WE BEGIN…

Soon the Russian championship will shoot into the unknown from a low start. However, This uncertainty is conditional - there are favorites, the balance of power is clear to a certain extent. Surely there will be surprises, and high-profile events, and a beautiful game - that's all, as expected. There won't be a full-fledged playoffs, and the smooth part of the championship was crumpled for the sake of the national team. Olympics - an argument, which you can't seem to argue with. But I would be in private, please note, ok I argued: gently “strangle” for the sake of the Olympic Games main product, from which all our volleyball, properly, is taken... The decision is forced, of course, situational, but definitely not good for Russian volleyball. And so every four years...

anyway, we waited too long for the start, to be upset about the close finish. We will proceed from this, what is. What do we have?

1. "Kuzbass"

Strength: the champion core is preserved - this is important. Experienced Sivozhelez in backup – no worse than the combined Nikitin/Dmitriev, plus promising Pakshin. G, of course, Victor Poletaev factor, who is capable of churning out results almost single-handedly. Let's not forget about Lauri Kerminen, the best libero in the Super League at the moment, and this means several additional chances for the same Poletaev in the final games in each match.

Weakness: departure Sammelvuo?

Motivation: in fact, Tuomas' departure could spur Kuzbass. In the post-championship year, it can be difficult to find motivation to storm the summit again, saturation occurs. And the rivals are now trying twice as hard as before - to beat the champion! But just the unplanned departure of the head coach can give the necessary impetus to the team - to prove, that he left in vain. And Gheorghe Cretu is a fully qualified specialist for this, to put it into effective form.

Chances: fight for medals, although the competition will be very tough.

2. "Zenit-Kazan"

Strength: despite the update of the star line, the team retained the winning model with a powerful attacking fork at the edges of the net: instead of Mikhailov-Leon-Anderson, now we will see the trio Sokolov-Mikhailov-Ngapet.

Weakness: unknown, How will the restructuring affect it in practice?. Will Sokolov play at full strength?. Will Ngapet come out of its doldrums?. Will Mikhailov cope in the final game?. Will Verbov hold the coaching reins?. Too many nuances for such a stable club, like Zenit.

Motivation: and here, for the first time in many years, is a real challenge. Need to return to the throne.

Chances: the fight for this very throne. Surprises are possible.

3. "Torch"

Strength: Gossip-Volkov. The star pair of finishers was once again saved, which is already a lot.

Weakness: after Yakovlev's departure, the line of central blockers does not look convincing.

Motivation: This season for “Fakel” will be a stage of a kind of reflection on the path traveled. Until now, the young and ambitious composition has been fighting for recognition. Now, with medals and Champions League, they need to finally grow up. What does it mean? We will see.

Chances: I think, this season “Fakel” will take a step back.

4. "Zenit" St.-Petersburg

Strength: carpet selection was almost a hundred percent successful - the center is staffed, ligaments have changed, depth appeared, new head coach.

Weakness: the other side of the force is that the team is still very lightning dependent. And Georg has a difficult Olympic selection in winter. Plus addiction to Camejo, and the Cuban is prone to injury (pah-pah-pah).

Motivation: I think, no team in the Super League is so hot in terms of winning trophies.

Chances: on medals - percent 75, for the championship - 40.

5. «Lokomotiv»

Strength: stability plus squad depth. An experienced, well-coordinated, powerful team – who else can solve problems here and now??

Weakness: psychological. When something doesn't work out for a long time, self-doubt appears.

Motivation: the stakes for the season are high. If the team again falls below the winners' line (which is quite likely, given the level of competition), organizational conclusions with global restructuring may follow, the benefit of talented youth in Novosibirsk in bulk.

Chances: fight for medals. Most likely, for "bronze". This will be a lifeline.

6. "Belogorye"

Strength: Hm. In tradition? If such a composition were not in Belgorod, I would say, that this is a middle peasant.

Weakness: foreign players do not look stronger than last year, Poroshin left, no Kovacs, experienced players one or two, young people have not yet been fired upon.

Motivation: grow above yourself.

Chances: middle of the standings. If you're lucky.

7. "Dynamo"

Strength: Bryansky picked up the strings, configured, ready to play. Deru instead of Sander - maybe it’s for the better, knowing, How Americans take care of themselves in the pre-Olympic season.

Weakness: Pankov slowed down his development, as a binder, about a year or two ago. We will see, will it be possible to restart?.

Motivation: we need to get back to the top, need to prove, that perestroika was not in vain.

Chances: there will be progress from seventh place, the only question is, how noticeable. Potentially Dynamo can fight for medals.

8. "Ural"

Strength: Biryukov-Spiridonov-Feoktistov – this inspires. Plus a high level of sports arrogance, in the good sense of the word.

Weakness: Filippov's loss is difficult to overcome, Alekseev in the diagonal is questionable.

Motivation: be higher than Surgut, pretending, that they are targeting the derby with Kazan.

Chances: good. A strong middle peasant.

9. "Dinamo-LO"

Strength: Oleg Sogrin, figuratively speaking, repaired the holes in the fence - the line of middle blockers looks scary: Volkov, Smolar, Bemmel. Seem to be, Yakovlev also settled into his place.

Weakness: the same centers are no longer boys. In addition, the team is courageous. When the game starts, they can demolish anyone. If it doesn’t work, anyone will lose.

Motivation: don't fall into the struggle for survival. If this happens in the first half of the championship, further - pure pleasure from volleyball.

Chances: the team has become stronger, than a year ago. But the rivals don’t sleep either. We will see.

10. «New»

Strength: the fact itself, that the team survived after last season is already a strength. A good basic foundation with a focus on your students..

Weakness: not enough stars, of people, capable of deciding. Andrei Titich is mentally good, but physically he alone is not enough.

Motivation: prove, that volleyball in the Samara region is more alive than all living things.

Chances: while the struggle for survival is visible.

11. "Gazprom-Ugra"

Strength: Muzay and the guys. If the Pole plays, and the rest will pick up - who knows, how far can the people of Surgut go?.

Weakness: the composition is actually new, risks are inevitable.

Motivation: overcome yourself.

Chances: place in the top ten - yes, place in the eight – maybe, place higher - if you're lucky.

12. Yenisei

Strength: continuity. Krasnoyarsk residents have always relied on an overall good level plus a “star”: Spiridonov, Marechal, Carroll. In this regard, the level remained, and Skrimov and Ereshchenko in the final game are an excellent double “star”.

Weakness: Diagonal dumplings - a mystery. And Mysin is no longer young.

Motivation: get out, finally, from the departure area.

Chances: at least they will fight for it.

13. Yugra-Samotlor

Strength: Nizhnevartovians have noticeably strengthened, remembering the problems of last season. Retaining Williams is a big success. However, and Papazov is good. We agreed with Krivets - another bonus to karma. Plus Burtsev.

Weakness: perhaps, Hodges will be uncoupled. They were counting on him. On the other hand, a window of opportunity opens.

Motivation: be higher than Surgut, pretending, that it's not that important.

Chances: the team will definitely not be a whipping boy. But who and how many times she will beat herself is unknown to science.

14. “ASK”

Strength: in Shulepove. In Markin. In Nikonenko. In experience.

Weakness: The ban on foreign players seriously complicated the task for Nizhny Novgorod.

Motivation: remain in the Super League.

Chances: Now ASK looks like a clear candidate for relegation. But I wouldn't rush to conclusions.