Opposites:
Pavel Kruglov (Dinamo)
Maxim Mikhaylov (Zenit)
Pavel Moroz (Kuzbass)
Setters:
Sergey Grankin (Dinamo)
Alexander Butko (Lokomotiv)
Konstantin Ushakov (Kuzbass)
Sergey Makarov (Fakel)
Igor Kobzar (Gasprom-Yugra)
Wing Spikers:
Taras Khtey (Belogorie)
Evgeniy Sivozhelez (Zenit)
Denis Biryukov (Lokomotiv)
Sergey Tetyukhin (Belogorie)
Yuriy Berezhko (Zenit)
Pavel Abramov (Iskra)
Alexey Rodichev (Gasprom-Yugra)
Dmitriy Ilinykh (Belogorie)
Liberos:
Alexey Obmochaev (Zenit)
Alexey Verbov (Iskra)
Alexander Sokolov (Fakel)
Middle Blockers
Alexander Abrosimov (Fakel)
Dmitriy Muserskiy (Belogorie)
Nikolay Apalikov (Zenit)
Alexander Volkov (Zenit)
Dmitriy Shcherbinin (Dinamo)
Alexey Kazakov (Ural)
Pavel Kruglov (Dinamo)
Maxim Mikhaylov (Zenit)
Pavel Moroz (Kuzbass)
Setters:
Sergey Grankin (Dinamo)
Alexander Butko (Lokomotiv)
Konstantin Ushakov (Kuzbass)
Sergey Makarov (Fakel)
Igor Kobzar (Gasprom-Yugra)
Wing Spikers:
Taras Khtey (Belogorie)
Evgeniy Sivozhelez (Zenit)
Denis Biryukov (Lokomotiv)
Sergey Tetyukhin (Belogorie)
Yuriy Berezhko (Zenit)
Pavel Abramov (Iskra)
Alexey Rodichev (Gasprom-Yugra)
Dmitriy Ilinykh (Belogorie)
Liberos:
Alexey Obmochaev (Zenit)
Alexey Verbov (Iskra)
Alexander Sokolov (Fakel)
Middle Blockers
Alexander Abrosimov (Fakel)
Dmitriy Muserskiy (Belogorie)
Nikolay Apalikov (Zenit)
Alexander Volkov (Zenit)
Dmitriy Shcherbinin (Dinamo)
Alexey Kazakov (Ural)
I suppose Alekno will not risk right away his First 6 to play all together in Japan and the Dominican Republic. I suppose all of them will play in front of the hometown crowd when they host Pool A in Kaliningrad in the middle of June. The goal is to qualify for the finals in Sofia in July -- and to be physically fit in time for the Olympic Games. Given that Khtey and a few others from the NT are reeling from injuries, the coaching staff will not risk anymore injuries to their core players before they leave for London.
And I don't think this will pose a problem for the other members of the World League pool. I would like to believe that everyone among them wants to play for the NT and share a taste of the NT's recent victories and how it is to play for the now famous and much-loved Vladimir Alekno. As Tetyukhin had previously warned the rest of the world, Russia now wants to win everything.
Anyway, I just hope that everything goes well for the Pool A members. I wish them all the best of luck and good health.
Setters: Butko and Grankin
Liberos: Sokolov and Obmochaev
Outside Hitters: Biryukov; Mikhaylov (Opposite); Tetyukhin; Khtey; Kruglov (Opposite)
Middle Blockers: Volkov; Apalikov; Muserskiy
There's a possibility that Shivozhelez can replace any of the wing spikers, should anyone among them encounters injury.
With this probable line-up in the Olympics, Russia will be very, very difficult to beat. ?
Okay. We do not want to put too much pressure on Russia. But for them to just lose one match -- against Brazil -- and winning the rest with 3 points each -- fans expect no less than the gold in London. (I'm just echoing other fans' expectation. ?)
Other teams would just find it difficult to evade the Great Russian Wall, especially with Apalikov in front.
Just praying that all members of the squad would be injury-free in time for the Olympics. (And also Giba, Lasko, Kurek, Stanley and my other favorites, Jarosz and Nikic. Ok. Just about everybody.)
Russia will win the Olympic gold medal because of Apalikov.
Poltavsky is unlikely to come back to team. It's not only injuries now, but his age and lack of high-level playing practice as well.
Speaking about opposites, I'd prefer Apalikov to Muserskiy, though both are sure to make it for WL and OG. It may be just my mind, but i believe Musersky showed nothing really impressive during the last international season, but for his excellent coordination. But it's not enough, he won't be in starting six untill his mighty-serve skill comes back to him.
Makarov is in the team because he is stable.
Concerning Yugra guys, i think perhaps Rodichev will be taken to WL, but not Kobzar- 4th setter would be too much)
That's what I think, but Alekno has his own plan, so we'll see)
The Russians believe the gold in London is theirs to lose. Let's see what Apalikov has to say about this. He's the guy who's going to make it happen for Russia.
I rather think Moroz will take the place behind Mikhailov. He was topscorer in the regular season as far as I know. Very high and hard hitter. But maybe you're right, and Alekno wants to have a more experianced player as back-up. It won't make a difference anyway, provided that Mikhailov can play.
As for Apalikov, I really hope we see him alot. This guy is so good, also mentally, but still kind of underrated. He was the real MVP in the CL final.
He is definitely a solid player, but I don't see him in the lineup as long as the other two don't injure themselves. Russian users can tell more about his qualities.
There is so much talent in this team, and finally Alekno seems to have made something out of it. The only thing that can stop them imo is the winning-mentality of the Brazilians. On a lucky day, Italy has chances too.
You're welcome ?
I really envy how many good wing spikers Russia has(though,I'm still not completely sold on Sivo and Berezhko,despite the CL title)-Khtey,Biryukov,Tetyukhin,even Ilinykh is much better than any of our second spikers...and the fact that you have more than one setter - such luxury ?
I've never seen Makarov play(he's now Russia's third setter,right?).Is he good?
Btw,I'm really happy that two guys from Gazprom Yurga made it on the list(Rodichev and Kobzar).That's the team that Plamen Konstantinov coaches - it's good to know he works well with young guys ?
ahaha and that explains a lot then xD
They just don't want to meet you, that's all. End of story ?
I'm not gossiping about Musersky, but Khtey! Damn, HCLT, I thought Angels should have skills like reading learned to perfection!
and champion,i agree with you. it's just a pity that sometimes they overdo trying to keep distance, a lot of people stubbornly deny any relation to russia. i don't judge anyone, they probably have reasons, but still it just doesn't feel right for me.
It's just when that khtey thing came up, i remembered what i once heard and decided to refresh it, it's not really a big deal for media to talk about non-stop
i didn't know the things were that bad in bulgaria, perhaps it's just because of Kaziyskiy's mega-popularity there
http://www.khtey.ru/about_me/biografiya
extract from there:
В шестнадцатилетнем возрасте Тарасу Хтей, дабы принять Российское гражданство, довелось жениться на некой студентке МГУ, с которой был едва знаком и виделся всего лишь пару раз. Брак изначально был фиктивным, и вскоре был расторгнут. На данный момент Хтей состоит в счастливом браке, вместе с женой воспитывают троих дочерей.
16-year old Khtey, in order to get a russian citizenship, had to marry a certain MSU student, who he hardly knew and had only seen a couple of times. The marriage was initially fictitious, so was soon dissolved. At the moment Khtey is happily married, along with his wife he brings up 3 daughters.
interesting story but not that romantic and soapy, innit?)
And that may be true, because became father when he was 16 yrs old. He has two daughters, twins if I'm not mistaken, with his wife, who is daughter of Shipulin and daughter from previous relationship.
Musersky is not naturalized, it's ok about him. He, Khtey, Pavlov were born in Ukraine, but Muserskiy and Khtey had russian sports citizenship from the very beginning, they never played for Ukraine unlike Pavlov.
there's even a kind of legend about a 17-year old Khtey marrying some Moscow girl fictitiously in order to get a citizenship ?
John17, and i believe only one of those you mentioned is going to actually play - Tetyukhin. Kazakov, Verbov and Abramov are highly likely to be cut off when it comes to the list reducing. This list is widened.
I actually attended Loko-Zenit semi-final yesterday (2:3), and I can say that Zenit shines with confidence unlike us: Butko, Biryukov, Sanchez look exhausted and non-motivated. And that in a decisive game!
If Grankin shows himself good in Dinamo vs Zenit in Superliga's final, I guess there's a strong possibility Alekno prefers him in WL
but we'll see
and btw you know my attitude towards grankin-always-in-starting-six thing,don't you?))
and it worked for serbians, huh?) well, it's wise of them to have noticed that. in fact, things are the same in our national league, a team is unlikely to take set if they're 4-5 points behind the rival. that's become so normal that i started to think of it as of a problem only now)