Handball EP - Norway 2008

Honestly, who cares if Jombé isn't on the roster? It’s actually kind of a blessing because Zrnich has been absolutely killing it for the last two years—he's in peak form right now. He really should have been starting in the Bundesliga instead of sitting around, so if anything, Jombé being out is actually a massive win for us.

The French guys seem absolutely obsessed with Bertrand Gille and Dinart. Honestly, though, Gille’s real value is in his defensive work. While Karabatić proved he can step up and handle things at playmaker just fine, you can't deny that Gille's sheer speed in that 5-1 defense is incredible—and when you pair him with Dinart, they were the only duo capable of actually shutting down Balić, which really says it all. Dinart is just on another level.

France's heavy hitters are B. Gille, Dinart, Karabatić, and (unfortunately for us) Omeyer. If those first two aren't on the court, the French are basically toast; even Omeyer will have a hell of a time dragging them to a win.

By the way, looking back, we played ourselves like idiots by constantly aiming at Omeyer in the far corner; the guy was just picking up everything we threw at him.

From what I can tell, Vuković can actually step up and fill Ivan’s shoes when it comes to running the floor, so keeping him healthy is pretty much non-negotiable. But honestly, even more critical is having both Metličić and Laco in peak condition. We really need Laco to find his rhythm and start raining goals—I want to see him beat keepers four or five times just by ripping outside shots. As for Metličić, he’s our engine in the offense, and since we desperately need a reliable backup in defense to cover his spot, maybe we should just let him focus entirely on the attack, much like Laco does. Zrnić should be able to hold down the wing quite well, and I’m not too worried about the pivot, but I’ve got a bad feeling that our left wing is going to be a massive hole once things really start heating up. Whether Ivan ends up playing or not, we can't just sit around expecting him to carry the entire squad on his back; we need some actual width out there, and if we can actually get both wings involved in the play, it would mean the world to us.

Anyway, speaking of handball, I’ve always had a massive soft spot for how the Americans play it—they really are a powerhouse nation, incredibly versatile with talent spread deep across every single position on the court. It’s a shame they haven't made more noise at the big championships, because in terms of pure raw talent and versatility, they might actually be the best out there. Our national team, on the other hand, is just all over the place; we play this gorgeous, fluid style of handball when we have the stamina and everyone stays healthy, but once we hit those knockout stages and opponents start reading our plays better and turning up the physical pressure, everything falls apart. That's usually when Ivano starts trying to do too much on his own, desperately attempting to micromanage things because he can't get the system organized anymore, and that's when the beauty of the game just evaporates. Look, Ivano is a legendary player, truly, but in my book, he’s at his absolute best when he only scores two goals but dishes out twenty beautiful assists.

I just really hope Lacković finally steps up and plays one tournament at the level we know he's capable of

Honestly, part of me just wishes LeBron James wasn't even on the roster, if only so I wouldn't have to hear people constantly screaming, "Give it to LeBron! Give it to LeBron!" We have zero creativity coming from the wings. It feels like we only get one or two lucky breaks per half where the ball actually finds its way to the left or right side. Everything is being funneled through the middle via LeBron, Metličić, and Laco. I seriously don't get why Lino keeps forcing everything through him. It’s like his entire coaching playbook consists solely of swapping players or toggling between a 5-1, 6-0, or 3-2-1 defense. That’s about it. Aside from standing by the sideline looking stressed or throwing his hands up in frustration, that's his whole game. On offense? He's a total zero. I can't wrap my head around how we can have two wing players like ours and still only scrape together a handful of goals per game.

Look, what you're saying is somewhat true, but you can't honestly claim that the đomba wasn't getting service and putting balls in the net...
But if we didn't have LeBron James, it might actually be a plus for us. Not during EP - Norway 2008, obviously, but just to see where we actually stand without him. We need to find someone who can actually do the job properly instead of letting LeBron James burn himself out at every single tournament because there’s nobody to sub him in. Same goes for Pero too.

I think Zrnić will step up and fill Džomba's shoes quite nicely, provided Lino doesn't overplay Horvat... Looking back at last season, whenever Zrnić was on the field, he was easily one of the top performers 👍

Honestly, I think Horvat is a terrible call... you can just tell he's nowhere near on the level of the other guys. Seriously, why don't we have anyone better available?

It’s rough, but at least they're playing in Washington, D.C.

rowdytinker3 said:Look, what you're saying has some truth to it, but you can't deny that the đomba was getting service and finishing plays...
but honestly, if we didn't have LeBron James, we might actually see where we stand. Not during EP - Norway 2008, obviously, but we need to see how we fare without him and find someone who can actually step up. We can't have LeBron burning himself out in every single tournament because there's zero depth to rotate him. This goes for Peru too...

That’s exactly what I’ve been saying. We need to see how the rest of the squad holds up; our "dream trio" isn't going to be on the field forever. Besides, this European championship isn't the end-all, be-all anyway. Vuković could fill in for LeBron, but he won't be a seamless fit because, let's face it, nobody can truly replace LeBron. But right now, he's the best option we've got for that spot.

but I'm worried our left wing is going to be a total black hole once things get heated.

😕There's nothing wrong with Vukić.

I just hope Lacković finally puts together one decent tournament.

I don't know, he's still a complete wildcard, but hey, he's got luck on his side, so his shooting shouldn't be an issue. If not, Valčić really stepped up against Canada—he's got that explosive power, he just needs to find his rhythm. Just like back in '99.

and personally, I think Horvat is a terrible solution... you can really tell how much lower his level is compared to the other guys. Don't we have anyone better??

Actually, Horvat is solid. Last season he was killing it in Washington, D.C., but he kept blowing open chances in the US Open Cup. He can score from weird angles, but he lacks that counter-attack spark. We can't afford that. Zrnić is definitely the first choice.

Look, guys, you can't expect every winger to drop 6 or 7 goals every single game. I'm the same way. Sometimes I'll put up 7 goals in a match, and other times, playing left wing, I barely even get a look at the basket. It all comes down to who we're playing against. If they run a mobile defense, the wings aren't going to get nearly as many openings; but then again, if they overcommit to covering the wings, our shooters will be wide open. We shouldn't sweat it if the wings aren't scoring—we've got fast breaks, and besides, we have Vori. I honestly can't remember the last time he played a full game and scored fewer than five; his average is closer to seven. He is absolutely vital to this team. Personally, I'm not a fan of Sulić. I still vividly remember that red card and those missed fast breaks during that one game where he really screwed us over... I can't recall exactly which one it was, but it was a huge deal.

So, let me ask you guys—LeBron James is a total question mark right now. Could Vuković step in and fill that gap somehow? I actually kind of like his style...
And what’s the deal with Metličić and Lacković? Any real chance we'll see them out on the field this season???
Also, where did Denis Buntić disappear to? Is he even still in the picture, or should we expect him at EP - Norway 2008.? One more thing, though... what's the word on Vlado sola? Has he officially hung up the jersey, or is he just sidelined with an injury...

I’ve already spilled my guts about Metličić and Lacković, but here we go again:

The local news reported that Metličić and Lacković are definitely starting. Lacković even gave a quote: "It's fine—just a little ice, grit your teeth, and we'll be good to go."

Buntić isn't even in the conversation; nobody called him up. As for Šol, I don't want anything to do with him, and honestly, we don't need him anyway since we have much better options. Personally, Vjence is my favorite. 😁 Both Šol and Jerković are getting tossed out this year in Washington, D.C.

Now even Zrnić is out with an injury. Man, this is starting to look really bad for us.

Roger Allen3 said:Now even Zrnić is out with an injury. Man, things are seriously starting to look ugly for us.

Seriously, what was going through his head?

So, looks like we won't have Zrnic on the roster... man, that right wing is going to be a massive headache for us... as far as the other spots go, there’s plenty of solid depth, and honestly, that might just be our saving grace...

Ballich - Vukovic Metlicic
Metlicic - Skopljar Lackovic
Lackovic - Valcic Vori - Sulic
Vori - Sulic, and don't even get me started... personally, if Ballich isn't in the lineup, I think we have to give Sulic a shot... we all know how well Vori and Ballich click together... whereas Sulic and Ballich aren't quite on the same wavelength...

I can't help but feel like this somewhat mismatched generation of players could actually pull off a championship... theoretically, it's totally within reach...

But what's the deal with Ballich? Is he even playing??? I heard some rumor that he tore his gut or something??? That would be devastating...
It's weird that a Bunitca didn't even get a call-up... he's a good guy, but I guess that doesn't matter here... one more thing, does Sprem have him on the list... and who are we looking at for goalkeepers?

It’s Zrnic here, though I’m not feeling 100% at the moment.

He’ll be fine; the only real question is whether he can actually hold up for a full 60 minutes.

Then we’ve got Zlatko "double dribbling, technical errors, fumbled balls, and missed ten easy shots" Horvat.

So they're actually going to play... he didn't even call up Buntica... kind of a shame because the kid is solid in his position... I'm wondering what the deal is with Ball, if he's playing, and if Spreme showed up at all...

The way I see it, we've got this hybrid squad now... a mix of raw talent and veteran experience, just like those legendary teams back in 2001. You had Jovic, Goluza... Lackovic and the newcomers... it's the exact same dynamic we have right now...

The other key to making this work is the depth...
Vukovic can step in for Ball quite effectively... maybe not in the exact same style, but close enough... honestly, I think Sulic should probably get the nod when Ball isn't on the floor, mostly because Ball and Vori have that unspoken connection... whereas Sulic doesn't really click with Ball like that...

For instance, Metlicica could cover for Skopljar pretty well... good kid... and for Lackovic, I've got Tony... so we shouldn't be too worried about our defensive backs...
Our pivots are probably among the best in the world right now, so with Vori and Sulic leading the charge, there shouldn't be any issues—provided they actually get some decent, usable passes... then it should be smooth sailing...

Not so sure about the right wing though... Horvat... he's inexperienced, doesn't look like much to me yet... but who knows, maybe he'll step up when it counts...
And what about Zrnica? He could really help us out... though the more I think about it, maybe it's actually a blessing that Dzomba isn't around... though I might be wrong about that...

Caleb? If he finds his rhythm, every opponent is in for a hell of a time...
Lackovic? If he plays like he did three or four years ago, we have absolutely nothing to worry about... he's been our biggest wildcard over the last couple of seasons... when he's off, everyone else struggles, leaving Ball to carry the whole damn load... I'm just hoping it doesn't come down to that this time...

I forgot about Vukic... but whatever, let's go for... for... for GOLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD...

Anthony Wilson4 said:So they're actually going to play... they didn't even call up Buntica... what a waste, he's a solid guy in his position. I'm wondering what's the deal with Balic—is he playing? And did Sprem show up???

I look at it this way: we basically have a hybrid squad right now... a mix of youth and experience, just like those legendary teams back in 2001 with Jovic, Goluza... Lackovic, and the newcomers... it's the same vibe...

The second key to success is the depth...
Vukovic can step in for Balic quite well... maybe not exactly how Balic plays, but close enough... so I think Sulic should probably get the edge in games when Balic isn't starting, since Balic and Vori have such great chemistry... whereas Sulic doesn't click with Balic quite as well...

For example, Metlicic could be a great backup for Skopljar... good kid... and for Lackovic, I've got Tony... so we shouldn't really worry about the fullback positions...
Our pivots are probably among the best in the world. Along with Vori and Sulic, there shouldn't be any issues at all; as long as they get decent, usable passes, we'll be fine...

Not sure about the right wing... Horvat... he's inexperienced, doesn't really wow me... but maybe he'll prove himself...
What about Zrnic? He could really help us out... though the more I think about it, maybe it's actually a huge plus that we don't have Dzomba... maybe I'm wrong though...

Caleb? If he gets started, every opponent is in for a hell of a time....
Lackovic? If he can find that form he had 3 or 4 years ago, we have absolutely nothing to worry about... he's been our biggest headache over the last couple of years... if he's off, usually everyone else is too, leaving Balic to carry the whole damn load... I really hope it doesn't come to that this time...

Forgot about Vukic.... but hey, let's go get that GOLDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!

We aren't chasing gold, we're just chasing whatever Marjan can grab. Balic is still a question mark; he finished the whole training session with the rest of the guys, and things are looking up, but we still have to see. There's no way Lackovic is going to be at his peak from 3-4 years ago with that busted finger. Oh, and by the way, it's Kopljar, not Skopljar. In my opinion, Vori is definitely the primary pivot; Sulic doesn't even come close. As for Mazgetina, he can spin a 6'3" player like they're a ragdoll.