In 2003, Alexander Semin already fell into a similar story. Rafail Ishmatov, who led the youth team, expelled the hockey player just before the trip to the world championship "for violation of discipline." In what it was expressed, no one could say.
It is interesting that then Semin actually fled from Washington to play for the youth team. They tried to send him to a farm club, but the attacker, with the risk of breaking all relations, left. And, having arrived at Ishmatov, he was suddenly sent home. Then partners stood up for Alexander, and this helped him. True, the team is not very.
There was another episode in “Chemist” when Semin was transferred to a farm club under Milos Rig. But then there were no undercurrents. Alexander was really not in good shape and rather rested on ice than worked. It is clear that the character of this striker is not simple.
But it is difficult to understand Vyacheslav Bykov, who calmly refused a strong striker from the NHL. Moreover, his decision can not be called consistent in relation to violators of discipline. For example, he turned a blind eye to how, at one time, goalkeeper Vasily Koshechkin without explaining the reasons did not arrive at the training camp, citing fatigue. Or point-blank he does not see how the same Zinoviev ignores the team, receiving "serious injuries" right away, as the national team gathers. You can still remember how long the boycott of Mozyakin lasted.
But Bulls did not forgive the seven for just being late for an evening workout. They say that Alexander flew to Moscow to gather, but simply did not calculate with the flight. One can hardly argue that one lesson seriously affected the preparation of the national team. Still, this was the first training session involving NHL players. In addition, we are well aware that some of the hockey players, whom the coaching staff counts on, are generally unclear what they are doing - they play playoffs in some league.
Or, until recently, the leadership persuaded Fedorov and Khabibulin to come to the team. Although they demonstrated in every word that they did not want to play for Russia. But they were begged, negotiated. And, if they had given their consent in the end, they would have allowed me to come at their convenience. And Semin was expelled for being late.
Of course, it is premature to scold Bykov for this step. Anyway, we will ask after the World Cup. And if the coach believes that being late is a normal reason for such serious steps, he is right. He can simply show that the team, despite the democratic situation, has iron discipline. Organization is first and foremost. Order beats the class.
And Semin is not the hockey player who can lead the team behind him, to make a result. Although with the current selection of players, Alexander would hardly have been unable to get, say, into the second link. And then in 77 matches he scored 38 goals. This is an indicator, this is a level. In general, a strange situation. But Bykov makes the team what he wants. While he is a coach.
Alexey Shevchenko