whether players know when to drink and whether they know how much to drink.
Ps: Iwański’s expulsion is not a problem; I’ll happily watch players like Mierzejewski, Cetnarski or Majewski get a place in the team instead of him. Peszko has had poor games recently as well, but if he returns to his last season form he may still be good enough to play for the national team. Expect Smuda to grow soft on him sooner or later.
Other news: Oh, the great times when we had a proper left back. Sadly, it only lasted for two games. Sebastian Boenisch underwent a knee surgery and won’t be available for half a year at least. The search for left back continues…
Smuda will announce the squad for the North America tournee on Friday. Expect my analysis shortly afterwards. I urge anyone who plans to see the games live to leave some info in the comments; maybe you’ll be able to arrange a Polish fans meeting before or after the game.
To end on positive note, another goal from Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga and assists from Kuba Błaszczykowski and Łukasz Piszczek.
I just can’t wait until the tickets go on sale!
Posted from 
Canada
i will likely b there with some friends. let me know if you guys come up with a bar to hang out with after the game.
Posted from Canada
I was going to goto the Toronto game, but with the game being on a tuesday and being a 6 hour drive, it sucks!
Hope you guys have fun!
I really wanted to see the game in Chicago. But the wedding I was there for already happened. I won’t be able to make it back out in time. Hopefully a good amount of fans make it out to cheer. And of course, that Poland wins.
This alcohol thing is really getting blown out of proportion and it seems the media has nothing better to do than to dismantle our team. Who cares if they drank after the game, who cares if they got a bit intoxicated these media sharks are willing to fuck these players and for what reason to sell news!
Another story about more possible players drinking this is like the old witch hunt fucking ridiculous if you ask me fuck off Polish press. Write about something else.
Bottom line is Smuda allowed the players to have a couple of drinks, so the media needs to stay out of it!
I will be attending the game with my family in Chicago, 16 rows from the field!:)
Posted from 
United States
So far I seen Mike S., Hieronim,Paradowski attending the game in Chicago. I will be there with a group of 8. We will be in section 152 row 1 right behind the north-side goal, come by & ask for JZ.
We will probably cook out & have a few beers in the parking lot before the game (this is allowed in Chicago) but I do not know exactly which parking lot we will be in so it might be difficult to let everybody know where to meet us.
As it gets closer I might have more concrete info.
If anybody else will be cooking out before the game in the parking lot let me know & maybe we can plan something.
Cant wait for this game, im going, gonna be exciting!!
Hopefully its all the starters and players from abroad coming down for this.
It would be great if we could meet somewhere before of after the game. I will be in section… I think 141 row 3. Wanted higher priced mid field seats, but my wife and brother voted to wesave money. At least we are closer to the Polish fan section. Mike S., Hieronim, or JZ if you know the situation at Soldier Field and have suggestion or JZ if you can determine where you will be let us know. Cheers.
Shoot. Alcohol is problem my biggest entertainment problem and why my big family has a good time when any two or more of us are together. But you have to be careful and smart while having a good time. My problem is — no way should Peszko and Iwański be talking to a coach while in such condition – very careless.
Posted from United States
oops^ my spelling; had a few beers and writing too fast late tonight after working late.
Posted from United States
Back to zaraza’s comment last post: I do hope Szczesny or Fabianski does make a move. One of them has to go. I think Fabianski should move because many fans have lost trust in him and that may affect his play. Many gunner fans think Szczesny is ahead of Fabienski in development. What do you guys think? Do you think Wenger might be trying to build up Fabianski to move him? I’m not clear on how clubs benefit on the price of their players when other teams sign them. Anyway, they both need to be playing regularly.
Posted from United States
Wenger recently stated that even Barnsley flop Mannone remains ahead of Szczesny, who is still fourth choice despite impressing at every opportunity. I think Szczesny definitely needs to leave Arsenal. He’s very talented but without regular playing time, he will never reach his potential. Arsenal will hold him back, he’ll have to wait at least ten years before he comes anywhere near the number one shirt and Wenger refuses to let him seek game time at another club. Wenger seems to have no concern for the development of young keepers. He has ruined Fabianski and will destroy Szczesny too.
Is it too much to ask a professional athlete to abstain from alcohol, at least during the season? Especially the immature losers of the Ekstraklasa. For all who are fed up with the lack of quality in the Ekstraklasa, make Iwanski a scapegoat. Ruin this man for what he is contributing to. He is exactly what is wrong with the Ekstraklasa and Polish football. Make the players realize that Polish football has been in the shitter for too long and the supporters won’t stand for it anymore. We put our hard earned money to watch these guys play, watch them get spoiled and treated like children, and this is what we get in return? Playing in the Ekstraklasa should be viewed as a privilege. Bakero was right, then again any foreign manager, player, etc who has set foot on our pitches has said the same, our league lacks professionalism. I’m sorry but for the money they are getting paid there is something wrong with that. Sure you can blame the administration side of it, they are at fault as well, but we can only look at the players themselves. Why is it that the Ekstraklasa ranks up there with the leagues who get the least value for their money, in terms of salaries paid and how far they get in European competitions. The Ekstraklasa owners are not seeing a return on their investment and who can we blame them for not wanting to put more money into their clubs? That is exactly why on a good day we can keep up with Ukraine and Australia. But on any other day I’m certain San Marino would prove more than we can handle. The sad part is that it is not even based on talent.
Anyone watch the legia-lech game today? who can believe that the struggling legia actually beat lech! wow.
highlights if anyone is interested http://socasoul.polishsoca.com/2010/09/24/goals-from-epic-legialech-showdown/#more-1362
legias first goal lech defense really fell asleep
@ people attending the game in Chicago- I will be in section 141 row 16, paradowski looks like we’re in the same section. I’m pretty sure 141 is a Polish fan section. Saw the call up list today and Im happy Majewski is on it as well as Salamon.
Posted from United States
very interesting arcticle about szczesny
The article misses the point. Wenger’s goalkeeper development policy is a colossal failure. He has never managed to bring through a young keeper and Fabianski is simply a disaster. It’s about time he re-evaluated his policies. The lack of playing time for young keepers is clearly at the root of why they look so indecisive and inexperienced when called upon. Yet Wenger continues to put his head in the sand.
Wenger doesn’t even acknowledge why Szczesny is upset. He wanted to seek playing time at another club on loan but was ordered to stay at Arsenal as FOURTH choice. Wenger admits that even Mannone is still ahead of Szczesny.
Fabianski has been second choice for the last couple of years and has been clearly damaged by the limited playing time. How much playing time will Szczesny get as fourth choice? Virtually zero. How does Wenger expect him to improve? Why does he refuse to admit that his policy is very flawed and that Fabianski is the direct victim?
Basically Wenger refuses to own up to his mistakes and expects Szczesny to be a complete idiot and not notice what has happened to Fabianski.
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Im planning to go to the game in Canada. Just a bit upset its in Montreal, not Toronto.