The Avangard Courier
Squad8 Feb 2027
Valerii Yurchuk damages knee ligaments — 39 days out
The words a physio says slowly. 39 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
Boardroom8 Feb 2027
Nikolai Vinogradov has until the next board meeting
What was said behind closed doors has now been said in front of a microphone. Everybody at Avangard can do the arithmetic, including the man it is aimed at.
Market8 Feb 2027
Vikenty Schipachev asks to leave Avangard
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Transfer targets8 Feb 2027
Avangard rebuffed over Ilya Serov
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Nart have kept their man, and Avangard go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Squad8 Feb 2027
Words exchanged at Avangard
Daniil Konovalov 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 dugout8 Feb 2027
No hiding place for Yegor Yunusov
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Yegor Yunusov, and the manager let it.
The dugout8 Feb 2027
Alexey Sukharev asks for a word with the manager
“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 dugout8 Feb 2027
Bohdan Shmyhelskyi 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 Bohdan Shmyhelskyi is on it.
Market8 Feb 2027
Savely Borisov is free to find somewhere else
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Avangard has been clear about where Savely Borisov stands, which is more than many ever get.
In brief
- Market Dmitry Zakharov linked with a move away
- The dugout The manager's exit leaves Vladimir Kashirin exposed
- Squad Valerii Yurchuk is doing the arithmetic