Fantomas
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2012
- 13,803
- 7,651
Watching US destroy the Czechs now and shaking my head even more than before.
Such a shameful performance.
Such a shameful performance.
WJC: 2021 Russia Roster Talk
- Thread starter enj92
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Looking how easy Americans take care of offensively challenged Czechs it is almost embarassing that Russia couldn't score on them. Larionov needs to go to a coaching school and not coach national team Russia. BTW apparently it was first time in 8 years Russia was shutout at WJHCs.
Yes and the best players in a country playing and living together as a team would make a great team. Yes skilled players of course. I would love to see a team of Canada’s best players living and playing under one system for a year. Of course that would be a pretty good team that will never happen so I don’t give it a lot of thought. Yakushev lives in the past is my point. Play the tournament under the same rules as other countries and stopped whining about the old soviet system of 60s, 70s and 80s. That system wouldn’t work now anyway. The game is played at a much faster rate by the top hockey nations.
c9gunner
Registered User
- Dec 24, 2011
- 1,538
- 701
This^^^^. I would also chime in about the unique ability of the CSKA to use the huge pool of young talent from the entire USSR (in the old Soviet Union the military service was compulsory, so after a young promising athlete turned 18, he could be drafted by the Soviet Army to join its Army Sports Club system.) So for two years the Army would have a full control over the drafted athletes - they would live, practice, and play hockey together. Can you imagine the level of chemistry in a such a team? And yes, - the motivation factor - you don't follow the rules, you would be digging trenches instead of playing hockey till the end of your service.
Last edited:
You can invent the most elaborate systems, but the best hockey comes down to developing skill. There would be no Soviet hockey without skills of Kharlamov, Makarov, and Bure.
Yep, I'm beginning to think that this WJC will be quite short with this kind of "Professor" at the helm. Larionov's constant jabs at the Soviet system that more or less "created him" is irritating and is surely a sign of hubris. His comment about the Czechs being like the Russian team against Spain was also very insulting towards the Czechs, I don't think anyone deserves to be compared to Russia's football team
. Larionov's ego will lead this team to an early loss at the tournament, I think the semis is the highest they can get.
Next two games will be very telling of where Larionov fits. I'll be honest, a small part of me would like to see him fail badly so they can move on.. Although I still have some hope it was a one off and his team is capable of much more.
Don't forget how many people in Russian hockey he has insulted in the last 15 years and how little he has actually done to help!
If he effs up here, he will lose a ton of credibility with Russian hockey community.
I can already see him blaming Russian kids coaches and corruption for his failure...
I think the worst part of the last game is it reminded me of our darkest junior days in 2008 when we played outdated hockey without any ability to adopt or change or modernise. The feeling I get is Larionov took us back to those days.
Yeah, or Orr, or Gretzky, or Lemieux, or messier, or, or, or. I can go on and on and play that game too
c9gunner
Registered User
- Dec 24, 2011
- 1,538
- 701
IMO - and it's totally ok. Lets give him time (2-3 years) and see what he can deliver. His team was fine during the Karjala Cup, so I wouldn't judge his coaching ability (we are not talking about his personal qualities here) by a few games. he thinks that he is trying to build something similar to the old Soviet system - good for him. I like when various coaches try various approaches with their junior teams. And honestly, I was tired of Bragin.
I disagree wholeheartedly. I want him to succeed. Not because of himself but because of the kids. I have seen it again and again - winning this tournament gives some kids unbelievable reason to believe in themselves for the rest of their careers and vice versa. Now, we know he hasn't made any adjustments in the Czech game. We know in the second intermission one of the players was saying to keep doing what they were doing and things will start happening - I think the kid was just repeating what Larionov was telling them. Now Russia lost badly in that game and Americans spanked the Czechs as expected. He knows all of it and this is a huge slap in is his face - he is AWARE of all of these things. I do believe he may have needed this in order to wake up and understand what he is facing. No more "fun". This is a hard fought battle you face in every game and all of them get rewarded based on the result. Since all of them want to become serious professionals - I believe they should be ready for all of those things.
I am not too concerned about Austrians, they just do not have Czech expertise in playing such smart defensive hockey but I do believe Sweden game will be telling. In these tournaments several days may be all you need. Shake things up, try different line combinations, see how some kids react to more ice time. I do believe it is possible!
I am not too concerned about Austrians, they just do not have Czech expertise in playing such smart defensive hockey but I do believe Sweden game will be telling. In these tournaments several days may be all you need. Shake things up, try different line combinations, see how some kids react to more ice time. I do believe it is possible!
c9gunner
Registered User
- Dec 24, 2011
- 1,538
- 701
I'm just curious - what you would expect this player to say? Larionov's tactics might have worked if not the horrid mistakes by the Russian D. The US couldn't do anything to the Czechs until they scored the first goal (and man, it was a very ugly one) The Czechs have probably the best defensive team in this tourney, but they have issues playing at par with top teams if they are trailing.
Isn't it a contradiction, though, that he berates the Soviet system every time he gets the opportunity to, and yet now he's trying to bring back those elements? It just doesn't make sense.
Yes, the Americans have this revolutionary strategy called "dump and chase" and "drive the net". It will someday soon find it's way into coaching in many countries.
It was an ugly goal, but it was no fluke. Four Americans around the blue paint, outworking the Czechs. That's how you beat them.
c9gunner
Registered User
- Dec 24, 2011
- 1,538
- 701
Sure it is. And the reason is that the Soviet system (and I'm talking not only about sport) wasn't just black or white - it was very complex and often contradictory. There were lots bad things but there we tons of good ones as well.
Fantomas
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2012
- 13,803
- 7,651
I think this Russian team would have been better with Ovchinnikov and Pashin.
I was trying to explain "truisms" that were created by Canadian media to try to explain why Canadian hockey wasn't devalued, it was just that the Soviets were "robots," I get it that you are trying to defend your Canadian honor and masculinity. I don't take you as a guy who gets much into subtlety and nuance. You are a bump and thump kind of guy! I can hear you now at a hockey game: "Let's go boys, let's go boys. Let's go, eh! Let's go, boys! Boys, boys, boys, let's go, eh"! I know your type.
Nope, you have me all wrong. My type? I’m a type now? Canada won the summit series even though they came into it overweight and out of shape. Even your vaulted Soviet system lost out to these overweight slugs.
Fantomas
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2012
- 13,803
- 7,651
My feeling is the game against Sweden will be decisive for this turnament. If they can get theit sh... together and win, they have a chance to gel as a team, good coach, bad coach aside. If they again look challenged and ovematched, then it's QF and a flight home.
