klinsmann calls Nowotny to fitness test

[Bayerntone]

Leverkusen Without Nowotny:-

Match Win Draw Loss GF GA GD Points
22 6 7 9 35 37 -2 25

GF/Match GA/Match GD/Match Points/Match Position
1.59 1.68 -0.09 1.14 10

Leverkusen With Nowotny:-

Match Win Draw Loss GF GA GD Points
9 7 1 1 20 7 13 22

GF/Match GA/Match GD/Match Points/Match Position
2.22 0.78 1.44 2.44 5

Team Improvement (+) since Nowotny returned from injuries:

GF/Match GA/Match GD/Match Points/Match Position
+0.63 +0.90 +1.54 +1.31 +5

BvB and Woerns:

Match Win Draw Loss GF GA GD Points

29 9 10 10 37 37 0 37

GF/Match GA/Match GD/Match Points/Match Position

1.28 1.28 0.00 1.28 7

Nowotny (Leverkusen) over Woerns (BvB):

GF/Match GA/Match GD/Match Points/Match Position
+0.95 +0.50 +1.44 +1.17 +2


Levekusen now ranks no. 5. For some reasons explanable or not explanable by the stat above, Levekusen is on the rise and has surpassed BvB since Nowotny returned from injuries.

Congrats Nowotny on passing the fitness test. Keep fit and maintain the good forms in the World Cup!

Sorry Woerns, do not give up. The door may not be closed yet!

[scorpio81]

i just watched the bundesliga highights show this morning and although leverkusen kept a clean sheet, only butt can take any credit for this from the leverkusen team... :rolleyes:

i had my eyes on nowotny and lauth in particular in the match and the ball just doesnt seem to be falling for lauth this season - hes clearly short on confidence, while nowotny - gawd - the less said the better!!! he was taken to the cleaners repeatedly by trochowski, lauth, ailton and barbarez... i have no idea how anybody could hail his performance against hamburg on sunday... his positioning was shyte as well, which is something one would normally depend on from an experienced defender... he lost key aerial battles with barbarez and couldnt commit to covering the free man or zonal marking...

absolutely clueless... if this guy plays for germany at the world cup, i will be having palpitations for all three matches!!! :eek:

[Bayerntone]

The best way to watch a game is to watch the full.

Anyone who has his/her opinion of Woern's performance in two matches:
Against Bremen where BvB lost 2:3 away and Woerns got a score of 4.5
Against Lautern where BvB drew 3:3 away and Woerns got a 5.

Kicker gave Woerns very low scores in the two matches while Nowotny got a 3.5 in the Hamburg match despite the HIGHLIGHTS (against Hamburg) which always emphasize the goal mouth chances and thus customarily make the defenders look bad.

If I could have a chance to watch Woern's above matches, I could see if the disastrous performance of Woerns in the matches were fairly rated by Kicker.

[footyfan1]

And all our strikers below him can? He's still our only big threat as an out-and-out striker. Neuville and Asamoah? Supporting Strikers. Ditto for Thurk. Kiessling? Vittek is taking all his goals, which I think tells me something about Kiessling and Vittek's mentality.

Face it, Kuranyi is sucking now, but DO WE HAVE BETTER OPTIONS IN THE BACKUP STRIKER ROLE??


You talk about those other guys as if they aren't capable.

Neuville scored in his last appearance for the national team. Thurk might just need a chance.

You can't just put a player in because of his reputation. If he isn't scoring, he'll be a liability!

You mentioned Thurk and Neuville. At least they are doing some scoring. Schalke fans are ready to hang Kuranyi.

Yeah, there are other f#cking options!

[footyfan1]

The best way to watch a game is to watch the full.

Anyone who has his/her opinion of Woern's performance in two matches:
Against Bremen where BvB lost 2:3 away and Woerns got a score of 4.5
Against Lautern where BvB drew 3:3 away and Woerns got a 5.

Kicker gave Woerns very low scores in the two matches while Nowotny got a 3.5 in the Hamburg match despite the HIGHLIGHTS (against Hamburg) which always emphasize the goal mouth chances and thus customarily make the defenders look bad.

If I could have a chance to watch Woern's above matches, I could see if the disastrous performance of Woerns in the matches were fairly rated by Kicker.


And the best way to judge these players is by SEASON performance and not just manipulated numbers.

I can find numbers to tell you the f#cking sky is black, doesn't make it so.

Let's see here though. The most respected football publication in all of Germany says the best GERMAN defender in the Bundesliga is CHRISTIAN WOERNS.

Do I believe you or do I believe them??

Not a hard choice. You can stick it.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

You talk about those other guys as if they aren't capable.

Neuville scored in his last appearance for the national team. Thurk might just need a chance.

You can't just put a player in because of his reputation. If he isn't scoring, he'll be a liability!

You mentioned Thurk and Neuville. At least they are doing some scoring. Schalke fans are ready to hang Kuranyi.

Yeah, there are other f#cking options!

pfffffffffft

Neuville plays a different game than Kuranyi. Kuranyi's business is to be in the box and get "ugly" goals if you will...and for the most part, he gets it done. What were Schalke fans expecting? Him to get 20 goals? No...they got exactly the player he was in Stuttgart; a junk goal scorer. But every team needs a player who can do this. I think Kuranyi still can. Neuville is not that type of player. Thurk is more of like a Mintal type player, coming from a more attacking mf role.

Kuranyi is just in a bad patch of form. We all know what he can do, and he will do well IMO.

[Bayerntone]

Yeap, Kuranyi can still do it.

[footyfan1]

pfffffffffft

Neuville plays a different game than Kuranyi. Kuranyi's business is to be in the box and get "ugly" goals if you will...and for the most part, he gets it done. What were Schalke fans expecting? Him to get 20 goals? No...they got exactly the player he was in Stuttgart; a junk goal scorer. But every team needs a player who can do this. I think Kuranyi still can. Neuville is not that type of player. Thurk is more of like a Mintal type player, coming from a more attacking mf role.

Kuranyi is just in a bad patch of form. We all know what he can do, and he will do well IMO.


He's in a "bad patch of form" at the wrong time of the year. And, as Stuttgart fans will remember, when they need him most, he's usually in a "bad patch of form".

You're right, he's a junk goal scorer. And he scores them when he's most relaxed or against inferior competition.

You don't take someone to the World Cup who's in a "bad patch of form". You don't know that they will come out of it, but you sure as hell know they are in it.

You aren't building a team for an entire season, you are builiding one for a tournament. You take the players in your setup who are in the best form.

Right now, right before the tourney, that just isn't Kevin Kuranyi........

[footyfan1]

Yeap, Kuranyi can still do it.


Now I know I'm right.......

[Bayerntone]

I didn't force down your throat to swallow my analysis, footy. You are entitled to what you believe and I am entitled to mine.:rolleyes:

[footyfan1]

I didn't force down your throat to swallow my analysis, footy. You are entitled to what you believe and I am entitled to mine.:rolleyes:


No one denies that. Just as I'm entitled to my opinion of your analysis and vice versa.........

I'm sure you don't give a s#it about mine and I feel the exact same way. I'll happily discuss this with TOLH, but as far as I'm concerned, you and I have nothing more to say to each other.

[Bayerntone]

I thought you have rec'd my message for the same regard a while ago!

[JeffS]

He's in a "bad patch of form" at the wrong time of the year. And, as Stuttgart fans will remember, when they need him most, he's usually in a "bad patch of form".

You're right, he's a junk goal scorer. And he scores them when he's most relaxed or against inferior competition.

You don't take someone to the World Cup who's in a "bad patch of form". You don't know that they will come out of it, but you sure as hell know they are in it.

You aren't building a team for an entire season, you are builiding one for a tournament. You take the players in your setup who are in the best form.

Right now, right before the tourney, that just isn't Kevin Kuranyi........

Agreed. Kuranyi was in pretty good form the previous two seasons, but this season has been bad. And yes, the best way to go is to bring the players in the best current form, since it is one tournament. Occasionally managers have given faith in players who had strong past history but were in bad current form, and it worked out - that player sometimes rises to the WC occasion. But usually, players in poor form at the moment carry that poor form into the WC. The opposite is true, players in good current form usually continue that in the WC. It's just the way things work natually.

Thus, Klose is the obvious choice at one striker postion, and as for the second position, it looks like Poldolski (who's recent form has had an upswing), Nueville (ditto), or Hanke (who has tons of ability and usually shows it). Kuranyi is fourth in this pecking order, based on current form.

[ForeverRed]

Agreed. Kuranyi was in pretty good form the previous two seasons, but this season has been bad. And yes, the best way to go is to bring the players in the best current form, since it is one tournament. Occasionally managers have given faith in players who had strong past history but were in bad current form, and it worked out - that player sometimes rises to the WC occasion. But usually, players in poor form at the moment carry that poor form into the WC. The opposite is true, players in good current form usually continue that in the WC. It's just the way things work natually.

Thus, Klose is the obvious choice at one striker postion, and as for the second position, it looks like Poldolski (who's recent form has had an upswing), Nueville (ditto), or Hanke (who has tons of ability and usually shows it). Kuranyi is fourth in this pecking order, based on current form.

That order looks about right. I've never felt too good about Kuranyi...he looks like a deer caught in the spotlight most of the time, while Hanke who is more inexperienced has that killer instinct that seems to do it nowadays on the NT and European level.

Who knows, Klinsman may just go with Kiessling...heck......Kirsten will come out retirement and be called up.....

[JeffS]

That order looks about right. I've never felt too good about Kuranyi...he looks like a deer caught in the spotlight most of the time, while Hanke who is more inexperienced has that killer instinct that seems to do it nowadays on the NT and European level.

Who knows, Klinsman may just go with Kiessling...heck......Kirsten will come out retirement and be called up.....

Kiessling practically looks like Klinsmann's younger brother. He even has the same spring in his step Klinsi did at the height of his playing days.

Kiessling probably isn't ready yet, but let's hope he blossoms in the future.

[bltleo]

I´m glad that Jens managed the fitness test!.

[Psychosis hsv]

calling up nowotny is a big mistake... the guy has been a disaster when playing for germany in every international tournament

i had my eyes on nowotny and lauth in particular in the match and the ball just doesnt seem to be falling for lauth this season - hes clearly short on confidence, while nowotny - gawd - the less said the better!!! he was taken to the cleaners repeatedly by trochowski, lauth, ailton and barbarez... i have no idea how anybody could hail his performance against hamburg on sunday... his positioning was shyte as well, which is something one would normally depend on from an experienced defender... he lost key aerial battles with barbarez and couldnt commit to covering the free man or zonal marking...

absolutely clueless... if this guy plays for germany at the world cup, i will be having palpitations for all three matches!!! :eek:

...i second that. where have you been? i will take huth over him anytime, i agree every word about that even fullstop

[The Old Lady Hertha]

You seem to forget that Hanke is out the first 2 games of the tournament. I'm not sure if we can handicap this team for 2 games with just 1 striker on the bench. And Hanke is NOT better than Kuranyi, as many of you think he is. Now, Kiessling, maybe, but Hanke has been on a pretty wretched patch of form lately.

[Psychosis hsv]

You seem to forget that Hanke is out the first 2 games of the tournament. I'm not sure if we can handicap this team for 2 games with just 1 striker on the bench. And Hanke is NOT better than Kuranyi, as many of you think he is. Now, Kiessling, maybe, but Hanke has been on a pretty wretched patch of form lately.
available and good striker are klose, podolski and neuville. the 4th and final choice should be, i dont know , may be only 3 strikers are good. they can always count on ballack from mid

[Bayerntone]

Podolski has been completely out of form for at least 3/4 of the season. He was literally dumped out of the match long before the end of the first half against USA. Thank goodness he has picked up his form in the last few matches. Hanke and Neuville have not been consistent either. Kiessling is not up to the tasks yet. So Kuranyi still has a good shot. Let's see how Schalke is doing in Spain today.

The current situation of reliance of a single person Ballack is very risky, and more so when Deisler is injured and Piggy is not in good form lately. There is literally no back up. And the injuries of Deisler has made the midfield department almost vacuum. Lets hope Borowski and Schneider maintain their forms and free from injuries.

Woerns had been given his chance against Slovakia. He played poorly and Germany lost 2-0 in the first half. He was not seen in action in the second half and the team managed to keep a clean sheet. You may argue that one match cannot prove all but he has given his chances, and only Klinsi will know if Woerns will be given a spot again.

Also, as I have indicated in my above stat, Leverkusen has substantially improved its performance after Nowotny returned home. And his performance stats by what I see a reliable evaluator - Kicker which gave him a good performance evaluation in the 9 matches he played thus far and his score is impressive. Why should Nowotny be deprived of a chance for the trial? Why it is such a bad idea to let Nowotny take the fitness test as someone perceived?

Everyone knows and wants a player to bring into the world cup tourne a consistent good form established in the league. But look at the team, who in the 'regular' starters has a relative consistent good form now apart from the following?

Ballack
Lehmann
Klose
Lahm
Frings (b4 injury)
Borowski
Kehl
Schneider

So at least half of the roster is on the border line. So why should Kuranyi be derprived of a chance while there is still the last mile to go b4 the start of the tourne?

What is the deadline for submission of the roster? Anyone knows?