I do not agree with prediction!
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http://www.examiner.com/figure-skating- ... the-makingEuropeans preview (men): History in the making?The big storyline on the men’s side coming into this week’s European Figure Skating Championships is the return of 2006 Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko to international competition. But the big story coming out of the competition could very well be the triumph of Javier Fernandez, the young Spaniard who has stormed right to the top this season.
But the men’s side this week is shaping up to be one of the more competitive ones at Europeans in recent memory. Fernandez and Plushenko are not the only skaters who have a chance at the title – there are at least seven men who could realistically win the gold. And the four men who have combined to win 11 of the last 12 European titles – Plushenko, Florent Amodio, Brian Joubert, Tomas Verner – are in Sheffield, Great Britain, this week for more gold.
GOLD Javier Fernandez ESP – Sounds crazy, right? A guy who has never finished higher than eighth at Euros and tenth at Worlds, and I’m giving him favorite status? Well, it doesn’t sound that crazy if you take what’s happened this season into account. Fernandez has been the hot ticket all season, two silvers at two Grand Prix events and then the bronze at Grand Prix Final behind Patrick Chan and Daisuke Takahashi, arguably the two top skaters in the world at the moment. The reason he’s got the edge, though, is his technical content. Not only does he have a quad in the short and two in the free skate (along with two triple axels), but he was also nine for nine on his quads during the Grand Prix series – no other skater even comes close to that kind of consistency. Spain’s first ever European champion in figure skating? Very possible.
SILVER Evgeni Plushenko RUS – Europeans will be the Russian legend’s second competition since his comeback. His return at Russian Nationals in December was pretty impressive, but his problem knee is bothering him. During prelims, he was solid but nowhere near Plushenko standards, and like at Russians, the second half of his free skate was more of an issue than the first half. Frankly, it is probably too early to expect too much from him, but the podium is very much in sight for Plushenko, and a seventh European title is not out of the realm of possibility at all.
BRONZE Tomas Verner CZE – A back injury during the fall gave him a slow start to the season, but at the Czech Championships, he won the event over Michal Brezina by almost 20 points. Verner won the title four years ago and took the bronze last year, so he certainly knows what it’s like to be at the top at Europeans. And better yet? His quad toe is back.
4. Brian Joubert FRA – Speaking of back, Joubert, the three-time European champ, looks to be regaining his form, winning his eighth French title over Florent Amodio. And like Verner, he also had to deal with a back injury, which took him out of the Grand Prix series entirely. Euros will be his first international outing this season, and it will be interesting to see how prepared he is now that he has had another two months of training under his belt after his nationals.
5. Artur Gachinski RUS – The Russian silver medalist has been on and off this season after his surprise bronze at last year’s Worlds. He’s got all the goods to make it onto the podium, but he will need to be much more consistent, particularly in the free skate, in order to be competitive with the top men in Sheffield this week.
Florent Amodio FRA – The reigning European champion has had a tough time building any sort of momentum since his win last year in Switzerland. He did not get on the podium on either of his Grand Prix events, but looked stronger at the French championships. Europeans will be a crucial competition for him to turn it around this season in time for Worlds.
Michal Brezina CZE – Brezina had a great start to the season, three medals, including a win at Skate America, but his trajectory after that competition was not promising. After a distant sixth at the Grand Prix Final and later taking second to Verner at the Czech championships, Brezina has to be looking for a turn-around this week in Sheffield. Did he peak too soon?
Kevin Van Der Perren BEL – The two-time European bronze medalist has made his intentions clear that this week’s Euros will be his last competition. He will be a sentimental favorite for a medal, but he will need to pull out all the stops to get past the talented field he’s up against.
by cekoni » 26 Jan 2012, 01:00 
Thx dimi Sarynka & Lotus 4 your 'Plushy reporting!' 
good luck evgeni!!!
Go and blast them all! 
.... Plushy and his fans!!! 
