Kurek had many other coaches that knew him personnaly as well and didn't change his position, but like i said it is all about team's need and coach desires, some need good receptions, others need good attackers and so on, Kazan for exemple played boring game, without good receivers and won everything.
Statistic don't say much to me in a volleyball game, and i followed him not just in polish team but in russian and italian superleague...
Disagree, I think that's weakening your team unnecessarily because you're not strong enough to deal with the problem. World Championships in your home country should be a good enough incentive for anyone, even Kurek. I get that he was Anastasi's pet, it changed under Antiga and maybe he couldn't handle it but these things happen. Again, it didn't matter in the end, we were incredibly lucky, but one injury to Wlazły and it could have mattered.
I'm taking more about general priciple here than about Kurek in particular. Still, I think he lost a whole season of experience we could now very much use since Wlazły obviously decided to bail after he collected his medal.
Kurek had many other coaches that knew him personnaly as well and didn't change his position, but like i said it is all about team's need and coach desires, some need good receptions, others need good attackers and so on, Kazan for exemple played boring game, without good receivers and won everything.
Statistic don't say much to me in a volleyball game, and i followed him not just in polish team but in russian and italian superleague...
But ignoring statisctics in national team while there are many matches when he had about 30-35% is not good. In Skra he was brilliant but after injury in Dynamo it was hard for him to come back to this form. And with such rivalisation in national team, it was Winiarski, now is still Mika who is above all, but Buszek who is more universal but not spectacular, whose reception does not fall below a certain level unlike to Kurek.
Don't get too exctited Andrea that Iran had more difficulties against USA than Poland, first or second match of every tournament is under typical level of every national team and Poland crushed Russia so easy as well as USA crushed Iran. We will see how Russia will play against USA tonight but they didn't take even coach and some players who played with Poland so it seems for now they want to ignore World League this year. Every match is another, new adventure, new disposition of day, it's so strange such expert like you don't know about it. I see using argument with height disappeared for you when I gave height of each player of Russia, Poland and USA that is the same. Now you using only argument with dangerous jumping serves that Poland according to you haven't. I think you should watch uncomfortable floats of Mika, especially his float can make a bigger devastation than jumping serves.
What should I get excited about??
You may re-read my post from last week. What I emphasized is about the six rotations of strong jump serves that created difficulties for Iran who's a team with shorter players comparatively, and as such would feel tough when consistently facing broken plays.
Also, did I comment about the height of the Polish team?
It was absolutely great that Poland nailed four victories at home. World League is the best opportunity to try out new squad before major events, ECH and WCup. And clearly it worked fairly well so far. Although Russia didn't sent the best players (or just didn't send Muserskiy), and Iran in my mind is always somehow overrated, this team so far can be listed as top notch, and it definitely gives us a reason to look forward to the later events.
I actually have been waiting for this day for so long. As I changed my signature, I finally see Kurek coming back. The opposite idea is not too bad, and it seems this trial has been very popular worldwide (let's see, Bartman, Zaytsev, Anderson, Conte, and a few other instances). However just as all the other players who made the same transition, there might be problems in the future. To me now Kurek's problem is about the speed - a good model to follow with decent rhythm is just his predecessor Wlazly. There were a couple of rallies that Kurek merely caught the best hitting point of the ball, but luckily enough he managed to make the shot and sometimes even scored. But this will be a problem, and hopefully as he feels more and more comfortable at the new position, he'll learn more techniques.
Receiving is another bomb that can explode any minute. Today's match against Iran could be a great illustration - in the first set Iranian middle #6's serve made a huge trouble to the Poles. And it seemed to be very little resolutions other than putting Buszek in (whose reception is just mediocre) or let Kurek join the reception (like what Anderson does in USA NT). To be fair this team haven't met the biggest serve challenges yet, and hopefully they won't crush... Well, I guess next week's matches against USA would be a good test.
Speaking of today's match, I believe the utmost pain was the loss of 4th set. Poland was once quite close and falling behind by just two points, before Iran scored two or three times to make it impossible for Poles to catch up again. In my opinion Fabian was the person to blame. Don't take me wrong - I love Fabian and he did pretty great in the last two matches, but in today's match, he had some shitty sets. Nowa, Kurek, Wrona, Mika all had a few shots from bad angle or low position, some of which, of course, ended up losing the point. Had those rallies been taken good care of, the match would have ended earlier. Fabian is the only reliable setter in the NT now, and I don't know if Lomacz deserves more chances.
I noticed in the posts above many people mentioned that Kurek played quite smart in the tie-break. I believe it referred to the first few points where Kurek made tricky shots on the left. Actually this drew my attention. In the tie-break when Kurek was in the front, he always stood on the left side when Poland were serving, this is in fact a strange arrangement since we know opposites normally stand on the right side. On the other hand this also makes sense because Kurek did had better shots on the left side in general. Was it a casual strategy? or was it planned and was Antiga's secret weapon? Anyways, this might be another alternation and provide more flexibility to the team.
Moreover, I have to say I was completely amazed by Bieniek. This young guy showed every aspect that I love for a middle blocker, and I had sought for such a player in NT for a long time. His blocks are quick and tall, which were more efficient than his peers. His attacks were like missiles and always maximized the power. His serves reminded me of Daniel Plinski's, which are not easily found on Polish middles nowadays. Anyways I'm just so glad Poland finally got another talented middle. And if Antiga discovered this boy for no reasons (like, he played in Kielce which I presume should draw very limited attention), he need s to exploit his serendipity a lot.
I wish I could go to Chicago for next week's match but seemingly I won't be able to make it. I was wondering whether Antiga would send the full squad over the Atlantic Ocean, because based on his history, he tends to save some major players at home, if I'm right.
Thank you Martee for your comments. It is good to see things from a different perspective. It has been officially announced that the same squad is going to the US. Actually, we don't have much choice as our B squad is going to Baku to take part in the first European Games. That's also why Russia sent such an experimental team to the US.
Kubiak MVP of yesterday match, but honestly he was the weakest in the team and he distracted all team by being too nervous what caused tiebreak. Buszek should play with USA from the beginning of match with all my sympathy and liking to Michał.
Allow me to clarify. There are people with exotic names in Italy NT, but they are Italian citizens who were born or raised in Italy. It's not like they were imported from their countries and naturalized for sports purposes (unless you were thinking of footballers Omar Sivori and José Altafini in the 60s). The notable exceptions are the players who decide to change their sport nationality from Cuban, Argentine... to Italian. You can have only one at a time (FIVB Sports Regulations, II-9).
Actually, the "acquisition" of (obviously American) basketball players, one for each National team, has become popular lately.
I know about them, I mean taking players which are not part of your school and came to Italy as grown ups /or Poland, or Russia, or any other country/ In this case I mean Juantorena and Leon if he plays for Poland.
About the second victory of Bulgaria over Cuba, only 3 numbers: Our backup of the backup setter Manchev scored 11 pts (8 blocks!) and our team made 37 unforced errors! 37 is a prime number so we can conclude that we are in our prime 
Edit: Grozer, Kaziyski and Juantorena should line up for Skrimov to sign them autographs, the way he serves the last year 
N Penchev has been smiling the whole match likely because the opponent team is too weak, but he's 0/9 in attack.
Serbian mugs, 8 service fail in tie break and they want win something?
I've just saw Italy-Serbia 3-2. Both teams played bad, btw I'm happy because finally Italy has found a great MB: Simone Anzani such a big talent, after a very good season with Verona he's showing us that he's great both in attack (80%) and block (7 points)
7 blocks by Simone Anzani! 
He should have been called before to the NT. I am still wondering what Berruto watched in Beretta in order to keep him so much time in the team 
He even gave a chance to Piano in the first team.
Poor Giannelli. He is such a young diamond and will be wasted on the bench, as all the second setters in Italian NT while Travica is the apple of Berruto´s eyes 
Unfortunately Italy and Serbia never played well at the same time. Italy came back from the demoralization of sets 2 and 3 to win the fifth. I am happy that Travica wasn't pulled off because he looked aware and accurate and even spectacular at times. Giannelli is very happy with his current situation, why wouldn't he?
Zaytsev was better in the back row today. His transition to OH is encouraging (but if you ask me, he should be our opposite...) and his comfort with digging the floating serves will come with time.
A win is a win, but if I were Berruto I wouldn't be satisfied with blocking, coverage and -especially- serve. Or maybe they are doing just fine and it's better to peak later on in the summer, rather than in June like last year...
Serbia need to develop their young setters to make the qualitative leap. Atanasijevic was off and was replaced immediately by Starovic. Grbic rotated three middles for one role. Uros Kovacevic didn't play at all, he was in a libero jersey. His older brother Nikola more than made up for it.
Poor Giannelli. He is such a young diamond and will be wasted on the bench, as all the second setters in Italian NT while Travica is the apple of Berruto´s eyes
The setters of the NT should be Giannelli and one between Falaschi (maybe the most underrated setter in the world) and Baranowicz. Travica is a disaster.
chagrin. I agree with you regarding Zaytsev and he should play as opposite, for many reasons. During autumn we will have Juantorena and obviously he will be on the court with Lanza, so Ivan needs to stay in zone 2. Another important factor: Ivan attacks very badly from zone 4 and when an OH doesn't attack good in 4 he's not a good OH (even if today was pretty good). Furthermore, Ivan he's not good even in digging. When he's in a good shape, Ivan he's one of the best opposite in the world and if Berruto (another disaster guy) puts him among the OHs this is a big waste.
I think Italy is doing a different work than last year. In June 2014 the players were in good shape and played a good WL but then they failed at the WCH. Now they're finding their best shape and the best line-up, waiting for Juantorena and Parodi.
Piano underwent a surgery in his knee and has to top for other 40 days, so I don't know when he'll be ready. Anyway with Anzani Buti and Birarelli the team is fine.
I think Zaytsev can work better as OPP, but sincerely I'd really like to know what is going on with him... he played so little during this year, it was said he was always injured and also now he's far from his best form! Juantorena can really help us but I'd rather put him next to Lanza who had a great season than Parodi who has been poor in L ube and recently had a surgery.
I think Zaytsev can work better as OPP, but sincerely I'd really like to know what is going on with him... he played so little during this year, it was said he was always injured and also now he's far from his best form! Juantorena can really help us but I'd rather put him next to Lanza who had a great season than Parodi who has been poor in L ube and recently had a surgery.
We all agree about it. The line-up should be Ivan as OPP and Juantorena and Lanza as OHs
We all agree about it. The line-up should be Ivan as OPP and Juantorena and Lanza as OHs
we'll have to see if also Berruto agrees with us 
Does it matter with Travica as a setter?
Does it matter with Travica as a setter?
I consider Travica a bad setter (he sets the ball too far from the net in zone 4, too close in zone 1, when the digging is not perfect he goes in trouble etc.). Aside from that, in this moment in Italy there are 3 setters who are better than him: Giannelli, Baranowicz and Falaschi. So why Travica is in the NT, on the court moreover? 