153th eternal derby: Crvena Zvezda - FK Partizan 1:1 (superliga, round 24)

If I wanted to put it up into one short sentence, then I'd say, those in power almost managed to crack us up, but finally they failed.

I could have said it in a much rougher and more vulgar way, but it would have been pointless. On the other hand it took this very long for me to calm down after the game. But first things first.

Teams are walking out to the pitch, while Zvezda-fans were waving with these shiny red wrapping papers

The derby brought a massive wrestling game for more than 90 minutes. It contained football only in tracks, while it was full of fights, provocations, disputes and spitting at each other. Only 13 seconds passed when Kanga picked a fight with Everton

I can’t help, this guy makes me think of Kanga and Roo every goddamn time

in the meantime someone please tell me, what the heck was this awful weeper song at the beginning of the game? It made my ears bleed AND it was shut down way after the game started.
When it was finally turned off (or I don’t know, someone killed the person at the public-address system) it felt so good to hear Grave Diggers overchanting Zvezda-fans.
So, there was some football there. In the 4th minute Leonardo ran up on the left side, but he was blocked (this was the first real action on the game), two minutes later Vulićević crossed, the ball dropped to the diagonal side, Miletić crossed it back, it ended as a corner-kick. Meanwhile a Partizan-player was knocked to the ground in the goalmouth, the refere didn’t whistle it off. Oh well. Corner kick again. Leonardo got the ball, shot, and barely missed. Zvezda’s goalkeeper saved in the last moment. Meanwhile the southern tribune was on fire, a small pause was needed, maybe referee Majo Vujović’s eyes got hurt by the smoke.

There was a great tension on the pitch. In the 10th minute Đurđević put himself into action, but he was blocked in the goalmouth. Zvezda’s first attempt came in the 13th minute, well, that kind of attempt that brought out a raised eyebrow from the average viewer. Boakye shot, but Partizan-defenders blocked him.
Then again came some fight, it seemed, Everton and Kanga really hate each other. Petković joined them, nobody knows why, because nobody asked him to do so.

Marko Nikolić tries to hold back the two enraged Brazilians to tear Petković into small pieces

Tension just grew, action was less and less available. In the 17th minute Ruiz got the ball after a corner-kick, the Costa Rican shot - and almost tore the advertising board behind the box.
At this point Zvezda was more active - or rather they possessed the ball more than us, but in fact their defenders kept on passing it around among each other behind the half-line. Plavšić wanted to squeeze out a penalty in the 19th minute, he fell on the ground inside Partizan’s penalty area, but instead of penalty he got a yellow card for acting.
Partizan earned a few corner kicks, but the box was still out of sight. Both teams grew more and more tensed and nervous, they kicked each other instead of the ball. This latter one (the ball) was still possessed by Zvezda more, though they still kept on passing around with seemingly no useful idea. Or they lost it. On this derby there was a huge load of lost, dropped-out, rolled-away ball, pass or cross.

Leonardo was smarter, he never lost the ball

Then came the 34th minute and a very bizarre situation.
Zvezda attacked. Anđelković passed to Ruiz on the left. Ruiz ran up, but the ball rolled out through the baseline.
The referee didn’t whistle.
Every Partizan-player was waving with hands up for the referee that the ball was out. But neither referee Majo Vujović, nor additional assistant Srđan Obradović found it to be a goal-kick for Partizan.
You get what I mean. The ball rolls out through the baseline. At least five Partizan-players are waving that it was out, but the referee doesn’t see it. Nor does the assistant. None of them.
Ruiz passed to Kanga, the Gabonian shot and scored. 1:0

This screenshot has been circulating around the internet since then

(source: mozzartsport.com)

What can be said on this?
Nothing. Nothing should be said, because everyone knows it already.
Nevertheless the goal kicked Partizan hard on the stomach. Tense just grew even bigger.

The moment when you realize, the referee really validated an invalid goal for Zvezda

(photo: hotsport.rs)

...and when you realize, the assistant also needs a brain implant

In the 40th minute Plavšić had a try after a Zvezda corner kick, but the defenders blocked. Another corner kick. Again Plavšić got the ball, now he shot, it was too high.
Constant fights and tension, we were already in the extra time. Jevtović was so brutally kicked to the ground in the 47th minute, that I could hear him screaming through the stream. Free kick for us, about 20 metres from the box. Leonardo sent a cannon shot, but the goalkeeper jumped and saved.

Marko Nikolić some time during the game

When Zvezda and the referees walked out to the pitch for the second half, the stadium echoed the chanting "Lopovi, lopovi" (thieves, thieves).
We pushed hard at the beginning of the second half. We immediately got a free kick. Leonardo crossed it to the goalmouth, Đurđević shot, the goalkeeper caught it. Three minutes later Ostojić headed the ball to the box after a corner kick, it was too high. A minute later another corner kick, now Miletić’s shot was too high. In the 52nd minute Leonardo shot from at least 35 metres, it was again too high. Zvezda had their first attempt of the second half in the 61st minute, Ruiz shot, too wide.
Then nothing really happened out of great tension and nervousness.
We got a free kick in the 69th minute. Janković crossed it to the middle, there Leonardo got it, he shot, too wide. In the 71st minute Kljajić blocked a counter-attack by Zvezda (out of this he had nothing to do in the whole second half). The game got rougher and rougher, it reminded more of a survivor game than a football match.

Average fan was sweating hard, with hands trembling. Seriously, no eternal derby had ever killed me like this one. For the end of the game I was like a zombie, both physically and emotionally.

Zvezda was no-nonsense. Whenever they got to a Partizan-player, they kicked him to the ground. The ball was just there, nobody cared for it. There was no attempt or action, only fight.

Kosović gets a slap in the face

Time passed. Average Fan started to lose hope. I started to plan my epitaph.
Then came the 88th minute.
Vulićević appeared out of the blue and ran up with the ball on the right. He made a fantastic cross to the middle, and there Đurđević - while fighting with two defenders - headed it right into the box.

GOLAZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

1:1!!!!!!!

The moment when Đurđević heads the ball into the box

...and when he celebrates

It was fuel to the fire. The brutal tension that was ready to blow up in any moment there in the Zvezda-stadium was unbelievable. Zvezda-players lost control, Average Fan was praying hard for Partizan-players to hang in there.
They did.
After about 3 minutes of extra time Majo Vujović gave the final whistle to the eternal derby. We could celebrate. This draw was more like a victory. Not just against Zvezda.
We celebrated. We had every reason for it.

I also want a T-shirt like this on Janković

"Svi kao jedan"

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Mordor Stadium Rajko Mitić, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 41 132
Official: Majo Vujović (assistants: Svetozar Živin, Milan Šutulović - 4th official: Srđan Milutinović - additional assistants: Srđan Obradović, Lazar Lukić)

Crvena Zvezda: Manojlović, Petković, Luković, Frimpong, Anđelković, Le Tallec, Donald, Ruiz (Milić, 75.), Kanga (Milijaš, 79.), Plavšić, Boakye (Sikimić, 83.)
Head coach: Miodrag Božović

FK Partizan: Kljajić, Vulićević, Milenković, Ostojić, Miletić, Jevtović (Janković, 64.), Everton, Kosović (Tawamba, 84.), Leonardo, A. Stevanović (Mihajlović, 74.), Đurđević
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Goal scorers: Kanga (34.), Đurđević (88.)
Yellow card: Plavšić (19.), Everton (33.), Anđelković (48.), Đurđević (63.), Luković (78.), Milić (88.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 61 points
2. Partizan 55 points
3. Vojvodina 54 points
4. Mladost 38 points
5. Napredak 36 points
6. Radnički Niš 36 points
7. Spartak 33 points
8. FK Javor 33 points
9. FK Voždovac 31 points
10. Čukarički 29 points
11. Metalac 26 points
12. Rad 25 points
13. OFK Bačka 21 points
14. Radnik 21 points
15. Borac 18 points
16. Novi Pazar 16 points

(unmarked photos: partizan.rs)

KK Partizan - PAOK 78:82 (Champions League, play-off, return match)

This is very very painful now. It was just at an arm’s length and we put our souls to the court.
Before the game the team greeted Miša Tumbas, who celebrated his 63rd birthday now.

(photo: mondo.rs)

The football team also came to support the basketball boys.

(photos: sportske.net)

(photo: mondo.rs)

Marko Nikolić got THIS huge welcome.

The atmosphere was fantastic. Fans again chanted together "PAOK-Partizan", the entire sports hall was one giant black-and-white cavalcade.

(photo: basketballcl.com)

Then kickstart...
...and PAOK jumped to 2:11. Then to 6:18. No idea how. It was awful to see.
Then came Andrić and it was 13:18.
Again no idea how. It just happened. There were a few moments at the game like this, that events had a 180-degree turn within the blink of an eye. Nevertheless 8 seconds before the end of the first quarter Veličković adjusted the standing to 16:18, which means an actual 10:0-series by us. It definitely looked much better than 6:18.

Stefan Pot played with these "duct tapes"

(photo: basketballcl.com)

The second quarter was amazing.
For a while.
We equalized (18:18). We took the lead with Pot’s free throw (20:18). There were quite a number of free throws at this point, but independent of them we could maintain our pace (25:20). The Greek team still wanted to have their word, they equalized (27:27), then took back the lead (28:30). PAOK pressured hard, we just tried to find our breath. We constantly lost the ball, Greeks stole it or made turnovers, so that we had almost no chances for any field goal. Our drawback grew to 10 points (30:40), the first half ended with 32:47.

Half of Partizan’s squad struggled with vomitting, diarrhoea and high fever. The other half was still exhausted after last week-end’s cup final. They still fought as much as they could.
Yes. Now you stand up and salute for them.

Mihajlo Andrić, one of the match’s heroes

(photo: mondo.rs)

The third quarter was the toughest. PAOK’s advantage was more than 10 points for the whole time. We struggled with clenched teeth, we fell apart, we played enervated. Here it seemed all was lost and all we could do was to die with chins up. Though Veličković scored a buzzer-beater at the end of the quarter, this was great to see despite all. We faced death the last part with 50:64.
Dear everyone,
What we did in the last quarter... it was unbelievable.
We opened it with Robinson’s 3-pointer (53:64). We started to reduce our difference step by step. The standing was 59:68, here PAOK realized they might have got into trouble if they hadn’t found out something. So they jumped to 59:76. Again it looked so that all is lost. The standing was 63:78, Birčević was knocked out by a PAOK-player, Andrić almost knocked out the Greek one in exchange... A bit more than 1 minute was left, the standing was 70:80, when PAOK’s coach asked for time-out.
Then we returned to the court.
Veličković scored (72:80). 1 minute and 8 seconds are left. Pionir Hall is like an erupting volcano. Greeks attack, but referees whistle it off, offensive foul. It’s our turn. Great battle on the court. Clanton gets fouled out, we get a free throw (73:82). 44 seconds are left, Andrić scores a huge 3-pointer (76:82). The entire hall is on their feet, everyone is shouting on the top of their lungs. Players wrestle for the ball, the referees whistle it off. It’s PAOK’s turn now. But Veličković makes a turnover and scores (78:82). PAOK’s coach again asks for time-out. It’s 3 million degrees Celsius in Pionir Hall. The whole Partizan is one big heart now. 25 seconds are left. Veličković gets fouled out. Only 23 seconds are left. PAOK gets a free throw... and they miss it out! Both!
But time’s up.
We couldn’t make it.
That was all.

Nenad Čanak made a great job not just now, but also last week-end during the cup final, substituting Aleksandar Džikić, who is also struggling with the virus

(photos: hotsport.rs)

KK Partizan: Robinson (7), Ratkovica (2), Vrabac (8), Tanasković, Veličković (19), Majstorović (2), Birčević (11), Andrić (11), Pot (11), Gordon, Luković (7)

PAOK: Chrysikopoulos (2), Koniaris, Tsochlas, Margaritis (12), McFadden (26), Miljenović (2), Glyniadakis (1), Karamanolis, Sibert (16), Papadopoulos, Peniers (15), Clanton (8)

Highlights:

FK Partizan - Rad 4:0 (superliga, round 7)

I’ll be honest: it’s a hell of a work to be enthusiastic about a team, where you could punch half the squad right in the face, because they don’t deserve to wear Partizan’s jersey. (Because they are talentless, soulless, second-rate players, just right now they are lucky or it’s merely by circumstances - whichever it may be, they will be men of no account anyway.) So, 4:0 this or that, I’m not dancing around from joy.

Those who regularly read this blog, know which player(s) I’m talking about. Those who don’t... well, never mind.

The game started with a small celebration. Branko Vućićević, Partizan’s treasurer will get retired on 1st September, the club said farewell to him now.

Afterwards it seemed this time the "full court press in the first 20 minutes"-tactics will bring their reward. Our first attempt came in the 3rd minute - the ball was crossed from left, Bojinov headed it, "zicer", 1:0.
The next attempt came around the 23rd minute. In between the two teams were running around, it seemed Rad attacked a little bit more, but there were no actual attempts on either sides. Even at this point the game was tensed, players kicked into each other a lot. Everton got a yellow card already in the 18th minute.

At games like this Everton reveals his jerk side (as well as how useless he can be). While Leonardo is totally neurotic who yells more than actually playing football.

Then in the 23rd minute, at our second attempt came another "zicer". Corner kick, Milenković headed it, 2:0.
In the 32nd minute hell broke loose. Leonardo got the ball at Rad’s penalty area line, he wanted to attack, but clashed with a Rad-defender inside the penalty area. The referee didn’t whistle for penalty kick.
ArenaSport replayed it in slow motion at least 4 times from more angles, from frame to frame. Honestly, even I couldn’t say whether it was really a penalty or not. From one angle it seemed that the defender stopped Leonardo with a bodycheck, so it was an offensive foul. From another it seemed that Leonardo ran into the innocent defender and fell on the ground. The devil is always in the details...
To cut it short, referee Simović did not point at the penalty mark, but waved "go ahead". Yet the game did not go ahead, because everyone started to yell. Partizan-players complained for penalty kick, surrounding the referee, later the 4th official as well.

Bojinov debating with the referee, Leonardo is there for decorational purposes (as he surely understood nothing from the discussion)

Then Marko Nikolić also joined the discussion, and that was a big mistake. There’s no info about what he said to the referee (or what he didn’t), nevertheless the referee showed him the red card. Marko Nikolić had to leave the pitch.

Other than these there were two free kick, one for us in the 40th minute, one for Rad in the 43rd. Both missed. There were two nervous, tensed teams as well, kicking mostly each other instead of the ball.
Rad’s goalkeeper had his first actual save in the second half, when Bojinov shot in the 47th minute. (It was far not that dangerous though.) A minute later Bates was excluded from the game, after kicking off Everton. He already had a yellow card, he got his second one and had to leave the pitch. Free kick for Partizan. Leonardo stood behind the ball, he shot, the goalkeeper was just watching in amazement, 3:0.
Then in the 50th minute Uroš Đurđević (signed just a few days ago) debuted, substituting Bojinov.

At his first touch with the ball he ran up, shot, but the goalkeeper saved.
Rad’s biggest chance came - and was missed out - in the 55th minute.

Other than this they didn’t actually have any other chance...

Mladenović got a great pass, ran up, leaving Partizan-defenders behind. He arrived at our penalty area all alone, all doors and windows were wide open, Mladenović shot... and missed. It was too wide with just a few centimetres. Then Đurđević had two attempts, but the goalkeeper saved them.
I don’t say we played well, but at least we did it now without that nerve-racking minimalist style we practiced at the previous games. The match was tensed, nervous, maybe that’s why there was not that much idle time. We attacked, Rad got stuck at their penalty area for a while.
It was already the 79th minute, Partizan got 4 corner kicks in a row. Finally, after the 4th the ball was dropping around the penalty area like a pinball, then it dropped into the box from Radović. Literally. One very awkward goal. But it was inside the box. 4:0
Rad had one more very weak try in the 85th minute, then Stevanović shot once in the 88th, but it was too wide.

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 4000
Official: Novak Simović (assistants: Matija Olajos-Nagy, Attila Harmat - 4th official: Nemanja Gajdobranski)

FK Partizan: Kljajić, Vulićević, Balažic, Milenković, Miletić, Everton, Marjanović, Leonardo, Mihajlović (Janković, 70.), Radović (Stevanović, 83.), Bojinov (Đurđević, 49.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

FK Rad: Dejanović, Obradović, Ćulum, Đenić (Petković, 45.), Lutovac, Maraš, Mladenović, Jovanović, Bates, Veselinović (Vico, 51.), Stanojević (Petrović, 61.)
Head coach: Nebojša Petrović

Goal scorers: Bojinov (3.), Milenković (23.), Leonardo (49.), Radović (79.)
Yellow cards: Everton (18.), Ćulum (21.), Milenković (27.), Marjanović (37.), Bates (38.), Veselinović (41.), Đurđević (56.), Jovanović (56.)
Red card: Marko Nikolić (34.) - complaining,. Bates (48.) - second yellow card

League table will be brought tomorrow.

Update: current championship standings
1. CZ 19 points
2. Vojvodina 16 points
3. Metalac 13 points
4. Radnički Niš 13 points
5. Spartak Subotica 12 points
6. FK Voždovac 11 points
7. FK Partizan 10 points
8. Napredak 9 points
9. Mladost 9 points
10. Rad 9 points
11. Novi Pazar 7 points
12. Radnik 6 points
13. FK Javor 6 points
14. Čukarički 5 points
15. Borac 5 points
16. OFK Bačka 4 points

(photos: partizan.rs)

FK Partizan - Vojvodina 1:3 (superliga, round 3)

Marko Nikolić, former and current head coach of Partizan returned to the bench at this game. As a kind of special celebration, Vojvodina put the "cheapest on sale" price tag on the team.
Three goals. That’s how many they scored to us. Just to prevent us from falling into the trap of overconfidence.

What could one expect from a team where the starting eleven includes Valeri "Sloth" Bojinov, Miroslav "Pensioner" Radović, Gregor "Last time I played was 2 centuries ago" Balažic, Alen "Pathetic" Stevanović and Darko "Seriously out of shape" Brašanac?...

The first goal was scored in the 6th minute by Vojvodina. Honestly... It was a top class goal by Dejan Meleg. He tricked the entire Partizan defense line including Bojan Šaranov (the latter one surely didn’t know where was north and south...) then passed the ball above the heads right into the box. Stevanović was standing on the goal line and desperately tried to head it out, but instead he headed it even deeper into the net. 0:1
In the 10th minute Bojinov again, once again missed out a giant chance. All doors and windows were open, and he hit the crossbar from a few metres. If he happened not to miss out attempts, then he either got stuck in offside position every goddamn time, or he was slower than a sloth.
If we happened to attack at all. It happened a few times, and it seemed as if there was a tiny bit more spirit in them than at previous games. Still all these attempts and attacks were unsuccessful. Vojvodina’s goalkeeper was totally jobless, their defense line blocked all our actions.
The 29th minute brought the second goal by Vojvodina. One of them easily tackled Everton, then Paločević shot from the left corner of the penalty area while running past Gogoua, as if Partizan’s defender had been a lamp post, finally he kicked the ball into the box. The ball flew past the falling Šaranov and landed in the bottom right corner. 0:2

Gregor Balažic some time during the game. He was ran off by Vojvodina’s attackers

In the 43rd minute Bojinov missed out the greatest chance of the entire game by attempting from three steps, but the goalkeeper saved right on the goal line.

Vojvodina immediately came up with a counter-attack, Trujić tried, Šaranov saved.

Nikola Trujić and Gogoua. Partizan’s former striker had a great game, he attacked, ran and fought a lot. That person who formerly told that he was "too much" for Partizan, here is a message: may a brutal diarrhea catch you at a public place

In the 51st minute there was a questionable situation, when Brašanac fell on the ground at Vojvodina’s penalty area line. Many complained for penalty, but the referee waved "go ahead".

I found no slow motion replay or analyzing about it. But even if it had been a penalty, it wouldn’t have changed the final result.

We could force the ball into the box in the 63rd minute. (aka we scored) Bojinov got the ball from Vulićević, it was the most unmissable chance of all unmissable chances - though Bojinov had missed out countless chances that were thought to be unmissable. Nevertheless this time he was lucky, because he could head the ball into the box. 1:2
Yet at the upcoming attempt he got stuck in offside position, probably he didn’t want to fall out of shape.
In the 65th minute Radović landed on the ground inside Vojvodina’s penalty area. The referee again waved "go ahead", and he was right. The slow motion replay clearly showed that it was NOT a penalty.
Our attacks were still blocked by Vojvodina defenders, and as a punch line they scored again in the 75th minute. Trifunović was hanging around all alone, he immediately got a cross right there. No flag up, Trifunović ran up leaving behind our entire defense line. Then he dribbled Šaranov, shot and scored. 1:3

At this point I turned a bit lower the volume of the stream and turned on the TV, where the Olympic Games were broadcasted live. There was a table tennis game running, but even that was more exciting than this crap.

For the rest of the game we were fumbling. We didn’t have many attempts, and even those we had were blocked. In the 80th minute I could see disappointed fans slowly starting to leave the stadium... It was like a salvation when the referee whistled off the game.

Scratching your head will not make you score more goals, dude

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 7000
Official: Milan Ilić (assistants: Oliver Petrović, Miodrag Zdravković - 4th official: Nemanja Petković)

FK Partizan: Šaranov, Vulićević, Gogoua, Balažic, Bogosavac, Everton (Leonardo, 58.), Brašanac, Radović, Mihajlović (S. Ilić, 46.), A. Stevanović (Đurđić, 46.). Bojinov
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Vojvodina: Kordić, Mićić, Kovačević, Meleg (Zličić, 82.), Puškarić, Paločević (Trifunović, 66.), Babić (Jovančić, 66.), Antić, Malbašić, Miletić, Trujić
Head coach: Nenad Lalatović

Goal scorers: Meleg (6.), Paločević (29.), Bojinov (63.), Trifunović (75.)
Yellow card: Trujić (31.), Everton (35.), Bojinov (41.), Puškarić (41.), Mićić (45.), Antić (48.), Brašanac (50.), Balažic (61.) Bogosavac (74.), S. Ilić (75.), Leonardo (78.), Jovančić (80.), Kovačević (90.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 7 points
2. FK Voždovac 7 points
3. Vojvodina 6 points*
4. Radnički Niš 6 points
5. Metalac 6 points
6. Mladost 6 points
7. Javor 5 points
8. Radnik 5 points
9. Spartak Subotica 4 points
10. Novi Pazar 4 points*
11. Napredak 4 points
12. Čukarički 1 point
13. OFK Bačka 1 point
14. FK Partizan 1 point
15. Borac 0 point
16. Rad 0 point

*Vojvodina and Novi Pazar played one game less

(photos: partizan.rs)

Marko Nikolić is Partizan’s new coach

Marko Nikolić has returned to ul. Humska. So, he could get an agreement with the management.

Yes, that same management that kicked him out last year out of the blue and substituted him with Zoran Milinković. That was the first step to this lowest point we are at now.

The past few days were mostly about whom Partizan could sign as a new head coach as soon as possible, after Ivan Tomić suddenly resigned. Rumours speak about Nikolić having tough conditions: he demanded a 3-year contract with a 10 000-euro salary per year. (The team originally wanted to sign him for one year, with the possibility to extend it for one more year. There were no infos about the financial part, but surely it was at first just a snippet compared to the amount mentioned above.)

Marko Nikolić at a match some time in 2014

I’ll be really, brutally honest now.
I don’t think he could bring out more from this current squad than his predecessors. Simply because the current squad consists of terrible players. Back then, when he was the head coach, the team was full of Partizan youth academy kids. Right now we have just a ragtime mercenary army fumbling around wearing Partizan-jersey.
Dear current management, first you’re not dear at all, second I’m just saying here near the sideline that instead of changing head coaches we should get rid of this terrible, talentless horde of players. We must kick THEM out first (followed by Iliev, because he brought these whacky pseudo footballers here).
I'm also concerned knowing that Marko Nikolić has got a special, rather headstrong style and this will make him clash often with the management, which will eventually end with him getting discharged the same inglorious way as two years ago.
I still hope I'll be proven wrong, but I'm not optimistic at all about the future.

Open letter of the editors of volimpartizan.net

Yesterday’s match blew the fuse for many fans. The editors of volimpartizan.net wrote an open letter, of which I try to write here the extract. The whole text (in Serbian) can be read here.
It’s quite long even this way, but it is worth to read the whole.

The editors of this homepage of Partizan fans feel the need to address the public and demand in the name of all loyal Partizan fans the immediate dismissal of the team’s management as well as the head coach.
We do it in the name of all fans who truly supports Partizan and who, in the light of previous results, feel hurt seeing all that happens on and out of the field.
What we see now is NOT FK Partizan. Bobek, Moca, Mance, Mijat and the still active Saša Ilić were not, is not fighting for this.

At this moment FK Partizan consists of a bunch of self-styled white-collars, who gave evidence of only their incompetence during their 9 months of reign. The leadership pushed the team on the verge of ruins, their functioning lacks every logical steps up to now. After selling Nikola Drinčić, Branko Ilić, Danko Lazović, Petar Škuletić and Aleksandar Mitrović as well as UEFA’s support for the Europa League there should be more than 10 million euros on Partizan’s bank account. From this money Partizan spent 0 (zero) euros to investment. At the same time they signed only players of free agents. The current leadership follows the policy of the previous one. We don’t even want to give any thought what will remain from the club after those who are currently in power.

The management made evidence of minimal competence during the summer and winter transfer season. As if they would have someone else’s interests in their minds instead of Partizan, as if someone, or someones would control the happenings outside of Stadion JNA. When the current leadership took over authority, Partizan was a serious team that needed only a little investment to be a successful club, even by European standards. Players put their heart out to the field, they were willing to die for the club and all of them understood the responsibility of wearing Partizan’s jersey. These all brought success.

Then came the new leadership and destroyed everything with a stroke of a pen, all that was built through the years before them: positive atmosphere, fellowship and winning attitude. During the winter transfer season they sold out half the team, and when after this (otherwise absolutely predictably) the first failures showed up, they immediately discharged Marko Nikolić. During the summer transfer season they sold out the other half of the club. The new ones were proven to be not better than reserve players. The question is now why the money, that these newcomers get as salary, could not be given to e.g. Danko Lazović, Branko Ilić and Nikola Drinčić? They all honestly had Partizan at heart, but the new leadership ruined them financially.

Then there is Zoran Milinković. We can’t not see the connection between him and the current management. Back then Vuk Rašović was discharged for the lack of good results (the former leadership did everything though for these not good results). Then came Marko Nikolić and it seemed he would pull the team out of chaos. Now we have Zoran Milinković. Since he’s been the head coach, Partizan has a 9-point-drawback compared to the eternal rival. We have only 2 points of advantage compared to the team on the 8th place - in the new championship system the 8th place is the lowest place to be still able to qualify to the play-offs. The question is, why does the leadership use double standars? Why can Zoran Milinković stay on Partizan’s bench? Why does he have support of the entire management? Or from now on the perfect head coach of Partizan will be only that person who watches without a word how the management destroys the team, without raising his word, as they sell out players?

Marko Nikolić was discharged after 3 draws - and these were matches he could not take part in as a head coach. With Zoran Milinković we lost the cup final, we were eliminated from Champions League, we lost at the eternal derby, producing the worst championship the past 25 years... as if the head coach would be giving the title to the eternal rival with one of his hands. And despite all he is still on Partizan’s bench. We demand in the name of all Partizan-fans the immediate discharge of Zoran Milinković as well as the resignation of the entire management led by Zoran Popović.

Currently Partizan is 3rd on the league table, which is inacceptable. It’s still September, but even now it seems we lost this championship. During the summer transfer season we could not sign one normal defender, midfielder and striker (only one left back arrived, but then it was already too late), that’s why we were eliminated from CL. The head coach forces the same tactics on every match, with the same players, while putting players in and out of the team without any logics, even those who performed well on previous games. For this reason numerous players are worn out, even though we didn’t even reach the middle of the autumn season.

Volimpartizan.net has certain informations in their possession that say, nobody wants to take on the position of Partizan’s head coach, because nobody would bear the pressure of the leadership for too long.

Some say, even Darko Milanič was asked to accept the position, but the veteran coach declined it without hesitation.

After we lost the eternal derby, Veljko Paunović’s name showed up as a possible new head coach. It finally didn’t happen, because due to Paunović he would not have been guaranteed that freedom he needs for his work. Nobody, neither young and beginner, nor older and experienced coaches want to accept the position. Behind it all there is one person, Miloš Vazura. He and Milorad Vučelić embody that ordeal Partizan is undergoing now, they are those who keep only their own interest in mind while not willing to guarantee the independence of the coaching staff.

Partizan is going through the worst crisis of their history, and there is only one solution for this: everyone who is responsible for this even just a bit, must immediately leave the club. The team needs a new start, with new people, until it’s not too late, until we can save this season, at least on the European level. That’s why we demand in the name of all loyal Partzan fans the instant discharge of the head coach and the leadership.

In this society filled with corruption, incompetence and injustice we call all loyal Partizan-fans. Don’t watch passively as your beloved club fall into ruins! Partizan will be 70 years old this year. It could survive this long only by your love and loyalty. Now the club needs you even more than ever, please, stand up for it, don’t let it get ruined! Let’s not allow to ruin all that fame, glory and honour that we built up during these 70 years. Changes are inevitable. Partizan can’t wait any longer. Partizan must wake up instead of falling into coma.

Grave Diggers, don’t let your beloved team down, don’t let their history and your love for them get ruined! Don’t let Partizan down!

149th eternal derby: Crvena Zvezda - FK Partizan 3:1 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 9)

In a short, laconic style: it was a catastrophe. The match was a catastrophe for us, we played catastrophal, with catastrophal tactics (if we had any tactics at all), and it is very painful to say, but we deserved this defeat.
In the 2nd minute Aboubakar could run up with the ball on the right. He did so, he shot, it was too high.
In the 5th minute Kátai got the ball and sped up towards our goal line. He passed it to the middle, where the ball dropped away in the goalmouth and rolled out of the field through the line, thankfully. A minute later Andrija Živković got a huge pass from Saša Ilić on the right. He shot, the goalkeeper saved it, ending the attempt in a corner.
In the 9th minute Portuguese player Vieira passed the ball to Srnić. Partizan’s defense line got dropped behind (Balažic was laying on the ground after being kicked down). Živko Živković rushed out of the goalmouth and saved.

(photo: partizan.rs)

The game was more or less equal in the first 15 minutes with combative battles, sometimes with exciting, spectacular scenes. Then Partizan started to get stuck into their half, around their penalty area slowly but surely. In the 21st minute Petković got the ball on the right side and shot. The ball rolled away, passing through our goalmouth.
Three minutes later we got a free kick, 30 metres from the goal. The kick arrived inside the penalty area, Aboubakar headed it, right onto the side net.
Then in the 27th minute Zvezda attacked in the middle. Vieira suddenly broke out of the defenders’ ring, left them all behind and shot the ball right into the net next to Živko Živković. 1:0
As for us, we made it to the classic bunker football.
In the 29th minute we got a free kick, 25-30 metres from the goal line, in the middle. Babović stood behind the ball and shot it so high that he surely hit a cloud in the sky.
A minute later Zvezda had free kick time. 25 metres, left side. The ball rolled through our penalty area, through the line, out of the field.

Partizan-fans mocking the home team and their management

(photo: Twitter)

In the 34th minute Kátai got a pass on the right side. He shot it to the middle, where Vieira was waiting for it. Živko Živković saved near the right goalpost, just a few millimetres from the goal line.
In the 36th minute we got a corner kick. Andrija Živković shot, Balažic headed it to the goal, but it was too high.
Meanwhile the bunker got more and more suffocative. We got stuck to our half for long minutes. We could break out only in the 42nd minute, when Stevanović sent a fantastic pass to Aboubakar. The Cameroonian striker ran up, kicked the ball to the middle, where Stefanović was waiting. He shot, but it was way too high.
Finally in the 45th minute, almost at the end of the first half Babović forwarded a pass to Stevanović in the middle. Stevanović got it, thanked it and walked into the net with the ball. GOOOOAAAAAAAL!!!! 1:1!!!

(photo: partizan.rs)

Right in the beginning of the second half Aboubakar got the ball and ran up in the middle. He dribbled himself through the defense line and passed to Stevanović. Stevanović shot, the goalkeeper saved. A minute later Srnić got a pass on the left side. The slow motion replay made it look as if Srnić played a bit of handball before shooting, nevertheless the referee didn’t whistle, and Srnić missed out the chance.
In the 49th minute Vieira got the ball. The Portuguese player shot from 20 metres, all of a sudden.
And he scored. The ball dropped into the net as if it was a ripened pear. 2:1, shock, then wild and loud cursing.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

And it didn’t stop.
55th minute. Kátai gets the ball

or rather someone from Partizan lost it, Kátai just found it

dribbled - he could do it, nobody ever interfered. Then at 16 metres he sent a bomb shot, right into the middle of our net. 3:1

That’s all, folks. We can even go home now...

Fans of the home team made a bonfire. For this the match was halted for a few minutes, thick smoke covered the field.

We used the smoke-pause to consume some water

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the 62nd minute Zvezda got a free kick, 25 metres from our goal line, in the middle. Ibánez stood behind the ball, he shot, missed.
No need to attenuate it: these two quick goals had the effect of a cold shower on us. Everyone was nervous, kicking Zvezda-players to the ground. Zvezda took control in their hands, they dictated the pace, they fought, so, in a word, however much it hurts, they were better than us. The next 10 minutes were about us trying desperately to attack, and Zvezda deactivating us.

Maybe Ibánez wanted to take Andrija Živković’s jersey home as a souvenir

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

We were weak, we lacked ideas and as the second half passed by, we got more and more apathetic. Finally in the 72nd minute substitute player Bojinov tried to shake up the team somehow. He shot from 18 metres, the goalkeeper saves with a great movement.
Partizan was struggling and suffering. It was very sad to see, I think you know what I’m talking about.
In the 80th minute Aboubakar got a huge pass from Bojinov. He ran up, all doors and windows were open, Aboubakar shot... and it was too high.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

It was a physical pain to watch this match. Seriously.
Finally, in the 90+2nd minute Leković got a fantastic ball from Ninković, who kicked it across the field. Leković shot, it was too high.
Then it ended.

Grave Diggers during the match. They were much more spectacular than the game

(photos: Twitter)

There are still a lot of burning questions.
I try to be as short as possible.
- What were the tactics the head coach sent the players out to the field with? Have there been any tactics at all?
- What the hell is Babović doing in the team?
- Why did Šaponjić not play at all? Any trainer in the world would give an arm for a player with a quality like him. Here he is molding on the bench, with barely any chance to play.
- What is the reason behind these lot of new players that were brought here recently? Why don’t we put our own players and/or those who worked excellent earlier, but the management either put them on loan or they are used as bench-warmers. Why do Bandalovski, Luka, Ninković, Šaponjić, Bogosavac and the others barely or never get any chance?
- Saša Ilić. I can talk about them only with the highest respect and praise. He can be talked and mentioned only with the highest respect and praise. He is a living legend. Being almost 40 he is still playing at league games. But maybe he too feels that it is soon time to give his place to younger players.

(photo: partizan.rs)

He has all my respect. Really. Whenever I talk about him, I do it with standing in attention, saluting with my hand. But it couldn’t remain unseen at previous games, that Saša Ilić plays it more and more in the pace of a veteran player. Against smaller teams it’s not much a big deal, but at such a game, and especially at European competitions it’s not enough.

- Why is Zoran Milinković still on the bench? Why did he not pack up yet and went back to Voždovac together with his hangers-on?
- Why have the management not left ul. Humska yet and gone to hell, once and for all?
- When will they come back?... :(

At the end, here is the tweet of the day, from Andrija Živković.

Čestitam mojim drugarima i saigračima iz Zvezde na zasluženoj pobedi! Samo ću kratko reći, večeras nije bio moj i naš dan! #derbi #czv #fkp

— Andrija Zivkovic (@JustAndrija) September 12, 2015

"Congratulations to my friends and fellow sportsmen at Zvezda for the well-deserved victory! I’ll be short, tonight was not my day, nor ours!"

That’s what we call fair play.

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Rajko Mitić Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 35 000
Referee: Milorad Mažić (assistants: Milovan Ristić, Dalibor Đurđević - 4th assistant: Nemanja Petrović - goal line assistant: Danilo Grujić, Nenad Đokić)

Crvena Zvezda: Kahriman - Petković (Luković, 86.), Pavićević, Jovanović, Ibánez - Donald, Grujić - Plavšić (Ristić, 74.), Kátai, Srnić - Vieira (Sikimić, 68.)
Head coach: Miodrag Božović

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević, Balažic, Ćirković, Leković - Babović (Ninković, 86.), Brašanac - A. Živković, S. Ilić (Jevtović, 74.), Stevanović (Bojinov, 64.) - Aboubakar
Head coach: Zoran Milinković

Goal scorers: Vieira (27., 49.), Stevanović (45.), Kátai (55.)
Yellow cards: A. Živković (33.), S. Ilić (37.), Grujić (37.), Brašanac (52.), Balažic (69.), Leković (77.), Srnić (87.), Pavićević (88.)

League table comes tomorrow, there are quite a few matches from this round left.

Napredak - FK Partizan 0:2 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 28)

We won!!!!
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!
Independent of the results of the two rounds that are still left, we won the 2014/15 season.
There was an amazing atmosphere in Kruševac even before the match. Grave Diggers made it clear, they had come there to celebrate the championship title.
Residents of the neighbouring houses came out to the balconies to watch the game.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

On the other side Napredak was facing the game from the 13th position of the league table. They needed every single point to avoid even just the possibility of being dropped out of the SuperLiga. Knowing this they attacked Partizan very heavily right from the kick-off. Every player of Kruševac had someone from Partizan to thrust himself upon the other’s back, hanging on him for the whole time, not letting him even to take breath. They used pressing tactics, they ran a lot, fought a lot, they got into almost combat fighting for the ball. Yet Partizan also had to win to make sure the championship title will be theirs.
The pace was fast with lots of battles, which was no wonder knowing all these facts above. The game was going on mostly on the midfield, none of the teams could make it easily to the goalmouth or even to the penalty area. In the 11th minute Napredak got a free kick 30 metres from our goal line, but Živko Živković easily caught it. We were about to run up for a counter-attack, but Andrija Živković was tackled by a defender somewhere halfway.
Two minutes later Babović’s pass arrived from the left to Šaponjić, but Frimpong headed the ball out before the stiker could grab it. In the 14th minute Andrija Živković dribbled through the right side and shot from 18 metres, but it was too high.
Another two minutes later a great chance was missed out by Napredak

but not the heart attack by me

defender Gobeljić ran up with the ball on the right and passed it to Trujić in the middle. Partizan defenders got stuck behind, for our luck Trujić shot it too high from the goalmouth.
The battle was going on, it was more or less even. In the 29th minute N’diaye tried from a sharp angle on the left, but Živko Živković easily caught it.
In the 31st minute Bandalovski gave a great pass to Šaponjić from the right, but Napredak’s goalkeeper threw himself in the way. A minute later Andrija Živković got the ball and ran up immediately, passing the ball to Šaponjić. Napredak defenders quickly ran there and tackled Partizan’s striker.
In the 34th minute came a Napredak free kick from about 40 metres, almost at the right line. (The sun was shining right into the eyes of Partizan-players.) The ball came in, N’diaye headed it, but missed.
In the 42nd minute Bandalovski was pulled to the ground inside the penalty area of Napredak. The referee didn’t whistle for penalty, even if it was clearly a foul. Hell broke loose, everyone was screaming and yelling, fans shouted vulgar and sarcastic chants about the referee and his family tree. The referee got angry and paused the game. After a short wrangling the match could continue and we could finish the first half.
The second half started with a delay. The goalkeeper of the home team, Janković arrived at the field being late with at least 10 minutes. Then we could start, with the life-saving clearing of Bandalovski right after the kick-off. He shot the ball out of the field in the middle of a dangerous attack, being just one step ahead than the attacker. In the 49th minute again the home team had a chance. Stanojević passed to Dimitrov, who was standing at our penalty area. He shot the ball to our goal line after a few dribbles, but it was too high.
It started to be a bit uncomfortable. Napredak wanted to score by all means, while we had to prevent it by all cost, at the same time we had to score at least one goal at all hazards. Despite this in the 59th minute Urošević tackled Andrija Živković and shot to our goal, but missed.
In the 62nd minute we got a free kick, about 40 metres from the goal line. Drinčić stood behind the ball.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

We all know what it means when Drinčić stands behind the ball.
It means only one thing. A bomb shot, even from great distances.
It was such a big bomb shot that for Branko Ilić it was enough just to push the ball a bit with his head to pass it to the net.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

He made it.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL!!!!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL!!!!!

Fantastic, great goal! We were leading!!! 0:1

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

The stadium exploded, so much that for a short while the game literally needed a pause, because the field was covered with smoke, while euphoric fans lighted firecrackers and torches.
In the 67th minute Kojić had a chance, while fighting with two defenders at the same time. His trying ended in a corner. Two minutes later Gobeljić shot the ball to our goal, Živko Živković easily saved it. In the 71st minute N’diaye sent a flat but powerful shot, again it did not cause any problem to Živko Živković. In the 73rd minute Bajić tried, his shot flew out near the goalpost, our goalkeeper probably didn’t even wake up.
In the 77th minute Trujić got the ball on the left. He ran up, dribbled then shot from 16 metres. Živko Živković jumped, the ball hit the goalpost.
Napredak was continuously and desperately attacking, at this point we got a bit stuck to our half. In the 79th minute again Bajić shot, but missed.
In the 80th minute Babović could have gone to heaven right from the Kruševac field, but he was just standing around on the penalty area line with the ball, finally defenders tackled him. A minute later Andrija Živković ran up and passed to Kojić. Kojić shot, too high.
Then in the 83rd minute Kojić got the ball and ran up towards Napredak’s goal. He passed to the middle, where Andrija Živković arrived. Živković shot, with his left foot, passing the ball near the goalkeeper, who ran out, and the shot ended in the net.

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL!!!!!

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

0:2!!!

We are the champions!!!!

We just need to make it for the remaining few minutes of the game.

In the 86th minute Ninković ran up, he was tackled by defenders in the last moment. In the 87th minute we got a free kick, 20 metres from the goal. Napredak players were complaining, but the referee was relentless. Drinčić stood behind the ball, kicked, but the shot flew out near the goalpost.

In the 89th minute Napredak got a free kick at the half line. The shot flew to our penalty area, Trujić got it and shot. Živko Živković caught it. A minute later the home team again tried with a heading, Živko Živković saved it easily. Finally in the 90+1st minute Napredak got a free kick 25 metres from our goal line. The shot flew out above the crossbar.

This was that point when the speaker said, at the other match in Belgrade, that started at the same time as ours, Crvena Zvezda lost to 1:2 against that Radnički 1923, which team is the 16th on the league table.

Then it came to the end. Final whistle.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!

Time to celebrate. Time to scream, jump, roll on the grass. Time to sing, hug, climbing among fans, scream and sing with them.

We absolutely, fully, totally deserve it now.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Former teammate Milan Obradović was also there

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: Twitter)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the locker room the celebration continued.

Vulićević in ecstasy

Nikola Drinčić, as the subject of joy

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In this video the reporter of SOS Kanal is desperately trying to make an interview with Nikola Drinčić, who is overflown by his teammates’ happiness.

Former friends, teammates and allies started to send their greetings.

Поздравляем @FKPartizanBG с 26-м чемпионским титулом! Партизан шампион! pic.twitter.com/7XJIqCbvDo

— PFC CSKA MOSCOW (@PFC_CSKA_MOSCOW) May 14, 2015

Bravo fudbaleri! Ponosni smo na vas! #Partizanporodica #titula @FKPartizanBG

— KK Partizan NIS (@PartizanBC) May 13, 2015

Partizan je šampion, peva cela Srbija! Čestitke mom Partizanu na 26. osvojenoj tituli u domaćem šampionatu! Parni...
Posted by Miloš Jojić on Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Čestitke Fudbalski klub Partizan na novoj, 26. šampionskoj tituli!
Posted by Lazar Marković on Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Of course players were also celebrating on social media sites.

Partizan Shampion!!! pic.twitter.com/DgUeQROrpp

— Ivan Bandalovski (@Bandalinho) May 14, 2015

My family ⚫⚪⚫🏆🏆🏆

A photo posted by vovavolkov666 (@vovavolkov666) on May 13, 2015 at 2:56pm PDT

🏆🏆🏆

A video posted by vovavolkov666 (@vovavolkov666) on May 13, 2015 at 2:54pm PDT

Take a good look at Volkov’s Instagram-posts and on the beer cans the players are holding.

You just had to do it, you trolls, right? :DD

So, the championship title is sure, only a simultaneous volcano eruption, tsunami, earthquake and a plague of locusts could change it. Maybe. But there is something we must not forget. This championship title is theirs, too. Without them it could have never happened.

This championship title goes to Petar Škuletić, Danko Lazović and Marko Nikolić as well

(photo: srbijadanas.com)

Match highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Mladost Stadion, Kruševac
Number of spectators: 9000
Referee: Dejan Santrač (assistants: Vladimir Jovanović, Nemanja Petrović - 4th assistant: Vladimir Čađenović - goal line assistants: Srđan Obradović, Ilija Brdar)

Napredak: Janković - Gobeljić, Frimpong, Paunović, Urošević - Stanojević (Bajić, 73.), Vučetić - Lemajić, Dimitro (Majdevac, 73.), Trjuić - N’diaye (Vulić, 84.)
Head coach: Slavko Matić

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Bandalovski, Ćirković, B. Ilić, Volkov - Drinčić, Brašanac - A. Živković, Babović, S. Ilić - Šaponjić
Head coach: Zoran Milinković

Goal scorers: B. Ilić (62.), A. Živković (83.)
Yellow cards: Brašanac (11.), Gobeljić (86.)

Current championship standings:
1. Partizan 69 points
2. CZ 58 points
3. Čukarički 57 points
4. Vojvodina 46 points
5. Novi Pazar 43 points
6. Rad 40 points
7. OFK Beograd 39 points
8. Mladost 37 points
9. Radnički Niš 36 points
10. Borac 32 points
11. Jagodina 31 points
12. FK Voždovac 30 points
13. Napredak 28 points
14. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 28 points
15. Donji Srem 26 points
16. Radnički 1923 18 points