Football Season Guide

The Chechens had an impressive last season and after two thirds of it were gone they had fewer defeats even than leaders CSKA, Terek lost only twice in the first twenty-two rounds, but the huge amount of draws left them just behind the top six and eventually the team’s pace dropped. Still coach Rakhimov achieved the comfortable mid-table finish predicted for his team with ease and in general Terek are a team that tends to turn their own ground into a fortress and this always proves enough for relatively comfortable existence. Not for the first time the transfer activity of the team remains pretty quiet so far and two weeks before the start of the new season the only two new arrivals are centre-back Bryzgalov and a centre forward of unknown quantity. Terek will most definitely continue to be a team preferring to use slower tempo and lots of short passes in the middle of the park, which even if not very attractive is proving effective for them. The one concern many have is the advanced age of many of the regulars and also the fact that several important players left. Rybus’ set piece deliveries will be bitterly missed, but even without him Terek should have enough in themselves to secure safety relatively easy. So far in the pre-season tests the Chechens used both 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 and it seems that depending on the opponent Rakhimov will be deciding which formation suits him better. Godzyur and Gorodov are two quality goalkeepers that compete fiercely for the right to start every season, while the newcomer Bryzgalov will be pushing Rodolfo for the right to partner Semenov in the heart of the defence. Mohammadi, Pliev, Wilkshire and Utsiev are the full-backs that will battle for two places, while the talented youngster Kuzyaev is expected to be regular this season, with experienced Adilson Warken helping him in the double-six role. Oleg Ivanov and Zaur Sadaev are the two other players looking obvious regulars, but for the other two places in the advanced positions the options are many and the early rounds will give better idea who will be used where. Mbenge, Balaj and Mitrishev should be starting when Terek play with two up front, while Lebedenko, Mirzov and Grozav are likely to fill the void left by Rybus on the left wing. The fact that most of Terek’s players have vast experience in the top flight of Russian football should help them to remain one of the most uncomfortable opponents for all other teams.