AUGUST
UEFA Champions League Champions Path 3rd Qualifying Round 1st Leg
Lineup - Lukic, Erakovic (Gobeljic), Maksimovic, Dragovic, Rodic, Kangwa (Mijailovic), Ivanic (Stankovic), Bukari, Kanga, Katai,
Ratkov*
Very nice. Ratkov got his 2nd hat-trick of the season as we easily beat Dinamo Batumi. I may play some of my backups in the 2nd leg now.
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Lineup - Lukic, Erakovic, Maksimovic, Dragovic, Rodic (Azarovi), Kangwa, Ivanic,
Bukari*, Kanga, Katai, Ratkov
We were 3-0 up at half time and cruising and then we threatened to throw it all away as we conceded twice. Our defense needs to sharpen up!!!
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UEFA Champions League Champions Path 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
Lineup - Lukic, Gobeljic, Erakovic (Lekovic), Dragovic, Azarovi, Topic, Stankovic (Nikolic), Mijatovic (J.Mituljikic), Mitrovic (Knezevic), Motika,
Pesic*
My backups and youngsters came out to play here and they did well although it was a first choice player who got us on our way. Pesic scoring a hat-trick gives me a selection headache mind you.
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Lineup - Lukic, Gobeljic, Maksimovic, Lekovic,
Rodic*, Kangwa, Ivanic, Bukari (Mijatovic), Kanga (Mitrovic), Katai (Motika), Ratkov
We get the win but we have to convert our chances better. A rare clean sheet though!
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UEFA Champions League Champions Path Playoff 1st Leg
Lineup - Lukic, Erakovic, Maksimovic (Pankov), Dragovic, Rodic, Kangwa (Mijailovic), Ivanic (Stankovic), Bukari,
Kanga*, Katai, Ratkov (Pesic)
I am very pleased with this result as we take a lead back to Serbia although the red card changed things massively in our favour.
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Lineup - Lukic, Erakovic (Gobeljic), Maksimovic (Lekovic), Dragovic, Rodic, Kangwa, Ivanic, Bukari, Kanga, Katai,
Ratkov*
Ratkov scored a brace here to make it 7 games in a row that he has scored in in the league.
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UEFA Champions League Champions Path Playoff 2nd Leg
Lineup - Lukic, Erakovic (Gobeljic), Maksimovic, Dragovic, Rodic,
Kangwa*, Stankovic, Bukari, Kanga (Mitrovic), Katai (Motika), Ratkov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HERE WE COME!!!!
What a match this was! Ratkov put us ahead but then got sent-off and then in the 2nd half they levelled but Bukari scored a stunner to give us back our 2 goal advantage on aggregate. Then everything went wrong as they scored 2 quick goals but just when extra-time was looking like a formality Kings Kangwa was played in and he tucked it past their keeper to take us through to the group stages.
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Lineup - Lukic, Erakovic (Gobeljic), Maksimovic (Pankov), Lekovic, Rodic (Azarovi), Kangwa, Ivanic (Stankovic), Bukari, Kanga (Mitrovic), Katai,
Ratkov*
Another 2 goals for Petar Ratkov!!!! Thats 8 league games in a row that he has scored in now.
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Lineup - Lukic, Erakovic, Lekovic (Pankov), Dragovic, Rodic, Kangwa, Ivanic (Stankovic),
Bukari*, Kanga (Mitrovic), Katai (Motika), Ratkov (Pesic)
Ratkov's scoring run in the league ends here as he didnt have his shooting boots on. We created loads of chances but just didnt take them.
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SUMMARY
I dont think I have had a 10pt lead at the top of the table by January before but that is the situation that we find ourselves in. Basically the league title is ours as Partizan Belgrade are already a whopping 17pts behind us!!!!!
Our main focus was on the Champions League though and having defeated Dinamo Batumi 8-1 on aggregate we then went on to play Ferencvaros. We defeated them 2-1 away when they had 10 men and then in the 2nd leg it was our turn to have 10 men and we drew 3-3 to book our place into the group stages and here is our group.......
Pretty tough!!!!! 3rd place will be a decent achievement but in reality it is all a learning experience at the top table of European football.
No further signings were made but I did offload the 33y/o CB Milunovic for £87,000 and promoted 18y/o Stefan Lekovic in his place.
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PLAYER OF THE MONTH
PETAR RATKOV
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SUPERLIGA