Ekstraklasa is back, finally. After 104-days long summer, players can again show us why we are following the league, going to the stadiums, paying for the tickets etc... What are the most interesting stories after matchday one?
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We are starting with Śląsk Wrocław and another defeat, one even more worrying than the ones in European Cups. Against Widzew, Lenczyk's players turned up only when they were two-nil down, getting back to the game through Kaźmierczak's header. It is unbelievable how poor the champions were, even without six players that were out suspended for abusive chants at Legia in May. Orest Lenczyk's selection was baffling - he sent out three defensive midfielders, one winger and one central midfielder and a striker. He had all week to prepare them but struggle to prepare any plan, as Śląsk looked clueless throughout ninety minutes. Of course, this defeat put even more pressure on the manager and early rumours were that he will be sacked - saved yet by the owners as they put the blame on players, who, in their opinion, underperformed. Talks with the team and manager will be set up soon and we should find out how the future shapes - there are informations that Piotr Nowak may be the closest to taking over, yet this should be stressed that along with possible sacking of Lenczyk, several players should be signed off for their unprofessional behaviour. Match with Widzew is only one of examples.
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In eight games we have seen 28 goals, the best result since 2009 in a single round. Looking for reasons for this fantastic number, we can name at least two - finally, in the opening weekend, we have seen two goals coming from direct free-kicks, while in last season we had to wait till November for Sebastian Mila's strike. New balls, perhaps? There were few decent moves, quicker and shaper but the standard of defending and goalkeeping should also be the subject of the discussion. Gliwa, Buchalik, Kelemen were all at fault, while back fours of Śląsk, Korona and Ruch Chorzów should be questioned for lack of form and effort.
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How many games you have to play to be well prepared for the season? Apparently, the less the better! When you go through pre-season Ekstraklasa clubs had, the lower number of friendlies team had was eight - for the purpose matches in the European cups were counted in as games played before the start of the league. So five games played in the pre-season because of all the problems Polonia's squad were through could actually be a good thing. They were put through some hard, physical work early on, on Józef Wojciechowski's demand, then to play five games in quick succession, just to get prepared and give players some shape the manager Piotr Stokowiec wanted. Of course, the game with Lechia could go other way and there were times in the second half when hosts were close to a draw, but that shouldn't overshadow the fact, that Polonia played really well in stages, showing promising movement and enough quality to think about them not as relegation candidates.
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Lech's performance against Ruch Chorzow in an impressive 4-0 win puts more questions over Mariusz Rumak's credentials than it is answering few of them. How can a team once perform that good, only to be absolutely awful against lower league opposition in the cup week before, then even earlier in the European Cups. It is also strange, that he is unwilling to fit in the team players such as Jakub Wilk and Jacek Kiełb - both returned from rather successful loan spells at Lechia and Korona respectively - saying them that they are unwanted. Kiełb found himself at Polonia and scored on his debut, Wilk is looking at options. This is partly a reason for looking for pay cuts in the wage budget, spare finances for possible move of a striker that is needed, despite promising performance from Ślusarski. The good news is that Gergő Lovrencsics fit well in the team, showing great set of skills, wide range of qualities, noting goal and an assist, both with hard outside-volley hits. Rumak is under pressure to perform in the league, he needs results to back his work but until the moment, he showed that his ego is growing, not experience or willingness to learn from mistakes. If he will keep admitting that everything is fine at Lech, he will not stay long - his side is having mixed results, something that will not be welcomed in Poznan.
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Five minutes before half time, after Tomasz Hołota was injured for Polonia Warszawa, Dieme Yahiya made his Ekstraklasa debut, following his move from fourth division. The most interesting thing about this midfielder from Senegal is, that while playing at one of previous clubs, due to poor wages and lack of money, he had to work also as a security man at the parking place in Chorzow. Needless to say, he doesn't have to worry about the other job now and his rather optimistic performance gives him more chances to start against Lech Poznan in the upcoming series of games.
Results and the table are HERE.
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