Thank God Bernardi took Bari out of the passing, using Tosi in both passing and defending phases. Very important win at Halkbank home.
CEV Champions League 2017
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Zhukouski wasn't even in protocol...
Pokeršnik wanted to focus on beach volley more with partner Zemljak and he came in ACH just a month ago totally unprepared
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After SKRA Resovia also had difficult time in Liberec. I can't understand how Kowal underestimated Czech side. Resovia started with reserve squad, Ivović played few pts, Drzyzga on bench.. Good match by Liberec, they fought way back after losing 0-2
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Im cheering for Roeselare to take the set so that the game wont end. Been really enjoying it. That kid no 9 from Belogorie, OMG what an arm he has!
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Im cheering for Roeselare to take the set so that the game wont end. Been really enjoying it. That kid no 9 from Belogorie, OMG what an arm he has!
No9 has been playing a setter until last season when he turned into an OH. I like his little serving routine, he's a rare Belgorod player capable of spiking several serves in a row. I wouldn't say it is his arm but more his correct approach to the ball during the service, so the kinetic energy is converted very efficiently. BTW it was his first game in the starting line-up for Belgorod. I wonder if he manages to sort out his passing in Belogorie.
Belogorie overall follows the award-winning trend of the last year, by appointing yesterday's players as head coaches. The big change now is that the coach (Alexander Kosarev, a Belgorod player since mid 1990-s and a glorious winner of 2008 ChL with Kazan) is able to communicate his thoughts using his mouth. His predecessor, Vadim Khamuttskikh, was deprived of this important skill - I bet he broke his tongue while trying to pronounce his own surname. Kosarev, however, failed to implement his important advantage so far in his coaching career, as all his ideas so far were stressing out the nervous opp hitters and reshuffling the players in a random order. The team has therefore lost five games out of twelve in the domestic champ and, I have to say, almost succeeded in giving away their first ChL game to a Sunday league team from Belgium. Shipulin has no cash to sign a pro coach?
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Oh I see. That explains why he had a few errors in the 4th set and got replaced. I guess he is still adjusting. I like his serving routine too, and also how his serve looks like he just slaps the ball into a projectile.
Thanks for all the other info!
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Zhukouski wasn't even in protocol.
Sure? At least on the CEV data volley sheet, he was listed. He also played in yesterdays bundesliga match, so i don't think that there are any injury issues. -
Lots of good matches tomorrow and Modena-Skra seems to be such a must watch. Both teams are not in a good shape. I could see Skra taking this match if Kurek doesn't lose his heart again. They really miss Facundo and I think it's better if they revert Kurek back to a wing spiker if Wlazly is healthy.
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Lots of good matches tomorrow and Modena-Skra seems to be such a must watch. Both teams are not in a good shape.
Started watching from mid of third set. As soon as Modena starts to show something from the service line (Le
WhoRoux), Skra seems to be in big trouble. But overall it seems you are right with your last phrase.... -
1-3 Belchatow - Modena. At the end of the 4th set, it was 14-22 for us. Then, I don't know why, there was a break of 10 minutes without any explicable reasons (at least on TV). So, we totally lost concentration and almost lost the set : 22-22!!!!!!!!!!!!
...Then, as usual Monsieur Magic resolves any problems
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Kind of mental breakdown from Modena in the fourth set. Leading 14-22 when the E-score seems to stop working. Pause of 5 minutes to solve the problem and when it couldn't be solved, time to get everything ready and start to work on a paper gamesheet. Skra came back to 22-22, thanks to various errors on Italian side. Then Ngapeth gave his best, scored 22-23, made two blocks and sealed the match.
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Modena leading 22:14 with Le Roux on serve and then some "problems" at the scoring table. Le Roux serves out after the break and Skra comes back to 22:22 (not because they played better now, but Modena just sopped playing...) just to get blocked 3 times in row and finish the match.Overall this really sounds more dramatic than it actually was.
EDIT: Marcus and me obviously watched the same match
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Started watching from mid of third set. As soon as Modena starts to show something from the service line (Le
WhoRoux), Skra seems to be in big trouble. But overall it seems you are right with your last phrase....It all boiled down on the WS in the end as predicted. Penchev just isn't world class to take on the likes of Ngapeth. They badly need Conte back. There's also Taylor Sander if Verona can't get him to return to the team.
1-3 Belchatow - Modena. At the end of the 4th set, it was 14-22 for us. Then, I don't know why, there was a break of 10 minutes without any explicable reasons (at least on TV). So, we totally lost concentration and almost lost the set : 22-22!!!!!!!!!!!!
...Then, as usual Monsieur Magic resolves any problems
1-3 Belchatow - Modena. At the end of the 4th set, it was 14-22 for us. Then, I don't know why, there was a break of 10 minutes without any explicable reasons (at least on TV). So, we totally lost concentration and almost lost the set : 22-22!!!!!!!!!!!!
...Then, as usual Monsieur Magic resolves any problems
Yeah that break hurt their momentum. I guess Modena is just atleast a class higher than Skra to close that match after that run from belchatow.
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Modena leading 22:14 with Le Roux on serve and then some "problems" at the scoring table. Le Roux serves out after the break and Skra comes back to 22:22 (not because they played better now, but Modena just sopped playing...) just to get blocked 3 times in row and finish the match.Overall this really sounds more dramatic than it actually was.
EDIT: Marcus and me obviously watched the same match
You actually cannot imagine how much I got angry at 22-22. I was close to throw the pillow on the TV -
You actually cannot imagine how much I got angry at 22-22. I was close to throw the pillow on the TV
Believe me, i can
That was really unprofessional, in just so many ways..... -
I still can't believe belchatow traded Luburic for Kurek. What's the use of having two good opposites if you can't use them together?
Not saying Luburic is average but Skra could've would've done better with better passing-attackers.EDIT: Fifth set it is for ACH and Craiova.
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I still can't believe belchatow traded Luburic for Kurek. What's the use of having two good opposites if you can't use them together?
Not saying Luburic is average but Skra could've would've done better with better passing-attackers.EDIT: Fifth set it is for ACH and Craiova.
Did Kurek given up playing as OH? -
Did Kurek given up playing as OH?It would be difficult for him to come back as OH when Wilfredo Leon is the future of Poland and it would depend solely on how his teammates are willing to take responsibility as he was known to be outside hitter hidden from reception when he was still in that position.
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Did Kurek given up playing as OH?yes, he did, Skra has to deal with quite inexperienced OHs: Szalpuk and Bednorz, experienced and fragile Winiarski and Penchev who's not a scoring machine... as a result it ends up like this
moreove they kicked off Zatorski to make a place for president's son Wlazły is ending up as well ad they keep him playing instead of trying someone else... -
It all boiled down on the WS in the end as predicted. Penchev just isn't world class to take on the likes of Ngapeth. They badly need Conte back. There's also Taylor Sander if Verona can't get him to return to the team.
Nikolay Penchev surely isn't among the best OHs one can buy for his team but his role and value seem underestimated a bit. kondzio's definition that he isn't a scoring machine is actually more accurate. Let me explain why, it has nothing to do with his nationality. The fact that I am Bulgarian, too, means that I have just watched him more.
Penchev developed as a reliable receiver when he was still a youngster. I guess he was a tall kid even in his first years as a volleyball player but his skill to receive isn't the most frequently found one among youth and junior players. Especially in Bulgaria where receiving OHs are relatively rare. Remember that he won the Best Receiver award at the Junior ECH in Belarus in 2010. Sure, if you have that characteristic and you are tall, you are kind of predestined to find teams anywhere. His big problem, obviously, is his physique. Even now he still looks immature, although there is improvement in comparison to his first season in Poland. His physique and the fact that he struggles to "grow up" remind me of Poletaev, Dmitry Volkov, and Douglas Souza from SESI - the first few examples that come to my mind. However, Penchev isn't helpless in attack at all (neither is any of the other guys I mentioned). He certainly isn't capable of drilling holes in the field but I wouldn't consider him a weak attacker. He has learned to play with the block more and he doesn't make many mistakes. Besides, he serves very well, his floats are a nice alternative when his jump serves don't always work (his floats decided the quarterfinal match of Bulgaria versus Germany at the 2013 ECH, they were also decisive in the re-match at the 2015 ECH quarterfinal) and he has improved his blocking. These are not qualities of an average player.
Let's quickly jump to the comparisons with Ngapeth (here, in this thread) and with Ivovic in Resovia (in the transfers thread). Their styles and roles in the respective teams are different, to start with. Alongside Ivovic, who attacks greatly, who is loaded more with responsibility in the front line, and who has enjoyed a splendid 2016, Penchev is (was) usually the one to help with the reception more. So, to say that you are impressed more with Ivovic than Penchev is a personal choice but it surely neglects the role of the latter in the team. As we know, attackers always get the attention
Ngapeth is a beast and can be compared to only a few players nowadays. The fact that makes him great is not only his improvisation but the variety of qualities, including great reception. He is the reliable receiver for Modena, not Petric, most French OHs are good receivers, as a matter of fact, and when he attacks like he does, he is undoubtedly world-class. But not my type of player because of his attitude. As you see, a matter of preferences. By the way, Penchev outplayed Ngapeth at the 2015 ECH semifinal, a great tournament for Penchev in a bad moment of his life, but I would never say that Nikolay is better than the Frenchman.Last, the whole team of Skra is somewhat unfocused lately and I can't really say why, people who watch the Polish league regularly should know more. I see OHs being always in rotation, something I remember that happened with Resovia at a certain time under Kowal's guidance last year. The good old Winiarski could've made up for Conte's absence, the latter is spectacular but not irreplaceable. Penchev isn't impressive in 2016, absolutely agree, he wasn't impressive with the NT during the summer either and rumours say, some of them might even be trusted, he is (still) in love and volleyball might not be the primary focus for him at the moment