Barely having any time to rest after the Euros, the new, highly anticipated RPL season is upon us – And it’s going to be a season like no other.
Following the slightly strange structure last season, which stretched almost a year and a half in total, this one won’t be quite so arduous; but once again, it’s going to test every team and player to their maximum, in a season which will last around 10 months.
Starting now and running all the way through to May 2013, except for the winter break because of the harsh and unforgiving Russian winter, players endurance skills are once again going to be tested to their limits, especially for the teams who are competing in European competition as well.
Now that the Russian league has adopted the traditional European system of operating from summer/autumn to spring the following year, it’s going to be interesting how each club adapts to this. With this change in system from the former spring to winter system (which caused much controversy), which had many disagreements, it’s interesting who’s going to be proven right, the RFS, or the competing club themselves.
But don’t let that detract you from what’s going to be a highly exciting and competitive season, with many clubs expected to give last season’s runaway champions Zenit Saint Petersburg a harder run for their money this time around.
And in a comprehensive preview covering each club, all you need to know about the upcoming season for that particular club will be covered, starting off with the top 8 clubs from last season. 8 clubs which you would bet on occupying the top 8 slots of the table again come next May.
Alexandr Kerzhakov of FC Zenit St. Petersburg celebrates his goal during the Russian Premier League match between FC Zenit St. Petersburg and FC Amkar Perm
Zenit Saint Petersburg - Reigning champions for the past two seasons and once again heavy favourites to retain their title. But things aren’t quite going as planned at Saint Petersburg this summer. Being used to winning over Rubin all the time, it came as a shocker as they were overturned by Rubin in the season opener in the Russian Super Cup.The majority of the Zenit team, who play for the Russian national team, look to be suffering from a post Euro hangover and they’re going to have to recover soon if they want to pick up the tempo.A lack of transfer activity in the transfer market so far, again, hasn’t improved the mood. But the team still has enough firepower and strength to give a strong defence to their title; plus, when the injured Danny returns from a long term injury in September, things should get only better and better.
How the team balances Champions League football with domestic matters will be interesting to see once again.
Anzhi Mahachkala - The Manchester City of Russia are now seriously aiming to emulate their English counterparts and win their national title.
Having managed to keep Samuel Eto’o and adding one of last season’s star strikers Lacina Traore to their ranks, the firepower at their disposal is only growing stronger and stronger; in turn causing more and more sleepless nights for their fellow competitors.
Having finished in 5th position last season, a result which was deemed satisfactory by the club having fulfilled their primary objective for the season by qualifying for Europe, they’ll be aiming only higher this season, and I for one, certainly expect Anzhi to post the sternest challenge to Zenit’s stronghold and dominance on Russian football.
If Anzhi are firing on all cylinders, they are practically unbeatable, but last season, they operated well below their potential too many times. This time around, consistency will be the key.
Keisuke Honda of PFC CSKA Moscow in action during the Russian Football League
CSKA Moscow - Having finished last season miserably, which culminated in even missing out on Champions League football for the upcoming season, the Army club are looking to make amends this term. Having at least being able to keep hold of star striker Seydou Doumbia so far, CSKA will always be a threat going forward, with players such as Keisuke Honda and Euro 2012 star Alan Dzagoev possessing the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck at any moment. Along with Anzhi and Zenit, CSKA will be expected to make a serious attempt at the gold medals.Although the defence will have to be more reliable at key moments the main concern for the Muscovites will be to hold on to stars like Honda and Doumbia, as without players of this caliber, CSKA are only ordinary at best. But expect better than last term, that’s for sure.Spartak Moscow - 9 years without a trophy is pretty hard to take for any club, let alone, perhaps, the biggest club in all of mighty Russia. The long suffering Spartak fans have had to deal with disappointment after disappointment, but many believe that this season will finally be their season.
Having pipped their bitter Moscow rivals CSKA to the second and final Champions League berth at the end of last season, confidence is high in the Spartak camp and realistically talking, the idea of snatching the top spot of the Russian tree is being heard again.
Over the past few years, the red and whites have been far too easy to beat when it comes to crucial games and that’s something that has to change if, finally, a trophy will be returning to Spartak once again.
With a squad brimming with talent in the likes of their powerful striker, Emannuel Eminike and new Russian defensive prospect, Sergey Bryzgalov, silver could turn to gold if they can find their nerve at the crucial matches in the coming season.
Dynamo Moscow- Another club, just like Spartak, which has been starving for success and trophies with a realistic hope, could soon be satisfied. Not in my opinion though.
Dynamo has always had and will have a team that has just about everything. Experience blended with talented youth, and yet year after year, it materializes into nothing except disappointment.
Why? Because, for whatever reason, they are simply just not good enough. For example, the face-off between coach Sergey Silkin and captain Andrey Voronin last season has to be stamped out if any success is to be on it’s way. But in terms of individual names and talent, Dynamo fans have every reason to believe.
New club captain Kevin Kuranyi will be expected to hit the back of the net more frequently as will be the expectation to see some more of exciting Belarusian midfielder, Pavel Neykhachik. A place in the top three in the next season wouldn’t go amiss.
Lokomotiv Moscow- Perennial underachievers and out of all the Moscow clubs in the top flight, probably the weakest, if only just. But they’re by no means anyone’s mugs.
Having signed highly rated midfielder – Alexander Samedov from Dynamo, and installing young but sought after Slaven Bilic to lead the team as manager, things are looking up.
Having failed to qualify for Europe in last season, all their attention will be focused on domestic matters throughout the whole season and if Bilic can install his mentality upon the team, the only way is up from last season’s 7th place finish. Expect a lot more than what we saw last time around, expect a Croatian revolution.
While an attempt at challenging the so called big three of Zenit, CSKA and Anzhi may just be a bit too much to ask for, a place in Europe is easily achievable and should be achieved without too much fuss.
Players of FC Rubin Kazan celebrate after their victory over PFC CSKA Moscow in the Russian Football League Championship match between FC Rubin Kazan and PFC CSKA Moscow
Rubin Kazan - Two times Russian champions, in 2008 and 2009, Rubin have pedigree. Having already beaten Zenit 2-0 in the Super Cup last weekend and Dynamo in the Russian Cup final, back in May, out of the 3 trophies available in Russia, Rubin have a firm grip on 2. They will surely be ambitious enough to return the title of Russian champions to Tartastan. But it’s easier said than done.Ever since attacking midfielder Alejandro Dominguez left for Spain a few years ago, Rubin have gradually become less and less of a force in the Premier League and lack the firepower to challenge their counterparts when it matters.But their ruthless efficiency means that you can never write Rubin off. In addition to their defence being as strong as ever, with the formidable central defensive pairing of Roman Sharonov and Cesar Navas, anything is still possible for one of the most effective teams in Europe, let alone Russia.Kuban Krasnodar - Having shocked everyone by claiming a club record 8th spot finish in last season, a sharp finish in this season wouldn’t be greeted with any less joy and jubilation.
Goal machine Lacina Traore has left a gaping hole in the team with his departure to Anzhi and Dan Petrescu is going to have to work his magic again if they’re going to repeat what happened last season.
The core of the team from last year’s success remains and there is no doubt that Kuban will be as physically strong as always and won’t give up until the last whistle; which is what has brought them so much success and acclaim over the past year and a half.
But a top 8 finish this time around will be a hell of a task to achieve than it was last season.
Written by Shaun NicolaidesFollow me on Twitter @zenitfan93
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