Bundesliga review part 2. the new one :)

[bayern blade]

Bayern announce new world record, tomorrow's BL game at Braunschweig is the 250th sell out running.

 

[Schalker]

Who cares about a Bazen sell out when Schalke just announced a pre season tournament with 2 EPL teams taking part. o))

 

[Rhineland]

long lasting agony has finally come to an end for good: We are back!!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerster Fuuuuuuuuußballclub Köln

1. FC Köln

 

[cptaidan88]

long lasting agony has finally come to an end for good: We are back!!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerster Fuuuuuuuuußballclub Köln

1. FC Köln

Congratulations. Back where you belong.

 

[Bembeltown]

long lasting agony has finally come to an end for good: We are back!!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerster Fuuuuuuuuußballclub Köln

1. FC Köln

Happy to have you back! My brother in law (the **** ;) ) is a die hard Köln supporter, so I always had a soft spot for you guys.

Will be going to the FSV Frankfurt - Köln match with him and I am hoping for an awesome atmosphere and a big party.

Unless we manage to go down (still have that terrible feeling something might go horrible wrong) I am looking forward to our matches next year.

Love the Cologne away trip and there is always something in the air when we clash. :)

Ten times more interesting than playing the likes of Hoppenheim or Wolfsburg.

Now if Lautern somehow would manage to come up as well (and send HSV down in the process) it would be a dream come true. ;)

Proper clubs with proper set of fans as well.

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

Last time Cologne were in the Bundesliga.

<a class="postlink" href="http://youtu.be/TWqGxy_tGp0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://youtu.be/TWqGxy_tGp0</a>

Good to have a proper Bundesliga club back.

 

[Rhineland]

bit unfair really...

this is what it looks like without smoke bombs and flares

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB_FPn_RFjU

and remember, 46.000 odd average gate is for a second Bundesliga team is not bad either (could have been higher if the away section sold out every time...).

If you take the total absence of any success whatsoever for three decades into account, Cologne might be one of the best supported teams in Germany :-)

@ Bembeltown Oh yes, really looking forward to that match on the final day in Frankfurt. Some say there'll be 8.000 to 10.000 from Cologne, not too bad for a 12.500 capacity. I was lucky enough to win on the ticket lottery, the server broke down a couple of times due to the huge demand on the day...

Never had any feelings towards Frankfurt really, I think Eintracht fans used to dislike/hate us far more than we did in return for no apparent reason. One thing might be that there are no real rivals close to Frankfurt (OFC, Lilien, Mannheim all playing in the lower divisions) and everyone hates Cologne anyway, but I've always had the impression Cologne look more up north than southwards, and there's more bitter rivalry shared with clubs from the Rhine/Ruhr area.

 

[supercrystal7]

Again tonight puts into context the quality of the Bundesliga this season.

 

[Ruhr]

b and there's more bitter rivalry shared with clubs from the Rhine/Ruhr area.

Schalke for example :)

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

Who are the other teams that look like they could be promoted? I know Paderborn are in 3rd? Isn't it teams like St. Pauli, Union Berlin, Fürth and Kaiserslautern?

I've heard a lot about the 'keeper fro. Köln, Horn, is he any good. Does he have the potential to play for a big club?

 

[Ruhr]

1. 1. FC Köln 64
2. Greuther Fürth 54
3. SC Paderborn 53
4. 1. FC Kaiserslautern 50
5. Karlsruher SC 48
6. St Pauli 47

With three matches to go, Fürth should do it. Perhaps Kaiserslautern have a chance for the play-offs.
Fürth and Paderborn in the Bundesliga would really not be enjoyed by most of the fans. Very small grounds, very small fan base.

Timo Horn is 20, made about 60 Bundesliga 2 matches. He is born in Cologne, maybe a reason to stay there as long as they play in the Bundesliga.

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

It would be quite funny to see HSV get relegated and St. Pauli get promoted, although it looks a bit of a long shot.

It would be a shame if Fürth and Paderborn went up though, no offence to the clubs, but the Bundesliga would be better off with teams like Kaiserslautern and St. Pauli.

 

[Rhineland]

I've heard a lot about the 'keeper fro. Köln, Horn, is he any good. Does he have the potential to play for a big club?

Oh yes, he's highly talented and does have potential. He has been included into Germany's Youth National Teams on a regular basis (U20/U21 currently). He's already playing for a big club.

 

[Bembeltown]

He's already playing for a big club.

That's the spirit! :)

 

[supercrystal7]

The race for fourth could become interesting this weekend. If Gladbach, Leverkusen and Wolfburg all win then it could even drag Schalke back into it. I am looking forward to seeing Leverkusen vs Dortmund. Should be a good game.

Dortmund have been busy making signings for next summer. They have done a good job so far and think they only need a couple more players. A young striker either Volland, Werner or Drmic and a no10. The no10 is tricky, because they tend to be expensive and Dortmund don't have much money to spend. There are also not many available. Best bet for me would be to sell Mkhitaryan to Liverpool (if they still want him) and then try and tempt Fabregas, Ozil or Meyer. Sadly I expect they will just get Kagawa. Either way they are starting to look very strong for next season. A successful season next year and Reus/Hummels/Gundogan sign new deals.

I wonder what the Bayern fans make of Pep's tactics now and whether they are still confident he has taken them forward and made them better than last season.

 

[Griff01]

1. 1. FC Köln 64
2. Greuther Fürth 54
3. SC Paderborn 53
4. 1. FC Kaiserslautern 50
5. Karlsruher SC 48
6. St Pauli 47

With three matches to go, Fürth should do it. Perhaps Kaiserslautern have a chance for the play-offs.
Fürth and Paderborn in the Bundesliga would really not be enjoyed by most of the fans. Very small grounds, very small fan base.

Timo Horn is 20, made about 60 Bundesliga 2 matches. He is born in Cologne, maybe a reason to stay there as long as they play in the Bundesliga.

I keep a weather eye on Union Berlin, shame to see them drop away the last month of so. They seem to be starting the rebuilding process already though. Neuhaus is leaving along with a number of players who were involved in some of their promotions from Regionalliga to 2. Bundesliga. See what bears fruit next season

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

The race for fourth could become interesting this weekend. If Gladbach, Leverkusen and Wolfburg all win then it could even drag Schalke back into it. I am looking forward to seeing Leverkusen vs Dortmund. Should be a good game.

Dortmund have been busy making signings for next summer. They have done a good job so far and think they only need a couple more players. A young striker either Volland, Werner or Drmic and a no10. The no10 is tricky, because they tend to be expensive and Dortmund don't have much money to spend. There are also not many available. Best bet for me would be to sell Mkhitaryan to Liverpool (if they still want him) and then try and tempt Fabregas, Ozil or Meyer. Sadly I expect they will just get Kagawa. Either way they are starting to look very strong for next season. A successful season next year and Reus/Hummels/Gundogan sign new deals.

I wonder what the Bayern fans make of Pep's tactics now and whether they are still confident he has taken them forward and made them better than last season.

Ever since I went to watch us at the Allianz in 2011, I've been a Bayern "admirer". IMO I'd say that if anything he's taken them backwards. He's tried to make Bayern play a style they don't suit.
The prime example is Lahm. Yes, he is a very technically gifted footballer but he's the best fullback in world football. He's also benching half of the best defensive midfield combo in the world, in Martinez. Last year him and Schweinsteiger were key to Bayern's success. As many have said Pep would be better just playing Lahm at RB and Martinez with Schweinsteiger.<br /><br />-- Sat Apr 26, 2014 5:43 pm --<br /><br />

I've heard a lot about the 'keeper fro. Köln, Horn, is he any good. Does he have the potential to play for a big club?

Oh yes, he's highly talented and does have potential. He has been included into Germany's Youth National Teams on a regular basis (U20/U21 currently). He's already playing for a big club.

You know what I mean!

 

[supercrystal7]

The race for fourth could become interesting this weekend. If Gladbach, Leverkusen and Wolfburg all win then it could even drag Schalke back into it. I am looking forward to seeing Leverkusen vs Dortmund. Should be a good game.

Dortmund have been busy making signings for next summer. They have done a good job so far and think they only need a couple more players. A young striker either Volland, Werner or Drmic and a no10. The no10 is tricky, because they tend to be expensive and Dortmund don't have much money to spend. There are also not many available. Best bet for me would be to sell Mkhitaryan to Liverpool (if they still want him) and then try and tempt Fabregas, Ozil or Meyer. Sadly I expect they will just get Kagawa. Either way they are starting to look very strong for next season. A successful season next year and Reus/Hummels/Gundogan sign new deals.

I wonder what the Bayern fans make of Pep's tactics now and whether they are still confident he has taken them forward and made them better than last season.

Ever since I went to watch us at the Allianz in 2011, I've been a Bayern "admirer". IMO I'd say that if anything he's taken them backwards. He's tried to make Bayern play a style they don't suit.
The prime example is Lahm. Yes, he is a very technically gifted footballer but he's the best fullback in world football. He's also benching half of the best defensive midfield combo in the world, in Martinez. Last year him and Schweinsteiger were key to Bayern's success. As many have said Pep would be better just playing Lahm at RB and Martinez with Schweinsteiger.

Completely agree. It's a testament to just how strong Bayern are that they have still remained so successful. Hopefully they cut loose and take Madrid out on Tuesday.

Dortmund drew and should Schalke not win tomorrow, that confirms them in 2nd place. Sahin, Kirch, Kehl can do a job as a second string midfield, but they are not good enough to be first choice. They need Bender and Gundogan back. Mkhitaryan looks set to be a failure and even Klopp seems to realise that. Last few weeks he has been moved out wide and Jojic has been given the no10 role, but he is not ready. They need a 10 in the summer. Leverkusen look so much better under Lewandowski. Lars Bender could actually get into the game and he made a real difference. Brandt looks promising too. The first half was good, but the match faded in the second half.

EDIT
When you want to talk about one man carrying a team then you have Reus contributing 45 goals (assist or goal) in 41 games for Dortmund. He has carried this team on his back. He needs help next year.

 

[Maldeika]

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).

 

[Schalker]

Dont cry before you lost the match and I hope you do :))