Mateo Poljak

the terrorgraph had mistaken mateo for dino in the photo. 

the terrorgraph had mistaken mateo for dino in the photo. 

Yeah, I just noticed that too.

But, I'm glad we signed Poljak for a longer term, and I hope we tie a few more good ones in too.  I'd like to see Shinji Ono stay.

Sing to the chorus of "Bitch is back" by Elton John

Mateo, Mateo, Mateo Poljak

He's stone cold sober as a matter of fact

He can pass he can shoot and he's better than you.

it's the way that he moves.

The things he can do

whoo whoo whoo.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/western-sydney-wanderers-midfielder-mateo-poljak-happy-in-land-of-his-hero/story-fndb5nmd-1226548139458

We sure as shite missed Poljak yesterday...

We sure as shite missed Poljak yesterday...

Definitely. Before the match I wasn't too concerned that we were missing so many players, as long as we had our midfield 3 off Poljak, Mooy and Ono I thought we'd be ok. As soon as I heard Trifiro was in for Poljak I was worried.

like i said before, one of the most under rated players in the league...

For me he's been our best player this season. I wouldn't swap him with any other player in his position in the a league.

I would have Mateo an Mark Milligan as my two holding CMs in A-League all-stars if picked now.

I would have Mateo an Mark Milligan as my two holding CMs in A-League all-stars if picked now.

+1

As much as Milligan is a dick, he'd be great to have

apparently viduka was his idol growing up as he was a ballboy for croatia zagreb and a big influence into him deciding to play for us. Just read a recent article about him. 

Viduka deeds inspire Poljak

 

30 January 2013-SBS: Philip Micallef

 

Western Sydney Wanderers' Croatian midfielder Mateo Poljak revealed that he could not miss the opportunity to play in the land of his idol Mark Viduka and would dearly love to meet him.

 

Wanderers will never die wondering

 

Popovic on WSW

 

Bridge fears Adelaide backlash

 

Wanderers eyeing A-League crown

 

Poljak, 23, was a nine-year-old Croatia Zagreb ballboy when the Socceroos striker was plying his trade for the club, where he spent three seasons from 1995 to 1998.

 

Little did he know when he used to sit behind the goals at the Maksimir Stadium that one day he would be playing professional football in Australia.

 

â€I was a big fan of Mark Viduka because he was one of my idols when I was a kid,†Poljak said after training, and a random drug test conducted by ASADA, on Wednesday.

 

â€Viduka was a big name in Croatia back then and later in Britain and I would have been a ballboy in many of his matches in Zagreb.

 

â€He was part of a good generation for Croatia Zagreb and I always dreamed of becoming like him.

 

â€I could have bumped into him a few times but it never happened.

 

â€So I would very much like to meet him, that's for sure.

 

â€I know many people who are friends of his and one of his team-mates, Goran Juric, was later my coach at Dinamo so I'm sure we would have plenty to talk about.â€

 

Poljak said he could not wait to come to Australia after overcoming the initial shock of learning that his club had received an offer for his services.

 

â€I didn't know much about Australian football,†he said.

 

â€When I found out that the Wanderers were interested in me I tried to find out more about the country and its football, which is when I learned that the A-League is a physical competition but the clubs were investing more money on quality players.

 

â€I was on loan to Dinamo Zagreb's sister club Lokomotiva this time last year and I got a call one day from Dinamo saying they had received an offer for myself and asked me if I would be interested in talking to them,†he explained.

 

â€At first I was shocked because Australia was a big unknown for me.

 

â€I only ever thought I'd come to Australia as a tourist not as a footballer.

 

â€But then I thought about my need for a career change after four years at Lokomotiva.

 

â€I also wanted to find out a bit more about the country of one of my heroes so I said yes and the transfer went through.â€

 

Poljak is one of the Wanderers' unsung heroes. His consistent game has earned him rave reviews and coach Tony Popovic described his performance against Melbourne Heart at the weekend as “immenseâ€.

 

Popovic is so happy with Poljak's contribution that he offered him a one-year renewal of his contract, which the player signed.

 

â€I was a bit sceptical when I came here because, you know, we are a new club,†Poljak said.

 

â€But my concern soon disappeared after I attended the first few training sessions.

 

â€I could see from the vision of the coaches and the staff that we were headed in the right direction.

 

â€I could see a group of good players who are also good people

 

â€We were improving with every training session.

 

â€Even when the competition started and we did not have great results I always believed that our desired form would come and now it has come."

 

Poljak said he was surprised to find the Wanderers team could draw on such colourful and passionate support that has made match day at Parramatta Stadium a truly uplifting sporting experience.

 

â€When I came here I thought that people's interest centres mainly on rugby league or AFL,†he said.

 

â€I never imagined that our support would be anything like we are getting.

 

â€I have never played in front of so many people because games in Croatia are not very well attended these days.

 

â€I am really happy here, also because I met my girlfriend Katarina in Sydney, and I want to make an impact here.

 

â€Who knows, if things keep going the way they are, I might stay longer ... why not?

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1138897/Viduka-deeds-inspire-Poljak

I've been trying to get my mates to call him the Pole-Axe but its not catching on.... Gutted....

Great article that one. Viduka get your fat @rse up here and say hi.

Ceavaps' up here are just as good you eating machine.

Damn he's got a girlfriend... Coming from a guy this is. I have massive dude crush on him. Such and underrated player

Damn he's got a girlfriend... Coming from a guy this is. I have massive dude crush on him. Such and underrated player

A little part of me inside died when I read that he has a girlfriend 

ahahaha you guys with man crush's on Poljak are funny, great player,

Everytime ive had a chat to speak with him in Croatian he has been an absolute Legend!

Poljak and Kresinger are becoming very popular with me!

ahahaha you guys with man crush's on Poljak are funny, great player,

 

Everytime ive had a chat to speak with him in Croatian he has been an absolute Legend!

 

Poljak and Kresinger are becoming very popular with me!

Damn I'm jealous!

 

Damn he's got a girlfriend... Coming from a guy this is. I have massive dude crush on him. Such and underrated player

 

A little part of me inside died when I read that he has a girlfriend 

Yupp me as well

Great player. Plenty of tenacity mixed in with good technical skills. Unsung hero.

Scored one today, Great guy!

I love the way Poljak plays, he is a little bulldog. Nice to see him get on the scoresheet. What a great win.

Well if anyone deserved a goal this season its him. Shame it wasnt at parra.

He deserved a goal and finally got one, he also came close with a long shot. Hopefully he can score a screamer infront of the RBB at Parra

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/western-sydney-wanderers-enforcer-mateo-poljak-walking-a-suspension-tightrope/story-fndb5nmd-1226581476512

Article in Daily Tele says one card from suspension but im sure i heard during a commentator mention that after Round 21 the threshold for suspension lifts to 8 cards. Can someone confirm??

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/western-sydney-wanderers-enforcer-mateo-poljak-walking-a-suspension-tightrope/story-fndb5nmd-1226581476512

 

Article in Daily Tele says one card from suspension but im sure i heard during a commentator mention that after Round 21 the threshold for suspension lifts to 8 cards. Can someone confirm??

also what happens to players that have already served a suspension for too many yellows? eg hersi if they get up to 8 do they get another suspension?

Hersi def will get another week if he hits 8.

fail to tom smithies...

found the Disciplinary Regulations:

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/insideffa/statutes

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/site/_content/document/00000068-source.pdf

5.3 Further to clause 5.2, unless otherwise specified in the A-League competition rules, a

Player who accumulates the following number of Yellow Cards during the course of

the Regular Season, must serve the following mandatory match suspensions:

(a) from Round 1 to Round 21 of the Regular Season, five (5) Yellow Cards

equates to a one (1) match suspension;

(b) irrespective of whether a Player has received a one (1) match suspension

under clause 5.3(a), eight (8) Yellow Cards during the Regular Season equates

to a one (1) match suspension. For every three Yellow Cards thereafter, an

additional one (1) match suspension.

Thanks Tigers. Hoping someone clarifies it for Mateo. Wouldnt want the thoughtof a suspension next week making him nervous about tackling this week!

i dont think he was missed too much against Perth but im looking forward to having him back in against the Mariners.

We need our A-team, keep up the good work!