Big text about Zenit. What is going on at all

By: Alexander | August 3rd, 2009

I really feel a responsibility to try to describe the current situation in Zenit as it is. (I am really in lack of time now – working on few different life-tasks, sort of, you know. But I have found these few minutes to type what is happening, see the seriousness of situation:)

Well, after that 31-July Advocaat’s emotional statement (see post below) we saw the game in Ramenskoe – the place where the League Title was won in golden 2007. In very nervous situation (I should say that we still haven’t heard any feedback-statements done by the club management, there was just one phrase in few preconceived medias – Igor Korneev: ”I also do have many things to say, but I don’t want to say them in this exact moment.” – something like that, you know this yellow ‘news-coverage’ style.)
So yes, nervous situation, the only striker in squad – is signed few days ago from Tomsk Belorussian Kornilenko (who was actually considered as a free-transfer signing, – due to financial crisis in Tomsk the forward had huge financial questions to his club and used the right to claim a release on free.. – but then in good Russian old-school style of Helping-Each-Other principle the Few big people from rich companies granted the bankrupted club with a few-millions help. And probably only in gesture towards this helping deal Zenit have paid to Tomsk 2 millions euro: Thanks for the free-transfer striker, guys.
I am afraid nobody bothered to explain to Dick Advocaat what happened exactly in details (may be I am wrong though). And of course that fact, in addition to Rosina’s transfer story, seemed also strange and weird to him. I mean, the coach’s emotions can be understood, and it is actually the task of Zenit management – to do everything to overcome, to smooth any misunderstanding actions and words inside the club, and if Rosina was signed according to agreement with the new coach (whoever will be – may be even Spalletti), this can be easily explained to Mr Advocaat in polite manner.
We were the UEFA Cup holder club until March, and we won the first – and surely not the last in coming years – league title in 2007; we have great coach who has just achieved the biggest results in his quite respectable career, who works with his good professional assistants – first Cornelius Pot, now Bert Van Lingen. And the most important, we have excellent team – Anukov, Ziryanov, Semshov, Shirokov are contributors to Euro-08 success (playing in semis was a tremendous success for Russia, we all get real; and thanks again to another great Dutch, Mr Hiddink).

2 Aug 09
The defence (see the image from left to right) – are national players of Korea, Portugal, Croatia, Russia; Huszti plays for Hungary, Denisov didn’t play on Euro but he is the key Russia midfielder now; well, we lost striker Pogrebnyak just one day before Sunday’s game (signed for Stutgart) – and it was debut for Kornilenko, remember that Help-Each-Other story.

I am typing enormous text, above was just a preview of Sunday game – imagine how I am involved in what’s going on:)

OK, 15 min: stupid mistake by Krizanac (who played very good match in remaining 85 minutes), and penalty: 0:1

Zenit immediately starts to attack in aggressive style – teamwork, fast movement and creative spirit – we could see everything, and then – corner on 25 min, and it’s debutant Kornilenko, with the help of central defender Meira making a ‘block-shot’, scores the equalizer:

I know few chaps who placed large bets on Zenit’s victory on Betfair in the break – it would pay 25/10 profit – well, I was impressed too and also had strong opinion about our victory. And don’t miss Zenit’s goal in the beginning of the second half: it’s captain right defender Anukov who creates the moment and then assists to Shirokov:

Then Huszti shoots amazing free-kick – hit the post, ground, and then out to the field (i can’t find a video right now, sorry don’t have time to search), then Denisov makes stunning interception in 30 meters from goals and immediately strikes – it’s 3:1! – but referee denies the goal (due to foul during interception – there was no foul at all obviously).

With few minutes left Saturn got a red card, and no doubts in Zenit fully-deserved victory at all, and then, on 85 min – that stupid equalizer, keeper’s rare mistake which could happen with everybody (well, Malafeev doesn’t play for Russian national team anymore, and we all know he shouldn’t).

2:2, and now already 7 points to the first place Rubin, again dropping points in final minutes… – but see, these are just points, numbers and digits. What we have behind the result is a group of outstanding players, all playing with high-spirit motivation, in powerful and aggressive style, and we see the coaching staff working on the process superbly. And of course Zenit always have the massive support from us, people living in St.Petersburg and loving the club.

But what we don’t have for sure – is a competent, adequate and professional management. (Though we still have such giant club-basis resource as Gazprom.) And it’s a shame, of course, for such team as Zenit and such city as St. Petersburg.

I remember how previous president, Fursenko, said on the frozen Petrovsky stadium in early March, 2007: ‘We are beginning the season aiming the highest targets, and we WILL win the title!’ He shook his hand in the air, and I, together with 22000 of another fans dressed in winter clothes on their bodies, with their hearts and minds warmed with hope and spirits, replied to these words with a bit skeptical, but excited roaring..

Fursenko has gone on the highest note one could imagine (he made a shift from gaz-and-oil to media-business now), but the president and general director appointed by Gazprom after that – are not able to rule the club properly, it’s my strong belief. Mine and I guess, also of majority of fans community.

Well, this was a brief description of the current situation. The ‘central’ Petersburg tv-channel feeds us with terrible and pathetic reports saying how wise is the management and how bad and scandalous-minded is Dick Advocaat. All Moscow mass-media (of course!) got all stories with gloating delight and made everything to start big-scale grinning hype and conflict-provoking campaign, – you know, how it usually happens: all kinds of ’specialists’ and ‘observers’ appear on tv-air and in all newspapers, commenting some out-of-context phrases of some ‘resources from the club’, unknown but reliable, and etc.

But I am repeating myself: at the same time we can see, that despite all that mud and noise the team shows great football – passionate, classy and professional. And they obviously have the power to perform brilliantly in the second half of the season and in Europa league first stage.
The only thing we do not need now is an attempt to create problems on an empty spot, just inside the club due to somebody’s bad and unprofessional work.

And in this period I am even more committed and devoted Zenit’s fan than usual. We have great team and very good coach.