Posts by Jonathan Barnes5

Kudos to the guys who stepped up... though it’s a shame they didn't go all the way and include the second half of the message too.😍

M.🤣
Goodness, people have certainly been piling on lately... I wonder if I can spot that in one of T.'s photos? Is she joining in on this too, or is it just an old story resurfacing?

I’ve always been one of those people who didn't feel the need to push my way to the front or fight for attention in the stands; my motivation was much simpler. I went to the games because I had a genuine love for this club and felt every high and low on the pitch personally, mostly just to enjoy the atmosphere, the camaraderie, and the company of good friends.
Once you start going to away games as a kid and meet certain people—sharing those specific experiences both inside and outside the stadium—you develop a bond. Even if the more intense aspects of the culture never really appealed to me, you still encounter those moments and those individuals in a way that stays with you.

It honestly escapes me why anyone would resort to such pathetic insults against Endsieg, regardless of their current stances. I’ve stood right next to some of these guys in various situations, and I can tell you firsthand that they aren't the villains people are making them out to be; if I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't even bother mentioning it. It isn't just them, either—there are plenty of others who essentially sold their souls to the opposition, switching sides just to save face, despite having once been a core part of a group that could hold its own against anyone in Europe. While some might just be loudmouths, it goes deeper than that. What I find truly baffling about Endsieg, however, is how they sometimes champion other groups, much like how it bothered me when certain people started siding with the Romini crowd.

Another thing that bothers me is this constant attacking of Donnie Munich. It seems like some people are struggling with basic logic here; if you can't control your impulses and try to explain things to someone reasonably, it's probably better to just stay silent.
I realize he’s writing from a comfortable distance abroad, which makes it hard to grasp the reality of blacklists, police repression orchestrated by the club and a single individual, or the heavy toll that being banned takes on your daily life. But at least try to have a civil conversation instead of immediately jumping to insults.

The third reason why the internet is such a wasteland for these debates is seeing how people's convictions seem to shift overnight. It's hard to wrap your head around how someone can insult and belittle a group so intensely, only to end up sitting in the same stands with them a short while later. Or conversely, how people who were calling everyone "traitors" just a few months ago are now acting like nothing happened. It’s like something straight out of a surrealist comedy sketch. Ultimately, seeing people flip-flop on their allegiances is what gets to me; it makes it look like they were just a fifth column waiting within the ranks all along.

George Ward7 said:It was like an Indian playing against B. Gille, while Karabatic waited in the wings alongside Didij.

Well, credit where credit is due... he stepped up later on. It reminds me of those old debates about how B. Gille acts as the ultimate stopper, always finding a way to shut down Ivano Balić and neutralize his rhythm entirely.

Drew Wright Asks:
To be honest, comparing Dinart to Mus is like comparing Mozart to a local cover band; I really don't see how you could even put them in the same conversation. 🤷

To be honest, none of them are Mozart, and that holds true in this comparison as well—not him, nor Arason, Xepkin, Gorpishin, Lindgren, Pogorelov, Peterso, Kasper Nielsen, Lars Jorgensen, or Johnny Jensen. When you look at those specialists who excel at driving hard and hitting the interior, none of them possess that level of genius. It almost feels as though the players mentioned here were playing defense with such refined, gentlemanly grace, relying solely on their intellect and positioning to stop opponents. This was especially evident against that aggressive 5-1 setup used by the French, where they had Karabatic leading the charge with Dinart and B. Gille waiting right behind him.

Of course, certain players will inevitably cement their legacy as some of the greatest defenders to ever play the game, though I haven't personally tried to rank them in those kinds of comparisons. It does strike me as a bit funny, however, when people single out Mus as being the sole "enforcer" on the court while completely overlooking the long line of gritty players who did all the dirty work for their teams to secure those championship medals.

I honestly can't wrap my head around why people are being so hard on Mus. It feels a bit unfair when you consider how many players are perfectly content with their roles—players who might lack that elite, offensive firepower seen in someone like Ivano Balić or Dinart, yet they get plenty of credit just for holding the line on defense. Yesterday, he was easily our standout defender, completely shutting down that side of the French lineup, and yet he’s still getting criticized. 🤷

It’s hardly a surprise to hear Goluza giving directions during a timeout, especially since he was preaching the exact same philosophy yesterday. The real issue, however, is that Goluza tends to funnel all the movement and plays toward the French side of the court, failing to realize where the gaps actually are—like finding the right timing to feed the ball to Duvnjak and maximizing that opportunity. Onni does a much more intuitive job of reading those spaces.
Similarly, I don't see an issue with Vori playing at the center position; even Wislander utilized that style early in his career. The question isn't about positioning, but rather how to integrate that into the overall plan to break down the French defense, much like how they used to exploit those openings through the wings. Goluza seems to struggle with tactical adjustments; when we hit a wall, he lacks the ability to pivot and change the approach mid-stream.

Kenneth Clark18 said:They certainly were, and honestly, they always have been. Our decline stems from much deeper roots, tracing back to the moment Smajlagić left the national team; since that departure, we've experienced an inexplicable downward slide.

True, though even during those years, our performance in Europe was underwhelming—much like how a talented player might struggle to find their rhythm on the big stage despite having all the tools.

Beyond the fact that he hasn't really been finding his rhythm lately, Cupko has always struggled with keeping his composure when the pressure starts mounting; honestly, I think Smith handles those high-stakes moments with much more grace and stability.

Kenneth Clark18 said:Aside from him and Horvat, do we actually have anyone else playing that position? 🤷

Every single time he stepped onto the court, he delivered a solid performance for the national team. As for his personal relationships, given how strictly Balić manages the roster, I doubt he’d even kick a stray dog on the street.

Jerko Matulic... someone mentioned the kid from the junior leagues... honestly, he played quite well, but there's the issue of where he's headed next and why he left for Celje. Mandalinić is still pretty raw technically, and we are seriously lacking depth at center. It's unfortunate, especially since he's primarily a defensive specialist. Zet is a disaster, and Bicanic is just a stopgap solution. The conclusion is pretty clear: unless the leadership steps up, the future of the sport looks bleak.

The bulldog crew😁..gaudin-anquetil,volle,stoecklin,lathoud,richardson..it seems every generation brings its own grit to the defensive line..

Watching the game today, I found it truly fascinating how Onesta intuitively sensed exactly where the openings were, adjusting his positioning seamlessly as the match unfolded. You have to hand it to the players; while their talent is obvious, you could really see the coach's tactical instructions coming to life on the court today. It was much like watching a seasoned conductor guide an orchestra, especially when Goluža hit that peak performance by driving straight through the heart of the defense like a freight train heading for the coast.🤣

Kenneth Clark18 said:which is likely what will happen, given that those Frenchmen couldn't care less about playing fair.

It looks like we'll just have to pull for our Polish allies instead.

True, but if the circle closes, they might end up dancing through the finals since the Swedes would clinch a win over them and take first place.

Defensive rebounds really come down to pure concentration and making sure everyone is properly positioned. For instance, look at how we end up shorthanded on the boards because a player isn't even tracking their man or the ball, but instead starts sprinting toward the offensive end the second a shot goes up.

I found the way they treated Zrnić quite disappointing. The guy spent years performing at an elite level in the Bundesliga, and there was a stretch in 😁 where his play was nothing short of extraordinary. Then he joins the national team only to find himself relegated to the bench.

Looking back at how Dule fared against Mexico, France, and Denmark over the last three championships, the results were honestly quite underwhelming... I have a feeling it all came down to sheer exhaustion.

Kenneth Clark18—everything you said hits the mark, though I’d offer one small tweak. Šola was truly the standout goalkeeper of that moment; when he gets into that zone, it feels like nothing can get past him. To be honest, we haven't seen that kind of presence from an American goalkeeper since the days of Metaloplastika and Bašić, and since Mirko wasn't even part of the national roster, it's hard to compare. While Kaleb might have had his limits on offense, his defensive work alongside Pero at the half was absolutely lethal. Having Pero there with Valcic gave us that crucial edge because they were both playing such high-level defense simultaneously.

By the way, Dinart was the real powerhouse on defense, essentially tearing through Gille at the line; it reminds me of what Bozo used to say about a guy who can casually bench press 160 kilos.🤣

Štrlek is playing at an elite level, though you have to be careful because statistics can be quite deceiving when looking at Čupić. You’re spot on about Gojun; even if he had an off day today, he remains the most formidable blocker in the tournament from a defensive standpoint. As for Bicany, regardless of what the numbers suggest, he just doesn't possess that top-tier caliber, much like Kopljar. I have nothing but respect for the talent coming out of the French league, but if you compare Bicany to someone like Bojinovic during those years when Montpellier was sweeping every trophy about a decade ago, the gap in quality is simply undeniable.

Kenneth Clark18 said:It’s more than just that.

People seem to have brushed off those battles for bronze back in 2004 and 2006, specifically when we were absolutely battered by the efforts of Jepesen and Madsen.

Then you look at the Spaniards during the 2008 Beijing games.

It isn't just the Frenchmen causing trouble, either; playing against the Danes always feels like an uphill climb for us.

That Danish squad was incredibly formidable... with Stryger, Christiansen, Knudsen, Hvidt, Boldsen, and Speleberg, it almost makes you feel like we were the only ones who ever had any real talent on the court.

Raymond Anderson4 said:It is what it is, and there is no use fighting reality.
There is an interesting perspective out there: "The only principle that does not inhibit progress is anything goes."
We absolutely ought to be critical of how we played today, rather than just shrugging our shoulders in resignation...
When you consider the sheer individual talent and the high level our players maintain while playing for their pro clubs, we should be walking away with gold medals at every tournament, not settling for bronze.

I think you might be missing the mark here. I truly respect your passion for following the sport, but in the States, most fans only tune in for the National Team or perhaps the Final Four. For instance, back when Pere was playing in Ciudad, Olafur was often holding down that same position, much like how Ivano struggled to find his rhythm during his time with the Portland team—though he did have that one spectacular season. Back then, we didn't even have a reliable goalkeeper, and our left wing was merely mediocre, even if China played an incredible game against us using that 3-2-1 defense. Nowadays, we don't have two elite wingers at a world-class level, and Cupko is clearly struggling as his form slips. It seems people here are always too quick to underestimate the competition and what they bring to the table.

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