Bulgaria NT 2014

  • Gift from Alekno - only a man who didn't watch the match could say that. They were very angry when they lost and they played with desire to win, it was obvious.


    I don't need to explain about the players, these are the ones that brought us to semifinas in 4 consecutive finals. Sokolov had good success with Cuneo, as a main reason for Champions League final and MVP of supercup vs Macerata with Trentino, before getting lower as game in the past 6 months. Yosifov was best blocker in Serie A1, got cup in Germany, always plays top level for the NT. Skrimov - ask the specialists. They all love him.



    Aleksiev and Todorov were the players who won us the game with France that sent us to the Olympics. Todorov can easily block more than 10 times in any match even againt Muserskiy or Pavlov, as he did in Russian championship and in our NT but he should play. Placi didn't use him much. This will change with Konsttanitnov.


    P.S. Players are not top because they win trophies, they win trophies because they are top players in a top team. Show me a title won by one or two players in an average team.

  • Where you may be right is that the burden of expectations under Stoychev (=with Kaziyski, which is also important!) is much higher but otherwise I can't agree. The home win over Russia in WL qualification was a gift from Alekno, which the latter had admitted pretty publicly. That game had no value for Russia whatsoever but could have given a lifeline to Alekno's good friend so the choice was obvious. Dare I remind you the results (and the style) of the away games vs Russia in that cycle: this and this reflects the performance of Stoychev boys against a motivated and classy opponent. Just follow those data and count the errors. The point here is that if your team wins one game out of nine against a top team, this one game wouldn't make your team a top team. Psychology is always a factor, the coach needs to deal with this. At the same time, a native speaker is always better in that as one can't deliver a strong message in half-minute in a foreign tongue.


    The big thing about London Olympics for Bulgaria was the way they were playing and not particular one element like serve or block. It is pretty ridiculous to explain this with the freshness of the Stoychev memories. They quietly beat the super-ambitious Poland and outclassed Germany in the quarters - a very different team from what we had a year before.


    Sokolov, Skrimov, Yosifov - who are these people? Did they win anything in their life? I know Aleksiev, Todorov - good players but are they the world top, playing in Yugra?


    Pretty much everything what you wrote is great and I completely agree with it. There's only one remark on my side - I do consider Sokolov a world-class opposite even if he is still far from being the best. I have one question to you - what do you expect when arguing with someone who thinks all Bulgarian players are the best in the world and that Stoychev is undoubtedly the best coach in the world? Alekno clearly made a gift to Stoychev back then, I don't even know how someone claims something else. Bulgaria didn't play great volleyball with Stoychev and one doesn't need to be an expert to see that. Camilo made a very good team with fewer expectations and he deserved credit and more patience for that. But I explained already the problems with our federation and the way they work and treat people.


    Just to mention him in the discussion, Giuliani reminds me a lot of Stoychev. They must be made from the same material. Giuliani also takes Parodi and Henno with him, he oftens behaves like Stoychev, so I don't think either makes a better impression.


    Last, I do like Rado Stoychev for other reasons, but Bulgaria didn't impress under his guidance and I can name many more than just one weak game to support that opinion. You can check Euro 2011 or WL 2012 to put games in the basket.

  • Wow, I opened this thread with the expectation to find out about some new transfers and then came across several manifestos on how good or bad Stoychev and Bulgaria are. Haha, this is surely off topic, isn't it? :D


    I'll just add to the offtopic that for me a top NT is one that has not only great players in it's starting line-up, but also 1 (in the worst case) or more solid back-ups for each position. Such teams in the past 5 years were obviously Russia and Brazil, but also Poland, Italy and USA (in Olympic years usually). Now Serbia seems to have made a pretty decent top team as well, depends how they will develop. The rest for me are teams that are really good, can always cause an upset and can never be underestimated, but they are never favourites as well because they either don't have balance or depth in their squad (or both). Such teams are led by Cuba and Bulgaria, but also Argentina, France and Germany for example. You can't really claim that you have a top team when you become half as dangerous if one of your best players gets injured or doesn't play. For me, Bulgaria's semifinals are actually overachievements, and not that losing in the semifinals (because of supposed mental weakness regardless if it really exists or not) is an underachievement. Fans' expectations are too high, both for this team and for Poland.


    I can't comment Stoychev, it's very difficult to compare coaches because they coach different players, play against different opponents and the other circumstances are also different. All I can say is that he is a good coach, one of the best club coaches. But you are right that he won his trophies with teams full of superstars. Can't comment on his ethics and moral values since I don't know him. What he says and what is said about him in the media may not reflect his real personality.


    To be a world class player is not a constant. Talent and skill are somewhat constants, but you have other variables in the mix. Therefore, for me Sokolov is currently not a world-class player (although 1.5 years ago he was). In this Bulgarian NT at the moment, I consider only Yosifov as a world class player in his position.


    Russia gave us that victory in 2011 or 2012 it was. It was not obvious only for blind people.

  • I can understand the anger towards an overpaid star coach that fails to win "that one game" but CL final is always complex and Belogorie was very good. (Btw, their financial side for the last season was not worse than that of Halkbank - effectively, they had two squads of excellent players.) Secondly, we both remember how Arkas had "qualified" to that F4: one can't deny that their home game was "a problem" for CEV and a major scandal was avoided only by letting Novosibirsk host next F4. I don't think CEV could afford such a disaster in the CL final as the reputation of the tournament and the organization itself would be under threat. Thus, Stoychev had only a mild home refereeing on his side.


    My point is that the whole idea of hiring a specialist to win one game sounds seriously wrong. The very ambitious Zenit Kazan hired Alekno back in 2008 and the CL was won only in 2012. I don't think that Zenit's budget and Alekno's wages are less than what Halkbank/Stoychev could boast. Where you may be right is that Stoychev looked quite a bit arrogant (at least to me), which is known to poison the whole atmosphere around the sport.


    I don't get what your intention about Arkas qualification to F4 it was fairly deserved one and claiming opposites is not only very injustice to them but also only conspircay theories :thumbdown:

  • I don't get what your intention about Arkas qualification to F4 it was fairly deserved one and claiming opposites is not only very injustice to them but also only conspircay theories :thumbdown:

    I suggest you ask a neutral opinion on that, e.g. talk to someone from Poland or Bulgaria or US. Imo, that game was a good and comprehensive guide on what to do to get disqualified... but of course had I been from Turkey, I would have probably said smth like "excellent performance helped to win in a tough game" :).

  • Bulgarian wide roster for WCH:
    Setters: Andrey Zhekov, Georgi Bratoev, Dobromir Dimitrov
    Opposites: Tsvetan Sokolov, Boyan Yordanov, Danail Milushev, Venelin Kadankov
    Outside Hitters: Todor Aleksiev, Todor Skrimov, Valentin Bratoev, Nikolay Penchev, Mirolsav Gradinarov, Matey Kazyiski*
    Middle Blockers: Viktor Yosifov, Nikolay Nikolov, Teodor Todorov, Svetoslav Gotsev
    Liberos: Teodor Slparov, Martin Bozhilov


    Zhekov should be back in NT ^^ Kaziyski got a call, but I doubt that he'll accept it... (because of it he's in italics with a star) also B. Yordanov, Gotsev and Gradinarov are back in roster :thumbup: team is still without Nikolay Uchikov (OP/OH)


    It seems that 14 WCH may be this:
    S: Zhekov, G. Bratoev
    OP: Sokolov, Yordanov
    OH: Aleksiev, Skrimov, V.Bratoev, Penchev
    MB: Yosifov, Nikolov, Todorov, Gotsev
    L: Salparov, Bozhilov

    Gold medal - World League 2013 Prediction Game
    Bronze medal - World League 2012 Prediction Game

  • MY 12 for WCH.


    Setters: Andrey Zhekov - Dobromir Dimitrov
    Opposites: Tsvetan Sokolov - Boyan Yordanov
    Outside Hitters: Todor Aleksiev, Todor Skrimov - Nikolay Penchev - Matey Kazyiski
    Middle Blockers: Viktor Yosifov, Nikolay Nikolov - Svetoslav Gotsev
    Liberos: Teodor Slparov


    :super:

  • You can take 14 players and I don't think that Kaziyski will be back :wavy:

    Gold medal - World League 2013 Prediction Game
    Bronze medal - World League 2012 Prediction Game

  • Andrey Zhekov's form is questionable, but he must be in the team as an alternative to Georgi Bratoev. Let's face it, Georgi Bratoev was tragic this summer. The idea of Konstantinov is to increase competition inside the team and to infiltrate some discipline which, no secret here, is often disrupted by the Bratoev brothers. Boyan Yordanov got a call-up, but no one has actual information what his physical condition is. I would, however, take an even half-ready Yordanov over Milushev or, worse, Kadankov. The most significant news is, apart from Zhekov's return, the call-up for Teodor Todorov. His health problems are widely known, I hope he will be at least 90% fit for the WCH. The Kaziyski topic has been chewed for so long, there is nothing really new right now. Chances are, I hope I am wrong, he will decline the call-up again.

  • Andrey Zhekov's form is questionable, but he must be in the team as an alternative to Georgi Bratoev. Let's face it, Georgi Bratoev was tragic this summer. The idea of Konstantinov is to increase competition inside the team and to infiltrate some discipline which, no secret here, is often disrupted by the Bratoev brothers. Boyan Yordanov got a call-up, but no one has actual information what his physical condition is. I would, however, take an even half-ready Yordanov over Milushev or, worse, Kadankov. The most significant news is, apart from Zhekov's return, the call-up for Teodor Todorov. His health problems are widely known, I hope he will be at least 90% fit for the WCH. The Kaziyski topic has been chewed for so long, there is nothing really new right now. Chances are, I hope I am wrong, he will decline the call-up again.


    How did the Bratoev brothers disrupt the discipline? Valentin had a good start at NT, but he's never stepped up to make progress. Also, what's the current health problem of Todorov?


  • How did the Bratoev brothers disrupt the discipline? Valentin had a good start at NT, but he's never stepped up to make progress. Also, what's the current health problem of Todorov?

    Well, they are not the most diligent players in terms of behaviour or discipline. What I meant is that they don't always give 100% in trainings, to start with. Georgi, the setter, for example, must've calmed down too much because he didn't have a proper substitution until Zhekov and maybe he couldn't always focus 100% during games. Dobromir Dimitrov is not a bad setter, but he rarely gets game time and no matter what he is not Andrey Zhekov. Also, the two brothers are known for not entirely following the food regime during pre-tournament periods.


    About Valentin's progress, I believe it has something do with the fact that he doesn't play in the NT that much. Nikolay Penchev, despite being a sub, gets more court time. Valentin has always been shaky in reception, I see no improvement there, but he enjoyed a great season and a half in Germany. Of course, in Friedrichshafen he was often covered by Grebennikov and Geiler. He also needs to work more.


    I don't remember what the last of many health problems of Todorov was, however, he has permanent problems with his knees. He needs longer time for recovery after each match. This is information from the NT medical assistants. His situation is fine when plays club volleyball as he has time, sometimes a week, to recover for the next game. The summer with the WL and either Olympics/WCH/ECH is problematic for him as the time between matches is very little. He is often left on the bench and shows up occasionally as a precaution.

  • The preparation plan prior to the WCH includes sessions mostly in the new sports hall in Botevgrad. The list of friendly games consists of:


    vs. Belgium, 8th August, Botevgrad
    vs. Belgium, 9th August, Botevgrad
    vs. Russia, Poland, China, Hubert Wagner Memorial, Poland
    vs. France, 21st August, Botevgrad
    vs. Brazil, 22nd August, Botevgrad

  • Matey Kaziyski didn't show up for the first training in Botevgrad, so the whole dilemma, probably initiated by the Federation, turned out to be fake. Unfortunately, Boyan Yordanov's shoulder problem is more serious that expected and he will have to undergo a surgery. He won't be in the roster for Poland! With Milushev and Kadankov being the only alternatives for Sokolov, Vladimir Nikolov, the team manager, is training with the guys and might be used as an option in the WCH. Time will show whether he will get in shape.

  • Opposites situation is very bad, why is not Uchikov even in the expanded team? Alexiev can play as OPP, he did that for Urga at some point, don't remember if he was good though. What is happening with Ananiev? He is in Iran as far as I remember and should be recovered from the injury he had.

  • Uchikov's case may be associated with Bulgarian federation, but it's only my guess...

    Gold medal - World League 2013 Prediction Game
    Bronze medal - World League 2012 Prediction Game

  • I have the same feeling, Federation as it's best again :(. He is not my favorite player, but he plays in Russian league for some time now and definitely better than the other options. And at some point we had 3-4 very good opposites.

  • I have the same feeling, Federation as it's best again :(. He is not my favorite player, but he plays in Russian league for some time now and definitely better than the other options. And at some point we had 3-4 very good opposites.

    Now Yordanov is injured, Uchikov not called, Milushev and Kadankov are too weak. Only Tsetso is quite good, but throughout this WL he played weaker than in previous years. And now Vlado Nikolov wants to help them...

    Gold medal - World League 2013 Prediction Game
    Bronze medal - World League 2012 Prediction Game

  • Just came accross this article from sportal.bg and I wanted to share it with you. I don't know how to react on this, to laugh or what. How do such people exist?


    What is the story:


    Nayden Naydenov (former NT coach, during the OG2012 semifinal run) was asked to analyse our performace during this year's WCH:


    "We've reached the bottom! It was the same case when I took over. Then Kaziyski and Zhekov left and also all the quarrels happened. However, we managed to build a team that believed in itself and made a great tournament. After we started again the next year, the things didn't work as well. The team started the previous WL in a very convincing way. We came out with confidence, desire and team-cohesion, because we managed to do something truly exceptional in the Olympics. The difference between standing on the line and behind the line is just one meter, but one meter in this case is a huge difference [it's a direct translation, what I think he means is 'the difference between a head coach and an assistant coach is huge']. Statistics and analysis is one thing, but team-cohesion is another. The team was destroyed because of the head coach [Camillo Placi]! Enough with this xenophilia [couldn't find a better word; basically idolising foreigners at the expense of locals]! It was nice that he became a Bulgarian. But this man has done nothing for Bulgarian volleyball. We don't need statisticians and analysts but people who can stand on the line and love the team! We need Bulgarians! I remained Placi's assistant because I wanted to help in any way I can. I did it with all my heart because I wanted to help our volleyball. But I couldn't do it because a lot of my responsibilities were reduced."


    Source:
    http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=508847


    Idiotism in its purest form :obey: :obey: :obey: