Der Club! The FCN thread 07/08 part II[R]

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

I already told you that I was wrong to call him the 'worst keeper in the Bundesliga' as I actually believe that is Piplica. I just didn't have him in mind at the time.

Against VfB he didn't play great t all, it was nothing special in terms of a performance.


As for me 'scapegoating' him... well i'm not an FCN fan, I don't really care about FCN in any way(though I do hope they don't get relegated), so I couldn't care less about what keeper they choose to play. All I said was that he should be benched for Klewer, since he hasn't played well. That's not scapegoating. That's an unbiased opinion based on the matches and performances I have seen.

But yeah I was wrong to say he's the worst in the Bundesliga because he's not. But in my opinion he's certainly one of the worst regular starters. I've never rated him, not since i've seen him play for FCN this season. For me, he'd make a solid 2. division keeper, perhaps on a lower-midtable 2. Liga side.

[Borussia]

I already told you that I was wrong to call him the 'worst keeper in the Bundesliga' as I actually believe that is Piplica. I just didn't have him in mind at the time.


Piplica isn't even playing anymore this season. But please check the average rating of a few other keepers, too ... then let's talk again.



Against VfB he didn't play great t all, it was nothing special in terms of a performance.


He played well enough to get a "2" from the "Kicker" (Schäfer as well)...



As for me 'scapegoating' him... well i'm not an FCN fan, I don't really care about FCN in any way(though I do hope they don't get relegated), so I couldn't care less about what keeper they choose to play. All I said was that he should be benched for Klewer, since he hasn't played well. That's not scapegoating.


How often did you see Klewer play? Perhaps you're rating him on his DFB-Pokal pk savings from last season...

This season I saw him once (in the Cup against Jena) ... and he was quite bad.

I mistakenly judged Klewer even over Raphael Schäfer last season, but now I know that my opinion was biased on this impressive DFB-Cup savings (as it's obviously the case with you).



That's an unbiased opinion based on the matches and performances I have seen.


Did you really see all FCN matches? Don't think so.
Without Blazek's savings against Bucharest, St. Petersburg and Larissa, they would have been eliminated a lot earlier in the UEFA-Cup...



For me, he'd make a solid 2. division keeper, perhaps on a lower-midtable 2. Liga side.

Yeah, the Czech Republic's Nr. 2, who played CL with Prague, is just good enough for a lower-midtable 2. Liga side...:rolleyes: :p

[JensLehmannsGirl]

Yes, I know all about the friendship. What's sad is that you're the only clubs who like the other. Well, Schalke has some 'bandwagon jumpers' now, but their only real friends are you guys. Just as they are yours.

I dig FCN because it was my local team for so long. However, being first and foremost a BVB fan, I caught hell from both sides of the fence. I told those guys that none of them can tell me who the hell I can and can't like. I still "like" FCN, but as far as I'm concerned Schalke and most of their fan base can burn in hell. And they feel the same about us.





von Heesen will use the best man for the job. The one who impresses him the most. That's why I laugh hard when others write as if the fans have influence on team selections......

Well, as much as BVB and FCN are "rivals", no one actually ever game me any sh*t for being a Jens fan when he went to Dortmund - probably because I had already established myself a Jens-fan since before he went there - that and the fact that they didn't want any of my "Franken-attitude". :p

Well, I suppose I've been lucky, I have yet to meet any "nasty" Schalke fans, they've all been quite nice - but then again, they know that I am a Clubberer, so maybe that has something to do with it. I have a friend who went to school with Manuel Neuer though, and she's friends with him, and she said that earlier this season, when Manuel conceded a goal (I forget which game), the Schalke fans were, in general, being BRUTAL to him, it seems they forgot that football consists of more than one player, and not just the goalkeeper. So despite the jeers and booing at Blazek the other day, it wasn't as ugly I've seen some of the fans turn against their team.

[JensLehmannsGirl]

Some "Nachrichten" if you can call it that:

http://www.nz-online.de/artikel.asp?art=778020&kat=32

[footyfan1]

Well, as much as BVB and FCN are "rivals", no one actually ever game me any sh*t for being a Jens fan when he went to Dortmund - probably because I had already established myself a Jens-fan since before he went there - that and the fact that they didn't want any of my "Franken-attitude". :p

Actually, I don't think BVB and FCN are "rivals" of any kind. "Competitors", yes, but not "rivals." BVB fans don't mark the date on the calendar when we are to face FCN. To me, that is what makes a rivalry. When some BVB fans I've never met before find out that I also like FCN, of course, they try to give the crap that I cannot like FCN because you guys are friends with Schalke.

I tell them I don't buy that shit and their "traditions" will not rule who I decide to support.



Well, I suppose I've been lucky, I have yet to meet any "nasty" Schalke fans, they've all been quite nice - but then again, they know that I am a Clubberer, so maybe that has something to do with it.


More than likely. But it isn't just Schalke. Every club has nice fans, every club has idiot fans, every club has nasty fans, every club has every type of fan.

Some just have more of some kinds than others do....... ;)


I have a friend who went to school with Manuel Neuer though, and she's friends with him, and she said that earlier this season, when Manuel conceded a goal (I forget which game), the Schalke fans were, in general, being BRUTAL to him, it seems they forgot that football consists of more than one player, and not just the goalkeeper.


At times, some fans, like me, forget that these players are humans and as such, they make mistakes just like the rest of us......

And there are fans who know this, but just don't freakin' care. They will jump on these guys for any little thing.




So despite the jeers and booing at Blazek the other day, it wasn't as ugly I've seen some of the fans turn against their team.

And that means what? I'm sorry, but where I'm from, "Someone else has done it worse" is no defense.

I'm one of those fans who can unmercifully rip management, coaches and players of my own team when they DESERVE it. (We PhillyPhans are born with that "talent!") :D However, anyone who has seen me do it over a long enough period of time will see that I'm fair and I really don't start tearing into someone unless they deserve it.

Uwe hates how I rip on Thomas Doll. Look at Doll's overall record in the past two years and how unorganized BVB looks every week and tell me he doesn't deserve it.

He should see how I've ripped on Michael Zorc over the years.

Sometimes, these guys deserve to be ripped and in my experiences here, most fans, especially the ones who have grown up in the stadiums see "ripping" people at their club as a sign of disloyalty.

All I can say is where I'm from, as a fan, you are disloyal to your club if you see something horribly wrong and you don't hold those responsible accountable for their actions or lack of action.

I can't understand how so many here see that as "disloyalty."

Let me ask them this. If you don't like what Ms. Merkel or George W. Bush are doing and you criticize them, does that make you any less of a patriotic German or American??

Does not supporting Merkel or Bush means you don't support or love your country?? No.

That is how I see this. There is nothing wrong with showing your displeasure with something for what you feel are the right reasons.

[JensLehmannsGirl]

Actually, I don't think BVB and FCN are "rivals" of any kind. "Competitors", yes, but not "rivals." BVB fans don't mark the date on the calendar when we are to face FCN. To me, that is what makes a rivalry. When some BVB fans I've never met before find out that I also like FCN, of course, they try to give the crap that I cannot like FCN because you guys are friends with Schalke.

I tell them I don't buy that shit and their "traditions" will not rule who I decide to support.

Well, maybe "rivals" wasn't the right word I am looking for, it was just the only word I could think of at the time. So yes "competitors" is more fitting and accurate. Why is it that BVB and Schalke are rivals though? Just curious...I mean I always can understand when a team is rivals with "FC Lederhosen"...

All I can say is where I'm from, as a fan, you are disloyal to your club if you see something horribly wrong and you don't hold those responsible accountable for their actions or lack of action.

I can't understand how so many here see that as "disloyalty."

Where are you from then actually? I mean, I know you live and work in Germany, if I am correct, but are you originally from US? You wrote "PhillyPhans" before...are you from PA?
I mean, I don't follow American sports at all, so I can't say how fans of say, basketball, would handle a situation like this. I have an American cousin who is into American football, but if I were to get into a discussion with him about American football, number one, he might die of shock (he knows I cannot stand American football), and secondly, he'd never shut up about it because he's been trying to "convert me" away from my footie for a looooong time. Won't happen. Ever. :p

Let me ask them this. If you don't like what Ms. Merkel or George W. Bush are doing and you criticize them, does that make you any less of a patriotic German or American??

Does not supporting Merkel or Bush means you don't support or love your country?? No.

That is how I see this. There is nothing wrong with showing your displeasure with something for what you feel are the right reasons.

Well, first of all, I am actually not an American - just living/working here for the moment. I'm born in Toronto. And if you ever heard me talk sh*t about Bush, it's certainly not criticism, it's pure disgust to put it nicely. I'm not much into politics anyway, but with Bush, I can't understand him when he speaks English (I always need a translator for a southern dialect), and well...this is a subject for another forum altogether. ;)

BUT, I get what you are saying. I know plenty of native Americans who hold contempt for Bush and they are flag-waving of loyal American as it gets.

But I think what some of the FCN fans who are upset about the other FCN fans being so "vile" towards the boys, such was what went down against Blazek, is that right now, I think our boys' self-esteem, team-spirit and such is at an all-time low....so to further kick the team when they're already down about as far as you can go isn't cool. But, as I stated before, that's just my personal opinion, and the way I handle myself with it. For example, I've made critical remarks against Blazek before, but along the lines of "Come ON Jaromir, WTF are you doing??? You're better than this! Get your shit together so we can win this thing, no more conceding goals damn it!"....as opposed to "You worthless piece of sh*t, you suck and we want a new keeper, GTFO of the goal..." or whatever.
I am by no means saying every Clubberer needs to be that way, but, I think it just bothers me seeing some of the Clubberers being so cruel when we're already sunken so low esteem-wise. There's just a more tactful way to show your displeasure - don't get me wrong, I'm not peace-loving softie or something, I can be quite the bitch when I need to be, especially in my line of work (Humane Law Enforcement)...I don't know what the solution is for my FCN boys to snap out of this...maybe von Heesen did something during his three day "Boot camp" that was closed to the public? Maybe he did his own version of ass-kicking?? We'll have to wait to see tomorrow.

[footyfan1]

Well, maybe "rivals" wasn't the right word I am looking for, it was just the only word I could think of at the time. So yes "competitors" is more fitting and accurate. Why is it that BVB and Schalke are rivals though? Just curious...I mean I always can understand when a team is rivals with "FC Lederhosen"...

BVB and Schalke are blood rivals for the same reason FCN and Greuther Fuerth are. They are geographical neighbors and the fans of the two clubs cross one another all the time in everyday life.


Where are you from then actually? I mean, I know you live and work in Germany, if I am correct, but are you originally from US? You wrote "PhillyPhans" before...are you from PA?

Yes, born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. I'm a PhillyPhan through and through. However, I have spent most of my adult life in Germany. Much of the time never more than 45 minutes from Nürnberg. I lived in Erlangen for over 10 years and in the Oberpfalz for another 5 years. I've been back for nearly two years now.


I mean, I don't follow American sports at all, so I can't say how fans of say, basketball, would handle a situation like this. I have an American cousin who is into American football, but if I were to get into a discussion with him about American football, number one, he might die of shock (he knows I cannot stand American football), and secondly, he'd never shut up about it because he's been trying to "convert me" away from my footie for a looooong time. Won't happen. Ever. :p

I love both sports. This isn't marriage. You don't have to choose one or the other. American Football is the one sport that can get me to turn ours off, but not if it is BVB or Man U. What, would you be "disloyal" to our football if you tried American Football? LOL!! ;)


Well, first of all, I am actually not an American - just living/working here for the moment. I'm born in Toronto.

I've read enough of what you have written here to know you aren't American. I didn't know you were born in Toronto though. I would have guessed Nürnberg.


And if you ever heard me talk sh*t about Bush, it's certainly not criticism, it's pure disgust to put it nicely. I'm not much into politics anyway, but with Bush, I can't understand him when he speaks English (I always need a translator for a southern dialect), and well...this is a subject for another forum altogether. ;)

My political analogy had nothing to do with anything you ever said. It was an analogy to get some people to understand that being critical of people at your club, whether they be players, coaches, or management, doesn't always make you "disloyal" to your club. Loving your club doesn't mean you have to support those currently in charge if you don't think they are best for your club.

BUT, I get what you are saying. I know plenty of native Americans who hold contempt for Bush and they are flag-waving of loyal American as it gets.

I am in that category. And I am one who supported him in the early days only to later see the error of my ways. Back then, his other supporters labeled me a "flip-flopper."

I told them they are the f#cking stupid ones if they think that when they find out they are wrong about something, they can't correct their ways instead of knowing you're wrong, but insisting you are right anyhow and just making s#it worse......

Many of them are starting to get it.


But I think what some of the FCN fans who are upset about the other FCN fans being so "vile" towards the boys, such was what went down against Blazek, is that right now, I think our boys' self-esteem, team-spirit and such is at an all-time low....so to further kick the team when they're already down about as far as you can go isn't cool.


I don't agree that their self-esteem is at an all-time low. I think it is the complete opposite. I think they are getting close to the breakthrough. Wait until they get Misimovic and Vittek back.

Also, this is something I've long known about FCN fans. Too many FCN fans are unrealistic about the club's standing. And last season just made it worse. To me, last season, both FCN and Stuttgart had "dream seasons" and now their fans expect that all the time, while th two teams have come back to earth.

Just think of most of the last 15 years. If FCN has been in the 1. Liga, haven't they been battling relegation most of that time?

FCN did not become an "elite club" overnight with the Cup win last season, but many of their fans think the club did.....

Come on. You always write as if you've been a long-time supporter of FCN. If you are, you know what is going on now is actually the norm at FCN.

But I think this team will be all right. They still have time and in the past couple of weeks, they've been showing signs....

Actually, I think if they had Misimovic, they would have beaten Porto and he will be back soon. He will bring more creativity to the offense. I think he's all that is missing now. I'd get him back in, take out Charisteas and play Koller and Saenko up front.


But, as I stated before, that's just my personal opinion, and the way I handle myself with it. For example, I've made critical remarks against Blazek before, but along the lines of "Come ON Jaromir, WTF are you doing??? You're better than this! Get your shit together so we can win this thing, no more conceding goals damn it!"....as opposed to "You worthless piece of sh*t, you suck and we want a new keeper, GTFO of the goal..." or whatever.

Believe it or not, if Blazek is a professional, those words mean nothing to him. He has to worry about the approval of one man and one man only. Thomas von Heesen. No one else should matter. This is another reason I laugh when Uwe and others offhandedly suggest that the fans have some say in player selections. If I thought for one second that my club's coach considered fan approval in the selection of his team, I'd call for him to be fired the next day. Fans are too emotional to let them have any say.

Some fans are overemotional because with many of them, especially the FCN fans I know, they don't have much else in their lives they are that passionate about.

And again, I don't think this team is as low mentally and emotioinally as you think they are. They will build on these performances.


I am by no means saying every Clubberer needs to be that way, but, I think it just bothers me seeing some of the Clubberers being so cruel when we're already sunken so low esteem-wise. There's just a more tactful way to show your displeasure - don't get me wrong, I'm not peace-loving softie or something, I can be quite the bitch when I need to be, especially in my line of work (Humane Law Enforcement)...

This is how not just FCN fans are, but groups of fans of all clubs are. As Uwe stated some messages back, FCN fans especially seem to love selecting a scapegoat and then there's nothing right that guy can do. Raphael Schaefer was very popular with the FCN fans and he actually screwed up nearly as much a Blazek. But they chose to support Schaefer and they choose to blame Blazek.



I don't know what the solution is for my FCN boys to snap out of this...maybe von Heesen did something during his three day "Boot camp" that was closed to the public? Maybe he did his own version of ass-kicking?? We'll have to wait to see tomorrow.

One thing TvH knows how to do is kick ass. However, he just has to get these guys to play through mistakes and not get down. Remember, this guy nearly made into Europe with a bad Bielefeld team. He got them to play over their heads. If he does that here, all will be fine. I think he can do it. He might meet some resistance from some players who didn't want to see Meyer go, but TvH is not above reminding them that they are the ones who got Meyer fired too........

[JensLehmannsGirl]

Yes, born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. I'm a PhillyPhan through and through. However, I have spent most of my adult life in Germany. Much of the time never more than 45 minutes from Nürnberg. I lived in Erlangen for over 10 years and in the Oberpfalz for another 5 years. I've been back for nearly two years now.

So what brought you to Frankenland? Do you plan on staying there?




I love both sports. This isn't marriage. You don't have to choose one or the other. American Football is the one sport that can get me to turn ours off, but not if it is BVB or Man U. What, would you be "disloyal" to our football if you tried American Football? LOL!! ;)

Well, I have never liked American Football. It just doesn't appeal to me at all, I don't find it attractive or interesting. And trust me, my Ameican famiily gives me shit about it all the time, saying that it was cute to like and play "soccer" when I was a little girl, but that it's time to "grow up" and like real football, which of course only makes me laugh, and then become annoyed at having to, once again, defend my football.




I've read enough of what you have written here to know you aren't American. I didn't know you were born in Toronto though. I would have guessed Nürnberg.

Actually many people think I am from Nürnberg...even native Germans who meet me for the first time and hear me speaking German assume that. Which is weird, because my family in Nürnberg lovingly tease me about my Swedish accent when I speak German (Swedish is my first language...long story!), but Germans born in other regions seem to think I speak with a Nürnberg dialect...either way it's a nice compliment of course. :D


I don't agree that their self-esteem is at an all-time low. I think it is the complete opposite. I think they are getting close to the breakthrough. Wait until they get Misimovic and Vittek back.

Also, this is something I've long known about FCN fans. Too many FCN fans are unrealistic about the club's standing. And last season just made it worse. To me, last season, both FCN and Stuttgart had "dream seasons" and now their fans expect that all the time, while th two teams have come back to earth.

Just think of most of the last 15 years. If FCN has been in the 1. Liga, haven't they been battling relegation most of that time?

FCN did not become an "elite club" overnight with the Cup win last season, but many of their fans think the club did.....

Come on. You always write as if you've been a long-time supporter of FCN. If you are, you know what is going on now is actually the norm at FCN.

But I think this team will be all right. They still have time and in the past couple of weeks, they've been showing signs....

Yes, you're right, I am a longtime Clubberer. In fact, before I was even born - supposedly my Opa was singing Clubsongs to my mum's stomach while I was still "in the oven" as he was hoping he'd be getting a grandson, and then when he learned "it's a girl", he decided to just mold me into a female Clubberer since he had already started the process.

But, everytime we face relegation I get this way, because I think my team is better than that, and we are. When we have our shit together and are focused, we can be one majorly ass-kicking force.
And for some reason, during this season, there's many German expats over here who when they meet me and learn I am a Clubberer, I get a "pity" look and "Oh,you're a Clubfan...I'm sorry, your team is sucking this year..." speech, and that again, only puts me on the defense for my FCN boys even more.

And I know FCN will never be an "elite" club like "FC Lederhosen" or Werder Bremen, any geniune Clubberer knows that. I wish! I'm by no means a footie expert to have a solution to how to make that even remotely possible, as FCB seems to have this "mafia-esque" thing going on, where it seems nothing can touch them...I would love that for my FCN team, but, it's not likely to happen anytime soon.

And you're right, the team HAS shown some signs of improvement after the winterbreak, that is obvious. We haven't flat out WON a game yet, but we're not getting any worse. And with the Koller/Saenko pair up front idea you had....I could not agree with you more. Those boys are a very strong duo up front. Lots of scoring potential there.

Well with the Blazek situation...keepers tend to always bear the brunt of any losses. I'm "Torwart sympathisch" so I don't feel that way (unless it's against Manuel Almunia, but that's another story...) So, as you said, I am sure Blazek knows who holds the real cards over his approval...but still, it always helps to get support from the fans.

BTW, is Saturday's match being shown on TV over there that you know of? If so, which channel? I can't seem to find it.
Anyway, I am off to work...we'll see what happens tomorrow with the boys. :rolleyes:

[footyfan1]

So what brought you to Frankenland? Do you plan on staying there?

The U.S. Army is what took me there. I was a young soldier in the Erlangen/Nürnberg back when the Berlin Wall fell. I stayed so long because I got married to a girl I met in Erlangen.

However, my ex-wife is not originally from the area. Ironically, she's from just southwest of Dortmund. But she is not why I became a Dortmund fan. She likes Werder Bremen.

I am no longer in Franken now, as you can see to the left. I'm in the freakin' Bavarian Alps in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Because even though I am a civilian now, I still work for the U.S. Department of Defense.

And no, I don't intend to stay here. I hope to hang around until 2011, but I could leave next year.

Either way, I want to get back to San Antonio, Texas.....




Well, I have never liked American Football. It just doesn't appeal to me at all, I don't find it attractive or interesting. And trust me, my Ameican famiily gives me shit about it all the time, saying that it was cute to like and play "soccer" when I was a little girl, but that it's time to "grow up" and like real football, which of course only makes me laugh, and then become annoyed at having to, once again, defend my football.

Man. That sounds like my childhood after I got into the game. Luckily for me, I had an older cousin who was into the true football too and he took the brunt of the criticism. Other people in our family would yell at him for "wasting his money" on gas and tickets when he would take me up to Giants Stadium to see the Cosmos.

I caught hell for playing "our game" in high school instead of American Football. I was very good at American Football and only "average" at our game, but I hated the American Football coach at our school.

You have no idea of the names some people called me. I didn't care. I was having fun. And all of the cute foreign girls were at our games! LOL!! :cool:




Actually many people think I am from Nürnberg...even native Germans who meet me for the first time and hear me speaking German assume that. Which is weird, because my family in Nürnberg lovingly tease me about my Swedish accent when I speak German (Swedish is my first language...long story!), but Germans born in other regions seem to think I speak with a Nürnberg dialect...either way it's a nice compliment of course. :D

I do speak German with a Franconian accent. I did not realize it until the first match of the 2001/2002 season. FCN were in Dortmund to play BVB. I'll never forget it because it was first time I took my son, who was 11 then, to Westfalenstadion. I met some BVB friends outside the stadium before the match and we were chatting in Deutsch. Three guys from Nürnberg stopped and asked me, "Bist du Frankisch?" (For non-German speakers: Are you Franconian?) I told them how long I'd lived in Erlangen and I'd driven up from there that day. They followed with, "Und warum bist du Dortmund fan?" (And why are you a Dortmund fan?) And I told them the story. We high-fived and they walked off. Days like that are what I think of when other Americans ask me why I'm so into our football.



Yes, you're right, I am a longtime Clubberer. In fact, before I was even born - supposedly my Opa was singing Clubsongs to my mum's stomach while I was still "in the oven" as he was hoping he'd be getting a grandson, and then when he learned "it's a girl", he decided to just mold me into a female Clubberer since he had already started the process.

Your grandfather. Good man.



But, everytime we face relegation I get this way, because I think my team is better than that, and we are. When we have our shit together and are focused, we can be one majorly ass-kicking force.

See, that's the thing. What I see is that when you guys have your shit together and are focused, you are still a mid-table team at best. As I said before, I think you guys and Stuttgart had "dream seasons" last season and both have simply gone back to normal. Stuttgart being just below the elite and FCN somewhere between mid-table and relegation. I think they simply just aren't as good as you think they are.

But they are much better than where they are right now and I still believe they will come out of this funk they are in.


And for some reason, during this season, there's many German expats over here who when they meet me and learn I am a Clubberer, I get a "pity" look and "Oh,you're a Clubfan...I'm sorry, your team is sucking this year..." speech, and that again, only puts me on the defense for my FCN boys even more.

I'm sorry, but I can understand those people. It is not an easy thing to be a FCN fan. Because of FCN's history, I am not screaming and worrying right now. I'm used to FCN being in relegation battles. Over the last 15-20 years, that is mostly where FCN has been.


And I know FCN will never be an "elite" club like "FC Lederhosen" or Werder Bremen, any geniune Clubberer knows that. I wish! I'm by no means a footie expert to have a solution to how to make that even remotely possible, as FCB seems to have this "mafia-esque" thing going on, where it seems nothing can touch them...I would love that for my FCN team, but, it's not likely to happen anytime soon.

FCN has good management now. However, FCN was mis-managed for so long, people who are not used to FCN doing well, are shocked when they do. Which I can understand. How many seasons out of the last 10-15 seasons has FCN done "well?" Let's be real here. FCN has usually either been in the 2. Liga or fighting relegation from the 1. Liga.

They are what they are.

As much as I hate BayScum, they didn't get everything they have by cheating and these "mafia" claims by jealous fans of other teams. They have been better managed than other clubs since their trio of Franz, Uli and KHR has been running their club.

Do I think BayScum has benefited from preferential treatment from the DFB & DFL? MOST CERTIAINLY! I wrote stories on a lot of it.

But that is not what separates them from clubs like FCN.

And you're right, the team HAS shown some signs of improvement after the winterbreak, that is obvious. We haven't flat out WON a game yet, but we're not getting any worse. And with the Koller/Saenko pair up front idea you had....I could not agree with you more. Those boys are a very strong duo up front. Lots of scoring potential there.

Yes, but they need a creative player out there with them. FCN hasn't had that since Misimovic got hurt.

Well with the Blazek situation...keepers tend to always bear the brunt of any losses. I'm "Torwart sympathisch" so I don't feel that way (unless it's against Manuel Almunia, but that's another story...) So, as you said, I am sure Blazek knows who holds the real cards over his approval...but still, it always helps to get support from the fans.

And I'm sure Blazek knows that as soon as he makes some big saves, the fans will come back around. However, after interviewing players for as long as I did, I can tell you that with the majority of them, the approval or disapproval of the fans doesn't mean as much to them as fans would like to think.


BTW, is Saturday's match being shown on TV over there that you know of? If so, which channel? I can't seem to find it.

Well, let's be real again. Schalke v. Bayern is tomorrow as is Bremen v. Dortmund. I doubt you are going to see Hannover v. FCN.


Anyway, I am off to work...we'll see what happens tomorrow with the boys. :rolleyes:

It will be hard for them in Hannover.......

[JensLehmannsGirl]

The U.S. Army is what took me there. I was a young soldier in the Erlangen/Nürnberg back when the Berlin Wall fell. I stayed so long because I got married to a girl I met in Erlangen.

However, my ex-wife is not originally from the area. Ironically, she's from just southwest of Dortmund. But she is not why I became a Dortmund fan. She likes Werder Bremen.

So, I take it your ex is not a Clubberer also...? And Erlangen, I've got lots of family there also, not just in Nürnberg-city. I'll be there this coming October actually.

I am no longer in Franken now, as you can see to the left. I'm in the freakin' Bavarian Alps in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

So, since you are a BVB fan, but living in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, are you often able to make it to BVB games live, or do you mostly watch on TV?

And no, I don't intend to stay here. I hope to hang around until 2011, but I could leave next year.

Either way, I want to get back to San Antonio, Texas.....

Really??!? Why? I mean, there's an old saying that goes something along the lines of, "once you come to Nürnberg, you never want to leave" or something along those lines. And why San Antonio if I might ask?


You have no idea of the names some people called me. I didn't care. I was having fun. And all of the cute foreign girls were at our games! LOL!!

Well, girls *do* tend to prefer footy players above American football players, they're not all "steroidy" looking...and why is it that when American football players retire, they blow up and get so fat, but when footie players retire, they stay nice and thin? Not all of course, but quite a lof from what I see.

And...why is American football called football anyway?? I never did quite understand that.


I do speak German with a Franconian accent. I did not realize it until the first match of the 2001/2002 season. FCN were in Dortmund to play BVB. I'll never forget it because it was first time I took my son, who was 11 then, to Westfalenstadion. I met some BVB friends outside the stadium before the match and we were chatting in Deutsch. Three guys from Nürnberg stopped and asked me, "Bist du Frankisch?" (For non-German speakers: Are you Franconian?) I told them how long I'd lived in Erlangen and I'd driven up from there that day. They followed with, "Und warum bist du Dortmund fan?" (And why are you a Dortmund fan?) And I told them the story. We high-fived and they walked off. Days like that are what I think of when other Americans ask me why I'm so into our football.

The BVB 01/02 season *sigh*, you're giving me Jens Lehmann flashbacks. He was so awesome at BVB...and feisty. ;) I have two Jens-worn BVB Torwarttrikots from the 01/02 season - my cousin who now lives in Sachsenheim (near to Stuttgart) because she got married, is a BVB fan (and Clubberer, but she had a huge thing for Stefan Klos), she got the for me.

And maybe the reason you have a Fränkisch accent is because of all the time you've lived in Frankenland - I mean, was your time in Frankenland where you learned most of your German?


See, that's the thing. What I see is that when you guys have your shit together and are focused, you are still a mid-table team at best. As I said before, I think you guys and Stuttgart had "dream seasons" last season and both have simply gone back to normal. Stuttgart being just below the elite and FCN somewhere between mid-table and relegation. I think they simply just aren't as good as you think they are.

But they are much better than where they are right now and I still believe they will come out of this funk they are in.

Well, I still think my boys are good. It's the consistency that is lacking. As I said, there has been improvement since the Winterpause. But we'll just have to see what von Heesen can do with the team. Too bad Klinsi didn't go to FCN instead of FCB, then we'd sure as hell be the badass team. ;)

I'm sorry, but I can understand those people. It is not an easy thing to be a FCN fan. Because of FCN's history, I am not screaming and worrying right now. I'm used to FCN being in relegation battles. Over the last 15-20 years, that is mostly where FCN has been.


Sadly, you're right on this point too. It is definitely not an easy thing to be a Clubberer, what with the always ups and downs, but if you're a true Clubfan, you understand this, and can deal with it. The Erfolgsfans who are being viscious and constantly bitching however, are another story.

And I'm sure Blazek knows that as soon as he makes some big saves, the fans will come back around. However, after interviewing players for as long as I did, I can tell you that with the majority of them, the approval or disapproval of the fans doesn't mean as much to them as fans would like to think.

So you interviewed players? Were you a sportswriter or...?
And I can see how the approval of fans isn't a big deal to he players, at least not as much as some of the fans seem to think, especially when many fans are so fickle and...well....you've already stated that in an earlier post. Granted, a stadium full of cheering fans is not something the players would frown upon either. ;)

[BillPaul]

My gosh, it took me forever to catch up on what you all have been talking about.

I was sick for a week and didn't realize until this afternoon that I wasn't being informed of any new entries once again.

Unfortunately I am only able to watch what they show here on television and believe me with the way the club has been performing lately, lucky to see anything. I did manage to watch the game against Bremen. I just couldn't figure out why they pulled out Adler (spelling) when he seemed to be the best option early on.

I have read through almost all of the later entries and I have to agree with Footy that voicing your opinion is really a sign of being a good Nürnberg fan. It's also a sad reality that FCN has been a pretty bad team over the last 20 years. Up until a couple of years ago it was difficult for me to keep up with how they were doing, but thanks to the Internet I am able to follow them a bit better than before. Although, my German has degraded so badly that I'm really not able to read the articles in German, so I am just trying to keep up with what's on here and what little I can glean from the national wires.

A Philadelphia fan. That explains the robust disdain for some coaches and players. If you're an American football than you would definitely understand this. I follow football (soccer to Americans) and American football at equal levels.

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I was stationed in Nürnberg myself during a large part of the 80s and early 90s.

BTW, I have started a German language course and hopefully my understanding will improve. It's difficult when you don't have anybody to speak with as that is how I learn German way back when. Unfortunately I learned how to speak German and understand German when it was spoken, but my basic German skills were mediocre at best.

Take care,
Billy

[Borussia]

QUO VADIS, FCN?

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/spielpaarungsbericht/object/807753

[Borussia]

Even more bad news. :eek:

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/375745/


This would be really painful...

[footyfan1]

So, I take it your ex is not a Clubberer also...? And Erlangen, I've got lots of family there also, not just in Nürnberg-city. I'll be there this coming October actually.

October? Not 8-19 May for the Erlanger Bergkirchweih?! ;)



So, since you are a BVB fan, but living in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, are you often able to make it to BVB games live, or do you mostly watch on TV?

These days, I mostly watch at home on Premiere. However, when I lived in Franken, I made many home matches.



Really??!? Why? I mean, there's an old saying that goes something along the lines of, "once you come to Nürnberg, you never want to leave" or something along those lines. And why San Antonio if I might ask?

Well, I'm sorry, I really like the area, but I was able to leave easily.

I fell in love with San Antonio. I lived there when I had to leave Germany. April 2003 to April 2006. And trust me, if it wasn't for the fact that my son needed my help (He was/is still in Erlangen with my ex and I still go there a lot), I would not have come back.




Well, girls *do* tend to prefer footy players above American football players

When did that happen? I've got two younger cousins playing each sport at the same high school in Philadelphia right now and the American Football players still pull all the girls. It's always been that way most places I know in the USA.

You must be thinking about the suburbs or Europe or something......


they're not all "steroidy" looking...and why is it that when American football players retire, they blow up and get so fat, but when footie players retire, they stay nice and thin? Not all of course, but quite a lof from what I see.

I think you're generalizing. You need to look at guys like Germany's Tom Nuetten and another former offensive lineman Mark Schlereth. They both look better since they retired.

I think the fat bastards you see are the guys who just got lazy. And I think with footballers, it's because they usually never get far from the game. But you have your handful who do blow up. Chief among them is Mr. Diego Armando Maradona.


And...why is American football called football anyway?? I never did quite understand that.

It is because the sport derived from "Rugby Football." So they just dropped the "Rugby."



The BVB 01/02 season *sigh*, you're giving me Jens Lehmann flashbacks. He was so awesome at BVB...and feisty. I have two Jens-worn BVB Torwarttrikots from the 01/02 season - my cousin who now lives in Sachsenheim (near to Stuttgart) because she got married, is a BVB fan (and Clubberer, but she had a huge thing for Stefan Klos), she got the for me.

Must be nice.


And maybe the reason you have a Fränkisch accent is because of all the time you've lived in Frankenland - I mean, was your time in Frankenland where you learned most of your German?

That was my entire point. I sound that way because I learned most of my German up in Erlangen.




Well, I still think my boys are good. It's the consistency that is lacking. As I said, there has been improvement since the Winterpause. But we'll just have to see what von Heesen can do with the team. Too bad Klinsi didn't go to FCN instead of FCB, then we'd sure as hell be the badass team. ;)

LOL!! If you choose to believe that......



Sadly, you're right on this point too. It is definitely not an easy thing to be a Clubberer, what with the always ups and downs, but if you're a true Clubfan, you understand this, and can deal with it. The Erfolgsfans who are being viscious and constantly bitching however, are another story.

They are the ones I call "unrealistic" and there are more of those in the area than you would care to believe. I've met so many FCN fans who think it is the right of "Der Club" to be rated among the best in Germany. I keep telling them that is something the club earns, there is no "right" to it. BVB has won a CL and we don't have that "right." Neither does BayScum. They work their asses off to stay on top and as they showed in the Cup Match against 1860, they aren't above cheating to stay there either.



So you interviewed players? Were you a sportswriter or...?

Yeah, I was. Mostly assisting others. It was just a side job, so I could never really pursue it the way I wanted.


And I can see how the approval of fans isn't a big deal to he players, at least not as much as some of the fans seem to think, especially when many fans are so fickle and...well....you've already stated that in an earlier post. Granted, a stadium full of cheering fans is not something the players would frown upon either. ;)

Exactly. The players appreciate the fans' support, but in the end, they know the ones they have to impress are their coaches and management.......

[footyfan1]

Even more bad news. :eek:

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/375745/


This would be really painful...

What's painful is watching Joshua Kennedy doing his Miro Klose impression at Karlsruhe. :o

Koller will probably get three to five matches for this.

[footyfan1]

Even more bad news. :eek:

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/375745/


This would be really painful...


Just read that he got a 15,000 Euro fine and is suspended for this weekend's match with HSV. As if FCN needed anything else to go wrong. :(

I hope FCN will use this to rally and upset HSV......

[BillPaul]

Just read that he got a 15,000 Euro fine and is suspended for this weekend's match with HSV. As if FCN needed anything else to go wrong. :(

I hope FCN will use this to rally and upset HSV......

I tried to translate this, but I'm not sure if I got everything correct.

I basically did the article say he was shown by television footage to have spit at several players?
As I said before, my German is not nearly as good as it should be.
Billy

[Borussia]

http://www.fcn.de/index.php?id=16727

[Borussia]

Well, Daniel Klewer didn't concede a goal at least ... but there's still no win under Thomas von Heesen. No wonder if you don't even manage to score from the penalty spot...

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/spieltag/spielpaarungsbericht/object/807761


Btw: During the game, I was jogging to the famous "Solarberg" (350 m above the sea level) ... and could see the floodlights of the Frankenstadion (20 km's away). ;) Unfortunately I didn't get to hear any goal roar. :-)

[Klask]

I think Klewer did well and I don't recall any major mistakes from him in this match. He also had luck on his side in some situations for example Jarolim's shot on the bar.

Defensively overall a good performance from FCN when considering they faced number 3. HSV were rather poor at creating the big opportunities expected from a top team. Ask Stevens for further details on his tactics in the match :rolleyes:

Misimovic's penalty was so damn predictable. Next time he mind as well point of the direction in which he's going to kick at for Rost.

I think TvH should have brought Mintal and Charisteas earlier on and substituting Kluge with Kristiansen makes no sense to me, unless Kluge had some kind of injury.