Polish Ekstraklasa halfway through.

[pyrtas]

The autumn round has come to an end with Groclin going past Manchester City and Wisla Krakow losing on penalties to 10-men defense of Valerenga Oslo in the UEFA cup. Winter break will last whopping 111 days and spring round begins 13th of March. This is how situation on football front looks like after 13 playing days:

1.Wisla Krakow – The defending champions again on top. The team from former capital of Poland scored the most goals, 10 more than next best team. The most influential player was again forward Zurawski, who scored 12-goals. As Wisla is out of both European competition and the FA Cup, the team can focus on winning the crown, which should be easily achievable. Chairman Basalaj promises very interesting signings this winter and wants to consolidate a Champions League squad during spring round.

2.Amica Wronki – Without being under media pressure Amica silently broke into the top of the table and are only 1 point short of leaders from Krakow. Kryszalowicz`s great come back from Eintracht where he couldn`t find his form. For Amica he scored 10 goals in 13 games. Amica`s defense, said to be their weakest formation, managed to leave the pitch undefeated for 11 out of 13 games.

3.Legia Warszawa – The best defence of the round – only 10 goals conceded. Legia had budget troubles and there is an unrest within the team, which certainly will not help during spring championship campaign. Most influential player – striker Svitlica 9 goals.

4.Gornik Leczna – Sensational leaders from the beginning of the season fell finally to the 4th position but this is still a great result from the newcomer. team based on experienced Czereszewski and Bugała managed to stand up to mightier opponents and despite scoring only 16 goals they won 7 games.

5.Groclin Grodzisk – Success on European stage: defeating Hertha and Manchester City in first ever UEFA Cup campaign, was achieved for the price of league instability. If everything goes well Groclin have the potential to compete with Wisla for the top place. Most valuable asset to the team is a pair of strikers, now Polish internationals, Niedzielan and Rasiak.

6.Wisla Plock – After an absymal start to the season Wisla eventually pulled themselves together and mostly thanks to fantastic work from their striker Jelen and former Cottbus player Kobylanski, scrambled up the table to 6th position. If they maintain their form they may challenge an Intertoto cup spot.

7.Gornik Zabrze – An average performance from an always decent team. New loan signings from Serie A are having their ups and downs. A stable coach situation, Fornalik is the longest at helm from all Ekstraklasa coaches, gives Gornik’s striker Sikora and young Portugeese wingback Felipe a basis to shine.

8.Dospel Katowice – The revelation of the last season did not do that well during this campaign. Dospel are on the verge of bankruptcy and have transfer listed all of their players. When players are not paid their wages on regular basis one should not expect a good outcome on the pitch. Katowice would be much deeper down the table but great performance from on-loan from Lech Poznan – Gajtkowski.

9.Odra Wodzislaw – A weaker performance than a season ago. However this young team of coach Wieczorek is, considering their resources, reasonably successful. The team is driven on the pitch by hard working U21 winger Nowacki.

10.Lech Poznan – So far the biggest disappointment. Despite having the biggest average attendance Lech lost 7 games. Former international player – Swierczewski – did not bring fresh air and despite reasonably good play Lech managed to win only 4 games. Piotr Reiss – scorer of 10 goals – has been the team`s shiniest point.

11.Polonia Warszawa – A club in turmoil, big rotation in squad, serious questions concerning future ownership. All such conditions do not help – the only optimistic thing – there are even worst teams! Most influential player is experienced defensive midfielder and Polonia’s skipper Dzwigala.

12.Widzew Lodz – Financial problems seem to be their specialty. Financial instability has had its effect on the players performances. Hard working Brazilian Juninho and, when in-form, Wlodarczyk are to small to push the team up the table. If rumours about Wlodarczyk leaving the club turn to be true the club awaits battle to stay out of relegation zone.

13.Gornik Polkowice – Stable team from rich town of Polkowice was one of negative surprises of the round. Still if some transfers are made and decent coach employed everything may change.

14.Swit Nowy Dwor – A team without good players after 6 of the club got banned due to bribery in a play-off match scandal. 0 wins and only 7 goals scored speaks for itself.


Mid-season table:

1. Wisla Krakow.................13- 10 0 3 38-17 30
2. Amica Wronki.................13- 9 2 2 24-13 29
3. Legia Warszawa..............13- 7 5 1 20-10 26
4. Gornik Leczna.................13- 7 1 5 16-19 22
5. Groclin Dyskobolia............13- 6 4 3 28-12 22
6. Wisla Plock.....................13- 6 2 5 21-21 20
7. Gornik Zabrze..................13- 5 5 3 16-13 20
8. Dospel Katowice..............13- 5 3 5 11-21 18
9. Odra Wodzislaw...............13- 4 4 5 17-22 16
10. Lech Poznan...................13- 4 2 7 23-21 14
11. Polonia Warszawa............13- 2 5 6 10-17 11
12. Widzew Lodz...................13- 2 4 7 16-24 10
13. Gornik Polkowice..............13- 2 3 8 8-19 9
14. Świt Nowy Dwor..............13- 0 4 9 7-26 4

Top Scorers:

1.Zurawski (Wisla Krakow) – 12 goals
2.Kryszalowicz (Amica) – 10
2.Reiss (Lech) – 10
4.Svitlica (Legia) – 9
5.Jelen (Wisla Plock) – 8

[pyrtas]

Polonia - dramatic situation . And it is uncertain if fans initiative to buy the club from current owner and make it a new institution will happen. Not enough money and not sure if it is ok with the law.

Lech - in 10mln PLN debt - falling behind with tax payment - difficult situation...

Polkowice - said to be one of the reachest clubs still haven`t paid over half a million PLN to players for winning the promotion to Ekstraklasa.

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Seems that it is really hard to manage a club to keep it clear of debts. Some people are able to do it so who are the others? Clumsy career-seekers or dodgy characters?

[pyrtas]

17 year old Bukowiec from Gornik is likely to join Inter Milan !!!!! So far Everton was interested but because of the agreement between Inter and Gornik Milan transfer seems to be more likely.

If it happens it`ll be that Inter would buy hiim and loan back to Gornik.
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Widzew Lodz - may be withdrawn from the league if not pay their debts... Huge ones. They owe to everyone...

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Groclin president - Drzymala - doesn`t want to sell any of his star-players. He wants to go as far as possible in the uefa cup.
Groclin are interested in Gornik striker - Sikora, Odra defender - Gorski, U21 stars - Stasiak and Kowalczyk

[coobek]

Kowalczyk just past medical test for Wisla so I doubt he will join Groclin.

[pyrtas]

You`re right.

Groclin desperately want to loan Pogon star player - Batata. They want him to play and help Groclin in the Uefa cup. They offer Wos and Rocki in exchange. 2 good players for 1 a bit better? Good deal for both sides IMO.

[Big Pete]

Is Batata really only 24 years old? He is been playing in Poland for as long as I can remember, how old was he when he arrived? 12 or 14 years old.
I love mashed Batata and gravy!!

[Big Pete]

How old is Zurawski and what kind of price tag is on him? It's for my list for anta

How many teams are in serious risk of going bankrupt this season? It's incredible that in all countries, no matter if there previously have been communism, capitalism or whatever, the majority of directors in football clubs have an ability to spend more money than they make.

What is up with Widzew and Poznan. I don't care whether they have financial problems or not, teams like that belong in the upper half of the league.

[coobek]

Zurawski is 5 mln € but can be talked to 3 mln €.

Batata is in Poland since he was 16, I guess in special school for talented Brazilians runned by Ptak - he is the only one + maybe Leandro from Widzew who came out a success.

He is far more legitimate to become a Pole (speaks great Polish) than Olisadebe ever was and he wants to play for us.

Widzew is in chaotic state of finances and organization.

Lech should be doing OK in Spring after coach change.

[pyrtas]

2003 "Pilka Nozna" (football magazine) awards went to:

1.player of the year - JAcek Krzynowek (Nerenberg)
2.coach of the year - Jacek Zielinski (Gornik Leczna)
3.breakthrough of the year - Marcin Nowacki (Odra Wodzislaw)
4.official of the year - Zbigniew Drzymała (Groclin owner)
5.foreigner of the year - Dusan Radolski (Groclin coach)
6.team of the year - Groclin Grodzisk