Russia NT 2021

    Quote from Ksyusha

    Malygina actually played as MB in Tula this season but not in every game.


    No, it's not a mistake. Lazareva has 2 sisters , Nadya and Katya. Katya was a setter in Krasnodar (she already left the team).


    As for Kadoch, she admitted that her legs were weak to be OPP and she didn't feel comfortable in this position. She is a 18 y.o girl and maybe she'll be invited next year. Ofc, instead of Gorbunova, I'd like to see Kadoch in the NT even this year but it doesn't depend on me and my wishes, it is trainer's decision, well i respect it.

    but why Anna is listed as OH then?

    Quote from Brtkk

    Did Anna Lazareva ever played as OH? Is she good in that position?

    She played as OH in some games in World Cup 2019. In those games, there are times where she seemed nervous and unconfident to me but she has shown some level of maturity playing as Opposite a few months ago in Korea. I think she's better suited to this position.

    It is really hard to root for Russia when you constantly see blatant favoritism and politicking in the national team.


    I really wish Verbov will take over the women's NT next quad. We need younger coaches with fresh ideas.


    Busato banking on players like Malygina and Brovkina just because of their height is so old school volleyball. Really glad that atleast Smirnova and Sazonova made it but i expect on of them will be cut out.

    Quote from Jules

    what do u think russia gonna be placed in OG

    The RUSSIAN team (labelled as "ROC" in official reference thank to WADA) is placed in Pool B along with CHN, USA, ITA, TUR and ARG.


    Pool A has JPN, SRB, BRA, KOR, DOM, KEN


    The Russian team needs to achieve at least two victories to have chance to advance to the knocked-out stage: QF.


    Two victories --> advance to QF as the B4, most likely facing the SRB team as the A1 --> slim chance, stop at the last eight

    Three victories --> advance to QF as the B3, may face A2/A3 (by separate draw) --> most likely face either BRA/JPN/KOR, if facing JPN/KOR, then RUS has good chance to enter SF; if facing BRA, smaller yet still some realistic chance to advance into SF.

    More victories --> less realistic scenario


    Now, which teams the RUSSIAN may beat in Pool matches in order to earn such Victories?


    CHN -- very less likely

    USA -- app. 45:55 chance for RUS (USA still has the upper-hand)

    ITA -- very less likely

    TUR -- equal odds

    ARG -- very likely


    So, tough journey... the Russian team needs to play at their best to have some realistic chance to go further. My two cents.


    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

    Malygina is like that bad relative, you just can't get rid of :lol: Let's all hope she will not be included in the roster for Tokyo..


    Speaking of MBs, I think Russia needs a slider now more than ever as Goncharova's attack in Position 1 is not really effective anymore and she seems slower. Enina would have been perfect for this role, but Kotova is a pretty good slider if not for slight height disadvantage.

    Quote from inc0gnito

    Speaking of MBs, I think Russia needs a slider now more than ever as Goncharova's attack in Position 1 is not really effective anymore and she seems slower.

    Enina and even Lazarenko would've been perfect for the role. Buzato may think that Efimova will work as a slide MB, but maybe in VNL, he'll realize that she isn't in a good shape. Hope after that he calls the MBs who really shone this season. What I know is that he likes tall MBs (like China) that's why he called Brovkina (promising player) and Malygina.

    Quote from Husky123

    What I know is that he likes tall MBs (like China) that's why he called Brovkina (promising player) and Malygina.

    Buzato's obession with "tall" MBs is really a mystery, Russia has already "tall" MBs (except for Kotova) so calling Malygina is not really needed if only for her height


    Koroleva 196cm

    Fetisova 190cm

    Efimova 192cm

    Enina 192cm

    Lazarenko 193cm

    Brovkina 197cm

    Among these, fetisova is the best player so obviously height is not the determining factor here. I don't get his height obsession

    Quote from serdar

    Among these, fetisova is the best player so obviously height is not the determining factor here. I don't get his height obsession

    Some netizens may have hidden wish that head coach Sergio Busato turns the Russian team into the new Japan :lol:


    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

    Quote from samsara

    Some netizens may have hidden wish that head coach Sergio Busato turns the Russian team into the new Japan :lol:

    What do you mean?

    Quote from samsara

    Select the less tall players !?

    I don't think japan does it on purpose. They simply don't have tall options


    russia's situation is totally different. Of course having 180 cm MB is very hard for a competitive NT. But as long as a player is 185+ they can compete at high level (eda is 187 for instance) there is no point to pick a player over another one based on her height. Block anticipation is a skill that is not related to height

    Quote from serdar

    I don't think japan does it on purpose. They simply don't have tall options


    russia's situation is totally different. Of course having 180 cm MB is very hard for a competitive NT. But as long as a player is 185+ they can compete at high level (eda is 187 for instance) there is no point to pick a player over another one based on her height. Block anticipation is a skill that is not related to height

    It's true Japan doesn't have a lot of gigantic players to begin with so they have to work with who can get the job done. I mean look at Okumura (177cm MB), most setters are taller than her but she quick to block :D still, it would be great if they actually had taller players

    Quote from inc0gnito

    Buzato's obession with "tall" MBs is really a mystery, Russia has already "tall" MBs (except for Kotova) so calling Malygina is not really needed if only for her height

    maybe it's an observation not just an obsession. Maybe the coach thinks the sky is limited to us with some players vs top teams.


    "tall players concept" if it works, it is actually a good concept. Karpol had done it many years ago. Gracheva said that height is also important for the setter position (you can fool and block opponent as much as possible).

    I would have prefered Popova instead of Lazareva but it doesn't matter since Startseva and Romanova won't be replaced. I like Gorbunova but I think she might be playing OH next season (Malykh is in the same team). Smirnova is more of an OH than an OPP imho. Malygina is an odd choice... I would prefer Lazarenko, Evdokimova or Sikacheva (haven't seen her before this season and liked her). I would have hoped that there would be an defensive OH... I think the team will struggle when Parubets or Voronkova have a bad reception day. Fedorovtseva is great in attack but not reliable enough in reception, Lazareva is not an OH, Kapustina (Sazonova) is much better in attack than reception... My favourite would have been Kotikova or if you want to go with experience Chaplina (Rusakova) or Shcherban. Kadochkina's reception isn't good enough for NT at the moment.

    Yuan is different. She's not just very tall but also fast for her height. Like I've said a few weeks ago, If it's just about height, Merkulova would have been a great MB. There's a reason why she benched for Perepelkina and Borodakova. I have doubts with turning Malygina into an MB for the same reason. Not to mention that she doesn't have playing experience as one at international level to be reliable at this position.

    Adding to the Malygina discussion, even if she plays MB in NT I doubt she can compete with Koroleva in attack as the former is as slow as a turtle.. so her main purpose will be blocking due to her 'great height' but then Fetisova is already there and is second-to-none in this element :super: For this reason, I would take Kotova as third MB to Tokyo, she is a pretty balanced MB and at least can be useful as serving specialist