Bundesliga review part 2. the new one :)

[supercrystal7]

Ruhr how did Schalke play? I expect Di Matteo would have a chance to work with the plays and get them playing the style of football he wants. He is far from the best manager, but I expect him to get Schalke playing some nice football. In his early games he was pretty much parking the bus, what about yesterday? The scoreline implies something different.

 

[Ruhr]

He completely changed tactics, played a 3-5-2 and surprised Wolfsburg in the first 30 minutes with that. So Schalke was 3-0 up before the break. Second half, when Wolfsburg reacted to that system, Schalke had some luck to avoid a draw.
Good to see, that di Matteo learned from the mistakes he made in the first matches. The first 30 minutes were the best since he became coach.

 

[supercrystal7]

He completely changed tactics, played a 3-5-2 and surprised Wolfsburg in the first 30 minutes with that. So Schalke was 3-0 up before the break. Second half, when Wolfsburg reacted to that system, Schalke had some luck to avoid a draw.
Good to see, that di Matteo learned from the mistakes he made in the first matches. The first 30 minutes were the best since he became coach.

Still a good win. A big game for him against Chelsea this Tuesday. Will be interesting to see what he does. Hopefully will be a great game.

 

[Maldeika]

what a bottom 4 in Germany, what the fuck is going on in the Bundesliga?

Badly run clubs. Said it before, but it always makes me laugh when people trot out stereotypes about how German clubs are so efficient and well run. It's a joke that teams like Hamburg and Stuttgart are facing relegation.

The problem with this clubs is that you do not get any consistency into this clubs - the fans and the media are a big factor in this. They have had success not long ago in the past even if with Hamburg it was not the Bundesliga championship but they were atleast part of the teams that fighted for the European spots.

It is easier for the smaller clubs who can work with lesser expectations. And I think that the quality of players in Germany in the middle sector or better the difference in the quality in that sector has gotten a lot smaller as there is masses of good young players. You have time, you have young good coaches who apply team oriented tactics, you have players that are technically and tactically very good schooled...

You sometimes watch matches of the teams against Bayern. There seldom is really easy matches even if by the end of the match Bayern usually wins and if they have scored the first and second goals some others might fall especially at the end of the match when the other team that has to run for the ball the whole match gets really tired. If I look at the effort Bayern has to stick in every match (and bundesliga.de has the running data) the Bundesliga matches need more effort than the most CL matches do.

Some say the league is not interesting - I think it is. Not when it means the Champion as Bayern right now is just a number to big especially as they take all matches serious - but it is very difficult to predict results right now as everybody really can beat everybody.

 

[supercrystal7]

Maldeika, I agree the quality of the Bundesliga has been very good this season. I personally think it is due to a lot of players gaining confidence from the world cup and of course the excellent crop of youngsters German are producing.

This is why clubs like owners need strong board members. Fans are notoriously fickle and change their mind with every poor result.

I still the Bundesliga is in a precarious position. Dortmund look set to collapse and this will hurt the Bundesliga badly. Not just, because Bayern will have no challengers, but it also means that the likes of Gundogan, Hummels and Reus will be leaving.

On another note. What do you think of the decision to not keep Kroos now? Is there anybody in the world Bayern have a shot of getting who can take his place? Schweinsteiger and Thiago were always going to be injured for long periods of time.

Also have Dortmund's current woes helped convince you just how much Reus carried them last season? Unlike Suarez and Bale did for Tottenham/Liverpol, Reus was carring Dortmund on every front.

 

[bayern-flo2]

On another note. What do you think of the decision to not keep Kroos now?

Kroos is a very very good and talented young guy, no doubt!
But looking at his performances at Bayern and the supposed wage, I would have sold him too!
He has been good no doubt, but he didn't constantly outperform like other important players. His performances often depended on others performances.

And seeing his agent and Moyes at the match at Gladbach, that's something I've never seen before. Absolutely NO GO!

I wish him all the best for his future.

 

[supercrystal7]

On another note. What do you think of the decision to not keep Kroos now?

Kroos is a very very good and talented young guy, no doubt!
But looking at his performances at Bayern and the supposed wage, I would have sold him too!
He has been good no doubt, but he didn't constantly outperform like other important players. His performances often depended on others performances.

And seeing his agent and Moyes at the match at Gladbach, that's something I've never seen before. Absolutely NO GO!

I wish him all the best for his future.

I am sure Alonso + Reina are on more than Kroos. If Bayern replace him with someone better, I doubt he will be on less wages than Kroos.

 

[supercrystal7]

The Premier League strikes back. I fancy Arsenal to beat Dortmund too. Interesting to see how Wolfsburg and Everton get on. Have not seen the Schalke match yet, but looks like they embarrassed themselves again. Bayern took too many chances. I wonder if it was due to the match not meaning much to them.

EDIT
Looks like Schalke are probably going out now, which on the basis of the group is deserved. They got a terrible decision to beat Sporting.

 

[Alex - City Matters]

My latest article, on Augsburg's chances at Europe this season. From before the Stuttgart game. All views, comments, criticism appreciated <a class="postlink" href="https://thebundesligauk.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/is-europe-on-the-horizon-for-fc-augsburg/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://thebundesligauk.wordpress.com/2 ... -augsburg/</a>

Some of my match reports for VAVEL;

Kaierslautern vs Darmstadt - <a class="postlink" href="http://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/germany-bundesliga/417637-1-fc-kaiserslautern-0-0-sv-darmstadt-98-stalemate-at-the-fritz-walter-stadion.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.vavel.com/en/international-f ... adion.html</a>

Bochum vs Aalen -
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/germany-bundesliga/417597-vfl-bochum-4-0-vfr-aalen-brilliant-bochum-dispatch-aalen-with-ease.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.vavel.com/en/international-f ... -ease.html</a>

My thoughts on the growth of FC Ingolstadt and their chances on promotion, wrote before their mini collapse. Same thoughts apply as the one on Augsburg.
<a class="postlink" href="https://thebundesligauk.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/another-title-heading-to-bavaria/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://thebundesligauk.wordpress.com/2 ... o-bavaria/</a>

 

[Ruhr]

Die Schanzer or FCI are not very popular in the eyes of german football fans. With an average attendance of 7.500 they would be another very small club in the Bundesliga. The reason they are on top is manly the management and sponsoring by Audi. Ingolstadt has a popular ice-hockey club by the way.