Borussia Dortmund vs. Hannover 96 [R]

[Catfish]

I know this fixture is a long way out, but just felt like getting it started. Is Koller (Czech Republic player...don't know about the spelling) you know the really tall forward, doing well again this season?

I believe that Dortmund will get a 2-0 result.

[The Double]

Jan Koller missed the absolute best chance I've seen all year against Wolfsburg, and BVB lost by one. So no, he isn't off to a good start.

[jonam]

As Double said: He missed many chances (not to mention Ewerthon).... :-(

But in Mönchengladbach he really improved. Makes me hopeful that he will score against Hanover.

[The Double]

Koller is walking on thin ice in my book, he has to shape up. I'm not saying score every game, but just have some confidence in front of the net. You're big as hell, man. Kick ass.

[footyfan1]

Koller is walking on thin ice in my book, he has to shape up. I'm not saying score every game, but just have some confidence in front of the net. You're big as hell, man. Kick ass.

Keith's Response: As Manoj said, it's not just Koller. Both Koller and Ewerthon are ATROCIOUS in front of the net.

And that's the NICEST way I can put it.

I feel BVB would have been in European competition in each of the last two seasons if both Koller and Ewerthon could finish just HALF the great goals chances they threw away.

We had a discussion on our list yesterday after the Cup Match about great goal chances thrown away by Koller, Ewerthon and others on the BVB team.

Amoroso was our only "pure finisher", but he made it impossible to keep him in Dortmund.

What makes me angrier is that we sold the only other "good finisher" we had (Conor Casey) for a total of 300,000 Euros.

I still believe BVB's biggest player mistakes this season will involve two Americans.

Selling Conor Casey while not giving him a chance to prove himself with a GOOD team at the 1. Liga level and not bringing in Tony Sanneh (Available on a free transfer) to shore up a completely weak defense.

And as long as Koller and Ewerthon continue to throw away fantastic goal chances, BVB will continue to look up at teams we have no business looking up at.......




Keith

[The Double]

I feel this is Tomas' last season, win or lose.

[footyfan1]

I feel this is Tomas' last season, win or lose.


Keith's Response: I wouldn't be too certain of that. Not if by some miracle, BVB happens to make it into the Champions' League. From what we've found out from different sources on our list, we felt Rosicky's main problem in Dortmund was the preferential treatment Torsten Frings received from Matthias Sammer in the past two seasons.

Both of men are gone, Rosicky is once again "The Man" and he has a coach who completely believes in him.

I believe it does depend on whether BVB wins or loses. And I wouldn't doubt Tomas Rosicky's sale will largely depend on when Zinedine Zidane decides to quit Real Madrid. A good friend of mine in Madrid, who is also a good source, says Rosicky is and has been their top choice to replace Zidane for over two years now.

Let's see how it goes this season. I don't like the start so far. And while I think van Bommel will help offensively, I think we will still need more defensive help.

I believe we need more help on the back line more than we need another holding midfielder. And as long as van Bommel doesn't become "another Frings" to Rosicky, I hope things will work out.




Keith

[jonam]

Forgot to post the match report:

Still no victory at home for van Marwijk
After game 3 in Westfalenstadion (UI-Cup and two league games) there is still no threepointer for new BVB-coach Van Marwijk to celebrate. But they didn’t lost either....


Now online at http://www.schwatzgelb.com !


Some pics: http://mediaschwatzgelbde.sportsandbytes.de/fotos04-05/buli/bvb-h96/