Prepare for a ‘Plock’ twist in the Polish derby

Hope for the best! Plan for the worst! This seems to have been the thinking in Kielce over the VELUX EHF Champions League break at Christmas. Bogdan Wenta, who had been in charge at the club since 2008, was replaced by the immensely talented and enigmatic coach, Talant Dujshebaev. Bogdan’s record at Kielce was impressive, not least of which was a bronze medal at the FINAL4 last season. But three defeats on the trot, two against KIF and an incredible away defeat to Dunkerque had his cards marked. They would certainly qualify for the Last 16 after their impressive start, but in which position. Hope for the best!

But while hoping for the best, and by the way, this team is sensational and a tip of mine for the FINAL4, you must plan for the worst. What if, you finish 4^th and then your journey towards Cologne is extinguished far too early? Grumblings of discontent among the players led to the replacement of the coach and new ideas, tactics and a new hand at the helm.

Talant has followed another countryman “Magic Manolo”, to Poland. And if Cadenas is magic, this guy is a wizard. His tactics, particularly in defence, are not part of any manual, but he sees the game in a different way. There seems no structure to his defensive formations, yet they work and ask Dinart, of France fame, where his country’s bedrock of defence was built and he will tell you by Dujshebaev. Just look at Kielce in the last two games. Their normal 6-0 defence with the big centre block has been replaced by a very aggressive 5+1, with forgotten man Jachlewski out front. Against Porto, I was pleasantly surprised to see it, but against Kiel, I was amazed and this away from home.

Speaking of forgotten men, have you noticed that Talant used all 16 players against Kiel; and although not as individually talented as the Germans, the Poles ran them off their feet. I have never seen a coach use his bench in that manner. Normally you have your starting 7, plus another two perhaps, and then your defence specialist. Not Talant. Either he is keeping all the players happy, as if to say, look, this is a new page for all of us; or he wants to see every player in action, rather than just training. Third place was confirmed so he could experiment, but I don’t see it that way.

If we just look at the left back position, Jurecki was the man. Wenta rarely, if ever replaced him and his 44 goals in the competition show he was well worth the position. In the last two games Talant has deployed not only Jurecki here, but also Bielecki and Chrapkowski. Just in case you are thinking each guy got a few minutes just to give Jurecki a break; think again. In 2 games Bielecki has scored 11 and Chrapkowski 9. When you think that before Talant arrived their individual scores were 1 and 3 respectively, you can see the effect he has had on the players, the confidence he has given them. Jurecki meanwhile in these two games has scored 9 also. So between the three they have notched up 29 goals in two games and this is with all of them playing some game time.

Cupic looks to have lost weight in a very short space of time and looks back to his best and his telepathic understanding on counter attack with Strlek seems to have been rekindled. It also helps Talant that he has worked with Zorman before and of course with Aguinagalde.

He is however in a nice position. 3^rd place guaranteed and a potential for 2^nd should other results in the group go his way. He can afford to experiment, but perhaps not in this MOTW, because the visitors are the “Oilers” from Plock. The Polish derby makes a mockery of positions and it’s all about glory. Never mind that the Kielce team is choc a bloc full of internationals and is far superior to the Plock side, the Oilers will be up for this game.

And there is no better man that Cadenas to infuse his team with confidence. If Talant is a student of the game, then Manolo is the conductor. His passion enthuses all players and he gives them licence to express themselves. The sum of the parts at Plock is greater than the individuals and this is in no small part due to his influence. Jurkiewicz has looked a new player this season, but he will be sorely missed as a heel injury on the back of a bicep injury has ruled him out of the game. They say he’ll be back in March, but I wouldn’t put it past Mariusz to be ready to face his old boss.

So two Spaniards, the puppet masters; are ready to pull the strings in this classic encounter between the most successful Polish teams of the last decade.

Two brothers are also ready to do battle. The Lijewski boys Marcin, 36, and Krzysztof, 30, will face off, albeit on opposite sides of the court. They are both right back players and whereas Buntic has been sharing the duties with the younger Lijewski at Kielce, Marcin has had to plough a lone furrow for Plock. The coach has brought in the giant Montoro to take a little pressure off the older brother. To date Marcin has 34 goals, 8 more than Krzysztof.

I must say, that I am really looking forward to this one. There are very few places that can create the atmosphere of a packed “Hala Legionow”. The legions of fans make this a stronghold where even the bravest must buckle at the knees.

I must have done something in a former life for karma to treat me this way. On one hand I have the best job in the world, on the other; my Gaelic tongue was not built for the Polish language. No name is pronounced as spelled.

Speaking of languages we know that Cadenas speaks English in his timeouts with a bit of Spanish translated by players. I wonder what Talant is speaking. Don’t tell me he speaks Polish too. I wouldn’t put it past him. 

So the big question is can the “Oilers” put the skids under the Dujshebaev revolution or will Talant’s legions take the victory march. I fancy the latter, but in MOTW week you always have to be prepared for a plot, or is that a ‘Plock’, twist.

Watch the ehfTV.com Match of the Week between KS Vive Targi Kielce and Orlen Wisla Plock live on Sunday 23 February at 19:00 hrs. CET.