Posts by Nick

C'mon polish fans, it's your holiday today.
http://www.fivb.org/en/Infomed…B.asp?No=15233&Language=0

Wild cards go to Poland and Dominican Republic :cry2:
It's interesting whether WC was held without world number one according to the world rankings.
Russia will miss WC for the second time in a row, in my opinion it's not fair that wild cards were given to these teams for many reasons.

Of course my vote goes to Taismary.

Quote from "samba player"

Thanks Nick!!! :wink2:

Ljuba, Katja and Gosha were not in best shape! If I'm not wrong Ljuba had an injury this summer and Katja an operation, right??? It's unusual to see Katja and Gosha not jump serving and Ljuba make so many mistakes. Do you know why Katja and Gosha were not jump serving? Injury???

You're welcome).
Of course they were not in best shape. Grand Prix, qual. tournament for GP08 after injuries were too much for our girls. They were alrady exhausted before final six in China, in a week they were already playing in Ankara, and then two weeks for EC. They couldn't attain their best shape.
I was afraid of this after Ankara, but it's hard to obtain good conditions in two weeks after such schedule (for injuried Gamova and Sokolova even harder).
When I saw our team's game I realized that they're not fresh there was heaviness in their game.
It turned out, that our federation officials spoke about this problem with Caprara before EC, but nothing could be done.
Sorry, I'm traveling out of the record.
About serves. It's obvious, Katja's jump serves were not effective and not that powerful plus many mistakes, there was no need for her. Godina also, the same plus she had a slight injury after France or Azerbaijan game.
Sokolova's bad performance was due to tiredness and bad shape.
Overall, bad physical conditions played a role in this tournament. Plus... may be many of you guys won't agree with me... but I beg Caprara to change sisters setters, both! They're not setters...
(Give us Iza Belcik))) she'll be playing on the court, I promise).

Also, our federation secretary stated today that the result of this EC is unsatisfactory. And he tried to explain the collapse. "One of the reasons is that our team played many matches for a short period of time. But the main thing is players' attitude.They must make more demands to themselves and to work." stated Patkin.

Again, conratulations samba, your country deserved this title, Italy was the best team, beyond all enquiry. I can only applause for the level they showed (losing only two sets in the whole tournament). It's a great result, besides Italy was so close to the title for so many times, being three time silver medalist, at least they met their deserts

Quote from "scarpetta"

Russia surely will be given a wild card.

It's not yet know, everything may happen, don't be so sure.
Fivb usually makes crazy decisions...

Quote from "IRON17"

what about the organization itself?ı think it was awful,from web site to the referees everything was awful in this ech.ı heard that the hotels were also terrible.some bags of some players in charloroi were stolen.the spectators there weren't enough spectators even in the final match.and finally nobady talked about it but ı hated the new ECH SYSTEM.there isn't classification matches which ı also enjoyed to watch.for example ı would like to watch a game between germany and holland for 5th place.every country would like to watch as many matches of their national team as they could.for example spain,spanish volleyfans watched only 3 games of their teams.cev constatntly keeps creating new systems which ı hate.unfortunately this UNFAIR system will be used in the next three ECHs.

Totally agree, Belgium couldn't prepare for EC. I can add that 2 star hotels for teams...it'smth new. Girls like Gamova, Merkulova had to sleep on beds with length of 180cm :shock: and rooms where only one person can move because rooms were tiny. And many small moment, I don't want to count them, but only one thing really shoked me. In match Russia - Azerbaijan as we all know Elena Parkhomenko was injuried. So, nobody of organizers cared about this situation. While timeout I heard how Garaev asked his assistant to learn how much money would it cost to ride her to the hospital and to find somebody who would do it, man, it's first time I see such situation...
System is indeed awful, I agree with you at 100%.

Hey guys, when we will know wild cards possessors?

Italy is new european champion. Congrats.

OMG, Serbia led 23:20 and lost the first set 24:26 (I think I saw the same situation... yesterday with Poland leading 23:20).

Congrats to Serbia, Joana and all serbian fans :wink2: . They also looked better than Poland like Italy than Russia.
I think you guys were in a rush saying that Serbia is better in semi than Russia. Russia is average team in this comp. I'd even say that in the present moment weaker than Italy and Serbia and a bit weaker than Poland.
Poland lost 0:3 like Russia, it means that they were not the stogest team (if it was 2:3, but 0:3 is 0:3).
Also, Serbia won't need wild card for WC, they qualified. Again congrats.
It's such a success, bronze medal of WCH, at least silver of EC, qualified for WC. Well done Serbia!!! :wink2:

2nd set 25:21 for Serbia... but it means nothing yet...
So, who'd say now that Poland was lucky with lot?
I think Poland lost too many serves in second set plus bad reception.

Poland even led 23:20, but Brakocevic serves and Citacovic spikes were unstoppable.

It's now 16:10 for Serbia.... Brakocevic... man, this girl can serve...

Well, congratulations to Italy and to samba :wink2:
Italy team just outplayed Russia in everything, they deserved to win, they were much stronger than our team.
Russia had bad reception but usually they kill the balls even after bad setts, this time.... I don't know what happened to Sokolova, she was awful :cry2:
Italy - superb, fantastic defence, plus Aguero and Lo Bianco just brilliant.
Russia's trio were powerless against italian girls.
So, Russia has a chance to miss WC... second time in a row...
I wish good luck to Italy in final because they have never been european champion.

Russia - Italy 0:3 (15:25, 22:25, 19:25).
As I expected Caprapa put not the main squad in this game. Well, it's for him to decide. Our commentators were against this decision. I think it's wrong to say about if it's right or not. As for me, I agree with Caprara.
But this not themain thing. The main thing is that our substitute players or next generation of players is weak. Very weak . Merkulova has the worst tournament ever. Her 202 sm are so useless. Women's net is on height of 224 cm. She cannot kill the ball without block, I'm no saying abot 1 block or moreover 2 blocks. How? I can't imagine... You have to try very hard to do that. Yulia has to work a lot in speed and coordination and sense of the ball and many things. 202 cm is such an advantage on the net, she can't use it at all.
It 's sad to see how our young players perform. It's horrible. Statistics: Attack. Kosheleva attacked 23 - scored 3 - 13%. Fateeva attacked 21 - scored 5 - 24%. I'm not saying about Safronova, she's experienced player, but she was always a substitute player in NT. Know why? Only Safronova may be blocked 7 or 8 times in 3-set match. It may sound harsh (and I'm not saying it because I'm angry or smth..) but she can't think at all. All she can is to hit very hard - that's all. She's veeery far from being a smart player. It's pity for 29 y.o. player. I think Caprara should give a chance for another young player instead of Natalia, she should leave NT.

Overall, c'mon girls, I mean our trio, don't lose a chance to bring a victory to Russia before years of losing to everyone.
It's no matter what team to play in semi - Italy or Poland - both are very strong.

Today I read a small aticle in one of russian sports newspaper that Artamonova is coming back and will play for Uralochka in this season. It's not yet confirmed of course...
I hope she will return. Maybe she will regain her conditions and then Caprara will make a decision to include her in NT... (I think those are only dreams but there's always a chance...).

Alessandro Fei?

Quote from "scarpetta"

Germany deserved better.
Weiss made too many mistakes.

Totally agree. Russia showing quite average level of vollyball still hasn't drop a set and today Germany deserved to win at least one set.
Also, I think tomorrow will be the first match for Russia when the score won't be 3:0. (Neither for Russia, nor for Italy, if the main squads will play of course 'cause this match won't be decisive taking into account that these teams can meet in semi no matter who wins or loses in this match).

Quote from "Armel"

You're right Nick ! (even if giving female examples :wink2: )

You're welcome! :wink2: And about female...)) I know more about women results and stuff than men.

2 Armel, i think you just misunderstood smth.
I was always like this (considering Europe).
Winner and finalist qualify for WC.
And about three teams. It's about WC. Teams placed from 1 to 3 qualify for OG.
Example: EC03 in Turkey. Poland and Turkey qualified for WC. (Not Germany - third place). Italy was given wild card (6th place in EC).
After WC China (winner), Brazil (second place) and USA (third place) qualified for OG.

Some info about team.

WGP 2007.
Our team just didn't want to play... :?

Part of interview with Sokolova before final six in China.

J. - How do you feel about participating in GP?
Sok. - I never hide that I don't care about this tournament. I think it's the worst tournament among all. So if Caprara thinks that it's the best way to prepare for EC, we have only two things left: to work and be patient.
J. - Don't you think that GP will be useful preparation?
Sok. - May be, may be not. I think that playing friendly matches and some small tournaments woud have been far more better.
J. - Next summer (year of OG) Russia will take part in GP again....
Sok. - It's not for sure, we have to qualify. If it was my choice, I'd rather not qualify for GP 2008.

As for me, I was a bit angry with girls while watching final six and reading some interviews. What for to qualify for final six if you are so tired and want to rest and don't want play... It's a pity that Russia qualified for final six, I think Cuba or USA would have shown better volleyball and would have been more competitive. And our girls went home to rest. They knew that fivb went mad and made insane schedule of tounaments.

Interview with Caprara after qualification tournament in Ankara.

J. - Our team was 4th in WGP and 5th in qual. for GP08, what's up with the team?
Cap. - Iwant to say that defeat in match against Italy was caused not only due to sport reasons. Before the match the whole team got food-poisoning. Also Sokolova had an injury and to play libero. (Kabeshova felt very bad...).
I'm going to say that that accident was the main reason, it happened on the last day and before that we lost to Serbia and Turkey. Reasons? The same as in WGP. All our problems were in our hads.
J. - What do you mean?
Cap. - Girls were not concentrated, they didn't react on my words. Our leaders were not ready to play at their best like it was on WC. Seemingly they decided that the main tournament is EC and only there they should play good.
Then bla-bla... Caprara says that it would be more difficult task to win this EC than WCH06 in Japan :?
He says that many teams may win: Russia, Italy, Serbia, Netherlands, Germany, Turkey, Poland.

Also he was a bit upset that Russia didn't qualify for WGP08. He was more upset with the level of volleyball girls showed.
"We'll work on serve and attack. If we' won't improve these elements it'll be unreral to win this EC....."
(I hope they improved.... ).

Last, short interview. (17.09.07).
J. - What were the reasons of all loses?
Cap. - Our main problem is low motivation of our leaders. After they became world champions they don't care about other tournaments. But EC is very difficult tournament and hope that our leaders will be in good conditions (mental and physic).

And the last thing is that Sedova replaced Sahina who is injured.

OMG, I won't be surprised if Russia won't win EC, there are so many strong teams. Also final is a ticket to WC and there ticket to OG... man, is it not a strong motivation? :twisted:
We'll see.... Hope my apprehensions are groundless.

Quote from "Youstyna"

Poland 3:0 U.S.A

great match!!! my mother was too flurried in second set i've ever seen

So, the semis will be Poland - Brasil and Russia - USA, I wish Poland and Russia proceed to the final