Hiddink may be gone and results may be poor but there is still time for Anzhi to improve. 16 year old Matthew Brown thinks that Anzhi fans need to stay calm and stop panicking. (His blog, containing non-Russian football, can be found here: Matty's Footy Thoughts) Anzhi fans will not be happy with their team’s performances so far this season. After spending the most money out of all of the Russian clubs this summer, they would have expected their side to be sitting on top of the table, … [Read more...]
Guus Hiddink Steps Down at Anzhi Makhachkala
July 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I got the news last night from Ashraff Hasnan, another RFN contributor, who also happened to be at the CSKA - Krylia Sovetov match in Khimki. On the trip home from the arena, overhearing several more conversations about Hiddink's departure, I had the sense everyone else, like me, was trying to process what had happened. Had Hiddink truly resigned? Was he diplomatically asked to leave by Suleyman Kerimov after a draw at home to Lokomotiv and loss to Dynamo? Or had Anzhi planned this transition … [Read more...]
Inside Meulensteen’s Time at Brøndby
July 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
RFN would like to thank Toke Møller Theilade for the story and English translation, @TokeTheilade Excerpts from "4 Per Nielsen – Brøndby for evigt?" by Per Nielsen, published 2013, available for purchase here Meulensteen was appointed Anzhi coach yesterday to much surprise and fanfare. His last head coaching position was a fairly unsuccessful stint at Danish club Brøndby IF. We get to know a little more about Meulensteen as a head coach through his former player at Brøndby, Per … [Read more...]
CSKA - Young, Ambitious and Dangerous
July 22, 2013 by 1 Comment
I had the time and made my way yesterday to a youth game between CSKA Moscow and Krylia Sovetov Samara. The game was played the day prior to Monday's senior game, as has been regulated by the RFU and RFPL and was held at CSKA's smaller, 4000-seat Oktyabrsky Stadium. Despite an exciting RPL Sunday, featuring Rubin - Zenit and Ural - Spartak, I opted to dive into the rain and make my way to Oktyabrsky. My aim was to see a few players from CSKA's well-known academy, notably Dmitri Efremov and … [Read more...]
Monday Rewind: July 15-22
July 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
All the Russian Football News we can find from around the Web in the last week, published every Monday morning. EDITOR'S PICK: Not fit for purpose - do Russian clubs serve the greater good? - Back Page Football MONDAY, JULY 15: Debutant Dzyuba the Hero as Rostov Down Terek - R-Sport Voronin the Redeemer and the Ghost of 2011 - Slavic Football Union Russian Transfers Update: July 8th-14th - The Football Family FC Rostov Season Preview - Russian Football News TUESDAY, … [Read more...]
Aleksandr Kokorin: Blessing or Trouble in Disguise?
July 21, 2013 by 2 Comments
INTRO The long-awaited decision regarding Kokorin was finally announced last week. The destination for the very promising youngster, who has even been called Russia's future, is Makhachkala. Kokorin will ply his trade next season at Anzhi Arena, far away from much-speculated St. Petersburg, the home of Zenit. The move, however, does not come cheap. It was reported that Anzhi paid almost €19m for this relatively new hot property, who so far has yet to prove himself at a higher level. … [Read more...]
Terek Grozny Season Preview
July 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
INTRO: Last season Terek were a surprise squad in the league, finishing 8th, their highest finish ever in the RPL. Narrowly missing out on European qualification, Stanislav Cherchesov proved a stabilizing figure and built a tactically smart and hard-working team. He has now moved on to Amkar, so perhaps Terek, more than any other squad, will be highly dependent on their head coach to maintain their forward progress. In comes Yuri Krasnozhan, no stranger to the south of Russia. Krasnozhan … [Read more...]
Round Table: Week One
July 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Manuel (@homosovieticus) - PhD Student with focus on Soviet history and football, as well as blogger at Futbolgrad.com (@futbolgradlive) Rob (@RobDillonMTA) - Journalist who specializes in Russian football, Editor of More Than Arshavin Connor (@Con_027) - Russian football follower, CSKA supporter, England resident Andy (@AndyShenk) - Moscow-based writer and Russian language translator, Andy supports Anzhi Ashraff (@serapdesengal) - Loko supporter and student in Moscow John … [Read more...]
Revival-on-Don?
July 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
After a single game of a new season, it would be ridiculous to try and predict how one team's fortunes may pan out over the next ten months. A whole host of factors can come into play, some more obvious than others, and with 29 matches still to be played, a single occasion will obviously bear little resemblance to the course of the season. That does not mean, however, that to ignore the opening days of the season is sensible, as there are undoubtedly trends and patterns forming which generate … [Read more...]
Zenit: One Step Back and Two Forward
July 18, 2013 by 5 Comments
Zenit may be taking a step forward this summer after all. While it seems to be the trend to lambaste Zenit’s transfer policy - particularly bringing in the expensive big names last summer and the older big names on a second tour of duty this summer – the moves could result in a better team. With the issues that plagued Zenit's cohesion, perhaps jettisoning a problem and bringing in proven winners with a slow summer can improve the team. Let us not forget that Zenit is a talented team. In … [Read more...]
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