Bojan Krkic

eZe^

Ok so Ive been seeing a couple of threads about up and coming youngsters (Anderson/ Pato for example) so I thought Id see what ye think of this kid. 17 year old Bojan Krkic.

For Barcelona's youth teams he has scored 961 goals in seven years, breaking all previous goal scoring records held at the club. Youngest player ever to feature in the CL, Barcelona's youngest ever league scorer. He has scored 7 goals in 9 starts (with a total of 23 appearances) in the league. In a team full of stars he is shining because of his youth and hunger atm.

Throughout the various youth Spanish nationals sides he has shined, he was the best player at Spains victory at the U17's European Championship, finishing joint top scorer. He scored two last night in the U21 clash against Kazakhstan including this nice bicycle kick;
http://www.dailymotion.com/search/bojan/video/x4uj58_30-bojan-espagne-kazakhstan-21_sport


So what are your opinions, do you think he could go down in history as one of Spains greats, or just another overrated kid who will fail to make a big name for himself?


On a sidenote;
U21 Spain's line-up from Goal

Valladolid's keeper Sergio Asenjo, Miguel Torres (R.Madrid), Marc Torrejón (Espanyol), Gerard Piqué (Manchester Utd), Ignacio Monreal (Osasuna), Juan Mata (Valencia), José Manuel Jurado (Atlético de Madrid), Javi Martínez (Athletic), Diego Capel (Sevilla) and Kike Solá (Osasuna) + Bojan (Barcelona)

Spain really have a very very very promising future.

kryogen

i havent seen enough to form a full opinion of this kid yet but by all accounts and the little bits i have seen he looks absolutely fantastic, i think he really will be a star for many years if he reaches anything near the potential he has shown so far.

also, he turns into one hell of a striker in football manager

An Citeog

I'm a huge fan of Bojan and think he'll go on to achieve great things with Barça (a la Raul with Real). I really like his attitude aswell. He's so determined, always plays with a smile on his face and works his bollix off for the team. I've read a few interviews with him and he seems really down to earth and very mature for his age.

People rave about him all the time over here but he doesn't get as much media attention as he would in England, mainly because the spotlight is on Messi. I remember the first time I saw him was in his debut against Osasuna this season. In the 90th minute and the score is still 0-0, he tried this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiyOw37a9oA

It didn't come off and the game finished 0-0 but I remember thinking, this guy's got balls. Since then, I've been more impressed with him everytime I've seen him play. He's quick (not lightning), strong and very direct and I think he really plays to his strengths. He's also formed a really good relationship with Thierry Henry and Bojan has nothing but praise for him and says that he's always around to offer advice, which is in stark contrast to the way he was cited as a negative influence on the youngsters at Arsenal.

In conclusion, I think Bojan will be a huge player for Barça over the coming years but wont be seen as a real superstar on the world stage (just my opinion). He's still got a lot to learn but at 17, he's got both the ability and the attitude to go on to great things with Barça. He's Catalan(ish:p) aswell, which means he'll get plenty of opportunities at Barça.

Peyton Manning

Another of the many prodigys on the scene these days. Not a patch on Pato in my opinion, that guy has the potential to be an all-time great.

An Citeog

Archimedes wrote: »

Another of the many prodigys on the scene these days. Not a patch on Pato in my opinion, that guy has the potential to be an all-time great.

I don't think Bojan will go down as an all-time great but I do think he could have a similar effect at Barça as Raul has had at Real. It's early days yet though but imho he has the ability and mentality to do it.

Peyton Manning

An Citeog wrote: »

I don't think Bojan will go down as an all-time great but I do think he could have a similar effect at Barça as Raul has had at Real. It's early days yet though but imho he has the ability and mentality to do it.

I meant Pato could go down as an all time great, not Bojan. Although you'd never know...

An Citeog

Archimedes wrote: »

I meant Pato could go down as an all time great, not Bojan. Although you'd never know...

I haven't seen that much of Pato tbh so I'm not going to comment on him. If you'd class Raul as one of the all time greats, then I think Bojan can reach that level. Hopefully anyway!:)

Zapp Brannigan

My mates are sick of me going on about him. I love the lad, he looks great and he's got a bit of class to him. I think he'll be a big star in the future.

yahoo_moe

I think Raul at Real is a really interesting (and worthwhile) comparison.

It's so hard to make it at a big club when you're there from such a young age but from what I've seen, Bojan's got the ability and the confidence (at the moment) to do so. But it's whether he can stay the course like Raul has (eg getting through that dodgy patch a couple of years ago) that'll be the real test and that's impossible to say - what'll certainly help is the support he seems to enjoy from the top people at Barca, which is vital.

denashpot

fantastic player for barca! him and messi together will be unstoppable!!

armour87

Really like the look of him, already an FM08 legend!

Xavi6

eZe^ wrote: »

On a sidenote;
U21 Spain's line-up from Goal

Valladolid's keeper Sergio Asenjo, Miguel Torres (R.Madrid), Marc Torrejón (Espanyol), Gerard Piqué (Manchester Utd), Ignacio Monreal (Osasuna), Juan Mata (Valencia), José Manuel Jurado (Atlético de Madrid), Javi Martínez (Athletic), Diego Capel (Sevilla) and Kike Solá (Osasuna) + Bojan (Barcelona)

Spain really have a very very very promising future.

Everyone knows about Bojan and he will be class but the guy I've bolded is who I'm keeping an eye on.

Jurado is a top quality attacking midfielder at Athletico and I think he has a big future ahead of him in La Liga. You heard it here first!

eZe^

Well, looking at that, Mata, Bojan, Capel, Jurado and Pique could all easily make the Spanish senior squad, its crazy how a team with such depth and skill under performs so badly.

Peyton Manning

Id say Javi Martinez is the most exciting prospect from that Spain u21 side.

eZe^

Capel for me personally, he'd probably be on the left of my la liga team of the season, absolutely quality for a 20 year old. He's started to dive regularly though so I hope he can cut that out.

CantGetNoSleep

Anyone think Sergio Aguero is as good as him? Only 19 still if I'f correct

eZe^

Aguero is up front with Fabiano in my team of the year. Absolute quality, scored again today against Egypt. Its amazing that players are stepping up to the plate so early in their careers these days.

Dont be at yourself

The absolute best thing for Bojan would be for him to leave Barca. They're a comedy club, and you cant help but wonder how much better Henry, Ronnie, Messi, Deco and company would be performing at a club with more discipline.

Still, if Frank really is going at the end of the season, things may change.

ShoulderChip

would they all get into the irish squad?

Xavi6

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

The absolute best thing for Bojan would be for him to leave Barca. They're a comedy club, and you cant help but wonder how much better Henry, Ronnie, Messi, Deco and company would be performing at a club with more discipline.

Still, if Frank really is going at the end of the season, things may change.

Nothing wrong with them when they won the Champions League the year before last....

I don't see why any of those players would want to leave when they get to play with such quality players as each other (and Xavi) week in, week out.

UnitedIrishman

Archimedes wrote: »

Id say Javi Martinez is the most exciting prospect from that Spain u21 side.

Was just about to say that. He's maturing very well basically because he has to really in such a poor side as Athletic. If he decides to leave I'd imagine there'll be a long queue of clubs looking to sign him.

The absolute best thing for Bojan would be for him to leave Barca. They're a comedy club, and you cant help but wonder how much better Henry, Ronnie, Messi, Deco and company would be performing at a club with more discipline.

Still, if Frank really is going at the end of the season, things may change.

There's an interesting article in FourFourTwo this month about the players they've produced and it just shows that whilst there is always the talk about the likes of Arsenal (who buy in their youngsters), Barca get their youths in at 7 or 8 stating that its too late for them to learn the Barcelona way when they're 17 or so.

Iniesta, Messi (at Barca since age of 13) Puyol and Xavi have fared out alright in recent times so Bojan should be ok. I think he can surpass Raul in terms of greatness if the club can get their act together again.

Dont be at yourself

I don't see why any of those players would want to leave when they get to play with such quality players as each other (and Xavi) week in, week out.

There's no doubting that the squad of players they have is one of, if not the best group of players in the world. However, we too often hear stories of in-squad feuds, kick-about training sessions, players setting their own training schedules and so on. We see that Ronaldinho, once the best player in the world, has piled on the weight and seems wholly disinterested on the pitch. If even half of it is true, they're well on their way to becoming the soccer Harlem Globetrotters.

They say Ten Caat was the bad cop to Rijkaard's good cop. Perhaps something can be drawn from the fact that the players' slump in form and fitness occured around the time he left. With Rijkaard supposedly packing his bags this summer, it is essential that they get in a strong, no-nonsense coach to whip them back into shape. Benitez and Mourinho have both been linked. I don't think Rafa's the man to do it, but Maureen is ideal. Shame about all the malarky when they met in the CL.

Xavi6

Apart from Ronaldinho, who else had their weight soar and looks disinterested? Can't say anyone else has been named and shamed.

Dont be at yourself

Whatever about soaring weight, virtually the entire squad looks less sharp and interested than a couple of years ago.

Wasn't it this time last year that Etoo had a big moan, refusing to come on to the pitch as a substitute because of injury, despite being declared fit by the medical staff?

At the end of the day, Barcelona have the talent to be head & shoulders above the best team in the world. The fact that they're struggling to catch a Real Madrid who are having possibly their worst ever run of form speaks volumes about their mentality more than anything. They're not in crisis - they'll always do enough to paper over the cracks - but there is no disputing that they're underperforming.

UnitedIrishman

Barca for a start shouldn't have brought in Henry but I suppose you can say hindsight is 20-20. I mean if Rijkaard was really clued in he would've realised that there was really very little wrong with the squad he already had and with the likes of Bojan and Dos Santos coming through they would only get better. But now he seems to be playing Henry almost because he has to.

That said the problem isn't really up front - Valdes is a liability, Zambrotta isn't working at right back, Puyol is playing extremely poor stuff at the minute.

A strong manager would look at the squad and say that its time to take a chance. Toure, Xavi and Iniesta behind Ronaldinho, Bojan and Messi. Fair enough Ronaldinho has been labelled overweight and out of shape and whatever, but IMO there are players that you can't leave out purely because above all else their class will stand out - Cantona was hardly the fittest man alive in his last year at United.

Xavi6

Yet they are still in the Champions League, are only 4 points off Madrid now and dished out a thrashing at the weekend (4-1, they only conceded a peno).

Not exactly panic button material to be fair. Every team suffers a slump, and it wouldn't be the first time Barca did it (if they are in fact even in one)

I thought signing Henry was a great signing. The likes of Bojan and Dos Santos play in a similar role as Thierry so who better to learn from for a year or two?

UnitedIrishman

Xavi6 wrote: »

Yet they are still in the Champions League, are only 4 points off Madrid now and dished out a thrashing at the weekend (4-1, they only conceded a peno).

Not exactly panic button material to be fair. Every team suffers a slump, and it wouldn't be the first time Barca did it (if they are in fact even in one)

I thought signing Henry was a great signing. The likes of Bojan and Dos Santos play in a similar role as Thierry so who better to learn from for a year or two?

Thats largely down to Madrid dropping more points than Barca in recent times. Before the game at the weekend they had drew, lost, lost, drew and lost in league games. With a squad as good as theirs they shouldn't be on that kind of run. If Madrid had any sort of form (L-L-W-W-L-L) they'd be ten points ahead but amazingly it seems no one wants to win the Spanish league this year!

Henry has been stuck out on the wing for most of the campaign which is slightly a case of trying to stick a square peg in a round hole. You could argue he did this a lot for Arsenal, coming in off the left, but it was totally different.

Xavi6

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

Thats largely down to Madrid dropping more points than Barca in recent times. Before the game at the weekend they had drew, lost, lost, drew and lost in league games. With a squad as good as theirs they shouldn't be on that kind of run. If Madrid had any sort of form (L-L-W-W-L-L) they'd be ten points ahead but amazingly it seems no one wants to win the Spanish league this year!

Even with a squad as good as there, the standard of squads in La Liga in general is extremely high hence teams taking points off each other on a regular basis.

Henry has been stuck out on the wing for most of the campaign which is slightly a case of trying to stick a square peg in a round hole. You could argue he did this a lot for Arsenal, coming in off the left, but it was totally different.[/QUOTE]

Not really that different. Arsenal played 4-4-2 and Henry drifted to the left. Now Barca play 4-3-3 and he's on the left. Both formations still had a pivotal centre forward. It could even be argued that the Barca role is better for him and the team as he doesn't have an out and out winger on the left who is wanting to exploit the same space. Sometimes it looked like Arsenal were crowded on the left with A. Cole, Pires and Henry hugging the touchline. Not the same at Barca.

armour87

eZe^ wrote: »

Well, looking at that, Mata, Bojan, Capel, Jurado and Pique could all easily make the Spanish senior squad, its crazy how a team with such depth and skill under performs so badly.

Never mind not picking Arteta!

I think Vicente and Joaquin should be nowhere near the Spain team, saying that theres not an awful lot of other options. I like the look of Jesus Navas when he tries, although Ive seen him play dire at times too.

Abundance of top quality central midfielders.

Spain best 11 anyone?

An Citeog

armour87 wrote: »

Never mind not picking Arteta!

I think Vicente and Joaquin should be nowhere near the Spain team, saying that theres not an awful lot of other options. I like the look of Jesus Navas when he tries, although Ive seen him play dire at times too.

Abundance of top quality central midfielders.

Spain best 11 anyone?

I really like Navas as a player aswell but he suffers really badly from homesickness and has had to pull out of Spanish underage squads before because of it. Ideally, this is the way I'd like Spain to line up at the Euros,

---

Casillas

---

Ramos---Puyol---AN Other---AN Other

---

Albelda/Senna/Alonso

---

---

Xavi

---

Fabregas

---

---Iniesta

---

Villa

---

---

Torres

---

Not sure who should partner Puyol. Maybe Pablo from Atletico or Capdevila who played reasonably well yesterday. There are a few more options aswell. No real standout options at left back for me either (maybe Arbeloa can make that position his own) but the midfield and forwards practically pick themselves. Depending on the opponent and on their relative form, one of Albelda, Senna or Xabi Alonso to anchor the midfield. Xavi and Fabregas are too good to leave out and Iniesta has been unreal this season. I think playing him as a wing forward would give him a lot more freedom and allow him to influence the game more. Torres and Villa pick themselves aswell. Then on the bench, you've got players like David Silva, Joaquin (who's been fairly poor this season), perhaps Capel, Tamudo, Güiza and a few others. They have the players to win the Euros but Aragones really needs to get them playing to their strengths.

armour87

An Citeog wrote: »

I really like Navas as a player aswell but he suffers really badly from homesickness and has had to pull out of Spanish underage squads before because of it. Ideally, this is the way I'd like Spain to line up at the Euros,

---

Casillas

---

Ramos---Puyol---AN Other---AN Other

---

Albelda/Senna/Alonso

---

---

Xavi

---

Fabregas

---

---Iniesta

---

Villa

---

---

Torres

---

Not sure who should partner Puyol. Maybe Pablo from Atletico or Capdevila who played reasonably well yesterday. There are a few more options aswell. No real standout options at left back for me either (maybe Arbeloa can make that position his own) but the midfield and forwards practically pick themselves. Depending on the opponent and on their relative form, one of Albelda, Senna or Xabi Alonso to anchor the midfield. Xavi and Fabregas are too good to leave out and Iniesta has been unreal this season. I think playing him as a wing forward would give him a lot more freedom and allow him to influence the game more. Torres and Villa pick themselves aswell. Then on the bench, you've got players like David Silva, Joaquin (who's been fairly poor this season), perhaps Capel, Tamudo, Güiza and a few others. They have the players to win the Euros but Aragones really needs to get them playing to their strengths.

Definetly.

But still no Arteta lol. Also from what I've seen of Tamudo, notably the Barcelona derby last year (I think) and bits of the Uefa final, he seems a real class act.

Any merit in the idea of Ramos at CB, I know he's playing at RB for Madrid mostly but didnt he play there a bit with Sevilla and perhaps even spells at Real?

Arbeloa is a good shout for LB.