I do think there is valid criticism to Plushenko and his team for some of the choices they have made, not only when it comes to Kostornaya but Zhilina here as well. Bringing in a new advisor/coach in Morozov and then not having the two coaches communicate with each other is reckless and potentially dangerous. I‘m talking about Zhilina being told to start her program skating in another direction and her mother later on scolding her for it because she‘d had no idea. For an already nervous competitor - and a kid at that - this must be so confusing and it just shows a lack of professionalism. The 3A in the SP is another issue - obviously she can do it in training but in competition she falls even on other triples. If she had just skated a clean SP at Nationals and here with a 2A, 3F, 3Lz+3T, she would have placed a lot higher and had a better chance at making the national team next season.
On the other hand, I think it‘s pretty silly and overdramatic to attribute all of these skaters‘ troubles to Plushenko, as if he‘s personally ruining them. Like you said, Veronika‘s not a natural competitor and being primarily coached by your own mother is also always a challenge. So, why is this Plushenko‘s fault? He can‘t change her personality, it‘s something she‘ll have to grow into.
The lack of overall experience from most coaches at the camp there is concerning but I don‘t think everything‘s bad either. They seem to have pretty good conditions there, specialists and ice time. It‘s just that routine comes with experience and vice versa and they have to find a common ground. Maybe the transfer of so many top talents was too soon but I doubt the project‘s failed from the start. Or at least I hope it isn‘t..
