Bulgaria - Бачково Суперлига 2014/2015

  • Yavor, where does Krasi Gaydarski play this season? Since I remember well he played in Gabrovo last season and I don't see him in any team roster here...


    You are right, he is not listed anywhere. As soon as Gabrovo declared their financial problems, all their key players were free to look for new clubs. Martin Stoev, the former NT head coach, invited Gaydarski to try-outs in Tomis Constanta. The only condition Gaydarski had to fulfill was to lose some kilos as he was overweight (I don't remember how many, perhaps 6-7). Nothing came afterwards in terms of information. I see he's not playing for Tomis, he's also not enlisted in their Champions League group. And he is definitely not playing in the Bulgarian league this season. This sums up all the information you can find/I can give you about him.


  • You are right, he is not listed anywhere. As soon as Gabrovo declared their financial problems, all their key players were free to look for new clubs. Martin Stoev, the former NT head coach, invited Gaydarski to try-outs in Tomis Constanta. The only condition Gaydarski had to fulfill was to lose some kilos as he was overweight (I don't remember how many, perhaps 6-7). Nothing came afterwards in terms of information. I see he's not playing for Tomis, he's also not enlisted in their Champions League group. And he is definitely not playing in the Bulgarian league this season. This sums up all the information you can find/I can give you about him.


    Pity. I hope he'll find a club. He's in Winiarski/Wlazły age. Still such a good age to play... Anyway, informing me about Krasi's situation will be nicely appreciated :)

  • 4th round:


    8-November


    Minyor - Arda 1-3 (15-25, 14-25, 25-23, 20-25)
    Dobrudzha 07 - Pirin 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20) stats
    Montana - CSKA 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-21) stats
    Levski Ball - Neftochimik 2010 1-3 (12-25, 17-25, 25-21, 19-25)


    9-November


    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Marek Union-Ivkoni 2-3 (25-23, 15-25, 18-25, 25-17, 12-15) stats


    Standings:


    1 - Montana 12
    2 - Dobrudzha 07 9
    3 - Neftochimik 2010 9
    4 - Arda 7
    5 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 6
    6 - Pirin 6
    7 - CSKA (-1) 3
    8 - Minoyr 3
    9 - Levski Ball 1
    10-Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 1

  • Despite the 35 points by the newly positioned Elchinov, Marek still struggled to take three points versus the league's weakest team. First two sets and a point for Gabrovo, who recruited the 50-year old (!) Dimitar Bozhilov, former NT setter and father of the libero Martin Bozhilov, to help them in the league with his experience. Needless to say more!


    Dobrudzha won another important match, this time at home versus the tough Pirin. In the next round Dobrudzha travels to Burgas to play against Neftochimik in the most interesting match.


    Montana with a 100% efficiency. Yet they are still to be tested more seriously. Next two games against Arda (away) and Marek (home) might change their current standings.

  • 5th round:


    14-November


    CSKA - Levski Ball 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-14) stats
    Arda - Montana 0-3 (14-25, 21-25, 22-25) stats
    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Minyor 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-21) stats
    Pirin - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-17) stats
    Neftochimik 2010 - Dobrudzha 07 1-3 (20-25, 23-25, 25-15, 21-25) stats


    Standings:


    1 - Montana 15
    2 - Dobrudzha 07 12
    3 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 9
    4 - Pirin 9
    5 - Neftochimik 2010 9
    6 - Arda 7
    7 - CSKA (-1) 6
    8 - Minoyr 3
    9 - Levski Ball 1
    10-Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 1

  • Two games mainly attracted attention in this round. Disappointments for Arda and Neftochimik after their failures at home. Based on this season's roster, Neftochimik weren't supposed to drop points at home, especially after they already beat the most serious team, Marek, 3-1 at home. Dobrudzha is indeed a good team and the results show it, but their win in Burgas could be considered a surprise. Even with a weaker squad, Neftochimik have always managed to beat them in Burgas. I couldn't watch the game, it wasn't on TV, the hosts were angry with a lot of referees' decisions, they claim those killed their momentum several times, I don't know how true this might be. Dobrudzha have now some easier games, so they should gather more points.


    I also expected more from Arda. Kardzhali doesn't seem that inhospitable any more. Montana were favourites to win, but I expected more drama and surely more sets. Montana remain atop after the fifth round, on Saturday we have Montana vs. Marek in a game that will show a lot. No wonder if Montana pull another surprise and make it six in a row.


    Due to the fluctuating financial situation in both clubs, the iconic match between CSKA and Levski has long lost its spark. This year's Levski team is so young and inexperienced, in fact they are Levski's junior team, to be more precise, that they couldn't reach 20 points in any of the three sets.


    Some transfers, or rather news, that I had to collect on the run as there is still no official information available online. Here is the only place we team rosters are given. I didn't know that Ivan Krachev (former CSKA player, opposite, left-hander) has been recruited by Marek Union-Ivkoni. He is injured, though, that's why he can't play for Marek. Todor Valchev's contract in Iran made the situation quite difficult for Nayden Naydenov.


    Also, Dobromir Ivanov (the former Neftochimik and Gabrovo libero) was initially announced to have joined Neftochimik, but it seems like he competes for Montana now. Simeon Aleksandrov, the star of Levski, signed in Egypt during the summer. He broke his hand and had to be released because he can no longer play there. He was on the stands to watch CSKA vs. Levski. If he doesn't get a contract, he might return and finish the season in Levski.

  • 6th round:


    21-November


    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Neftochimik 2010 2-3 (25-23, 18-25, 14-25, 27-25, 15-17) stats


    22-November


    Minyor - Pirin 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 22-25) stats
    Levski Ball - Dobrudzha 07 0-3 (13-25, 20-25, 22-25) stats
    Montana - Marek Union-Ivkoni 2-3 (16-25, 23-25, 25-17, 26-24, 11-15) stats
    CSKA - Arda 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-22) stats


    Standings:


    1 - Montana 16
    2 - Dobrudzha 07 15
    3 - Pirin 12
    4 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 11
    5 - Neftochimik 2010 11
    6 - CSKA (-1) 9
    7 - Arda 7
    8 - Minyor 3
    9 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 2
    10-Levski Ball 1

  • Montana with their first defeat of the season. They came back from a two-set disadvantage, but couldn't deal with Marek. The result is not that bad, they are still on top of the standings and the spirit shown against the champions is a proof they won't be that easy to beat. However, they have a serious challenge in the next round when they play away in Razlog versus Pirin.


    Drama in Gabrovo as well. Allegedly wrong referee's decisions caused some ugly scenes at the end of the match. Neftochimik again struggled to close the match, leading 2-1 and looking in control of the game. Surprisingly the youngsters of CVC took their second league point, again due to a lost tie-break, both versus title candidates, Marek and Neftochimik.

  • Was Apostolov opposite, with 21 pts? And btw, how did Marek make 76% in attack - no research from the opponent, no defense or just great setting? Btw, there is a trend to very high spiking efficiency in all matches?

  • Was Apostolov opposite, with 21 pts? And btw, how did Marek make 76% in attack - no research from the opponent, no defense or just great setting? Btw, there is a trend to very high spiking efficiency in all matches?


    I think there are two versions. Either the statisticians are not quite accurate, or the level of defense in most games is tragic. Could be both, actually. The level of the league is not that great, the few games I could watch were replete with short rallies and quite some mistakes. So yes, why not. Apostolov is a MB, it's just that Gjorgiev plays well with the middles.

  • Yes, this is more probable than the other explanation - that all players got above Kaziyski or Simon in spiking.

  • 7th round:


    28-November


    Pirin - Montana 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-15) stats
    Arda - Levski Ball 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-22) stats
    Marek Union-Ivkoni - CSKA 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-23) stats
    Neftochimik 2010 - Minyor 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-20) stats


    29-November


    Dobrudzha 07 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 27-25) stats


    Standings:


    1 - Dobrudzha 07 18
    2 - Montana 16
    3 - Pirin 15
    4 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 14
    5 - Neftochimik 2010 14
    6 - Arda 10
    7 - CSKA (-1) 9
    8 - Minyor 3
    9 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 2
    10-Levski Ball 1

  • The seventh round came with easy home wins and a new leader. Montana got beaten heavily in Razlog where many teams had already left empty-handed. What is more impressive is the way Pirin easily score 3-0 home wins. Dobrudzha's success at home versus Gabrovo put them at the top of the standings. After the match the management of Dobrudzha announced they wouldn't mind playing in Europe next season, as long as they get a spot among the European Cup quotas.

  • 8th round:


    5-December


    Montana - Neftochimik 2010 3-1 (25-18, 30-32, 25-23, 25-23) stats


    6-December


    Minyor - Dobrudzha 07 0-3 (15-25, 24-26, 21-25) stats
    CSKA - Pirin 2-3 (25-23, 27-25, 23-25, 21-25, 10-15) stats
    Levski Ball - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 3-2 (17-25, 22-25, 25-16, 27-25, 15-11) stats


    8-December


    Arda - Marek Union-Ivkoni 2-3 (26-24, 25-20, 22-25, 19-25, 10-15)


    Standings:


    1 - Dobrudzha 07 21
    2 - Montana 19
    3 - Pirin 17
    4 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 16
    5 - Neftochimik 2010 14
    6 - Arda 11
    7 - CSKA (-1) 10
    8 - Levski Ball 3
    9 - Minyor 3
    10-Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 3

  • The round of missed opportunities. Three teams had 2-0 advantages and lost their games. Arda was even 20-15 in front in the third set against Marek at home. Another disappointment for Neftochimik.

  • 9th round:


    12-December


    Pirin - Arda 2-3 (22-25, 25-16, 27-25, 21-25, 8-15) stats
    Neftochimik 2010 - CSKA 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-19, 25-18 ) stats


    13-December


    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Minyor 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 32-30, 24-26, 15-12) stats
    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Levski Ball 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-21) stats
    Dobrudzha 07 - Montana 2-3 (25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 26-28, 9-15)


    Standings:


    1 - Dobrudzha 07 22
    2 - Montana 21
    3 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 19
    4 - Pirin 18
    5 - Neftochimik 2010 17
    6 - Arda 13
    7 - CSKA (-1) 10
    8 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 5
    9 - Minyor 4
    10-Levski Ball 3

  • The last round of 2014 didn't go without surprises. Arda's 3-2 away win in Razlog against Pirin in surely the biggest one. Few had expected such an outcome. Plus, the team from Kardzhali traveled with only 9 players for the game and eventually won it! Also, an interesting comeback for Montana in Dobrich. Now the situation at the top of the table looks even more interesting. Dobrudzha missed a great opportunity to gain a 5-point cushion over Montana by letting a 2-0 set advantage slip at home.

  • The league continues next Friday, 16.01, so I decided to give you a brief overview of what happened in Bulgarian clubs in the past couple of weeks. I know there are some users betting on games in Bulgaria, but still some might find the information useful.


    Venelin Kadankov, the recent NT call-up, returns to Marek after half a season in UAE. He got injured and won't finish the season there. He asked the local club to be released as he won't be of much value. The Dubai team will look for another opposite while Kadankov will reinforce Marek. Meanwhile, Mihael Mandzhukov seems to be fully recovered after the surgery, so the days when Marek suffered problems with the opposites are gone. Georgi Elchinov will return to his usual position (OH).


    As I announced in the transfers section, Alexander Simeonov from Pirin has joined Posojilnica Aich/Dob in the Austrian League. Pirin also recruited two players. One of them, the Junior NT member Petar Nenkov (MB) comes back after a loan at the second-division Botev (Lukovit), while the other is a new player. He is Nikolay Kichukov (setter) from Coco Volley Club Gabrovo.


    Changes have been made in Burgas as well. The head coach Petyo Dragiev leaves the club. The reason might be weak results. His son, the OH Plamen Dragiev, also leaves and will play for the Cypriot Nea Salamina. The new head coach will be Nikolay Zhelyazkov, the former Junior NT and Levski coach. I am not really optimistic about his assignment. The MB Vasiliy Petrov leaves, too. There are rumours that Ivan Vlasev (MB) from Coco Volley Club Gabrovo will join Neftochimik.


    When both Kichukov and Vlasev abandon the sinking ship, Gabrovo will be literally on the verge of existence.

  • 10th round:


    16-January


    Dobrudzha 07 - CSKA 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-22) stats
    Neftochimik 2010 - Arda 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-16, 15-12) stats
    Pirin - Marek Union-Ivkoni 1-3 (19-25, 18-25, 25-15, 19-25) stats


    17-January


    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Montana 0-3 (19-25, 14-25, 17-25) stats


    The match Levski Ball vs. Minyor has been postponed due to the participation of the Youth NT in a friendly tournament in Moscow. A lot of Levski's players are Youth NT members. The Bulgarian team won the tournament in Moscow eventually. Other participants were the Serbian Youth NT and some local Russian clubs.


    Standings:


    1 - Dobrudzha 07 25
    2 - Montana 24
    3 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 22
    4 - Neftochimik 2010 19
    5 - Pirin 18
    6 - Arda 14
    7 - CSKA 13
    8 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 5
    9 - Minyor (-1) 4
    10-Levski Ball (-1) 3