Italy – Superlega 2017/2018

Nice joke involving coaches name by Trentino's fans after the game (but I guess it was already made):
"Godo di RADO ma quando godo, godo come un ANGELO" --> 'I enjoy it rarely (=rado), but when I enjoy it, I do it like an angel'
Sorry, the word enjoy isn't enough probably, but I don't know what verb to use and I'm too lazy to look for it

scarpetta
In the last Supervolley there was a very interesting interview to Lanza. He told that once after Stoytchev was keeping bashing him during a training (for his reception) he said to him something like 'If you're so good than show me, then!'. So Stoytchev asked Kaizisky to serve on him and didn't miss one ball
So, I think Lanza wouldn't gladly work with him again, but I also think he is somehow grateful for what Rado teach him. But not for HOW he did it
I also discovered in that interview that it was the society to ask Rado to give Lanza more space in his first year in A1, because he wasn't let him playing not even when Trento was way ahed the opponents. And he played a lot in several matches at the end of the RS, including vs team like Treviso and Cuneo, and took also one or two MVP

About the rest, I think it's not a secret they weren't on the same page
Anyway, now everybody is using sleeves with sponsors on it (society sponsor, to be precise). So may be they were still following him on instagram since it became a fashion thing

Quote from saishuu

what's everyone's deal with Stoytchev?

I think he's 'simply' very harsh and tough. But I also think that many of his former players respect him for being such a winner. That doesn't mean they would gladly chose to be trained again by Rado, though [Urnaut and Mazzone did, but they worked with him only one year, so I guess it's a bit different than Lanza or Osmany]

Bruno is a different question, he disliked him as an opponent, not knowing him personally.
More than one Modena players said they found him more ironic and fan that they expected, anyway. At least outside court I think.

Quote from scarpetta

As for Trentino Volley; they are booing Juantorena. They are booing Stoytchev .WTFFF!

I know, it's something I don't get either, but for them isn't a sign of disrispect, I assure you. It's like 'part of the (organized fans) game'
They are quite attached to their former players as far as I know, and also today both the society and the fans celebrated the former players with gifts and similar things before the match, and the crowd clapped for Rado a lot, many even stood up. [there is a video on Dal15al25]

Quote from rbdfabio

Kk15 - I have not been watching the men`s league at all, I actually only watched 1 game and it was Trentino`s 2 weeks ago, but why is Hoag starting over Kovacevic? Is he not fully healthy, Hoag has been playing better or the plan before the season started was to have Hoag starting over Uros?

Kovacevic and Lanza where supposed to be titular (as in the Supercup). But Kovacevic suffered two different muscular problems that kept him on the bench for a long while (even if he wasn't that bad all the time, for example he played the Italian Cup quarterfinal vs Monza).
Now – as far I understood – Kovacevic is ok, but I guess that since Hoag is playing well and in the last matches Trentino is doing better, Lorenzetti avoided to change AGAIN the team now that it has somehow founded a certain balance.
He did played a bit both today (mostly second line for Hoag after he served) and vs Latina, anyway (vs Latina also for Lanza).

Quote from Rains_of_Castamere

Probably preparations for the Champions League???

Definitely.

On the other hand, I'm afraid for him that this NT summer Ricci will be put behind players like Polo (I really like him), Galassi (which I like as well) and may be even Bossi if he keeps playing so little in Perugia... Not to mention Anzani! We will see if he'll find more space in the future.
May be it wasn't the smarter choice to go in Perugia instead of being super-titular in some 'middle level' teams.. Including his former team Ravenna which doesn't sound so 'middle' in this period.

Yes also more than one Italian source said that, even if between 'making an offer to Leon' (which I would bet really happened) and 'Leon will play in Perugia' there is a HUGE path ahed...
Despite that wouldn't be great for Trento, I would be thrilled to have Wilfredo in the Italian Championship, but only if it doesn't get as boring as the Russian

There are also rumors about Zaytsev moving from Perugia (probably for Modena, as opp), or Atanasjievic (it's not clear if to let Zaytsev stay as opp, and no rumors about the destination), or both leaving Perugia.
Pedrini (Modena president) said that they're already moving on the market for the next year.

Leon may work in Perugia with two Italian MBs + Libero.

Ps anyway in perugia Ata, Zaytsev and Podke contract will end this season, so more than one combination is possible, Leon or not Leon (including Zaytsev opp with 2 foreign OHs and Podke staying – I would like that).
Anyway it's not easy to find a decent Italian OHs and I wouldn't bet on Zaytsev staying in Perugia as OH, so if he won't stay as OH there are practically only two options, Zaytsev opposite or two Italian MBs.
Unless Perugia will be able to have Osmany (3 years of contracts with Lube) or Lanza... I love Kovar but it's an hard bet considering his physical problems.

It seems Ngapeth was stopped while driving having drunk more alcool than permitted...
They didn't say how much, so I don't know if it's just a 'regular' thing or something more severe.
EDIT: 1,98, x4 the Italian limit that isn't low compared to other countries (0.5) --> driving license taken away.

He was alone in the car but it seems he spend the night with other 4-5 Modena players (plus probably some girls from Modena team and may be even from Conegliano...).
So may be he just got unlucky to be the one caught. Or may be he was stopped because they could guess he had drunk/because they registered the plate from the previous incident two years ago (way more severe - at the end of march there will be the sentence).

When you think he may have learned...

I don't know, he actually played in Trento and it was already happened (Wednesday night).

But I read they cut 5% of the pay of the players that spend that night out.

No 'court' punishment, only a fee to pay to the society, apparently (for not respecting Modena 'ethical code' - which I couldn't find).
I can understand that, to be honest, even if I'm not sure I agree. I mean, I do understand that Modena invested on him and the team needs him and I can't really blame them for wanting him on court, plus he will already punish by the Italian State.
On the other hand I'm afraid if they won't punish him more harshly – may be also making him feel 'guilty' towards his teammates not letting him help them – he'll never learn... but may be he wouldn't have learn anyway, or will learn anyway. Who knows.

Still, I guess probably it's for the best for everybody if he won't be allowed to drive for a while

But allow me a thought: how is possible that several people that harshly criticize Zaytsev for doing something that didn't even break the Superlega rule (neither the sleeve nor the tattoo did, even if the second can be considerate 'morally' borderline) or for asking for an exception to the rule to the rule-makers and leaving the NT when that wasn't granted (shoes gate), do not criticize Ngapeth for breaking not the Superlega rules, but the Italian LAW, doing something that could have severely hurt other people or himself?
[For the record, when Zaytsev actually broke Berruto rule in Rio and was send home, I thought it was right to punish the 4 players, even if that meant the situation of the team 'behind the curtains' was a mess]

I hope it's just a question of 'reading the news in time'... Or may be 'it's not a volleyball related problem' explanation, but since it concern a player (and one of the best in the world) I feel that's more an excuse.

Ps and as you can see I'm not even that harsh vs Ngapeth, the first thing I wrote before the 1.98 came out was that may be it was just a 'regular' thing, and I also wrote that he's possible he was just less lucky than the others to be caught.