Bundesliga review part 2. the new one :)

[supercrystal7]

Was listening to a few podcast on my commute this week and all of them have been writing off the lack of quality in the Bundesliga. Bayer's showing being used as a stick to beat the entire league as expected.

Schalke and Dortmund have a chance to put things right. Only saw the highlights, but how respected is Essien in Germany? He is the kind of player Schalke could do with. I would even suggest the likes of Cole, Evra or Vidic in the summer. In a perfect world they could get an old highly respected German player like Hamann or Ballack. I think I will watch the Schalke game over the Chelsea game, but I feel it could be a big mistake and Madrid may crush them.

Dortmund might be missing Hummels and obviously the long term injuries too. Ilkay still not back yet. I think Dortmund would have a chance at the CL if Gundogan was to come back fit for the latter stages, but this looks unlikely. It's probably for the best if he signed a new deal. He has missed a lot of football and will need patience to get back to his best. The best place for this to happen is at Dortmund where he is liked. If he makes a move to a big club ie United and does not adjust straight away it could finish his career or forever halt his progress like Kagawa or Sahin.

 

[Ruhr]

i don´t think. Schalke will come up with a big name. It is not our transfer policy. It was reported, that 17 year old talent Donis Avdijai got a contract with a 50 million euro exit clause. That is the way we are doing things at the moment. Developing young talents and sell them one day big style to get rid of the debts. In the next years Schalke has to pay back several bonds, we need liquidity.

 

[sam-caddick]

Can anybody tell me more about Sebastian Jung, the right back for Frankfurt?

Watched him against in the first half against Porto last night and I thought he looked very good, his crossing for a right back must be up thre with the best I have seen from someone in that position.

I watched some YouTube videos on him earlier on and his crossing seems to be a trademark of his, Arsenal linked from what I have seen on Google as well.

Is he one to look out for in the Summer?

 

[Bembeltown]

Can anybody tell me more about Sebastian Jung, the right back for Frankfurt?

Watched him against in the first half against Porto last night and I thought he looked very good, his crossing for a right back must be up thre with the best I have seen from someone in that position.

I watched some YouTube videos on him earlier on and his crossing seems to be a trademark of his, Arsenal linked from what I have seen on Google as well.

Is he one to look out for in the Summer?

He is a promising young talent and I doubt we will be able to keep him. Leverkusen seems to be interested as well....

You are right with your observations though as he is the defender with the most assists in the Bundesliga. Not sure how much of an improvement he would be for City. He needs to play on a regular basis to improve even further.

 

[supercrystal7]

i don´t think. Schalke will come up with a big name. It is not our transfer policy. It was reported, that 17 year old talent Donis Avdijai got a contract with a 50 million euro exit clause. That is the way we are doing things at the moment. Developing young talents and sell them one day big style to get rid of the debts. In the next years Schalke has to pay back several bonds, we need liquidity.

The problem with your policy is you lack experience and leadership. Santana is pretty much the leader and captain of the club and he is nothing special. I am not talking about a big name signing, you don't have the money for that, but getting in a legendary player on a free; much like you did with Raul. If you can convince Raul then you can convince the others. Players like Cole and Lampard will be on free's and their wages probably won't be too bad considering you are getting them for free. I think this is what the team needs more than anything. They need experience and leadership. The average age of the first 11 was just 24 today and two teenagers were starting.

Also the club should have pictures of Holtby and Neuer all over the training ground. Neuer (despite what you think of him) should be used as the example of a player, who did not make the big move too early and is now the best keeper in the world. Holtby is the example of the youngster who moved too early and is now not going to the world cup and bottom of the Premier League.

At the same time Keller is not good enough. He is know Klopp and it's best to actually get in top manager.

 

[Castiel]

Do German clubs aside from Bayern get performance anxiety or something in Europe? Schalke was disappointing against us and Leverkusen was poor against an awful United side. I fully expect Madrid to wallop Schalke in the last 16 too, but having seen these teams a few times in the Bundesliga they look like completely different sides. They irony is they don't even seem to be afraid of Bayern, while most CL teams are. Even Dortmund seemed to suffer with this a few years ago.

 

[supercrystal7]

Do German clubs aside from Bayern get performance anxiety or something in Europe? Schalke was disappointing against us and Leverkusen was poor against an awful United side. I fully expect Madrid to wallop Schalke in the last 16 too, but having seen these teams a few times in the Bundesliga they look like completely different sides. They irony is they don't even seem to be afraid of Bayern, while most CL teams are. Even Dortmund seemed to suffer with this a few years ago.

The simple answer is yes they do. Just listen to them talk about foreign players and especially the Premier League and they are clearly star struck. Add to this the new generation of German players being more similar to a stereotypical French generation and you get their shameful collapses.

As you pointed out Schalke did worse against you than the other two teams in the group yet they came second. The same with Leverkusen, they managed to come 2nd in the group despite being the only team not to take points off United.

 

[Castiel]

The simple answer is yes they do. Just listen to them talk about foreign players and especially the Premier League and they are clearly start struck. Add to this the new generation of German players being more similar to a stereotypical French generation and you get their shameful collapses.

As you pointed out Schalke did worse against you than the other two teams in the group yet they came second. The same with Leverkusen, they managed to come 2nd in the group despite being the only team not to take points of United.

Hopefully nobody lets them know how shit we all are at the moment then!

 

[bayern blade]

Do German clubs aside from Bayern get performance anxiety or something in Europe? Schalke was disappointing against us and Leverkusen was poor against an awful United side. I fully expect Madrid to wallop Schalke in the last 16 too, but having seen these teams a few times in the Bundesliga they look like completely different sides. They irony is they don't even seem to be afraid of Bayern, while most CL teams are. Even Dortmund seemed to suffer with this a few years ago.

The simple answer is yes they do. Just listen to them talk about foreign players and especially the Premier League and they are clearly star struck. Add to this the new generation of German players being more similar to a stereotypical French generation and you get their shameful collapses.

As you pointed out Schalke did worse against you than the other two teams in the group yet they came second. The same with Leverkusen, they managed to come 2nd in the group despite being the only team not to take points off United.

Yet Dortmund and Schalke both won at Arsenal.

 

[Bembeltown]

Some pics and a short video from our away trip to Port:

[bigimg]http://www.fotosdacurva.com/albuns/2013-2014/20140220%20-%20FC%20PORTO%20-%20EINTRACHT%20FRANKFURT%20-%20UEL/14220024.jpg[/bigimg]

[bigimg]http://www.fotosdacurva.com/albuns/2013-2014/20140220%20-%20FC%20PORTO%20-%20EINTRACHT%20FRANKFURT%20-%20UEL/23120024.jpg[/bigimg]

Support video and some parts of the march to the ground on the highway. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYtc_XE1b3Y

 

[Maldeika]

Do German clubs aside from Bayern get performance anxiety or something in Europe? Schalke was disappointing against us and Leverkusen was poor against an awful United side. I fully expect Madrid to wallop Schalke in the last 16 too, but having seen these teams a few times in the Bundesliga they look like completely different sides. They irony is they don't even seem to be afraid of Bayern, while most CL teams are. Even Dortmund seemed to suffer with this a few years ago.

Leverkusen are bottlers. But Schalke surprised me a lot in the recent some years. They are the wonder bag somehow - really great performances and then next time bottling things. I have a weak spot for Schalke because of this that I did not have a couple of years before. There European performance in 2009 to 2011 got me. Sometimes they bottled the first match - and had real big comebacks in the second. And they did that with a lot of young players in the team.

 

[Ruhr]

lol
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLJcZfhDqfA[/youtube]

 

[Maldeika]

Leverkusen lost against Wolfsburg 1:3. If Bayern wins tomorrow there is 19 points between first and second. It is not only because Bayern is that strong but because the others bottle it... (the following graphic includes a Bayern win)

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

Strange result for Hamburg, what happened there? Was it Dortmunds injuries again?

Secondly, does anyone know when the details for this years Audi Cup are released?

 

[supercrystal7]

Do German clubs aside from Bayern get performance anxiety or something in Europe? Schalke was disappointing against us and Leverkusen was poor against an awful United side. I fully expect Madrid to wallop Schalke in the last 16 too, but having seen these teams a few times in the Bundesliga they look like completely different sides. They irony is they don't even seem to be afraid of Bayern, while most CL teams are. Even Dortmund seemed to suffer with this a few years ago.

Leverkusen are bottlers. But Schalke surprised me a lot in the recent some years. They are the wonder bag somehow - really great performances and then next time bottling things. I have a weak spot for Schalke because of this that I did not have a couple of years before. There European performance in 2009 to 2011 got me. Sometimes they bottled the first match - and had real big comebacks in the second. And they did that with a lot of young players in the team.

That was a period when they had Raul, a type of player Schalke need more than any other now. They aren't even that expensive so lack of money is no excuse.

Strange result for Hamburg, what happened there? Was it Dortmunds injuries again?

Secondly, does anyone know when the details for this years Audi Cup are released?

The usual for Dortmund. No Reus today, which took away his moments of brilliance which have carried them all season.

Their defence was poor today especially Schmelzer, Freidrich and even Lukas, but these guys have barely played these season. The midfield is not good enough since Sahin is not really up to it. Klopp seems to always blame Bender when he it's not his fault.

The bigger problem is that they cannot break teams down, because they have a bunch of runners and no passers in the team. There is no cohesion about how to get the ball upfront without Hummels and Gundogan.

Klopp completely blew last summer's transfer window and the injuries have only made things worse. They have taken several steps back from last year.

The statements from the club are not promising either. They have to keep trying to chase Bayern and they will stay ahead of the pack. Instead they are trying to buy players just to stay ahead of the pack and have already been caught. As things stand Schalke will have a better squad going into next season and so Wolfsburg won't be far off.

Nice win for Wolfsburg and makes the race for top 4 very tight. Wolfsburg have the money though and if they get top 4 then they can really push on.

It's not good for the Bundesliga to be the only big league over this early.

 

[Maldeika]

@supercrystal

Actually I thing the league is very interesting. Maybe not the run for the first - but the run for the European spots and the relegation spots just somehow is very interesting. And I do not really think that the interest in Germany for the German league decreases because of a Bayern domination.

And around Germany - the most foreigners are more fans of teams and not of leagues. Yes, some of the bandwaggon fans Dortmund got in the recent 2 years might run away - but the interest in German clubs and German players did not.

Dortmund - a concept and players that works against ball possession teams but not against parked busses or tight defenses, maybe less team thinking in the team due to other structures than 2 years ago - and maybe the motivation of Klopp let's the team overperform for a time but somewhen does not function that good anymore... - and yes, the injuries deepen the problems

The Audi Cup only takes place in years without a big tournament. 2009, 2011, 2013 - the next will be in 2015. FC Bayern is going on US tour starting August and will play the MLS All Star match on August 6th.

 

[cookster]

I thought the Bundesliga was the model everybody else should follow. What a joke, Bayern will be walking this league for the next 10 years.

 

[supercrystal7]

@supercrystal

Actually I thing the league is very interesting. Maybe not the run for the first - but the run for the European spots and the relegation spots just somehow is very interesting. And I do not really think that the interest in Germany for the German league decreases because of a Bayern domination.

Interesting compared to what other top leagues? Yes there is interest in other things, but compared to the other leagues the Bundesliga is the least exciting. So much is already decided and the other leagues are deeper into the season.

And around Germany - the most foreigners are more fans of teams and not of leagues. Yes, some of the bandwaggon fans Dortmund got in the recent 2 years might run away - but the interest in German clubs and German players did not.

People watch a mixture of both. They like certain players, but they also watch the big games. I will make an effort to watch Bayern, Schalke and Dortmund in the Bundesliga (usually in that order). However, I would also watch a title decided between say Wolfsburg and Leverkusen. Similar in Italy; I will try to watch Milan, Juventus and Napoli in that order, but will tune in for title deciders. We have been over this, but why do you think people keep mention the problem? It takes time, but just have a look at the Scottish league (on a lower level) to see what happens when it becomes a one horse domination.

Hardcore fans will tune in no matter what, but the casual fans will switch off. I know a couple of casual Hamburg fans, who had things not been so dire would not have been watching much this season.

Dortmund - a concept and players that works against ball possession teams but not against parked busses or tight defenses, maybe less team thinking in the team due to other structures than 2 years ago - and maybe the motivation of Klopp let's the team overperform for a time but somewhen does not function that good anymore... - and yes, the injuries deepen the problems

I don't agree with this at all. The Dortmund team of last year worked fine even against teams that parked the bus. If it for the strongest team in the last 25 years (Bayern), they would have won a treble. The problem this season is that all the creativity, technique and passing ability has been ripped right out of the squad. Dortmund have played this season without their three most technical and creative players : Hummels, Gundogan and Gotze. Bayern are the only team in the world that could cope with such a loss. Even Man City fans know that if they played a season without Kompany, Toure and Silva they would not challenge for the title. This is much worse for a smaller squad like Dortmund. The quality of player they brought in are just not up to scratch. Freidrich, Sahin and Mkhitaryan are not good enough.

 

[bayern blade]

I thought the Bundesliga was the model everybody else should follow. What a joke, Bayern will be walking this league for the next 10 years.

We'll not be doing too badly in europe either !

Seriously it's only the last 18 months or so that Bayern have simply become too good for the league and either Dortmund or the likes of Wolfsburg will not be miles behind forever. Spain managed with the same two at the top for decades as is the case in most leagues.

In anycase I'm not bored yet, not by a long way !

 

[Maldeika]

@supercrystal

Dortmund already had the same problems last year. We were talking about this already then - even with Gündogan, Götze etc. The 25 points did not come from nothing - and the most of this points they did not get in the CL months. But the most teams then still played more open against them than they do it this season. There was still a lot teams that thought they could play bremenlike against them and that does not work - even now. And they had a lot of matches like against Nuremberg in which Nuremberg really had them in the bag but was unlucky and they somehow had the luck to score that goal - this year they miss being lucky, too.