DPrso

Hello everyone, Greetings from a Ranger's fan from Croatia. I just wan't to share a word or two about Niko Kranjčar with you becouse I've been following his career ever sine he played at u-17 level. Huge talent, Captain of Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 18, one step from a big transfer to Ac Mailand but...Dinamo had bad season when he was 19 and the president have decided to cut back player wages for 30 %. Kranjčar stood up in front of the players and refuse to take all the blame on the players. He asked that everyone at the club get punishment for the bad result( coaches and board). He was immidietly put on the transfer list and eventually sold to the Dinamo Zagreb's main rival Hajduk Split. More than 15 000 Hajduk's fans waited him on the arrival to Split cheering his name. He just cried, was thankful for support but he stated that he will allways be Dinamo Zagreb fan but he will utmost to give his best for Hajduk Split and...what a player he was playing for Hajduk Split, giving his best in every match and eventually winning a Croatian championship...Then he make a move to Portsmouth... About his playing style and his natural position. Niko has always looked lazy on the field even at his best. Not like he was not doing hard on training, he was always training hard, even stayed extra hours trying to improve his shoot and passing abilities and his fitness level. So it's not problem with his work ethic, problem is in his genetic predisposition... But his passing range, shoot, technical skills and vision are great. So almost all of his previous coaches have adjusted the match tactics to him. He has never played in DM role( only couple of months in QPR becouse of the injuries of other players). He was always best in Atacking midfielder centre role or in left midfielder role. In Hajduk Split, Portsmouth and Tottenham and Croatian national team he was playing that left midfielder role..and we was doing really well. That catch was that he always had a fast left fullback behind his back, so that left back had watched his back when he was in possesion of the ball. Best example: Tottenham Hotspur 2009/10. Kranjcar was starting left midfielder and Gareth Bale was behind his back on left back role. Kranjčar scored 9 goals and pick up 8 assists that season and Totteham have secured championship league slot at the and of the season. So what I really want to say, Mark Warburton is playin' Kranjcar on wrong position, especially with his current level of fitness ( I would say hi is on 75-80 %) and from my point of view his tactic doesn't suites a lot of other players.