Roman Petrenko - about the way in which the Alexandrians enter the new season.
Stability, stability and once again stability. Vladimir Sharan, unlike most colleagues, does not shy away from the side in the personnel plan. If any player leaves Alexandria, then either goes to the promotion, or simply was not needed. Exceptions, of course, were, but they only confirmed the established rules.
The current off-season something special was noted. The same deliberate stability with point searches of performers for problematic places. True, it was not without significant losses. The leader of the defense Andrey Gitchenko and one of the best "jokers" of the championship Sergey Starenky changed the registration to the Chernigov. Now they can help to settle down among the elite to the absolute debutant Desna. It would seem that the holes are significant, but let's not forget about the age of these players: both for 34 years. So in the short term, Sharan would still have to think about finding replacements for veterans.
But the 35-year-old legend of the club Andrey Zaporozhan remains in the team. The captain is in excellent physical shape, and will probably still "snap" for the benefit of Alexandria. The competent decision of the coaching staff and leadership was to keep other leading players. First of all, Vasily Grytsuk. The midfielder in last season was truly inimitable, scoring and giving miraculous transfer. It seems that with age, Vasily becomes like a good wine. Mastery is steadily growing, and the variability of Alexandria's attacks is increasing.
A goalkeeper is a team. An ancient football saying about the club from the Kirovograd region seems completely appropriate. Yuri Pankiv acts reliably and confidently. Not without rare gaffes, of course, but show the goalkeeper who is not mistaken!. On the spot and the entire line of defense (except for the above-named Gitchenko). Pavel Pashayev and Andrei Tsurikov will continue to barrage on the flanks. True, the first one had a strong competitor. Stanislav Mikitsey returned after a lengthy disqualification. There is a prospective changer and Tsurikov. Timur Stetskov has long been in the cage of the first team, and has even opened an account for goals at the highest level.
The defense center is cementing the progressing at a rapid pace Valery Bondarenko and the most experienced old resident Anton Shendrik. He, most likely, will replace Gitchenko. Alternatively, it is possible that Gleb Bukhal, who returned to the team after a short pause, or the young, but smelled gunpowder of the Premier League, Vladislav Baboglo. Here, the choice of Sharan chic.
Full calm and in the middle line. Fearless Alexei Dovgy, station wagon Eugene Banada and the same restless Zaporozhian - quite a pretty support zone. But arrived on the part of the attacking midfielder. More precisely, Maxim Zaderak from the now disbanded Steel moored to his native shores. It was in Alexandria that the recent captain of the Kamchansch honed his skills from a young age. Now it's time to return. Undoubtedly, the competition in the center of the field will strengthen Kirill Kovalets. 25-year-old son of the famous football player and coach Sergei Kovaltsa has seen a lot in his lifetime, and until the last was one of the leaders of Chernomorets.
On the flanks of the attack Sharan also has someone to play. Artem Poliarus became famous throughout the country in the autumn when, with two accurate blows, he brought Alexandria a sensational victory over Shakhtar in Kharkov (1: 2). They even talked about a possible challenge to the national team, but it did not go further than rumors. Seven-mile steps in the skill of Yevgeny Protasov (no, this is not the son of the legendary striker of the Dnieper, Oleg Protasov). The young midfielder already knew the joy of the goal in the top division, and it's clearly not going to stop on what has been achieved. Still, with such and such a name! But to the forwards the coaching staff has serious questions. Neither Artyom Sitalo, nor Vitaly Ponomary of his bombing qualities were not revealed last season. And it's gently said! Ponomarya has two goals in 30 games, Sitalo has the same number, in 26 games.
There is no doubt that the leadership of Alexandria lays special hopes for the new season. Seventh place in the last championship did not satisfy the club bosses. Which, by the way, do everything possible for the comfortable existence of the team. Salaries are paid on time, with infrastructure - full order, in place and qualified specialist Vladimir Sharan with an experienced staff of assistants. About loyal fans - I do not speak at all. Kirovohrad region - football land, and sports fans number one here a huge amount.
Alexandria has long been considered one of the most coaching teams of the championship, and not just. Sometimes it seems that the entire game mechanism to the smallest detail and cogs is calculated by a wise mentor, who is also able to find the right motivation for his charges. All this is surely useful in the new season, in which a club from a small town will fight for getting into European cups. I liked the experience of last year, so why not give the fans a new fairy tale? !!. They deserve it.
Author: Roman Petrenko.