Welcome to the final 8 of the Balkan Express draft
Congratulations to all of those who have made it thus far, good luck to all of yous, get your votes in and don't sabotage yourself ala El Lobo
Group C winner [Sir Psycho] v Group D runner up [Foregone Hazell]
Group D winner [Jersey Kopite] v Group C runner up [Trend]
Sir Psycho
Foregone Hazell
Sir Psycho
Ladic - A safe pair of hands, and third place in the 98 world cup. That'll do. No one pays attention to keepers anyway right?
Branko Stankovic - Earned the nickname 'The Ambassador' due to his classy playing style. He'll offer support down the right, allowing Olic to cut inside.
Papadopoulos - Was almost a red, but injuries scuppered the move. During the season of his most appearances, he assisted Shalke in winning the DFB Pokal, with a clean sheet in the final and getting them to the CL semis. Their highest finish.
Vidic - He's a manc, so I'll keep it short. PFA team f the season regular, Player of the season winner in 08/09. 10/11. League and CL winner. Dominating in the air, and hard in the tackle. He's the leader of the backline and will take the other crazy bastard, Papa, under his wing.
Ivica Surjak - Yugoslav Player of the year in 1976. Just don't let him near a speedboat.
Nemanja Matic - 'The Spider'. Serb player of the year in 2014 and 2015. Another manc, but made his name at Chelsea. Before that though, was Primeira Player of the Tear playing with Benfica, then went on to establish himself as one of the top defensive mids in the league as he was named in the team of the season the following year, as Chelsea won the league. Also capable of a screamer, as his Puskas award runner up goal shows. He will provide the backline with a defensive shield, as a dedicated defensive mid, allowing Altintop to be more box to box.
Hamit Altintop - Speaking of the Puskas award, here is 2010s winner. Had an impressive year in 2008 as he won Bundesliga and was in Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament, earning the most assists. Also named in the bundesliga team of the season during his Shale days in 05/06. Altintop will be providing attacking and defensive support, drifting to the right on occasion to take up the space Olic will leave when he cuts inside, meaning Stankovic is not solely responsible to provide width there.
Krassimir Balakov - Part of Stuttgart's 'Magic Triangle' in the 90s, and one of Bulgaria's finest players, Balakov is a creative force. Voted Stuttgart's best player of all time, he won the DFB Pokal with them in 96/97. Balakov was included in the World Cup all star team in 94, bundesliga team of the season for 3 straight seasons (95-96, 96-97, 97-98) and earned Bulgarian player of the year in 1995 and 1997, Balakov will be the main playmaker alongside Dzagic in this team, to provide Jovic the ammunition he needs to score.
Dragan Dzagic - A Yugoslav Legend. One of the best LW of the game. Euro Team of the Tournamen tin 1968 and 76, being top scorer in 68. Balon D'or 3rd place in 1968.
Due to his ability this means Surjak is not relied upon heavily to provide attacking support down the left, meaning the team's shape can remain defensively stable. Dzagic with his creativity and goal scoring prowess means he can take the pressure off the young Jovic.
Ivica Olic - Croatian Footballer of the year 2009 and 2010. A pacy player who will run in behind and stretch defences. His ex-national team manager, Slaven Bilić described him as a typical "match-winner" and "king of important matches". He'll provide striker support for Jovic by drifting in from the right.
Luka Jovic - The youngster, signed to Real Madrid, Has taken the Bundesliga by storm with Eintracht Frankfurt, but also being included in Europa League Team of the Tournament this season. Helped Frankfurt to winning the DFB Pokal in 17/18, with a decisive goal in the semi final. Powerful in the air, two footed and clinical, at 20 years old he scored 5 goals in 1 match this season. He has scored frequently from crosses, and this is where a deadly link with Dzagic will be formed. With the assistance of Dzagic, Olic, Balakov and Altintop, he'll have the chances he needs to get on the scoresheet, and has the more experienced players around him to lead the attack take goalscoring responsibility themselves.
Foregone Hazell
Although Kyrgiakos lacks pace, he was solid defender and a Greek God. Corluka can cover him if necessary anyway and with Shaqiri and Salihamidzic out wide on their 'correct' side, Strinic and Seitaridis can also cover without worrying about venturing too far forward. This is because Tugay will be able to drop deeper and dictate play with Inler doing the dirty work, so to speak. Shaqiri and Salihamdizic will therefore be able to stay out wide and be in space to collect the ball or come inside (ooh-err) if the opposition fullback follows them too far wide. Their trickery/pace means either suits them fine. The former will allow them to get crosses in, David Moyes style to one of Gareth Keenan's dad's favourite footballers, Darko Kovacevic, and to Stoichkov whilst the latter will mean Stoichkov will be able to cause havoc from deeper as he links up with the wide players and ex-Sheffield Wednesday legend Kovacevic. Either way, the opposition is in trouble. The team will be backed ably by Stelea in goal, my second favourite goalkeeper with Bogdan in their name.
Jersey Kopite
Trend
Jersey Kopite
Oblak - Cynics muttered when I picked a keeper early on. Let them chuckle. Jan Oblak is one of the highest rated keepers in the world and a good shout for the best Balkan keeper of all time. A star for Ateltico Madrid whom he helped to the Champions League final in 2016 and a Europa League win in 2018, he has consistently been rated the best keeper in Spain. He won Primeira Liga Best Goalkeeper in Portugal in 2013–14 and the Spanish equivalent for La Liga in 2015-2016 and 2017-2018, as well as winning the La Liga Zamora trophy for four consecutive seasons between 2015 and 2019, keeping 100 clean sheets in his first 178 games. An incredible feat for a top class 'keeper.
Iovan - You've probably not heard of Stefan Iovan. I know I hadn't. But that gives insufficient credit to the legacy of the first captain of a Balkan side to lift a European Cup. Iovan played for Steaua Bucharest for a decade, amassing 285 appearances, during which time the Romanian giants lifted 5 league titles and four national cups, as well as their sensational European Cup win in 1986. He helped his side keep a clean sheet against Barcelona in the final and followed in the footsteps of some of our own heroes from the preceding years by lifting Big Ears. He was capped for Romania 35 times in his career. Not a well known player in these shores but a hero in Romania for his achievements.
Manolas and Savic - Not a trendy pick as far as centre backs go, and not a hipster pick either. Two solid defenders, both currently carving out impressive careers at Europe's top clubs. Manolas, who in recent weeks moved from Roma to Napoli, was for some years a stalwart of the Giallorossi, a first team player for 5 years after his move from Olympiakos and one of Europe's most highly rated defenders. His wikipedia biography sums him up perfectly so I am shamelessly stealing it.
"Manolas possesses the speed to keep track of smaller, quicker attackers while also possessing the strength needed to battle with more physical opponents. Without the ball, he is both assertive and attentive, never neglecting his defensive duties and always keen for a challenge. He is also a deceptively quick footballer, given his size, able to sweep up behind a high-line but also having the versatility and discipline to play deeper. Few players better combine the virtues of an old-fashioned centre-half with the modern need to build play from the back."
Savic is perhaps underrated in England after an unremarkable spell at Manchester City, but he left the club with a Premier League winners medal to add to his earlier title with with Partizan Belgrade. His career was resurrected by Fiorentina where he played with distinction, helping the team maintain a regular place in the top four of Serie A ultimately earning a transfer to Ateltico Madrid where he has fought against the likes of Godin and Gimenez for first team football in Simeone's set up. With a similar record at Atletico to my keeper Oblak, he has formed a part of a side to restore real pride to Atletico Madrid and have them challenging at the top end of the table and in Europe. He has earned 50 caps for Montenegro (the fourth highest of any player since the formation of the national side) and scored 5 goals.
Fazlagic - I'm not going to claim to have an in depth knowledge of football in the Balkans in the 1960s. Suffice to say I found this name with a bit of research and it's hard not to be swept away by some of the stuff written about him. Wikipedia underplays his qualities by describing him as " a Bosnian-Herzegovinian retired professional footballer and manager, considered one of the best full-backs of his generation." He was a key player in Sarajevo's 1967 Yugoslav league win and was only knocked out of an early European Cup after a horrendous refereeing decision at Old Trafford, something we can all sympathise with. In 1971 he signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus which would have made him the most expensive defender in the world at that point, but an injury scuppered his move. Fazlagić made 19 appearances for Yugoslavia and was the captain of Yugoslavia during the 1968 European Football Championship, where Yugoslavia finished runners up. He was named in the team of the tournament. A classy player who might have gone on to achieve even more of not for injury.
Basturk - 2002 was so nearly Basturk's year. His Leverkusen side were runners up in the league, made the Champions League final and Turkey went deep in the World Cup. Ultimately he was unable to land any of the trophies, but his contributions to all were significant, so much so that Baştürk finished ninth in the voting for the 2002 Ballon d'Or. A classy midfielder with an eye for a pass and a good goal scoring record (45 goals in 300 professional appearances), he was a few games from real greatness in one year. Whilst he may not be considered one of the best to play the game he remains well regarded in Turkey, despite finishing his career at Blackburn Rovers.
Rakitic - One of the greatest and most decorated midfielders in Croatian football history, Ivan Rakitic is the centre piece of my side. He has been a star wherever he has played, winning the Swiss league with Basel before moving to Schalke and then on to Sevilla. There he won the Europa League 2014 as club captain and earned a move to Barcelona. It is no small feat to become a mainstay of one of the greatest club sides in Europe during a strong period for them, but he has managed it for 5 consecutive years, amassing 265 appearances for Barca and scoring 35 goals. In his first season with Barça, he won the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League. He scored the first goal of the 2015 Champions League Final and became the first player ever to win the Champions League a year after winning the Europa League while playing for two clubs. In his 5 years in Barca, at the heart of the side, he has won four Spanish titles and four Spanish cups to go with his European Cup medal. At international level he has over 100 caps for Croatia and was a key member of the side that reached the 2018 world cup final, scoring winning penalty kicks in their last 16 game and quarter final along with a goal against Argentina in the group stages. A superb footballer.
Stelios - Who can forget Stelios Giannakopoulos's shiny bald head flying up and down the right wing for Greece and Bolton? Not I. A legend at Olympiakos where he won seven consecutive league titles between 1997 and 2003 before the crowning achievement of his career as a member of the Euro 2004 winning Greek side. He moved to Bolton in 2003 (which at the time was viewed as a positive career move) where he became a fan favourite, highly rated for his goals and assists and linked with a moved to (amongst others) Liverpool in 2005. He remained at Bolton and became a fixture in their most successful team on the modern era, reaching a League Cup final and playing in Europe. In his last season he helped them to avoid relegation before being released by the club. And just in case that's not enough, he is currently a professional Firefighter working for the Hellenic Fire Service. Top bloke.
Ivan Perisic - Another "current" player but one who has achieved a huge amount in his career, not least avoiding a transfer to Manchester United despite being linked with them in every transfer window. Sensible. Perisic is a versatile and skillful attacking player who I've stuck on the left wing. He made a name for himself while playing for Club Brugge, where he was the Belgian Pro League top goalscorer and was named Belgian Footballer of the Year for 2011. This earned him a transfer to Borussia Dortmund, with whom he won the 2011–12 Bundesliga After a stint at Wolfsburg he was signed by Inter where he remains to this day. It's on the international stage where he has really made a name for himself though, scoring a winner against Iceland in the World Cup group stages before netting a vital goal to level the semi-final against England. He followed that up by becoming the first Balkan player to ever score in a world cup final when he struck against France, though alas he ended up on the losing side. 23 goals scored in an 83 cap haul, it's easy to see why he remains so highly rated. A dangerous and talented player.
Savicevic - The star of the show, and a double European Cup winner (back when that really MEANT something...). His playing style is set out in detail by someone writing on Wikiepdia who has more time for research than I do:
"Considered by many in the sport to be the best footballer Montenegro has ever produced, Savićević was a classic number 10 who preferred functioning in a free role as a playmaker; throughout his career, he was usually deployed in an attacking midfield role, either in a central position behind the striker(s), or out wide on the wings, on either flank, due to his ability to provide crosses to teammates in the area from the left wing, or cut into the centre onto his stronger left foot from the right. He was also deployed as a supporting forward, and occasionally in a central midfield role as a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, or, with even less frequency, along the front line as a main striker. A quick, technically gifted, and agile player, with an athletic physique, he was known in particular for his outstanding pace and acceleration on the ball, as well as his excellent dribbling ability, and close control, which allowed him to beat opposing players with ease; he was also highly regarded for his vision, tactical knowledge, and passing accuracy, which made him a highly effective assist provider, although he was also capable of scoring goals himself as well as creating them, due to his powerful and accurate shot on the run, as well as his precision from penalties. His talent, unpredictability and exploits during his time at Milan earned him the nickname "Il Genio" ("the genius", in Italian)."
So there.
What is clear is his incredible success as a footballer. He led Red Start Belgrade in the most glorious chapter of their history, winning three consecutive league titles and lifting the European Cup with them in 1991. For his role he was runner up in the 1991 Ballon D'Or. He scored vital goals in both legs of the quarter final against Dynamo Dresden and in the semi final against Bayern Munich. He was rewarded for his efforts with a transfer to European giants AC Milan where he won three league titles and another European Cup, scoring in the final in a 4-0 demolition of Barcelona. A wonderfully gifted footballer who just about edged into my consciousness as a young football fan for his exploits.
Viduka - An Aussie who qualifies via his parents Croatian nationality, Mark Viduka is in my mind a hugely underrated forward. His success in the Croatian league with Dinamo Zagreb (three league titles in three seasons, including two league and cup doubles) helped him earn a move to Celtic where his 25 goals in 28 games caught the attention of Leeds United. They signed him in 2001 and he went on to become a prolific striker for the club, scoring 72 goals in 5 seasons at the club (including four in one game against us - sorry) and impressing both domestically and in Europe. In his early days at the club his goals helped push them towards the top 4 and silverware - in his latter days they kept Leeds afloat. In the 2002–03 campaign, Viduka scored 22 goals, including a hat-trick in a 6–1 win at Charlton Athletic and the winner in a 3–2 victory at Arsenal on the penultimate day of the season that effectively saved United from relegation. His hat-trick in the Charlton game is the most recent hat-trick to date by a Leeds United player in the Premier League. In a long career, Viduka scored a hugely impressive 258 goals in 507 professional appearances, a remarkable goalscoring rate.
Trend
Team Shape: 4-2-3-1
Team Tactics: Low Block, Counter-Attacking Style, Direct use of Pace, Technical Guile from 3 Attack Mid, Win Restarts, Top Notch Goalkeeping, Extremely physical style (tough guy football).
Team Philosophy: Grind each game out defensively, absorb pressure in a low block with wide area pressure pockets, and win the ball to play into spaces for Marko Arnautovic in the gaps between CB’s and CB’s/Backs. Knock downs go to our three top class attacking midfielders
Attacking Mid Balkan Trident – Looking to Unleash the Kraken (Arnautovic)
1. Laszlo Boloni – European Cup Winner (Romania) – Steau Bucharesti
2. Safet Susic – Fantastista playmaker, technician (Yugoslavia) – PSG
3. Dusan Tadic – Pass, press and scores goals (Serbia) - Ajax
DM Defensive Shield (The Night’s Watch) – Defensive Midfielders
1. Theodoros Zagorakis – European Cup Winner (Greece)
2. Cornel Dinu - Romania’s best DM
Dominant, Hard Working Back Four- Continuity Classics (Hard Blue Line) ----------------
1. CB Pairing – Clever and Hard (Vasovic & Manolas)
2. Marking backs – absolutely live/die for 1 v 1 battles (Fahrudin/Sinisa)
*** Trophy Resumes – list of accomplishments can furnished upon request
Team Picture with 4 in my squad: Vasovic, Mihajlovic, Jusufi, and Soskic
Disingenuous Voting Suggestions:
1. Review my work on Dusan Tadic. He deserves a second look for his true value (i.e. video against Real Madrid).
2. Remember 4 of my back 5 played together at Partizan (Jusufi, Vasovic, Mihajlovic and Soskic the keeper)
3. Remember the Greek Vice in the middle of the park (Manolas/Zagorakis) – see heart-warming video of the family of Manolas’
4. Remember my three headed attack middie trident (Brilliant Technicians)
5. Forget about Arnautovic’s baggage – remember his size, pace, aerial skill
*** Could be the tightest back 4 and low block (2 blocks of four) in the entire draft (known for holding opponents to few chances)
5 Yugoslavs (2 Bosnian; 1 Gorani)
2 Greeks
2 Romanians
2 Serbs (1 Austrian-Serb)
GK – Milutin Soskic (Yugoslavia/FC Koln & Partizan)
Former US National Team GK Coach - 1994-2002 under Bora Mulitinovic
Soskic - Hard-nosed look at one of Serbia's greatest keepers
The Black Widow Lev Yashin & Milu Soskic Zipping Out for the Night
A Big Man; Physical Keeper
RB – Fahrudin Jusufi (Yugoslavia/Kosovo/Gorani & Partizan/Eintracht Frankfurt
Jusufi was the greatest fullback in Yugoslavian football history. He played at the 1962 World Cup and at the 1960 Summer Olympics, where his team won the gold medal. He played as a full-back on both sides and was renowned for his never-say-die attitude, good defensive positioning and quality passing and technique. He was part of the first Partizan team to reach a European Final in 1966. He was a vice-champion of Europe, losing the 1966 European Cup Final against Real Madrid 1-0. Jusufi retired in 1972 after 15yrs of play for club(s)/country.
CB - Stelios Manolas (Greece/AEK Athens)
Stelios is uncle to Kostas Manolas, another Greek CB prodigy. Uncle Manolas was capped 71 times between 1982 and 1995, as well as being one of only a few Greek footballers to have played his entire professional career for a single club - AEK Athens FC, where he won 4 league titles. He played there between 1978 and 1998. He is considered the greatest Greek defender ever. He played at the World Cup Finals in 1994. He was recruited to Porto and Monaco, but turned them down, wanting only to play for and captain his hometown team. Stevie G similarities!
Family Man-olas’
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CB - Velibor Vasovic (Yugoslavia/Ajax)
Vasovic one of the legendary players of Partizan Belgrade and one of greatest defenders of his generation. A sweeper who could play in midfield, Vasović was renowned for his defensive positioning, never-say-die attitude and tactical awareness. Vasovic is a serial winner (domestic and abroad with league championships, cups and a European Cup to his resume). Velibor Vasovic is one of the truly under-appreciated players in World Football History, captain of Ajax.
LB – Sinisa Mihajlovic (Yugoslavia/Serie A)
Mihajlović was known for his an extraordinary long-distance striking, crossing, and passing ability. His precise curling yet hard-driven left-footed shot allowed him to score spectacular free-kick goals on regular basis. A set-piece and penalty kick specialist, Mihajlović has said that he shot free-kicks from as far as 35 yards. Regarded as one of the greatest free kick takers of all time, he was capable of both scoring and creating chances from dead ball opportunities, and holds the record for the most goals in Serie A from free-kicks, alongside Pirlo, with 28 goals. Also Sinisa is known for the second most goals from free kicks for a single Serie A club in all competitions, with 43, behind Del Piero). Along with Giuseppe Signori, he is one of only two players who have scored a hat trick from free kicks in Serie A.
While he performed at high level on the pitch, Mihajlović is a hot-head with many off-field issues causing several controversies (personal, political, and ejecting saliva). His behavior, (as a player and a coach), has garnered much criticism in light of the regions’ conflicts and is not a model for professionalism. Many behaviors and views are anathema to the beautiful game, and so we must remind those who love the game that flawed personalities are still capable of great things. One great thing is his left foot on a free kicks (curse or applaud, but a must watch).
<![CDATA[<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/KlXruV_Cwu8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/KlXruV_Cwu8</a>]]>
DM – Theodoros Zagorakis (Greece/POAK-AEK)
Zagorakis played an important role in Greece's win in the 2004 European Championships, and was named the Player of the Tournament by UEFA and was in the Team of the Tournament. FIFA named Zagorakis as a contender for the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award (he finished in 17th, UEFA named him for the 2004 Ballon d'Or award (finished in fifth place). He holds the record of most consecutive matches (57) of the national team since his first cap in a period of 12 years.
Zagorakis is a "combative, industrious defensive midfielder with a powerful right-foot shot" - Greece’s best DM in history.
DM – Cornel Dinu (Romania/Dinamo Bucharesti)
Cornel Dinu is regarded as one of Romania's greatest players. Dinu got 75 caps and 7 goals for the Romanian national team between 1968 and 1981. He represented his country at the 1970 FIFA World Cup and for the participation in that tournament; in 2008 he was decorated with the Medal of "Sportive Merit"). Dinu represented his country at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. He spent his entire career with Dinamo București. Dinu is known for his intelligence and hard tackles.
AM – Safet Sušić “Pape” (Yugoslavia/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Paris St Germaine) * Trend's favorite player picked 
Sušić was one of the greatest Yugoslavian players. France Football voted him (PSG) Paris Saint-Germain’s best player of all-time and the best foreign player of Ligue 1 of all time. He represented the nation at the 1982 &1990 World Cups, Euro 1984.
Sušić was a gifted midfielder known for his dribbling skills and technical ability, and is strongly reputed to have been one of the finest European players of his generation Sušić played as an attacking midfielder, often in a role of trequartista or fantasista (creative playmaker). In 2004, the Bosnian football association chose Sušić as the nation's greatest ever player.
Former international teammate, the Macedonian Darko Pančev declared:
"It's well known how much I valued and still do value Safet Sušić. For me he's unsurpassable, the best Yugoslavia had. Probably one of the best in the world. I was often known to say that us other players should have to pay to play in the same team as Pape. At least I always talked and thought like that. Pape was a treasure for every forward. His crosses were unbelievable. Sometimes his ball would hit me without me even being aware of it. A wonderful player."
Hat trick vs Argentina
<![CDATA[<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/YxAeJmDp39c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/YxAeJmDp39c</a>]]>
PSG Safet Highlights
<![CDATA[<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/GYadC5gDbc8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/GYadC5gDbc8</a>]]>
AM – Laszlo Bölöni (Romania, Steau Bucharest)
An ethnic Hungarian, Bölöni was twice named Romanian Footballer of the Year, and appeared in 484 Divizia A (now known as Liga I) games, the fourth most appearances in the history of the competition. Internationally, he collected 102 caps with the Romanian national team, ranking him fifth on the country's all-time list, while also scoring 23 goals (sixth highest all-time mark).
Bölöni was an integral part of the Steaua team that won the European Cup in 1986, the only Romanian team (and, along with Red Star Belgrade, one of two Eastern European sides) to have achieved the honor. He is considered one of the best Romanian footballers in history.
In 1983, Bölöni scored one of the most vital goals ever for Romania, 1–0 win against Italy in a Euro 84 qualification match, which eventually proved invaluable to the qualification for the tournament. At the finals in France, he played in all three of Romania's games, and scored the equalizer in the 1–1 draw with Spain.
One other tidbit: I am a Messi guy, but this is impressive to me.
https://www.mykhel.com/football/laszlo-boloni-meet-the-coach-who-spotted-cristiano-ronaldo-071959.html
Goal vs Italy – Romania
<![CDATA[<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/mD1pqm1HyEc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/mD1pqm1HyEc</a>]]>
Long distance Bomb
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AM – Dusan Tadic (Serbia/ Southampton & Ajax)
Trend on Tadic:
“This is my most underrated player by far. Tadic is a special player. He attacks with pace, makes great decisions, has the pace and guile to exploit out wide. He is quick in transition, can pick out a final ball, but most of all is a complete attacker – presses, passes, keeps the ball, and finishes. I absolutely love this player; he can play attack mid from left, right or central positions.
Have a look if you are in doubt, he fits my team perfectly in a trident attacking midfield formation with Susic and Boloni (long distance shooting, disrupts the defense with runs down the center), Susic who is technically unbelievable (like Tadic) and can dribble inside or outside on the left to get their crosses off. Do not underestimate this attacking trident – see the videos.
While he may be in the middle of his career for all-time draft, his influence on this side would be significant – 135 goals for clubs and country in 12 years and 144 assists speaks volumes”
You simply have to watch this video (destroyed Real Madrid, just destroyed them)
<![CDATA[<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/VCXqGECip30" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/VCXqGECip30</a>]]>
Silent Genius
<![CDATA[<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/dxQITSz1vkY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/dxQITSz1vkY</a>]]>
SS – Marko Arnautović (Austria/Stoke City & West Ham – Serbian Father)
Arnautović was born in Floridsdorf, a district in the northern part of Vienna to a Serbian father and an Austrian mother.
Trend on Marko Arnautović:
Two ways to Meg a Manc
“Arnautović is a powerful force to be reckoned with, standing 6’3” (good in the air), has power and pace up front. He is in the mold of Diego Costa, in that his temperament needs work, and he can be childish on and off the pitch. But when it is time to battle for the ball, position, or a goal, Arnautović is a force. His technical ability is good enough, but not great. He relies upon service and that is what the three-headed attack mid hydra does. What makes Marko effective individually is his desire to attack defenders, the ball and absorb or turn away from pressure."
Strength, Power and Pace
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Special Thanks to deFacto for making this draft, his time, and expertise available to us. Speciall thanks to King Luis for his research and Djozer/Nick/Samie for their contributions as well.
Fantastic experience this! Love this team.
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