Vėtra look lively in Lithuania

A 1-0 defeat against FK Ekranas may have knocked them off the top of the Lithuanian table, but FK Vėtra have still enjoyed a fine start to the new season.

Positive start
Losing to Ekranas saw Vėtra slip back into second in the table behind the Panevezys side, but Virginijus Liubšys can still take some satisfaction from his side's early displays. Above all, their qualification for the final of the 2007/08 Lithuanian Cup has guaranteed them a UEFA Cup place, since their opponents FBK Kaunas have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League.

Quite a challenge
The former Ekranas coach regarded the Vėtra job as a real challenge when he took over in the winter, but the man who won the title twice in Panevezys has settled into his new role well. "You cannot plan where you will finish in the table," he said. "The Vėtra players approach each match as the most important one. I'm glad they are showing fighting spirit."

Better expected
However, he still feels there is room for improvement. "I want the defence to become more solid and the attack to be more aggressive," said Liubšys, who is working alongside his old partner Albertas Klimavičius. "We have seen positive signs, but if we want to be in contention for the top places we need to improve our game. Many clubs are of a similar standard so every match is a battle."

Winter refit
That Vėtra are still battling for anything is something of a triumph. The withdrawal of the club's Russian sponsors at the end of last season left the club in peril, with players getting restless as their wages were not paid. President Romas Stašauskas said: "There will be no problems this year. There were other people working at Vėtra then, but they have already left the club."

Canny signings
While their financial problems are now resolved, Vėtra lost a few players during the winter, but made some canny signings too, including goalkeeper Roman Smishko, formerly of Belarussian side FC Smorgon. Meanwhile, midfielders Darvydas Šernas and Dejan Miloševski remain the envy of many of their A Lyga rivals, and striker Vyacheslav Sofroni is showing promise with three goals in seven games.