So, the very good news is: Paykan has finally ended their losing streak, and against the very worthy opponents Saipa.
However, Saipa is pissing me off. They started by replacing their setter Vadi with Salafzoon.
Item one: they took Salafzoon from Paykan. You know what?
I know how the world works. Salafzoon isn't Mahdavi. He isn't willing to be Marouf's sub indefinitely, and that's completely understandable. He wants to go somewhere where he'll be a starter? Shame to lose him, but all power to him. Going to Saipa? Even better! He'll be playing with Ghafour there, which will be good for the national team. I've been looking forward to seeing him play.
HOWEVER: he isn't playing. Don't get me wrong: he starts, all right. Then he gets subbed the instant things go even slightly south, whether it's his fault or no.
(Yes, I know the textbook says it's always the setter's fault. None of us are students here, so do us all a favour, take that textbook, and shove it up your ass.)
And of course, who is subbing him? Ivan, obviously. Who was subbing for Vadi last year. Which makes this whole thing a pointless exercise.
Because Vadi is brilliant, and he's
criminally underrated. You know how far he brought you last year. Kolakovic saw it too, which is why he invited Vadi to the national team last year. Sure, he ended up going with Salafzoon, but the reason why is really, really obvious if you know
anything about volleyball. Salafzoon complemented Marouf, and Vadi was similar enough to Marouf that he'd be fairly redundant. It was NOT because Vadi sucks.
But if you're really going to just go for the bigger name, then for fuck's sake, have a little faith in Salafzoon. Sure, he needs to be reined in a bit (if you'd actually watched him in the oh-so-important international games, you'd
know that), but he's amazing in his own way. Why the heck are you wasting him after giving up Vadi for him? It's disrespectful to
both of them.Heck, it's disrespectful to Ivan too.
Because if you really think Ivan is better and Salafzoon is a mistake - well, you're objectively wrong, but if that's truly what you think - then stand up and admit it. If you call on him to save your ass at the drop of a hat, then fucking start him and give him the credit. That's no way to treat a player either.
And even more generally, why are you doing this to yourselves? "It's been working so far?" Are you Shams, trying to eke out as many wins as possible using whatever tactics work for you that particular day? No disrespect to Shams, but they are literally children who are there to learn. You are serious contenders for the cup, so act like it. Throwing subs on the court and seeing what sticks is not going to work for you in the playoffs unless your name is Sarmayeh Bank (exaggerated roll of eyes). You know that and I know you know that. Now is the time when you should be working out a playoff strategy that is actually
viable.
So congratulations, Saipa: it's four games into the season, you've disrespected three great setters, and you're shooting yourselves in the foot for the playoffs. I hope you're proud of yourselves.
Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."
Hosea 3:1