Rokas Pukstas at Hajduk Split (Croatia)

Starts again in conference league qualifying, coming in with a 2-0 aggregate advantage over HB (Faroe Islands).

 

Pukstas subbed off in the 92nd of what sounds like a stupid, poor, 0-0 match against an inferior side. But Hajduk Split advance 2-0 aggregate.

 

Pukštas did score late in the game on a header but was disallowed for offside by inches via VAR.

See play at 6:46 of this video:

 

I was not impressed with Pukštas last year in comparison to the previous year.

Now he's surrounded at midfield with National Team legends Ivan Perišić (who barely played last season) and Ivan Rakitić and a healthy Livaja up front.

He was much more active in the match as he was two seasons ago, perhaps for that reason.

 

It seems like he's sticking around for at least one more season? Is he a verified starter at this point?

 

People can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he's started 85% of the matches since he joined the team.

He has definitely earned the starting spot, but I was extremely dissapointed that he didn't step up last season, despite injuries that he and the team had at midseason.

 

Verified starter Pukstas gets the start on the road at Ruzomberok in the first leg of a Conference League third round qualifying tie. Should be favored in this one.

 

Bummer.

 

I didn't realize this happened a couple of months ago:

🚨🇭🇷 Gennaro Gattuso has signed in as new Hajduk Split manager, agreement sealed today.

Contract valid until June 2026. pic.twitter.com/2ggETrGNoK

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2024

 

88 minutes in a scoreless draw. They're not playing well yet.

 

You didn't miss much. He's not a head coach as she's shown thus far in his career. A fantastic defensive midfielder in his day, but not someone who is going to develop players.

This was his biggest accomplishment for the team today in a match where they had one shot on goal:

EUROPSKI HAJDUK pic.twitter.com/Re1RM6ROuM

— PršutAlexFerguson (@prsutaf) August 8, 2024

Gattuso elected not to start National Team legends Perišić and Rakitić, instead he brought them on in the 2nd half.

It should have been 3 points, but ended in a scoreless draw.

They are not deep on talent as Dinamo has traditionally been to bench players because of past or upcoming domestic league matches.

 

Here's a 20 second video clip on that lone goal:

Aleksandar Trajkovski makes it 1-0 against Lokomotiva after an unselfish play from Marko Livaja.

Livaja with a lovely timed run, Trajkovski with an easy finish and that is his first goal of the season, scoring where he left off, against Lokomotiva. 🚨pic.twitter.com/3O4dqEoQfK

— 🇭🇷 (@TheCroatianLad) August 11, 2024

 

@MetroFever i really appreciate the updates here.

 

Seconded

 

For anyone interested in watching the second leg vs Ružemberog this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. EST legally without the spyware, you can download the app for "Hajduk TV" (only some games are on here). It takes just a few seconds to register.

Since their last domestic league game, this game has hardly been discussed on social media and the mainstream writers as the issues between National Team legend Ivan Perišić and Head Coach Gattuso have been the focus as Perišić is on the way out. He was told to stay away from the team in thier last domestic league game on Sunday and wasn't even on the bench. Ivan is upset at his usage, while Gattuso doesn't feel he has recovered well enough from ACL rehab to play 90 minutes, so Ivan asked to be let go from his team duties.

For a young guy like Pukštas it probably would have been a great experience to be sandwiched in the midfield with him and another legend in Ivan Rakitić. I suppose we'll see now if he can continue to step up as he has this season and look like the guy we saw in the 2022-2023 season.

The predicted theatrics when Gattuso's hire was announced has not yet impacted Pukštas' growth, which is obviously a positive as the USMNT needs some skilled guys with creative ability, who have some self restraint (see recent Copa America where a silly red card cost us advancing to the next round). Rokas seems to have his head on straight and hope he'll have an impact today at home.

I am really flattered by the comments, but in all honesty guys like @BostonRed, @Casper and others have been larger contributors on this forum.

If there's anything I've seen on Croatian online accounts that might not be seen by others, I try to do my best to post it here, so I'll continue to provide that content as much as possible.

 

Official starting lineup for Hajduk ahead of their Conference League qualifiers game against Ružomberok. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1kTZewEhBV

— 🇭🇷 (@TheCroatianLad) August 15, 2024

Pukstas with the start in the home leg against Ruzomberok, after the disappointing scoreless road draw. No Perisic in the squad, as noted by MetroFever above. This team should be able to make some progress in the Conference League, would be a big shame to miss qualification by blowing it today.

 

Hajduk and Pukstas may not be distracted by midweek European play anymore this season, as they fail to score in 180 minutes of play against Ruzomberok and bow out 1-0 aggregate. Seems they have a playoff to come with AEK Athens, but someone please correct me if that's wrong. Lots of apopletic Twitter conversation from the fanbase.

Good guys with 18 shots, 8 SOG, but score an own goal that holds up for the loss. Pukstas played the whole wonderful match.

 

Rough loss. But with the Europa over does a transfer become more likely?

 

Pukštas probably should have scored in the 14th minute from several yards out, but shot it right at the keeper. Play starts at 1:50 of this video:



In the 19th minute, he shanked a shot that seemed like it was well played for him. That play starts at the 2:33 mark of the video above.

Not in the video is a play where he tried to sell a trip in the 89th minute for a PK. Not a good dive.

Overall, Hajduk played like a U14 boys team in a club league match. Disjointed and no one stood out. Even National Team legend Rakitić was subbed out in the 2nd half as he was unrecognizable and now looking his age.

Except for the two plays, I think most of Rokas' subpar play today was a result of poor play from his teammates, who were never on the same page.

 

Rokas Pukštas is close to leaving Hajduk this summer, as confirmed by Hajduk's president, Ivan Bilić.

"We need to slightly adjust the budget for the next season. The situation is not bad. We are currently preparing to sell one player. That player is Rokas Pukštas." 🚨 pic.twitter.com/S9Q85WDcJR

— 🇭🇷 (@TheCroatianLad) August 16, 2024

 

Awesome. Im excited to see where he ends up and follow his development playing in a league like the BL/Ligue 1/Serie A or the Eredivisie/Bel Pro League.

Credit to Croatian football for helping him along.

 

I'd hope he realistically ends up at a top 5 team in the Eredivisie or Belgium. Lots of rumors from bigger leagues too though.