Klinsmann has decided: Germany's number 1 is...

[F96]

To be fair it is quite painful to read VH's posts. And it is quite painful to ignore them. I just don't bother anymore as it's pointless. Could you check if utter stupidity is a reason for a forum ban? If this vertical nonsense carries on I'll quit reading this stuff.
I'm 100% with this!

[The Old Lady Hertha]

To be fair it is quite painful to read VH's posts. And it is quite painful to ignore them. I just don't bother anymore as it's pointless. Could you check if utter stupidity is a reason for a forum ban? If this vertical nonsense carries on I'll quit reading this stuff.

I'll ask, but technically, I don't think he's done anything wrong.

[poorvi]

This is so poorly timed. Why did Klinsmann have to demotivate Kahn??
Anyways he will be taking atleast 2 goalkeepers to the world cup. He could have kept them guessing and alternated them every game. Now Kahn knows that he will be there, and that he will be a sub in all games. When Klinsmann was going to include both Lehmann and Kahn in the squad of 23, why should he decide who will be first choice now.His gameplan surely doesn't depend on who the keeper is.
Klinsmann has done this to show that he is not afraid to make crunch decisions, and possibly as a publicity stunt. I am dissapointed.:o

[The Old Lady Hertha]

This is so poorly timed. Why did Klinsmann have to demotivate Kahn??
Anyways he will be taking atleast 2 goalkeepers to the world cup. He could have kept them guessing and alternated them every game. Now Kahn knows that he will be there, and that he will be a sub in all games. When Klinsmann was going to include both Lehmann and Kahn in the squad of 23, why should he decide who will be first choice now.His gameplan surely doesn't depend on who the keeper is.
Klinsmann has done this to show that he is not afraid to make crunch decisions, and possibly as a publicity stunt. I am dissapointed.:o

Personally, I think the media had as much to do with it as Klinsmann did. Media will always go berserk when something like this happens and Klinsmann had to make the decision so that at least his squad knows who to trust now.

[poorvi]

To be fair it is quite painful to read VH's posts. And it is quite painful to ignore them. I just don't bother anymore as it's pointless. Could you check if utter stupidity is a reason for a forum ban? If this vertical nonsense carries on I'll quit reading this stuff.

no, don't quit.

Just use the ignore user button. :p

[poorvi]

Personally, I think the media had as much to do with it as Klinsmann did. Media will always go berserk when something like this happens and Klinsmann had to make the decision so that at least his squad knows who to trust now.

Klinsmann did not have to make any decision now.There was no pressure on him to do such a thing. He should rather pay more attention to ironing out the problems the defence faces. What good does it do the team? Their strategy is not to subject to change depending on who plays in goal. Now Kahn will be very unhappy to play second fiddle to Lehmann. The only goalkeeper to win player of the tournament in a world cup to start as a sub. :mad:

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Klinsmann did not have to make any decision now.There was no pressure on him to do such a thing. He should rather pay more attention to ironing out the problems the defence faces. What good does it do the team? Their strategy is not to subject to change depending on who plays in goal. Now Kahn will be very unhappy to play second fiddle to Lehmann. The only goalkeeper to win player of the tournament in a world cup to start as a sub. :mad:

As noted in the past, that was 4 years ago. Are you still saying that Kahn is the better keeper this year than Lehmann? I don't think so, considering where Arsenal is now.

And what do you mean there was no pressure? There was seemingly an article everyday on kicker about Lehmann and Kahn.

[poorvi]

damn straight... im glad klinsmann has taken a stance...
i, too, believe it is the right one... sometimes, we need to swallow our pride to improve ourselves...
lets see if kahn has the same character lehmann showed in wresting top spot away from him... you just cannot argue with the decision based on performances...

well done, klinsi... hes shown hes got the testicular fortitude to stand up to the powers that be, yet again...

I am afraid I do not agree at all with you. There is no need to take a stance right now. When Klinsmann is taking 2 goalkeepers to the world cup, why relegate one goalkeeper to sub position just 2 months before a wrold cup and demotivate him. What was wrong with the confederations cup system of rotating goalkeepers.This looks like some poor mis-timed publicity stunt by Klinsmann. There is no hurry to reveal who the first choice keeper should be. That can be done days before the first match.

[poorvi]

As noted in the past, that was 4 years ago. Are you still saying that Kahn is the better keeper this year than Lehmann? I don't think so, considering where Arsenal is now.

And what do you mean there was no pressure? There was seemingly an article everyday on kicker about Lehmann and Kahn.

No, I am not saying Kahn is better than Lehmann or the other the way around. I am no person to judge who is a better keeper.But if we take both at their best form, Kahn is a better keeper. But why did Klinsmann have to do this announcement now? There is no gain. All he has achieved is that he has succeeded in disappointing Kahn. Kahn now knows that however well he performs for the remainder of the season, unless Lehmann messes up, he is not going to get a chance.
This is a big blunder by Klinsmann. I hope somebody agrees with me.

[blazsovszkyc]

no, don't quit.

Just use the ignore user button. :p
He is on my ignore list too, so you are right don't quit just ignore his posts and all his stupidities

[F96]

I was kinda under the impression that you could only use the ignore function if you're a paying member. I was wrong. Was I? How can I put him on ignore? I only find a buddy list. (It's empty as well, how sad.)

But of course people need to stop quoting him as well.

[kickinthehead]

As noted in the past, that was 4 years ago. Are you still saying that Kahn is the better keeper this year than Lehmann? I don't think so, considering where Arsenal is now.

And what do you mean there was no pressure? There was seemingly an article everyday on kicker about Lehmann and Kahn.


It was specifically the Bayern-Lobby who insisted and pressured that Klinsmann put an end to the speculation. He did.

Though I am happy with the decision, I think (as many on here do) that this or that goalkeeper is not the main problem Germany faces in the WC.

[Dead Fingers]

I am afraid I do not agree at all with you. There is no need to take a stance right now. When Klinsmann is taking 2 goalkeepers to the world cup, why relegate one goalkeeper to sub position just 2 months before a wrold cup and demotivate him. What was wrong with the confederations cup system of rotating goalkeepers.This looks like some poor mis-timed publicity stunt by Klinsmann. There is no hurry to reveal who the first choice keeper should be. That can be done days before the first match.


Though I think Lehman has earned his spot, I agree with you and I still don't get this absurd obsession with the starting goalkeeper two months out as well. How about worrying about that back line instead? Germany has much more to worry about than that.

I would also not be surprised if Ollie gets a start in at least one of the games as well. I don't know if it was a publicity stunt as more to just get it out of the way. Klinsmann never really had any use for the newspapers say anyway.

[Dead Fingers]

Jeez...I looked at this thread this morning and didn't get back to it till right now...Absolutely WOW!

Gang...stop using all caps. We do not need the "shouting".

[poorvi]

I was kinda under the impression that you could only use the ignore function if you're a paying member. I was wrong. Was I? How can I put him on ignore? I only find a buddy list. (It's empty as well, how sad.)

But of course people need to stop quoting him as well.

Click on the person's (whom you wish to ignore) user name , next to any of his/her posts, and choose the 'view user profile' option . You'll reach a page where on the right hand side you can choose to add people to your buddy list or ignore list.
How do I activate the avatar, like Old Lady and Bayernwake have done?

[Mehr]

I warned you guys about this twat Vertical Horizon.

He is no a German Fan. He in fact hates Germans period. He came clean on the soccer24-7 board a few weeks ago. Literlally calling people Nazi's, terrorists...etc. He was banned and now comes here.

His only intention is to cause trouble, fighting, etc....just ignore him!

[ForeverRed]

Holy shyte, my jaw dropped when I read this...I did not expect this AT ALL! I'm proud of Klinsman making a firm executive decision and growing some balls but I think the confirmation is a bit too late and might just backfire.....

I'm very very skeptical about this decision.....Lehmann is not the same on the international stage as he is at club level.

Congrats to Jens though, he does deserve it.

[ForeverRed]

Lehmann has certainly earned this spot, that is for sure but we all know he isn't the same in a Germany jersey as he is at club level, its just never been this way and he's had several chances to prove himself.

I just hope this doesn't backfire.....

[JeffS]

This was the absolute right decision, and a courageous one too. I give huge props to Klinsmann for sticking with his own plans and decisions, and not let the media, past history, or Bayern strong-arming make his decisions for him.

As for Kahn - he was once the the best goalkeeper in the world, period. The form he had from about 1999 through 2002 WC was amazing. He was an absolute monster, almost super human. He was a dominating precence in goal, and was very good with his judgement, his reflexes, positioning, and communication. Then the following season he had a huge drop in form, probably spurred on by the eye problem he was having, and cheating on his pregnant wife with a barmaid. He has since had a number of niggling injuries, and has never regained the form he had in 02. Right now, he has improved on his form over what it was after the 02 WC, but he just doesn't look like the Kahn of old. He makes a number of great saves, but also embarrassing blunders, like the one against Cologne. And he is not 100% fit, suffering from a rib injury. He looks unsure of himself at times, and his reflexes are not as good as they used to be. In short, while he's still very good, Kahn's form has been in overall decline. But that's life, you get older, you don't play at the pro level that you used to.

As for Lehmann - he's mostly been a very good goalkeeper, if totally tempermental, and usually his form and ability put him solidly behind Kahn. But he's been improving, and he has not been having too many blow ups (maturing), and his form this season has been absolutely stellar. His form for his first year with Arsenal was very good, then dipped the next season (earning him the bench), then it took a major spike upwards. Right now, based on pure form of the moment, Jens Lehmann is, IMHO, the best 'keeper in the world. His performances for Arsenal in the CL has been of the caliber of Kahn's in WC02. I just watched Lehnmann Wednesday against Juventus, and he looked rock solid, and very comfortable, and very confident, and very healthy and athletic (he's aged well, while Kahn has not). Actually, Lehmann, for whatever reason, has gotten better with age. He looks as youthful and fit as he did in his 20's. Perhaps Lehmann has a better training regimine then Kahn, or perhaps it's luck, or perhaps it's genetics. I don't know, but the two men's forms have been going in opposite directions the last 2-3 years.

Quite frankly, based on current form and pure merit, Klinsmann's decision was an absolute no-brainer. Based on media pressure, politics, Bayern strong-arming, and dealing with egos the size of Alaska, the decision must have been pure hell. But give Klinsmann credit. He stuck to his guns and made the two 'keepers try to earn their place, and he let the best man win.

[F96]

Great post JeffS.