Matchday 18: BVB v FC Bayern Muenchen (FC Bayern Munich) [R]

[footyfan1]

It is one week before the match, but I don't think it's too early to start talking about it.

Bayern has had a turbulent week with the sudden retirement of Sebastian Deisler and all the hoopla surrounding them and if they are going to make a big payment for a big-named replacement immediately.

In the past few weeks, they've also had Lucio go public with his unhappiness with the club and they released midfielder Ali Karimi to return to his former UAE club.

In comparison to what's happening in Munich, BVB's preparation has been quite boring.

Sure, we had the national headlines here in Germany right after BvM was fired, but since then, at least as far as the national press is concerned, Juergen Roeber has worked in relative peace and quiet.

There are nice articles about the training camp in Marbella at the Official BVB Site (www.borussia-dortmund.com) and the work Juergen Roeber has done not only trying to repair the morale of this team, but also getting them into better shape.

Most of you know that I was a staunch supporter of BvM, but even I have to admit that he did not keep the team in the shape that he should have. It also seems he trashed their morale too. Not as badly as Sammer did before he left, but yeah, BvM was guilty of it.

Anyhow, from helping with some of those articles and you readers will be able to point out the ones that got on the page without my approval or KC's approval :D, I have the impression that:

o Roeber has gotten some players back in good morale standing. Namely guys like Pienaar, Degen and Ricken. So, as far as I'm concerned, if these guys still suck this half of the season, they have no excuses. Especially Degen and Ricken. Pienaar is still being asked to play a position that's not his best.

o Roeber has really been working on their fitness. So much so, that I'm actually afraid that some of them may still be sore for the match next week.

o Roeber seems to be a true 'hands on' trainer. I think that is exactly what we need at this time.

o If there is one person who isn't happy with the decisions made it's Ebi Smolarek. And I don't blame Smolarek one bit. I don't remember if I posted it here, but I know I said on our e-mail list that I would not be surprised if the two guys on the team who have "BvM Written All Over Them" are somehow pushed out because Watzke wants this to be "his team". Those two guys are Smolarek and Amoah.

o Many think the big "winner" in the BVB lineup for the first half of the season was Kruska. I disagree. I think it was Amedick. By far.


The way things have looked at the site I think our starting lineup will look like this.

GK: Weidenfeller

RB: Degen

CB: Metzelder, Woerns

LB: Dede

Sweeper: Kehl (Kruska)

Left half mid: Kringe

Right half mid: Tinga

Central midfielder behind the strikers: Pienaar

Strikers: Frei, Valdez

[BayernWake]

Hmmm....the first game of the Rückrunde is always the hardest for me to predict. There's so much locker room turmoil at Bayern...but we looked pretty good against HSV yesterday. So I don't know what to think :confused:

[footyfan1]

Hmmm....the first game of the Rückrunde is always the hardest for me to predict. There's so much locker room turmoil at Bayern...but we looked pretty good against HSV yesterday. So I don't know what to think :confused:

A one legged girls team would look good against HSV right now..... ;)

[footyfan1]

I'm not happy after reading how BVB fared at a mini-tournament in Duesseldorf this past weekend.

Seems we have the same old problem of not being able to put chances away.

I'll be honest. I told the guys over at the Bayern boards that Lucio and van Buyten might not have to get dirty.

Sorry, this team just isn't inspiring any confidence in me right now.

Hopefully, they can change that come Friday night. I'll be in my BVB gear cheering hard as usual, but I'm not expecting anything from them......

Sorry, that's just how I feel at the moment. :(

[BayernWake]

How has the BVB defense been this year?

[footyfan1]

How has the BVB defense been this year?


The defense has been pretty good considering the offense has rarely carried their weight so far this season.......

[footyfan1]

Judging by the lack of interest in this thread, I take it I'm not the only one less than confident about this match???

[MetroChile]

I am.
Sorry--been busy as of late.

In recent times (the games I've seen) we've never been played off the park by Bayern, so I guess that is not a bad sign. Then again, this is a new coach and his concepts hay not have been grasped yet.

Thanks for keeping us informed, footy!

Metro

[footyfan1]

In recent times (the games I've seen) we've never been played off the park by Bayern, so I guess that is not a bad sign. Then again, this is a new coach and his concepts hay not have been grasped yet.

Metro


Very true. Hell, if Frei, Valdez and Smolarek had not shit their pants in front of the Bayern net in the first match of the season, we could have possibly come out of there with a point.

Let's see if these guys can finally shake this home jinx.

We'll see if they prove my thoughts wrong and show us that BvM was truly the main problem by himself........

[roxbury]

Sure..It will gonna be tuff game..

You never know ,first game of season_second half result..

But,

I say 3-2 BVB




iwa

[footyfan1]

Sure..It will gonna be tuff game..

You never know ,first game of season_second half result..

But,

I say 3-2 BVB




iwa


Thank you for that comment!

[roxbury]

Thank you for that comment!

You well come mate:) .


@

Do you think Nuri has got chance to play in starting eleven,for this game?



sincerely
iwa

[footyfan1]

Do you think Nuri has got chance to play in starting eleven,for this game?


sincerely
iwa


From everything I have read, Pienaar will start in central midfield and Kruska as sweeper just in front of the defense. These are the two positions Roeber likes Sahin for.

If Pienaar doesn't play well, I think Sahin may get time as a substitute.

[roxbury]

From everything I have read, Pienaar will start in central midfield and Kruska as sweeper just in front of the defense. These are the two positions Roeber likes Sahin for.

If Pienaar doesn't play well, I think Sahin may get time as a substitute.

Thanks for replay mate.


What is your personaly idea for the starting eleven?..

I mean, I try to find to follow friendly games, at the mid break season of BVB..
I didnt saw any friendly game:o .

From your view point, what is your best desicion for kick off.


iwa

[footyfan1]

Thanks for replay mate.


What is your personaly idea for the starting eleven?..

I mean, I try to find to follow friendly games, at the mid break season of BVB..
I didnt saw any friendly game:o .

From your view point, what is your best desicion for kick off.


iwa


Well, we've got a lot of injuries. If we didn't have any injuries, my starting 11 would be:

Weidenfeller, Degen, Metzelder, Woerns, Dede, Kehl, Kringe, Tinga, Pienaar, Frei, Smolarek



Since we have a lot of injuries, the starting 11 will most likely be:

Weidenfeller, Degen, Brzenska, Metzelder, Dede, Kruska, Kringe, Tinga, Piennar, Frei, Smolarek


One player I don't agree with on that list is Brzenska. Brzenska is shit.

I would start amateur player Uwe Hunemeier. The first of his two 1. BL matches was against Bayern at home last season and he had a great match.

I'd rather take a chance on him than on Brzenska almost surely gifting Bayern at least three solid goal chances..... :mad:

But everything points to Roeber starting Brzenska.......

[jonam]

There was a time I thought Brzenska might get the turn but from all I've seen from him over the last 12-18 months I think he hasn't got it at all. :-/

Hünemeier would also be my starting man tomorrow. In addtion I would start Sahin as holding midfielder. I am of the opinion that he could really influence the game from that position. Kringe on the left, Tinga on the right and Pienaar behind the strikers. I think Pienaar needs another chance, especially as a new coach took over. There might be a chance that he lives up to the expectations.

Anyway, concerning tomorrow I am not very optimistic. I hope for an entertaining match and at least a draw....maybe 2-2.

[footyfan1]

There was a time I thought Brzenska might get the turn but from all I've seen from him over the last 12-18 months I think he hasn't got it at all. :-/

Yeah. And BvM was very stubborn in sticking with him. Brzenska had some decent matches at first, but then I guess the real him showed up.


Hünemeier would also be my starting man tomorrow. In addtion I would start Sahin as holding midfielder. I am of the opinion that he could really influence the game from that position. Kringe on the left, Tinga on the right and Pienaar behind the strikers.

I would not start Sahin in place of Kruska with Brzenska in the back four. If it were Metzelder and Woerns in the center or Metzelder or Woerns and Amedick, then yeah, I would go offensive in that position, but with Brzenska back there, I think we need a better defensive player at the holding midfield/sweeper position to help cover for the mistakes you know Brzenska is going to make. I can really see Makaay/Pizarro just abusing Brzenska tonight.....


I think Pienaar needs another chance, especially as a new coach took over. There might be a chance that he lives up to the expectations.

Since we couldn't get anyone new, I'll agree here. Had we been able to get Marcelinho, I wouldn't care if Pienaar got another chance. But yes, since we really only have Pienaar, Sahin and a "too often injured" Ricken, I'm for giving Pienaar another chance.

I don't know that BvM's offense was Pienaar's problem. I thought Pienaar was too easily frustrated. You could see how frustrated he would get even on TV the first time something didn't go his way. And it would affect him the rest of the match.

One thing I agree with Roeber on that might help players like Pienaar is that it has to be acceptable for the players to make mistakes again.

Maybe it was BvM's perfectionism that was the problem. However, I think one should tell Roeber that while it's fine for the players to make mistakes here and there, you can't just let them make mistakes all over the place and just say, "Well, nobody's perfect......"



Anyway, concerning tomorrow I am not very optimistic. I hope for an entertaining match and at least a draw....maybe 2-2.

As you saw earlier in this thread, I am not very optimistic either. If we had Kehl and either Worns or Amedick out there, I would have been more optimistic, but I think Felix Magath is going to try to find every way possible to exploit the mistakes that WILL be made by not only Brzenska, but Degen too.

I think our best chance in this game is to attack, attack, attack. However, that's never worked for us before because our guys could never control the ball long enough.

I think the only way we can steal three points in this one is if our strikers finally remember what we bought them for and if Metzelder, Weidenfeller and Dede have great matches and if Brzenska surprises with a pretty good match.

Then, we could steal something.

I guess we'll know in about 12 hours...... :o

[footyfan1]

Probable Lineups For Tonight's Match (http://www.westline.de/fussball/bvb/index.php?mode=grossbild&pic=1)

http://www.westline.de/images/BVB-Bayern_rdax_400x269.gif

[footyfan1]

If the latest comments I've read from Roeber and Zorc mean anything, I think our guys are going to get after Bayern from the opening whistle tonight.......

They always talk a good game. Let's see if they finally back it up!!

[Gunning4Chelsea]

i have bvb winning 3-2.....with a brace from Frei....Tinga adding one
i truly believe that this the biggest game of the season so far....it very well can set us up for the remainder of the season...
lets play with some fire