Marked for Leonid Kuznetsov
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market15 Nov 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Murom, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market15 Nov 2027
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Rasil Asaidulin will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Murom the goodbyes have quietly begun.
The dugout15 Nov 2027
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Squad15 Nov 2027
Shamil Gasanov falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Squad15 Nov 2027
A falling-out at Murom
Nikita Sergeev and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout15 Nov 2027
It is not much of a headline and it is the reason players believe the next promise. Murom told Mikhail Strelnik something would happen and then it happened, which in this industry passes for remarkable.
The dugout15 Nov 2027
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Bogdan Kondramashin is on it.
Market15 Nov 2027
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Philipp Dvoretskov signs something — a contract at Murom or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Squad15 Nov 2027
The table has started to be checked before the results are in, and that is always the tell. Nobody at Murom says the word out loud, and everybody in the building is thinking it.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Market11 Oct 2027
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Murom is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
The dugout11 Oct 2027
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Ruslan Babayan, and the manager let it.
Squad11 Oct 2027
Words exchanged at Murom
Maxim Boichenko and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout11 Oct 2027
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
The dugout11 Oct 2027
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Ruslan Babayan is on it.
Market11 Oct 2027
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Murom has been clear about where Leonid Kuznetsov stands, which is more than many ever get.
Looking ahead11 Oct 2027
Every squad has one of these fixtures for somebody every season. This one is Rasil Asaidulin’s: the club that knew him first, the supporters who will decide in the first minute whether to applaud, and Murom needing him to play as if none of it matters.
Market11 Oct 2027
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Philipp Dvoretskov’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
Match11 Oct 2027
Murom in the hunt for Europe
Position 5, 15 points, and a run-in that decides whether next season has Thursday nights in it. Nobody is calling it a race yet, which is what people say during one.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match18 Aug 2027
Cup progress for Murom
A 1‑0 win over Dinamo Barnaul, a place in the next round, and the quiet arithmetic every supporter does on the walk home: how many more until a final?
Squad23 Aug 2027
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Player ratings23 Aug 2027
2 goals, and the second was the one that settled it. Marked 8.79, and he could have had a third with better luck at the near post.
Player ratings23 Aug 2027
A defender on the scoresheet, which happens rarely enough that everybody in the ground remembers who took the corner. 1 for him, and a mark of 7.55 for the rest of it.
Market23 Aug 2027
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Murom they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Transfer targets23 Aug 2027
The deal with Leningradets is done in every sense but the one that puts him on the pitch. Nothing goes wrong at this stage, except on the occasions when it does.
Transfer targets23 Aug 2027
Terms were offered and declined. Whether it was the wages, the role or the town, nobody at Leningradets is saying, and nobody at Murom is enjoying the guessing.
Player ratings23 Aug 2027
Mattia Weder beats them one at a time
Successful dribbles: 23. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
Transfer targets23 Aug 2027
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. SKA Khabarovsk have kept their man, and Murom go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Market21 Jun 2027
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. Murom have lost him in all but the paperwork.
Transfer targets21 Jun 2027
$11.0K settles it between the clubs for Vladislav Tereshkin
Avangard have accepted the money. What Murom do not yet have is the man, and between here and the photograph is a conversation about wages that both sides are dreading.
Boardroom21 Jun 2027
Murom counting the cost
The accounts make uncomfortable reading. Wages first and ambition second is the order of business at Murom now.
Market21 Jun 2027
The interest is real enough to have reached print. Murom have said nothing, which in a transfer window is its own kind of answer.
Squad21 Jun 2027
A row about effort at Murom
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Philipp Dvoretskov was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad21 Jun 2027
Words exchanged at Murom
Maxim Boichenko and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Transfer targets21 Jun 2027
A loan move for Anton Roschin is in the works
Murom have made the call to KAMAZ. No fee, a share of the wages, and a spare shirt in the position where the squad has been thinnest all season.
The dugout21 Jun 2027
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout21 Jun 2027
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Boardroom3 May 2027
The scrutiny sharpens at Murom
Nobody upstairs has said anything, which is the loudest thing they could do. Results buy silence in this game; the account at Murom is running low.
Squad3 May 2027
Words at Murom training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Philipp Dvoretskov is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Squad3 May 2027
A falling-out at Murom
Maxim Boichenko and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout3 May 2027
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Rasul Guseinov, and the manager let it.
The dugout3 May 2027
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Rasul Guseinov is on it.
Market3 May 2027
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Murom know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Boardroom26 Apr 2027
The numbers do not look good at Murom
Wages have outrun income and the accountants have started attending meetings they used to send apologies to. Ambition comes second in a season like this.
Squad26 Apr 2027
A row about effort at Murom
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Philipp Dvoretskov was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad26 Apr 2027
Words exchanged at Murom
Nikita Sergeev and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout26 Apr 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout26 Apr 2027
Evgeny Livadnov has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Murom will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
Market26 Apr 2027
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Philipp Dvoretskov’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market19 Apr 2027
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Murom is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad19 Apr 2027
Words exchanged at Murom
Nikita Sergeev and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Boardroom19 Apr 2027
109% of the income goes out in wages at Murom
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
The dugout19 Apr 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market19 Apr 2027
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Murom know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The dugout19 Apr 2027
Nobody at Murom will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Match15 Mar 2027
Murom up to position 3
15 points on the board and a place in the leading group. Nobody at the ground is saying the word out loud yet.
Market15 Mar 2027
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Murom they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad15 Mar 2027
A row about effort at Murom
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Philipp Dvoretskov was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad15 Mar 2027
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Murom this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The dugout15 Mar 2027
The manager makes an example of Nikita Zavjalov
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout15 Mar 2027
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Match15 Feb 2027
Murom up to position 3
15 points on the board and a place in the leading group. Nobody at the ground is saying the word out loud yet.
Market15 Feb 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Murom, and it is not being withdrawn.
Squad15 Feb 2027
Words exchanged at Murom
Ruslan Bolov and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Transfer targets15 Feb 2027
Murom asked and Rodina said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Transfer targets15 Feb 2027
A loan enquiry to Rodina: cover, or a look at somebody the club cannot afford to buy yet. Either way the answer will come back inside the week.
Transfer targets15 Feb 2027
A loan move for Ilja Dyatlov is in the works
Murom have made the call to Rodina. No fee, a share of the wages, and a spare shirt in the position where the squad has been thinnest all season.
The dugout15 Feb 2027
Maxim Andreev is still paying for one afternoon at Murom
Nobody will confirm this and nothing else explains the last month of selections. A costly error buys a player a period of being second choice that is always longer than the error was.
The dugout15 Feb 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout15 Feb 2027
Artur Nechaev gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Artur Nechaev is on it.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad25 Jan 2027
Tempers go at Murom
Denis Faizullin was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Boardroom25 Jan 2027
109% of the income goes out in wages at Murom
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
The dugout25 Jan 2027
The manager makes an example of Maxim Andreev
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout25 Jan 2027
Danil Shatalov knocks on the manager’s door
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Danil Shatalov trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
Market25 Jan 2027
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Philipp Dvoretskov’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
The dugout25 Jan 2027
Yegor Sedov has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Murom will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad28 Dec 2026
A falling-out at Murom
Ruslan Bolov and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad28 Dec 2026
A row about effort at Murom
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Philipp Dvoretskov was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Boardroom28 Dec 2026
Wages swallow 329% of the Murom income
Every club pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time it has been tried.
The dugout28 Dec 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Evgeny Livadnov, and the manager let it.
Market28 Dec 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Philipp Dvoretskov’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
The dugout28 Dec 2026
Yegor Sedov has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Murom will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
The dugout14 Dec 2026
Rasul Guseinov: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Murom have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Squad14 Dec 2026
A falling-out at Murom
Denis Faizullin and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Murom, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
Market14 Dec 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Nikita Zheimo signs something — a contract at Murom or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
The dugout12 Oct 2026
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Murom may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
Market12 Oct 2026
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Murom is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad12 Oct 2026
Words exchanged at Murom
Denis Faizullin and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad12 Oct 2026
A row about effort at Murom
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Shamil Gasanov was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad12 Oct 2026
19 new faces, and Murom are still learning each other
A squad rebuilt inside one window pays for it in a currency nobody budgets for. The football is not worse than the sum of the players; it is worse than the sum of the players who have played together before.
Boardroom12 Oct 2026
Murom counting the cost
The accounts make uncomfortable reading. Wages first and ambition second is the order of business at Murom now.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Leonid Kuznetsov, and the manager let it.
Looking ahead12 Oct 2026
Every squad has one of these fixtures for somebody every season. This one is Ruslan Bolov’s: the club that knew him first, the supporters who will decide in the first minute whether to applaud, and Murom needing him to play as if none of it matters.