• I would be surprised if Poletaev makes the final roster for world championship. He's just not getting to that form he's known for in the russian superleague.

    I don't think the coach will cut him considering it's just roughly a week before WCH starts and I believe there is no one in the training camp who can replace him the team only brought 2 OPPS..


    Without a doubt, Mikhaylov will be titular but maybe Poletaev can start in some games in the pool phase against "not so strong teams". Worst case, since Philippov has been cut, he can fill the role of serve specialist. I am a big fan of Poletaev as much as the next guy, and it seems his last injury did not affect his current performance but I think his real problem is he has yet to establish himself as a real starter in NT for an entire duration of a tournament and not being thrown into the sideline when you know who returns.

  • Speaking of setters, I hope Kovalev will secure one of the spots and I think it all boils down if the coach will have courage to cut Grankin, I think his current form is not better than Kovalev.. Butko is an expereinced setter and I think there is no need for two veteran setters in the team especially so when Kovalev is tall and athletic and has good synergy with the team after a superb VNL campaign.

  • "In Poland, and did not play Yegor Kluk. He has health problems. Hopefully, before the decisive matches of the World Cup they will be able to solve, 23-year-old striker - the most important link of the team.


    In addition to it, from the game players, Dmitry Volkov and Yury Berezhko are likely to join the World Cup. If at the "Wagner Memorial" Shlyapnikov chose the fourth between Anton Karpukhov and Alexei Rodichev, that is, the feeling that the choice will be made in favor of the former. He was not bad in the recent League of Nations, and Rodichev, although he has a cannon-giving and is good at attacking, is too much wrong in defense.


    With the diagonal everything should be even clearer - Maxim Mikhailov will be replaced by the 23-year-old Victor Poletaev.


    After the serious injury was Alexei Kableshov, you do not have to choose the third superfluous among the libero. With a high degree of probability, the main one will be 36-year-old Aleksey Verbov, and his replacement is Olympic champion Alexander Sokolov.

    On the block to Musersky and Volvich the most obvious candidates are Ilya Vlasov and Ilyas Kurkaev.


    But with the two grazing is not clear. Butko will be in the composition for sure. And between Dmitry Kovalev and Sergei Grankin to choose. For the first future, but his susceptibility to injuries is alarming. For Grankin great experience, not just so Shlyapnikov entrusted him in Poland captain's armband. However, the level of readiness of Sergei to date leaves questions, at the tournament he looked unconvincing. Will Kovalev sustain a protracted tournament? Will Grankin succeed in getting the form for the remaining time? Coaching staff will have a difficult choice."


    Source: https://translate.google.com/t…ww.volley.ru/&prev=search


    ^So my predictions are correct, the only question marks right now is the 4th WS and who between Kovalev and Grankin will be sacked. Too bad Kabeshov got injured at least we have Verbov back no less. And lastly yes, Poletaev will surely be in the roster for WCH :)

  • Wow I'm surprised the Russian coach cut Kovalev and brought Grankin instead. Maybe there was a "seniority courtesy" at play. Kovalev is not too young, next WCH he will be 30. I hope the coach's decision won't haunt him in the end.

  • There was probably some politics behind the scenes I would imagine. Grankin should have stepped aside and let Kovalev play instead of him. But I guess it is hard to pass up a good chance of a world championship gold medal

  • This is not a sensible move from the sustainability point of view. Kovalev is already good enough as shown from VNL. In this case, one veteran is enough. This may not impact Russia much during this WCH, as their spikers are too strong. But this is not good for the long-term development of the team — the “new” setters need to accumulate some experience in the major tournaments before they take a leading role in the future.

  • I can't believe Grankin made it but it's not out of the realm of possibility considering how prone to injury Kovalev is. I think that's the only reason he got cut off the world championship outside of politics.


    I'm surprised with Poletaev but the ages of Mikhaylov and the other opposites were probably deliberated and not mainly ability which he have but is not adapting to the international arena yet.


    Rodichev was not a surprise to me. I think he's the best fourth OH of Russia even with his terrible performance in Wagner Memorial.

    Favorite players: M: Maxim Mikhaylov, Murilo, Serginho, Aaron Russell, Otavio, Simone Giannelli, Ivan Zaytsev, Tsvetan Sokolov, Michał Kubiak, Mariusz Wlazly, Pawel Zagummy W: Sheilla, Zhu Ting, Natalia, Fe Garay, Fofao, Gabi, Thaisa, Foluke Akinradewo, Wei Qiuyue, Ding Xia, Carli Lloyd, Fabi, Natalia Goncharova, Yuko Sano, Saoris Kimura and Sakoda


    #FreeBritney

  • I can't believe Grankin made it but it's not out of the realm of possibility considering how prone to injury Kovalev is. I think that's the only reason he got cut off the world championship outside of politics.


    I'm surprised with Poletaev but the ages of Mikhaylov and the other opposites were probably deliberated and not mainly ability which he have but is not adapting to the international arena yet.


    Rodichev was not a surprise to me. I think he's the best fourth OH of Russia even with his terrible performance in Wagner Memorial.


    I feel sorry for Kovalev even more than Kobzar tbh. At least with Kobzar, he knew from the beginning he was never going to make it to WCH but Kovalev was cut so close and he was still training with the team after the Wagner tournament in Poland. I hope his exclusion don't cause him to resent NT in the future.


    I agree with your thoughts on Poletaev, even Kruglov who was sadly injured and Bakun is better than him but the latter two are even older than Mikhaylov so he was able to secure the backup OPP slot.


    Re the 4th OH, I don't think it will matter much as Kliuka will be OH1, and it's a toss up between Volkov and Berezkho filling in as defensive OH. I hope Rodichev surprises me

  • inc0gnito I don't think Vlasov contributed anything in this world championship. Igor Filippov could have probably made some nice aces here and there but he was left in Russia.


    Setter was such a great problem. Unfortunately, Kovalev probably wouldn't fix Russia but the athleticism could've help than Grankin. I still think Pankov is the future so Kovalev will be either his back up or battling for the main role.


    About the opposite, I don't see it as a problem, Evandro for Brazil is like almost 40 but he's still getting the call. :lol:


    I think Poletaev is still the heir but he will be tested again against Shkulyavichus or anyone who's going to appear as a wild card this season.


    For next year, I hope to see more mobile OHs coming for Russia like Podlesnykh. Russia's outside hitters are pretty tall and there might not be enough balance so while the block is intimidating, the floor defense is zero.

    Favorite players: M: Maxim Mikhaylov, Murilo, Serginho, Aaron Russell, Otavio, Simone Giannelli, Ivan Zaytsev, Tsvetan Sokolov, Michał Kubiak, Mariusz Wlazly, Pawel Zagummy W: Sheilla, Zhu Ting, Natalia, Fe Garay, Fofao, Gabi, Thaisa, Foluke Akinradewo, Wei Qiuyue, Ding Xia, Carli Lloyd, Fabi, Natalia Goncharova, Yuko Sano, Saoris Kimura and Sakoda


    #FreeBritney