Posts by Pluto

Quote from Julian Chow

Somehow, age group tournaments (girls) in Asia usually ends up with China and Japan in the finals ! and in recent years Japan have come up on top in these encounters.

I suppose if Yifan was playing, the Chinese team might’ve been stronger because one of their regular starting OHs no.12 Zhang Xinrui has so far underperformed. As for backup MB no.1 Shan Linqian, her performance has been improving with each match.

The Japanese team have no weaknesses. Their main attackers, tall no.1 Kawabata, no.5 Omori and captain no. 4 Kasai are all very good. And their defence is legendary.

In the semi finals, the Koreans were let down by periods of inconsistency.....with the Japanese though, this probably won’t happen.

If the Chinese can cut down on their enforced errors and played as they did in sets 2 and 3 in the semis, it will be close. I’m looking forward to another exciting match

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To call "their defense is legendary" is a bit too early, don't you think? Shouldn't use the word "legendary" so easily when they're still young and haven't shown anything..

Damn, Korea had it... I thought they were going to win but they lost focus after first set..

For the finals, Japan will win it!

I also think Naz is better than Cansu. Cansu's just younger, lol.

Korea's U18 team is pretty strong.. hope they make it to the Finals against Japan!

I just found this awesome clip of Kim playing against Turkey with the Korean National team during the World Championships back in 2006..

Wow, she looks so young at 18... and damn, her skills at the age!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCJv7UIB27o

It's funny how there's not a single article on the national team's return.. LOL

They better be quiet and practicing!!

Quote from Madden54

I heard Bošković wants to play in Italy after her contract is up. Maybe monza will try again

Woah can we see Boscovic and Kim together again?

So, apparently Kim Yeon Koung is highly considering going to Italian league. OR potentially stay playing in Korea. Many people are rooting for her to go to Italy! Apparently, she's gotten several love calls from different European leagues especially from Italy - particularly Vero Volley Monza.

https://www.yonhapnewstv.co.kr…0607017900641?input=1947m

So curious to know what she'll do!!

Lavarini is in Korea with his Polish team for practice and training.

Article on him: https://sports.v.daum.net/v/20220609142402453 / http://thespike.co.kr/news/new…hp?ncode=1065582565088167

Photo Credit: The Spike

Just a few points to call out..

Title - "나의 친구 세자르 감독, 한국 배구 잘 이끌었으면 좋겠습니다" "My friend Coach Cesar, Hope he leads Korean volleyball well"

"세자르가 잘 되길 바라요. 지금도 서로 잘 지내고 있는데, 세자르 감독이 한국 배구를 잘 이끌어 나가길 바랍니다."

말을 이어간 라바리니 감독은 "개인적인 의견을 낸다면 지금 한국은 새로운 김연경을 기다려야 할 때가 아니다. 한 명의 슈퍼스타가 그 나라에서 태어난다는 건 그야말로 기적 같은 일이다. 운에 기대면 안 된다"라고 덧붙였다.

그는 "새로 들어온 선수들이 많다. 아직 1주차 밖에 치르지 않았기에 뭐라 이야기하기는 힘들다"라며 "경기 전에 세자르 감독에게 선수들의 가능성에 대해 들었다. 한국의 모든 선수들이 가능성이 있다고 본다. 아, 그리고 같이 했던 선수들을 만나 기뻤다"라고 웃었다.

"I hope Cesar does well. Even now, we're both doing well. Hope Coach Cesar leads Korean volleyball well.

Giving my personal opinion, Korea should not wait for the next Kim Yeon Koung. It is a miracle that a superstar is born in a country. Cannot trust luck.

There are new players who joined the team. It's still only the first week so it's hard to say anything. Before the match, I heard from Coach Cesar about the players' potential. I think all Korean players have potential. Oh, I was happy to see players who I worked with before."

Japan played smart to win against USA. Loved this match. It gives them a boost of confidence which is needed.

Quote from suminj

I don't think they can improve within VNL itself, but they could be more prepared for WCH (though if the lineup changes again... which it should, then idk)

There's no overhaul, these are Korea's remaining best players (except setter & libero positions we have Kim Dain & Im Myungok who are much better)

Only ace attacking option is LJY, Jung Jiyoon has potential but not ace potential - but I'm hoping she can become better than Sowhi/Soyoung

3-4 would be much better

yeah mutual agreement, though Go Yoomin's case showed how clubs can pressure a player into doing so...

I honestly question if Ha Hyorim really retired by her own choice, she was doing so well too

Also heard its possible for the contract to be re-negotiated in between? (lowering the salary, etc)

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Overhaul can always still be done, just to varying degrees. Swapping out a setter and libero makes a big difference.

We don't need the next KYK right now. What we need is better teamwork, communication, synergy, etc. Clearly, the team doesn't have that. The team has potential but something about them just doesn't seem right. It's such a shame they had to start out this way but it maybe needed to happen as a wake up call.

Rewatching the Poland match - this Lee Hanbi caught my eye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bROSS8HKsI&t=244s

5:27-5:36

She dug well, spiked decently (her motion of hitting was strong), and she solo blocked. This girl has potential.

Quote from suminj

I did notice that the interpreter doesn't seem to be the best and isn't as clear on things, so not sure how much the players understand him

I read some Korean fans blaming coach Cesar - and he certainly isn't a Lee Jung Chul if that's what you're looking for, but I think it's too early to judge whether its the team incompetency or him.

Players and coach are all posting "it's all about the process" so I can't tell

The players also started training way before Cesar joined them and had a coaching staff & team with them so I don't fault his short time with the team

Korea tends to over rely on aces and look to them as their leader/confidence, when it's not KYK it was LJY, even in v-league with their foreign players.

But there was change, in 2019 Korea showed they no longer needed to over-rely on KYK with a spread out offence by KYK/Heejin/LJY through stable digs (Kim Haeran) and stable/fast setting (LDY)

They even got through the Asian Olympic Qualifiers without KYK, though she joined for the finals against Thailand on painkillers

I'm sure the team would've still won the finals without her playing, but I guess she wanted to take things into her own hands and leave out any doubt considering its her final Olympic run

I think the biggest loss in KYK rather than her skills was her leadership on the team, since every player looked to her in terms of ability, experience, seniority. Just having her on court probably gave the others confidence in their team & themselves.

Even if LJY is allowed to return (more likely than LDY), I wonder if the other players would necessarily 'respect' her as the ace. Setting is a huge problem too.

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That whole "it's all about the process" is some vague crap. 0-4 isn't clearly helping believe that.

Anyways, sure there was "change" - when other spikers pulled their weight more like LJY, PJA, and KHJ. And yes, aces need to be relied on generally to get points. And you're right that KYK's godly presence played a positive influence on the team overall.

The team needs an overhaul. I hope that they FOCUS and RETRAIN leading up to the second VNL week.

We can only hope..

Quote from Kofudakji

After all she done for Korea, let her enjoy the rest of her career free of pressure

I'm sure she wants to do it despite any sort of pressure. Not for us to decide anyways..

Quote from StefanS

Lippmann quitting was kind of catastrophe for Germany, currently we have no near replacement for her.

What?? Why'd she quit?

Quote from Julian Chow

I would like to see KYK still play a part in the team....she’s such an inspiring person. Maybe an advisor, assistant coach etc. When she was playing she was always clapping her hands and encouraging her team.

KimYK

I'd love to see her take over the Korea Volleyball Federation and change that organization inside out. And ultimately, become the next Lang Ping to be the head coach for the Korean national team in the future!

Quote from zhutingfan

To be fair, there was talent, in the form of the twins, but they were taken out for non-volleyball reasons.

They definitely are a big missing piece to this puzzle for sure. I just don't know how likely it is to bring them back.

What Korea needs is retraining, restrategizing, and rebuilding confidence.

KYK literally left a 99% gap that is hard to fill right now.

Quote from Jules

Win games? At vnl? Who? Even with kyk they couldn't beat rd at vnl,they always struggles with them,other teams gonna bring best players next weeks

The team and the fans can still be hopeful. And the past doesn't have to dictate the future.

There's a whole lot of fixing and strategizing needed on the Korean team for sure.

Let's see what VNL week #2 brings.... sigh...

I just can'ttttttttt. Congrats to Canada but 0-4 shutout with no winning sets. This better be eye opening to the Korean organization.

At the end of the day, this is Korea's own doing. Their overreliance on KYK over the last decade with no foundation built to nurture younger players in the international stage is the cause of this.

All we can do is cry about it but CHANGE is needed.

Quote from Tagantsev

Some of KYK, Leesisters, and Yanghyojin will return next year.

It will be difficult to qualify for the world rankings, but they will aim to finish in the top two in the final olympic qualifying round.

As much as I'd love to see that happen, it's very unlikely. KYK will definitely not return.

If the Lee sisters do join, it'll help for sure but there's been such a big rift between them and the national organization that I'm not too sure.

I do see a slight chance that they'll get Yang to join but what's needed the most is retraining and synergy work in the team.

This isn't the best reason but a total excuse.. is that the team only had 4 days to practice with the new head coach..

Simply a stupid idea.. they are playing like amateurs on a world stage and it kills me to see that..