I was just on the Lynx's website, and I noticed that there were many signings announced in the last 2 weeks. Most are the typical signings that you would expect. Once again, our defence is looking solid, ad Zagar has resigned. The one signing that knocked me on my butt was Nikola Vignjevic.

When Nikola and his brother left the team for good and did not re-sign with the Lynx, my wife and I celebrated for 2 whole days. The wine and Guiness we went through. The bartender celebrated, the neighbours celebrated, everyone we know (and gave alcohol to) celebrated. Needless to say, we were in a good mood. Now, I read on the website, that he is coming back. Currently, there is no sign of his brother, but Nikola is coming back. I believe he is the laziest (see if he EVER runs back to support the defence), whiniest (he will give up if he is not getting the calls his way), and over-rated mid-fielder/forward in the league. If the Lynx think he is the one that will put the ball in the net, look at what he did the last season he was with us. I don't recall the number of goals he had, but I do know all but 1 or 2 we from penalties. Way to boost those stats and make a poor season look adequate.

Normally, I do not have such negative feelings towards a player. Normally, the players give it their all, and try to the best of their ability. Some are better than others, but if they give the effort, they earn my respect.

Coach Pinizzotto has been quoted saying "Last season we had trouble putting the
ball into the net. Having Nikki back will certainly help us out in scoring. We missed his free kicks and his scoring touch." I think Pinizzotto forgets what he brings to the club, an unwillingness to work, very little offensive skills, and a poor attitude on the field (can't comment about the locker room) that may cause even fewer ball to find the mesh (if that's possible).

Enough of my rant for now. At least there is a bright side to this; my wife and I will get another chance to celebrate with the neighbours again sooner or later (hopefully, sooner)!

Disturbing?

Hmm ... well I didn't see Nik play because I just started to follow the Lynx in June of 2001. I do know that one thing he was able to do is score goals. And I really think that he might be able to do that this year.

More on this here: http://www.xdesign.net/torontoultras/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5

I wish I could find an exact stat on this, but what I do know was half way into the 2000 season, we watched a game where the Lynx scored 2 goals on penalties. Niki took them both. We heard that Niki had 6 goals for the year. My wife and I started to recall the goals that he scored that year, and we could recall 5 penalties he converted. We weren't able to figure out the 6th goal, could have been a penalty as well.

So out of the 22 goals that his stats says he scored, how many were goals he worked hard for, and how many were penalties. I wish I had the stat. I can tell you, he is great at converting penalties, but it would be easy to find someone else with a positive attitude and be able to convert the penalties.

Jarrek, you seem somewhat close to the team. Maybe you can find out the reason why Niki and his brother had to suddenly leave during the Lynx's great playoff run. I was interested in knowing if it was a family emergency or something else.

Anyways, I know that I am in the minority with my lack of respect for Niki. It seems that most people in the stands thinks he is the cat's meow. I think he had one excellent year followed by 3? seasons of coasting and padding his stats with penalties. Don't get me wrong, he had one great season, but the other 3, in my opinion, we so poor that I almost forget that there was talent. You will have to judge for yourself if you haven't seen him. Maybe he will come back to his old form, and I hope he does, but I am not holding much hope in that.

Please remember that my, and my wife's views of Nikola Vignjevic are our views only (that festered and grew for 3 seasons) and you should make your decision yourself. Since my wife and I are in the minority, maybe we are wrong. Anyways, make your own judgement (but see if he ever runs back, he will only walk back)

I'm not sure you're in the minority. I, too, wasn't too pleased to hear he'd been resigned. Surely the Lynx can find someone who can at least make an effort to run for the whole match. And maybe someone who realizes that his team has a net, too, and that once in a while it might be nice to go back and help defend it. I mean, it's not as if he's typically doing anything useful near the other team's net so with all that spare time...

Didn't the Vignjevics leave during that playoff run to attend a wedding or something?

Well, I am going to say my 2 cents (I never say Nikki either)

Think about this LyxnFan.... When Nikki was here last, what place did we come in? Much better then last years team. I think Peter is trying to get the old team back that we had and then improve on that. So take the 2000 season and add in guys like Robbie and Bobby, we will have a contender.

I have not seen him play, but i have heard alot of good things about him, and alot of bad things. Well maybe this year we will see if this is right or wrong...

(I have never seen nikki play), that is what i ment to put