Feature: Rating Goran Stevanovic's debut

Published on: 15 February 2011

I have a confession guys. I was beyond pissed when Goran Stevanovic was appointed to coach Ghana’s Senior National Football team, the Black Stars.

Not another Serbian! I protested silently. Goran Stevanovic a.k.a Plavi was the third Serbian to be appointed in 6 odd years after compatriots Ratomir Dujkovic and Milovan Rajevac.

But one single event totally calmed me. In his first press conference on January 12, 2011, Plavi emphasized the need to win trophies.

‘It is now time for trophies’ Plavi boldly declared. Truth be told, he won me over.

But my good friend Borbor always has a way of knocking sense into my big head. ‘Talk is cheap’ it’s too early Nii; wait for Plavi to ‘walk the walk’. Truer words hadn’t been spoken.

Fast forward to February 10, 2011, I chanced upon the playback of the Ghana –Togo friendly played in Antwerp the previous day. The match ended 4-1 in favour of the Black Stars and it was a great opportunity to review it. So curiously I grabbed a drink and put on my critical lens to access Mr. Plavi’s first assignment.

Honestly the match was not a pretty sight but then again it was just a friendly. Once seated however, I particularly paid attention to Plavi’s formation to confirm his promise of playing attacking football. Was he going to build on Milovan Rajevac’s impartation of sound defensive and tactical organization while improving on goal scoring and the persistent left back problem? Well, it wasn’t like everything could be resolved in one match but I was hoping I could pick up signals.

I also wanted to find out how returnees, Sulley Muntari and Derek Boateng were going to be incorporated into the team. I was also on the look out to see if fringe players like Bernard Kumordzi, Nana Akwasi Asare and David Nii Addy would be able to finally secure their positions even as squad members.

So how did Goran Stevanovic fare on his debut match in charge? Here is my take.

With respect to attacking football, the team scored 4 goals, so on the face of it, Plavi seems to have gotten off to a good star. But let’s critically assess the output team. I noticed that the pattern of play especially in the first half was very disjointed but that was understandable considering that the shape of the team had changed. Even the personnel had changed. Plavi in his press conference preached a 4-1-4-1 formation which in essence is a variation of 4-5-1 or 4-3-3.

So, I wasn’t exactly surprised when I saw Prince Tagoe, who has just moved from Hoffenheim to Partizan Belgrade due to lack of playing time, spearhead the attack alone. The lack of playing time however told on him. He just chased shadows till he was substituted. Lacking the technique to hold up play and create room for his mates did not do his chances any good. There was nothing royal about the Prince on that night. He has to work harder to maintain his position even as a squad member. Behind the Prince was Sulley Muntari on the left, Dominic Adiyiah on the right with Kwadwo Asamoah slightly in an advanced role ahead of Bernard Kumordzi in the middle.

It was interesting to see Sulley Muntari back into the team, he made his contribution although rather quietly. However he once again proved that he is always a goal threat and that is a plus once he doesn’t lose his head. Adiyiah on the right showed his hunger. Nothing too spectacular but he put in a good shift, took his first goal very well and also set up Samuel Inkoom up for the 4th goal. Kwadwo Asamoah on the night simply enjoyed himself as he was more mobile in this particular formation. But can somebody whisper into his ears to quit hanging on unnecessarily to the ball when in possession? Kwadwo, we know you have flair, you don’t need to impress us anymore, not even a certain Ama K, so please, quit showboating and you would definitely go places.

Bernard Kumordzi for the umpteenth time was given another opportunity and though I think the call against him for the penalty was ludicrous, he did nothing extra to convince the ordinary football fan that someday when his name is not found on the list of called up players; he would be worth a tear. You can tell he is a good player but his laid back attitude can be annoying. I think he just needs a little push and confidence to assert himself and he would have a bright future with the team.

For the time that he was on the field as the defensive midfielder, Anthony Annan once again was pivotal; he hardly put a foot wrong. With every passing game, his profile keeps rising and is gradually becoming indispensible. This makes it an interesting battle in the middle considering that Kevin Prince Boateng, Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew and one Michael Essien were absent. The battle for places gets intense and mother Ghana is the ultimate winner as there would be more depth.

Other substitutes who came on like Derek Boateng should not fret when he doesn’t get called up again. To his credit however, he showed in his body language with all those intense tackles that with a new coach in place he was prepared to fight for a place. He however looked very clumsy and if put up against swifter players, he would give away too many fouls to the detriment of the team.

Emmanuel Agyemeng Badu also came on and was his usual lively self but was nothing special. His biggest contribution was that incisive pass to Kwadwo Asamoah which was intercepted by the Togolese player and resulted in the own goal.

It was also refreshing to see Nana Akwasi Asare given another chance, and the Utrecht player who replaced Muntari made some neat touches. Mr. Plavi should definitely consider him. Nice work Akwasi!

In central defence, former ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ and captain of the team, John Mensah was paired in with Hoffenheim’s Isaac Vorsah. The pair however looked out of sort especially Vorsah. If the two play against quicker and more intelligent strikers, the team would be found out. It is why I would rather prefer Jonathan Mensah to Vorsah as the younger Mensah complements his senior perfectly.

John Pantsil played another ‘safe game’ and surprisingly made fewer mistakes but I insist the man should sit out a couple of games so he doesn’t get too comfortable like he so often does and subsequently commit costly errors. I was just relieved he didn’t score an own goal ala Fulham.

David Nii Addy had an average game and clearly sent out a message to all of us that the left back problem still persists. Richard Kingson was not really tested, but the only time he was called to make a save of the penalty, he dived predictably to the right! ‘Olele’ save a penalty before you retire!

So the match ended 4-1 and on the scale of 1-10, I will give Plavi a rating of 7 which is above average. There is still a huge room for improvement and I believe Ghanaians doubt little that Plavi will succeed, after all he is Serbian, and that in Ghana is simply magical.

Nii Ayitey Tetteh

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