A (not that long) summer break

I don't mind at all (on the contrary!) that the summer break is this short in the football season. Compared to the two-month-long winter break, when I almost cut my veins, this few-week-long holiday is really bearable, especially that the CL-qualifyings are at the corner and afterwards the championship starts as well. (Meanwhile it's hot as hell, Average Fan tries not to get cooked, nor to get a heat stroke.)

The biggest happening of the transfer season was the return of Danilo Pantić to Partizan. I tell you, I’m one of those few who’s very happy for the boy’s return.

I know it's been trendy lately to curse, mock, spit and threaten Pantić as well as anyone who’s on his side. Yes, I also did get a portion after raising my voice for the kid and/or telling off a few haters. It made me laugh hard to see all those neurotic, spitting armchair-smartasses who put all possible threatenings into sight in case of Pantić’s return. Some of them looked as if ambulance should be called for them. So, I’m happy for Pantić being back to Partizan and can’t wait for his goals and assists.

Danilo Pantić in all smiles at his arrival at Partizan’s training camp in Zlatibor

Posing with Neca at a training

He even played at a friendly against Mladost

(photos: partizan.rs)

Another thing - independent of Pantić - that the team have played two friendlies so far and lost both. One against Zeta (MNE), to 0:1, another against Mladost (again 1:0). Oh well. These games are just friendlies, with no consequences and better to lose now than in the championship/CL.
As for other transfers, little Milenković went to Fiorentina. Partizan's management decided about his fate with the Italians back in the spring, what is more, it seems, Fiorentina takes Vlahović, too, as soon as the kid reaches the coming of age. No news yet about possible arrivals. There are a few rumours about Seydouba Souma though, but Partizan have been trying to get this midfielder from Guinea since forever, so far with no success. (Maybe, if I remember well, there was a Brazilian player as well in the possible transfers, but nothing happened.)
Meanwhile the team travelled to Slovenia for a training camp, there will be friendlies, then on 11th or 12th July comes the Champions League qualifying against Budućnost Podgorica.

***

I honestly admit, I didn't follow the basketball team for a while. Their performance was so very depressing and awful that every single game (among those I actually watched...) made me totally pissed and very sad at the same time. It was painful and infuriating to see the very same tactics - regardless of opponent or league - on every single goddamned game. Same tactics, same half-talents who will probably never have any more chance in life and especially to see every single game have the same screenplay, moment to moment. Shitty first quarter, struggling second (when we somehow equalized), suicidal third, finally (if we had luck) a combative fourth in a style that should have been present in EVERY SINGLE FUCKING QUARTER. Then, if we were lucky enough, we could win the game with this last quarter, if not, then not. It happened every time, on every game. And I hate to say it, but I was right: I said right in the beginning that even though this performance might take us until a certain point either in the freshly baked Basketball Champions League (the Euroleague of the poor...) or ABA Liga or in the Serbian superliga, but it's not enough for happiness. After this in Champions League PAOK smashed us into the face, in the semifinal of ABA Liga Cedevita simply stepped over us (based on our shitty performance we wouldn't have deserved to qualify to the final...), but the really bad surprise was in the Serbian league: we were eliminated in the semifinal by FMP (!!!). They say the last time it happened to KK Partizan to get eliminated in the semifinal was in 1998. Honestly, it didn't surprise me after this very disappointing season. Head coach Aleksandar Džikić has left for Budućnost, the two Americans left - Robinson has left during the season (he added absolutely nothing to the team), Hatcher left at the end of the season (he had some performance, though in a team like this even Michael Jordan himself couldn't make any miracle). I can't pick any player who had an exemplary or just an acceptable performance. I know that everyone is all over Novica Veličković, but the thing is, that in his case it was more about routine and heart than abilities/talent, but as the saying goes, in the land of the blind the one-eyed will be the king. The team is searching for a head coach now, but most of all it's searching for its old self.

***

As for the rest of the team sports: the water polo team has won the Serbian league. After practically the whole team left last year, it was a miracle even that there were a few remaining in Banjica to continue the work. They continued, so much that they won the championship title and will enter Champions League.
The handball team were running the gauntlet during the past season. Key players left, one after the other, a new coach was needed, too, plus the play-off became play-out at the end of the season. They finished on the 3rd place of the play-out, avoiding relegation, but who knows what comes in the next season.
The volleyball team ended much worse. OK Partizan was factually an U21 team for the season and they got releagated to the 2nd league. Honestly? I'm not surprised. My heart breaks for the team, but knowing their circumstances, it couldn't be avoided. It's no wonder at all, with so young players and such financial possibilities that are worse than worst. The team was practically on an amateur level.
That's all, folks.

News of all kind

Boris Dallo signed to 2nd division French basketball team Antibes Sharks for 2 seasons. The team confirmed it on Twitter.

Boris Dallo (@1Bobo2) s’est engagé pour deux saisons avec les @SharksAntibes ! http://t.co/W0lvcZ82qr #SharksFans pic.twitter.com/ThlTfGcgrF

— Sharks Antibes (@SharksAntibes) July 12, 2015

***

Danilo Pantić is at Duch football team Vitesse on loan. Pantić is officially Chelsea’s player, but since yesterday he can be found at the Duch team’s training camp in Austria. Duch officials say, there is only paperwork left to be done - there is no official information yet about how long Pantić will stay in the Netherlands.

Danilo Pantic traint tijdens het trainingskamp van Vitesse in Oostenrijk mee met de A-selectie. Pantic, een 18-jarige...
Posted by Vitesse on Monday, July 13, 2015

***

It very much seems so that Nemanja Kojić also leaves Partizan. The striker is heading to Turkey, negotiating with a still unnamed team in the A league. Rumours say it is only the question of time to sign the contract.

Absolutely wonderful, especially that there are just a few hours left until the Champions League qualifying. To make it all even more surreal, Brazilian defender Fabricio will not be able to play at the Tuesday game for administrative reasons.

***

Nikola Milutinov has returned from the USA where he was negotiating with the management of San Antonio Spurs. It seems he stays in Europe for a while, but almost surely not at Partizan. Some say he is heading to Panathinaikos, following his ex-teammate Saša Pavlović.

***

Grupa JNA released a new single titled "Crno-beli randevu".

With lyrics, of course.

Crno-beli sunčan dan pravac Hram, ja odlazim

Na Topčidersko brdo gde igra moj tim

Crno-beli randevu sve je lepo k’o snu

Sa tribina ori se moj Partizane

Oooo Partizane Oooo Partizane

Volim te, bodrim te, pevam ti, sanjam te

Svaku noć i svaki dan živim za te

Oooo Partizane Oooo Partizane

Bio dan ili noć sunca sjaj ili sneg

Sa tobom sam uvek tu, moj Partizane

Reflektora toga sjaj meni daje čudnu moć

Gde god igra Partizan ja uvek ću poć’

Crno-beli randevu sve je lepo k’o snu

Sa tribina ori se, moj Partizane

Oooo Partizane Oooo Partizane

Volim te, bodrim te, pevam ti, sanjam te

Svaku noć i svaki dan živim za te

Oooo Partizane Oooo Partizane

Bio dan ili noć sunca sjaj ili sneg

Sa tobom sam uvek tu, moj Partizane

News

The scandal around Gagić doesn’t want to calm down. The basketball team had a bitter press release that includes even personalities. The person in question still didn’t talk to the press. Rumours speak about Gagić setting up a claim against the team to get his salary the team still couldn’t pay for him. Other than these, everyone is just guessing.

Dear Basketball Team,
I love you a lot. You gave me countless wonderful, fantastic moments. Not only to me. With and without Gagić. I very kindly ask you never ever to make such a press release. It does not matter what was the reason behind, that made Gagić decide to take these steps. It does not matter what he said and what he is about to do. You must know, because you’re not blind, hell broke loose among fans. Your job would be now to calm the heated atmosphere down, not pouring oil to the fire. There are things that are not for the public. Getting personal in private is fine, but is strictly forbidden in a press release. Let us respect each other enough not to generate media war from the by default nasty incident. We must avoid to give reason for the numerous enemies of the club to further intrigues. No matter how painful or upsetting you see all these that happened, you must never forget your own responsibility for your fans.

Yours faithfully,
a very bitter and disappointed fan

***

Gregor Balažić is now officially Partizan’s player. Today was the press conference, the player got the number 6.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

***

Ivan Bandalovski debuted in the football team. Partizan played today a preparational game against Sinđelić. We won to 5:0, goal scorers are Radulović (own goal) 15., Ninović (penalty) 41., Kojić 56., Marinković 59., Šaponjić 67.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

***

Scandal has been swirling around Pantić, too. The latest news were about Chelsea buying him. Not much later Partizan offered him a stupendous contract, which the midfielder refused to sign. Right now all that we know is that Pantić will not travel back to Belgrade with the team from the Turkey training camp.
Marko Nikolić told hotsport.rs he is sorry things got this turn with Pantić. As he said, the midfielder was dropped out of the team even before Nikolić arrived, having a six-month-long suspension. Nikolić said, for Pantić it would be the best to stay for at least two more seasons at Partizan instead of hanging on loans by big teams. He added, this decision was made by Pantić’s parents and manager, making it clear the player himself didn’t have much say in it all, if any.

***

Milan Mačvan is Player of the Month in January at Adriatic League.

(photo: Facebook/ABA Liga)

Transfer news

The football team signed Bulgarian defender Ivan Bandalovski. The 29-year-old player, who appeared 12 times so far in the Bulgarian national team is to substitute the injured Vulićević.

(photo: partizan.rs)

Bandalovski came to Partizan as a free agent (some rumours say he has been searching for a team for half a year). He signed a 1,5-year contract with the team.

***

As for the others: Danko Lazović left Partizan. He got an offer from China which he accepted. From the Turkey training camp he immediately travelled to Asia.
Danilo Pantić is also sold out. The young midfielder was bought by Chelsea, that immediately put Pantić on loan to Dutch team Vitesse. (Rumours speak about 900 000 euros, that was neither confirmed, nor confuted.)

***

The presidental armchair has not even got warm under the new leadership, but mud-throwing has been started. Milorad Vuličević made his harsh point of view public in mozzartsport.com claiming he did not understand why Marko Nikolić was so upset (the trainer made no secret - also to mozzartsport - about his disappointment after the preparational matches didn’t bring the desired result, to say the least), because the team leadership did not sell any player (sic!!!), what is more, according to the wishes of the head coach they refused to accept the almost 3 million euro offer of Lille for Škuletić as well as Anderlecht and their similarly rich request for Ćirković.

As a top of it all, Vuličević speaks harshly about Pantić, too. I’ll be honest now: I seriously don’t get why he thinks a 18-year-old kid can make a mature, serious decision in a situation that would test even an experienced, older player who has been to many foreign teams.

The boys hit the road for the winter training camp in Turkey (photos + video)

Seeing Kojić smirking in the background anyone would make a suspicious face, not just Ninković

Pantić was travelling with the team despite there have been rumours about him and a possible transfer to Chelsea

Babović is excited, Lukač is rather sleepy

The "stuff" they need for trainings: balls, etc.

The "kids" - Lukić and Bogosavac

Technical staff with the forever young Zvonko Varga in the middle

For Škuletić it’s still too early o’clock

Photo of the day: "Contrasts in the existence of standing in a line" - Živković’s wide grin and Petrović’s priceless expression

(I’ve been laughing hard on this photo for quite a while)

(Photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Update: they arrived in Turkey, there’s a video about it, too

Update 2: photos, just for you. (Source: partizan.rs)

Still at the airport: Volkov is explaining something to the others

Lukić, Šaponjić and Brašanac

Nemanja Kojić

Determination in the eyes (Bogosavac, Stevanović and Živković)

Duty free shops seem to be very popular among players (Babović, Lazović and Šaponjić)

Goalkeeper of goalkeepers

Joyous spirit on the way to the first training

Let’s stop for a moment and shed a teardrop for these poor boys who have to train hard and sweat hard among palm trees at the beach

(yes, this was supposed to be a joke from me - my bad)

Even the power training can’t wash the huge grin off from Brašanac’s face

Photos from the winter preparations

The boys were sent off to Košutnjak to run. (Before anyone gets a heart attack that they had to run straight from Zemun: they were all taken there by bus.)

Ready to kickstart the Steam Roller: Gribć and Babović

Yes, Stanković is still here preparing with the team

So is Volkov...

...Šaponjić arriving behind him can confirm it

Nemanja Kojić

The Captain: Saša Ilić

Brašanac has this wide grin on his face even while running behind Pantić

"Let’s speed up or else we’ll miss breakfast"

Team Živković, doing their best

Petar Škuletić with Mirosla Bogosavac

The prize: many bottles of mineral water

It gives extra spirit to Ninković

Post-running power walk á la Drinčić

Always listen to what experienced players say: Saša Ilić giving tips to Pantić and Brašanac

There are some for whom even this long run couldn’t turn down high spirit

Stretching and crackling joints

Lazović and Branko Ilić stretching

A bunch of youngsters: Marinković, Pantić, Lukić and Šaponjić

Džigi always gets to find a photogenic pose

Photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan

FK Partizan - Napredak 3:1 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 13)

Brašanac and Pantić were watching it from the tribune

Both teams started hard, then in the 7th minute Ninković tested Napredak’s goalkeeper. A minute later Volkov headed a corner right into Popović’s hands. Another minute later (and we are still within the first 10 minutes) Drinčić kicked a 20-metre bomber to Napredak’s goal line, Popović caught it.
In the 16th minute Škuletić got a pass from the right side. He kicked - and shot right into the goalkeeper.
In the 18th minute fans on the southern tribune remembered 18-year-old Partizan fan Nemanja "Rambo" Antić, who died tragically. 18 torches were burning for his memory.

In the 21st minute Škuletić put himself into action again. The ball was stolen at the half-line from fumbling Napredak-players and Ninković gave a pass to Škuletić. He dribbled himself through the guest defenders and kicked an enormous shot - hitting the goalpost.

Match action: Nikola Ninković

In the 26th minute Drinčić made a 25-metre shot to the guests goal line. The goalkeeper saved, the ball dropped back to the penalty area. Lazović was running fast to catch it, but he couldn’t. A minute later Napredak made some uncomfortable moments in front of Partizan’s goal line, finally our defenders cleared the area.

In the 29th minute it could have been 1:0. Saša Ilić shot the ball into Napredak’s net, but the referee invalidated the goal saying it was offside.

But then came the real goal.

38th minute. Ninković got the ball on the left side and passed it to the middle with a powerful kick. Lazović raised from the mass (with a defender on his neck) and headed the ball into the net. 1:0

The last minutes still had some action left. First Drinčić ran up on the right with the ball and passed it to Škuletić in the middle. He shot it with a frenetic movement. The goalkeeper saved, yet if it had been a score, it would have been the Goal of the Year. Then a 30-metre sheer Drinčić-free kick bomber came, but the goalkeeper inactivated it.

Match action: Saša Marković

In the second half Napredak tried to get a grip and get the control over the game. In the 51st minute Trujić had a try from the penalty area line, with no success. A few minutes later Stanojević headed the ball dangerously to Partizan’s goal line after a corner, but Lukač was at his place.

In the 60th minute Marković gave a long pass to Ninković. Everyone’s favourite Džigi headed the ball to the net passing by the goalkeeper running out - but the ball dropped out of the field just barely missing the goalpost.

In the meantime fans remembered 17-year-old Gojko Sekulić, who also tragically lost his life.

This was not the end.

Grave Diggers remembered that Crvena Zvezda fan who was stabbed to death by Turkish fans on 22nd November at the Galatasaray - Crvena Zvezda basketball match.

Meanwhile in the 68th minute Dimitrov had a subtle try, barely missed. Škuletić also had a try from a counter-attack, no success.
Two minutes later Andrija Živković (who joined the game as substitute) passed the ball from the left to the middle, almost from the base line. Lazović jumped up to head it to the goal line, but he was late with just one step. But nothing was lost, because there was Branko Ilić sneaking behind him. The Partizan-defender grabbed the ball and shot it to Napredak’s goal (while making a "tunnel trick" to Frimpong). 2:0

In the 82nd minute Bajić had a try from counter-attack, but his shot was way too wide. Three minutes later Trujić made a shot from a sharp angle, but the ball rolled over in front of the goal line.
Then in the 86th minute Škuletić realized that the match is almost over, but he still haven’t scored a goal. He ran up, stole the ball from a Napredak defender and made a marvellous, 40-metre solo run all alone. He left everyone behind him, dribbled the desperate Popović, who ran out, and walked in to the net with a wide grin, seriously, only the red carpet was missing. 3:0

In the 88th minute Lukač saved Cvetković’s shot. Then we were pretty much in the extra time, most probably everyone was focusing on the aftermatch hot shower, when Napredak made a sudden attack in the 90+3rd minute. Lukač saved Trujić’s shot, but the ball dropped right in front of Ndiaye. The Senegalese striker shot and scored into the empty net. 3:1

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion
Number of spectators: 3000
Referee: Vlado Glođović (assistants: Srđan Kaurin, Matija Olajos-Nagy - 4th assistant: Branko Pavlović - goal line assistants: Aleksandar Vasić, Róbert Kis-Csepegi)

FK Partizan: Lukač - B. Ilić (Kojić, 88.), Ćirković, Stanković, Volkov - S. Ilić, Marković, Drinčić, Ninković (A. Živković, 71.) - Lazović (Luka, 78.), Škuletić
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Napredak: Popović - Cvetković, Frimpong, Jančić, Urošević - Stanojević (Dimitrov, 66.) - Lazić, Gobeljić, Trujić - Ndiaye, Božović (Bajić, 75.)
Head coach: Saša Štrbac

Goal scorers: Lazović (36.), B. Ilić (72.), Škuletić 85.), Ndiaye (90+3.)
Yellow card: Gobeljić (32.), Božović (38.), Urošević (55.), A. Živković (77.),  Dimitrov (78.)

Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 34 points
2. Crvena Zvezda 28 points
3. Vojvodina 26 points
4. Čukarički 22 points
5. OFK Beograd 21 points
6. Novi Pazar 20 points*
7. Mladost 17 points
8. Jagodina 17 points
9. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 17 points
10. Rad 15 points
11. Donji Srem 15 points
12. Borac 12 points
13. FK Voždovac 11 points*
14. Radnički Niš 11 points
15. Napredak 10 points
16. Radnički 1923 7 points

Teams marked with * played only 12 matches.

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)