O'Connor off to Moscow

[HeronAddict]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4752964.stm

I suppose its a good price for Hibs to get, but really why would he want to move to Russia? It can't improve his international chances, and the quality of life isn't the best, as well as the massive cultural shock of going there. I assume he must be getting a massive pay packet but still...it would be a huge gamble.

[lethamsaintee]

russian football is getting better all the time, its probably in a better state than the scottish game at the mo and i think this is a great move for o,connor and financially excellent for hibs, very few teams in the uk would have paid that for him

[stanley saint]

were they not after Rhiordan ???

[lethamsaintee]

were they not after Rhiordan ???

possibly, he has been linked with a few clubs

[Ronaldo]

Lomkomotiv Moscow have been a decent team in the last five years.
This year however they got knocked out of the Champions League but are still progressing in the EUFA Cup -

European Cup Rabotnicki 1-1 Lokomotiv Mos. 27-07-2005
European Cup Lokomotiv Mos. 2-0 Rabotnicki 03-08-2005
European Cup Rapid Vienna 1-1 Lokomotiv Mos. 10-08-2005
European Cup Lokomotiv Mos. 0-1 Rapid Vienna 23-08-2005
UEFA Cup Brann 1-2 Lokomotiv Mos. 15-09-2005
UEFA Cup Lokomotiv Mos. 3-2 Brann 29-09-2005
UEFA Cup Lokomotiv Mos. 0-1 Espanyol 19-10-2005
UEFA Cup Palermo 0-0 Lokomotiv Mos. 03-11-2005
UEFA Cup Lokomotiv Mos. 4-2 Brondby 23-11-2005
UEFA Cup Maccabi PT 0-4 Lokomotiv Mos. 30-11-2005
UEFA Cup Lokomotiv Mos. 0-1 Seville 15-02-2006
UEFA Cup Seville 2-0 Lokomotiv Mos. 23-02-2006

Two years ago they qualified from the group stages and were only beaten by a goal over two legs by Monaco who reached the final that year. Their league starts again now after a break from December which always puts them at a disadvantage in European competition. It's a challenge.
I think Hibs would not have received that kind of money from the old firm and he may be going also for personal growth and may even come back a better player who knows.

http://www.wsoccer.com/stadium/russia/fc_lokomotiv/fc_lokomotiv2.jpg

[blueheaven]

I think it's an exciting move for him - I know that if I was a young footballer with a bit of ability I'd fancy playing abroad. Well done him for not doing the usual boring thing of signing for one of the OF and predictably sitting around in the stand for 2 years not getting a chance, before being punted to some random lower league English side and never being heard of again. This move should make him a much better player.

[wee john]

He'll not go there, no chance.
He will stay to win the cup for Hibs, then he will move somewhere.

[Kevin]

He'll not go there, no chance.
He will stay to win the cup for Hibs, then he will move somewhere.

Aye right!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4752964.stm

[wee john]

WE'LL SEE 8)

[Kevin]

WE'LL SEE 8)

Said the man in the shades 8)

[wee john]

looks like he is going, I cannot believe it, MOSCOW :shock:

With Riordan suspended for the semi final and O'Conner away, what chance have Hibs got? I do not understand it unless Hibs cut a deal that he will go after the semi.
Also I'm pretty sure a big premiership club would pay that money in the summer.

[Kevin]

looks like he is going, I cannot believe it, MOSCOW :shock:

With Riordan suspended for the semi final and O'Conner away, what chance have Hibs got? I do not understand it unless Hibs cut a deal that he will go after the semi.
Also I'm pretty sure a big premiership club would pay that money in the summer.

This is why they probably warmed up the Hearts & Hibs balls before the draw, so they wouldn't be embarrassed by losing to a Div 1 or Div 2 side :***:

[Linky]

What's wrong with Moscow?
Russian football is a really high standard at the moment. Because they have quite a few big teams, the league overall is a higher standard than the SPL. Dinamo Moscow have spent millions in recent seasons buying players like Maniche, Derlei and Costinha (who was in the Monaco team against us I think). The other Moscow teams also have huge players like Ricardo Carvalho, Fernando Cavenaghi and Wagner Love.
I think the move could be good for him as long as he is able to get first team football (Loko have two good strikers in Sytchev and Pimenov)
Also, the quality of life isn't that bad guys. It's a modern and very rich city.

[wee john]

What's wrong with Moscow?


It is freezing, a dull dull place, no footballing pedigree, corrupt as the Marrs. Their pitches will be worse than ours.
IMHO he could have done far far better.
He could have went to many better countries and learned/improved more.
Hope he doesn't get stopped by police, put against a wall with a kaleshnikov (big gun wrong spelling) in -15, sceamed at in Russian, just for being a passenger in a Russian car. Scarey stuff I tell you.

[Ronaldo]

Were you at the 0-0 draw John?
That was a bit cool.
On the money he's going to be getting he'll be able to find some interesting things. :wink:

[wee john]

Aye, the 0-0 draw, coldest ever 8)
Cracking story about that trip.
A Scots guy called Jacko was manager of a large casino in Moscow, word got round that it was free bevy for all Scots. Beve and I made it there and pre match it was free drink, free food, strippers for the men and the girls got money to go and play the casino while the strippers were on, one girl won $400. Free buses laid on for everyone to go to the game.
There were Russians in and they had to get us to get them drink as they were having to pay.
Post match, top German rock band in the massive ballroom, free bottles whiskey, vodka and beer booze on all the tables and a sit down 3 course meal for about 400 Scots, ALL FREE. He was on the mike crying and thanking his "fellow countrymen for drinking in his pub".
It was unbelivable, must have cost him thousands.
He actually got stabbed by a Russian who was getting lobbed out the night before the game.
He was a real Scottish gangster with a broad West Coast accent and had not been home for 12 years, he was last heard of in Afghanistan (opened a pub) as he was chased out of Moscow by the Russian mafia.
He made his money by going to all these poor/recently de-comunised places and setting up business and making a killing.
The guy is a legend for that trip, you had to be there to understand what he done for everyone.

[Steve Maskrey]

I think it's a great move for O'Connor. With the quality of players already across in Russia, he'll no doubt develop better as a player and will be a key player for Scotland. If he stayed in Scotland with the OF, he would develop into a slightly better than average player.

Considering the medical he went under was more intense than probably any training session he's ever had, the move has to be a good thing. Paul Lambert came back as a different class of player after his spell with Dortmund

Walter Smith is moaning cos he'll have to travel further than along the M8 to see him play.

[Hazel1884]

Seemingly he failed his medical.....

[Ronaldo]

Aye, the 0-0 draw, coldest ever 8)
Cracking story about that trip.
A Scots guy called Jacko was manager of a large casino in Moscow, word got round that it was free bevy for all Scots. Beve and I made it there and pre match it was free drink, free food, strippers for the men and the girls got money to go and play the casino while the strippers were on, one girl won $400. Free buses laid on for everyone to go to the game.
There were Russians in and they had to get us to get them drink as they were having to pay.
Post match, top German rock band in the massive ballroom, free bottles whiskey, vodka and beer booze on all the tables and a sit down 3 course meal for about 400 Scots, ALL FREE. He was on the mike crying and thanking his "fellow countrymen for drinking in his pub".
It was unbelivable, must have cost him thousands.
He actually got stabbed by a Russian who was getting lobbed out the night before the game.
He was a real Scottish gangster with a broad West Coast accent and had not been home for 12 years, he was last heard of in Afghanistan (opened a pub) as he was chased out of Moscow by the Russian mafia.
He made his money by going to all these poor/recently de-comunised places and setting up business and making a killing.
The guy is a legend for that trip, you had to be there to understand what he done for everyone.
:***: :***: :***: :***:Cracking stuff.
He opened a pub in Afghanistan? :***:
"Tht'll be a A pint of Opium and ten Heroin shorts plus and a packet of cheese and onion crisps, Osama". :)

[Ronaldo]

Seemingly he failed his medical.....
:shock:
Where d'you get that Hazel?

[Hazel1884]

Seemingly he failed his medical.....
:shock:
Where d'you get that Hazel?

Got a text message from a Hibs supporting mate saying that was what was going round their fans....

[Ronaldo]

Seemingly he failed his medical.....
:shock:
Where d'you get that Hazel?

Got a text message from a Hibs supporting mate saying that was what was going round their fans....
They'll probably be happy about that with the exception of the cash... don't know.

[Hazel1884]

It was mentioned on Real Radio....

Seemingly O'Connor has had chronic back problems for about 2 years but are expected to clear up in a few months, so his medical wasn't going to be easy......no idea how accurate that is though! :?

[Finners]

i think o'connor is daft going there, he doesnt speak russian, his family arent russian, new culture...etc. Why? I IMHO think hib can challenge for the spl title next season IF they keep the likes of riordan, thomson,sproule,stewart

[Tranmere Saintee]

i think o'connor is daft going there, he doesnt speak russian, his family arent russian, new culture...etc. Why? I IMHO think hib can challenge for the spl title next season IF they keep the likes of riordan, thomson,sproule,stewart

For a reported £15,000 a week I would take a chance in Russia rather than stay at Hibs.

[208saint]

Thank christ it was Garry I was thought you meant Des :***: :***: :***: :***:

[Broon]

i think o'connor is daft going there, he doesnt speak russian, his family arent russian, new culture...etc. Why? I IMHO think hib can challenge for the spl title next season IF they keep the likes of riordan, thomson,sproule,stewart

This is such a British mentality. Why not go to another country, learn a new language and experience a new culture? Half the problem with our International team is the fact that we don't have players playing in the European leagues, learning the European style of football that wins games.

The worlds a big place - its worth experiencing some of it (even if its the cold parts :) ).

[stevensan]

This is such a British mentality. Why not go to another country, learn a new language and experience a new culture? Half the problem with our International team is the fact that we don't have players playing in the European leagues, learning the European style of football that wins games.

The worlds a big place - its worth experiencing some of it (even if its the cold parts :) ).

Exaclty...!!! I dont speak chinese, I cant even read the language. I dont understand half of their cultures and as for the food.... the same can be said for Japan... but i still love living in these places, where things are different everyday, the locals are fasicnated with you and the standard of living for anyone on a western wage is incredible.

I would be more disappointed if O conner was rejecting this kind of opportunity. half the problem not just with football but british society - no, all society, these days is the complete lack of awareness for other views, cultures and ways of living. He`ll learn a lot, earn a lot and come back a better person, a richer person and a better footballer!

Good luck to the guy, its about time a Scot was playing on the european stage.

[wee john]

This is such a British mentality. Why not go to another country, learn a new language and experience a new culture? Half the problem with our International team is the fact that we don't have players playing in the European leagues, learning the European style of football that wins games.

The worlds a big place - its worth experiencing some of it (even if its the cold parts :) ).

Exaclty...!!! I dont speak chinese, I cant even read the language. I dont understand half of their cultures and as for the food.... the same can be said for Japan... but i still love living in these places, where things are different everyday, the locals are fasicnated with you and the standard of living for anyone on a western wage is incredible.

I would be more disappointed if O conner was rejecting this kind of opportunity. half the problem not just with football but british society - no, all society, these days is the complete lack of awareness for other views, cultures and ways of living. He`ll learn a lot, earn a lot and come back a better person, a richer person and a better footballer!

Good luck to the guy, its about time a Scot was playing on the european stage.

You are twisting the arguement, we all know it is great to learn different cultures, experience different countries, we do not need a lecture on what we already know, I am quite aware of cultures all over Europe, especially the Eastern block countries and IMHO O'Conner can do far better than Russia.
He could be doing it in a better league/country.
Nobody is denying the fact that it is great he is moving to better things, just the fact that it could be better than Russia.

[stanley saint]

as long as he gets first team fitba , it can only be good for himself and for Scotland

[Linky]

Russia isn't the Eastern Bloc anymore. Things have changed a lot since Communism. Some of the richest people in the world live in Russia now & walking down a high street in Moscow or St. Petersburg isn't much difference from London, you've got your macdonalds and Calvin Klein, etc. Moscow is a very prosperous cityand isn't 'dull' in any way.
Have you been there Wee John? Just wondering what your opinions are based on? Here's a few pictures: http://www.travelandleisure.com/images/sys/tl200212_168moscow_b.jpg
http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/marriott-moscow-grand-hotel/photo1.jpg
http://luxuryhotels.premierhotels.com/273x349/Baltschug-202.jpg
And the football pedigree is a whole lot better than Hibs' is! The Moscow clubs have spent huge amounts of money on some big Brazilian and Argentinian players, each of them spend about the same amount on transfers a season as the whole of the Scottish leagues put together. CSKA Moscow also won the Eufa cup last year.

[Phil]

wee john said he was moving onto better things. I don't anybody here would deny that russian football is better than scottish.
But of course it would be silly to say that the russian football is the best in the world. While CSKA won the Uefa cup last year, it was an English club who won the Champions cup.

[Indicator]

We should be rejoicing that at least he doesn't see the pinnacle of his career being a move to one or other of the Glasgow mob. As seemingly do 99.999% of scots players.

If Hibs are going to lose him I'd rather see him in Moscow than Glascow. :***:

[chopper]

Move was completed today according to the Beeb's sports ticker. Will post a link when the story becomes available.

[Kevin]

Move was completed today according to the Beeb's sports ticker. Will post a link when the story becomes available.

Wish you and your sister would agree with each other at some point chops :***: :***:

[chopper]

Wish you and your sister would agree with each other at some point chops :***: :***:

:?

You what Kevin???

Anyway the link is here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4752964.stm)

[wee john]

Russia isn't the Eastern Bloc anymore.

Have they moved it since I was last there?

Things have changed a lot since Communism. Some of the richest people in the world live in Russia now & walking down a high street in Moscow or St. Petersburg isn't much difference from London, you've got your macdonalds and Calvin Klein, etc. Moscow is a very prosperous cityand isn't 'dull' in any way.

yer havin' a laugh, ofcourse the centre is very nice, it has to be for the new breed of western tourists that now visit, but the place is as dull as Fintry on a summers day, and as corrupt as the Marrs, and as cold as Arbroath in June, it is completely different from London and most European capitals. I do not see the Beckhams, super models, filmstars or any super rich non Russians living there, the super rich that live in Moscow ae the old KGB officials, corrupt Russian oil barons and gun runners and any old officialdom commies that ran with the money after communism collapsed.

Have you been there Wee John? Just wondering what your opinions are based on? Here's a few pictures: http://www.travelandleisure.com/images/sys/tl200212_168moscow_b.jpg
http://www.holidaycityeurope.com/marriott-moscow-grand-hotel/photo1.jpg
http://luxuryhotels.premierhotels.com/273x349/Baltschug-202.jpg

I'll dig out a few pics too and show you real Moscow not the facade they want you to see.

And the football pedigree is a whole lot better than Hibs' is! The Moscow clubs have spent huge amounts of money on some big Brazilian and Argentinian players, each of them spend about the same amount on transfers a season as the whole of the Scottish leagues put together. CSKA Moscow also won the Eufa cup last year.

Go below the top 3/4 clubs and you have a very very average league, better than the SPL but not near as good as many leagues in Europe, my whole point is that he could have chosen a better place/league to go, but I suppose he wants to grab the money while it is there, he is not choosing it because of the attraction of Moscow or the Russian League.

[wee john]

There are answers in the previous post amongst the original post, I have not yet mastered how to disect it all when answering each individual point. :oops:

[1884]

Have you been there Wee John? Just wondering what your opinions are based on?

Wee John and I went to Moscow for the Russia V Scotland game back in March '95. I have never been so relieved to see the back of a Country in my life...

Sitting in the back of a 'taxi' (every Lada in Moscow is a taxi for American $) with the polis pointing an AK47 at John, me and my 26 weeks pregnant bump in the middle of the night all because the 'taxi' driver had gone through a red light and down a one way street the wrong way.

They asked to see our passports, which were in the Hotel (the one that was used for the Moscow Olympics, still unfinished in 1995 cos they ran out of money). After being man handled and ruffed up a bit the 'taxi' driver game the polis some money and they let us go on our merry way.

'Jacko' fae Bellshill, (he of 'Police Academy 7 - Mission to Moscow' fame) owned a casino/nightclub in Moscow. He was stabbed by the Mafia the night we flew into Moscow - but lived to tell the tale...and appear in the above film! :shock:

We went to visit the Kremlin but couldn't go within 100yards of the gates without the Polis blowing their whistle and pointing their guns at us to warn us to stay back.

There are ice-cream type vans parked along every street selling every kind of flavoured vodka you could imagine. 85pence for a litre. The same bottle at Frankfurt Airport was £5, the same bottle in Safeway was £10. We brought more than a couple of bottles hame fae Moscow! :wink:

On a lighter note, when leaving Moscow we were going through passport control and had to have our visas checked before boarding the plane. The 2 girls that checked John's visa were having a good giggle to themselves. When we queried what was so funny, the girls explained to us in their best English that John's visa stated that he was 'female' and said that if it had been checked properly upon entering the Country he would have been denied entry and sent hame!

You see the Kremlin and St Basils Cathedral etc on the news bulletins but don't be fooled, the rest of Moscow is third rate and third world. They don't let you see that on the news...

I'm glad to say I've been there but wouldn't hurry back.

[Tranmere Saintee]

On a lighter note, when leaving Moscow we were going through passport control and had to have our visas checked before boarding the plane. The 2 girls that checked John's visa were having a good giggle to themselves. When we queried what was so funny, the girls explained to us in their best English that John's visa stated that he was 'female' and said that if it had been checked properly upon entering the Country he would have been denied entry and sent hame!

Which just goes to prove us all correct who have been saying for years that he is a big(little) girls blouse :***:

[Linky]

I take your point that there are better leagues around. But I just wonder whether any teams from them would actually want him.
I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but when I went about 2 years ago it was lovely.
I agree with you that it may be to do with the money. But also it may be his only chance to play away from Britain and maybe he feels he's not likely to be able to go to a club from one of the top leagues in europe. However, I do still think it's a step up from the SPL and potentially a goos move.

[Dev]

I was surprised to read that he's been given a five year contract there which seems like a damn good deal. He wouldn't have got that security anywhere else.

I'm 37.