Italy – Superlega Unipolsai 2016-2017

It was the second match I watched in a while.

Bernardi at least realized how mentally weak Atanasijevic is. He took him off. It's something at least, but we desperately need to play with the full net. Since he came on court, it was all about Russell like always in crucial matches. Why the hell you have Zaytsev to play opposite and you play 3 sets with Russell on that position? What's the point? His spiking from 4 is even worse than I remembered. Orduna's jump float trashed Ivano on passing.

Once again Bari in the reception line and once again we lost when the opponents make him their goal from the service line, like Le Roux did in tie break.

De Cecco is always as boring as annoying. The moment he finds a scorer, he makes him his man the whole match, like he did with Russell. He could play way more with MBs, which were completely disconnected in the end (just look at Podrascanin's spike out in the last set). There's no wonder why he's a silver medal specialist.

Berger never played at this level. At least he tries his best when it's given a chance. Today he was so so.

IMHO we need an OH who can handle plassing when our starters are in troubles. Berger can't do this job. Della Lunga is a mysterious object since he came back, when he left he was pretty impressive as passer.

Modena should find a solution to play more with Holt. He's not really into the game for long moments of the match. He can win games by himself, but he needs a system Modena still hasn't.

Maybe if Berger was a better attacker then he'll stand a chance against Ivan or Aaron but he's much more useful as a receiving opposite for Aaron than as an OH when Atanasinevic is off the court.

Both Dore and him are practically fighting for the 3rd OH not as the first or second.

Aaron and Ivan have both adjusted to Perugia's system too much so Berger can have playing time and be useful somehow.Maybe it's the reason why De Cecco hasn't improve with Zaytsev or Aaron's connection. Maybe it's time to give a new makeover instead.

Finally Ngpaeth did it. HE tried so many times to score with a bagher, and finally he did it!

The best performance by Le Roux since he plays for us (MVP in my opinion), the first game as a top player. Good game by Vettori and Rossini too. Bad game by the others, but whene we play against Perugia, I don't how to explain, I never have the sensation to lose the match.

By now, if we look at the stats of the match, it seems Jiri Kovar is definetely back! I'm happy for him and for the national team. Let's hope no more injuries

Quote from Mamdani

Finally Ngpaeth did it. HE tried so many times to score with a bagher, and finally he did it!

The best performance by Le Roux since he plays for us (MVP in my opinion), the first game as a top player. Good game by Vettori and Rossini too. Bad game by the others, but whene we play against Perugia, I don't how to explain, I never have the sensation to lose the match.

Of course, we are a loser club.
Same feeling here. I never have the feeling we may win a title or a cup with Atanasijevic.

Here the reverse bagher by Ngapeth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7qF4ecSJWk

Same feeling I had during the match: what the hell were they (Berger jumping on block and Podrascanin walking under the net) thinking?

Nobody can top that...only himself, when he do it again....he makes everyone on the other side look dumb.

Quote from Mamdani

Here the reverse bagher by Ngapeth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7qF4ecSJW

This is Earvin NGapeth XD

https://www.facebook.com/palla…/videos/1314309108592057/

It has been an entertaining match I have to say, at least more than Perugia-Trento last week. Anyway to me there were still too many mistakes..it is ok to take a risk but sometimes it was too much and mistake after mistake the team obviously goes down.

Russell's performance was awesome, but still this Perugia doesn't convince me. They have the players and the quality but something is missing..maybe it is because I don't like Zaytsev as OH and I would rather choose between one of the two..

Quote from Kk15

I still don't agree.
I mean, obviously another good OH would come really handy – especially when Ata is on the bench – but I do believe that Modena has a worst 3rd OH (Cook) than Perugia (Berger/Russell). And I guess it's the same for the real second opposite (I specify 'real' because both teams have other solution, like Berger and Le Roux)
Ps I assure you that Berger is the second/third OH in Perugia (with Russell), not the third/fourth with Dore. Try to check how many time did Berger played and how many time did Dore and you will see.

As Shame I also wonder why not to try Ivan as (receiving) opposite rather than Russell or Berger when Ata is out...

I got the same impression, and it isn't the first time.

I also agree on Le Roux, wonderful match. But Vetto remains my MVP (yes, I am quite partial xD)

I thought the same, I even thought it would ended 3-1 for Modena (cheering for Trento I wouldn't have minded that, right now, because we would have been 2nd alone, but may be in the future it will come handy that they have stolen points to each others and that Modena isn't only one point behind :P)

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Quote from Mamdani

Here the reverse bagher by Ngapeth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7qF4ecSJWk

Eh the only reason Aaron has been not playing starter has been his injury, he's not himself since that.

I would like that to happen with Ivan as receiving opposite but Berger can't kill the ball as an OH1. Aaron is just too good as an OH2 when he gets going. He's almost unstoppable. Honestly, he's gonna be barrage by service to stop that.

But De Cecco has been terrible this past few matches, he's been predictable lately. It's either Ivan, Aleksandr, Russell + Podrascabin every match. He can't use it properly to have bis spikers get a more balanced sheet.

Quote from Diesse14

It has been an entertaining match I have to say, at least more than Perugia-Trento last week. Anyway to me there were still too many mistakes..it is ok to take a risk but sometimes it was too much and mistake after mistake the team obviously goes down.

Russell's performance was awesome, but still this Perugia doesn't convince me. They have the players and the quality but something is missing..maybe it is because I don't like Zaytsev as OH and I would rather choose between one of the two..

They get surprised essily. It's hard to watch sometimes. Modena is a scrappy team while Perugia's offense has a nice ring bell to it until you get it. They are easier to be controlled. Modena can really come at you anytime while Perugia can have a moment of stasis when they can't kill the ball surprisingly they get surprised by that which affects their defense.

Incredibly for Piacenza though... The win over Perugia was Piacenza being the weaker receiving team.

Just goes to show you that perfect reception is overrated in men's volleyball...I think it!s a good quality but they really need to get away from that mentality and just learn to adjust with the play.

I thiink it's where Modena is superior with Perugia despite having the more "stars" in the team.

Perugia's coach has focused on perfect reception that he forgot the attack and consequently,Ivan's percentage drop off.

Modena are just a maater of out of system hence they can really frustrate you.

As for berger being the better spiker than Ivan. I think the Coach customized his system for Berger and basically, it works for him but not for Ivan. He's the OH1 so he'll see more of the blocks alone and when he's together with Berger then he ends up being the focus of the block and serve. When he's with Russell then Ivan shines more because Russell becomes a decoy and a scorer if healthy.

Sorry for the doublepost but is someone in here knows the foreign player limit for Serie A?

Quote from Kk15

In court, the limits is 4 foreigns (on 7 players, counting the libero). (To be precise, the rule asks to have 3 Italians on court).
If a team doesn't use the libero, only 2 Italians has to be on court.
For the A2 the limits is 2 foreigns (5 Italians).

[Women A1: at least 6 Italians in total and at least 3 of them on court; Women A2: as men-A2]

In general, the second libero must be Italian in the men serie A1 and A2.

I think there is also a limits of 4 extra-communitary players (remember that Serbians count as extra-UE), but I couldn't find the rule...

Fot the foreign over 20 and under 23, there is a limit of 50 licenses in the whole Superlega (and A2). [30 for the women championship].

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Thank you for that.

So basically if we're talking Perugia,Zaytsev cannot be substituted by anyone but della Lunga, right unless Podrascanin who is perugia's best player gets substituted as well?

I honestly think now that Coach Bernardi is probably giving the playing time to the wrong person.I really like Berger but Perugia needs to rest Ivan and start Dore or maybe start with using the italianmiddle blockers alot more to play berger probably during Champions League?

Perugia doesn't seem to have a great academy of italian youngsters which kind of not helping them get over some obstacles and limits their option especially in shuffling their local players.

Interview by Earvin Ngapeth for Gazzetta dello Sport quickly translated by me.

Volleyball, Italian Cup, Ngapeth speaks: "Modena is still the team to beat"
I want to win this Cup more than ever. Please No more comparisons with the team last year! Zaytsev? I am still angry with him, he has spoken ill about France. With Trento I want to hurry in order to watch Cameroon's match "

Modena is therefore healed after the difficulties of recent weeks?
"When you play against a team like Perugia, and the same is also true of Trento, Verona and Civitanova, you do not need to find the stimulus. The victory will galvanize. I think that about the lost games in regular season it's only our fault. We lacked the aggressiveness and attention required, the right approach and preparation for these matches was wrong. But there's an upside that can be drawn from this. it is evident from the 100% win in the tiebreaks:. we are the ones who can decide our future. "

You have won the last two editions of the Italian Cup. A good habit for you.
"One step at a time. For the moment I think only about the semi-final against Trento. It will be a very tough game, against a team that has very high rates".

Last year there were important companions like Bruninho and Lucas. And Lorenzetti at the bench. Today there will be no Brazilians while the technician of the last league title will be your opponent.
"This year I have a great desire to win. Perhaps more than in other years because I'm tired about hearing every day these constant comparisons with last season. Bruninho, Lucas and Lorenzetti are gone. And we have to look to the future and not to the past . I think for Orduna is not easy every day to feel the "weight" of the confrontation with those who came before. Santi shows every day a great strength and will, because if I were in his place I would already gone away. Fans and journalists speak too much about the legacy of Bruninho. Enough! This is Modena and with this team I want to win as much as possible. "

Are you still angry for the bad performance in the Olympics of your France? And with Italy for the defeat with Canada that caused partly your elimination?
"I am angry with Zaytsev because he spoke ill of me, of us, of France, after he won only a match after 3 years against us. Then, I recognize that the defeat against Canada can happen."

Let's play ... Tell me your team at Fantavolley of these Final Four?
"There is not. Do you know any setter with more desire to emerge than Orduna? And two quality Mbs to choose between Le Roux, Holt and Piano? Tell who can field any other better libero than Rossini? It's true, Hernandez and Sokolov are two excellent opposites but today I would never change Vettori with anyone. Finally, as OHs me and Petric are enough ... (laughs). "

In the field it seems to see Ngapeth grew, more mature ...
"For me, Rossini, Piano, Vettori and Petric, who are here since a few years there is a greater responsibility and awareness."

You are Franco-Cameroonian. A sporting weekend for you very important. Not only for the Italian Cup Volleyball. The Worlds of handball and the football African Cup of Nations...
"I am very confident for the Handball World Cup but I hope that we can close the most, especially since it is hosted in France. I have many friends in that National team: Adrien Dipanda, Franco-Cameroonian like me. Nikola Karabatic also. Instead Saturday at 20 Cameroon challenges Senegal. So I hope to win or lose quickly against Trento because I want to cheer for Cameron"