Last 13 matches in all competitions -

Wins 13
Draw 0
Losses 0

Goals scored 37
Goals conceded 5
Goal difference +32!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I think fits better here...

Our assistant coach has confirmed that Danny, Smolynkov, Witsel and Kherzakov will all be fit for Spartak after missing the Anzhi game today.

Wonder which foreign player will miss out due to the 4 player restriction. I would say Witsel will definitely play after not playing in last 2, maybe we will put Rondon on the Bench and give Kherzakov a game? Or Hulk up front and Mogilvets/Fayzulin/Arshavin in midfield.

Lodygin
Criscito
Lombaerts
Garay
Smolynkov
Hulk
Danny
Witsel
Shatov
Garcia
Kherzakov

I can see Arshavin starting instead of Danny(due to his prior injury), so Rondon will probably be our striker(seems to be in good form)...

 

Kerzha loves to shit on Spartak and Rondon needs a rest. A no brainer IMO.

 

Hmmm...

Kerzha loves to shit on Spartak...

...hopefully you'll be right...

 

How much better do we look with Garcia in midfield?

I wouldn't say he is playing amazing but the gaps between our defence and midfield don't seem there anymore. Previously if we were attacking and lost the ball, the opposition seemed to be able to get through the middle of the pitch like we had no players there, now there seems very little space and we seem so compact.

AVB'S 2 signings - Garcia and Garay have both been immense!

Also if you go back to last season, we had an ageing Russian squad and with the RPL quota of 4 Russian players needed in a starting 11 we looked like we would have serious problems in the future, we pluck Lodygin from the Greek League for 800k and he is now worth at least 10 times that price and he is Russia's number 1 keeper by a mile. We get involved in the big Anzhi sell off plucking Shatov for what 6 Million Euro? And this season he is getting better and better and as for Smolynkov, what did he cost 4 Million Euro? This guy is amazing, being totally honest, he gives Criscito a very close run as the best full back in the entire League. He is a beast going forward and could easily play as a winger.

 

Any injury up-dates?

Guess we will know tomorrow when we have the Public open training session.

 

Catch-22 for me as I want to see a worthy game for the occasion but also need myaso to take points here and the only way that happens is if they bunker. Got dangit.

 

i think spartak have a chance.

 

Tymo, Danny and Smolnikov all available. But Witsel misses out.

 

witsel misses out?

who said that?

 

Just don't see Spartak posing Zenit any problems.

 

you have to believe dmitry.

 

Can we win 14 matches on the trot against the "best team in Russia"?

Projected line up -

Lodygin
Criscito
Lombaerts
Garay
Smolynkov
Danny
Hulk
Garcia
Shatov
Fayzulin
Rondon

Line done on basis Witsel not available although I can't find any reports confirming he isn't. Other options, Mogilvets or Arshavin instead of Fayzulin or possibly Arshavin instead of Danny if Danny isn't 100 percent fit.

 

Just seen Witsel was in the Gym today so looks like he is out along with Kerzhakov and Tymo.

Fingers crossed Danny is fit as he is the main man!

The best RPL player of the last 5 years by a million miles and I've got his name on half a dozen Zenit jerseys!

 

What's the likely Spartak line up?

Boccheti still on the Bench? He won't be at Spartak in January if he isn't playing. He has gone from best CB in the entire RPL to not even featuring for a team who are not particularly strong at CB.

 

 

villas boas didn't say kerzhakov was ruled out.

i think witsel and timochuk are out the rest are fit.

 

Starting 11:
Lodygin — Smolnikov, Garay, Lombaerts, Criscito — Javi Garcia, Fayzulin, Danny, Shatov, Hulk — Rondon
Subs:
Malafeev, Rudakov, Anyukov, Neto, Rodic, Witsel, Mogilevets, Ryazantsev, Solovyov, Arshavin

 

witsel in the bench because of the foreign limit....

no kerzhakov.

 

IMO he is on the bench, because he is not 100% ready...AVB could use Arshavin instead of Danny(he isn't 100% either), if Witsel was ok...

 

in spartak no glushakov.

rebrov
parshvilyuk
makeev
insaulrrade
tasci
kombarov
kallstrom
romulo
jurado
promes
dzyuba

three cb's.

 

Yeah, but Danny's injury seemed serious and the upcoming match with Monaco is definitely more crucial...

 

Danny's injury wasn't serious at all. It was just a bruise. Not really a huge risk.

 

Watching a player leaving the field, always makes me think the worst...p Hopefully they'll both play against Monaco...today, one way or another, we'll win... Vpered Zenit!

 

Spartak seems better so far, we'll see...

 

crap broadcast as usual....

zenit looks completely outside the game especialy in the defense.

jurado should had scored that.

 

spartak is clearly a better team......

 

...I hope you mean they're just a little bit better TODAY...

 

lodygin is so crap......