Round Table: Week Two

Pavel (@russianpotter) - Nizhny Novgorod-based young journalist and Spartak supporter, Volga attendee

Manuel (@homosovieticus) - PhD Student with focus on Soviet history and football, as well as blogger at Futbolgrad.com (@futbolgradlive)

Xavier (@AxeMurderer60) - French Russian football fan and CSKA supporter

Ashraff (@serapdesengal) - A Loko supporter and student in Moscow

Rob (@RobDillonMTA) - Journalist who specializes in Russian football, Editor of More Than Arshavin

John (@JohnSager) - Russian Football follower, Zenit supporter, California resident

Andy (@AndyShenk) - Moscow based writer and Russian language translator, Andy supports Anzhi

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1) What does Guus Hiddink’s resignation mean for Anzhi this season?

PAVEL: That they are unlikely to win the championship this year. I’m pretty sure now they will have a number of blips that won’t let them finish first. Plus, Meulensteen has a bad reputation as the first team’ coach. Nothing wrong, if they’re dropping the season.

MANUEL: I was already surprised that Hiddink even started the season with the club. I was pretty certain that he would leave after the closing of last season. The ownership of the club must have therefore already planned for a potential exit of the Dutchman. I personally think that it was time for him to leave; he is the type of coach who only works short term, and was perfect for Anzhi to get things going. Now the club can plan long-term. I am also intrigued in their choice for the new coach, Rene Meulensteen is a so-called concept coach and his appointment indicates that the club seems to be following a long-term concept.

XAVIER: With Hiddink’s resignation, Anzhi’s Project is a bit in trouble, on the technical side, i think Rene Meulensteen will be able to manage Anzhi Correctly but if we talk about image and prestige, there is a problem. Anzhi have to provide soon a first win in Premier League for Hiddink’s resignations doesn’t have a bad influence on Anzhi, with some players not focused.

ASHRAFF: This can be really costly. Player came, during past two or three transfer windows mainly of Hiddink’s X-factor. Plus the signings need time to del with the squad, and now the squad itself needs to blend well with the new coach. But good news is the new manager comes from current backroom staff. Rene Meulesteen has been with the squad for the past month and it is up to him on keeping the squad”s unity and motivation after their poor start of the season. He may signed one or two new player now or during winter, but i think he will focus more on implementing his style and tactics for the team. Or Kerimov decides to bring new well-known manager, the one that can blend to Russia’s football immediately and put that winning mentality back into Anzhi’s camp.

ROB: Urgency. If Meulensteen is the man to take charge long-term, he needs to settle in quickly - he’s been there less than a month - and turn his top-class coaching reputation into managerial ability. There will no doubt be a lot of opinions flying round on how to run that Anzhi side, and he has to make his mark quickly and effectively. With Carlos leaving and now Hiddink handing in his notice, there’s been a lot of upheaval and it throws the ‘project’ aspect into doubt. After a poor first couple of games, Meulensteen needs wins on the board quickly or the season could take too much damage early on.

JOHN: Very little. I think if Hiddink’s head and heart was not in the squad, then it was the right thing to move on. This team still needs to molded, shaped, and built tactically. It is only the second week of the season. Better to get out early if he knew he was not the right man for the job. It now seems that he should not have come back in the first place to start this season. I am not convinced by Meulensteen based on what I read regarding his last managerial job, but one has to think he has evolved somewhat.

ANDY: It adds a huge dose of intrigue to what was already one of the Premier League’s most baffling clubs. Anzhi, for all their offensive firepower, have been stuck in a rut since last fall. Will Meulensteen be able to finally unlock the team’s potential? Or are Anzhi bound for another 3rd or worse finish, with very little improvement in terms of play on the field?

Apart from tactics, Hiddink leaving opens the door to a possible mass exodus from Anzhi. With a fairly unproven Meulensteen in charge, if things go poorly there’s a greater risk that Eto’o, Diarra, Zhirkov, Willian and others could decide to jump ship. That never seemed likely with Hiddink around.

2) Spartak is at the top of the table, will it last?

PAVEL: Two or three weeks, at most. There’s three hard fixtures coming up and it’s always a bad sign when Spartak wins two or more games in a row. Makes you expect the worst.

MANUEL: Spartak at the top, it has been so long since we have seen it. Will it last? I have my doubts, the top three Anzhi, CSKA Moscow, and Zenit are currently struggling but the season is young and I think that all three will finish ahead of Spartak.

XAVIER: Spartak made a very interesting recruitment this summer with the arrivals of Tino Costa and Denis Glushakov. Karpin seems to have found a stable defense with Bryzgalov alongsite Salvatore Bocchetti, also the return of Parshivlyuk on the right side is a key. I think Spartak will remain at the top of the table until the first European matches, after it will became more difficult.

ASHRAFF: Spartak has the capability this year, to win a silverware after so many years. They have pool of talents in the team, and now showing that they can put a good performance consecutively. But it still early, and this weekend’s fixture will prove their ability to face a top club and rival. Dinamo will provide good test for Spartak, and the fans can look forward to win at least a silverware if they can constantly perform well. For now, I still think CSKA has a bit edge and Anzhi can rebound back from their first two disappointment.

ROB: No. They’ve surprised me in how well they’ve started, looking like a unit and thus far keeping Emenike and McGeady, but for me Karpin isn’t good enough as a manager and the squad hasn’t changed too much from the frail side that rounded out last season. Europe should be more comfortable, but I’d be surprised if they’re still a legitimate contender at Christmas.

JOHN: You would have to think they will win the title again someday. But I still think the squad is Europa League qualification level. It is much too early, and the schedule has been weak. We’ll see more when they face Dynamo this Saturday. (We have the entire RPL schedule here.)

ANDY: It might. Karpin’s men haven’t done anything sensational yet by defeating Krylia and Ural, but with Zenit, CSKA and Anzhi all hit with setbacks of one type or another the past few weeks, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Spartak hold its place at the top for a few months. Upcoming matches against Dynamo, Kuban and Rubin will be a challenge, of course, but if they snag a few more wins, Spartak could build the confidence needed to mount a successful fall campaign.

3) Lots of exciting games this weekend, what was your game of the weekend?

PAVEL: Dinamo - Anzhi, mostly because of the result. Unexpected.

MANUEL: I loved the Krylya Sovetov against CSKA match. Penalties, red cards, come from behind victory. That match had it all!

XAVIER: CSKA 2-1 Krylya Sovetov, a lot of suspense and a victory at the end, i love this kind of scenario.

ASHRAFF: Rubin vs Zenit. Real attacking game, with both sides really put a lot of effort towards one another. Ryzhikov and Lodygin pull string of saves, but it was the Kazan’s side who snatched the win with Rondon’s late powerful header.

ROB: I’m not sure about most exciting, but CSKA’s comeback against Krylya could be the most significant. Coming from a goal down after a shocking first half with ten men, and with Doumbia getting himself back on the scoresheet, they might have an extra bit of confidence to get them over the fact their talisman striker is now in China.

JOHN: Rubin - Zenit: Featured a comeback, last minute goal, plenty of chances (particularly for Zenit) and some interesting tactical features.

ANDY: Dynamo - Anzhi. There were several other thrillers, but this game combined both on-the-field and off-the-field drama. Who could have guessed that Hiddink’s Anzhi tenure would end with a shove on a ref and heart-breaking road loss? As for Dynamo and new president Boris Rotenberg, knocking off the club that stole their star striker had to be doubly satisfying.

4) Which teams had the best and worst weekend and why?

PAVEL: The best weekend - Lokomotiv. They look sharp and could really fight the Europe this year. They’ve proven it to themselves. The worst - Anzhi. It looks something’s gone wrong there, generally.

MANUEL: Anzhi probably had the worst weekend of all clubs, first Dinamo Moscow defeated them in the last seconds of the game, and then Hiddink stepped down. Spartak on the other hand had another great weekend, and is now leading the table. Things look great right now for the peoples’ team.

XAVIER: The Best Week End : Spartak, they are in first place of the table and play pretty well (vs 2 lower teams) the worst week end for Anzhi, a very complicated match in Khimki vs Dynamo, they received an early red card and they conceded a penalty in stoppage time.

ASHRAFF: Anzhi had a terrible weekend, losing their crucial game against European spot contender Dinamo with an unlucky penalty call and dubious red card, furthermore lost their gaffer on the day after. Spartak has the best weekend, back to top can give much needed confidence for once unstoppable Russian champion.

ROB: It’s almost too early to say who had the best weekend, but Anzhi probably had the worst few days of anyone. Losing at the death to Dinamo and then seeing Hiddink walk away from the club puts them in all sorts of trouble. On the other hand, Spartak made it two from two and continue to set the early pace, so they’re in with a shout.

JOHN: When Zenit managed to lose to Rubin, I would have said them. But Anzhi lost their game, and their head coach. For best weekend, I would say Spartak as they saw all their rivals struggle. Also for best weekend are the teams in the middle of the back competing with the big clubs. The league is proving more wide open than originally imagined.

ANDY: After criticizing Rubin’s lack of depth last week, I’ll go with them for team of the week. A last-gasp win at home over Zenit will do that for you, plus they just picked up Dmitri Torbinski, another solid addition.

Zenit and Anzhi, meanwhile, share worst of the weekend, by suffering crushing road losses, not to mention continued trouble elsewhere. Anzhi lost their manager, while Zenit have yet to get back Hulk, Shirokov, Anyukov and Malafeev from injury, in addition to major transfer rumors swirling around the first three players. Can Anzhi and Zenit persevere early in the season, or should we expect more dropped points from the title contenders?

5) Who is your Week 2 player of the week?

PAVEL: Seydou Doumbia. Came to the pitch after long injury, scored twice and won the game for CSKA.

MANUEL: Aiden McGeady came on as a substitute and had a great game for Spartak against Ural. Scored a goal and was one of the big reasons why Spartak was able to turn it up a notch in the second half and eventually win the game.

XAVIER: Seydou Doumbia, he was in Germany for a medical check, then he returned into CSKA group, he entered the game 20 minutes from the end, and he scores 2 goals to allow CSKA to earn a first Championship win.

ASHRAFF: A lot of contenders, especially Doumbia who came and scored a double against Krylia. But I will go for a goalkeeper this time, with Ilya Abaev of Volga. Almost inspire his team to snatch at least a point last weekend. He put quite a performance against rejuvenated Lokomotiv, unlucky to concede Maicon’s header and Shishkin’s freekick. Gokdeniz Karadeniz and Aras Ozbiliz worth the mention too, both of them gave 110% on the last weekend performance for their respecitve teams.

ROB: A belated award for Artem Dzyuba - I should have picked him last week, but he got another goal for Rostov and is proving he can mix it with the best in the league. It might have only been from the spot, but he brings another element to Rostov’s game and with him as a focal point they look to be progressing nicely.

JOHN: Doumbia called his performance a “fairy tale.” Cannot beat that.

ANDY: Seydou Doumbia. His first goal against Krylia was masterful, and the type of individual performance CSKA needed to turn the tide. With Love off to China, CSKA absolutely need MVP performances like that from him all season.

BONUS TOPIC: Vagner Love transfer to Shandong Luneng.

MANUEL: Is this transfer a surprise? I guess it was at first, also the timing is odd, but in reality CSKA fans should not be too shocked by this story. Vagner Love is a flamboyant character who has been back and forth between Brazil and Russia in the recent years. Now he is heading to China, to supposedly greener pastures. I am sure CSKA is gaining a handsome transfer profit for the player without actually loosing very much up front. The club is relative deep when it comes to attacking players and Vagner Love’s haircut will be missed more than anything else. Some have suggested that this transfer is a watershed moment: a Chinese Super League club financially outmuscling a Russian Premier League club, those suggestions, however, are nonsense. In recent history bigger names have gone to China (Drogba, Anelka, and Barrios) all of them left China early because financial obligations were not honoured by Chinese clubs. This transfer is just another example of how a player takes, supposed, financial gain over the development of his career, something that is not a first in Vagner Love’s career.