Fan blog of Partizan Sports Society (JSD Partizan) in Belgrade, Serbia. Football, basketball, volleyball, handball, ice hockey, water polo, news, players, all that are a matter of curiousity.
A subjective blog. English is not my mother tongue.
English version of http://jsdpartizanfan.blogspot.com/
In this post I try to go through the names of all players who arrived at or left Partizan during the winter transfer season. The list is far from being complete, it focuses only on the events around the football and basketball team. (At the other departments of Partizan there have been either no changes or no news about the possible changes.)
Two new players arrived at the football team right after the end of the autumn season. Marko Jovanović, defender, played for Voždovac previously. Bojan Šaranov, goalkeeper, spent 7 seasons at OFK Beograd, being on loan at a number of other teams. Before Partizan he played for Ergotelis in Greece.
Marko Jovanović
Bojan Šaranov
(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Just a few days after signing the contract with Partizan Šaranov went out to party - with not else than the former players of the neighbouring red-striped team as well as their current team captain. The phenomenal night was eternalized on Instagram - it’s still there, the players celebrate with a big bottle of whisky. If you don’t mind, I won’t upload or embed the photo, because I do not want to puke. If you still want to see it, I give you a link of a news site, where you can take a look. Enjoy (or not).
It also means that Živko Živković will probably not needed anymore in ul. Humska. Živković told a few times to the media that he would probably not start the spring season with Partizan, but still he could not sign to any other team yet. (He is even included in the name list of those players who travel with Partizan to Cyprus for a winter training camp.)
Indirectly, but still a winter transfer event for a (former) Partizan-player: Slaviša Jokanović signed for the head coach post of FC Fulham.
(photo: Facebook/Fulham FC Official)
At the end of December Nemanja Mihajlović was signed from Rad. Meanwhile Partizan’s basketball player Danilo Anđušić confirmed that he would not extend his contract with the team. In the first week of January he signed to Polish team Anwil Wloclawek.
A photo posted by Danilo Andjusic (@daniloandjusic) on
The football team’s new head coach, Ivan Tomić started his job at Partizan at the end of December as well. He was signed after Ljubinko Drulović had been discharged at the end of the autumn season. Tomić started it fair and square, he openly told he would not need a number of players. He even told names: Stefan Babović and Petar Grbić was clearly not in the new coach’s favour. The media mentioned even Bojinov and Fabricio, too.
As for Stefan Babović, Partizan terminated the contract with him right today. The official statement stated "mutual agreement". There’s no reliable information about Fabricio, but he is not included among those who travel to Cyprus for training camp. Petar Grbić signed to Turkish super league team Akhisaspor on the first week of January.
(photo: akhisarspor.com)
The Andrija Živković-saga started on the very last day of December. There is only one thing sure, that the young midfielder will not stay at Partizan. During the past days/weeks the most bizarre rumours were circulating about him: sports sites claimed that Borussia Dortmund wanted to sign him, then Benfica popped up as a possible future team. A Chinese team offered 1,3 million euros for him, but Partizan rejected it. In the meantime Živković got a new manager: his contract expired with the previous one, Pini Zahavi from Israel and they did not extend it. His new manager is Predrag Đorđević.
Yes, it’s THAT Pini Zahavi, who had a long number of controversial steps, mostly about players’ rights and transfer money, and not only with Andrija Živković.
Partizan got offers for other players, too: Bojinov was targeted by Spanish and Chinese clubs, but on one hand Partizan demanded at least 2 million euros from him, on the other Bojinov told to the media (in his usual style...) that he wouldn’t leave ul. Humska until he can win at least one eternal derby, and/or he scores at least 12 goals in a season. Aboubakar and Brašanac was also among those who could be (or could have been) sold. Clubs from China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey wanted to sign the Cameroonian, Partizan priced him for 1,5 million euros. (Aboubakar was also not included among those players who travel to Cyprus.) Brašanac got offers from two renowned Belgian clubs; one of them offered 2,7 million euros for the midfielder, but Partizan management told them, Brašanac was not for sale.
Among those who possibly arrive at Partizan, the first two names were two Romanian players (Denis Alibec and Constantin Budescu), but head coach Tomić later denied the rumours. Brazilian/Belorussian Renan Bressan was also mentioned, but these news were denied by Iliev. As always, in almost every transfer season, Cléo's name also came up. The Brazilian would gladly return to Partizan, but Iliev said, there are serious obstacles in the way.
The other big soap opera of the winter transfer season is the story of Vojvodina, Partizan and Mirko Ivanić. Partizan wants to sign Vojvodina’s midfielder since forever, yet negotiations always come to a halt after a while. Vojvodina constantly turns the price of the player higher and higher, while Partizan claimed, they can’t and don’t want to pay more than 1 million euros for Ivanić.
Nota bene: the neigbouring striped team also checked in at Vojvodina with an offer for Ivanić. They would pay 1,4 million euros. The funniest/most tragic fact is though that it’s Ivanić himself whom nobody actually asked what he wants. He admitted to a sports site that he in fact doesn’t want to sign to any of these two teams, because he’d prefer to go abroad, but it’s highly possible that his current club will put the kid under very heavy pressure so that eventually he will have to sign to one or the other.
The biggest boom of the transfer season was definitely Ivan Šaponjić signing to SL Benfica for five and a half years.
(photos: Twitter)
The price was allegedly 3 million euros or so (there was another version that he would have been sold for only 1,5 million, but then he stays at Partizan on loan for the end of the season, but it seems he stays in Lisbon).
Finally, the punch line: Duško Vujošević signed to French team Limoges as head coach, this way he can work again with two of his former players, Léo Westermann and Bo McCalebb.
As the closing of this blogpost here is a photo about the football players getting ready for the training camp in Cyprus. And those who think it's Ismael Beko Fofana on the left side of the photo, well, they are right.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The second part of the highlights will be posted at the end of the transfer season.
After yesterday’s basketball victory celebration today came football and sobering up.
The result looks awful even in itself, just looking at it (Jagodina is the 15th on the league table, followed only by Spartak Zlatibor Voda), especially knowing that we played again this scandalous anti-football and we can thank only our great luck that we could squeeze out a draw.
Jagodina attacked already in the 3rd minute. Martinović got the cross from left, he shot, Kljajić saved.
In the 6th minute Ghanaian player Francis ran up suddenly on the right, all alone, finally Fabricio blocked him.
Then it was just the usual. We passed the ball backwards, fumbled, never attacked. We were like a 3rd league team.
In the 9th minute we got a corner kick. It was just a small kick this time, Babović got the ball, he shot it inside the penalty area, the goalkeeper caught it.
Then in the 11th minute again Francis ran up on the right
yes, our left side defense was again like a corridor - theoretically Bandalovski was our left defender, but the Bulgarian was totally out of shape
he passed it to the middle, with no flag up. Popović got the ball, passing it ahead to Uroš Nikolić. Nikolić shot and scored. 1:0
In the 15th minute a little dog ran into the field. The poor fellow looked very nervous, it probably got scared by the fans’ firecrackers.
The game was a bit on halt, finally the little four-legged could be carried off the field.
Why did Partizan not sign this dog? It’s quick, smart, loyal, has an excellent sense to play with balls. It wouldn't even need salary. Some daily dog food would be enough. It would make an ideal player. Oh, and fans would surely love it.
In the 22nd minute Francis shot from the middle. Someone from our defense line blocked him, but the home team got back the ball. One of their players shot again, barely missing the goal line.
...and we didn’t attack. Again we stayed on our half and passed the ball backwards. I just can’t believe it. Is this really the maximum the players can bring out of themselves?...
In the 26th minute there was a huge goalmouth scramble in our penalty area. Jagodina players were passing the ball here and there, finally someone from Partizan’s defense line cleared the area downfield. The ball dropped right to Filipović, he shot, it was too high.
Two minutes later Stevanović sent a distant shot to Jagodina’s goal line. It was weak, imprecise and way too wide.
In the 34th minute Savković got a great pass from the half line on the left side. There was no flag up, the assistant didn’t wave, Savković ran up all alone
why is it always that the speed of our defense line is worse than of a rheumatic snail?...
he shot, barely missing it. Two minutes later Jagodina got a free kick 25 metres from our goal line at the right side. Kick in, right to Gašić. It was very dangerous, for our great luck Gašić missed it.
Then in the 40th minute Grbić got a red card. The slow motion replay showed Grbić and Knežević wrestling with each other. It was an equal fight, with both players being deeply involved (i.e. they were hitting and pulling each other heavily), then Knežević suddenly decided to fall on the ground and play the dying swan from "Swan Lake". The referee absolutely appreciated his act and sent off Grbić immediately.
In the 44th minute Jagodina got a corner kick. This time it was just a short pass, then came a cross, which was headed right into our net by Popović. 2:0
Kljajić in shock
Even those on the bench can’t believe their eyes
Hell broke loose. Fans threw firecrackers and shouted "Uprava napolje".
I think you can imagine what kind of a deep trouble we could be in, that head coach Ljubinko Drulović decided to send in Saša Ilić as a substitute for the second half.
Fans still kept on shouting "Uprava napolje".
I wonder how Vazura and Vučelić can look into the mirror after all these. No, wait. I tell you how: they explain themselves that they are not guilty for anything. The players are to blame, the referees, the journalists, the bloggers, the weather, the UFOs and the Reptilians.
What is in fact very sad that from the moment Saša Ilić joined the game, we actually started to attack. Saša Ilić built up attacks, he kept them under his control, he set them up, sending fantastic cross passes to the middle (where that talentless, wooden-legged, social media husar Bojinov screwed them up time after time). This is what is very sad, that an almost 40-year-old veteran player has to join the team to be able to make something that resembles football.
All the others still haven’t lived up even to tie the laces on his football shoes
In the 50th minute Babović got a fantastic cross pass from Saša Ilić. Babović fumbled a bit
please, someone tell me, why does he have to make a 360 degrees turn in the goalmouth, when he gets a pass? At such times you just simply have to shoot, don’t you?
then eventually he shot, but goalkeeper Đorđe Nikolić easily caught it.
Our defense line was as weak as an autumn fly. Fabricio was just one more person in the team, without much benefit (the Brazilian's only luck is that there's nobody to his place to substitute him), while Bandalovski just didn't work.
In my memories Bandalovski stayed as a multi-functional, reliable, talented player. What the hell happened to him that he was his own parody at this match?...
In the 53rd minute we got a free kick 25 metres from the goal line. Babović shot, Bojinov screwed it up.
Then another dog came to the field :) This one was a bigger, black dog, very friendly, wagging its tail.
Let’s sign it!...
From the southern front again came "Uprava napolje".
We should make this dog the president of FK Partizan. What do you think?
In the 67th minute Saša Ilić crossed to Bojinov from the left side. Bojinov kicked the ball right into the goalkeeper from about 20 centimetres.
Bojinov holding his head - we could see him in this pose quite a few times during this game
In the 68th minute Ninković shot Saša Ilić’s pass on the goal from the left, the goalkeeper caught it.
How great it was to see this Saša Ilić-Ninković teamwork... Two players who know and understand each other very well. Memories came back... My God, how I miss those victorious games, when the only question was how many goals we should score to the opponent...
In the 72nd minute Martinović shot from the distance, all of a sudden, Kljajić saved. Two minutes later Ninković sent a free kick from 30 metres into the penalty area. Bojinov headed it and this time he could make it. The ball fell into the net. 2:1
In the 81st minute Ninković ran up on the left with the ball. Saša Ilić got his cross, passing it ahead to Bojinov. Bojinov shot, the goalkeeper saved. Corner kick, the ball came to the goalmouth, right to Bojinov. Bojinov headed it, missing the goal line only with 2 centimetres.
In the 84th minute we attacked again. A pass came from the left, Saša Ilić stepped over the ball with a fantastic reflex and routine, bringing Babović in position. This time Babović thankfully didn’t start to make rounds with the ball, he plain and simply shot - and scored. 2:2
After our 2nd goal both teams sped up, making a quite exciting game for the end. In the 86th minute Jagodina attacked, one of them shot from the middle. Kljajić saved, we could start a counter-attack. Bojinov got the ball (I’m not sure who passed to him, Saša Ilić or Ninković), he shot, but it was too high.
And again the big black dog ran into the field :)
In the 85th minute, well, I don’t know where Fabricio looked at, and where didn’t, but a loose ball came from him (and it was not the first time he made it), right to Jerković. Jerković ran up, shot, too high.
In the 90th minute Ninković ran up again on the left, passing to Bojinov, but Bojinov again fumbled and missed it out.
It was unbelievable. Now this Bulgarian could be put into position, unlike earlier, when he was just standing in the goalmouth being totally inactive, because nobody served him with the ball. Now he got excellent crosses, both by Ninković and Saša Ilić, and he could score only once.
Ballet Šaponjić-style, some time in the second half
For the end Jagodina put our goal line under fire. In the 90+2nd minute Savković came up to our goalmouth on the right. He shot, Kljajić pushed the ball to corner kick. A minute later Marić shot, too high. Then Deletić, too wide. In the 90+5th minute Jerković shot, barely missing it. Finally, right before the final whistle Deletić possessed the ball and shot from a sharp left angle, barely missing it.
Highlights:
Facts:
Venue: City stadium, Jagodina
Number of spectators: 2000
Referee:
Nenad Đokić (assistants: Marko Dimitrijević, Slobodan Pavlović - 4th assistant: Ivica Stojanović - goal line assistants: Milorad Milićević,
Zoran Široki)
It’s unbelievable.
It’s getting more and more absurd. The best to do is to make some popcorn before the match, sit back and watch it as if it was some kind of comedy.
Well, if you can watch it.
Because, dear Readers, Fellow Fans and Grave Diggers, this match was broadcasted by no channel.
No, don’t ever ask why. It wasn’t, because it wasn’t.
Because for this lousy ArenaSport it was more important to broadcast a re-run of the neighbouring basketball team than this live match. Though, to tell you the truth, maybe it was better this way. At least we didn’t have to watch this shameful game.
At the end of the first half a radio broadcast popped up from the depths of the internet. High five and big thanks to Sport FM Belgrade for the live coverage. (You can listen to them on FM 100,4 if you’re that lucky.) It was especially good because even though Partizan’s website has given a text coverage, their server always collapsed probably by the unusual amount of page downloads. (You could still follow the game at Flashcore.com.)
So, the official report says, the lights of Partizan Stadium started to glimmer in the 4th minute, so for the rest of the game they run on "economizer" program. How romantic it could have been. Partizan sped up in the beginning and dictated great pace, but around the 10th minute it was gone. Čukarički attacked more and more aggressively. First Srnić sent a dangerous bomb shot to our goal in the 12th minute from the left. The ball dropped through our penalty area and for our great luck it left the field through the line. Five minutes later Brašanac had an attempt, he shot with a turn from 7 metres, the goalkeeper saved.
In the 20th minute Bojić got a great pass. He left all Partizan-defenders behind and attacked the goal. It almost seemed so that he overfumbles it, but eventually he shot, Živko Živković had a great save.
Then in the 35th minute Čukarički got a free kick approx. 30 metres from the goal line, in the middle. Pjasentin stood there, kicked... and the ball fell into our net with a, well, hard to say, but perfect curve. 0:1
The fans were surely more spectacular than the game
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
For the rest of the first half nothing ever happened out of two yellow cards (one of them was received by Fabricio, the other by Srnić).
In the second half, 47th minute Ostojić headed a corner kick too wide. Then two minutes later it seemed, Lady Fortune still likes us.
We got a penalty kick, a Čukarički-defender kicked Stevanović to the ground inside the penalty area.
Petar Grbić stood behind the ball. He ran up...
...and missed it out. He shot too high. As if the ball had hit the crossbar a bit. Čukarički’s goalkeeper happily punched into the air. Well, what can I say, I would have done the same if I were him.
In the 53rd minute Bojić sent a distant, flat shot to our goal. Barely missed. In the 58th minute a Čukarički-attack came from the right, but Živko Živković was faster than Mandić.
In the 68th minute Janković got a pass inside our penalty area. He dribbled, played around, he could do it, nobody interfered at all, our defenders were just watching him. Then he passed to his teammate - even he dribbled a bit (defenders watched him from distance), then he shot. Too high. Fans whistled and booed more and more angrily.
In the 70th minute Boljević plain and simply tackled a fumbling Partizan-defender (on our own half!) and ran up to our penalty area. He did it all alone, tried to find his place at the penalty area line, and when he did so, he shot. Too wide.
In the 72nd minute referee Mažić sent off Thiago. Second yellow card (if I could see well, this second yellow card was given to the Brazilian for acting). Wonderful. We are in power play.
Then ther was a bit of smoke pause, fans enjoyed themselves in the southern sector. At least they had fun. We didn’t.
Then we attacked. We had two attempts in a row, but goalkeeper Stevanović saved both, even though at the second there was a goalmouth scramble, Čukarički-defenders were just watching it, but their goalkeeper has good reflexes and caught the ball before Babović could have reached it.
In the 79th minute we got another penalty kick. Čukarički’s goalkeeper swpet Šaponjić away inside the penalty area.
Babović stood there to kick.
He missed, of course. He shot too high, so high the ball flew out of the stadium and hit the museum at the other side of the street. Čukarički-players had a spontaneous happy dance. It’s impossible. It just can’t be. We get two penalty gifts, and the opponent plays only with 10 players. And we can’t win. Not just win, we can’t even equalize. Svetozar Vukmanović turns in his grave.
For the end we had one more desperate attempt, but Šaponjić hit the side-net with his shot.
After the final whistle hell broke loose. Bitter fans whistled, booed, cursed and Babović lost his nerve. He ran out to the western tribune and...
(photos: Twitter)
(photo: hotsport.rs)
All we could see was Babović is totally out of himself yelling something towards the fans, while Grbić tries to stop him, without much success. This gesture he made then needs no further comment.
I just hope it will not remain without consequences and it will cost at least the captain’s armband for Babović
which he ab ovo doesn’t deserve
but a ballsy trainer would throw him out of the starting eleven, probably even from the reserve team.
Happy Birthday, Partizan.
Highlights:
Facts:
Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 5000
Referee: Milorad Mažić (assistants: Milovan Ristić, Dalibor Đurđević - 4th assistant: Darko Savović - goal line assistants: Novica Anđelovski, Novak Simović)
FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević, M. Ostojić, Fabricio, Subić - Lukić (Golubović, 85.), Brašanac - Trujić (Grbić, 46.), Babović, A. Stevanović - Bojinov (Šaponjić, 48.)
Head coach: Zoran Milinković
Čukarički: N. Stevanović - Stojković, Addy (Pjasentin, 13.), B. Ostojić, Boljević - Srnić, Janković - Jovanović (Pavlović, 84.), Bojić (Matić, 71.), Thiago - Mandić
Head coach: Vladan Milojević
Hooray! We shat a victory out of ourselves!
Well, just in the meantime, as we were pressing it hard, we got piles. But never mind. Hey, shut the fuck up, we won!...
And let’s discreetly not mention even those facts that Voždovac took the lead in the 4th minute, that we could switch the standing with great luck and a penalty kick only, and we can thank this actual victory to the referee, who invalidated a home goal in the last minutes.
I might get new enemies now. Be it. I’m not happy with this victory.
The reason is that this victory is enough only
a) to be able to gag fans saying that we finally achieved a victory, so Vazura can again appear for the press with his greasy smile and declare everything’s alright and Zoran Milinković still bears the trust of the entire management
b) to be able to continue this ostrich policy playing the seigneur, while the team has been ruined.
During the first 40 minutes of the game my net was on the verge of death. The stream was lagging or even stopped numerous times. I reconstruct the happenings of this period by reports and video highlights.
So, the teams walked out to the muddy, soaky field. It was raining. Voždovac decided not to waste time, they took the lead right in the beginning. We possessed the ball, Ćirković (who is NOT our Lazar Ćirković) easily tackled Partizan’s player. He ran up, then passed to Ristović, who attacked the goal, surrounded by no defenders. The assistant didn’t wave offside, Ristović easily tackled Živko Živković, who run out of the goalmouth and shot the ball into the net. 1:0
In the 6th minute Babović got the ball from Balažic in the middle. He shot from 18 metres, the goalkeeper pushed the ball to corner. Three minutes later Babović kicked the ball to Aboubakar to the other side of the field. Aboubakar dribbled, then sent a flat shot to the goal. Missed.
In the 13rd minute again Aboubakar tried, now with a distant shot, but it was too wide. A minute later Bojinov got the ball in the middle. He shot, it was too high.
20th minute. Andrija Živković. Distant bomb shot. Too high.
Then in the 24th minute Bojinov somehow fell to the ground in the penalty area of Voždovac. Partizan players complained for penalty, but the referee thought it was only a free kick. It was approx. 20 metres from the goal line. Babović stood behind the ball and he shot too high.
In the 29th minute Voždovac got a free kick, 30 metres from our goal line. Ristović stood behind the ball, shot, too high.
It was very typical for the whole game that Voždovac’s defenders easily tackled Partizan’s players, semmingly without much fight or wrestling. I would stay without the wink of my eyelid if it had been done e.g. by the defenders of Barcelona or Real Madrid. They are top class teams with the best players. But the problem is that Voždovac in the moment can be found at the 13th place of the league table, while we are aspiring for the championship title (bwahahahahahahaha). You get what I mean. That team blocked us without any struggle that fights in every season not to get dropped out of the superliga.
Saša Lukić
"Oh, but it was raining today" you might say. No. It’s not an explanation.
What was also very sad, at least for Average Fan that Partizan players were passing the ball ahead without much idea. On the midfield there was clueless fumbling. There was no conception in our attacks, everything was done like some kind of "whatever may be".
Where has the fire gone?... And the winner attitude?... Where is the "I put my heart out to the field"-mentality?... Who destroyed this team so much?...
After all these it’s no wonder anger and frustration burst out of Andrija Živković and he complained heavily to the referee. Referee Jeremić didn’t appreciate Žile’s remarks, he showed him the yellow card.
Andrija, go away from here! Go to Portugal, you have been called from there! Please, run away, for your own sake! Fly from this swamp! You have outgrown this team, you’ll have a much better time abroad! Run, Andrija, run!
In the very last minute of the first half we got a corner kick. Aboubakar headed it to the goal, but it was too wide.
In the second half, right in the beginning, in the 46th minute Andrija Živković got fed up with this lukewarm footwash alike fumbling. He got the ball from Babović, ran up and shot from 15 metres, kicking the ball into the net near the goalkeeper who tried to save. 1:1
Here came a short pause. Smoke covered the field, as the few Partizan-fans who were present made a bonfire celebrating Žile’s goal.
In the 54th minute Aboubakar ran up surrounded by 4 defenders, finally the goalkeeper threw himself into the way and saved. Two minutes later Ćirković ran up, with a great solo, leaving all Partizan-defenders behind. He shot from 16 metres, but missed.
Partizan was trying hard. The goal visibly sped them up, but they were still running up and down in the field having no useful idea on what to do and how.
Boys, honestly, how long was the pre-match tactical meeting?
Andrija Živković was always watched over by three defenders
Voždovac-players were passing the ball to each other in a comfortable pace. They were free to do that, we were just watching them passively. They weren’t any better than us, but as for us, we were a pile of garbage.
In the 60th minute Stevanović got the ball on the left. He passed it to the middle, but the ball rolled out of the field on the other side.
In the 62nd minute we got a free kick, 20-23 metres from the goal line. Andrija Živković stood behind the ball, he shot, the goalkeeper pushed it to corner. Two minutes later Babović passed to Stevanović. Stevanović shot, but it was so high the ball almost flew out of the field above the protecting net.
We were running, just running, but we didn’t really mean any danger for Voždovac’s goal line.
In the 70th minute Andrija Živković got the ball at Voždovac’s penalty area. He passed it to the other side to Stevanović, but the referee whistled it off and gave us a penalty, because a defender pushed Aboubakar to the ground.
Babović stood behind the ball. He shot and scored. 1:2
I should be over the moon now, right? Well, I’m not. This talentless rubbage does not deserve to be Partizan’s goal scorer.
In the 76th minute Ćirković had a distant shot, it ended in a corner kick.
Then someone from Voždovac got a great pass in the middle. Živko Živković ran out of the goalmouth and performed one of his big leg-saves. We immediately started a counter-attack. Stevanović got the ball, he passed it ahead to Aboubakar. Aboubakar passed it back to Stevanović, Stevanović shot, but it was brutally high.
I swear it was a pain to watch. In the 82nd minute Babović and Stevanović, well, what they were doing was not football but the showing-off of two posers in the home team’s half. Then Voždovac somehow got the ball as well as a free kick 30 minutes from our goal line. Ristović shot, Živko Živković had a great save.
In the 83rd minute the goalkeeper sent off Adamović after his second yellow card.
In the 87th minute Voždovac got a free kick, approx. 30 metres from our goal line, on the left. The ball was kicked into our penalty area, where Sinđić jumped up and headed the ball into the net. But the assistant waved offside, the referee invalidated the goal.
Zoran Milinković, you are one goddamn lucky bastard.
Then what was going on the field can not be called football. In the 90+4th minute Voždovac got a corner kick. Even goalkeeper Popović came to our penalty area to help, but they missed it out. For the very last minute there was a Voždovac free kick left, but that was also missed out.
With every single terrible match the incompetence of the management and the head coach will be more and more obvious. The entire system is crumbling and stinks from shit to kilometres. I’m seriously curious how long the team leadership wants to play this comedy.
Highlights:
Facts:
Venue: Obilić Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 1000
Referee: Milan Jeremić (assistants: Milan Mihajlović, Dragan Bogićević - 4th assistant: Uroš Stojković - goal line assistants: Bojan Nikolić, Lazar Lukić)
It wasn’t even a catastrophe, it was some sort of surrealistic tragicomedy.
The stadium was again utterly empty. Upon official reports there were only 3000 fans in ul. Humska.
By the way, the joke of the day was this: someone hung this banner at the eastern tribune.
"Hands off from Babinjo!"
(photos: Twitter)
I send my greetings to the person who made it. My message to him/her: I wish I had this much spare time.
Then the boys walked out to the field. And something very strange happened.
First, they were all wearing this T-shirt, both the home team and the guests.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The text on the T-shirts says: "Ja volim Srbiju" (I love Serbia).
And after all these the two teams sang the Serbian national anthem.
(photo: hotsport.rs)
Average Fan was just blinking, like a fish in the shopping bag.
Infos say from now on it will always be like this, whenever Partizan plays a home match. But there’s no info about why it’s good and whose idea it was, nor about other teams of the superliga, whether they plan to introduce it or it will be as an ul. Humska speciality.
Fans during the national anthem
(photo: Twitter)
Did you notice that there is a giant Serbian flag on the southern tribune? As if those fans had already known about what would be going on. But that’s still not all.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
They had national flags besides the usual fan flags. But if you take a good look at them, you’ll see these are not Serbian flags.
These are Russian flags upside down.
I do not have the intention to discuss or even debate national/patriotic questions. As a foreigner, I don’t even have the right for that.
I just fucking hate when I’m taken as a fool and some people think they are allowed to do whatever they want.
Talking about the match, the first mentionable action came in the 6th minute. Vulićević ran up on the right side with the ball and forwarded it to Andrija Živković. Živković dribbled himself to the middle and shot, but it was too high. Rad started a counter-attack on the left. Đurić got the pass in the middle, he shot, it was too high.
In the 8th minute again Vulićević possessed the ball. He passed it to the middle, Bojinov was waiting for it there. He shot, but his kick was too weak, he missed it out.
In the 10th minute Rad got a free kick 30 metres from our goal line, on the right side. The shot was headed out by our defenders and we could run up for a counter-attack. Andrija Živković was rushing up with the ball on the left and passed it through to the other side where Aboubakar arrived, but a defender threw himself into the way of the ball. The attempt ended in a corner kick.
Even at this point you could see there was some glitch in the Matrix. Rad was possessing the ball for long minutes, passing and trying. As for us, well... we were running after them. We didn’t jump on their back to wrestle for the ball, we didn’t tackle, didn’t step into their way, acting as a dominant alpha male saying "hey, dude, gimme that ball right now, it’s not for little babies like you". Or something like this. But nothing of this kind happened... Finally in the 15th minute Babović was fumbling with the ball, then finally he could somehow pressure it into the middle to Aboubakar. Aboubakar shot, it was too high.
A minute later Jevtović shot from the distance, again too high.
In the 18th minute Subić ran up on the left and passed it to the middle. The goalkeeper caught it.
Subić debuted at this game, right in the starting 11
(photo: hotsport.rs)
In the 20th minute Rad got a corner kick. The ball was shot into our goalmouth, Vidić rose up and plain and simply headed it into the net. 0:1. It’s just impossible. It can’t happen.
We didn’t have to wait too much for the equalizing. After the kickoff we ran up to Rad’s penalty area. There we got a free kick on the right side. The shot hit a defender and the ball fell into the goalmouth. After a goalmouth scramble Bojinov grabbed the ball. The Bulgarian shot and scored. 1:1
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
A minute later 3 players were kicked to the ground at the same time. Two Rad-players clashed while trying to catch the ball, one of them swept Fabricio away. The game was on halt for long minutes.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan
In the 28th minute Andrija Živković passed the ball to the other side to Aboubakar, but he was tackled by defenders. The ball dropped to Subić, he shot, but it was too high. A minute later again Andrija Živković had the ball. He dribbled, then passed to Bojinov, who was waiting in the goalmouth. Bojinov immediately got at least 5 Rad-players into his face, making a huge goalmouth scramble. Finally Bojinov could shot, but missed out. The ball dropped to Brašanac, he passed it back to Bojinov. Eventually Rad-defenders kicked the ball out of the penalty area.
At this point the usual order of the world seemed to settle back, even if a bit slowly. Partizan possessed the ball much more than Rad, we attacked, and even if we couldn’t score, we still dominated. In the 37th minute Vulićević got the ball and passed it to the middle. The goalkeeper caught it.
In the 41st minute Andrija Živković forwarded the ball to Aboubakar to the other side, but two defenders ran there and tackled the Cameroonian. A minute later again Andrija Živković was dribbling on the right side and passed to Babović. Babović, as usual, started to fumble, defenders easily tackled him.
At the very last minute of the first half Rad got a free kick, but the shot was caught by Živko Živković, who was surely getting totally bored up to this point.
As the team walked back to the locker room after the whistle, fans where booing. And there was still a lot to come...
At the beginning of the second half, in the 47th minute Babović passed ahead to Bojinov. Bojinov shot, but he was blocked by a defender.
Then came silence. Nothing ever happened for almost 10 minutes. Really nothing. There was some movement on the midfield, the two goalkeepers probably had a nap. Finally in the 55th minute Subić got fed up with this lukewarm footwash atmosphere and passed the ball to Bojinov. Bojinov shot, the ball hit the crossbar and dropped to Babović. He shot, but defenders blocked him. Then the goalkeeper caught the ball.
In the 60th minute Rad attacked on the left side. The ball was passed to the middle, right to Veselinović. He shot from 15 metres, but missed out.
In the 63rd minute Andrija Živković was dribbling on the right side. He passed to Babović in the middle. Babović shot, the goalkeeper saved.
In the 67th minute Rad made a pass to the middle from the right, but it caused no headache for Živko Živković.
We definitely possessed the ball more, we attacked more, but nothing worked. Partizan-players looked as if they were trying to find their way in a thick mist, not having any idea on what they should do. The tactics were seemingly built on one template: pass the ball out to the right to Andrija Živković, he runs up with it and tries to find his way to the middle, he is so good in dribbling anyway, and then whoever is there in the middle, shots it to the goal.
That’s it.
Hooray! It’s something even I could do. Please, can I be now the new coach of Partizan?
In the 70th minute Aboubakar got the ball from Babović. It was a long pass, but Aboubakar sped up, attacked the goal... and the goalkeeper had a great save.
I noticed with horror that our players don’t fight. They don’t want to die on the field. They play some terrible, pathetic alibi-football, passing backwards instead of attacking. For me personally it is especially painful, because back then this was the very reason why I got disappointed in Hungarian football for ever. The reason was this impotent, idealess anti-football. For God’s sake, you goddamned, wooden-legged rascals, fans love Partizan for their fighting spirit, that they run and battle until the final whistle, like lions, spitting out their lungs, putting their hearts out to the grass. But you are totally miserable, bringing discredit up to the black and white jersey. There’s no excuse for this. And it’s not only the shame of the players, but also of the trainers and everyone in the management, who all just scratch their fat asses, passively watching Partizan going down not just on the league table, but morally, too. No way you don’t see this, you rotten bastards. You do it on purpose. And you make scapegoat of the players.
Apropos: there was only one player at this game tonight who deserves to wear the Partizan-jersey.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Andrija Živković is the one and only who was running, playing and fighting for the whole time and he was the only who actually had idea of what he was doing. He was the only one who gave his heart and soul into this match, which match should have been won by us to 5:0 as a minimum. He was running, dribbling, doing free and corner kicks. He was also kicked numerous times, but he stood up and continued every time.
Now you stand up. I don’t care if you feel lazy or grumpy. Stand up and pay respect to him with a one-minute salute.
The others either faded away or played only for alibi.
Where was I?
Oh, yes. 77th minute. Andrija Živković shot, the goalkeeper saved. Corner kick. Žile shot, Šaponjić rose up to head it, but his heading was too high.
Fans were booing louder and louder.
In the 79th minute Andrija Živković passed to Šaponjić from the right, but it was either too long or imprecise for Šaponjić. The attempt was missed out.
In the 81st minute Rad attacked from the left side. Their attacker passed the ball through to the other side to Veselinović. He shot, Živko Živković saved.
In the 82nd minute we got a free kick. Babović stood behind the ball, shot to the middle, Šaponjić jumped up to head. Too high. Three minute later Subić sent a distant shot from the left, too high.
Fans were chanting "Uprava napolje".
In the 87th minute Denić ran up on the left, all alone, nobody ever bothered him doing it. He shot, right on the side-net. We immedately started a counter-attack. Andrija Živković passed to Ninković, Ninković shot, a defender blocked.
In the 88th minute Babović passed to Saša Ilić. Saša Ilić wanted to send the ball back to Babović, but defenders blocked him. The ball dropped to Andrija Živković, he shot, too high.
Partizan wanted to score by all means. We put Rad’s goalmouth under serious pressure, but with no result.
In the 90th minute Šaponjić got the ball from behind. He immediately attacked, shot, even scored, but the assistant waved for offside. The referee invalidated the goal.
We have no luck, damn it. After long struggling we finally push the ball into the net, but it’s still not goal, because it is in fact offside.
In the 90+4th minute we got a corner kick. Last chance... The shot arrived to the goalmouth, Šaponjić headed it to the goal, the goalkeeper caught it.
After the final whistle angry fans were chanting "Uprava napolje" for long minutes.
I put my hand on my heart and admit, no matter how much it hurts: Partizan didn’t deserve to win this game. It looked as if we defeat ourselves (regardless of the final result) with this terrible, horrible, outrageous play.
I have to admit another thing, even if it’s painful and humiliating: Rad was better than us tonight. They totally deserved that celebration they had after the match at the side of the field.
I’m firmly convinced that the truth must be spoken out, no matter how much it hurts. I’m aware that many don’t like it. But I rather choose pain than listening to lies with my head buried in the sand.
This draw was equal to a defeat
(photos: hotsport.rs)
For the end here is something from the creative minds of Grobarski Trash Romantizam.
"Wanted! With or without two left-legged shoes"
(photo: Facebook/Grobarski trash romantizam)
Highlights:
Facts:
Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 3000
Referee: Srđan Jovanović (assistants: Vukan Gordić, Goran Stanojević - 4th assistant: Milan Mihajlović - goal line assistants: Igor Stoilković, Nemanja Petković)
FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević, Ostojić, Fabricio, Subić - Brašanac, Jevtović (Ninković, 58.), Babović - A. Živković, Bojinov (Šaponjić, 62.), Aboubakar (S. Ilić, 70.)
Head coach: Zoran Milinković
FK Rad: Budaković - Prljević, Maraš, Đurić (Vico, 27.), Obradović - Vidić (Kolarević, 46.), Trninić - Denić, Veselinović, Nenadović - Arsenijević (Lutovac, 70.)
Head coach: Milan Milanović
I swear it wasn’t my idea.
Prva TV uploaded a video to Youtube, where you can see Partizan-players taking part at a fashion photoshoot. There’s nothing special in it, there are a million other examples of sportsmen modeling, or even being the ambassadors of a certain brand. (E.g. Neymar Jr. and Police.)
So, Prva TV uploaded the video on Youtube titled "Stefan Babović - Zavodnik bez premca" (Stefan Babović - The peerless seducer).
The video itself is funny, sometimes even entertaining (except for the trashy background music). There are a lot of excellent, talented football players who tried out what it could be like to be fashion dolls, and they seemingly had fun doing it.
And there’s Babović.
Excuse me for the not-that-presentable question - I try to use my words as delicately as possible - but please, anyone, tell me, who is that at Prva TV, with whom, ahem, well, erm, has a close (sexual) relationship with Babović? Because it is not the first time that this talentless, wooden-legged nobody player was mentioned as "zavodnik".
If I wanted to be very demagogue now, I’d say, luckily the pure talent and commitment is enough at all the other players, so they don’t need any extra grammatical modifiers. But let’s not get into these now. What’s the most important and what has the greatest priority now is that
tomorrow at 18:00
149th eternal derby
Crvena Zvezda - Partizan
The game will be broadcasted live by ArenaSport 1. So far there’s no info that the state-owned TV or any other channel with better coverage would also broadcast.
WE WON!!!
WE QUALIFIED TO THE NEXT ROUND!!!
My God, what a game it was.
It contained everything that's needed for a great match. Drama, tension, death and resurrection.
There was an unbelievable full house in ul. Humska, so full that even the otherwise always locked northern tribune was open this time. And even that was full.
30 minutes to go and the stadium is already full
(photo: Twitter)
(screenshot)
There were quite a few famous guests at the VIP-section, e.g. former Partizan basketball player and trainer Željko Obradović, who is currently the head coach of Fenerbahce basketball team.
(photo: Twitter)
Nikola Peković was also present, whom fans call "Pekmen".
(photo: Twitter)
And there was someone else, too, who got a very warm welcome by fans.
Yes, it was Milan "Maki" Mačvan personally
(photo: mozzartsport.com)
Teams walked out to the pitch for a warming-up.
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
The referee was István Vad from Hungary.
(screenshot)
Who was this funny guy at UEFA who thought a Hungarian (!) should be the referee at a match between a Serbian (!!!!) and a Romanian (!!!!!!!!!!) team? Who was this perverted, crazy idiot? By the way, big congratulations to István Vad for his job at this not so easy game. He was stern, impartial (!) and consistent. And the most important is that he was invisible. Dear Mr. Referee, keep up this great job!
The full stands were watered from water-cannons against heat and heat-stroke.
The match started with a moment of silence for the memory of the victims of Operation Storm 20 years ago.
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Then the match started. The Grave Diggers of the southern tribune performed an amazing coreography.
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Twitter)
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
We attacked in the 2nd minute, the answer was a Romanian counter-attack. It was dangerous, not much would have been needed for a goal, but finally it ended as a corner.
In the 4th minute we were back again at Steaua's penalty area. Babović’s pass ended in a corner. There was a goalmouth scramble, then the ball dropped in front of Andrija Živković. From him it got to Balažic. He shot - the goalkeeper saved, but only 1-2 millimetres from the goal line.
Then in the 8th minute Vulićević ran up with the ball on the right and passed it to the middle. The ball hit the defenders and dropped in front of Babović. Babović wasted no time, he shot and scored a giant goal, right into the middle of the net.
1:0
1:0!!!
WE ARE LEADING!!!!
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
I have scolded Babović earlier quite a few times on this blog. You can decide yourself whether I was right or wrong. But it is a fact that on this match Babović played very well - independent of this goal or not. He ran a lot, passed a lot, dribbled, he was even there when building up attacks. Keep it up, Babinjo! We want more of this.
But the sad fact is that the fans’ happy screaming after the goal hasn’t faded away when Steaua equalized. They ran up on the right, passing the ball into the middle. A Partizan-defender headed it out, and the ball dropped in front of Muniru. The Ghanian player shot and scored. 1:1, cold shower, the bitter type.
Oh, well. Nothing is lost yet. In the 18th minute Aboubakar shot from 25 metres, but missed. Two minutes later he passed to Vulićević on the right side. Vulićević then passed it to Babović to the middle. Babović shot with a bicycle kick. Pity it was too wide, it could have been a spectacular goal.
The thing is, Romanian players weren’t so technically skilled, but they were very fast and made counter-attacks in a moment. They were also very aggressive, kicking and pulling Partizan-players to the ground. Despite this they got a free kick in the 25th minute, 22 metres from the goal line. Chipciu stood behind the ball, but his shot flew out above the crossbar.
A minute later Aboubakar got the ball. He passed it to the middle, but the Romanian defenders caught it and kicked it to their midfielders for a counter-attack. Tade got the pass at the corner of the penalty area. He shot, Živko Živković touched it, the ball hit the goalpost. Corner kick. Then another corner kick that flew out, far from the goal line. Goal-kick, for us.
In the 29th minute Steaua got another free kick, about 30 metres from the goal line, on the right side. The kick was headed to the goal line by Varela, but it was too hight.
In the 31st minute Vulićević got the ball and ran up immediately to the Romanian penalty area, but his pass was caught by the goalkeeper. A minute later Fabricio lost the ball. Hamroun grabbed it, ran up on the right side and passed to the middle. For our luck the attackers in the middle were too slow to kick or head it.
Then in the 33rd minute Romanians took the lead. Popa arrived on the right with the ball and passed it to the middle, where Hamroun was waiting. The French player got it, thanked and shot it into our net. 1:2
Collapse. Death. No, just no. I can’t believe it. There is always an icy hand around your heart when such a thing happens, then it slowly turns into anger. Average Fan made it through the entire scale of political incorrectness within a short period of time. In hindsight I feel ashamed; for my defense, in the heat of the match common sense has waved me goodbye quite early and travelled to the Bahamas, probably.
In the 38th minute we got a free kick, about 30 metres from the goal line, on the left. Babović stood behind the ball, he kicked..
...and scored!!! GOOOAAAAAL!!!!
No way. It was never a goal. At the moment of the kick the assistant waved offside. Bojinov got stuck in the front lines. The referee invalidated the goal. There was not even a chance to question it, the slow motion replay clearly showed the offside.
In the 42nd minute Romanians attacked again. Tade kicked it in from the left side, but thankfully the others were too slow for it. We immediately started a counter-attack. Aboubakar got the ball from Babović, but the goalkeeper ended their attempt.
Brašanac some time during the match against Brazilian player Guilherme
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
In the beginning of the second half the referee showed the red card to Varela in the 48th minute. The Cape Verde player pulled Brašanac to the ground, who was running up to the goal line. Foul as last person, plus inside the penalty area.
In the second half István Vad left his mild-tempered attitude in the locker-room and used a stern approach towards the rough Romanian players, who sometimes used acting (rolling on the ground with a painful face) to convince the referee about Partizan players’ alleged fouls. In the first half Vad just warned those who fouled, but in the second half he started using the cards.
Penalty for Partizan!
But we couldn’t stand up to kick it, because Varela didn’t want to walk off the ground, the referee had to push him towards the tunnel.
Then world peace was settled back. Bojinov stood behind the ball.
Whistle.
Bojinov ran up...
...and the ball hit the goalpost. Goalkeeper Cojocaru had a short dance of joy at the goal line.
Brain death. Catatonia. Someone, please, wake me up, it is surely just a bad dream.
But the match continued. About 10 minutes passed, both teams were continuously attacking. Referee Vad gave out 4 yellow cards to Steaua during these 10 minutes.
Then in the 57th minute Andrija Živković was kicked to the ground at the corner of the penalty arae. Free kick, Babović shot, the goalkeeper caught it.
And then came the 60th minute...
...AND GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!! 2:2!!!!!!!
Aboubakar passed the ball to the middle from the left, to Jevtović. Jevtović didn’t waste any time, but sent a 25-metre bomb shot to the goal line. And he scored!!!! And what a goal it was!!!! Oh, my God, what a goal! We equalized!!!
(photo: Google)
In the 61st minute Babović was brutally kicked to the ground. Free kick, from 30 metres. Fabricio stood behind the ball. Then "Fabi" shot, it was quite a good one, the flat shot was caught by Cojocaru. In the 63rd minute Tade broke out and ran up to the goal line all of a sudden. He shot, thankfully it was too wide. A minute later Steaua tried again. The ball came from the right, ending in a corner kick, which was kicked out by our defenders.
In the 65th minute Partizan got a free kick. Andrija Živković shot.
And at this moment the net died here (me too, a bit). It wasn’t too long, maybe only 3 minutes, but when connection got back to normal, I could see the referee invalidating a Romanian goal. The situation seemed to be the same as with Partizan in the first half: one of their players got stuck in an offside position. The standing was still 2:2.
Not for long.
In the 69th minute Aboubakar was dribbling on the left side, then passed to Andrija Živković.
AND ŽILE SCORED SUCH A FANTASTIC GOAL THAT MADE THE NET TORN TO PIECES!!!! 3:2, PEOPLE!!!! WE ARE ON THE LEEEEAAAAAAAD!!!!!
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Oh. My. God. We came back from the grave.
In the 73rd minute Steaua got a free kick. Živko Živković caught the ball with a crushing elegance. The pace was quite fast even until now, but after the goal it got even faster. The Romanian team was fighting for their survival, while Partizan’s players got an extra amount of courage from the goal. Fans were chanting "Srbija, Srbija". We attacked more and more, Steaua got a bit stuck in their half. In the 84th minute Brašanac shot from the penalty area line, but it was too high. A minute later we ran up to a counter-attack after a corner. Andrija Živković had the ball with himself, but the referee whistled it off, Saša Ilić was on offside.
In the 89th minute Aboubakar got the ball on the left and ran up immediately. He dribbled and passed it to Andrija Živković. Žile also dribbled, then passed it back to the middle, but it was too long for Aboubakar.
This was the point when the 4th assistant raised the board showing that the extra time would be 5 minutes. Fans were booing and whistling, but afterwards we could see how these 5 minutes came to hand for us.
Such things come to light always in hindsight.
In the 90+1st minute we got a corner. This time it was just a short kick, then someone passed it to the middle. Trujić, who just joined the game as a substitute, headed it to the goal line. The goalkeeper saved, the ball dropped back to Trujić. This time he didn’t miss it out, but headed it into the net. 4:2
4:2!!!!!
(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)
Unbelievable, just unbelievable. We came back from death, performing such a resurrection that only Partizan can do.
There was a Steaua-attack left for the last minute, but Živko Živković saved it with a French-styled elegance. And then came the final whistle. WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE QUALIFIED!!!
Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 30 000
Referee: Istvád Vad (assistants: Péter Berettyán, László Viszokai - 4th assistant: Sándor Andó-Szabó) - HUN
FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević, Balažic, Fabricio, N. Petrović - Brašanac, Jevtović - Aboubakar, Babović (Trujić, 90.), A. Živković - Bozsinov (S. Ilić, 60.)
Head coach: Zoran Milinković
