EPL Talk » Russia

Russian Football Now Podcast, Episode #4: The Wake of UCL Disappointment

Chris Riordan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:15:29 +0000

Russian champions Rubin Kazan disappointed in Kiev

In partnership with Russian Football Now, EPL Talk presents the third episode of RNF’s podcast.

Though defending champions Rubin Kazan continue to roll through the Russian Premier League, the club hit a major stumbling block in Kiev when they lost their Champions League opener to Dyanmo. Beyond the loss, Rubin’s poor performance forces hosts Chris Riordan and Richard Farley to evaluate how good this year’s Russian teams are.

In addition, Chris and Richard get you up to date on …

the performances of Russians performing beyond Russia’s borders,
the rumors surrounding the league (specifically Zenit), and
give you their impressions of last week’s league action and the weekend of football to come.

It’s the fourth episode of Russian Football Now’s Podcast.

Russian Football Now Podcast: Spalletti, Pavlyuchenko, and WCQ Preview

Chris Riordan — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:30:15 +0000

Former AS Roma manager Luciano Spalletti has long been linked with Zenit St. Petersburg.

In partnership with Russian Football Now, EPL Talk presents the second episode of RNF’s podcast.

An active week in papers sees former AS Roma manager Luciano Spalletti take an additional step toward the long-rumored more to Zenit. Meanwhile, Roman Pavlyuchenko gets priced out of his move to St. Petersburg, instead staying in London. While this was happening, the Russian National Team was gathering in St. Petersburg in anticipation of the week’s World Cup qualifiers, for which they look to be without Yuri Zhirkov, Denis Kolodin, and Andrei Arshavin (at least for the first match).

Russian Football Now’s podcast discusses all the plus runs down the Premier League table for you in this, their second full-length podcast.

Chelsea and Hiddink’s “Country-Club” Manager Idea is Brilliant. Right?

Richard Whittall — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:12:34 +0000

: Hiddink the Hero. Credit hspam via flickr.

If I had my way, Guus Hiddink, unveiled today at Chelsea, would be the first of several managers to manage both their national and club sides at the same time. It makes perfect sense: the running gag in the British press always seems to be the enormous amount of free time national managers have between meaningless fixtures, a situation that gets less savoury when you consider how much money associations like the FA are willing to pay these talented part-timers. Why couldn’t Hiddink or Capello, or god-forbid Raymond Domenech manage both club and country at the same time?

Just look at the “pro” side! A “country-club” manager will certainly be less likely to whinge about the international breaks, at least with the frequency that some Premier League gaffers do. And who better to judge the quality of players fit for the national team than a proper league manager who has to study these players week in, week out as part of their club routine?

Of course there is the little tricky problem of “conflict of interest.” Player call-ups would be questioned with every international fixture; after all, what would prevent a manager calling up a key competitive star for a meaningless game against Paraguay before a major top of the table clash? Or leaving his own players out?

Wait wait wait, this is a ridiculous idea. I mean, Hiddink has the power to call up Andrei Arshavin and run the little guy into the ground just in time for Chelsea and Arsenal’s epic quest for fourth place. He could spite Tottenham simply by slotting in Pavlyuchenko as a full-back. Did anyone think of this? Is there any time left to stop it?

Preferably before Chelsea meet Aston Villa, brimming with confidence under an intelligent, tactically astute Dutch manager?

Pavlyuchenko Gets The Wrong End Of The Stick From Ramos

The Gaffer — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:40:26 +0000

New Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko may face punishment from Tottenham because he’s not learning English quickly enough according to the Russian newspaper, Tvoi Den.

If the newspaper report is true, it’s a bit unfair on Pavlyuchenko. He’s only been with Spurs since September 1st and, in that time, he also played in Moscow for Russia aganst Wales. Plus, the criticism seems very hypocritical given that Juande Ramos is not learning English fast enough either.

The newspaper reports that Pavlyuchenko was substituted at halftime against Wigan because he wasn’t following the orders from Ramos because he didn’t understand a word that his manager had said in the pre-match team talk.

Sure, the sooner Pavlyuchenko learns English the better, but he’s only been with Spurs for just over three weeks. Ramos has been with Tottenham since October 27, 2007.

World Cup Qualifying: Your Running Commentary

The Gaffer — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:56:24 +0000

England’s away match today against Croatia is massive for several reasons. First, a loss against Croatia will be a huge blow to England’s hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. Second, a loss would put immense pressure under Fabio Capello. Third, if England can secure a draw or a win, it’ll be a huge boost of confidence to a team and a nation that haven’t had much to cheer about in so long.

The irony is that most football fans in England and the United States won’t be able to see the big match live unless they’re willing to fork over some sizeable cash to Setanta Sports or In Demand.

Here are some of today’s matches to enjoy:

Russia vs Wales, 11am ET/4pm UK (Fox Soccer Channel)
Turkey vs Belgium, 2pm ET/7pm UK time (Setanta US)
Macedonia vs Holland, 2:30pm ET/7:30pm UK time (Fox Soccer Channel)
Croatia v England, 3pm ET/8pm UK time (Pay-per-view and Setanta pub channel)
Italy vs Georgia, 2:45pm ET/7:45pm UK time (GolTV)
Portugal vs Denmark, 4pm ET/9pm UK time (Setanta US)
Spain vs Armenia, 4:50pm ET/9:50pm UK time (GolTV)
Slovenia vs Slovakia, 5pm ET/10pm UK time (Fox Soccer Channel)
France vs Serbia, 6:45pm ET/11:45pm UK time (Setanta US)
USA v Trinidad & Tobago, 8pm ET/1am UK time (ESPN2)
Uzbekistan v Australia, 8pm ET/1am UK time (Fox Soccer Channel)
Finland v Germany, 8:45pm ET/1:45am UK time (Setanta US)
Mexico v Canada, 9pm ET/2am ET UK time (Telemundo)

If you’ll be watching – or have watched – today’s matches, please share your thoughts, insight, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Meanwhile, if you’re a fan of U.S. soccer, be sure to head on over to Major League Soccer Talk for a special live chat tonight at 8pm ET featuring the United States against Trinidad and Tobago.