So how long you gonna fcuk about for then?

[Stan]

What sort of backing do the Ruskies have then: i'm after facts and figures not general hearsay...

Robbo - outside the team you seem to know the most about them are you in a position to divulge information?

For example:
Budget?
Weekly paint consumption?

What support staff do they have:
strength and conditioning?
psych?
nutritionist?
Do they have paintball coaching or is this Sergei's role?

How comprehensive is their training programme?
How many sessions per day,
how much is pure "game time",
how much is drills,
how much is fitness or is that down to the individual,
etc?

How big is their rosta?

If players are paid "full time" what is their average wage?
Do they all live together?
Stuff like that

 

[gaff]

Budget - i would be very suprised if this info is released - but would estimate a working budget per season of about £350k

Weekly paint consumption - again i would guess at about 20-25 boxes per day - 40-50,000 per week

staff - the whole 9 yards, personal trainers, physios, etc, etc

Copskey told us in Oslo that they do two sessions most days with Tuesday and thursday off, then crashball at weekends

the rest i would not want to guess at, but they are basically doing what the rest of the populas are doing mon-sun, but with a gat instead of a pen! lucky *******oskies! not lucky really, cos they all earned the right to be there and experience it!

these are my guestimates not information provided................

 

[sjt19]

Originally posted by Stan



What support staff do they have: Coaches, trainers, techs, fitness people, nutritionists, scouts, pretty much everything that a premiership football team has.

Do they have paintball coaching or is this Sergei's role? I believe from Dan that Sergei is only around for the wekends, to watch the matches at the weekend. i believe he has more of a supervisory overseeing role monitoring what the coaches report to him. i do not think he is involved day to day in the coaching o fthe team. if i remember what dan told me correctly

How comprehensive is their training programme?

How many sessions per day,

Two, with two days off per week. Drills during the week, with fitness work and cardio incorporated into it. Then on weekends they play 4 full Xball matches, with every player playing every point, which results in a lot of paintball. But means that if they get used to playing every point, then in the EXL they only have to play half as much as they do in training. What they have been doing in the EXL is playing the first 5 or 6 points with the same 5 players, then when they get a lead up that is relatively protected they introduce other less experienced players into the 5's. In Paris at the end of the games they were winning, they had several young kids gaining vluable experience.


How big is their rosta?
In the region of 13 i think (maybe slightly more)

If players are paid "full time" what is their average wage?
I believe that they are all paid different amounts. The 'foreign Legion' are paid differently to the Russian contingent as a result of leaving their countries to go to Russia. The (3) foreign guys are all accomodated in a flat, but i do not know about the other guys.

 

[stongle]

If your willing and able to throw upwards of 7 figure's (USD) at a Paintball team, this is probably Sergei's first return on that investment. The EXL yields little as a return on the financial investment, and I would imagine at the beginning of the season was probably only a stepping stone to have a crack at the US teams in the form of the then proposed Euro / US end of season play-off. I somehow doubt that Sergei's aim stopped there though, and I think the Legions' success in the PSP is 100% representative of Sergei's desire to be a Paintball Superpower and the Collie green Linguini's he as an individual is prepared to throw at it to achieve that aim.

Short of having any oligarchs in your pack pocket, this ain't going to be replicated by other teams, especially in Europe. It's encouraging for people to think increased dedication, personal fitness etc will be the key to success, but this is about money and innovation (of which Sergei is short of neither). The Legion train like they do, because they have the financial resources to do so, individually this would be impossible. Each player has an individual mentor, they have structured dietary regimes, exercise programs etc etc. This is not a by-product of "lets get serious and train", but of the money.

What the Legion's early success raises is, if repeated against the NXL teams (certainly not yet guaranteed), what will be the response? Since the Paintball Money currently resides in the NXL, I believe 2 options exist:

1. Ignore the Legion and hope they go away, play purely US domestic Paintball and refer to it as the World series / whatever.
2. Embrace the Legion as an equal, but with some form of team consolidation / reduced league size.

Ideally a Super league will emerge, of 6-8 teams (inc Legion) all Financed to the hilt, all true Professional (including all the associated training regimes). Other teams will imitate the ideas and methods, but could never realistically compete no matter what the players desires. A Super League of Paintball teams, is really what the NXL / X Ball league should have been from the beginning. "IF" the Legion is Competitive at this level, their inclusion adds credibility. This should guarantee the future of the NXL / Xball in the face of the NPPL and it's strength in numbers. The methods employed by the Super teams will filter down to the other teams, but cannot be surpassed. Sure individuals could train train train, and be picked up by the Super Teams, but I doubt that whole teams can up and compete.

Now that's pretty woolly, and I'm not sure makes total sense.

 

[noop]

Originally posted by stongle
"IF" the Legion is Competitive at this level, their inclusion adds credibility.

I don't think their ability to compete at that level has been in question for some time; certainly not now.

 

[stongle]

Originally posted by noop
I don't think their ability to compete at that level has been in question for some time; certainly not now.

They are definitely competitive, but if you read what gets written by fellow Euro's you'd think the Russians were going to smash the Americans, and it would be great for all of us over here. I don't share that viewpoint. Just cos they open up a can of whoop ass in the EXL don't mean it will be repeated Stateside. I've seen most of their EXL games this season, and you can see that their coasting. No disrespect to the other Euro's but they just cannot match the dedication, finances and ultimately skill of the Legion. I've not seen enough NXL games to pre-suppose Russian Domination.

I'm not insinuating the Russian aren't great (they are brilliant), nor other Euro's (as their resources simply can't compete), I'm just NOT counting my chickens. Europeans and the English in particular have this amazing ability to assume great victory is imminent of the flimsiest of evidence. Bit like football, England beats Equatorial Guinea in a friendly, and most people are toasting World Cup success already.

In my opinion, the Legion has attained a similar level of the American teams, but done so via a different route. How that benefits the rest of Euroball is more difficult to see, yes we can imitate their processes, but i don't think we have the finances or player pool to produce teams competitive at a Super League. As I said individuals may get selected (such as Mac D if he trains and eats his porridge, or Mr Ludqvist - sp???)

 

[Mak D - Nexus Eclipse]

Originally posted by Grendel-Khan
So Mak D, how much do you get paid to suck Sergeys nuts on this forum?

Not as much as you get, for sorting your dads nuts out with a good nibble a couple of times a week mate!

Please!!! Don't bust up in here with that stuff dude, am sure Pbnation is the site for all you chicken luvin Yanks to talk about suckin nuts sunshine

Mak D

 

[blastum]

pathetic

Whats with all the whine,all of you seem dedicated to the sport but all I hear is excuses!37hr work week pffff.Sounds to me some have it to good,50-60 hrs a week here.And I can still find a way to fund a 3 man team personally.Plus play 7man.Granted Im from across the pond,and this post might incite a riot,but Im gonna speak my brains.Congrats to the ruskies,but we all knew a euro team would bring some game.And game they brought and stuck it to us.Now if you think the Yanks are gonna roll over your mistaken!
As MR.Robbo has stated funds,wife&kids,work, and what sponcers provide all have an impact.Bottom line is ,how bad do you want it?It seems to me you dont want it very bad!Ive watched you euros play(tons,joy nexus,etc).The Yank teams are not any better than the euros!Watch some of your vids(i now you have)then watch them again.Seems to me players second guess if they should move or not,change up how they breakout and so on.These are as Mr.Robbo says the Fundamentals witch are the core to a winning team.Lose the excuses,lose the attitudes and that should be a good start.The attitude part is the hardest!
Im shure MAK D will throw down some smak but Ill refer him to the line above.Im a 37yr old mullet packin,single parent that loves the game.Its very disheartening to read some of these posts.Yeah for Rl they won against the US *******s,Big deal.If Im not mistaken you euro Gs stuck to infamous,but I guess you still dont get it.If you can beat infamous,you can beat dynasucks,and so on.Dont bother playin anymore,with your attitudes youve already lost !!!!Flame if you must,but seriously think about it over your next pint.

 

[Saris]

yank haters

it is amusing that considering there is so much euro/GB "prodness" so many people talk like wannabe yanks. people from london, manchester, scotland, birmingham etc coming up with posts full of:
- dude
- y'all
- thang
- shiznit
- mofo
- fo' real
- representin'

etc etc. type like y'all talk...at least if you're going to be bullish about your kinsmen you might as well talk about them. i've spent time in most towns in the UK and have yet to hear someone talking the sort of twaddle that people are typing

 

[kidzero]

dont get toooooooo crazy about it...the russians have won ONE event, and it was ONE OPEN X-BALL EVENT.... no NXL thing and no 3 wins in a row nppl-thing... it was great, of course, and they earned it, no doubt, but wait...wait till the next time and the next time...then y'all can get out and party big time for them, but as long it is a one time thing...psssssssssssssssssst dont get started toooo much. yes, they have a great thing running, and much respect to them!!!! i wouldnt make a single day with this training, BUT they still have to prove themselves as unbeatable team yet. as much as i wish them, as a european team, to spank yank ass again, as much i doubt that dynasty and some others would underestimate them again and they all would do their best to "not let it happen again".
so, a hell lot of congrats to RL but dont write anybody of in the future!