9/29/2010

Mansour - out again!

It's been a terrible year for our striker Gueye Mansour, who once again has to hang up his boots for 6 months. Before the start of last season, he was injured after a contact with another player in a friendly match. Ligament rupture at his right knee, surgery, and 6 months off the pitch. He made an uneasy comeback in spring, but was injured again, and had undergone surgery at the same knee, somewhere in May, which left him out for another 2 months - the rest of the season basically.

This season started reasonably well for Mansour, being one of the decisive players in the second leg against MyPa, when he came in in the second half. He was supposed to be in the first team in the wonderful match against CFR Cluj, but a muscle strain left him uncertain for about a month. His comeback was made in last week's cup match. It started perfectly for him, scoring the first goal. However, just before half time, his knee - the other one this time - snapped. Ligament rupture again, and he will only be able to rejoin the team next year, in spring.

It was devastating for our young striker, who came out in tears, and was willing to give it all way were it not for the fans who showed great support, and his teammates who before the beginning of the last match wore white t-shirts with the inscription "Be strong, Mansi!"

9/17/2010

Cosmin Contra - the new coach

Petrovic was assigned as coach of the national Serbian team, and as a measure, Poli's management as appointed a technical staff composed of Cosmin Contra, Vali Velcea, Iosif Rotariu to lead the team. The latter two were also assisting coaches in previous mandates, but Contra, who has just signed an extension to his contract as a player, has no experience coaching. Whether he will resign his career, or he will fulfill both roles for the near future, remains to be seen, but signs say he will concentrate on coaching.

It's a bit risky to appoint such a young, and inexperienced staff, and probably also a bit lazy from the management. What's done is done, and we will see how things go on.

Good luck, Cosmin!

9/13/2010

Squad for 2010

The transfer period has officially ended. The last minute changes involve two transfers: Stefan Nikolić and Helder, ex-Rapid right-back, who can also play as wing, who came from Dinamo, after some adjustment troubles. He will be a great asset, as his position was quite uncovered. He has already made his debut, an excellent one, in which he's also scored a goal.

Nikolić is a 20 year-old attacker from Montenegro, coming free of contract from the 1st Belgian league. This transfer seems weak, as despite playing in a good league, he has only scored 2 goals last season. Also, there are not many players who came for free, that actually proved something for Poli. However, he is young, and will probably help the second team, or be loaned to another team, so who knows what the future will hold. See Axente as an example. Nikolić has played for OFK Beograd, Lierse(3 goals in 17 matches), Roselare(2 goals in 24 matches). Also, he was capped 8 times for the youth squad of the national teams, having scored one goal.

In related news, Contra's contract was supposed to expire after the match against Steaua, but the 34 year-old was convinced not to give up his career yet, and he will continue to play for Poli.

The full squad at the moment is the following:

Goalkeepers: Costel Pantilimon, Pedro Taborda, Andrei Cobliş

Defenders: Andrei Sava, Srgian Luchin, Laszlo Sepsi, Cristian Scutaru, Ioan Mera, Helder Mauricio, Dusan Dukic, Ovidiu Burcă, Marian Cisovsky

Midfielders: Dan Alexa, Alexandru Curtean, Iulian Tameş, Hristu Chiacu, Cosmin Contra, Alexandru Bourceanu, Marian Fuchs, Adrian Poparadu, Răzvan Dobricean, Dorin Goga

Forwards: Mircea Axente, Gueye Mansour, Lukas Magera, Stefan Nikolic, Ianis Zicu, Alexandru Popovici

There is, however, a very big question mark. Vladimir Petrovic is wanted to coach the Serbian national team. He has declared that he cannot refuse such an offer, if it will be made. All signs show that he will probably be appointed by the Serbian federation, but the official statement should come in the following days, and then we will all know where we are standing.