Kanchelksis: Kyiv will be a very difficult game for Everton

, 9 March, 33comments  |  Jump to most recent

Kanchelskis scored 16 goals in 32 games in the 1995-96 season, including three against Liverpool (Clive Brunskill/Allsport)
Former Everton star, Andrei Kanchelskis, is predicting a couple of tough games for the Blues when they meet another of his old clubs, Dynamo Kyiv, in the Europa League's Round of 16.

Roberto Martinez is preparing his team for the first leg on Merseyside this Thursday against the Ukrainian league leaders who overcame French side Guingamp on the previous round.

Kanchelskis, who lit up Goodison Park for 18 short months between the autumn of 1995 and the spring of 1997, knows plenty about Dynamo and he says that they will be no easy mark despite Everton's impressive form in the competition.

“It will be a tough game for Everton because Dynamo Kiev is a big club," the 46 year-old said in the Liverpool Echo. "They have some big names in Europe and big names in Ukraine.

“They're by far the biggest club in Ukraine and have a lot of fans there. When Dynamo Kiev played in the USSR they were one of the big, big teams.

“They've got a great team at the moment and they're top of the league playing good football.

“It will be very difficult game to call but an interesting one.”

Kanchelskis is remembered fondly at Goodison because of his goalscoring exploits in what was his only full-season with the club. He recently returned to his old stomping ground in Liverpool L4 and was given a rapturous ovation when he took to the pitch at half-time of the home game against Manchester City in January.

“The reception I got back at Everton was amazing," he said, "really nice and I was very pleased. It made me happy to be there again, I remember some very good times at Goodison Park. I can't thank the fans enough and the people at the club and throughout Liverpool were so welcoming.

“It was fantastic that the fans remember me after a long time."

While his daughter supports Manchester United, Andrei's son is a committed Evertonian and Kanchelskis senior has been watching the Blues this season, particularly the Europa League games.

He is at a loss to explain the difference in the team's domestic and Continental fortunes but he believes that a deeper squad and continued involvement in European competition will help in the longer run. He is also a big fan of Romelu Lukaku to whom he likens an old teammate from his time with the Toffees.

“In Europe they've played very well and have got a great record," Kanchelskis continued. "I've watched their games in the Europa League and they've been impressive.

“I don't know why they can't play the same in the Premier League.”

He said: “When looking at the current Everton team I like Romelu Lukaku. He's a big guy and a brilliant forward. His strength reminds me of when I played we had Duncan Ferguson and Daniel Amokachi. Amokachi was a very, very big, strong man.

“Romelu is still only 21 years old. I think if he works hard then he has the potential to become a really big player in European football. I really hope so because he's a good talent."

Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo



Reader Comments (33)

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Nick Armitage
1 Posted 09/03/2015 at 07:53:45
If we had him now we’d be 15 points better off. Just as long as Martinez wasn’t managing.
James Kirrane
2 Posted 09/03/2015 at 09:05:41
If we had him now Nick, Martinez would probably play him at centre half. Oh for a flying winger who could score goals for fun. Not sure Aaron ’smiler’ Lennon fits the bill.
Colin Leckey
3 Posted 09/03/2015 at 09:08:23
Ah Andrei Kanchelskis. From a time, not all that long ago really, when players in their prime saw a big money move from Man Utd to us as a positive step...
Matt Traynor
4 Posted 09/03/2015 at 09:13:12
Colin #3 I think "Kanch" was similar to Barmby in that he engineered moves to make money from signing on fees etc. The rumours (emanating from various Tottenham fans) around Barmby were related to his involvement with a cougar who was accustomed to being kept in a certain style. The rumours around Kanch were far more sinister - basically suggesting he had to generate money for others. He copped a lot of flack for opting to play for Russia after the fall of the USSR, even though he was Ukranian by birth.

If you recall, there was a hold up in his transfer from Man Utd to us over a claim, supposedly from Shaktar Donetsk, about money they’d be entitled to.

Also, after we sold to Fiorentina, he didn’t exactly hang around long there either.

Ray Roche
5 Posted 09/03/2015 at 09:16:28
Colin, there have always been very strong rumours that Kanchelskis kept moving from club to club in order to receive a signing on fee to help pay off huge gambling debts. The longest period he spent at any club was the 4 years he had at Old Trafford, usually having 1 - 2 years at each club before moving on. Terrific player, though.

If you Google "andrei kanchelskis gambling debts" there is a load of info regarding the position at the time, and also in the following link, if you scroll down to a piece taken from the Independent there is sobering article on Ukraine football...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/how-bribes-and-secret-bank-accounts-led-to-a-bomb-in-the-directors-box-1111058.html

Nick Entwistle
6 Posted 09/03/2015 at 09:39:58
You come out of communist Russia, you’re going to want to make a mint. Can’t blame him. He did go off the boil quite quickly though. And that match up of him against Maldini at Euro 96, I think, was a let down. Anyway, him in his pomp with Limpar on the left. proper old traditional wing play. He had left backs for breakfast.
Jim Bennings
8 Posted 09/03/2015 at 10:30:07
Arguably the man with the hardest shot I have ever seen at Everton. (Bilyaletdinov comes close.)

You wouldn’t see Kanchelskis arsing around with this sideways and backwards football, he merely got the ball ran forward and twatted the ball at goal as hard as possible.

Totally unplayable during 1995-96 and along with Limpar, when they were on fire it was scary.

Contrast that season to the mundane dross nowadays.

Brian Murray
9 Posted 09/03/2015 at 10:30:45
Andries, every fucking game for Everton is difficult...
Tony Abrahams
10 Posted 09/03/2015 at 10:25:21
Not many Everton players have scored two goals at Anfield, in a 2-1 victory. People say going out of Europe will help Everton. It might, but I don’t see how myself. Look at Villa now. I know they haven’t got to play as many games, or do much travelling, but there in a semi final and going to Wembley. There fans are buzzing, and when the crowds up for it, teams always find more energy. "Energy, that vital ingredient which everyone needs", let’s hope there is plenty at Goodison on Thursday night!
Jim Bennings
11 Posted 09/03/2015 at 11:20:23
Tony

I agree 100% with you.

Going out of Europe will help this dreadful season how exactly??

Lets be honest, it is not a case of us being "too good to go down" but more a case of three below us being "too bad to stay up".

I get the feeling we will probably stay up with 38 points this season, somewhere down the line we’ll eek out two more league wins and a smattering of draws.

Stay in Europe as long as is possible and keep some hope alive for the long suffering fans in what has otherwise been a disastrous season from start to finish.

As far as I’m concerned the moment we go out of Europe is the moment the season is over in terms of interest.

Tony Cheek
12 Posted 09/03/2015 at 11:25:45
No sweat Andrei, Martinez has done his homework and will adapt our style to meet the challenge. We are going to pass the ball so many times that they will all fall over dizzy, then Rom recieves a long pass from Jags, it runs under his feet but it doesnt matter as all the defenders are laying on the ground, he runs on then slams it home. The crowd erupts and Rom lifts his arms to thank his God (who isn’t always listening)........and then I woke up!
Ross Edwards
13 Posted 09/03/2015 at 11:36:51
If we go out to Kiev and fail to beat Newcastle and QPR, surely Martinez’s time would be up.
Chris Gould
14 Posted 09/03/2015 at 11:34:10
In the unlikely event that we won the Europa League, how would we plan for next season (assuming we avoid relegation)?

Should we spend as much money as we could on champions league quality players in order to really have a go at getting through the group stage? Or should we accept that champions league qualification is unlikely the following season and therefore we shouldn’t break the bank trying to have a real go at it?

I’m not sure what calibre of players we’d attract with our league form or style of play even if we did qualify for the Champions League. But, if we did make it, I don’t think we’re in a position to have a real go at progressing in it due to how far we have regressed this season.

Not trying to make what would be an incredible achievement sound negative, but the club are in disarray at the moment and not in the best position to prepare for Champions League football. But, then again, that would be next season’s worry. Long may this Europa League run continue. It’s all we have left to get excited about.

Matt Traynor
15 Posted 09/03/2015 at 11:42:52
Tony #10 / Jim #11, totally agree. I’m sure when we won the cup in 95 our league form had been pretty dreadful, yet the games in the cup were a mixture of luck (Bristol City away 4th round), great play (Spurs in the semi) that gave the players a lift.

And the fans... the Elland Road semi and the final at Wembley were two of my greatest days as a Blue.

Ernie Baywood
16 Posted 09/03/2015 at 12:17:27
I remember thinking that cup run generated serious competition for places. I wonder if we get past Kiev whether our current lot will start playing like it means something in the league?

Kev might not even get his end of season hammy strain.

Jim Bennings
17 Posted 09/03/2015 at 12:18:58
Agree Matt

Big games such as the 95 semi at Elland Road and the Final at the old Wembley are the ones that fan’s remember.

We haven’t had enough of those memories at this club during the 20 year period that has followed 1995’s unexpected success and we certainly haven’t seen enough big games at Goodison, I want to see a European semi final at Goodison Park under the floodlights again, I mean Christ we haven’t even seen a that many League Cup semi’s have we?

Its high time some of the bits of glory we are seeing other clubs have come the way of us now.

Rob Young
18 Posted 09/03/2015 at 12:51:51
Thank you Jim, spot on!
I remember when we played Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final at Goodison a few years back. I loved it, the atmosphere was fantastic that evening.
To see another European semi-final at Goodison (which would only be our second ever) would be amazing,

And yes, in 1995 we were fighting relegation untill Rideout scored at Portman Road only just before the end of the season. League form was terrible but that FA Cup was brilliant.
I was 20 at the time, my first - and only - trophy as an Evertonian in my adult life. I remember walking around town the day after thinking "now I am a FA Cup winner, they’ll never take that away from me".

Go on lads, let’s give it all we’ve got in Europe AND make sure we stay up.

Tom Bowers
19 Posted 09/03/2015 at 15:15:43
Why are so many people stating the obvious? Everton players, Everton manager and now ex-Everton players.

Every game is difficult when you are on a bad run and they donÂ’t come much worse than EvertonÂ’s which in all honesty has been a bad run all season.

There are a lot of good teams left in Europa league and if the Blues do get past Kiev one hopes they donÂ’t get Wolfsburg again who are a different side now.

Steven Telford
20 Posted 09/03/2015 at 16:03:28
Maybe he is planning to place bet and is trying to tak up the odds before putting the money down.

Brian #009
Hit the nail on the head

Tony Abrahams
21 Posted 09/03/2015 at 19:18:38
Steve, except the games in Europe! Always tough against Eastern Europeans, whose style can be as good as anyone’s. Slow, slow, fast, is usually how they play, but always thought they have a soft underbelly, and is the reason they have never been a success at the higher levels. Not the best travellers, they usually make up for it at home, so it’s imperative we get a decent lead on Thursday.
Andy Meighan
23 Posted 09/03/2015 at 21:02:22
Nick (#1), if we had him now, this clown would play him as a holding midfielder. What a player he was, though. Quick, direct and, as Jim said, one hell of a dig on him. He could teach this shower now a thing or two about hitting a ball from outside the box.

I could be wrong here but was Barkley’s goal against QPR our one and only goal from outside the box this season? What a sad stat. Can someone tell me if that’s right?

David Ellis
24 Posted 10/03/2015 at 02:40:07
Kanchelksis wasn’t really a winger. More like a wide striker that always always always cut in for the shot rather than putting in a cross. A bit like Mirallas, but just a lot better at the shooting bit.

He of course joined after the 95 Cup final so played no part in that.

It’s important we stay in the Europa League. We are not exactly facing a fixture overload given earlier cup exits. And we seem to need game time to work out our current funk.

Jim Bennings
25 Posted 10/03/2015 at 07:32:21
Andy

You could be right about goals from outside the box, at least in the Premier League!

I do not and never will forget Jags at the Kop though, a once-in-a-lifetime hit, never before and never again let’s put it that way.

We never shoot outside the penalty area. There is only Barkley or Mirallas likely to have a shot, Barkley hasn’t took on that many this season and I might be wrong but I think Mirallas scored at Spurs from distance?

You could watch Everton for years and never see a 30-yard hit from Macca and well Besic is going the same way. Barry at least did score a goal 25-yarder last season at home to Norwich, that stuck out in my memory because it was Barry... haha.

We haven’t scored a free-kick this season have we?

James Marshall
26 Posted 10/03/2015 at 07:39:35
Stating the obvious, but I reckon we need to take a 2 goal lead out there to stand a chance. 2-0 at Goodison should be enough IMO - anything to make them chase the game in the away leg as we’ve proven that away from home in Europe we’re deadly on the break against teams that come at us.

If we go there needing to win I fear we’ll struggle.

So again, stating the obvious really...

It would be nice to have the Goodison crowd right behind the team as well on Thursday night. The players need us on-side more than ever right now.

Andy Meighan
27 Posted 10/03/2015 at 08:40:01
I should never forgot JagielkaÂ’s goal, should I, Jim? And, as I posted, I remembered MirallasÂ’s cracker against Spurs. But I think thatÂ’s it really, isnÂ’t it.

Still, neither of them goals resulted in victory. Although, at the time, JagielkaÂ’s felt like it because of the timing.

You wouldnÂ’t know if they were under orders not to shoot from distance. Nothing would surprise me with the Spaniard...

Paul Dark
28 Posted 10/03/2015 at 12:01:54
I think Dynamo Kiev (it’s Kiev and not Kyiv, just as it is Bayern Munich, not Bayern München in English transcription) will be tough opponents, especially in the second leg.

It really would be good to let Martinez go now. ItÂ’s a shame that Kenwright is such a lame-duck chairman. Is loving the club with gushy sentimentality qualification enough to be a chairman when he steadfastly refuses to let go of the rings and make though decisions? Both Martinez and he need to walk for the good of our club.

God, Kanchelskis was a terrific player. Him and Limpar in the same team/squad made the dour Royle look like a good manager at times.

Colin Grierson
29 Posted 10/03/2015 at 12:37:58
Whoever AndreiÂ’s money is on, IÂ’ll have a tenner on the opposition. Great player, but by all accounts a lousy gambler.
John Malone
30 Posted 10/03/2015 at 14:32:36
If Dinamo Kiev have watched any of our Premier League games, theyÂ’ll park the bus, counter-attack, score a couple of set pieces, then thatÂ’ll be the end of us. I just hope Roberto has more than one plan for this tie; you can guarantee it will not be as easy as the other games have been!
Joe Clitherow
31 Posted 10/03/2015 at 16:17:29
By the way David Ellis, he didnÂ’t always shoot, he was masterly at getting to the by line and fizzing low hard crosses across the six yard box that could have pinged off anyone into the goal. If only we had kind of excitement now

About the time we signed him was also when names were put on shirts. There was a programme with James Bolam where he made reference to this, viz: "Kanchelskis? How the hell can you read that at the speed he goes?"

Just having him in the side pegged back two defenders to cover his breaks. Anfield derby 18 November 1995 and the 5-2 Sheffield Wednesday away game stand out.

What a great player!

Jim Bennings
32 Posted 10/03/2015 at 16:45:48
Joe,

You could even add a double Andrei got at Ewood Park in 1996 , a game I had the luxury of being at, we won 3-0 at the home of the reigning Champions at that time. (Blackburn Rovers, yes it did happen, younger fans...)

Kanchelskis also scored the winner at Highbury in our last win at Arsenal and a bit historically really in that we will never win again at Highbury, obviously.

Certain players just go through spells of sheer brilliance and watching Kanchelskis between 1996 and 1996 was a privilege.

A proper "phenomenal player".

Lee Courtliff
33 Posted 10/03/2015 at 20:17:30
Kanchelskis was awesome. I had the privilege of a season ticket when he played for us, genuine excitement whenever he received the ball. I still miss him.

As for Thursday, I'm actually very confident. We've done well in Europe, it seems to suit us. As others have said, we need at least a 2-goal lead because the return leg will be very difficult.

But hopefully we'll be able to counter them like we did Wolfsburg and Berne.

I can't wait.

David Hallwood
34 Posted 11/03/2015 at 13:11:02
My recollection is that Royle rarely played Kanchelskis and Limpar on the same side, because with those two, and the dogs in the middle, that would've been a formidable midfield.

Sadly yet another false dawn, as we lost Andrei and Parkinson to long-term injury. There was also a rumour (rife at the time) that Ian Wright was going to sign because he didn't get on with the manager Bruce Rioch.

If that had've come off, it would've been a phenomenal, phenomenal side.

Paul Burns
35 Posted 11/03/2015 at 14:35:33
We donÂ’t need to rely on any lead although, obviously, one would be beneficial. All this line of thought will do is bring on a defeated attitude if we donÂ’t have one and this is wrong.

The game is over two legs and the home leg is NOT the be-all and end-all.


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