The Russian Premier League

[barneygumble]

Smolov nearly signed for West Ham last summer.

It's a real shame that one of Russia's best players can't even get a move over.

His record is... shall we say "patchy", and until having a really excellent season with Ural (Ural are Premier League regulars of late, but never really do anything.... same context as Watford) and then pushing on with Krasnodar. Personally, i'd be really sceptical about how he'd adapt to the Premier League.

@Cork Evertonian, in regards to this seasons climax, it really is exciting.

I'd argue with their game in hand Lokomotiv have the ascendancy. They've got two real tricky ties in their final three games in Zenit at Home and Krasnodar away, but Terek, UFA and Rostov at home, you'd feel will all be comfortable, and Dynamo and Arsenal Tula should be winnable too. Two points clear with Rostov and Dinamo next, 6 points will be a huge step to their first title in years!

 

[Cork Evertonian]

Smolov nearly signed for West Ham last summer.

It's a real shame that one of Russia's best players can't even get a move over.

His record is... shall we say "patchy", and until having a really excellent season with Ural (Ural are Premier League regulars of late, but never really do anything.... same context as Watford) and then pushing on with Krasnodar. Personally, i'd be really sceptical about how he'd adapt to the Premier League.

@Cork Evertonian, in regards to this seasons climax, it really is exciting.

I'd argue with their game in hand Lokomotiv have the ascendancy. They've got two real tricky ties in their final three games in Zenit at Home and Krasnodar away, but Terek, UFA and Rostov at home, you'd feel will all be comfortable, and Dynamo and Arsenal Tula should be winnable too. Two points clear with Rostov and Dinamo next, 6 points will be a huge step to their first title in years!

How do you think CSKA will get on against Arsenal tonight?I think if they can get out of London with a draw or a 1 goal defeat, then they have every chance of finishing the job in Moscow.Beating Lyon in the last round was a big scalp for them.

 

[barneygumble]

How do you think CSKA will get on against Arsenal tonight?I think if they can get out of London with a draw or a 1 goal defeat, then they have every chance of finishing the job in Moscow.Beating Lyon in the last round was a big scalp for them.

I'd say no.

Arsenal, for all their flaws are still better than CSKA, I think their game plan will differ from the one they had to deploy against Lyon away when they were 1-0 down. The home leg aside CSKA have won every game since the return from their winter break, and they're really making a push for the title, as we've just discussed.
CSKA are no strangers to facing English opposition, infact, they basically play them every season in the Champions League. I've just checked there, and the last Champions League campaign they didn't face and English side was 2011-12, and the record is less than impressive away from home, winning just once in 10 efforts, and that was against City in 2013. So the odds are stacked against them. But with Musa back from Leicester, they have a lot more edge upfront. Dzagoev (once one of the highest rated players in the world) and Wernbloom will compliment. In Akivfeev, they have the Russian captain whos been super reliable in goal, but I think CSKA will come for a draw and try and beat them at the VEB.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

I'd say no.

Arsenal, for all their flaws are still better than CSKA, I think their game plan will differ from the one they had to deploy against Lyon away when they were 1-0 down. The home leg aside CSKA have won every game since the return from their winter break, and they're really making a push for the title, as we've just discussed.
CSKA are no strangers to facing English opposition, infact, they basically play them every season in the Champions League. I've just checked there, and the last Champions League campaign they didn't face and English side was 2011-12, and the record is less than impressive away from home, winning just once in 10 efforts, and that was against City in 2013. So the odds are stacked against them. But with Musa back from Leicester, they have a lot more edge upfront. Dzagoev (once one of the highest rated players in the world) and Wernbloom will compliment. In Akivfeev, they have the Russian captain whos been super reliable in goal, but I think CSKA will come for a draw and try and beat them at the VEB.

You were right.CSKA got destroyed at the Emirates.