1. FC Köln 07/08 Thread [R]

[MicFW]

The first half was so poor it was really hard to bear. Neither team seemed to be able to string more than three or four passes together. The second half was entertaining at least, but I'm quite concerned about our defence. Anyway, I guess we can all live with the result. Not a great step forward, but neither we nor Gladbach deserved more than one point for yesterday's performance.

[Borussia]

Hey, those "döp döp döp" chants after your 2:1 lead were sooooo mean! ;)

[cookiely]

I am also happy with the point. And even more happy that Helmes seems to have overcome his form problems. We are 4 points behind the 3rd place.
Nothing too dramatic







The first half was so poor it was really hard to bear. Neither team seemed to be able to string more than three or four passes together. The second half was entertaining at least, but I'm quite concerned about our defence. Anyway, I guess we can all live with the result. Not a great step forward, but neither we nor Gladbach deserved more than one point for yesterday's performance.

I am also unhappy with our defense.
Even before they bought McKenna I got the feeling that he wouldn`t be the right player for us. He is to slow and his positioning isn`t good enough to compensate for that. He is a bit like Alpay, only younger, less aggressive and without passion.

Mohammad still has potential I think he will become very important player for us.
Ümit seems to be a bit on the lazy side. Which is a pity because I think he could be quite good if he was willing to run more.

And we really need to get another leftback in the winter. It was propably one of the biggest mistakes to believe that Schöneberg would be enough for the season.

I also expected more from Antar, he is not the long hoped for connection between defence and offence


But the season is still young and once Vucicevic returns and we hopefully will show more creativity in the offence and get back on track.

[cookiely]

this thread needs some reviving

so the latest rumors.

Alpay is propably leaving for the MLS in the winter break
Schalke seems to be interested in Nova

[panicfc]

Good stuff Cookiely.

Alpay to San Jose/Red Bull

Schalke can rot in hell.

;)

[Borussia]

this thread needs some reviving


Indeed! ;) Where are you all lately?

Good luck for the game in Hoppenheim! I'll sincerely press my thumbs for you on Sunday.

[panicfc]

yeah, the organizing thread has been quiet. I guess there really aren't that many FC Köln fans over here :(


I've been checking out a few other forums and having a great time. Thanks for pressing your thumbs, (I guess that means good luck ;) )

Alpay to MLS?

Beck to FC Köln?

Daum struggling?

What next?

[Borussia]

I guess there really aren't that many FC Köln fans over here :(


There's at least 5 ... but for some reason they don't post lately (maybe they are frustrated due to the current situation:-). However, take a look at the Borussia thread. We are about 4-5 BMG fans there ... and despite our great run of the last weeks you don't see anybody posting except for me.


About Alpay, I don't think it will be a huge loss if he really should leave Cologne! He might be good enough for the MLS, though...

[panicfc]

I think he is probably good enough, maybe very good. Heck Danny Dichio did well over here, and he was not at the top level for a while.

Plus Alpay v Beckham II would be a draw.

[cookiely]

There's at least 5 ... but for some reason they don't post lately (maybe they are frustrated due to the current situation:-). However, take a look at the Borussia thread. We are about 4-5 BMG fans there ... and despite our great run of the last weeks you don't see anybody posting except for me.


About Alpay, I don't think it will be a huge loss if he really should leave Cologne! He might be good enough for the MLS, though...

to be honest. Alpay never really conviced me. His attitude was good but in the end he was just too slow for the Bundesliga. This is the same reason why I am not really happy with Mckenna

:) thats why I am so happy with mohammad right now. he is fast has good positioning and once he is back in his Freiburg form he will be invaliavle for us.

The Beckham II deal is not perfect yet but I think we have good chances to get him. We have a good reputation when it comes to talents.


Oh and Stuttgart lend us Georges Mandjeck. Never heard of him though


panic
what other forums do you visit?

[panicfc]

PM sent ;)

[footyfan1]

Oh and Stuttgart lend us Georges Mandjeck. Never heard of him though


Cameroonian defensive midfielder. That kid has a world of potential.

And I've seen nothing that says that loan deal is done. It is really done??

[köllealaaf]

I didn't think that Alpay was that bad... ok, he is slow, but he is always there where a defender needs to be, plus he is a good headball player. But let's face it, he got old... I would have loved to see Mondragon, Alpay and Özat play at the same time though.

If Alpay will join San Jose then I might have another reason to watch one of their matches live. So far I haven't had a chance :(
I heard the stadium announcer is talking in spanish only, which is odd. On the other hand i guess with my basic knowledge of spanish I would be able to understand most of it... :D

The local Newspaper in Cologne (Stadtanzünder) wrote that Novakovic does not have a clause that allows him to release his contract with FC in 2009. But I can understand Schalke or any other Bundesliga club that they got interest in Novagol!
...and if the FC fails to get promoted it is sure as hell not the fault of our strikers, that is the only constant thing we got so far.
Am looking forward to Hoppenheim now, the interviews with Daum or the team always sounds promising, but reality does look different. Hopefully they can keep the pace over the full distance of 90 minutes this time.
My prediction... 3-0 for us :D

[panicfc]

Good report. I'm saying 2:1 Good guys.

[cookiely]

Cameroonian defensive midfielder. That kid has a world of potential.

And I've seen nothing that says that loan deal is done. It is really done??

The deal is not completly done yet. Stuttgart offered him to us but the
FC wants a Probetraining first before they sign anything.

If he is as good as you say I doubt the FC will reject him.

Outtake from Stuttgarter Nachrichten 14. November 2007

[....]Doch der 18-Jährige braucht Spielpraxis, jetzt sucht der Lehrling einen neuen Ausbildungsplatz.
Deshalb wird Mandjeck nun an einen Zweitligisten oder einen deutschsprachigen Club im Ausland ausgeliehen. Denn neben der fußballerischen Entwicklung soll der Mann aus Kamerun weiter sein Deutsch verbessern.[....] erster Ansprechpartner für den VfB Stuttgart ist jedoch der 1. FC Köln. Trainer Christoph Daum will sich vor seinem Entschluss zu einem Leihgeschäft jedoch in einem Probetraining ein eigenes Bild von Mandjecks Qualitäten machen. Die Referenzen, die seinerzeit die VfB-Scouts Herbert Briem und Christoph Rempp überzeugten, reichen den Kölnern nicht.[...]

[panicfc]

3 more points for us.

Goals from Novagol and Helmes.

2-0. I nearly had it spot on again.

[cookiely]

Wow a great game. That`s the team I want to see.
They finally look like they can play together.

Also it is nice that Ehret finally makes something out of his potential

Now lets hope that Mainz screws up.

[panicfc]

I'll need a much more detailed match report than that ;)

[MicFW]

Sorry Panic, can't help out with the match report (only DSF coverage for me :(), but it seems we played good footy from beginning to end. The lads created chances the way it should be, plus they did not become shaky and chicken-hearted as usual. I'm delighted. :)

[panicfc]

Checking a few other places:

We played very well from the start. Hoffenheim came to play, but we were better.

Mondragon saved the day with two huge saves late in the match.

3 points baby!