No words can describe how I feel right now. Maybe that is why it has taken me so long to make a post. Maybe I just needed to reflect a little bit more on the disaster that was seen today in Belfast where Poland pretty much kissed good-bye any hopes of making the 2010 World Cup. Maybe I just needed some time because if I had posted earlier, my post wouldn’t make any sense and I’d most likely get in deep trouble with my bosses over the foul language.
The Leo Beenhakker era has got to be over. The tactics he displayed today were a joke. I don’t understand why he would start Robert Lewandowski, who has struggled ever since playing against Udinese and hasn’t exactly been in the best of forms in recent matches for Lech Poznan. I wouldn’t mind Lewandowski off the bench. Fresh 20 year old legs coming into the match with 20-30 minutes to go, against tired opponents. Eye for the goal. I could see it. I really did. But to start? Putting him into the fire, and at right wing? Against fresh opponents when Lewan isn’t exactly “on fire” as of late for his club? I’m no rocket scientist, but when I first heard he would start on the wing, I knew it wouldn’t be good. Or, Tomasz Bandrowski? I don’t care if Leo loves to play the two defensive midfield tactic, but when our options are thin, we shouldn’t play it “safe” against a Northern Ireland. It makes no sense to me. Bandrowski is a average player on a pretty loaded Poznan team, who plays next to one of the best Polish league midfielders Rafal Murawski, which obviously helps his value, but how could Leo not know he would be a liability? Bandrowski has struggled recently for Poznan and his call-up was bizarre, him starting, was just plain stupid. To keep Ebi Smolarek even off the bench? For all that he has done for Poland, is a travesty. I would understand if we had better players in place. But we don’t. Northern Ireland has no problem starting players like David Healy who also plays the bench for his club. Country and club are very different. Ebi should have been there. If not from the start, then as a sub later on, as we tried to make a miracle comeback.
What can I really say about Artur Boruc? He was not the goalkeeper we have all watched over the past 5 years, a guy who has for the most part been rock solid for Poland. Sure, he’s made mistakes in the past. He loses his head, all keepers do. But, not like this. Boruc was never in this game and today was without a doubt, his worst game of his career. He was pure garbage. The first goal was a horrible “play” by Boruc. After seeing several replays, I still have NO idea where he was going or what he was trying to do? The second goal (seen below) was the worst i’ve ever seen. How does a professional do that? I just don’t understand. How can somebody go from being so good, to being so bad? In such a short period of time? Did the Northern Ireland fans get to him? Just about 10 days ago, Artur’s house was robbed in Glasgow after Celtic FC had beaten Rangers in the Scottish Cup. He
didn’t appear to be himself today. His head was never in the game. Northern Ireland fans issued a death threat for Artur before the game. That must have been in his head during the game. And according to TVN24, a 24-hour Polish news channel, the rock that hit the lineman during the game, was intended towards Boruc. Makes you think about his mindset during this game. Maybe he shouldn’t have even played? Here is the embarrassing goal-
And, for the love of god. Can we please acknowledge the fact that Jacek Krzynowek is not good enough for the national team anymore? Where is the accountability? Krzynowek has been playing bad for Poland for a while now. Never had it hurt us like this, though. At this point, I don’t care who they play at left wing. Krzynowek ruins plays. Ruins the flow. Today was no different. His passing was horrible. His vision, well, he had no vision. Any younger player could do no worse then him at this point. Hopefully with a new manager, we will see some few players too.
Poland now will need much more then just to win all our games. We need luck. We need the right pieces to fall between other clubs and we need to re-group from this game. Thankfully, we play San Marino on Wednesday and should beat them pretty well, no matter who plays. But, the ultimate goal is all but gone now . Good-bye South Africa. It was a hell of a run, and it had to come to an end. I never expected it to end like this though, this was just plain embarrassing and Poland should go back to basics and fire Leo. Bring in a new coach. New tactics. New system. Time to really start thinking about the 2012 European Championships.
The “Holy Goalie” as he is known to the Celtic faithful wasn’t at fault for that goal to be honest. The ball took a WICKED bounce. It could have happened to Buffon, Cech or Casillas.
Poland losing the game was not Boruc’s fault. It was under-estimating the Irish. The crowd was violent and the Polish players seemed shocked from the start. The players went for the head right away and got an early goal.
Poland with no shot at making the World Cup? Don’t be silly. 3 easy points against San Marino and your right back in it.
N.Ireland are usually AWFUL away from home while the young Czech side can be had. Slovakia proved today they are no front runners after getting destroyed against England while anybody in the group should be able to deal with Slovenia.
Poland will be fine. Relax.
I don’t know, we still have 4 more games left. I understand the chances are slim, but heck if the lads can pick themselves up and Leo get his act together we maybe still able to qualify. If we play like we did against portugal and czech republic, anything is still possible….
I wouldn’t blame Boruc for his blooper that much, Taylor had similiar in the first half. I’d blame Artur for the first goal though.
I wanted Fabianski in the starting line-up before the game, maybe I got some weird sixth sense, but I felt Boruc is still struggling. As a Celtic fan I watch him every week so my ‘prophecy’ had strong basis.
This game was fixed. The whole national team should be investigated for match fixing. I refuse to believe that the game plan to play as poorly as possible.
Naa i still blame Boruc. Everyone get’s their share of the blame in games and usually Boruc is the hero, this time he screwed up so why should he get any type of a pass today??. He was screwing up ALL game long. He’s an unprofessional prick, always starts and does something controversial like crossing himself if front of Rangers fans, giving the Serbian fans the middle finger… all his little antics eventually will catch up and apparently the Protestants decided to return some of the ‘love’. Death threats, breaking into his home, throwing rocks at him…
All and all i’m just really tired of him. He has so much skill but mentally he just isn’t stable, he’s a nut case. That tat he has on his neck that runs from his year down the side of his neck is ridiculous. Adding everything up, it really isn’t shocking why his wife left him.
The best news is that as a country we are blessed with some really good keepers, so talking about saying good-bye to Artur isn’t really all that difficult IMO. Fabianski is just as good if not better… and he’s younger.
to be honest i really don’t think that was Boruc’s fault for the third goal since it took a VERY weird bounce that really any goalie could miss kick…even Paul Robinson for England has done it. I think the main problem with poland’s game play is how we struggle defensively and the man marking in the game proves that. Also during that game we seemed to force the ball up the pitch instead of passing it around. We really arent exactly out of the race either, its just going to be a difficult run where we have to win the rest of our games to do so. If Poland can get there heads back together and move on then i do think we can still qualifiy and not give so much criticism. Finally you have to realize the recent events that happened to Boruc where his house got robbed 10 days before the game, and how NI fans were throwing objects at him during the game is just unacceptable.
The 3rd goal did take a crazy bounce, he should have done better. Perhaps stopped it… besides the 1st goal mistake and 3rd goal mistake he was screwing up all match long. And this isn’t the 1st match neither. He’s a wrack and he needs to resolve whatever issues he’s got which apparently he’s got plenty.
why cant poland be a stable team?!