Kicker: Dortmund - New Player Degen Is Becoming A Problem

[footyfan1]

Dortmund: Van Marwijk Scolds Players Over Unprofessional Behavior On The Pitch


New Player Degen Is Becoming A Problem

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Bert van Marwijk likes clear words. What emerged above all from the "very disappointing" 1:1 against Sigma Olomuc, is that to a large degree, his team played very unprofessionally. That mainly applies to two stars on the team. Jan Koller because he reacted too late on Olomuc’s tying goal and Tomas Rosicky for taking too long to get into the game defensively if one of the guests strikers fell back into the midfield.

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The "indiscipline", that the trainer spoke of in this financially important match to Borussia Dortmund also applied to new player Philipp Degen, who seems to be permanently on the list of players who BvM criticizes. “He goes forward too much instead of staying back with a 1-0 lead against a strong and patient counterattacking team.



While the trainer praised the left side and the strong play of Dede and Buckley together, he criticized “the unrest” that right back Degen spread around the pitch. BvM: “Although Smolarek and Rosicky went forward too much before him, he (Degen) goes forward too much and makes the area too tight. Degen must learn this lesson at all costs.”



Already on Saturday, Olmouc should have been able to score more goals because Degen screwed up his defensive assignments and the center duo of Wörns and Metzelder could not always clean up the Swiss international’s mess. Degen’s offensive qualities are undoubted. His good crosses and forward runs can be beneficial. That is, if they are used at opportune times and doesn’t destroy Dortmund’s match balance. BvM has already discussed the subject many times with the new player from Basel. Now, it is time the 22 year old applied these specifics. It’s all up to him to seize this chance to establish a regular spot in the team though a more disciplined match attitude and prevent Bvm from having to re-arrange the back four as a more stable formation. “He doesn’t have to prove to me that he can play the game,” says the trainer, “Otherwise, we would not have gotten him.”



In the return match, a more compact defense can be decisive. “Nothing is lost yet”, says BvM. “We need a goal and we usually are able to score on the road.” Koller and Rosicky will be allowed to push themselves further physically with an extra week of training. Before the first match, both had only had a week of training. The return match is too soon for a return of Sebastian Kehl (After ankle surgery) and Lars Ricken (Thigh problems).

[gunner_21]

I think it's safe to say that if the defense doesn't straighten up quickly it will be 2 and out for BVB's Euro campaign. Perhaps the fact that mental mistakes were made by Dortmund can be attributed to the fact that is was just the first "real" match of the season, having said that these fellows are all professionals and Olomuc aren't exactly world beaters.

[footyfan1]

I think it's safe to say that if the defense doesn't straighten up quickly it will be 2 and out for BVB's Euro campaign. Perhaps the fact that mental mistakes were made by Dortmund can be attributed to the fact that is was just the first "real" match of the season, having said that these fellows are all professionals and Olomuc aren't exactly world beaters.


We aren't exactly "world beaters" either. Plus, you hit the nail on the head. It was our first "meaningful" match while they had already been through two stages of the competition.

This is why I believe in most cases, teams coming into the UI Cup in the second and third rounds are at a disadvantage.

Especially in a World Cup year when the season begins a bit earlier than usual.

But that sounds like excuses and there's no excuse for not being able to secure a win against Olomuc at home........

[gunner_21]

We aren't exactly "world beaters" either. Plus, you hit the nail on the head. It was our first "meaningful" match while they had already been through two stages of the competition.

This is why I believe in most cases, teams coming into the UI Cup in the second and third rounds are at a disadvantage.

Especially in a World Cup year when the season begins a bit earlier than usual.

But that sounds like excuses and there's no excuse for not being able to secure a win against Olomuc at home........

You are right, we're not "world beaters" but I would almost expect a Bundesliga side to beat a Czech side 8 of 10 times especially when it's Dortmund v an opponent that to be quite honest I have never even heard of! :o Also with Koller and Rosicky just joining training a week before the first game it is tough to be on the same page with each other. I'm confident we will get the result needed at the weekend. :)

[footyfan1]

You are right, we're not "world beaters" but I would almost expect a Bundesliga side to beat a Czech side 8 of 10 times especially when it's Dortmund v an opponent that to be quite honest I have never even heard of! :o


Just because you haven't heard of them doesn't mean they aren't any good.




Also with Koller and Rosicky just joining training a week before the first game it is tough to be on the same page with each other. I'm confident we will get the result needed at the weekend. :)


From what I was told, that match didn't come down to Rosicky and Koller being "out of sync". Read the article again. The team is doing what it's done for the past two full seasons. Taking long stretches of the match "off"! People I've e-mailed with or talked to who watched the match or were there all say that BVB looked like they really thought they would simply outclass Sigma Olomuc.

You don't win matches that way.

BVB are horrible that way. We lack killer-instinct. We come out on fire, score a goal and relax as if we've done enough to win.

That has nothing to do with Rosicky and Koller being "out of sync" and the guys I know say that BVB pulled the same old s#it again! Getting an early goal and relaxing instead of going for the jugular......

[gunner_21]

Just because you haven't heard of them doesn't mean they aren't any good.


From what I was told, that match didn't come down to Rosicky and Koller being "out of sync". Read the article again. The team is doing what it's done for the past two full seasons. Taking long stretches of the match "off"! People I've e-mailed with or talked to who watched the match or were there all say that BVB looked like they really thought they would simply outclass Sigma Olomuc.

You don't win matches that way.

BVB are horrible that way. We lack killer-instinct. We come out on fire, score a goal and relax as if we've done enough to win.

That has nothing to do with Rosicky and Koller being "out of sync" and the guys I know say that BVB pulled the same old s#it again! Getting an early goal and relaxing instead of going for the jugular......

I did not say they weren't a quality side, I'm just saying BVB should beat teams like Olomuc............ESPECIALLY at home. Hopefully BvM can inject some kind of killer instinct that has been missing? As you know I'm new to BVB so hopefully I can get some sort of feel for the club as the season goes onward. :)

[footyfan1]

I did not say they weren't a quality side, I'm just saying BVB should beat teams like Olomuc............ESPECIALLY at home.

That, I agree with, but I think the team believed that too and that's what cost them.........



Hopefully BvM can inject some kind of killer instinct that has been missing? As you know I'm new to BVB so hopefully I can get some sort of feel for the club as the season goes onward. :)

Here's something I just posted to my BVB list. See if it helps you understand my position on this thing a bit better.

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Even with the money problems, I think the two major things BVB are missing are a "Champion's Mentality" and "Killer Instinct".

You see the clubs who have a "Champion's Mentality". They are the clubs that no matter what happens, they feel they will find a way to win and it shows in their play. A lot of that has to do with pride in the shirt they are wearing. That's definitely missing in Dortmund.

And of course, the thing we've been discussing for years on this list, "Killer Instinct". The sense to realize when you have an opponent reeling and "on the ropes" and the motivation and attitude to just pound that opponent into submission.

Remember that 5-0 asswhipping Bayern laid on us in Munich last season??? That's a perfect example.

A good team with "killer instinct" puts their foot on the throat of their opponents from the start and doesn't let up until the final whistle.

That's not Borussia Dortmund. Now that I think of it, has it ever really been Borussia Dortmund????
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I just checked. Last season, we only won four matches the entire season by two goals or more.

Week 14 v. SC Freiburg at the Westfalenstadion: BVB won 2-0. It was only 1-0 at halftime. Freiburg was a horrible team last season and we should have beaten them by more than two goals. As usual, the story was wasted chances and allowing ourselves to be outplayed for long stretches.

We threw away two points late in the season at Freiburg that help lose us a direct UEFA Cup berth.

And make no mistake, we weren't beaten to that UEFA Cup berth, we threw it away..........


Week 20 v. Hannover 96 at the AWD-Arena (Niedersachenstadion): BVB won 3-1. BVB was winning 2-0 at the half and really should have scored five or six goals in this match. Again, the story was wasted chances.


Week 23 v. Mainz 05 at the Westfalenstadion: BVB won 3-0. BVB only led 1-0 at halftime. Only real complaint was way too many wasted chances again. BVB should have scored six or seven goals in this match easily.


Week 30 v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern at the Westfalenstadion: BVB won 4-2. Again, wasted chances and not playing well in stretches.

That's the story of BVB the last three seasons. Wasted chances, allowing themselves to be outplayed by clearly "inferior" teams in stretches, and complete lack of killer instinct and pride in the club.

[gunner_21]

I understand completely. They become very complacent with a lead and much too comfortable. I've seen so many teams like that. I've always considered Dortmund to be an upper echelon side in the Bundesliga but to keep or achieve this status this situation without a doubt must be corrected.

[footyfan1]

I understand completely. They become very complacent with a lead and much too comfortable. I've seen so many teams like that. I've always considered Dortmund to be an upper echelon side in the Bundesliga but to keep or achieve this status this situation without a doubt must be corrected.


It's not just with a lead. Even at times when a match is scoreless or BVB might even be down a goal, they just forget how to play for long stretches. It's almost as if some of them don't want to be out there.

Ewerthon was definitely one of those guys. Rosicky is also guilty of it at times. And sometimes, they dragged the young guys like Kringe down with them. Not to say that Ewerthon and Rosicky were the only ones, but they were the main culprits.

I really hate to see where BVB would have wound up had BvM not brought in Ebi Smolarek during the winter break. Smolarek was the main catalyst of BVB's second-half resurgence. Smolarek fired up Kringe and others, while Sebastian Kehl began to take charge in defensive midfield.

Kehl will definitely make a difference when he can return.

We just have to hope that it's not already too late for advancement to the UEFA Cup.

Saturday is going to be very, very, tough. We'll see what the rest of the team is made of.

BTW, I have to correct myself. I said in my article translation that Ricken is having thigh problems. It's calf problems he's having.

He's also scheduled to return to practice on Monday.

[MetroChile]

I know this may be off topic (it definitely is) but I was curious to find out everyone's opinion on Kruska.
What position does he occupy?
Strenghts/weaknessess?