1. FC Nürnberg v. Borussia Dortmund [R]

[footyfan1]

I will try to post more information later today or tomorrow as this match takes place on Sunday. So far, what we know right now:


1) Jan Koller will not play for BVB because of a bout with pnuemonia.

2) Florian Kringe, arguably our best player in the second half of the season, will not play because of a bout with the flu.

3) 17 year old midfielder Nizamettin Caliskan will make the trip with the Dortmund team due to the injuries and sickness.

4) The injuries and sickness almost insure that both Rosicky and Ewerthon will be in BVB's starting eleven for the match.

5) 1. FCN will be playing their third string goalkeeper as their #1 keeper, Raphael Schaefer, suffered a serious knee injury before the winter break and his replacement, Daniel Klewer, is having groin problems. Their "emergency keeper" is Dirk Langerbein, former MSV Duisburg keeper. FCN will have Germany U-20 keeper Philipp Tchauner on the bench as backup.




Keith

[jonam]

I will try to post more information later today or tomorrow as this match takes place on Sunday. So far, what we know right now:


1) Jan Koller will not play for BVB because of a bout with pnuemonia.

2) Florian Kringe, arguably our best player in the second half of the season, will not play because of a bout with the flu.

3) 17 year old midfielder Nizamettin Caliskan will make the trip with the Dortmund team due to the injuries and sickness.

4) The injuries and sickness almost insure that both Rosicky and Ewerthon will be in BVB's starting eleven for the match.

5) 1. FCN will be playing their third string goalkeeper as their #1 keeper, Raphael Schaefer, suffered a serious knee injury before the winter break and his replacement, Daniel Klewer, is having groin problems. Their "emergency keeper" is Dirk Langerbein, former MSV Duisburg keeper. FCN will have Germany U-20 keeper Philipp Tchauner on the bench as backup.

Keith


Now that Koller is out and even Kringe is doubtful, I really don't know what to make of this match. Normally I am an optimistic guy. If we manage to mark Mintal properly and if our midfield starts with some self-confidence, we should be able to beat Nuremberg. But as I said, I really don't know how this one will work out.

[The Double]

I want to be optimistic, but I see Mintal scoring two in this one.

[footyfan1]

I want to be optimistic, but I see Mintal scoring two in this one.


Keith's Response: I don't. I think it's going to be Markus Daun we have to fear. He hasn't been scoring, but in the times I've seen him, including last week against Bielefeld, he's been showing signs of breaking out.

What we are not talking about is the possibility that Ewerthon might want to make his case for BvM putting him back in the team. I'm actually excited about how Smolarek, Ewerthon and Ricken might be able to work together too.

Things can go badly or they can go better than expected. I'm not going to sit here with my head down.

We'll see tomorrow.




Keith

[Rafal]

Can't wait for tomorrow's game. Smolarek is gonna score again.

[jonam]

0:1 Wörns (62.)
1:1 Mintal (76.)
1:2 Rosicky (85. pen)
2:2 Vittek (89. pen)

Was a crazy match. 3 penalties and at least 2 of them real jokes. At all we can be satisfied with the result regarding the match. Though we could have won this one as we were 2-1 up till minute 89 but another crazy penalty decision stole us 2 points. Anyhow Nuremberg had many chances to score as well. So 2-2 is ok....

[footyfan1]

0:1 Wörns (62.)
1:1 Mintal (76.)
1:2 Rosicky (85. pen)
2:2 Vittek (89. pen)

Was a crazy match. 3 penalties and at least 2 of them real jokes. At all we can be satisfied with the result regarding the match. Though we could have won this one as we were 2-1 up till minute 89 but another crazy penalty decision stole us 2 points. Anyhow Nuremberg had many chances to score as well. So 2-2 is ok....



Keith's Response: Totally agree. The draw was the right outcome for us. Actually, I think all three penalty calls were jokes as I feel Smolarek went down very easily for ours.

The first one called on the Woerns foul on Daun was just a horrible call because while there was a foul, it occurred OUTSIDE THE AREA!! Daun fell forward into the area and the dopey referee gave the penalty, which Weidenfeller saved anyhow. That would have tied the match 1-1 as we were ahead on a Woerns goal.

As I said, I thought Smolarek went down a bit easily for ours, which Rosicky converted.

But the final call, in the 89th minute, was a COMPLETE JOKE!! Brzenska in no way held Vittek down! Vittek knew he wasn't going to get the header and squealed while kneeling like a cheap whore preparing to give a blow job!

I feel FCN were the better team in the second half, but since they didn't covert their chances, I would not have felt badly with BVB escaping with three points.

That second penalty call gutted the team and me. That has to be the first time I watched a BVB match where I feel we were outplayed in the second half and were still robbed by the referee.

They should think twice before letting this s#!thead referee another 1. Bundesliga match!




Keith

[The Double]

Can't wait to see the highlights of this one.

[Schaumann]

. . .simply unbelievable. My neighbors could here me shouting from my room at nine in the morning. Spilled tea everywhere, it was quite a scene.

[footyfan1]

Can't wait to see the highlights of this one.



Keith's Response: Please! Tell us what you think of those penalties!




Keith