Bundesliga review part 2. the new one :)

[Bembeltown]

Hamburg went down 3-1 in Augsburg yesterday, which means that there are only 4 teams left to go down.

Will be either Braunschweig, Nürnberg, Hamburg or Stuttgart.

Hamburg will play Bayern and Mainz in the last two matches, so it could very well be that Hamburg go down directly without getting the opportunity to play in the play-downs/offs.

Would love to see Braunschweig getting a chance to participate in the relegation play downs. Great set of fans...they were in Berlin with 10000 on Saturday.

If Nürnberg go down again they will hold the record for most relegations (8 in total). Fürth might get promoted to the Bundesliga, so their local rival will play in the top flight, while Nürnberg will only play the second fiddle.

 

[supercrystal7]

If anybody thinks that the UEFA in anything favours Bayern...

The only losses at home in the CL (the ones that counted and did a harm) in the last 7 years Bayern had with referee Proenca from Portugal. We only lost against Arsenal, Manchester City - and Bordeaux in 2009/10, Inter 2010/11 and Chelsea 2011/12 (the final)...

Who is the referee next Tuesday? Proenca...

We lost two CL finals - in 2010 with Howard Webb in 2012 with Proenca. Funny that the UEFA gives us both in the CL semi final this year...

(I hope the guys are less superstitious than I think they are. The last meeting with Proenca was in the match against Sweden Berlin with Neuer, Badstuber, Boateng, Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Kroos in goal, defense and defensive midfield. Germany led 4:0 and Müller was subbed at 4:1 or 4:2. The match ended with a 4:4).

Strange comment. I don't think anyone has ever thought that Bayern went through in any recent matches, because of referee decisions. I cannot remember anybody I know ever saying that Bayern are favoured by refs, they are not Barcelona.

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

I don't know why Pep has the title of the best manager in football, yes he's good but has he really been challenged. His time at Bayern so far, has revealed quite a bit for me. I'm not just saying this after the champions league, but it's more of a general opinion.
Firstly, he's never really been out of his comfort zone. His synonymous "tiki taka" style was perfect for the Barça side he inherited. Yes, he was already playing that at Barça B but was he ever really going to play "long ball" with Barça? At times the football was truly breathtaking, but that's people like Iniesta, Messi and Xavi for you.
My second point is more based around his time at Bayern. When he came into the job, we all knew that Bayern's style would change, not the managers. This shows he isn't flexible, a smart manager would've looked at Bayern and saw a team that didn't really need changing. It was already the best. But Pep has forced the team to play a style that doesn't suit them. The prime example, as I mentioned in my last post, is Lahm playing CDM instead of Javi Martinez. This Bayern side were at its strongest with Ribery and Robben running at defenders with space, but in the "tiki taka" style they are unable to do this. As one of the commentators said tonight, Bayern have become predictable, and to be totally honest he's not wrong.
People need to question Pep, as if anything this season, he's taken Bayern backwards. But it won't matter domestically as Bayern's dominance will continue. Dortmund don't have the money to compete. Schalke are Schalke and all the others aren't consistent enough to challenge. But on the European side of things, I imagine we will see more repeats of tonight. As throughout the knockout phase Bayern haven't looked too convincing. In my opinion, firstly Pep needs to take a large amount of responsibility for Bayern's display in both legs against Real. secondly, I don't think Pep should automatically have the title of best manager in football just because of his work at Barça.

 

[supercrystal7]

I don't know why Pep has the title of the best manager in football, yes he's good but has he really been challenged. His time at Bayern so far, has revealed quite a bit for me. I'm not just saying this after the champions league, but it's more of a general opinion.
Firstly, he's never really been out of his comfort zone. His synonymous "tiki taka" style was perfect for the Barça side he inherited. Yes, he was already playing that at Barça B but was he ever really going to play "long ball" with Barça? At times the football was truly breathtaking, but that's people like Iniesta, Messi and Xavi for you.
My second point is more based around his time at Bayern. When he came into the job, we all knew that Bayern's style would change, not the managers. This shows he isn't flexible, a smart manager would've looked at Bayern and saw a team that didn't really need changing. It was already the best. But Pep has forced the team to play a style that doesn't suit them. The prime example, as I mentioned in my last post, is Lahm playing CDM instead of Javi Martinez. This Bayern side were at its strongest with Ribery and Robben running at defenders with space, but in the "tiki taka" style they are unable to do this. As one of the commentators said tonight, Bayern have become predictable, and to be totally honest he's not wrong.
People need to question Pep, as if anything this season, he's taken Bayern backwards. But it won't matter domestically as Bayern's dominance will continue. Dortmund don't have the money to compete. Schalke are Schalke and all the others aren't consistent enough to challenge. But on the European side of things, I imagine we will see more repeats of tonight. As throughout the knockout phase Bayern haven't looked too convincing. In my opinion, firstly Pep needs to take a large amount of responsibility for Bayern's display in both legs against Real. secondly, I don't think Pep should automatically have the title of best manager in football just because of his work at Barça.

So very true, but some people will just say he won the Bundesliga so must be doing great lol.

As for Dortmund I think Klopp knows what he has to do. It's a question if they can scrape the money together. Muller and Kroos might leave Bayern this summer if Pep stays.

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

I don't know why Pep has the title of the best manager in football, yes he's good but has he really been challenged. His time at Bayern so far, has revealed quite a bit for me. I'm not just saying this after the champions league, but it's more of a general opinion.
Firstly, he's never really been out of his comfort zone. His synonymous "tiki taka" style was perfect for the Barça side he inherited. Yes, he was already playing that at Barça B but was he ever really going to play "long ball" with Barça? At times the football was truly breathtaking, but that's people like Iniesta, Messi and Xavi for you.
My second point is more based around his time at Bayern. When he came into the job, we all knew that Bayern's style would change, not the managers. This shows he isn't flexible, a smart manager would've looked at Bayern and saw a team that didn't really need changing. It was already the best. But Pep has forced the team to play a style that doesn't suit them. The prime example, as I mentioned in my last post, is Lahm playing CDM instead of Javi Martinez. This Bayern side were at its strongest with Ribery and Robben running at defenders with space, but in the "tiki taka" style they are unable to do this. As one of the commentators said tonight, Bayern have become predictable, and to be totally honest he's not wrong.
People need to question Pep, as if anything this season, he's taken Bayern backwards. But it won't matter domestically as Bayern's dominance will continue. Dortmund don't have the money to compete. Schalke are Schalke and all the others aren't consistent enough to challenge. But on the European side of things, I imagine we will see more repeats of tonight. As throughout the knockout phase Bayern haven't looked too convincing. In my opinion, firstly Pep needs to take a large amount of responsibility for Bayern's display in both legs against Real. secondly, I don't think Pep should automatically have the title of best manager in football just because of his work at Barça.

So very true, but some people will just say he won the Bundesliga so must be doing great lol.

As for Dortmund I think Klopp knows what he has to do. It's a question if they can scrape the money together. Muller and Kroos might leave Bayern this summer if Pep stays.

Klopp could easily win back the title, if he spends correctly and wisely. A new talisman, and keeping their key players could spell real trouble for Bayern. But I suppose they'd just buy anyone who does well at Dortmund lol.
One of the most noticeable differences for me, as a Bayern admirer, is that they're boring to watch. Last year, I really enjoyed watching Bayern play. Whereas this year it's completely the opposite.<br /><br />-- Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:53 pm --<br /><br />Can anyone of our German friends tell me how players like Julian Green and Mitchell Weiser are doing. Will they get regular first team football in the future.
Also how's Badstüber doing, he was really good before he got injured.

 

[Bembeltown]

So very true, but some people will just say he won the Bundesliga so must be doing great lol.

The funny thing is that this season could be a disaster for Bayern. They won the Bundesliga, fair play to them...but other than that that´s it.

Champions League is gone and Dortmund will give them a run for their money in the Cup final and I am pretty sure Dortmund will win it as well.

So in worst case Bayern will have won one title which is a disaster considering the hype the team got, the money and team they got at their disposal.

However the majority of Bayern fans I know will still defend this season as a great one (because...well you know...Bayern won the league title) and don´t realize how Guardiola has turned an exciting and successful team into a boring Barca clone.

Talking about rose colored glasses etc....

Other managers at Bayern have been fired for less than that after the season.

I am usually at least "trying" to support the German teams when they play in the CL or the EL, but in Bayern´s case I got to admit there was a certain amount of Schadenfreude involved yesterday especially after all the wankfest in the Media about Bayern and especially Guardiola.

 

[Ruhr]

It was well deserved, after Guardiola said, the Bundesliga is finished and he started to field B Teams since march.

 

[supercrystal7]

Apart from Guardiola's terrible tactics, as people have mentioned the other factor in Bayern's fall is how weak the Bundesliga is this year. A Bayern fan on this forum said he did not care about other German teams and did not care about the Bundesliga, but hopefully now he begins to understand that what effects the Bundesliga effects Bayern. A weak Bundesliga will mean a weak Bayern.

If Pep keeps the job then he will decide to sell a number of key players: Muller, Mandzukic, Martinez, Boateng, Kroos, Shaqiri and possibly Ribery will all be sold next season. He will break up the core of this Bayern team. Pep may have said he blamed himself for the loss, but when you look at the interview you can see he was really blaming the players.

As said with the right signings Dortmund could take Bayern's place. Klopp is smart enough to realise his mistakes and try and correct them. He messed up this summer, but he has already acknowledged that. He knows the team need a no10 and has been playing Jojic or sometimes even Reus there. Mkhitaryan just does not have it and has now been tried as a wide man. The trouble is getting the no10 of required quality. Ultimately I think they will go back for Kagawa, but they need someone better. The only other signing they require is a young highly talented striker. One of Werner, Drmic or Volland would be great. If they get those players and keep everyone then they could have a very successful season.

Schalke are a strange case. Keller despite being an awful manager has still managed to do as well as anyone could possibly do at Schalke. They finished 3rd and got the last 16 of the CL. That still should not make the board ignore how incompetent he has been. Like with Bayern the club had success despite the manager not, because of him. The key above all else for them is to add experience.

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

There has been a constant rumour about Moyes going to the Bundesliga, lol, out of all the "bigger" clubs I could only think of Schalke he'd go to. As Klopp isn't going anywhere, neither is Pep and Leverkusen have just appointed the Salzburg manager for next season. Do you think he'd do well there, as I could see him doing quite well.

 

[sam-caddick]

It was well deserved, after Guardiola said, the Bundesliga is finished and he started to field B Teams since march.

I still think winning the Bundesliga so early didn't help Bayern prepare properely for the Champions League as you cannot swith intensity and form on and off like a tap.

 

[supercrystal7]

It was well deserved, after Guardiola said, the Bundesliga is finished and he started to field B Teams since march.

I still think winning the Bundesliga so early didn't help Bayern prepare properely for the Champions League as you cannot swith intensity and form on and off like a tap.

That's definitely part of the problem, but they it's not the biggest issue. They coped with winning the Bundesliga early last season. The main issues are down to Pep.

As for Moyes, I don't think he is what Schalke needs. Schalke at the moment have their own golden generation of players coming through. They need a manager to make them believe everything is possible. If Hamburg stay up then I think Moyes would be a very good appointment for them. A similar team to Everton, except they much more potential and already make a lot of money. They have debt problems, but if he wants to go to the Bundesliga then that would be the perfect club for him.

 

[sam-caddick]

It was well deserved, after Guardiola said, the Bundesliga is finished and he started to field B Teams since march.

I still think winning the Bundesliga so early didn't help Bayern prepare properely for the Champions League as you cannot swith intensity and form on and off like a tap.

That's definitely part of the problem, but they it's not the biggest issue. They coped with winning the Bundesliga early last season. The main issues are down to Pep.

As for Moyes, I don't think he is what Schalke needs. Schalke at the moment have their own golden generation of players coming through. They need a manager to make them believe everything is possible. If Hamburg stay up then I think Moyes would be a very good appointment for them. A similar team to Everton, except they much more potential and already make a lot of money. They have debt problems, but if he wants to go to the Bundesliga then that would be the perfect club for him.

Do you reckon Pep will leave in the summer mate?

I will be astonished myself if it happened as I think the Bayern board would look rather shameful that their arguably big investment in Pep after having their greatest season under Heynckes has to many looked to have backfired.

I still think he needs one more transfer window to put his stamp on Bayern though.

 

[supercrystal7]

I still think winning the Bundesliga so early didn't help Bayern prepare properely for the Champions League as you cannot swith intensity and form on and off like a tap.

That's definitely part of the problem, but they it's not the biggest issue. They coped with winning the Bundesliga early last season. The main issues are down to Pep.

As for Moyes, I don't think he is what Schalke needs. Schalke at the moment have their own golden generation of players coming through. They need a manager to make them believe everything is possible. If Hamburg stay up then I think Moyes would be a very good appointment for them. A similar team to Everton, except they much more potential and already make a lot of money. They have debt problems, but if he wants to go to the Bundesliga then that would be the perfect club for him.

Do you reckon Pep will leave in the summer mate?

I will be astonished myself if it happened as I think the Bayern board would look rather shameful that their arguably big investment in Pep after having their greatest season under Heynckes has to many looked to have backfired.

I still think he needs one more transfer window to put his stamp on Bayern though.

Nope, he is the highest paid manager in the world by some distance and the board have hitched their star to his wagon. All they can do is back him.

The problem is that the Bayern team are not Pep players. It depends if Muller, Kroos etc will go quietly or put up a fight, but they could have a fire sell. Munich could be the place to go for bargains this summer. Martinez, Mandzukic, Muller, Kroos, Ribery and Shaqiri could all go for relatively little this summer.

 

[sam-caddick]

That's definitely part of the problem, but they it's not the biggest issue. They coped with winning the Bundesliga early last season. The main issues are down to Pep.

As for Moyes, I don't think he is what Schalke needs. Schalke at the moment have their own golden generation of players coming through. They need a manager to make them believe everything is possible. If Hamburg stay up then I think Moyes would be a very good appointment for them. A similar team to Everton, except they much more potential and already make a lot of money. They have debt problems, but if he wants to go to the Bundesliga then that would be the perfect club for him.

Do you reckon Pep will leave in the summer mate?

I will be astonished myself if it happened as I think the Bayern board would look rather shameful that their arguably big investment in Pep after having their greatest season under Heynckes has to many looked to have backfired.

I still think he needs one more transfer window to put his stamp on Bayern though.

Nope, he is the highest paid manager in the world by some distance and the board have hitched their star to his wagon. All they can do is back him.

The problem is that the Bayern team are not Pep players. It depends if Muller, Kroos etc will go quietly or put up a fight, but they could have a fire sell. Munich could be the place to go for bargains this summer. Martinez, Mandzukic, Muller, Kroos, Ribery and Shaqiri could all go for relatively little this summer.

I would take Muller if they are selling.

 

[supercrystal7]

Do you reckon Pep will leave in the summer mate?

I will be astonished myself if it happened as I think the Bayern board would look rather shameful that their arguably big investment in Pep after having their greatest season under Heynckes has to many looked to have backfired.

I still think he needs one more transfer window to put his stamp on Bayern though.

Nope, he is the highest paid manager in the world by some distance and the board have hitched their star to his wagon. All they can do is back him.

The problem is that the Bayern team are not Pep players. It depends if Muller, Kroos etc will go quietly or put up a fight, but they could have a fire sell. Munich could be the place to go for bargains this summer. Martinez, Mandzukic, Muller, Kroos, Ribery and Shaqiri could all go for relatively little this summer.

I would take Muller if they are selling.

So would I mate if I was a City fan. He would be welcome at Palace too if he decided the modern trappings of the Etihad were inferior to the archaic beauty of Selhurst.

Seriously though I think Muller would be frightening combining with Silva, Zabaleta and Aguero.

 

[sam-caddick]

Nope, he is the highest paid manager in the world by some distance and the board have hitched their star to his wagon. All they can do is back him.

The problem is that the Bayern team are not Pep players. It depends if Muller, Kroos etc will go quietly or put up a fight, but they could have a fire sell. Munich could be the place to go for bargains this summer. Martinez, Mandzukic, Muller, Kroos, Ribery and Shaqiri could all go for relatively little this summer.

I would take Muller if they are selling.

So would I mate if I was a City fan. He would be welcome at Palace too if he decided the modern trappings of the Etihad were inferior to the archaic beauty of Selhurst.

Seriously though I think Muller would be frightening combining with Silva, Zabaleta and Aguero.

Haha.

I agree mate, the lad always seems to pop up with a goal when you most need one.

 

[Maldeika]

Nope, he is the highest paid manager in the world by some distance and the board have hitched their star to his wagon. All they can do is back him.

The problem is that the Bayern team are not Pep players. It depends if Muller, Kroos etc will go quietly or put up a fight, but they could have a fire sell. Munich could be the place to go for bargains this summer. Martinez, Mandzukic, Muller, Kroos, Ribery and Shaqiri could all go for relatively little this summer.

I would take Muller if they are selling.

So would I mate if I was a City fan. He would be welcome at Palace too if he decided the modern trappings of the Etihad were inferior to the archaic beauty of Selhurst.

Seriously though I think Muller would be frightening combining with Silva, Zabaleta and Aguero.

He might not have the highest speed or be the toughest guy - but there is less pressing in the EPL and there might be more spaces.

But if he would leave to Manchester he would follow van Gaal.

 

[sam-caddick]

I would take Muller if they are selling.

So would I mate if I was a City fan. He would be welcome at Palace too if he decided the modern trappings of the Etihad were inferior to the archaic beauty of Selhurst.

Seriously though I think Muller would be frightening combining with Silva, Zabaleta and Aguero.

He might not have the highest speed or be the toughest guy - but there is less pressing in the EPL and there might be more spaces.

But if he would leave to Manchester he would follow van Gaal.

Wasn't it reported last week that Welbeck wants out of United?

I can see Muller replacing him.

 

[Maldeika]

So would I mate if I was a City fan. He would be welcome at Palace too if he decided the modern trappings of the Etihad were inferior to the archaic beauty of Selhurst.

Seriously though I think Muller would be frightening combining with Silva, Zabaleta and Aguero.

He might not have the highest speed or be the toughest guy - but there is less pressing in the EPL and there might be more spaces.

But if he would leave to Manchester he would follow van Gaal.

Wasn't it reported last week that Welbeck wants out of United?

I can see Muller replacing him.

First - Bayern does not let Müller go. He has contract until 2017. And he is not a normal player.

But when van Gaal would really get him he will play behind the striker in a role called the "shadow peak". Van Gaal named 2 players like this - Litmanen in his Ajax system and Müller with Bayern. In some things they are different - Litmanen was more the no. 10 type whereas Müller's biggest trade is his movement. Müller was the only person with a free role in van Gaal's Bayern system - and it was cut out for him.

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

Question. Was Van Gaal's last two seasons at Bayern the ones when Wolfsburg and Dortmund won the league?