“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 12 appearances in 41 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Cüneyt Köz will call it something else in private.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 12 appearances in 37 say he has earned the hearing.
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Levan Kharabadze will call it something else in private.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Dinamo Tbilisi defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
At 23 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Lokomotivi have a decision that made itself.
Market6 Sep 2027
The window shut and Bryan Marín is still in the building
Lokomotivi spent a month trying to move him and nobody rang back. He trains with a squad that has told him where he stands, and both sides start counting down to the next one.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Beka Kharshiladze will call it something else in private.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Dila defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Lokomotivi can pretend not to have heard.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Lokomotivi pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A new face in his position, and August Strömberg suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Lokomotivi have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
3 wins on the spin now, and the question has changed from whether the run ends to who ends it. Confidence like this cannot be bought; it has to be earned exactly this way.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 8 appearances in 29 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
In brief
The terracesThe press cannot get enough of İzzet Çelik
A 2-1 win over Dinamo Batumi, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 8 appearances in 25 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A new face in his position, and Aquiles Ocanto suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Lokomotivi have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Sandro Shashiashvili may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Lokomotivi has been clear about where Sandro Shashiashvili stands, which is more than many ever get.
A new face in his position, and Denis Popović suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Lokomotivi have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
The name of Luka Archaia has come up in conversations Lokomotivi were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 6 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The award is a small thing with a heavy meaning: for four weeks nobody in this division did his job better. Lokomotivi have the trophy on a shelf and the player in the side.
“We pay for this every fortnight. The least we want is somebody who looks like he cares.” 7 of the 24 senior players walked off into it; the rest were not playing.
An error at the back is a moment; an error in goal is a goal. August Strömberg knows it, the crowd knew it instantly, and there was nobody behind him to make it anything else.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 1 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 3 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Torpedo Kutaisi defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
At 27 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Lokomotivi have a decision that made itself.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 1 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
The shirt still fits. Mamuka Arveladze is back at Lokomotivi, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
The shirt still fits. Otar Ananidze is back at Lokomotivi, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Gegi Geguchadze has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Lokomotivi know, and have known for weeks.
In brief
The terracesThe press have found their man in Aquiles Ocanto
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Lokomotivi, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Lokomotivi spent the window trying to move Giorgi Todua on and nobody came. He trains with a squad that has already told him he is not part of it, and both sides now wait for the next one.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Lokomotivi can pretend not to have heard.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. August Strömberg keeps the shirt for now, at Lokomotivi's convenience rather than his own.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A season-long audition: Pafos still own him, but the shirt and the minutes are Lokomotivi's to give. A loan is a bet both clubs believe they are winning.
Lokomotivi spent a month trying to move him and nobody rang back. He trains with a squad that has told him where he stands, and both sides start counting down to the next one.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Lokomotivi can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Lokomotivi has been clear about where Frank Chileshe stands, which is more than many ever get.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The name of David Asayure has come up in conversations Lokomotivi were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
He is 19, and nobody at Lokomotivi signed him for this season. Deals like this are judged in four years, by people who may not still be in the building.
123% of the income goes out in wages at Lokomotivi
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.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Lokomotivi can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Lokomotivi they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Aleksandre Turkia has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Lokomotivi they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Lokomotivi they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Lokomotivi have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Boardroom5 Oct 2026
300% of the income goes out in wages at Lokomotivi
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.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Lokomotivi they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Lasha Ozbetelashvili may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
The best deals are the ones the accountants never notice. Bryan Marín arrives at Lokomotivi with his wages the only cost and something to prove the only clause.
In brief
The terracesThe press cannot get enough of Aquiles Ocanto
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
At 29 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Lokomotivi have a decision that made itself.
5 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Lokomotivi has to find a result from somewhere.
Boardroom7 Sep 2026
326% of the income goes out in wages at Lokomotivi
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.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Lokomotivi, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Lokomotivi can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Lokomotivi they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Lokomotivi know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Samtredia go through and Lokomotivi go home, 0-0 the scoreline that did it. The dressing room will call the league the priority now, because that is what dressing rooms say.
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Sioni defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
Every debut is a small story about the future: Ioane Tabatadze, 20 years old, off the academy pitches and into the first team. The parents in the stand will keep the programme.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Aquiles Ocanto has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Lokomotivi know, and have known for weeks.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Lokomotivi have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
Aquiles Ocanto is 38 and has run out of things to prove. What he has left is where to stand, when to slow it down and what to say at half-time, and none of that is on a fitness chart.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Lokomotivi have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.