Italy – Superlega 2017/2018

  • Zingel was supposed to be started beside Eder. And Kozamernik was supposed to be back for them.


    Noone of them is playing well it's no coincidence to me. The team lost the starting libero. They keep changing the outside hitters and Giannelli is nowhere close to his best game. Zingel may be weak as server, but there's Kozamernik, who's not so bad under the net; at least under Giani he used to be a good player. So, to me, this is a good MB pack.

  • Zingel was supposed to be started beside Eder. And Kozamernik was supposed to be back for them.


    Noone of them is playing well it's no coincidence to me. The team lost the starting libero. They keep changing the outside hitters and Giannelli is nowhere close to his best game. Zingel may be weak as server, but there's Kozamernik, who's not so bad under the net; at least under Giani he used to be a good player. So, to me, this is a good MB pack.


    I agree that this is a good MB pack but it definitely would have been better if they have an italian MB... young or old... I don't think it matters as long as he is not that expensive but skilled enough to play.


    That would allow more flexibility with their roster changes to maintain the foreign player allowance. It's difficult to consider an MB as essential especially when the pass is not great. I feel that slot would've better been moved to an italian MB as the wing hitters usually dictate the game.


    Trentino actually has 13 registered players so that still means they are playing with an incomplete roster. :teach:

    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

  • They messed up badly thinking Vettori and De Pandis were going to be an equal replacement for Stokr/Nelli and Colaci respectively.


    Mmm I don't think that's entirely true: they messed up with Vettori, but it wasn't their choice to renounce to Colaci. So, they may have made a mistake choosing De Pandis over Sohji, but it could have been a money problem as well (so, an economical forced choice rather than a technical one).
    I do believe they wanted to bet on Chiappa as a digger, anyway. So money+will to let Chiappa plays to grow up may have lead to De Pandis.



    It seems De Pandis has been struggling with his injury from the beginning of the season. I wouldn't blame him. Same for Chiappa, who wasn't supposed to be starter this season.


    For me they both started very badly, then De Pandis got better when he started playing solo, and Chiappa did better as well when he had to be titular (for me he messed up only the match vs Sora). Now, we're back to the duo, and in these two matches post-surgery imho De Pandis received very well.
    Anyway as I said above the idea has always been to split they job.



    Giannelli included: he has 3 good options in the middles and shows zero feeling with every single one of them.


    I agree with you that he is far from his best, but overall imho he is playing decently with the MBs...



    So why are they serving to Zaytsev and wait Russell to attack?


    :aww:
    Answer: because they're serve sucks. I mean, when it's a struggle to put the serve in, you can't pretend to aim for a specific (probably well covered) players :P



    Do you think it will work with Vettori/Nelli/Sabbi? I don't think so.


    It seems pretty clear that Zaytsev will play as opposite, for the exact reason you mentioned. Or at least all the rumors/interviews go in that direction.
    It could be considered to use him in reception sometime/often, though.



    Zingel may be weak as server, but there's Kozamernik, who's not so bad under the net; at least under Giani he used to be a good player. So, to me, this is a good MB pack.


    I think they're both doing good, except Zingel from the 9 meters.
    In fact even when Kozamenrick was titular, Zingel was put in once for set quite regularly, and he often made the most of it (especially at block).
    I agree with you that is a good MBs pack, but unlike you I'm not sure they're underperforming, even if they don't shine constantly.

  • Brett Walsh has taken the starting position from Kawika Shoji. Interesting
    This year American setter position will be problematic.


    I agree but I don't think USA is the only top team having setter problems.

    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

  • Brett Walsh has taken the starting position from Kawika Shoji. Interesting
    This year American setter position will be problematic.

    Brett Walsh is Canadian. But he will definitely put some pressure on TJ Sanders this summer.

  • I watched some games of Monza and I really liked Oleg Plotnytskyi . I really think he will be a star in the future. Great server and attack.


    About Ravenna, i think they have a good team, specially OHs and Opp, but MBs are not so strong. if they had better MBs they would have more sucess. Austrian Opp is really good.


    And in Verona, i dont like Spirito, i think he is not creative.

  • Well, today despite the result I saw more fight spirit in Latina than in Trento... Trento did some very beautiful action (as did Latina), but I'm not truly happy about the performance, to be honest... There are still too many sloppy situations..


    Pity that Sora didn't make us a gift winning another set vs Verona, the 4th ended 31-29 for Verona :(



    Wonderful end of the tie break between Milan and Modena, I'm very happy Milano won! But congrats to Modena for canceling match point after match point to Milano (I think the match point were all for Milano).
    Of course Modena has to cope with the double opposite absence, but Milano was without Abdel Aziz as well. In the 5th they were playing with Schott-Cebulij-Klinkeberg, and all of them attacked wonderfully in the final point-to-point, while on the other side all Milano match points were canceled by Ngapeth if I recall well (and once or twice by Milano serve errors).

  • Ngapeth's attitude in the last set :sos: I'm glad Milano didn't let him won the game .
    Cebulj's cramps and his desire to continue reminded me Juantorena's farewell match to Trento :lol:
    Sokolov's injury must be serious because in the post-match interview Kovar said; we hope Sokolov will be back for season final :what: .
    Monza played a terrible match , I don't think Shaw is better than Shoji so this is a questionable choice. I'm also impressed with Oleg Plotnytskyi .He reminds me Kubiak, I hope he will improve his receiving.


    Walsh?

  • :offtopic:


    Sirci (Perugia president) got married!


    First of all, I had no idea he wasn't married, I've always assumed he and his fresh bride were husband and wife since a long time. He has also quite grown up sons (like teenagers). Now I'm wondering if the actual wife is the mother ^^


    Second of all.. from the pictures it appears like Mosna (Trentino president) is his best mate! I had NO clue at all they were so close! :white:

  • Beside Argenta and Sabbi, it appears Modena may have to deal with Ngapeth and Urnaut absences as well! They both have phisical problems, but I did't understand if that will keep them from playing... and same goes for Sokolov.


    Sabbi should be back for the play offs, Argenta for the middle of february...


    I don't know if Abdel Aziz will be back.


    Curiously, at the moment Modena, Civitanova and Trento (plus partially Milano) are all playing without a real opposite.
    For different reasons, obviously.
    What a strange and unlucky coincidence...



    EDIT: Urnaut shoulder problems (which he had also in the last match) doesn't seem so worrying so he should play.

  • but I did't understand if that will keep them from playing... and same goes for Sokolov.


    Sokolov is playing. So they are intentionally giving false informations


    I don't think so.
    I think he has the problem but for the important matches is swallowing the pain and playing...


    It seems he needs a knee surgery, but he decided to wait after that play off not to miss them, and to undergo surgery after the season and before the WCh.
    So, he can probably play but has to be used wisely.

  • scarpetta, you will be happy, I vote Colaci as MVP!!


    And he is!! :heart:



    Since Juantorena declared the social war to Atanasijevic we won Lube twice, winning the Cup and killing the Regular season. Please more, Osmany.


    The last famous words :lol:



    - Christenson totally absent at block and this time even the quality of passes suffer.


    At least he served well overall!



    - Sander wasn't bad


    Little prologue: I admit I've always have a problem with Sander who has never convinced me (I do consider him a good player, though! I mean, it's not a Lanza-shame situation, I think Sander absolutely belong to his NT and could play titular in many good Clubs... but I don't love him).
    Conclusion: I may be biased, but he didn't impressed me today. Not counting the injured Sokolov, I would have said he was the worst on Lube's field...