McGeady is in the running for the foreign XI of the RPFL, voted on by journos. Spartak fans have just announced they want the club to extend his contract at the club, they usually get what they want.
Yet another Irishman who is more appreciated abroad that at home.
I know the feeling
McGeady talking about the rivalry in Russian football (capital clubs vs southern provinces)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...g-2154918.html
Near the bottom of the report.
Andrei Kanchelskis is a positive chap.
He feels that McGeady is already one of the elite players in the Russian Premier League. "I've got to give McGeady a perfect score for his performances this year," said Kanchelskis.
"I'd give him 10 out of 10. There haven't been many better. His quality on the ball has been excellent, his pace and mobility is now Spartak's biggest threat.
"I like his attitude. He's a winner, he doesn't give up on anything. This is a quality that all top professionals need, but not every talented footballer has it. He plays 100pc for the team. It's now clear this is a player with a big, big future."
I think he's burned the last of his remaining bridges with Rangers fans by now.
On the Irish Independent report, please McGeady, stay away from Villa. Give yourself another season at Spartak, up to the end of Euro 2012 campaign and see how things are then.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
"I'd give him 10 out of 10. There haven't been many better."
So there are a few in Russia who are better than 100%?
The Russian League is going to run along the lines of most European leagues in terms of schedule starting from next year.
In the 2011/12 season it will be an autumn / spring season (similar to UK, Italy, Germany). Apparently it is going to split as well (at the mid point) with the top half going into a play off system for the European places and the bottom half going into the play off for relegation. The last two places will now be relegated to 2nd league and the 3rd and 4th last will go in a play-off with 3rd / 4th from second league.
It's not very clear as to what will happen for the clubs in the 9 months they now have off. Obviously Zenit, CSKA, Spartak and Rubin are all in the Europa League, and Zenit and a Russian U21 team are in the CIS (ex-USSR) Cup starting next month in St. Petersburg. Incidently Spartak play Basle and then (if they win) Ajax or Anderlecht, so pretty much vs other CL drop outs.
A different take on the changes. No break till August anyway...
http://themoscownews.com/sports/2010...ml?referfrommn
September revolution for Russian football
by Andy Potts at 14/09/2010 16:31
They’re calling it a September revolution as Russian football finally switches to a European timetable.
As of 2012 the old summer season, running from mid-March to mid-November, will be relegated to history while a new-look calendar will mimic the rest of Europe by running from September to May.
But the new-look schedule will include a long winter break to prevent shivering sportsmen suffering in the snow.
World Cup boost
As with much in Russian football at the moment, part of the plan is to enhance the country’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
At present major international tournaments awkwardly bisect Russia’s domestic season, whereas the new system would slot in perfectly around FIFA’s flagship.
It’s also thought that it might give the national team a helping hand: the autumn qualifying matches will find players fresh after a summer break, while major finals won’t prove a distraction from the week-by-week grind of league football.
How it works
Next season will be a transitional season, with the season divided into three parts. The first two will be similar to this year’s, playing from mid-March to late May, then from July to mid-November.
But a final phase, played in spring 2012, will settle prizes and European spots among the top eight from 2011, while the bottom eight will face a desperate fight to escape relegation.
Then in August 2012 the new season will kick-off, due to play in two sections from Aug. 1 – Nov 15, then March 1 to May 20, 2013.
Mixed opinions
While the change was a key plank of Sergei Fursenko’s reforms of the game when he was elected head of the Russian Football Union earlier this year, not everyone is impressed, Sovietsky Sport reported.
Players have questioned whether the move will force more clubs to play on artificial surfaces, while the president of the Professional Football League, which represents Russia’s second and third tiers voted against the switch, saying it was “inappropriate at this stage”.
And prior to Monday’s vote Alexander Shprygin, head of the official Russian football fans’ organisation said that he was aware of many supporters’ lack of enthusiasm for the scheme.
But he added that his group preferred to work through dialogue with the game’s bosses, rather than issuing confrontational statements.
Frozen fans
Even if the prospect of standing in an open concrete bowl in Novosibirsk doesn’t much appeal in November, it’s not exactly unprecedented.
Followers of bandy, a quintessentially Russian blend of field and ice hockey, have long been used to huddling round in open stadiums as the mercury plummets well below zero.
Matches in the likes of Kemerovo regularly attract crowds in their thousands for 90 minutes of hot action in the deep chill.
And Russian football fans will have their own memories of being caught out by a cold snap: Spartak’s opening day derby with Dinamo this season was played in a Luzhniki blizzard, while FC Tom, from Tomsk, regularly play their opening home game in Mineralny Vody while their own stadium thaws out.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Bayern Munchen want to sign former Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady from Spartak Moskva / IM SCOUTING
Bayern Munchen have expressed interested in signing former Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady from Spartak Moskva , according to German sources.
The 24-year-old joined the Spartak in the summer for €12 million, signing a four-year deal worth some €1.5 million per season.
He scored one and set up two in 12 games for the Moscow side, but impressed at the Russian outfit with his all-round play.
Munich are reportedly looking at a loan deal for the Republic of Ireland international with an option to buy.
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
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