Serbia - Meridian Super League (29/09/07)

[kojic2003]

Partizan Belgrade vs Red Star Belgrade

Pick: Red Star Belgrade +1/2(1.94 at Pinnacle)



Partizan have started this season with an amazing 11:1 win on agg over Zrinjski in the UEFA Cup!Two spectacular performances by them and they could have easily scored 20 goals considering the way they played and a number of big goal opportunities!Everyone said that Zrinjski were just too weak...Might be a true, but still Zrinjski pushed Rabotnicki all the way in the next round - the side who caused Bolton all sorts of troubles a few days ago(1:1), so the wins ain't to be underestimated at all!However, Partizan are suspended due to well known reasons and they're full focused on national league now!They suffered some wholesale changes this year and this turned to be very positive at the end.New coach(since January) - Miroslav Djukic(ex-Valencia and Deportivo star) did some nice things with Serbia U21 in the Euro U21 in Holland a couple of months ago and with the board he made (surprisingly) a fantastic team at Partizan as well!With no much money invested...New signings, DefMid Juca from Brazilian top side Botafogo, playmaker Moreira and in-hot-form striker Diarra have turned Partizan into a spectacular and a real-joy-to-watch team!At least a class above the one who played some classy footy against Djurgarden, Newcastle, Real Madrid, Porto and Marseille in the CL matches(qualies and group) a couple of years ago!They're creating and scoring for fun right now and surely, for the first time over the past few years, Partizan are pretty much a big favorites in this derby.

With the current (FUNNY) coach Kosanovic in charge, Red Star are simply unable to play a decent football at the moment.Some amazingly stupid formations, lineups, tactics,...,week in and week out!!!In the UEFA Cup against Groclin, Red Star have missed a number of players(captain Milovanovic, top scorer Koroman, big signing Jestrovic, top player Burzanovic, exciting Molina left on the bench...), but still Kosanovic has (only God knows why) decided to pull two best players on the pitch until that moment Hernan Barcos and Franklin Salas out of the game and Red Star finished the match with 3 centre-backs, 2 left-backs(!?!?) and 4 defensive midfielders(!?!?) and one hopeless guy up front(18/19-year-old Filip Djordjevic)!Total confusion on the pitch which resulted with some big chances for Groclin and Red Star should thank only goalkeeper Randjelovic for a postive results, though Red Star still hit the woodwork and had a number of big chances of their own, with control of the match in the second half, but still it's far from being acceptable considering the ambitions of the team!

So, why Red Star(+1/2) then?Firstly, everyone still believes that Red Star have got enough quality players in the squad and they're simply a huge underachievers due to some different reasons(read: Coach)!Argentina international Hernan Barcos was on the scoresheet in the cup match a couple of days ago and generally he's showing some big signs of improvements after lots of problems in the beggining.Much sharper and clearly more confident these days...He was pushing for the national team of Argentina for Copa America this summer, so despite being heavily critizised by the medias after a bad start at the club, he's no bad player at all!Also, an every single fan was hoping for new signing from Argentinian side San Lorenzo, super attractive, Mauricio Alejandro Molina-Mao to finally start the match and it did happen in the midweek, in the cup match and as expected he was named "Man of the Match", although after a couple of "brilliant" subs by coach Kosanovic, Red Star lost the control in the second half!Only 10 minutes on the pitch and Molina scored in his way, another spectacular goal!Ecuador international Franklin "El Mago" Salas is another very improved player, after an injury problems!Some amazing touches against Groclin and in a couple of other matches and he could be pushing for the starting lineup!Basta, Segundo Castillo, Lucas, Milijas, Jestrovic, Bronowicki, Gueye, Andjelkovic, Koroman, Burzanovic(doubtful)...are all available for selection, so except skipper Milovanovic(already long-term injury victim), Red Star are virtually at full strength!With the likes of Lucas and Segundo Castillo(poor form though; signed a four-year contract with Juventus and will join them at the end of the season, so obviously lacks motivation) in midfield, Red Star have got enough class to take the care of Moreira, Juca & Co!Red Star also with pretty deep squad!

The tradition over the past 5-6 years(and also in overall) clearly supports Red Star!Even ex-Partizan and Aston Villa controversial player Sasa Curcic has just admited that Partizan has got a very serious complex in these matches over the year!In his time at Partizan and also nowadays...

[Dusan]

Only for information Sasa Curcic spended several milions of pounds and he now only have pension.

I am Red Star fan and this year Red Star simply IS NO GOOD.
If there is justice Partizan will win.

[shima]

Kosanovic isnt so bad manager and red star signings are awfull,i watched every red star game!Simpy 3 partizan signings are much better than all red tar internationals.For me partizan is in better mood right now,best tem in the country,great style of play...etc....etcand for the first time in last couple of years FULL STADIUM.
Pick:PARTIZAN 2.1