In the return match of the Champions League qualification against Paphos (0:2), Dynamo’s goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret made a mistake at the start of the match, which cost his team a conceded goal.
Ruslan Neshcheret. Photo — Yu. YurieivNeshcheret became the main goalkeeper of Dynamo last winter when Georgiy Bushchan left the team. I was a bit skeptical about Ruslan’s prospects as the first choice, considering his previous performances. However, during the second half of the season, there were no gross mistakes. The status of the first choice and consistent playing time gave Neshcheret confidence in his abilities.
Every goalkeeper makes mistakes. Sooner or later, “blunders” happen even to the best goalkeepers in the world. Unfortunately, Neshcheret’s “blunder” came at a very inopportune time and in a crucial match.
The media immediately began to actively promote the idea of strengthening the goalkeeper position for Dynamo. I completely agree with this statement. Oleksandr Shovkovskyi’s team needs another goalkeeper.
I believe that Neshcheret should remain the first choice. He just needs some competition. Behind him are Valentyn Morgun, Denys Ihnatenko, and Vyacheslav Surkis. So far, they cannot create any competition for Neshcheret. There needs to be an incentive to improve, full concentration. And when you see that inexperienced young goalkeepers are behind you, you understand that you will always play.
In other words, competition with Denys Boyko elevated Georgiy Bushchan to the level that allowed him to become the first choice for Dynamo and the national team of Ukraine. Without competition, Bushchan would hardly have grown as much.
If Neshcheret suffers any injury, illness, or is disqualified — a big problem may arise. Morgun, at 24 years old, has only played 3 matches at the adult level. For two years, he was devoid of playing practice and only trained. I can’t even recall when he played at the youth level. The last official match for Ihnatenko dates back to a UEFA Youth League match against Deportivo right before the war began. Both had no connection to the youth national team of Ukraine... The level of these goalkeepers may prove insufficient even for the UPL.
I saw Ihnatenko play in a Ukrainian Cup match against Rukh. He didn’t convince me. There was a lot of nervousness and uncertainty in himself. This is all normal because stable performance requires playing practice. To understand the level of a goalkeeper and to be able to talk about some class, one needs to play at least a year on loan and gain practical experience.
Vyacheslav Surkis has greater prospects, having played at the youth level for a long time (his third season with Dynamo and one year on loan at Zorya in U-19). He has stable playing practice unlike Morgun and Ihnatenko, although at the youth level. It would be good to spend a season at the adult level afterward to genuinely compete for the first choice position at Dynamo.
Therefore, I believe that Dynamo needs another goalkeeper. Experienced, mature, who will be ready to challenge Neshcheret and, if necessary, can replace Ruslan. I don’t want to mention specific names. There are certainly people who can pick candidates. It may not only concern a Ukrainian but also a foreign player.
Serhiy TYSHCHENKO
