First friendly of the year: Italy v. Germany 3/1/06 [multiple R's]

[Gregoriak]

In this state, Germany will lose against England or (probably) Sweden in the second round.

I wouldn't be that pessimistic. While we sucked today, we must take into consideration that the team can only play well when they are grimly concentrated on their job, everyone of them, not playing leisure football like today. These guys cannot afford to play with lack of concentration (all the bad passing!), they have to make up for their lack of talent. When they do that, they can pull off some interesting results, like the 1-1 vs. Holland in 2004, the 0-0 in France last December, or the good performances vs. Argentina and Brazil last year. I think playing at home at the friggin World Cup, we won't see such leisurely attitude by these players, they will be highly concentrated on their job. When the surroundings are set, these guys can perform, even if they basically suck compared to other teams.

[arthur d]

don't worry, I added "Multiple R's" to the title.

Well, we knew the defense was the weakest link anyway. I don't mean to poo-poo all of it, but I am not as pessimistic. What we can hope for, is that Klinsi takes this ass-kicking to heart and comes out with some better ideas.

One can hope. I quite like Gregoriak's idea, but you see he also leaves the defenders a variables.. and Schweini has been playing under par as well so having to include him at the mo is not a good sign. Luckily, 100 days are more than they sound... in terms of Schweini and Poldi recapturing their form, and Friedrich getting back to where he was.. etc.

So how is Kehl doing these days?

[prymetyme]

I wouldn't be that pessimistic. While we sucked today, we must take into consideration that the team can only play well when they are grimly concentrated on their job, everyone of them, not playing leisure football like today. These guys cannot afford to play with lack of concentration (all the bad passing!), they have to make up for their lack of talent. When they do that, they can pull off some interesting results, like the 1-1 vs. Holland in 2004, the 0-0 in France last December, or the good performances vs. Argentina and Brazil last year. I think playing at home at the friggin World Cup, we won't see such leisurely attitude by these players, they will be highly concentrated on their job. When the surroundings are set, these guys can perform, even if they basically suck compared to other teams.

I 100% completely agree. Although today was an atrocious day for German football, it should wake up Klinsi and the team to let them know that there is a WC happening on there home soil in less then 3 months. Ballack needs to take control and make people play well. He cant win it himself. The home crowds also have to be roaring, (I know they will) but thats going to have to aid the team if they are to get far. They'll have to pull everything they have out if they want to go far this world cup, and if they do who knows it could be another 74.

[AllReD]

This is just breaking my heart, too much to handle.Why is Huth on this side? where is the experience? Why the swapping of keepers? Why no Lukus? Why this 4-4-2 all out formation? Why all this tinkering with players? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY:confused: :confused:
too may questions and no answers, i dont know if sacking Der Mansuck is the right thing to right now, but something has to be done and in a hurry. Someone said Deitmar was too slow but obviously all the speed isnt helping either.
If he doesnt get this thing right forget about even the second round.:mad:

[SirManchester]

I agree. This flat 4-4-2 today is not working with the players at hand.

A 3-5-2 would probably suit the players better. Three defenders at the back is better than two central defenders in a 4-4-2 that are regularly exposed as their full backs are meant to attack. Better play with two wingbacks in a five man midfield, with two DMs behind a CM.

Something like this:

-------------Forward----------Forward

--Lahm/Schweinst.-----Ballack---------Schneider/Deisler

------------Borowski-------------Frings

-------------DF-----------DF-----------DF

---------------------------GK


I don't get why Klinsmann is sticking to his 4-4-2 in almost every game. It's not making sense. This is worse than his sticking to Huth, imo.

BTW, Deisler played really really bad today. That loose ball, no crosses in 90 minutes, total lack of concentration. Everybody is criticizing Huth when he wasn't even the worst player and even scored a goal.


so let's say Klinsman would go with this...:rolleyes:

To make it work, I think this lineup would be best:

-----------------Podolski-----------Klose------------------

Lahm/Schweinsteiger--Ballack-------------Deisler/Schneider

----------------Frings------------Kehl------------------------

------------Woerns---Metzelder---Friedrich---------------------

-------------------------Kahn---------------------------------

[herewego]

Of course, they have to concentrate and to give more than 100%.

But how should that be received, when the headcoach gives a bad example?

I think the Bundestrainer has to be in his office at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt every day, has to travel to the trainiggrounds of his players in the clubs, has to talk to them and their coaches, has to visit 2 Bundesliga games every weekend and european or internationals midweek. I mean, he gets multimillion euros for his job and he awaits 100% from his players, so he has to give 100% by himself first.

And he has to focus on the essentials. His job should be to compose the team, give the tactical advice, do the substitutions etc.

But he and the zillion of consultants, co-trainers, scouts, psychos, fitnessgurus he installed take care more about the colour of the shirts, the teamdresses and if the hotel rooms have golden toilets.

We do all the best possibkle things around the team, more staff than players, each thinkable effort is taken, but we contracted a newbie as coach.

Today you could see, that he hasn´t the necessary tools to deal with the italians tactic and give a proper reaction just in time, during the game. What will happen in the Worldcup, 10 minutes to play and a goal needed or a red card is received? Can we, can the team believe in Klinsmann´s experience?
Do you, does the team believe in a coach, who let´s the team run into the knife every now and then? Who orders to play a system that not works with the given players and resists on it?

I´d like to see Hitzfeld as headcoach with Magath and Schaaf as Cos.
Now!

[Bayerntone]

This is a very young team which has poor away records. Some of these notably are:
Losses in 2004:

1-5 Romania
0-2 Hungary
1-2 Czech Rep
1-3 S. Korea

2005:

0-2 Slovakia
1-2 Turkey

and when playing in Holland, they were 0-2 down before climbing back for a draw; away in France the score was 0-0 and France is a unstable team which lost at home also yesterday to Slovakia 1-2.

Apart from Holland and France, Italy is a well balanced and technically superior team to the above. Therefore Italy surely can beat Germany 4-1 at their home.

There is no improvement in Germany despite all the trial matches. In fact, they are steps backward from their performance in the Confed Cup.

The situation in a match where there are passing errors and lack of control indicates:
1. nervousness
2. lack of teamwork
3. inadequate technical skill

and Germany exposes all 3 symtoms when playing away matches.

There was no close checking on their key man, Del Piero. Most of the goals were offered to Italy free of charge. The defence of Germany were caught watching balls instead of tackling and tight body checking. Time and time again in at least 2 of all Italian's goal scoring chances, Germany were beaten in the air before the ball was sent to the goal scorer!? That's just tragic in view of the height of the Germany players. Also, I believe if Germany should have taken a more defense-oriented strategy against Italy, the scoreline will not be this embarrassing.

The news (from DW tv) said:" the humuliation started when ..."

The next match will be against USA in 3 weeks' time. I am not optimistic at all that Germany can pull out anything dramatic to turn the situations much around in view of the measly "stock level" available on hand.

[BMGuy]

isn't it too late to replace klins for Hitfield ? I believe hitfield is the best coach for Germany at the moment. Klinsman has a right desire but he's not good enough to lead a NT in the biggest contest like Worldcup.

[Bayerntone]

I guess Germany have to live with it until the end of the world cup.
Playing at home surely eliminates many of the nerve factors and helps the young players to perform as natural as they could. But amongst all the national coaches of all the top teams, Klinsman is the least experienced.

[herewego]

But with his lack of experience he at least has to secure, that after the Worldcup he could say, that he has given and tried all what was possible.

Klinsmann travels home tomorrow, not watching Bayern vs. HSV this weekend, not participating Worldcup coaches symposium next monday and tuesday in germany.

Thats a joke, 26 of 32 coaches take part of this meeting, but not the coach of the Worldcups country.

I say you something, it´s all about not paying income taxes in Germany, if he stays more than 182 days in Germany, he has to pay in Germany, otherwise the lesser rate in USA.

You cannot ask your players to give 100%, if you don´t give the example by your own.

A good boss is the first in in the morning and the last in the evening and shows, that he orders nothing to his employes that he would not do by himself.

[Bayerntone]

That's true. The off-shore income tax rule. His family (American wife) lives in California. If Kilinsi knows that disaster in the world cup would not help him developing his career in USA or anywhere else, he should physically supervise the team in Germany. His long term goal is to be the head coach of a college soccer team if not one in MLS.

[footyfan1]

That's true. The off-shore income tax rule. His family (American wife) lives in California. If Kilinsi knows that disaster in the world cup would not help him developing his career in USA or anywhere else, he should physically supervise the team in Germany. His long term goal is to be the head coach of a college soccer team if not one in MLS.


Ever think he might want to take over the USA after Arena calls it quits?? ;)

You guys made great points there.

[ForeverRed]

As much as I love Klinsi, with his attitude....******** HIM! I mean, it's like an embarassed school boy who is running away from the problem instead of tackling it head on........

[Fiorentina lives!]

Why was Lehmann wearing number 9???:confused:

Will GKs be allowed to wear 2-11 in the WC??

[Bayerntone]

Ever think he might want to take over the USA after Arena calls it quits?? ;)

You guys made great points there.

..:p ;)

[Bayerntone]

Why was Lehmann wearing number 9???:confused:

Will GKs be allowed to wear 2-11 in the WC??

Was it a friendly?:rolleyes:

[Fiorentina lives!]

Oh, OK.

Soon we'll see players using numbers like 55 or 99 on friendlies just to f*&% out.:D

[SirManchester]

Actually Lehman was wearing number 9 because he refused to be left out of the starting eleven. He wouldn't accept being number 12 or anything above 11. Yea I know, he's a looney.

[ChrisSSBB]

Hamann and Woerns begin to look like viable options after a performance like this.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Hamann and Woerns begin to look like viable options after a performance like this.

Hamann and Woerns showed the same horrible performance,
the players showed yesterday. Same with Kehl, Fahrenhorst and Baumann,
they also played horrible in the past.
The time to make changes is gone, it´s only 106 days until the WC starts.
Furthermore the team yesterday was nearly exactly the same than
at the draw in France 3 months ago (Lahm played for Jansen).
So formation isn´t the solution in my eyes, it has to do with
match preparation and that´s Klinsmann´s job.

Furthermore Klinsmann must take the pressure of the players
and the players must do morein every training,
and the mistakes made yesterday bust be analysed
and the right things must be concluded.

Sometimes such trashings have positive consequnces,
(WC 2002 runners-up after a 1-5 against England)
sometimes not (horrible EC after a 1-5 against Romania).
I hope the team learns something from it.

To Lehmann:
He also weared the 9. Don´t know, why, but i also don´t know,
why the team plays in red shirts. ;)