On the way to Lokomotiv

Will Gazprom-Ugra be able to stop Lokomotiv?? The task is not easy: Novosibirsk, experienced for a long time noticeable problems due to the serial replenishment of the club infirmary, now gained health and scored a good move.

There are still no two main players at the base, Sergei Savin and Alexei Rodichev, but an old acquaintance, John Gordon Perrin, was discharged to help, played for Lokomotiv last season. This should add - and has already added - stability and pressure in the fourth zone, and for the rest of the positions in the team, full order.

In order setter Konstantin Abaev, there is a chic choice in the diagonal between Drazen Luburic and Ilya Kazachenkov, there is an excellent selection of central blockers, where the national team players Ilyas Kurkaev and Dmitry Lyzik set the tone, etc. «Lokomotiv», besides, will come to Surgut motivated: he needs to secure his fourth place, giving a direct ticket to the quarterfinals, from the encroachments of "Belogorye".

"Gazprom-Ugra", Meanwhile, experiencing a number of problems. Milan Katic did not fully recover, never reached the peak of functionality Nikita Alekseev, Vadim Ozhiganov plays unevenly, there are questions about the position of the second central blocker, on which the player of YUKIOR Konstantin Bessogonov was involved in the last match.

Nevertheless, Surgutians can impose a fight on one of the leaders of the championship. Lose our guys, in fact, nothing at all, only to buy: if not glasses, the experience and connections, calculated, perhaps, for the next season, and for the more distant future. Speech, primarily, about the young setter Maxim Kirillov, which this season was tried in different positions, but seriously began to prepare for big battles precisely as a bunch. For him, this experience is invaluable..

In any case, it will be extremely interesting to look at our youth (and not only youth) in the confrontation with such a serious opponent. More fun to come: games with two Zeniths, so something, and match practice at the highest level in March we will have more than enough.

Cover photo taken from the official website © VK Lokomotiv-Novosibirsk