Posts by JoanaBG

Quote from Madden54

great commentary otherwise and while it’s true bjelica isn’t the best I don’t think she deserves the shots fired. She was super great leader and super selfless playing less meaningful stuff so that Tijana could rest and was happy to do it. Plus the 2022 VNL run was one of my favorite things to watch as a fan and she was big part

OK, I'll admit it was a bit mean. It really was nice of her to take a very thankless role when Brakočević wouldn't, but she really is way beyond done at this point and selecting her again would be pure madness.

The Great Libero Reshuffle right before the start of the Olympics will forever remain one of the biggest mysteries in our volleyball history. What the hell happened there.

Bjelica should definitely be out and I don't see how that's even a matter of discussion. We're actually going to need an OPP who is able to take at least some load off Tijana, whose 10 YEARS on the national team are starting to show. I don't know if that's Bukilić or Taubner or Zelenović or whoever, but it sure as hell isn't Bjelica. Bye gurl, and enjoy your national pension you contributed next to nothing to.

I'm in two minds about Drča. Yes, it could be useful to keep her around for another year to help with the transition. However, we really shouldn't fall into the "Maja trap" and keep holding onto her for just another tournament and just another year and then just another and just another until she's completely drained and doesn't have anything more to provide. Unless she by some magic manages to keep going strong, then by all means keep her until she's 40 if she's still really good.

Stevanović and M. Popović should be out as well, they don't have anything more to give. Silvija Popović as well, but I think that goes without saying.

Now, it's a little more tricky with OHs. Milenković should be discarded immediately and for good, in fact, I don't think there's a reasonable explanation why she was in Paris in the first place.

But at least two out of Buša, Lozo and Lazović need to stay. We can't go full kindergarten on that position. Uzelac and Ivanović are definite locks for the next year, but they need someone more experienced by their side. And as much as I want Lazović to make it, I really don't see her ahead of Lozo and Buša in any aspect, her age is the only thing she has going for her. Also, of course Branka Tica should be given a chance. It's yet to be seen how much potential she really has and it's not like we have five Gabis bursting through the pipelines, so we can just throw away everyone who isn't pure world class at the age of 20.

But most of all, we need a COACH. It doesn't have to be some superstar, but it needs to be someone who is able to make a bond with the team. It's clear Guidetti failed miserably in that regard.

Also, the days of screwing around with VNL are over. We need to start caring about the world rankings, because otherwise it can come back to bite us in the ass. It almost happened in Paris already.

I think I already voiced my displeasure with the route this sport is taking. I thought this Olympic format was awful, I absolutely LOATHE the fact we're going to have a 32-team WCh already NEXT YEAR and in general my interest is not a third of what it was. Maybe that's why I was able to swallow this epic disaster that were the Paris Olympics much better than I would have been able to some years ago.

People accusing Guidetti of sabotage is ridiculous. The truth is, we played like crap, just like we did throughout most of the last year, although it wasn't as obvious then because there was much less at stake.

Guidetti was never a good fit for this team, for whatever reason. It's sad that we wasted the OGs like this and it's doubtful we'll ever be medal contenders again, but it is what is. We must focus on regrouping now.

Jesus Christ. If it really was some sort of an elaborate evil scheme, they wouldn't have told the entire world THAT THE LIST ISN'T FINAL. Instead they would have waited until the last moment and been like "Oooops, Aleksandra and Ana got injured, we have to replace them."

And yeah, the mighty Serbian federation. Remember when Serbia wasn't supposed to play the Tokyo Olympics qualies but got in after Cuba magically pulled out, and got to host the qualifying tournament on top of that? Oh yeah, right.

Oh no no no. EVERY SINGLE TIME one of them comes up with such nonsense, I'm going to remind them that their country was literally (and I mean LITERALLY) built on genocide. In fact, I'm going to come to this board just for that. It's been enough.

Quote from fire_cai_bin

This may be off topic, but a couple hours ago Yuan Xinyue confirmed with VB (1 year)

Not if they give her a Turkish passport too!

Yes.

Bošković plays well, but Eczacibasi loses: what a LOSER she is, she can't even win the match on her own!

Bošković plays well, someone ele plays well, Eczacibasi wins: what a LOSER she is, she needs Hande/Voronkova/whoever to win the match!

And absolutely, saying she has a toxic personality and that she was happy to win the Club WCh because she got sponsorship money and not because she cares about her team is totally "constructive criticism".

Also, I don't think ANYONE, Serbian memebers included, claimed she played well in the last year's final series.

The level of almost pathological hatred for Bošković some people have here (Including the ones I actually liked and respected) is frankly kinda disturbing and really puts off from participating in discussions.

The trauma from so many beatdowns on NT over the years, I guess. Still not a pretty sight.

I mean, it's really not a secret and Tijana has talked about it a billion times. She and her sister were invited by Galatasaray, they spent a few days training there, they liked it and were ready to stay, but then it turned out the condition was that they were to receive Turkish citizenship, their father promptly said no and that was the end of it.

The less known fact and something Tijana revealed only recently was that Vesna Čitaković who played in Galatasaray at the time, and who was used by the club as a connection to bring Tijana there, was accused by the club management of sabotaging her "transfer" to Turkey NT and was even temporarily suspended.

By the time this saga ends, we'll have found out we've lived in some alternate universe all along and that Tijana has actually played for Bosnia all this time and that in fact it's Bosnia that's won all those medals and not Serbia.

She's NOT Vargas. Deal with it.

I honestly think most of this year's problems (and there have been plenty) came from the simple fact that no one expected Santarelli to leave so soon. Like Bjelica said, they're not used to changing coaches as often. When Terzić was leaving, everyone knew his time was up and the change was necessary. Moreover, the team bonded with Santarelli almost instantly, so the transition was very smooth. It was very different this time around because basically everyone was caught by surprise and it was difficult to adjust mentally. No wonder almost everyone underperformed compared to last year.

And Maja's comeback added a whole different layer to an already established team dynamic.

So this was basically an adjustment period and we'll see the real results next year. I'm not entirely convinced, but I'm willing to keep an open mind.

Well, Ivana Španović became the world champion today, so Bošković again won't be the female athlete of the year in Serbia no matter what happens

LOL, Maja and Jovana basically hinted they tanked against the DR so they could have more rest.

I intensely dislike the route this sport has taken and I feel my interest is starting to wane.

I just can't get behind the idea of world rankings being as important, this is not tennis. Having WCh every two years devalues them enormously and increasing the number of teams is an overkill. The new Olympic format is also dumb AF.

I feel like it's all being done to further promote the VNL and I absolutely LOATHE it.

I really don't like these developments. I applaud Milenković being cut, but that's about it.

What the HELL are Mijatović and Cvetković doing on that list?! It's a throwback to the Terzić days when he's select some randos who'd obviously never see the court.

Branka Tica ought to have been there. She needs to start training with the A team ASAP and join the big league. Who cares about junior competitions.

I also feel Jovana Mirosavljević has been given up on too soon.

All in all, I miss Santarelli. Fuck Turkey.

Sara Lozo is doing rather well, no?

It seems like all games this week have been postponed.

I think they're prepping Blagojević to become the NT coach in the next 5 years or so and I'm fine with it.

Quote from Janko

I agree with all of that. But you are forgetting about money going exclusively into the pockets of people at the top of OSSRB. Doubt even 5% of that is going to go toward improving our volleyball (facilities, stipends etc.)

I completely agree that's exactly how it's going to go down, because sadly that's how things are done here. Still, I don't think raising Santarelli's salary is a logn term solution because at the end of the day, there will always be someone willing to pay him more than what we can afford. So, if he's so easily lured by a few % increase (I seriously doubt we were paying him pocket money), it's best to cut your losses and let him move on. Better now than right ahead of the Olympics or something.

And then make Turkey pay in all the ways possible.

Quote from Janko

I bet OSSRB weren't willing to raise his salary a single cent to try to keep him, but you can bet they will try to squeeze TVF for all they think they can get away with, all of which will line the pockets of individuals in the organization. So fucking typical. Welcome to Serbia, a banana republic.

I'm not trying to be contrarian here or anything, but I actually don't see anything wrong with that picture. He has a VALID CONTRACT. It he wants to break it in order to chase money, let him. It means he'd never be reliable and there'd always be a danger of him running off as soon as someone offers a dollar more. Disappointing, but that's life.

Meanwhile, if they really want him, use the opportunity to milk those suckers dry. As much you can. And then break off every future cooperation again with them forever.