It's all cool with Iran, they are playing well, but the schedule has been incredibly lopsided in their favor this year.
They play all 4 first weekends in Asia and even in a very favorable order (from China to Japan -close by- then two consecutive weekends at home).
I know distance from Iran to China/Japan is big but in time zone is not that much, just 3/4 hours.
Why is Pereyra still playing international volleyball in 2019??? he's goddamn fucking awful!, can't kill any counter and misses a ton of serves with his awful technique.
maybe Mendez is trying to play with him as oh to have a better reception.
Jan Martínez is also a defensive OH and he's better than this Mendez guy in every aspect of the game, even reception and defense. I mean, Mendez deserves a test (I guess) but when a real tournament comes he shouldn't be anywhere near the squad.
Yikes, that's weird coming from Mendez indeed. It's not the same kid who used to play as libero in Sada Cruzeiro, right?
By the way, how are you guys over in Argentina feeling about Danani these days? I remember you had harsh words for him last VNL, but he seems to be doing well. Not Gonzalez-level of good yet, but good enough.
He can also double as libero. I suppose that is his redeeming quality...
About Danani, this year is the opposite: he's the only one in the team that is playing well. At least compared to pieces of trash like Pereyra and the OHs (except Martínez).
Who's this Mendez guy playing as OH in Argentina? Marcelo's kid?
Yes.
And it's pure and simple nepotism, he doesn't have the level of his teammates. He's not even tall nor has a powerful serve, you can't justify his inclusion in any way honestly.
I'm really disappointed with Mendez for calling him (and also the way the team is playing this VNL, but well, we're just 7 games into this new coach era...).
Did Bulgaria seriously just lose to Portugal? lol
Watching ARG-BUL I noticed an abnormal number of net touch faults, I think they were like 20 or something in just 3 sets, not kidding.
SESC has a fantastic player with Jan Martínez, I would be disappointed if he's anything less than brilliant for them next season.
Nicolás Uriarte (ARG, S) will play for Bolívar.
wtf is Brazil doing in this match?
Argentina for 1st weekend at home vs POR, BUL & CAN:
S: Uriarte, Cavanna
OPP: Pereyra, Lima
OH: Conte, Poglajen, Palacios, Mendez, Martínez (one of these last two will be 2nd libero)
MB: Crer, Loser, Ramos, Sole
L: Danani
Alexis Gonzalez (injured) and De Cecco will join later (probably around the 3rd weekend).
Argentina played a couple of friendlies last few days with Chile and Portugal in preparation for the 1st weekend of VNL.
Argentina 3-0 Chile (25-18, -22, -19)
Argentina B 3-1 Chile (25-15, 22-25, 25-19, 25-20)
Argentina 3-0 Portugal (25-23, -15, -21)
Heavy rotation of players in all games, but it's noteworthy that Uriarte played for the NT after a 3 year absense. De Cecco still on vacation, won't play 1st weekend of VNL either.
Sada is the champion (again) 3-1 over UPCN. Third place for Obras (3-1 over Minas).
Somehow they picked Cavanna (UPCN) as best setter and not Sánchez or Cachopa.
What is the difference between Copa Libertadores and the CSV club championship?
The Club championship is the official club competition of CSV and awards one quota for Club WCh to the winners. It's usually played by two argentinian teams, two brazilian teams and bunch of clubs from the other countries (some years more, some years less, it's a bit inconsistent).
The Copa Libertadores Voley is more like a private enterprise between argentinian and brazilian leagues that started this year (it has the approval of CSV though) and sees the top 4 clubs of Argentina facing the top 4 clubs of Brazil. As an interesting sidenote, both UPCN and Sada (who play the final of CSV championship today) played the Libertadores recently and both missed out of the top 4, finishing 5th and 6th respectively.
As you may notice, the format makes it a much more competitive tournament compared to the south american club championship. Personally, I would scrap the south american championship entirely since it doesn't make any sense for argentinian and brazilian clubs to play clubs from the other countries (they always play them with the B team and still win easily) and I would establish Copa Libertadores as the main competition. And maybe, someday, allow clubs from other countries into it if their leagues get competitive enough.
Sada survived a 0-2, 24-25 against Obras and will play the final of south american championship with UPCN, who easily disposed of Minas.
Sada also won their group game with UPCN in the same fashion, reverting a 0-2 in sets. What will be the result tomorrow??
PS. Obras has an extraordinary setter in Sanchez. Technically he is better than even De Cecco IMO. Sadly, he's 172cm tall and will probably never be world class player due to that alone 
It doesn't matter who hosts the south american championship. Sada is the current superleague champions (I think they won in the past 4 or 5 seasons), so as long as they keep winning the league, they will have a spot there. And I don't think home is a major factor here. South american clubs are not as good as Brazilians. Bolivar will not play, for example.
The hosts this year is Minas Tênis Clube. I don't know if you are Brazilian or not, but Minas is a state. Minas Tenis Clube obviously plays in Minas but their home is the capital of the state, and that's where the south american championship will be held in later this month. Sada's home is in the state of Minas, but not in the capital.
Damn, I forgot the 2nd qualified from Argentina is the champion of the dumb cup and not the runner up of the league. Without Bolívar, then no chance for ARG teams. Especially because UPCN sucks this season.
As for Cruzeiro, hosting in the state is still an advantage, they barely have to travel and many of their fans can still attend even if it isn't their home ground.
It was actually hosted by Taubate (which ended up in 4th place). Sada finished in 6th place.
The South American championship will have Sada and Minas to fight for the WCH spot.
I know that Taubate hosted this. I'm talking about the south american championship in a few weeks. The amount of international club tournaments hosted in MG last few years is a bit ridiculous. Sada is usually the best ofc but they always have that extra advantage too.
No.
This tournament is pointless. Club WCH participant will come from the South American championship in two weeks.
Let me guess, hosted by F*cking Sada 
Congrats Bolívar anyway. Hope they can repeat this in two weeks.
There is no thread for it so I'll comment here: today is the Copa Libertadores voley final between Bolívar and SESC (the winner qualifies for Club WCh, maybe?).
Bolívar has been very impressive beating several top brazilian clubs in their way to this final.
This cup was a great idea and I hope it replaces for good the dumb south american championship which basically gifted the title to Sada almost every year.
Szalpuk played well, but Leon can still strengthen the squad much further as Kubiak's opposite.
I know he will be important eventually but I wouldn't touch this great chemistry right from the start just to add stars, they could end up like Italy...
To be honest, with Kurek and the OHs in this level, León should start from the bench...
