2018 Volleyball Nations League (VNL)

    China's situation is nearly the same as Week 2 of WL 2017.
    All the matches that need to win are hard to win.


    PS:
    Many people announced Raul Lozano should be fired. However, who could replace him? At least I think no one of Chinese coaches could.

    My favourite roster of Chinese (in 2022)
    male NT:
    S - Yu Yao-chen, Chen Lei-yang
    OP - Jiang Chuan, Dai Qing-yao
    OH - Zhang Jing-yin, Yu Yuan-tai, Liu Li-bin, Fu Hou-wen
    MB - Zhang Zhe-jia, Peng Shi-kun, Li Yong-zhen, Jiang Zhen-yang
    L - Yang Yi-ming, Yang Tian-yuan


    female NT:
    S - Yao Di, Diao Lin-yu
    OP - Gong Xiang-yu, Sun Xiao-xuan
    OH - Li Ying-ying, Wang Yi-fan, Wu Meng-jie, Zhuang Yu-shan
    MB - Yuan Xin-yue, Wang Yuan-yuan, Zheng Yi-xin, Liu Yu
    L - Ni Fei-fan, Xu Jia-nan

    Quote from Helios

    I think he is not satisfied with OPP position. But Fromm and Bohme are not good choices, I would say. The young Weber could be a suitable candidate.


    Since GER is not participating WCH, why is he still trying everything? I think their main goal is to enter the F6. If they could have won the past two matches, there is still a chance for them. Now it's highly impossible.


    I don't know why neither Malescha nor Weber were in the roster. Malescha is surely no superstar but as an opposite i think he would have added more to team than Böhme/Fromm. Linus Weber is considered to be the biggest talent in german volleyball for quite some time and his breakthrough as a high standard opposite would be very needed. But he is still only 18 and hasn't even played Bundesliga Volleyball yet. So he is only a promise to the future so far and imho germany will have to go with Hirsch/Malescha/Marks for the next years....

    Quote from andrea


    Couldn’t watch the match. Who is that player?


    He may refer to Egor Bogachev, Germany's second libero. He is only libero on paper and i don't think he will still see the court in VNL. He is a very talented OH whose actual weak points are reception/ball control. He is with the team for learning and hopefully this will pay out soon.

    Italy is nothing in attack without Zaytsev and Juantorena, I hope they will be soon back. We also have great problems with the setter: Giannelli is of course the first choice, but after him... nothing. Spirito played awfully against Japan in the last weekend, while Baranowicz was unwatchable today. Many sets were imprecise, there are no connection with the other players and some choices were questionable. Bad also Nelli and Randazzo.. so many silly mistakes and no concentration.
    In general, too many mistakes in attack and on serve. Australia had their job eased by all the mistakes Italy made.. just such a horrible thing to watch. I don't know if Italy can make it to finals, anyway these players that had the opportunity to show their value, they showed nothing. Bad, very bad impression.. I'm really disappointed!

    Quote from ravhin2j3

    What's with this Japan team. They can go and play like the rest of the great teams. Is this going to be the sudden reversal of fortune? The JAP W team is going a bit down and the JAP M is on the rise?


    Because they are playing against weakened teams. Argentina's level will rise dramatically when their key players like De Cecco returns to the national team.

    Favorite players: M: Maxim Mikhaylov, Murilo, Serginho, Aaron Russell, Otavio, Simone Giannelli, Ivan Zaytsev, Tsvetan Sokolov, Michał Kubiak, Mariusz Wlazly, Pawel Zagummy W: Sheilla, Zhu Ting, Natalia, Fe Garay, Fofao, Gabi, Thaisa, Foluke Akinradewo, Wei Qiuyue, Ding Xia, Carli Lloyd, Fabi, Natalia Goncharova, Yuko Sano, Saoris Kimura and Sakoda


    #FreeBritney

    Bulgaria is again playing very decent. Brasil may very well leave Varna with 3 defeats.

    Quote from andrea

    Hopefully that's the case.



    I don't know what's up with Brazil:/ They seem to be playing from bad to worse with each game. Honestly, I find it difficult to believe that they are on the verge of losing against this Bul team...