AUGUST 2022
Wednesday 3rd August
Fortuna I Liga - Stal Rzeszow (Home)
Lineup: M.Bieganski, K.Gruszkowski, I.Lasicki (I.Jelic-Balta 49), D.Szot, D.Herold, V.Basha, P.Plewka (W.Szywacz 67), M.Zyro, L.Fernandez (T.Pienko 49),
D.Hugi*, A.Rodado (M.Mlinksi 67)
We were well in control of this fixture throughout, having 18 shots on goal and an incredible 72% possession. We made 615 of 736 attempted passes in this match which is excellent at this level of football!
Saturday 6th August
Fortuna I Liga - Sandecja Nowy Sacz (Away)
Lineup: M.Bieganski, K.Gruszkowski (B.Jaroch 57), I.Lasicki, D.Szot (I.Jelic-Balta 57), J.Niewiadomski, W.Szywacz, P.Plewka,
M.Zyro*, L.Fernandez, D.Hugi, A.Rodado
Another win to make it 3 from 3. We definitely don't look as confident away from home in these early stages of the season, but hopefully that will come in time, especially if we keep stringing together good results.
Wednesday 10th August
Fortuna I Liga - Skra Czestochowa (Home)
Lineup: M.Bieganski, B.Jaroch, I.Lasicki (I.Jelic-Balta 57), D.Szot, D.Herold, V.Basha (P.Plewka 83), W.Szywacz, M.Pereira,
L.Fernandez* (T.Pienko 70), M.Mlynski, A.Rodado
Our opponents came into this game having lost all of their opening 3 games, so we fully expected to keep up our 100% record and we did. The pick of the goals was Vullnet Basha's powerful effort from 28 yards that flew past the keeper into the roof of the net!
Then it was time for the big one! The clash between the two hot favourites to win the league this year!
Saturday 13th August
Fortuna I Liga - Bruk-Bet Nieciecza (Away)
Lineup: M.Bieganski, K.Gruszkowski, I.Lasicki, I.Jelic-Balta (D.Szot 77), D.Herold, V.Basha, P.Plewka,
M.Zyro*, L.Fernandez (W.Szywacz 86), D.Hugi (M.Mlynski 71), A.Rodado
We found ourselves completely under the kosh in the first half as our opponents had 10 shots at our goal to our 3 chances on theirs. Somehow, though, we carried a 2-1 lead into the break! Despite us being ahead, I still demanded a better performance in the second half and we came out and dominated the remainder of the game, adding a 3rd goal in injury time to seal a big victory and a massive 3 points early in the season.
Saturday 20th August
Fortuna I Liga - Zaglebie Sosnowiec (Home)
Lineup: M.Bieganski, K.Gruszkowski, I.Lasicki, D.Szot, D.Herold, V.Basha, B.Talar (W.Szywacz 61), M.Zyro, T.Pienko, D.Hugi (M.Mlynski 74),
A.Rodado* (L.Fernandez 80)
A very nice victory against the side that is 3rd in the table at these early stages. We rode our luck at times but overall would say that the best team won!
Saturday 27th August
Fortuna I Liga - Arka Gdynia (Away)
Lineup: M.Bieganski, K.Gruszkowski (Sent Off 86), I.Lasicki, D.Szot, D.Herold, V.Basha, B.Talar (P.Plewka 67), M.Zyro (B.Jaroch 86), L.Fernandez, D.Hugi, A.Rodado (T.Pienko 67)
We drop points for the first time this season and we just weren't anywhere near our best today. Janusz Gol put them in front early with an absolute cracker of a strike and maybe that threw us off our stride, but the lads were told at full time in no uncertain terms that we were not good enough here.
Tuesday 30th August
Puchar Polski 1st Round - Polonia Bytom (Away)
Lineup: D.Fratczak, B.Jaroch, B.Moltenis (D.Szot 66), I.Jelic-Balta, J.Niewiadomski, B.Talar (P.Plewka 77), W.Szywacz, M.Pereira (M.Zyro 66), K.Duda (L.Fernandez 66),
M.Mlynksi*, A.Rodado (T.Pienko 90)
We'd drawn lower league opposition in the first round of the cup, so I took the opportunity to rest a few players, with no less than 9 changes made to the starting lineup from our last game. Half way through the second half though and the score still tied, I started to introduce the big guns and it was eventually Luis Fernandez who got the goal in extra time that put our noses in front. Mateusz Mlynksi then added his second before a lot consolation goal from our opponents. A tight game where the lower league side pushed us every bit of the way!
On the last day of the month, I received a bid for my number 1 keeper from Sampdoria. The value was just £425k and it would take more than that for me to let him go, but I just hope this hasn't turned the youngster's head.
However, my fears were quickly realised as he has been complaining to his teammates about me rejecting the bid!
And that has all of a sudden increased the interest in him! With so many big teams here, I'm going to struggle to keep the talented keeper on our books and it might come down to maximising the money I can get for him!
FORTUNA I LIGA
Our unbeaten start to the season means we have opened up a small 3 point gap at the top of the table, but maybe more importantly we are a good 7 points ahead of Bruk-Bet who were seen as our main rivals for the title this year.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ANGEL RODADO
My main striker bagged himself 7 goals (including 3 braces) and an assist this month in 7 games. He was run close by a couple of other players for the award though with a few in really good form this month.
LEAGUE AWARDS
The schedule calms down a little next month with just the four Saturday games for us. It's likely to be a testing month though with all of our four opponents inside the current top 10.