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My 2025/26 RPL teams of the season

MVP: Cordoba

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@Sold_Tricolor in case of suprises:
Veles could play in Khimki
Ufa would need new pitch most likely
I believe SKA also need to do smth with the pitch (heating?)
rest probably unable to afford license (maybe except Volga)

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FNL 2026/27 prediction

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@Sold_Tricolor Top5 for sure
Kostroma stadium should be ready soon
Chelyabinsk work on meeting RPL standards
Arsenal Tula would do neccessary things if in reach of promotion - probably same for Enisey

Neftekhimik lost Novikov & got Evdokimov, whose last stint at Kuban was bad 2 years ago

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@NoneMatrix I predicted them where they finished last season

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@SpaceAgeMark If I remember correctly, lot of coaches rejected them so they (had to) stay with internal solution Shmarko

there seem to be 10 clubs fighting for Top4 and 8 clubs fighting against bottom3
SKA home advantage should save them, Ufa survives last minute as usual

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@SpaceAgeMark @Jfrdydtdht I like Torpedo, but I don't need another Moscow club in RPL although Torpedo at least have history unlike Khimki/Rodina (+ management chaos similar to Khimki)

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@ephemerr Not fully, but I try to look more at the squad there since the clubs could switch to different coach in 1-2 months
Parfenov & Yuran should keep teams around/in Top4
I'm skeptical about Sochi sticking with Osinkin jsut cuz of that 3-4 game stretch

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@ephemerr https://t.co/Tc8UNSjl8n

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Sochi: top players will leave, only 2 signings, Osinkin extension questionable
Kostroma: coaching chaos, "special methods", stadium soon
Chelyabinsk: 2-3 nice signings but not enough for Top4
Enisey: great spring but Tashuev effect (post-extension) will kick in

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Tula: experienced signings but I don't expect Top4 push under Gunko
KamAZ will be fine anyway
Yuran left SKA due to lack of ambitions
Ufa somehow survive, same for Veles
Neftekhimik lost Novikov, Evdokimov out of job for 2 years after poor Kuban stint
Tekstilshchik = Chaika 2.0

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Sochi: top players will leave, only 2 signings, Osinkin extension questionable
Kostroma: coaching chaos, "special methods", stadium soon
Chelyabinsk: 2-3 nice signings but not enough for Top4
Enisey: great spring but Tashuev effect (post-extension) will kick in

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@BayernBVV @ephemerr There are 2 Petrovs at Baltika - that's why I'm asking

Adamov was very close behind Mitryushkin - I can also understand people who put him #1 or #2

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My 2025/26 RPL teams of the season

MVP: Cordoba

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@ephemerr @BayernBVV Maksim?

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@BayernBVV I was choosing between him, Denisov & Ronaldo (bit of cheat since he played RWB and bit of RW/CF)
Caceres was Dynamo's best player at the start, but soon his defensive vulnerabilities overshadowed the rest, although his spring was decent

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@Lekan_Oriade As I said, he is good but for me he simply isn't in that "great player" range that his numbers + evaluation may suggest

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@Lekan_Oriade Samorodov had most of his scorers in spring
perhaps its due to less media coverage/PR for Akhmat, but he didn't across as that outstanding
nevertheless, he was also on my extended list
I still think Glebov performed better overall

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@BayernBVV Both or a specific one?
Both "honorable mentions" that lost out to high competition on their positions
Baltika were strong as a unit and less through individual quality, if you get where I'm coming from

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@BayernBVV Also he heavily benefited from this strong start, he wasn't as "outstanding" anymore towards end of autumn, so if even he kept playing on that level, at least Moufi & Azzi would have been better for sure
Baltika sold at peak

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@BayernBVV

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@Lekan_Oriade thought about moving Gil to 2nd team, but was best remaining choice imo
bit was missing for me to put Glushenkov 1st team

Tyukavin put up 10G in under 1,5k min after long injury
Bitello has strong numbers but imo was less of a difference maker than last year - same for Barco

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@Lekan_Oriade Oblyakov was in consideration, but I have never really been a fan of him
He is good but if we e.g. take his €10m evaluation, he simply isn't that kind of difference maker/star player, whom I would spend that money on
also penalty merchant