TSL bringing some verrrry interesting insights into the coaching situation. All but confirms that TCC went at the coaching with an incorrect mindset this season.
First of all, TSL never confirms anything. They got the new SP right but I don‘t see any golden dress anywhere, do you?
It‘s kind of their thing, there‘s some truth and truly insightful stuff in their words and then there‘s some made up rumours and gossip, too. It‘s their way to get people talking about them, it‘s their way to be successful. Which is okay. But I‘ll always take everything they say with a grain of salt because you can basically never know whether it‘s the rumours part or the real part you‘re getting.
I do agree that there were some mistakes being made this season by Brian and his team. It‘s obvious that he‘s only now truly realising the insane depth Russia has in ladies. That yes, a 62 SP will get you in 14th out of 18 competitors. That yes, there are girls doing quads who will move up to seniors next year. And that yes, even if they happen to lose all their jumps to puberty, once the next Olympics are there, another bunch of 15 year old first year seniors will be ready with the jump arsenal on their pre-pubescent body to completely dominate the ladies event. If it‘s not Polina, then it will be Yulia or Adelina or Evgenia or Alina or Sasha or Kamila. And even for Kamila who‘s not even in juniors yet girls are waiting in the line to replace her. Akatieva and co. And even if it isn‘t them (remember how other tiny prodigies didn‘t win the Olympics but a girl that was virtually unknown before her first successful junior season) some girl will always be ready. That‘s the situation in Russian FS and it won‘t change anytime soon.
It was about time he realised this. That reworking Zhenya‘s whole technique will not get her on top again just like that. It will not be as easy and I‘m thankful that he‘s stopped saying, her titles are only the tip of the iceberg and she‘ll be a champion again soon. Because in Russian ladies figure skating... it will be harder. Reworking her technique is truly the only chance Zhenya has for the future to even continue and that‘s why she‘s taken this path. But one knows whether that will be enough or not. It will surely be difficult as hell. I think he‘s getting it now, though. Just like Zhenya is getting the TCC philosophy more. Nationals while on paper and for someone who just looks at the actual result and score sheet, unsuccessful for a two time world champion, looks like it has switched something in both of them. I think they - Brian and Zhenya - have learned important lessons from this competition, more than they would have taken away with a medal. And it‘s great to see Zhenya happy. Yes, she didn‘t qualify for Euros or Worlds but maybe that‘s a blessing in disguise and just what she needs to heal properly and get to work on her programs for next season now already.
But TSL... come on. Yeah, the FS isn‘t the best program but to say it‘s not working for her? She sold the heck out of that here and at SCI. And also... if she gets to go to Worlds or Euros (which she won‘t but since they were talking about this) changing the FS just for that would be NOT a good idea. Better keep a FS she‘s having fun with and a new SP than having TWO new programs that on paper might be better but she fails to pull off due to a lack of muscle memory.
And what I also don‘t think they got right is that Brian went into this season expecting her to be World Champ. When did he say that? I don‘t remember an interview like that. I do remember that he said before Nationals that “if Zhenya is clean she can win this“ to which I was just thinking.. oh boy. Yeah, she can theoretically but she’ll need to be clean first. The pressure is on her. That‘s not as easy as it sounds like.
But to win Worlds? No. And like I said, I think his mindset is changing, too. He‘s truly devoted to Zhenya and whatever might happen, he‘s with her for the long haul. Which is great. They both learn from this and yeah, I think this is a good thing. They have to get to know each other better, such things take time.
I forgot the other parts and I‘ll have to rewatch it, sorry. Like I said I‘m tired and this post probably doesn‘t make any sense either so I‘ll stop.
worthy because it was obvious that this was just gossip. So, judging by all the reactions I had, it feels like a typical TSL. 
