Write for the Russia Offside
By: Bob |
3 Comments
Do you have a passion for Russian Premier League football? Do you like to write and to share your opinions? We’re looking for someone to captain this blog. This is not a paid position, but you will be rewarded with an admiring worldwide audience that will hang on your every word. If you are interested in joining the The Offside team, shoot an email to bob [at] theoffside.com and let him now why you are excellent for the position.
Category: Team News
Tags: Dynamo Moscow did it 4 out of 12. And the secret is…
By: Ivan | 1 Comment
Dynamo Moscow isn’t a lucky team. Really. Last years they were victim of fertilizer tycoon Alexey Fedorychev who bought a lot of foreign players and forgot about a good coach to make them play together. So they happily escaped the relegation. They’ve started new season without real striker and with poor goalkeeper - but somehow earned 4 points out of 12 in matches with ‘big four’ - Spartak, Zenit, CSKA, Lokomotiv.
How did they make it? Maybe picture is the answer…
Week 4: Elephant and Kitten scored goals, Lokomotiv jumped the track
By: Ivan | 2 Comments
Sorry for some space in Russian blog last week but here we come again. There are still news to read and goals to watch. Enjoy.
Good weekend
Alexander Prudnikov
Spartak teenager from B-squad was late substitute and became a winning goal scorer. Prudnikov nicknamed Elephant (Slon) for his physique and he’s one of the best young players in the world. He was completely amazing at Meridian Cup in Barcelona. Here is one of his greatest goals for Europe U-18.
Denis Kiselev
Tom striker powered two in six minutes to equalize from 0:2 against FC Rostov. Maybe it’s all because of Tomsk website announced his cellular number for fans SMS. Kiselev’s nickname is Kisa (brief version of surname but also means little kitten). Well, he can call himself even a Mickey Mouse – the fact is that SMS helps him to score!
Timofey Kalachev
Speedy pace and crazy shot from wide angle – just watch it.
Bad weekend
Lokomotiv Moscow
Railmen lost three in a row, all to neighbor/enemy Moscow teams. If you like chess like Loko coach did, it’s obvious that they need to stop give figures and take something instead.
Saturn Ramenskoe
Got only one point in two home matches. Saturn caught a draw against Krylya Sovetov Samara with Kirichenko equalized on last minute. Now Aliens have 3 draws – more than others as usual. Last season they drawn 18 times and finished 11th so now they can beat themselves.
Baskakov did his best to make Rummenigge a prophet
By: Ivan | 2 Comments
Bayern director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was unhappy with Russian referee for AC Milan vs. Bayern Munich Champions League quarterfinal. And somehow he was right. Yuriy Baskakov gave a controversial (hey, it was completely wrong - Lucio touched the ball first, then Kaka) late penalty to Milan. Kaka scored and all of you might imagine Rummenigge’s anger. 5 minutes left! But van Buyten equalized and all that Baskakov got was the friendly knee-kick from Santa Cruz after the final whistle.
Baskakov famed in Russia as first referee who used communication system (he was equipped by UEFA and bringed it home to boast in front of everybody). Also he was charged by Hearts mad owner Vladimir Romanov after AEK vs. Hearts CL qualifier. Not so criminal stories but together they can make at least a novel. I’m afraid Russia could lost their man in UEFA.
Category: Team NewsWeek 3: Story of Three Derbies and the Broken Jaw
By: Ivan | 1 Comment
Good Weekend
Spartak Moscow
Won the very principal away derby against Zenit. That was really Saint Petersburg versus Moscow clash and Muscovites suddenly crushed home side by three goals in first half. Juicy was the fact that first was scored by Spartak charismatic leader and captain Egor Titov (video below). And second by Saint Petersburg refugee Vladimir Bystrov, who left Zenit for Spartak last season. He earned a penalty and scored – be sure he would never even try to kick from the spot in another match!
CSKA Brazilians
Ramon and Vagner Love of CSKA score early and late goals to mine a win in Moscow derby against Lokomotiv. These teams strongly argued for first place few years ago and CSKA couldn’t beat Loko for 3 seasons. Now their time has come.
Rubin Kazan
Team from Tatarstan moved from last place thanks to home win against Premier League debutant FC Khimki. Rubin has disadvantage on the way but found time to overtake – winner was scored on last minute.
Ricardo Jesus
Spartak Nalchik forward scored twice against Kuban Krasnodar in South derby. It’s really easier for Brazilian to adopt there, in (comparatively) hot climate.
Bad Weekend
Alexey Rebko
Close before his first national team call, Spartak young midfielder was attacked by hooligans in subway. They broke his jaw and he missed the game. Now he recovered and was put in Spartak start XI but shortly got first yellow card for wearing necklace and second for obstructing opponent. What a kindergarden.
Pavel Pogrebnyak
He’s the man who really hates Spartak and ready for anything in this case. Pogrebnyak even pushed away his teammate to score by himself. But it was the only Zenit goal - his team lost and he was sent off for elbowing opponent.
Vagner Love scored for Brazil against Ghana in Sweden. And showed Moscow colors
By: Ivan | 1 Comment
Stockholm was the venue for international friendly between Brazil and Ghana. That wasn’t an exciting remake of World Cup playoff match (remakes suck, actually) but CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love scored the only goal.
You must be intrigued with these blue stripes interlaced in his hair. That’s come from his specific faithfullness to the club. He can miss trainings because of Brazilian carnaval featuring his sister but will play with CSKA colors on his head even for the National team. Good boy Vagner.
Russia vs. Estonia: Playing for Sevilla Makes Sense
By: Ivan | Add Comments
Now it’s clear that playing for European clubs improves Russian footballer’s skill. Year ago Russian national team was like Italy or Saudi Arabia (closer to Arabia, actually) – all consists of home-based players.
And now Russia overtakes Estonia in EURO-2008 qualification match. Alexander Kerzhakov was the hero – he scored twice. This winter he left Zenit Saint Petersburg for Sevilla and quickly became a real joker striker for Andalusian team. His motto always was “shot, shoot and will shoot” and he proved it with wonderful strike from the edge of the box.
Meet Sunflower Seeds or Things To Do in Rostov When You’re a Football Fan
By: Ivan | 1 Comment
At last I got the perfect illustration for popular action among Russian supporters. There are nor banners neither fireworks. There aren’t drums. Don’t even think of football chants. Face the reality: sunflower seeds.
Look at these people eating seeds together. They came to support FC Rostov with their mouths occupied. Maybe that’s why their team conceded three goals without an answer in first half against Zenit Saint Petersburg. But when they’ve finished their seed reserves, Rostov suddenly scored twice and only the whistle stopped them on the way to draw.
So it’s obviously that you’re have to start supporting your team by getting this crap out of your mouth. And it’s better to do it from the very beginning of the game. But habits are strong. And I think that Rostov not to be a champion soon.
Week 2: Sad Tune for Mozart (not composer, just midfielder)
By: Ivan | 5 Comments
Good weekend
Leonid Slutskiy
Coach of FC Moscow was the triumphant of principal “manager derby” vs Tom Tomsk (read more here). FC Moscow lost their best striker but Slutskiy bet on young forward Roman Adamov and won: he scored twice. Lucky “Russian Mourinho” Slutskiy!
Alexander Gorshkov
He was a hero yesterday, sending cryptic insult to fans; he became a hero once more. Gorshkov participated in three away goals that Zenit Saint Petersburg has scored.
Andrey Tikhonov
Legendary ex-Spartak player and now-leader of Premier League debutant FC Khimki scored from free kick and led his team to first win. And started a blog – first ever for any Russian football player.
Lokomotiv’ scouts
Scouting service of Lokomotiv Moscow signed Romanian forward Razvan Cocis and Brazilian defender Rodolfo. Both scored in first Lokomotiv home winning match.
Bad weekend
Yuriy Klyuchnikov
Referee from Rostov-upon-Don gave a very doubtful penalty kick. Video spots the evidence. Thanks to Kluchnikov, Luch-Energiya got a rare away win and increased number of strange penalty decisions called “Luchpenalty” (yeah, in one word).
Spartak Moscow
Last season runners-up played second heavy-footed match and have drawn goalless with Amkar Perm. Santos Mozart, Spartak’s key midfielder, played out of key and got the red card for throwing ball into opponent’s face. What a sad tune for Mozart.
It’s Good To See Your Team One Position Higher
By: Ivan | Add Comments
Spartak Moscow can’t make up their mind to losing status of the greatest Russian team to CSKA. Club’s glorious history force them to win, win and win. They can’t even stand the fourth place in table after the first game and changed it to third! Spartak’s website published their own table where team takes higher position (Spartak marked red). Look at the numbers in left column. Get the trick? Interesting way to be greater than you actually are.
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