Україна National Team III

He should still be our coach its killing me. Its so classic Ukraine just self implode for no reason. Such a beautiful but weird culture

Not an easy gig for him to take midseason, big risk of relegation and ruining his rep. But sounds like new American ownership wants to spend. Hopefully he can bring in a few Ukrainians there. Would be great to start flooding Italy like the Yugoslavians do with cheap young talent. Malinovsy and now Kovalenko is starting to impress in a deep lying mid role when he was useless @ Shakhtar...should be at least 5 more Ukrainians in Italy next summer. Need to start getting them out of there by 24 max. Hope it can be with Sheva at the oldest club in Italy <3

 

Got the best score line of the cycle, 2-0. But, once again, after scoring the first one, started to sit back again. This is how we allowed opponents to get back into the game every time.

In related news, France cooperated and beat Finland, 2-0, as well.

 

Additionally, Russia can not be matched with Ukraine.

 

Our players just lack instinctual decision making. Its either a lack of coaching or an inherited trait in our people. Judging by our politics and how rundown the country is get the feeling it has something to do with both. We are very talented but just like Africans, wrong decision making or just flat out choke in big moments

Just yesterday, Malinovsky & Zinchenko shoot outside of the box early in the game. Not the worst decisions ever, but in those particular instances, Tysgankov had loads of space, slide him in and just takes 1 good touch, gathering steps and quality shot for it to be a goal. That's what elite teams do. We sadly lack quality decisions and end product in the final 3rd, besides that a very solid team

Zubkov had a good outing in Ferencvaros last Europa game, he looked much improved v. Bosnia, that was an important cameo from him. Bosnia introduced some fresh legs and I was worried. He was an absolute liability v. Finland, so great to see him rediscover some form

You called it about Malinovsky, from the middle to end of 1st half he was non-existent in that midfield. Petrakov tried to play 4-3-3 but it was clear he doesn't have the wherewithal of Sheva, our players were stagnant, there was little intricate designed plays. Sheva had us functioning like a basketball, there are specific movements that he assigned to everyone, they were all on the same page. That wasn't visible yesterday, but after our 1st goal and before the Bosnian subs we did look absolutely breathtaking. Zinchenko was moving into pockets of space, triangles were being created etc. Btw Tymschyk is a liablility @ RB, its like having Shevchuk & Selin all over again. His physical attributes are solid but he's subpar for the level we are striving to reach

 

You mentioned back luck, it finally changed with Buschan save end of the 1st half. Almost identical to Finland's equalizing goal, thank god Zabarniy's clearance directed in a way that avoided a ricochet into the net. and thank god we didn't get eliminated from the World Cup because of the 2 lost points in Kazakhstan when their goal scorer ended up being caught for doping a week later. Would've been another cruel addition to the ways Ukraine has had their hearts ripped out in qualifying

End of the day when France is in your group, finishing 2nd is best case scenario. What's crazy is we aren't even that good yet should've realistically been level on points with France if you add the 6 pts we lost

Its been a wild campaign that mirrors our 2014 cycle. Then just as now we went off on a dreadful start after a solid draw with England in Wembley our 1st game (we drew France in Paris our 1st game this time). After bad results it then took 2 heroic away wins @ Poland @ Montenegro and a home draw with England (we won @ Finland @ Bosnia and drew France at home this time). We ended up losing to France in the playoff even after smashing them 2-0 in Kyiv. Watch us draw Italy this time lmao!

 

Our u21 with a nice win over Serbia too, Mudryk, Sudakov & Bondarenko were class. Few of them should be called up to the senior squad by the time Nations League rolls around

Just 3 pts off of France in that group as well. We aren't even that good but still strong lol...shame our youth development is so under utilized, could be a massive sporting nation. We even have players in the NBA which shows you that elite athleticism exists

Btw do you know about Munkacs? Saw a cool docu about them, if more of those existed Ukraine could someday become a borderline powerhouse

 

Russia is such a weak team physically, they lack pace & power, we would likely dominate them thoroughly. Its a disgrace that we aren't allowed to play them, they would be the easiest team we could face besides Wales (hope we avoid Scotland, would rather play Sweden again). Lucky for Russia given we are one of the better unseeded squads. We need Russia to lose in case we advance so its not a guarantee we face Italy or Portugal if that's the situation...

Buschan has been getting tutored by Buffon supposedly. He's playing great but like you said, Boyko became elite too when he had all the confidence in the world. As soon as he moved to Besiktas he fell apart for some reason. Something about the Dnipro home environment is just special. Realistically we have 3 quality goalies now: Buschan, Lunin & Trubin, also the young lad @ Vorskla who got called up seems to be promising and there's a 16 year old @ Dnipro who seems to be a big prospect

I actually just found out that Mudryk & Bondarenko are from Dnipro academy. Jordi Gratacos was the academy director brought in by Juande Ramos and he made Dnipro academy powerful. 1996-2000 age group there were some beasts who came through it, Lunin & Dovbyk, Supryaga, Mudryk etc. Gratacos is in Russia now sadly probably making them better, but this fake-Dnipro has a very serious new academy as well based on the Athletic Bilbao model as well as what's going on in Denmark too. They are in the business of producing players and selling them early. Hopefully similar to Serbia & Croatia, our players need to move abroad no later than 22 years old

Sheva with his hands full, depleted squad with injuries and not much talent available. If he saves them from relegation that's a huge achievement. New ownership is planning to invest money, hopefully they reinforce the squad in the winter window and maybe even bring in a few Ukrainian lads

 

Thank god we avoided Italy & Portugal, but getting Scotland @ Hampden Park is probably the hardest remaining opponent. Wales & Russia would've been the easiest. If we advance hopefully face Wales, shorter travel time and a less advanced tactical & technical squad. Austria almost beat Italy in Rome in the Rd of 16 @ Euro's after embarrassing us in the 3rd group stage game

Scotland play a 5 defender system, perfect for Petrakov to matchup in his preferred 5-2-3 formation as well, and with almost 4 months to prepare. We also had our famous win over Sweden in Glasgow this summer so there should be a sense of confidence and fond memories that should help somewhat offset how absolutely insane that atmosphere will be. Those people have a never say die mentality, we will have to be ready for war. Every single set-piece situation will be nerve-racking. This isn't the Scotland of old, they have pace & power now, not sluggish & untechnical like the last 30 years

There's also this

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/...the-ukrainian-influence-on-scottish-football/

 

Read an article from Petrakov the other day, he mentioned head of UAF is trying to arrange his visit to Atalanta in early Feb., and get a chance to talk to Gasparini. Good news for us, I imagine he'll be asking him for advice on how to utilize Malinovsky in a 5 defender system

He also mentioned visiting Zinch & Pep @ City and surprisingly mentioned Marcelo Bielsa and the Spanish technical director @ Leeds as well. I know this from the Amazon docu about Leeds, I imagine Petrakov knows this from his Spanish video & stat analyst

 

Probably lack of language and the need for a translator. He's also planning to watch the practices, the teams will likely give him behind the scenes access for a full day. Given his lack of elite level experience I think him meeting these successful coaches of a few of our legionnaires is fantastic

Also we really need to schedule a friendly with Italy in Jan. like is being rumored. Also our core domestic players not playing in UEFA knockout stage is terrible timing the year the playoff is moved to spring. They would've had 2 top notch games in Feb. and early March to get them into higher gear. Playing against a high octane team like Scotland whose players are playing in EPL all year seems far from ideal

For instance Mexico played Chile today, I think Ukraine needs to schedule some friendlies and we need to play Italy in January at whatever cost. Perfect chance to get Mudryk in the mix and keep them sharp. Hopefully the clubs play some German & Yugoslav clubs during the winter break. Go to USA and play MLS teams or something...

 

In my opinion, SaSho at his prime was by far a better goalkeeper than Buschan is today. Of course, Buschan may still improve.

 

Not saying much from the guy who thought Andriy Rusol was the best Ukrainian CB even after 2008 when he was an absolute liability for club & country

 

Any idea why Bogdan Milovanov, RB for Sporting Gijon isn't being called up?? This kids advanced stats are crazy high, surely Petrakov and his assistants are observing him since RB is a massive weakness

Tymchyk got dogged out by Lucescu last game, Karavaev is in Petrakov doghouse. This is the flank Robertson will be attacking...

Also just found out last week Maximillian Killman from Wolverhampton is 100% Ukrainian, parents from Odessa. Sheva tried to have him called up but FIFA said he's ineligible because he played professional futsal for England when he was 18

Its absolutely sickening how unlucky we are in these situations. 5 vets leaving Ukraine for Russian in the 90's. Even that Neustadner kid chose to play for Russia when he wanted to play for Ukraine haha its a joke. Meanwhile you have Croatia getting players from Swiss, Germany etc. like its nothing, converting Bosnians to play for them for fun

Petrakov's back 5 would be absolute dominant with Matviyenko-Killman-Zabarniy anchoring it. Unfair for the kid and Ukraine, especially with Matty Cash playing for Poland now instead, such a joke