Football Season Guide

Orenburg recovered from a poor start of last season and a superb run of form from September onwards saw them get to the end of the season as league winners, therefore ensuring swift return to the top flight. Vladimir Fedotov was the catalyst for the change in fortunes after turning from assistant to a manager, having been at the club ever since their ascent started a few years ago. Fedotov prioritised defensive assurance and his 5-4-1 formation proved crucial, with the team losing just twice under the guidance of the manager last season. Despite the strong finish of last season, Orenburg still start the campaign as one of the major candidates for relegation as their squad still looks quite short of quality in some areas. They are looking especially light of options and pedigree in attack as Andrey Kozlov struggled after his move from Yenisey at the start of 2018 and has not really found much luck in front of goal. With Artem Djelkin and Khasan Mamtov leaving this summer, there is certainly a gap to be filled there. In midfield, Vadim Afonin and Grigori Chirkin provide defensive structure and bite, but little else, and Denis Popovic will be the one to more likely to make something happen. Orenburg's defence was exemplary last year, with keeper Evgeni Frolov proving a revelation as well, but he will have some serious competition this season after Aleksandr Dobvnya joined the team. Overall, the squad looks some way off the required standard for the moment and Fedotov will be hoping to have more options on the wings, and some more nous in midfield, to have a better chance to complete at this level.