Sunday, September 30, 2007
Is Wayne Brady Going to Have to Score 8 on a Bitch
In reference to Sanogo's striking resemblance to Wayne Brady (and his infamous skit on the Chapelle Show)
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Leverkusen 0 - 1 Bayern Munich
Klose/Toni
They work well together and they are both phenomenal forwards. However, when they play together, Bayern is a weaker team. There reason for this is that Bayern lose the midfield in a 4-4-2, and it is their ability to press offensively that keeps their opponents at bay. Coming into the game Bayer and Bayern shared the lead with least goals allowed at three. But for
Otto Hitzfeld will play Klose with Toni when both are healthy. They can be had with an energetic performance at midfield as shown by Michael Skibbe’s side today.
Christian Lell.
He is the fourth choice at back, behind Lahm, Sagnol and Jensen. He played today due to injuries, as will be required often this season, and was piss-poor to say the least.
Demichelis’ Height
At 6’ he is short for a central defender. On a day that saw Lucio man-mark Theofanis Gekas, 6’3 Stefan Kießling became Demichelis responsibility. Demichelis struggled at times against Keißling in his first questionable performance of the season. Could he be susceptible in these situations in the future, and will managers see this and prepare accordingly?
Weather
Even when Bayern took over the game, their passes were off. It was endemic of the whole side, including the usually reliable passing Ze Roberto. It was a cold and rainy day in a country that is going to only get colder and rainier for the next five months. Wet pitches are not a passing team’s friend and it will be interesting to see how a team that matches
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Werder Bremen Explodes
Last week, I spoke of
How do you stop a team like Arsenal,
Still reeling from an injury crisis, petering on the epic, Werder
Diego controlled the midfield while Daniel Jansen had a very solid game next to him. With Baumann and Vranjes providing more cover behind the brilliant Brazilian, Werder
A late brace from distance by Diego capped a perfect day for the #10 who was brilliant throughout the day. If he can carry them through their injury phase of the moment, they could well be a team to cause havoc in the league and Champions League for the rest of the season.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sander Happy to be Axed
Well who would have thought that Petrik Sander would have made it longer than Jose Mourinho? Sander was supposed to be fired after round 5 when his team was demolished by
Given the dire undertones of that game, one might have expected that he would light a fire under his woeful team. He didn’t. They capitulated easily to the Swabians. He somehow, beyond the comprehension of anybody, made it an extra week. Perhaps the board thought the champions were too grand a task. They must have failed to notice any of
At home against a Wolfsburg side, who is very hit or miss, whose defense has lacked resolved on many occasion this campaign, perhaps, the board felt that Sander and Cottbus could find the goal they so sorely lacked. But having scored only one goal all season, they stuttered to just a third at home.
It would be hard to imagine that he is not relieved. It was the board’s lack of spending which saw his Romanian duo leave in the offseason, with little in the way of fortification, that harmed the team’s chemistry and offense so much. So U23 coach Heiko Weber takes over on a temporary basis after assistant Thomas Hoßmang felt too emotional (read “ain’t touching that mess”) to take over.
Jose Mourinho has said that his next job could be
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Fat Lady Sings
Valencia came into the game in crisis. Following their 5-0 defeat at the hands of local rival Villareal, Quique Sanchez has come under scrutiny by fans, management and even the players. It doesn't helped that he scoffed at Wesley Sneijder, who is now closing in on superstar status at rivals Real Madrid. Rumors abound that he has lost the dressing room and two cheeky wins against poor opposition in La Liga haven't endeared him. So as they came to the Veltins Arena, Schalke had the upper hand.
Schalke have yet to lose a game in the Bundesliga, and that includes two away draws to direct competitors for the title: Stuttgart and Bayern. So the matchup heavily favored the Gelsenkirken side. And they took the game to Valencia for the first 20 minutes, missing two opportunities early. And while the game evened afterwards, they still had more chances than the Spanish side. A poorly executed trap and even poorer read of a through-ball to David Villa gave Valencia the lead and eventual victory.
A team typically needs 10 points to get through the group stages of Champions League. That leaves Schalke in the unenviable position of needing two points a game for the remainder of the stage. They are now forced to win and draw games on the road. And if they couldn't beat Valencia at home when the visitors were down, there chances of going to the Mestalla and gathering points seems remote right now.
The scenario for advancement is this: a victory home and away against Rosenborg, who shocked Chelsea away last nigh; a win at home against a Chelsea side, who will be healthy by the time that game is played; and a draw at either Stamford Bridge or the Mestalla. The scenario is grim at best.
Schalke will rue the missed chances last night and should not rule out a dogfight for the UEFA Cup spot.
David Villa's Goal
Monday, September 17, 2007
Stuttgart's Swagger Returns
Sometimes we forget how beautiful
We haven’t seen it this season. It’s been missing, even during the Ligapokal, since last season’s miracle run. Fifteen minutes had passed in this week’s home match against Energie Cottbus and still we hadn’t seen it. It wouldn’t be unprecedented as the two clubs rarely play above the nil-nil score lines that pepper the history of their play. So, just as it seemed the game had settled into the now comfortable state of listless football between the two,
It wasn’t perfect, but at moments it was incredible football that reminded us just how fun
In the end,
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Round 5 Review
@ Signal-Iduna-Park
D: Petric (22,32) Klimowicz (29)
Arminia Bielefeld 4 - 2 Hansa Rostock
@ Schüco Arena
B: Agali (og 31) Eigler (50,55) Wichniarek (59)
R: Kern (47) Bülow (63)
Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 0 Bochum
@ BayArena
L: Haggui (62) Friedrich (88)
Bayern Munich 1 - 1 Schalke 04
@ Allianz Arena
B: Klose (54)
S: Rakitic (36)
Frankfurt 2 - 1 Hamburg
@ Commerzbank Arena
F: Meier (8, 87)
H: van der Vaart (82p)
Nurnberg 2 - 2 Hannover 96
@ EasyCredit Stadion
N: Misimovic (60) Mintal (89)
H: Hanke (12,39)
Stuttgart 3 - 0 Energie Cottbus
@ Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion
S: Cacau (53) Ewerthon (78) Gomez (82)
see above
Duisburg 1 - 2 Hertha Berlin
@ MSV Arena
D: Lavric (78)
H: Pantelic (61,70)
Wolfsburg 1 - 2 Karlsruhe
@ Volkswagon Arena
W: Krzynowek (21)
K: Eggimann (63) Eichner (79)
Friday, September 14, 2007
Round 5: Preview
Borussia Dortmund 1 - 1 Werder
Without Harnik to provide a spark off the bench, I can see
Cacau and Yildiray Bastürk return to a team that needs a turn in fortune in order to start aiming at a top spot, but also have their eye on a tough Champions League group.
Bayern München 2 - 3 Schalke 04
Of course, my prediction is dependent on Slomka and the General’s tactical decisions, but if Slomka plays with five in the midfield, he can negate some of Ribery’s abilities, while giving Lucio a reason to move forward, allowing a Jones or Rakatic to slip in for goals. I also expect Podolski and Klose to start up front and am not convinced of Bayern under a 4-4-2. I expect the past week’s games will weight more heavily on Bayern as Lucio was in the states and Ribery was in two hard contests. Kevin Kuranyi leads the league in shots on target and will do something that has really yet to be accomplished this season: he will test Kahn often. Game is on GolTV.
Bayer
Nürnberg 0 - 2
Things just get worse for
Frankfurt 1 - 2
Both teams have started the campaign well. I think
Something seems to be clicking at HSB and they could continue their surprising start against a
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Round 4: Review
Schalke 1 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
S: Kuranyi (45)
B: Gekas (53)
Schalke, a team with five draws all of last year, already have three in four games this campaign, yet still remain unbeaten. At home at the Veltins Arena, they dominated play against Bayer Leverkusen, but were unable to finish off the visitors. Schalke pressured constantly and played expansive, flowing football, but squandered most of their chances until a set piece at the stroke of half from Pander to Kuranyi (get to used to that) opened the scoring. In the 21st, Mladen Krstajic went off with a knock to the knee. He was replaced by Dario Rodrigues, which was important because Rodrigues’ lack marking before and after a competent save by Manuel Neuer allowed Gekas to score his second of the season in the 64th. This game’s major theme might have well been the duel between Schalke’s Neuer and
Energie Cottbus 1 – 1 Nürnberg
C: Sorensen (15)
N: Wolf (85)
Hertha
H: Pantelic (38) Okoronkwo (88)
W: Dejagah (61)
Hertha controlled the game with a substantial majority of possession, but needed a last minute scorcher from substitute Solomon Okoronkwo to secure the win. The return of Marko Pantelic buoyed the home side as he opened the scoring in the 38th from a cross by Chahed. But against the run of play,
Hannover 3 – 2
H: Hanke (12) Rosenthal (36) Hashemian (71)
B: Bechmann (44) Maltritz (p.66)
D: Fredrico (76)
The home side had 25 shots. Unfortunately only two of them were on target and both hit woodwork, the first by Victor Agali kissed both posts and still seems impossible that it was cleared. Dortmund had little creativity but found the winner when and alert Giovanni Fredrico cleaned up a ping-pong clearance in the Rostock end to secure Thomas Doll’s side their second straight win.
D: Maicon (64) Ishiaku (68, 70)
This game came down to six minutes of madness, where Maicon’s opener was followed by a double by Manasseh Ishiaku. The new signing from Club Brugges, shook off two defenders for the second goal, in a display of persistence that will be unmatched anytime soon. It was a well earned three points for the newly promoted side who dominated play and sent
W: Sanogo (35) Panasen (79)
F: Thurk (85)
Hajnal (54)
This intense derby, which hasn’t been played in almost 10 years, found the reigning champions of the Bundesliga and Zwei facing off for supremacy in Baden-Württemberg.
My hopes of doing analysis on this as my Match of the Week were shot down by my poor handling of a DVR.
Friday, September 7, 2007
The European Draw
Schalke 04 drew Chelsea, Valencia and Rosenborg in Group B
Chelsea and Valencia are both stacked squads. While any expectation of going to Stamford Bridge and getting three points should be quickly dismissed, Chelsea have never faired will at Anfield, which is a poor-man’s Veltins Arena. Also, recently Chelsea have shown some susceptibility along the wings, and if Slomka can deploy Ozil, Pander, Jones, etc along the touch, they could spread the field and provide room for Rakitic and Kuranyi. Krstajić will have to be at his best to deal with Didier Drogba, but I think he’s up to the task.
Valencia have started out poorly in La Liga, but are still a great team with the likes of David Villa, Morientes and Zigic up front. The team boasts arguably one of the best midfields in the world with the likes of David Silva, Joaquin, Albelda, Gavilan, Marchena and Angulo. Their defense is solid but is adjusting to life without Roberto Ayala, so it is better to face them early as Moretti and converted midfielder Raul Albiol form a partnership that may be exploitable.
Roseborg are a decent squad, but just do not have the talent to compete in such a stacked group. All teams will need to take six points off them and make sure they make sure their homes are a fortress. I expect this will give Schalke all the advantage they need to sneak past Valencia for the second spot.
Predictions: Chelsea, Schalke, Valencia, Rosenborg
Werder Bremen drew Lazio, Real Madrid and Olympiakos in Group C
Lazio are no longer the giants they once were, and have become a selling team after financial scandal. They are a team that likes to get forward; thus, they are susceptible to the counter, especially now that goalkeeper and excellent organizer Angelo Peruzzi has retired. Goran Pandev is the man to be scared of and Naldo will need to be at his best to slow this emerging star down. The absence of attacking mid Stefano Mauri will help a Bremen side that is missing its best midfield man-markers.
Real Madrid are playing for fun and have started the season with a similar air as Bayern Munich. A team that refuses to sit back typically gives Bremen a hard time, and I expect their two matches will be two of the most entertaining of the group stage. Olympiakos is a team quite capable of causing problems for any of these sides, especially at home. They will undoubtedly surprise at least one team at home and that could be the crucial decider for the top two. Bremen’s backlog of injuries doesn’t bode well; however, if Martin Harnik turns out to be the real deal, the Klose cloud could be lifted from their forward line.
Predictions: Real Madrid, Lazio, Werder Bremen, Olympiakos
Vfb Stuttgart drew Barcelona, Lyon and Rangers in Group E
Barcelona and Lyon have been strong teams for the past few years in the Champions League; however, they are facing troubling times. Barcelona’s fantastic four are already causing headaches for manager Frank Rijkaard and the stagnant form that plagued them towards the end of last season, seems to be present still as Rijkaard’s tactical choices get more and more criticism. Barcelona’s defense, while better than last year, is still a concern with a goalkeeper (Valdez) who is prone to gaffs and a central back (Milito) who is prone to reds. While not an ideal draw for the reigning champion’s, they are capable of playing with the Catalan giants.
Meanwhile, Lyon is suffering from years of success. Their team has been picked apart by richer clubs and now they face the group stage without keeper Gregory Coupet and captain Cris, both suffering long-term injuries. They also enter the contest with a board that doesn’t have full faith in new manager Perrin. Once again they are not a team to take lightly, but Stuttgart are capable of playing with them in both legs. Rangers are a much improved side this year, and are blossoming under Walter Smith, but they do have the air of a team that consists of far-too-many EPL castoffs, so Stuttgart must take six points off the Scottish giants, if they want to get through the group. Much will depend on Cacau's injury for the champs.
Predictions: Barcelona, Stuttgart, Rangers, Lyon
The UEFA Cup draw was much easier for German teams.
Nurnberg takes on Rapid Bucurest of Romania, who finished 4th in Liga 1 last year. Nurnberg has the hardest draw of the three sides as Romania has coefficient rating close to the Netherlands. It’s a good league and Rapid could cause problems for a Nurnberg side that has struggled at the beginning of this season. If new boy Cesinha is allowed to run at the defense, Nurnberg could find themselves up against the wall.
Hamburg takes on Litex of Bulgaria, who finished 4th last year. Newcomer Cedric Cambon anchors the back line while Fabien Boudarène is the defensive linchpin in the midfield. If these two Frenchmen can clog up the space that Rafael van der Vaart typically inhabits, they could provide problems during the away leg for HSV. There should be little problem when the home leg takes place at the Nordbank Arena.
Bayern takes on Belenenses. Belenenes finished 5th last season in the Portuguese Superliga. Had they won it, it is still doubtful that they could muster a positive result against the Bavarians. As it stands, this was a team that needed legal technicalities to avoid relegation and sits bottom of the table currently. Bayern will be able to field the reserves to deal with this team.
Bayer Leverkusen face U.D. Leiria of Portugal. Leiria, a former haunt of Jose Mourinho, and the youngest team in the Superliga, finished last campaign in 7th. Having made few changes, they will come into the tie with good chemistry and a bit of belief as they made it to the competition via the Intertoto Cup.