Olympic Games - 2016 | 8 | 6

Quote from ravens#7

I agree. Most of all Pankova's performances are simply embarassing. she was so special among the russian setters playing fast e good in 2013, when she leaded Russia to its first ECH title after many years. Now she looks like every russian setter: playing a boring and anachronistic kind of volleyball from the 80s...
They really need someone who can bring modern volleyball in their schools. Being taller than the opponents is no longer enough since the end of the 90s.

She got married since then and found a better paid job in Dinamo Moscow so no wonder things/attitude have changed. I don't see a big problem in the high sets as long as those sets are in the right tempo. The problem-problem is that Pankova set Goncharova out of tempo on a transition ball on multiple occasions. Those two are not just the setter and the opp of the NT, they played together in the club so one would assume Pankova would be able to set with her eyes closed.

Quote from Russia_Nikolai_Karpol

the next question Who will be the next Coach for Russia

My guess is Vadim Pankov.

Dear God, you guys are amazing already saying that Serbia is the olympic champion

I was so nervous. Up until today the Olympics have been a nightmare for Serbia with almost every single athlete and team underperforming. Then today everything suddenly changed. We finally got our first medal (and gold at that, in wrestling), women's basketball team made a gigantic upset beating Australia in the QFs and our water polo team finally started playing like everyone expects from them.
The volleyball team was the last to go and I was just thinking, if they could win here this day would be enormous... And then the magic happened.

Quote from kazzalagupagu

This has to be the best reaction ever hahaha Marichev was completely useless today.

Of course it is. Poor Tatiana. Every single time I see Marichev and the weird stuff he does all I can think about is this...

Quote from Sidney

Dear God, you guys are amazing already saying that Serbia is the olympic champion

we say if serbia keeps playing like this
given that qualifier, i'd put my money where my mouth is too. it would be crazy to bet against them.

Oh well at least this time Gamova didn't have to train a whole year for this madness

Quote from Matthias

Congrats to Serbia, a fully deserved and impressive victory

I feel really sorry for Kosheleva, she is an outstanding player and the way she tried to lead her team today despite how the match went was amazing. I really hope she'll make it to Tokyo 2020 and then have better cheerleaders around her and most of all a better coach

With Karpol as coach Russia never missed the semifinals. Without him they never reach the semifinals, now three different coaches have tried and failed. Maybe it's time for Misha Karpol as NT coach to bring some of the old spirit in

I disagree here as I think the only person who tried to play today was Voronkov's daughter. Kosheleva did quite a bit of shouting etc but she was in fact equally absent-minded today, mostly walking on the pitch. The team needs a leader able to side out when it's hard and I haven't seen much of that from her today. Kosheleva's problem is her excellent jump and spiking coordination: she is way too focused on that ignoring a bunch of less "photogenic" but not less important skills. She's been into volleyball easily since her childhood but somehow has no reception, she's a clumsy defender and her attacking skills are totally dependent on the height of the jump. Doesn't seem to be able to control the ball, roll, tip etc. I assume she was not in her best physical condition at the OG hence she felt a bit shaky. It's unfair to pick a winner in the team of losers. Overall, I think the team has slightly lost the plot in their easy group and started enjoying Rio a bit too much. Look at how they were moving without the ball, they were just static (including Kosheleva on her long legs).

Marichev, I think, is a good specialist but he was never able to turn the games round with his interventions. A good example was the CEV cup final between Dinamo Msk and Trento in Moscow when he just made things worse with his time-outs. But then there was a golden set that rescued the day for his team. He is overall saying correct things but the whole business is very nervy and destructive. Umm... I would keep him away from ropes and razors from now on, for some time, as I'm sure a friendly meeting with Ovchinnikov is not impossible.

Congratulations to Netherlands, USA and Serbia!

Zé always says it's better to be on the strongest pool. You know the level of the competition before the playoffs.
3-0 pool B so far.
Hope the experience of our players gives them the exactly comprehension on how good they should be today to go through the semifinals.

Go Brazil!

Congratulations Serbia! You girls deserved it with a good performance and nerves of steel. Now go and get a medal
WTF was that Russia? Luckily I missed the first set. That performance was beyond terrible. Marichev is so clueless and I'm sure he's gonna get grilled for his tactics or lack of it. Hopefully he doesn't end up like Ovchinnikov. The girls were unprepared mentally with no game plan or a helpful coach. If Karpol was watching, I think his television would be broken by now. Vetrova, Malygina and Ezhova in this team just boggles my mind. Apart from Kosheleva, there just isn't another leader in the team. Goncharova, while an excellent opp is still no Gamova in big matches and definitely has no leadership abilities. The only good thing that came out of this olympics for russia is the performance of Voronkova.

And what is this China? Problems in reception, but also that block during the point at 15-24... Was that the first actual Chinese block?

Zhu Ting is such a brave girl... she's all alone to fight against Brazil and still delivers !
The rest of CHN is such a mess

I want China to win but it's clearly not possible

I want Jaqueline on court.

Hui is terrible.

Quote from Emil

Hui is terrible.

Actually Hui and Wei helped the team a lot. They look way better now.

She helped the team today? I don't think so. I know she used to be really good prior to injury though. China managed to get the 2nd set thanks to Zhu. I hope they win this match.

Quote from Emil

She helped the team today? I don't think so. I know she used to be really good prior to injury though. China managed to get the 2nd set thanks to Zhu. I hope they win this match.

Passing and experience are important in this game. Clearly Gong isn't ready for this kind of game. Lang Ping is right moving Zhang Changning back to (her older) opposite position. The double change is doing great with Ding and Yang. Liu did her best the few points she played. China survived this second set. Natalia on the other side is just terrible.