FC Shakhtar Donetsk

[McGregor]

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9577/shaktardg1.jpg
I decided to make this thread because FC Shakhtar Donetsk are a club that has captivated my attention this summer and I am really intrigued about how they will get on this coming season.

They have been splashing the cash and this clearly is a statement of intent on their part that they want to gain a place at Europe's top table and become one of footballing's elite. The arrivals of Mexican striker Nery Alberto Castillo and Brazilian defender Ilsinho pushed their summer spending beyond the €40m mark and signalled the Ukrainian club's ambition.

Castillo and Ilsinho follow Cristiano Lucarelli, who signed for €8m from AS Livorno Calcio last month, a transfer Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu believes is a point of departure for Ukrainian football. "Shakhtar are becoming a team at a high European level - with the structure, the stadium, and the players," the veteran Romanian told uefa.com. "We have managed for the first time in the history of Ukrainian football to sign an Italian player of the highest level. Shakhtar are trying to improve the value of Ukrainian football and at the same time helping prepare the ground for the finals of the 2012 UEFA European Championship. We have to draw interest towards Ukraine and its football."

President: Rinat Akhmetov
Club Secretary: Yevgen Koshelev
Press Officer: Ruslan Marmazov
Coach: Mircea Lucescu

Goalkeepers
Pyatov Andriy
Shust Bohdan
Shutkov Dmytro
Virt Yuriy

Defenders
Chygrynskyy Dmytro
Hübschman Tomas
Kucher Olexander
Lewandowski Mariusz
Rat Razvan Dinca
Shevchuk Vyacheslav
Yezerskyy Volodymyr

Midfielders
Bredun Yevhen
Duljaj Igor
Fernandinho
Gai Olexiy
Jadson
Polyanskyy Oleksiy
Pryyomov Volodymyr
Srna Darijo
Tkachenko Serhiy
Vukic Zvonimir

Forwards
Adriano Luiz
Brandao
Byelik Oleksiy
Fomin Ruslan
Gladkyy Oleksandr
Lucarelli Cristiano

I'll post up the results every week, try my best to review them every month and see how they are progessing and general keep an eye on them in Europe. Get your wallets out lads and put a few bets on because I believe Shakhtar are going places.

[nikos24]

They've done really well this summer with their money. They're making a mark for Ukrainian football. Castillo, Ilsinho, Lucarelli.. these are all very good players for a club of their calibe. I like Darijo Srna too, I think he's talented. But the player stands out for me is their keeper Bohdan Shust, the way he's playing he'd get on the Ukraine team sooner or later.

But still I don't understand Castillo's move there while he could have a) gone to Man City or b) stay with Olympiakos.

[Miggy]

But still I don't understand Castillo's move there while he could have a) gone to Man City or b) stay with Olympiakos.

Money, money, money, mon-ey.......mon-ey!

[nikos24]

OK then I guess so. Fuck you Castillo. :tongue:

[Yossi]

Why do you think any player goes to the Ukraine? Look at all the Brazilians, earning pittance in their own country, so they go to the Ukraine or Russia.

The money could well make some Eastern European teams a decent force in a few years.

[Diao]

You forgot to add Ilsinhho to that list :tongue:

[Keyser Soze]

You forgot to add Ilsinhho to that list :tongue:
And Nery Castillo.

[Joel Rojo]

Here in Mexico we never heard any reports on an actual proposal for Castillo, which is weird because there is always a HUGE racket about our players in Europe.

And, Olympiakos wouldn't up his salary, Shaktar did, which with his newborn baby seemed like it was a big deal for him, and Shaktar does play in the Champion's League.

[wrathchild_uk]

I dunno from Castilo's point of view he's gonna pretty much be in a team that will qualify for the Champions leage every year, which is something that City might not do for a while yet...

[Wan]

I dunno from Castilo's point of view he's gonna pretty much be in a team that will qualify for the Champions leage every year, which is something that City might not do for a while yet...

Quoted In Agreement

Well I think besides for money he wants to play in Champions League..

[nikos24]

Quoted In Agreement

Well I think besides for money he wants to play in Champions League..

But in all honesty, Olympiakos does that too. They've been in the CL forever.

[Jesus]

^
We can't do much apart from speculate, what I think is he wanted to go in a team which has a "bright future" ahead of it. In terms of squad, I think Shakhtar Donetsk is better than Olympiakos. It could also be the culture, city, etc. He might prefer this area than the other. Money also played a big part in this transfer. Again this is mere speculation, nothing more.:tongue:

[McGregor]

Tonight we are going to get our first look at Shakhtar Donetsk in European action this season when they play Celtic in the Ukraine. Shakhtar are currently flying high at the top of their league with eight wins and a draw so things have been going well so far.

Expect to see them line up with Pyatov in goals, then a back line of Srna, Kucher, Yezerskyy and Shevchuk. The midfield will likely consist of Hübschman, Duljaj, Fernandinho and maybe Vukic with an attacking duo of Lucarelli and Brandao with Castillo on the bench.

Should be a good game. ;)

[McGregor]

Mircea Lucescu: Celtic are very strong this season
17-09-2007 16:58:13

At the pre-match press conference Mircea Lucescu appeared along with Darijo Srna.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6580/10712170907nfullrn1.jpg
- That that we are playing in the Champions League is great. I wish myself and my players to perform in this competition every year. This is what the president, the fans and the journalists want. I think Champions league is the most important club competition. Some times it is more interesting than national teams’ clashes. Champions League can draw enormous interest.

Once again we shall meet Celtic, the team we played three years ago. They have experience playing in the champions League. I think they have become stronger in these two years. But we too, gained experience and improved. I want Shakhtar to make a good start in to this season’s campaign. This match can determine our further existence in this competition.

A question to Darijo Srna:

- What’s you opinion about Celtic? How did you like their match against Spartak?

- I agree with Mr Lucescu. Celtic have become stronger. But Shakhtar have been developing too. With all my respect to Celtic I can say that Shakhtar are stronger. Tomorrow we shall prove it. We are playing at home which is very important. The stadium will be full, we shall be provided with unbelievable support from the 12th player.

- It is a matter a fact, that Shakhtar tend to concede first at home in UCL matches. Does it concern you?

- Tomorrow we shall try to avoid it. It’s been our fourth European campaign. We are experienced enough and we should not make blunders if we want to advance.

- Tomorrow, for the first time, you will lead the team onto the pitch as a captain. What do you feel.

- It’s a delight. Not so long ago the coach and my team-mates appointed me as a vice-captain. Tomorrow, from the opening minutes of the match I shall be trying hard to achieve a victory for our president, our city and our fans.

- Are you going to remain in the position of a captain permanently?

- No. Three days ago we elected Dmytro Chygrynskyy as a captain and Fernandinho and me as vice-captains.

Mircea Lucescu: That’s right, there are thre captains in the team: Chygrynskyy received voices of a Ukrainian players, Fernandinho was the Brazilians’ choice, and the rest of the foreign players voted for Darijo. So, there are three eligible skippers in the team today. But Dmytro Chygrynskyy was the choice of the majority.

- Does it mean Chygrynskyy won’t be playing tomorrow?

- He’s got two yellow cards which means he has no right to be registered for the tomorrow’s match.


- Darijo, a couple of days ago you appeared in two matches of your national team. Can those matches somehow influence your tomorrow’s performance?

Darijo Srna: I think national teams’ qualifiers can’t be compared to the Champions League clashes. Champions League is far more important. I have already forgotten those two fixtures. I think all other are thinking only about the Champions League too.

- Are Shakhtar having any difficulties at the moment?

Mircea Lucescu: First of all – its Chygrynskyy, who can’t take part in tomorrow’s game. Also the players who have returned from their national teams – it was a challenge to hold training sessions without them. Of course, we had tried to build up a training programme for the Brazilians, give them an opportunity to play o an international level, but the rest of the team had to take this time to get accustomed to the new environment. So, its quite a challenge to get them all together now. But I hope that tomorrow al the payers will concentrate on one common goal and deliver a real performance.

- What are Celtic’s strong points?

Lucescu; We have different styles. Celtic have physical presence. Their play is based upon good organization and discipline. Such technical players like McGeady and Nakamura are playing for them. These players play the Latin American style of football. Celtic are the team that are able to maintain high pace from starting minutes till the final whistle is blown. Just like their coach Gordon Strachan used to play.

Shakhtar are a more technically skilled team. There are many Brazilians in the middle of the field. In the Scottish league there are hardly more than two or three players of that school. Brazilians find it very difficult to adapt the English style. So, tomorrow, the fans will be able to se a clash of two different football schools. We shall try to apply all our best qualities and impress the audience with our performance.

I’d like to stress, that away Celtic are quite different from who they are at home. At home, the support of the stadium can help. This is why they are very hard to beat in Glasgow.

Tomorrow we shall play our game and we shall succeed. I won’t go into details – it concerns only our players. There are no perfect teams. Shakhtar, just like Celtic may have weak points. The one who will be able to use his rival’s weak points shal win tomorrow.

- Mr Lucescu, you didn’t have chance to see live any of Celtic’s matches. Do you think it was unnecessary?

- Unfortunately I had no chance to se Celtic in action with my own eyes. We had very important fixtures and I simply had no time. But id doesn’t mean I didn’t see their match against Spartak and some others. Video records were enough to learn this team. Whats more important, as to my mind, is readiness of my side.

- Can you remember how you played against Strachan?

- I remember we met once in the European Cup. Gordon Strchan had pace and he was an aggressive player.


- If you were offered to have in Shakhtar any of the Celtic players. Who would it be?

- I’d sign the entire team (laughs). They play I defense better than we. As I said I like the technique of their defenders, McGeady and Nakamura. Marc Brown and Donati are pretty good too. Bu my choice number 1 would be Boruc. Celtic are very strong this season.

[Miggy]

Impressive start so far.

[Nturtle]

Very!

[LarssonIsGhod]

Shaktar looked a well composed team last night - came out the blocks flying and gaves us a right doing. Gutted lol :(