A City On The River ''Drava''

Thought the team is capable of a TOP4, squad itself has lost two key players to Arabians, in Darko Nejašmić who was an integral part of our midfield, leading everything that was good from the back, Progressive ball carries up the field & dictating the play well. Another big name player for Osijek is Ramón Miérez, El Toro is known for his great goalscoring abilities in air, but he game lays in much more then just goals & offensive contributions but also his overall game with solid ball control, managing to keep the ball usually away from the defenders while still creating space, chances & winning duels on ground but over more in air. Which was greatly in use in his defensive roles too at corners or freekick. Amount of pressing, running, coming back to help both midfield and defenders deserved him the nickname ‘’EL Toro'' while being a fan favorite for the whole stint and will stay so for a long time.

3rd crucial player who has sadly not reach the level we all would've loved is Kristijan Lovrić, 28yo Croatian Winger who has managed a single appearance in the NT after being the heart and beat in NK Gorica for 3.5 seasons scoring 46 goals as a winger and 28 assist in 111 games, another 8 goals in 9 cup games brings it to overall 82 g/a in 120 games.

Being brought for about 2 million euros at winter of 21/22 season, in 64 games had managed only 22 goal contributions. Leaving on a free this summer to Turkish Amedspor in 2nd Tier.

For the absence of players who were either sold, loaned or not have not extended their contracts, Osijek brought in Pedro Lima on load from Palmeiras, at first glance a similar profile to Darko but yet slightly better on ball, solid psychically but definitely not on same level defensively. Another shout is Marko Soldo who is more defence oriented and may help win possession back rather than loosing it.

In the lost of Bralić for Free to Slovenian Celje in place have been brought both Italian Alessandro Tuia from Lecce as an experience player and Luka Jelinić from Varaždin, both on a Free to give some depth at the back line. Emin Hasić is another CB who is included in the team, seen as a potencial big player, at age 21 does not seem as someone who will improve much, hope some game time can help both him and us out since we are not challenging for a title in our 1st season.

A Dutch 22yo came in for some depth on the wings, Ricuenio Kewal will be able to run the touchline quite alot, especially on the outer side of the field as he will spend more warming up rather then start matches, at least for now.

Hernâni is a Portuguese Experienced winger, replacing Lovrić shouldn't be a difficult task, but hopefully it will not take a long time to settle in, especially with the arrival of his younger compatriot Tiago Dantas, coming in from Paok, the 23yo had made 2 appearances for Bayern Munich in Bundesliga. He is definitely the best player in our squad and should be the priority and foundation to be built on for any future success we are more then desperate for.

Austrian Arnel Jakupović had been brought in to try and replace Miérez, at first looks good but has some way to go to repeat what has been left of with the departure of Argentine Striker. 

Swiss Kemal Ademi had also been brought in to help out in the goalscoring department, being 195 cm should be the main target for most crosses.

Last name to mention is another loaned player, Dinamo goalkeeper who spent a year at Lokomotiva to gain Senior minutes at the Top Flight had shown great performances for the team at Kranjčevićeva. Keeping 10 CS in 33 starts out of 36, helping them fight his new team for an European spot for the 24/25 season.

With an easy start in 2nd qualifying round against Transinvest from Lithuania, we booked a flight to Belgium for the match vs Gent. With pleasing results & perfomances fans cannot get out enough praise for Kemal Ademi or Hernâni. Having shown us so far they're an unstoppable force upfront. Contributing up to nine goals.

From the right wing with a fair share of minutes, Kewal put some solid - consistent game on, showing we can trust him for the forthcoming matches. Bukvić one of our own home grown players at the club is showing fair competition as they both put 6 assist on the table. 

Tiago Dantas in pair with Pedro Lima is shining in the centre midfield, he is composed and calm with the ball, clear lack of match preparation from each opponent had seen given Tiago to much space & time, which he gladly uses to show his inner Prime Modrić on the field.

Last player i have to mention is El Capitano, Vedran Jugović. Loyal to the club playing his 11th season at Osijek, he never had complaints about his minutes nor for where he plays. Fortunate or unfortunate, for me either being moved to the wing or a FB position (caused by events of a either injury or red cards) he had been versatile and left his heart out.

Opening with a 3:0 win at home, followed by two 6 goals scoring games by us in both HNL & UEL, we found ourself struggle in the 1H vs Slaven Belupo, which did not get easier with a goal down heading into 2H especially with a man down from 56th minute. With a few changes and a move of Jugović to Right Inverted Wing Back (WB Guedes sent off) to cover a lack of man on the wing back but also push inside and be a 2nd men with Soldo in pivot positions.

As the reward for his work and love he scores an equaliser, though we had to come back a 2nd time after Božić scored a header from a corner, we respond within 5 minutes from a set piece, throw in from Omerović to Vedran, Captain one touch pass to his left inside the box finds Pušić and seals the ball top lefties, being wide open as Ademi holds both LB - Lučić and Božić to free the space for Petar to run into and score from 13 meters.

Week later with our trip to Aldo Drosina in Pula, yet again our 1H was poor leading to an early goal from Matej Vuk in 10th minute, to make things worse 2nd red in two games, this time for Jurišić in 30th minute had us struggle all the way to the 90th minute, with our 1st shot on target being scored by Ademi.

Being optimistic especially after our two comebacks vs Slaven i have kept the boys to continue looking for the winner in added time, ignoring all our struggles until then to even reach their penalty box, and despite them having 15 shots by then. We've seen two good chances for ourselves out but the better team that day won with a 2:1 at home, with a goal scored by debuted off the bench 18 year old Dominik Celija. Afterwards we headed to beat Gent & Šibenik at home, struggled with Fehérvár at Pampas chasing a draw all game, with 20yo Šimun's goal in 90+3'. At our high got thrown around away from home at Maksimir, beaten 3:0 with no hopes but no dreams destroyed as we got enough fuel in us to go and win away in Székesfehérvár, city of over 90 thousand  inhabitants.

Excited for our European journey, looking forward to our trips in UEL and also to Split soon to face Hajduk Split.

JANUARY MID SEASON UPDATE

Gentlemen, a short view back to the past.

As said couple months ago, we are a TOP4 team.

Could have i done better in some games?  YES, can only blame myself for not sitting in 2nd right now with four or five more points.

Why are you not higher in the league?  Overthinking, aware of competition in the squad for places,

while we have been out in three fronts of competitions (League, Cup, UECL), participating in 35 games from August to mid December had

been quite a stroke to the lads. Usually playing 40-ish games in a season for past couple years to now doing about 87% of that in

before hitting Christmas. That had fully affected us with tired legs, some poor defensive performances of late, for 3 months

we would either get a clean sheet or min. 2 goals in our net. TBH no team has less then 20 conceded in the league.

Istra in 5th with 23 AG, Rijeka 24 AG etc. It has been a festival of goals in Croatia.

In these 19 league games, 31 players have been rotated.

With Jakupović missing out 12 weeks caused by a broken rib & Hamstring Strain,

all responsibility fell to Ademi as our main and only worth no.9 scoring 17 goals across

three competitions. Hernâni himself contributed with 22 g/a from the left flank, while Petar Pušić brought 10 g/a and had been of significant help beating anyone in 1v1 or 1v2 situation with his quick feets, unfortunately missed out for 5 weeks and without him, Kewal was my starter RW in November and December.

All though we did not have trouble with scoring, especially with our midfield creating chances as they are nothing, With 28 assist - 13 of them being Tiago Dantas alone. Defending transitions and being out numbered in our 20 meters on multiple occasions in almost every match so far since mid - late October.

Sorted out some of them issues with a new tactic being trained and helped to keep us the lead or a draw (example. in which games it has been used - Fenerbahçe 0:0, Istra 2:1, Slaven 1:1, Varaždin 2:0 & Gorica 2:2)

With a José Mourinho inspired System, used firstly against his Team in europe then across on several occasion in the league. a 4-2-3-1 with two dm's In possession, they need to be powerful and athletic, both in and out of possession. They also need to be somewhat press resistant. They are linking up everything of the centre backs up to the lads in advanced positions. Their aggressiveness forced the opposition to move back and hold the play, with a proper balance combining it with being discipline to not overcommit in situation, which we struggled up to that point giving away to many free kick near our box.

Main focus of mine will be the league, priority is to finish 2nd and get that single Europe League spot, Bring in another LB since Jurišić is sensitive and gets heated to often, awarding him with 7 yellows & 1 red card so far. Will need to look for another RW too since Petar is looking for a move in January, and i can not relay on only Kewal. Possible another Striker since Arnel been showing his fragile side. If funds allow, centre back with some pace, as often mine CB's struggle to follow the feet of some pacey Strikers out there.