Russian Premier League

Romulo Signs for Spartak Moscow – Transfer of the Summer 2012

Brazilian Football, Russian Premier League, Transfer News

Aug 102012

Romulo Signs for Spartak Moscow - Transfer of the Summer 2012

One of Brazil’s most consistent but unsung youth stars, Romulo, has signed for Spartak Moscow from Vasco Da Gama for €8m, as the Rio based club looked to push through a transfer quickly to raise funds. One of the stars of the Brazilian Olympic team, Romulo is one of a central pair used by Brazil to sure up the centre of the park, allowing the more flamboyant, higher profile players to strut their stuff in the attacking third. Whilst the likes of Neymar, Oscar, Lucas Moura, and Leandro Damiao might bring more in terms of transfer fees, and attract more interest from European clubs, the real value is in the unsung heroes. His partner in Read more..

Pavel Pogrebnyak Arrives for Fulham, Finally

Premier League, Russian Premier League

Feb 282012

Pavel Pogrebnyak Arrives for Fulham, Finally

Pavel Pogrebnyak has scored two goals in two games for Fulham since his move from Stuttgart in January, and in a league which is often said to be difficult for new signings from foreign leagues to adapt to, Pogrebnyak has proven he has the ability to fit straight in at the Cottage. No wonder Martin Jol didn’t seem too fussed about the departure of Bobby Zamora, as he moved to sign the 28 year old Russian with money to spare. Pogrebnyak is a player who has always had the ability to become a good striker in the Premier League. He has the prerequisite great feet for a big man, is strong on and off the Read more..

The Green Green Astroturf of Home

Football History, Russian Premier League

Feb 042012

As the 1980s embraced synth pop and synthetic fashion, several clubs in the Football League took it upon themselves to install artificial playing surfaces at their stadiums so as not to be left out of this synthetic revolution. The hip-hop DJs of the time perfected the art of spinning plastic on the decks, but the football stadiums couldn’t quite make a success of installing plastic on the deck. That said – Queens Park Rangers’, Loftus Road; Boundary Park Oldham; Deepdale, home to Preston North End; and Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road; became icons of 80s football culture, and are still recalled whenever a team is seen playing on a plastic pitch. The drawbacks of plastic pitches Read more..

Half Time in the Russian Premier League 2011/12

Russian Premier League

Nov 102011

At the halfway stage in this extended Russian Premier League season, the league table has clearly divided itself into the championship group and the relegation group. Our previous article on the Krasnodar Derby details the set up for this season of transition, as the RPL moves into line with the winter season schedule of the other major European leagues. Here it is in brief (or just scroll down – it’s boring): The top 8 teams will now compete for the championship, as the name suggests, and also the European places, with two Champions League, and three Europa League spots up for grabs. There will be Moscow derbies galore as all four of the clubs based in Read more..

The Krasnodar Derby

Russian Premier League

Jun 192011

The two teams from Krasnodar who arrived in the Russian Premier League 2011 season under very different circumstances, play their first top flight derby of the season today, and in our typical fleeting fashion, we will look at how today’s game in South West Russia came to pass. It’s partly down to the “Aliens” of Moscow suburb Ramenskoye (Saturn Moscow Oblast for those unfamiliar with Russian football team nicknames), who decided to call it a day at the end of the 2010 season due to their debt problems. This left a 3rd vacancy in the Russian Premier League for 2011 after the normal two up, two down relegation and promotion, and this spot ended up Read more..

Football Season Finished?

Russian Premier League

May 292011

If the events of last night’s Champions League final have left you desperate for yet more football, you could watch the English League 1 playoff final today, between two of the most promising teams around the lower leagues – Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United. But what after that? Well, you could follow one of the more exciting leagues in Europe – the Russian Premier League – which for the last time will be taking place in the summer months, as they are due to switch to the same timing as the other major leagues next season. The league now features another top flight derby match to go with the several Moscow derbies, as there Read more..