Shedender - Comments

Great start to the league season but since you're managing a "big" club that's to be expected. So far you've a great defensive record, conceding just the once.

In what could be my final season at not just Torpedo but also in Belarus, the twenty nineteen seasonal expectations were announced ahead of the new Belarusian Highest League season.


Yet again the board gave me two options to choose from to determine the transfer budget for the new season - title challenge and winner.

I've stayed safe as per usual and said that I believe we can challenge for the Highest League title and in return the board has given me a three hundred and seventy five thousand pound kitty although I have had to adjust the kitty as the wage budget was pretty poor so the budget is now just over two hundred thousand and I should be able to cope with that.

And also, at around the same time the 2019 Highest League fixture list was announced:


And I couldn't have asked for a worst possible start to the league season as we face a daunting trip to Dinamo Minsk to start before hosting newly promoted (or so I hope) Dnepr Mogilev and then our third league game of the season will be another tough trip to Neman Grodno.

The clubs final three games, that I'm hoping I won't need to be in charge off (no disrespect to Torpedo) as I hope to be in Belgium will be against Brest (Blr), Minsk and Belshina.

My assistant manager has announced that we'll play three pre season games - all away from home and they'll be against Rudensk, RUOR and feeder club Kommunalnik Slonim.

Plymouth have sacked Fletcher following defeat at Bristol Rovers.

Well done on winning the league mate but ffs, you had a go at me when I chickened out and left Zloibin(sp?) to manage Torpedo.

Are Gent the side that used to be in the top flight? Good decision to move, if true.

Finishing second doesn't bother me mate, it's finishing so far behind BATE bothered me. Oh well.


Once the cup is secured then I will resign immediately.

Four games were left as we started the final month of the league season and what a dreadful final month it turned out to be as we only managed to pick up three points from the twelve that were available and suffered three defeats and that ended my slim, slim title hopes. I didn't think we were going to win the league this season as BATE were just too good throughout.


We hosted Shakhter Soligorsk to start the short final month of the season and played extremely poor, we were left heartbroken as they stole all the points as Syrokvashko struck the winner in the first minute of second half stoppage time, second game on the spin we failed to score.

Our next clash was away to Belshina and winger Santiago got us off to an excellent start with a goal on ten minutes but the home side turned the game around to seal the points as Bubnov ensured the scores would be level at half time as he struck with ten minutes left and then on sixty six Skitov turned the game around before Bubnov's second sealed maximum points for the home side - they held on despite Skitov being sent off for two yellows with eleven minutes left.

This seasons penultimate league game saw Gomel visit Torpedo and we secured a two one win as we took the lead on thirty seven minutes from the penalty spot through Korolyuk before Ivanovic doubled the lead with a header on fifty two minutes but the away side pulled a goal back just three minutes later as Alumona fired home from long range. On sixty two minutes Korolyuk was shown a second yellow card before being sent off for diving. I'm losing my temper with the amount of players that dive, suppose it's realistic.

A trip not to remember ended the season as we made the trip to champions BATE who regained their crown as the top club in Belarusian football, they won three nil as Pushnyakov, Gerasimchik and Karp scored.


The season has now concluded and we finished a disgusting eighteen points behind champions BATE but at least we secured second place (we were predicted to finish runners-up) so I shouldn't be sacked.

Once I win the Belarusian Cup, I will be heading to Belgium. It's been loaded for quite a while now so I hope to win the cup at the start of next season.

Our penultimate month of the season saw us five league matches as our slim title hopes remained intact heading into the final month of the season.


And the month started with a tricky trip to Brest (Blr) and we picked up an excellent three one away success but it had to be done the hard way as Brest took the lead in the eighth minute when Signevich beat our keeper and it stayed that way until the fifty third minute when Korolyuk equalised and then Ivanov turned the game around with fifteen minutes left and then in the last minute Korolyuk's second sealed three points.

We then hosted Dinamo Minsk and comfortably beat them two nil at home and we took the lead thanks a wonderful goal from Fabio on thirteen minutes before Boiko, in for the injured Santiago, doubled the lead on sixty eight minutes to seal an impressive three points.

Our next game was away to Vitebsk and we pinched the points thanks to a goal in second half stoppage time, with the game heading towards a scoreless draw Karpovich was sent off for two yellow cards with the game entering stoppage time and then a minute later Yarotskiy broke Vitebsk hearts with the winner.

We stayed on the road as we took a trip to Naftan and came out on top of a five goal thriller but it shouldn't have been as dramatic as it was because goals from Premudrov and Korolyuk had us two goals up inside the opening quarter hour but the hosts pulled a goal back from the spot that Abdulaziz Abidemi converted on twenty eight minutes and then Shkabara put the scores level early in the second half. We scored what turned out to be the winning goal with twenty minutes remaining whenever Yevlash found the net.

The penultimate month ended just like the last with a disappointing nil all draw, this time at home to Minsk but I'll take it because we were poor.


Can't see us securing back to back league titles (Dan, don't laugh) because we remain still nine points behind with just four goals left to play.

September saw us play five league matches and a Belarusian Cup tie away from home as we remained undefeated throughout the month and that's fired us straight back into the title picture when it looked all over earlier in the season.


The month started with a home encounter with Belshina and we won a six goal thriller four goals to two despite us falling behind inside the opening minute as Bubnov found the net but we soon equalised as Yevlash headed home on thirteen minutes but the visitors regained the lead shortly after the half hour. For the second time we equalised through Santiago before two goals in stoppage time from Carson sealed the points.

Next up was a trip to Gomel as we were without a few players due to international duty and thus fore we only managed a point, Ivanov got us a point with an equaliser on eighty two minutes after Gogoladze had given the home side a fifty seventh minute lead.

We then returned to Torpedo to face league leaders BATE Borisov and cruised to a three nil win as we broke the deadlock on twenty minutes through Korolyuk and then on thirty eight minutes Yevlash headed home a second goal to send the home fans into raptures, Santiago put a gloss on the score with a third in second half stoppage time.

It was Belarusian Cup time and a trip to First League side Polatsk and a seventy fourth minute goal from Korolyuk earned us a passage through to the fourth round, that won't be played until next April.

Neman came to Torpedo for our next league game and we picked up a vital three points as Santiago broke the deadlock on seven minutes to give us the lead and then nine minutes into the second half saw Korolyuk double the lead but the away fans had something to cheer whenever Kolyadko pulled a goal back.

And the month ended with a disappointing nil all draw at SKVICh.


We are in second place and eleven points behind leaders BATE with only nine league games remaining.

Thankfully I don't need the league title, isn't it? We've been poor/BATE have been too good in the league this season.

Come on mate, I am sure Turnhout will slip up and you can secure the title.

Was a solid month minus that one defeat. I'd love to see us go on a long winning streak but just can't seem to get consistency,

Well done on securing that playoff spot but I shouldn't be surprised. KIU.

August saw us face five tough clashes including a daunting trip to Minsk as well as we started our road to possible Belarusian Cup glory with a trip to First League side Lida.


We hosted Vitesbk as the month started with a point as we could only secure a two all draw at Torpedo. The visitors took the lead on fourteen minutes courtesy of Shidlovskiy but we equalised just after the half hour thanks to Carson but we fell behind for a second time on fifty seven minutes but Boiko got us a point with our second equaliser.

Our only destination for this season was to head to the Belarusian Cup final and our run started on the road to Lida and we wrapped up a two nil victory as Fabio opened the scoring with a glorious finish on just thirteen minutes before central defender Ryzhko added a second early in the second half.

An away game in Minsk was up next and we wrapped up a wonderful three nil result in a poor game as two goals in the space of six first half minutes from Premudrov and Yevlash had us two up inside fifteen minutes before the hosts were reduced to ten men on sixty six as Maskas was shown a second yellow and then Ryzhko sealed the win. The game was however overshadowed by a horrific injury sustained by Borovskiy and that has ruled him out for the next eight months with a broken leg. Massive, massive blow.

So with Borovskiy ruled out that gave former Lida striker Bogdevich a chance to shine but he soon angered me as he was sent off for a second yellow card after just eight minutes in the home game with Naftan and he was rightly booed by the fans. Naftan won the game with Rios scoring the winner on forty nine minutes. Bogdevich was fined two weeks wages after that unprofessionalism. He bitched, I told him exactly how I felt about the incident and he backed down.

August concluded with a tough trip to Shakhter Soligorsk but we played brilliantly and wrapped up a deserved two nil victory and truth be told it could have been much more. We broke the deadlock on just five minutes when Ivanovic rose highest in the box to head home before Kotovich scored his first ever goal for the club on thirty one minutes to wrap up the points.


Up to second place now following a decent month but we're still fifteen points behind leaders BATE who finally slipped up this season in the league. I still don't think we can catch them.

Aren't I glad that I don't need to worry about the league title? I just need to remain in the title picture so I avoid getting the boot.

We returned from the "summer break" with four games as I made my bow in the Champions League with an extremely tough qualifying round encounter with Polish side Lech Poznan. Two league games were also played in the month as we picked up four points from a possible six.


The month started with a second qualifying round Champions League tie in Poland against Lech and they deservedly beat us by a single goal whenever Mikovic struck for the home side with just three minutes left on the clock. We fought so hard but didn't have enough quality to win.

We returned to league action with a home game against Brest (Blr) and we could only secure a draw at Torpedo, the away side broke the deadlock on thirty two minutes through Signevich but despite dominating we couldn't find a way through until sixty eight minutes when Borovskiy scored a wonderful goal.

Back to Europe and we hosted Lech in the second leg and exited the competition as we suffered a two one home defeat and three one on aggregate, despite playing so well at Torpedo it was the Polish side that took the lead on twenty six minutes as Wojciechowski found the net but Borovskiy equalised on the stroke of half time but Sobota's goal in the second half for Poznan ensured we went out.

And the month ended with a tricky trip to Dinamo Minsk and I'm sure everyone expected a home win but they were wrong as we pinched a great three one away success as we took the lead in the thirteenth minute as Boiko fired home a twenty five yard effort before Korolyuk doubled the lead early in the second half. On sixty three minutes the home side made it two one before Premudrov sealed the victory with six minutes left.


We remain third but it's getting incredibly tight in there, as we are only four points ahead of the team in seventh and two points behind the second place side Belshina.

Our title hopes are all but over anyway as I can't see BATE losing. They've been too good this season.

Thanks now I just need to turn my attention to the Belarusian Cup and attempt to win that or I fear I may be stuck in Belarus forever.

My last four seasons have been remarkable, winning the league twice with Altach in Austria and Torpedo in Belarus, at least I don't need to worry about the league again.


Our away form has been pretty bad this season and I can't seem to address it at the moment.

Great first season at the club so far, all you need to do mate is secure a playoff position as soon as possible.

Europa League form could be better if we actually won away from home, only done it once despite dominating all the games but I'm sure another away win in Europe will be coming, eventually. It's been a good start to the SPL but should you be shocked? Don't think we'll win the league as Celtic look unstoppable early on (which is a shame) and we need to start playing better away from home, two away games and we've been poor in both.

It's good to see you managed to bounce back from that first league defeat since. Can't see you winning the Belgian Cup since I'm sure top flight clubs will enter it, eventually.

Seven tough matches faced us in August as our league season finally got start against Dundee United while we also had Europe to deal with. It was an exciting month as we scored seventeen times and conceded nine in the games but suffered two annoying defeats.


A gruelling August month started with the Europa League third qualifying round second leg encounter with Slovenian's Olimpija at Ibrox, with us trailing one nil from the first leg we had to win and we levelled the aggregate scores up and took the lead on the night in the eleventh minute through Cabral before the same man doubled the lead just before the twenty minute mark. Second half goals from Bustos and Nimely saw us safely through.

Finally our league season started with a home game against Dundee United who came to a packed Ibrox and both sets of fans were treated to an eight goal thriller that saw us come out on top in a five three win, we quickly went two goals up inside the opening quarter of an hour thanks to MacLeod and Cabral before Nimely struck in the twenty first minute to make it three nil. A dream start to life in the SPL got better as Bennett made it four nil just after the half hour but United pulled a goal back just before half time and then a second early in the second half before Bennett added a fifth. Bawab bagged a third for the Tangerines on seventy three minutes.

We then faced a tough home game next as Hearts came to Glasgow and a crowd of just under forty seven and a half thousand saw us make it two wins from two games as we took the lead in the eighteen minute as Nimely opened the scoring but we then gave away a penalty for the second game running that Prychynenko converted. Our side were then in trouble as summer signing Flanagan was dismissed for two yellows but we picked up three points as Black scored the games second penalty with four minutes remaining.

Next up we were back in Europe as we took the trip to Belgium to face Club Brugge and despite dominating we suffered another disappointing away day in Europe as we slipped to a two one defeat, despite us taking an eleventh minute lead through Cabral we then gave away a third penalty in as many games that Zimling put away and then Vleminckx, on thirty five minutes scored what turned out to be the winning goal.

We made the trip to New Douglas Park to face Hamilton Academical and despite being second best throughout we managed to pick up the points thanks to two goals in first half stoppage time from central defender Faure and striker Nimely, the hosts halved the deficit on sixty eight minutes as Marrow struck.

A crowd just shy of fifty one thousand roared the team on to a three goals to one Europa League victory over Club Brugge as we broke the deadlock in the thirteenth minute when left back Hendrie curled home a wonderful finish but the Belgian side made it one all early in the second half before Bustos and Nimely sealed our progression to the group stages.

The month ended with a disappointing defeat away to St. Mirren as we have started to stutter away from home, Carey scored the winner for the home side on eleven minutes as we were second best for the second away league game running and that needs to be addressed.


I shouldn't complain as it's been a good start to life in the Scottish Premier League as we're currently third and with a game in hand against Partick Thistle.

Promising start to the league season fella. I've no doubt you will be a success at this club and others. KIU.

Cheers pal. We didn't deserve to lose those two games against Dila and Olimpija as we played extremely well throughout, I will need to try and address the away form. I can't wait to finally play some SPL football since our opening day trip to Partick Thistle was postponed, the season now starts at home to Dundee United.

The opening month of the new season started with us playing five European games and no league games. We started against Norwegian side Viking in the first qualifying round before entertaining Georgian side Dila and then played the third qualifying round first leg tie against Slovenia side Olimpija.


Our first competitive game of the new season saw Viking visit Ibrox for the Europa League first qualifying round, first leg and it was a straight forward performance and result as we ran out two nil winners thanks to MacLeod and Sandaza who struck in either half at a packed Ibrox.

We then travelled to Norway for the second leg tie and picked up another two nil success to progress four nil on aggregate as a double from Nimely on three and sixty two minutes secured the passage and a trip to Georgia to face Dila in a match that we should progress from.

The first leg, which was played in Georgia saw us slip to a humiliating defeat as two goals in the opening twenty two minutes from Gogatishvili and Kikabidze had our travelling support in shock but Nimely pulled a goal back sixty seconds later and despite dominating we couldn't find an equaliser and when we did, Nimely saw his effort ruled out.

Dila came to Ibrox with the lead as they looked to progress but we eventually progressed thanks to a five one home win that saw us progress six three on aggregate and we took the lead thanks to Aird's goal on five minutes but they equalised on thirteen before Faure restored the lead and then an own goal ten minutes before half time turned the game around. Central midfielder Black added a fourth before Faure's second wrapped up progression.

And the month concluded with a trip to Slovenia to face Olimpija and despite playing very well we managed to slip up as Borko broke our travelling supports hearts with a goal in the second minute of stoppage time. I have no doubt we can pick up the win at Ibrox to advance but we need to stop doing it the hard way.

I've also announced a new signing, which should be my last one this transfer window.


Arriving at the club was twenty-three-year-old Costa Rican Bustos who has arrived from Saprissa for a steal of just six thousand pounds. The central/attacking midfielder has already won a staggering fifty seven caps for his country and managed to find the net seven times while Bustos has also played eighty four times for Saprissa before his switch.

It's going to be a toss up between him and Aird for the starting spot, will probably let Shiels leave.

We made just the four summer acquisitions ahead of life in the Scottish Premier League while we lost two players who headed back to their parent clubs following loan deals and we lost a star player who headed south to England and I was not amused. We also participated in four pre season friendly games due to us playing in Europe.


Our first signing of the summer was Dinamo Zagreb star Pajvot who has cost us one hundred and thirty thousand pounds, which will be an absolute steal if the kid fulfils his potential. Only fifteen-years-old the central midfielder has been rated as a potential five star player.

Veljkovic completed his deal after signing a pre-contract back in January and the nineteen-year-old has joined from English side Gillingham, the young defender is already an under twenty-one international with Serbia and made five appearances last season for the Gills, he's expected to see some first team football but he'll be predominately back-up this season.

Twenty-two right back Flanagan has arrived from Liverpool after signing a pre-contact. It was a signing I needed to make as I had lost Hurst who headed back to his parent club in the summer and I'm believing he will become my first choice right back ahead of the new season.

And our last signing saw FC Twente left winger Cabral who has cost just over half a million from the Dutch side, he's only twenty-four-years-old so I could have him for at least a decade if he remains a quality player.


We only made one major departure and it was one I was quite annoyed about as we lost star winger Templeton to English side Sunderland for only two and a half million pounds. The fee had to be agreed because it met his release clause. I tried offering him a new deal but he wanted £23 thousand a week, no chance.

I've also let Argyriou and Crawford depart the club on-loan as they've joined Hearts and Barrow respectively while I've released Stella, Gallagher and Gormley as they'll never play for me and are rubbish.


We played three of our four pre season friendlies at Ibrox and the first was against Russian side Spartak Moscow and we suffered a single goal defeat as former Everton star Bilyaletdinov scored the winner just before half time before we played Sparta Prague at home and second half goals from Balanta and Nimely sealed victory despite Psotka pulling a goal back in stoppage time.

Our last friendly at Ibrox was against Manchester United and they deservedly won three two as Nani opened the scoring before Black levelled on the half hour but the English Premier League side retook the lead through Hernandez but we levelled for the second time through Faure before Kagawa won the game in stoppage time.

The final game was our only away game against Albion Rovers and they took the lead through an own goal as Black accidently put the ball past his own keeper but Balanta levelled early in the second half before reserve striker Kane scored with eleven minutes remaining.

It's become that time of year again when the season expectations and fixture list our announced. We are about to embark on a SPL journey that I expect to be tough following three straight promotions from the bottom playable league in Scotland to the top. Can we survive? Only time will tell.


The board are expecting us to at least qualify for next seasons Europa League through a league position and that's the expectations I've gone for as I definitely don't think the team is good enough to challenge for the title, this season and I don't want to put myself under unneeded pressure by attempting to qualify for the Champions League.

So with me saying that I believe we'll finish in a Europa League position the board have given me a three and a half million transfer budget that I probably won't even dent.


Life back in the Scottish Premier League starts with a trip to Partick Thistle before back to back home games against Dundee United and Hearts while our last game before Christmas is on the road to Dundee.

Our first game in twenty sixteen is at home to bitter rivals Celtic before making the trip up to Inverness. Our last three league games before the split are at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, away to St. Johnstone and home to Motherwell.

Please note: The draw for the Europa League first qualifying round was also made and I've been drawn against Norwegian side Viking. Should we progress then we'll face a second qualifying round tie against the winners of Dila or The New Saints.

And now it's almost time for me to be tested in the SPL. This will be tough as f**k.

Our final month before the break saw us face three games as our stuttering away form continued.


We started with an extremely tough away game against league leaders BATE Borisov and we slipped to a two one defeat as a third minute goal from Mozolevskiy saw us get off to a worst possible start but Borovskiy equalised with a wonderful individual effort on twenty two minutes but four minutes later BATE won the game whenever Volodzko found the net.

A second straight away game happened with a trip to Neman and we suffered our third away defeat on the bounce as two goals inside seven first half minutes through Platonov and Leo saw the home side in control but we pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining as Ivanovic found the back of the net.

Our final game before the break was against SKVICh as they came to Torpedo and we wrapped up a three one success and took the lead just after the half hour whenever Fabio curled home a wonderful shot past their keeper and then the lead was doubled on forty minutes as Borovskiy found the net. The away side halved the deficit ten minutes into the second half but Borovskiy's second goal of the game wrapped up the points.


We are in third place heading into the "summer break" and almost looking out of the title race as BATE look impossible to beat as the Borisov side have won ten and drew three of their first thirteen games while we've already lost five times this season but their lucky I am not concentrating on the league this season, just the Belarusian Cup.

May seen us entertain four games with two being away from home and two at home. It turned out to be a mixed month as we drew a game, lost a game and won both our home games.


A trip to Naftan started the four game month and we had to come from behind to pick up an undeserved point with both the goals coming in the second period. The home side broke the deadlock on sixty eight minutes as Aksenov found the net but Borovskiy broke Naftan hearts with an equaliser for us with three minutes left on the clock.

Our second game was Shakhter visiting Torpedo and we wrapped up an impressive three nil victory with yet again all the goals arriving in the second forty five minutes and Borovskiy broke the deadlock with his third goal in as many games on fifty four minutes before Fabio slotted home a spot kick five minutes later and then on sixty six minutes Yevlash headed home a third.

We then slipped to a defeat at Belshina as Kvob scored the only goal on seventy three minutes - we were second best.

May ended with a two nil home success over Gomel as for the first time in five games we managed to score in the first half as Carson broke the deadlock on just eight minutes and that lead was doubled by Santiago on twenty two. We dominated throughout and could have scored more goals.


At the end of the month we remain in third place with Belshina in second and BATE are six points clear at the top.

The second month of the new season has seen us just play the three league matches as we picked up six points from the nine that was available, which I am pleased with as they weren't easy games because we played both the Minsk sides at Torpedo.


Our first game of the month saw us face Dinamo Minsk at Torpedo and we picked up an emphatic four goal victory as young Northern Irish attacking midfielder Carson got us off to a dream start with a goal inside the opening two minutes before the same lad doubled the lead just before half time. Brazilian winger Santiago made it three nil early in the second half before Korolyuk completed the victory on fifty seven minutes.

We then stayed at home as Minsk visited and we slipped to a defeat despite Santiago giving us the lead on twenty one minutes. On thirty four minutes we were reduced to ten men as Korolyuk was shown a second yellow card for diving and we was dismissed and the pendulum was swung Minsk's way as they equalised five minutes into the second half through Camara and then Lazari won it late on.

The final game of the month was our first away game of the month as we made the trip to Vitebsk and stuttered to a single goal victory thanks to a goal, early in the second half from young Belarusian striker Borovskiy who was in for the suspended Korolyuk.


We are in third place come the end of the month and with six games played. BATE look the team to beat as they've won all their games so far in the league.

Pre season was indeed decent enough but sure results don't matter then. I'm pleased with the start to the season despite the defeat to Brest and I'm down to one single trophy to win, which is the Belarusian Cup, I need to wrap that up and head to Belgium.


Cheers mate, one to go.