Posts by Tockin

Quote from Irina

Here's another take of the Italian coach on why Japan did awesome at the beginning then flopped at the finals;

2022 VNL WOMEN'S
GOOD-BYE ASIA: BIOLOGY AT ITS FINEST (Post 1430)

Let's go back to my prediction after week 1 of the Women's VNL:
"It's absolutely amazing the way Japan & Thailand dominate the League but, admiration aside, this is not gonna last. When the best will show up and height and most of all muscles will count above all, the usual suspects will be on top."

Brazil, Italy, Türkiye & the "surprise", Serbia, are in the semis: good-bye, Asia ... hey, what's up, Europe!

I had explained, that day, what the trick was: Japan & Thailand had the strategic intelligence of organizing their internal calendar according to the International one.

Japan ended its League (as always) in March, and Thailand did even better leaving plenty space to the preparation of the SEA Games, then dominated as usual.

More! Thailand used the SEA Games to prepare and "put minutes" in the legs of a new revamped National Team.

When VNL started, all the Teams that later reached the Finals were incomplete, as the European Leagues, National and CEV, were just finished and Top Players are still human and in need of rest.

Japan & Thailand were quick in moves and thought process, and that always wins against "tall and slow".
Shoots & combinations had the best on Teams that were still preparing, incomplete in Rosters, the VNL campaign.

Japan & Thailand were destined to stop their adventure when things got heated, at the final rush.

We had signs of what my prediction was all about with the Rising Sun's heroins: 8-0 after 2 weeks ... 8-4 at third.
Enough was enough!
Gasoline was running low but not only.

Japanese and Thais were accumulating muscular stress playing at double speed while the others were building strength & endurance.

More! There is a cultural issue involved that I had kept into consideration.

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I don't fully agree. I mean Japan was close against brazil in quarterfinals and Brazil now win against Serbia who beat USA - who still is the most dangerous team. And this is after a complete collapse I would say from Inoue, she was performing very good first weeks but then could do absolutely nothing last week. I know the blocking teams were stronger last week and QF but she should still have performed better than what we saw. Japan with two "koga"-level spikers can definately compete with the "muscle" teams in top 5 but I agree they have disadvantage because of the reasons he is talking about.

How can they take out Koga like that? It is like surrendering. They should have gone with Ishikawa and Koga last set, =/

Japan has no serve pressure in this match, like in previous games. Still, Netherlands is playing good.

Is this THE best Libero China has ? Seems very weak.

Is Koga's hit percentage really that high as they show? That is not usual for Japans hitters right? Attacks in 55%.

Thrilling game indeed. If Sweden will win with big numbers or small ones really depends on the setter Wilma Andersson. When she sets decent they win quite easily, when she makes mistakes they start to loose (edit: of course it depends on the receiving aswell which can be catastrophic sometimes). She also made some terrible mistakes in the end of the sets. But I have to say her blocking has improved alot and she got more block points than any of the other players. Defense still reaally bad from her though.

The middles of Sweden do absolutely nothing. Topic is contributing alot in block and that's probably why Sweden managed to turn a few sets to a win when they switched her and the other middle Wasserfaller.

The coach however I am not happy with. He could do lots of serving subs for all of the centerplayers who are a mess in backline defense, Why not swap out Topic for example when the score is 14-14 and she is about to serve? he has so many options on the bench for just this moment. If the match was more important I would be so mad with him! He also swapped out Topic who really made a difference in blocking in the last few points, why oh why?!

I think Bella Haak loves to play with NT even though the level is so much worse than she is used to. She knows she does more for volleyball in Sweden than anyone has ever been close to doing, and she problably takes pride in that. The matches certainly means alot to her anyway, as you could see in the fifth set where she was furious.

I think Ogawa is looking like the best MB for Japan so far. Such a flow in the spike, the middle has to follow her constantly.

Finally Sweden played as they should against Estonia, winning quite easily. Hope they can keep that level against Portugal. Also the commentator said that Topic was injured and that is why she is not playing.

Quote from serdar

I don't think she is injured because she player a few points in previous games, it seems to be a coach preference. She is not a great attacker neither but at least she can block, which is something they are desperately missing. Their wings are better blocker than MBs🤦

Yeah completely agree. A huge part of their game in quarterfinals was their blocking. That was missing in the Portugal and Estonian matches.

Quote from serdar

It was indeed very dumb to replace a trainer who took this team to quarterfinals. This new guy is now even using Topic although other MBs suck big time. And he is insisting on Anna Haak instead of Lazic🤦 what is the achievement of new trainer? How come is he any better than Ettore?

From what I´ve heard Ettore had a "never set middle"-policy, it was the same when he coached high school girls, don't know if that has something to do with him getting sacked though. I agree with Topic, she isn't injured or anything? It's just stupid if its not something like that.

Inoue is getting better and better every match, I love it.

Quote from KVB

Malinov isn’t alone

I think its tracking where they spike? Not if they spike from middle. Because they def had some spikes from center.

Interesting.. they changed Koga and Inoues positions, Koga is OH1.

Quote from hudymk

What happens? I just saw them take her out... Ankle?

Her back came in force against libero when they were both going for a dig. So she either hurt her back, hip or chest, hard to see. I hope she is okay, so important for thailand team aswell.

Quote from user

Germany passing better than Japan according to the stats :O

They would win first set if it wasn't for the bad receiving.

Japan can't win if they play out of system as much as this. The receiving isn't working.

Quote from avid

Anna did have a better club season than Rebecka (although neither were greatly consistent)

I didn't watch all of the match, but I thought Andersson was fine. Nothing spectacular, but acceptable.

Their middles are more concerning. All of Sweden's block pressure came from the wings... the middles are a free pass half of the time.

Its a new coach with new ideas, they were saying on swedish news that they also hired "an expert" from USA to go through their playstyle and how they should improve their game. If they want an american influence to their playstyle they need to improve their receiving. Anna Haak I would say has a better receive than R Lazic. They have also changed players alot in the training matches.

I agree with you on the middles, that's where the big weakness is. Setting is also a problem.

I mean there is just something about J.Larsson. She brings something to the team she is in, confidence, structure? It's obvious they went up a few levels with her. Also her technique is flawless jesus.

Also surprised about Stysiak not playing. Just shows that a hitting powerhouse isn't all in volleyball, Van Hecke did excellent ! Second OH was also doing amazing. The only thing they need to fix is their slides, doesn't work at all.

No Kobata? I don't believe it!

Just watched the match. What high quality. What a team Shujitsu. So impressed. When Shujitsu were playing their best furukawa really had no chance.