1. FC Köln 08/09 Thread [R]

[MicFW]

I find all these transfer wishes and speculations a bit amusing. Remember we are a promoted team, slightly in the red already and allegedly saving all our money for signing Podolski? Have your cake and eat it, too...

We're a good-enough team to avoid relegation this season, with or without any new signings. Let's all jubilate that Poldi won't be allowed to leave Munich this winter for this might perhaps enable us to realize our dream in the summer. If we can, there won't be much money left to buy someone else obviously. If you guys think that it would be more important to replace Womé and Antar, I can understand your arguments perfectly well, but then no more talk about Poldi. Hennes is a goat and not a cash cow.

[sheva839]

i agree with mic i think we should analyze our team with respect to our financial capabilities..ideally ALOT can be changed about the koln team but the club is restricted in the transfer market so instead of focusing who to kick out its better to see which players we can bring in...panic is right to say wome is a defensive liability but for the moment we dont have resources to replace our left back....FOR ME i think spend watevr we have on another forward and this will be more than enough for the mean time...podolski of course is the prime target but if we cant afford him someone else who plays in the same position is top priority

[panicfc]

I pretty much figure we won't get Poldoski at the break. Although we are not in the drop zone, anything can happen. If we leak poor goals, it will make our job much more difficult.

If Womé is the best out there, or we have no more money left (I think we have at least €10 mill hanging around) - then we better put pressure on him to play better defense.

Antar, Broich - neither has played well enough and we need to improve our midfield production.

Isiaku appears to be back and will be ready for the 2nd half of the season, that should help our front line more than enough.

Midfield, then left back - maybe we can get lucky and get someone on loan.

[cookiely]

while I do love Poldi, I think that if it isn`t possible to finance him externally
(via Sponsors, donations etc.) he shouldn`t be signed at all.


10 Mio+ for a player that is out of form and out of self-confidence is just too much for us.

And I don`t want to see the club sacrificing its finacial stability for Poldi.


:( and unfortunately MC is right, we can`t afford any new signings.

But then pretty much all winter transfers we did in the last couple of years sucked anyway.

[footyfan1]

I find all these transfer wishes and speculations a bit amusing. Remember we are a promoted team, slightly in the red already and allegedly saving all our money for signing Podolski? Have your cake and eat it, too...

We're a good-enough team to avoid relegation this season, with or without any new signings. Let's all jubilate that Poldi won't be allowed to leave Munich this winter for this might perhaps enable us to realize our dream in the summer. If we can, there won't be much money left to buy someone else obviously. If you guys think that it would be more important to replace Womé and Antar, I can understand your arguments perfectly well, but then no more talk about Poldi. Hennes is a goat and not a cash cow.

A great and very honest opinion without fan bias. It was great to read.

I think you guys are better than your record and you've suffered some bad luck.

I think you'll be more dangerous offensively after January with Ishiaku finally at full strength and with time to learn to work with Novakovic.

I totally agree with your assessments of Womé and Antar. I said before on this thread that Antar isn't a 1st Bundesliga starting player.

Womé to me is especially puzzling. I think he is a guy who has the tools, but doesn't seem to want to do what he needs to do to put it all together.

Or is it that he doesn't have the brains to match his athletic ability???

"Hennes is a goat and not a cash cow."

Very well stated and very funny to boot! :D

I hope you guys don't put the club back in serious financial trouble to bring back Podolski.

Meier isn't above that.

Take it from a BVB fan who still admires him for the good he did for us, but doesn't forgive him for his part in nearly bankrupting the club afterwards.

I don't care what a lot of BVB fans say, what happened in Dortmund wasn't just Meier's fault.

I just hope he doesn't repeat the mistakes he made with us.

[panicfc]

Honestly, I'd rather we go for some other players, other than Poldi. It makese more sense to strengthen the midfield.

Womé - Footy, I think that's it. He's got the talent, but he lacks the discipline or mental side of the game to do the defensive work. We can't afford the miscues as its costing us points and we are not in position to give up points.

[footyfan1]

Honestly, I'd rather we go for some other players, other than Poldi. It makese more sense to strengthen the midfield.

I can agree there. I think you guys can do with some midfield strengthening in January.



Womé - Footy, I think that's it. He's got the talent, but he lacks the discipline or mental side of the game to do the defensive work. We can't afford the miscues as its costing us points and we are not in position to give up points.

Totally agree with that assessment.

And on the other guy originally discussed, Antar, with that horrible foul on Alex Silva he got away with last night, you guys are lucky not to have lost him for three or four matches.......

Luckily, it seems Silva "only" suffered partially torn ankle ligaments. It could have been much worse.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

I think Wome would be better suited to be a LM. Still doesn't excuse his bad decision making but his tackling and marking ability are shocking for a LB, but he has decent enough attacking ability (probably the best crosser for Koeln) to still be useful. But then again, Ehret has been pretty solid at LM and he doesn't make stupid mistakes like Wome.

[panicfc]

I can agree there. I think you guys can do with some midfield strengthening in January.





Totally agree with that assessment.

And on the other guy originally discussed, Antar, with that horrible foul on Alex Silva he got away with last night, you guys are lucky not to have lost him for three or four matches.......

Luckily, it seems Silva "only" suffered partially torn ankle ligaments. It could have been much worse.

Antar - what was he thinking with that challenge.


I think Wome would be better suited to be a LM. Still doesn't excuse his bad decision making but his tackling and marking ability are shocking for a LB, but he has decent enough attacking ability (probably the best crosser for Koeln) to still be useful. But then again, Ehret has been pretty solid at LM and he doesn't make stupid mistakes like Wome.

Ehret seems to be able to put in a good cross. Maybe move Ehret back and Womé up ;)

[MicFW]

I hope you guys don't put the club back in serious financial trouble to bring back Podolski.

Meier isn't above that.

Take it from a BVB fan who still admires him for the good he did for us, but doesn't forgive him for his part in nearly bankrupting the club afterwards.

I don't care what a lot of BVB fans say, what happened in Dortmund wasn't just Meier's fault.

I just hope he doesn't repeat the mistakes he made with us.

First, thank you for your nice comment! Don't make me blush... :)
What you said about Michael Meier is exactly what worries me and probably many other FC supporters. So far Meier has done a great job for us. Not every transfer under his reign was brilliant, but last summer he got great value for money. Let's hope he continues like that and doesn't jeopardize everything just to bring back the local hero.

[MicFW]

Ehret seems to be able to put in a good cross. Maybe move Ehret back and Womé up ;)

The case of Womé and Ehret is not unsimilar IMO. They are both capable of putting in a good cross and helping our midfield, and they both have weak spots in defence. Don't know, but maybe Brecko could play LB as soon as Özat returns?

By the way, according to "kicker.de" the FC has reached an agreement with midfielder Derek Owusu Boateng (25), Beitar Jerusalem. He is said to be a free signing for next season.

[panicfc]

The case of Womé and Ehret is not unsimilar IMO. They are both capable of putting in a good cross and helping our midfield, and they both have weak spots in defence. Don't know, but maybe Brecko could play LB as soon as Özat returns?

By the way, according to "kicker.de" the FC has reached an agreement with midfielder Derek Owusu Boateng (25), Beitar Jerusalem. He is said to be a free signing for next season.

Ehret - Womé: hopefully you are right about Ozat - that would be a huge help for us. Any reports on how he is doing?

Boateng - need to get some info on this guy.

[footyfan1]

Boateng - need to get some info on this guy.

Hope this helps.

Transfermarkt.de Profile On Derek Owusu Boateng (http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/spieler/18091/boateng-derek-owusu/profil.html)

[panicfc]

Thanks Keith.

I'm going to check my boys in Israel and see what they know.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

The case of Womé and Ehret is not unsimilar IMO. They are both capable of putting in a good cross and helping our midfield, and they both have weak spots in defence. Don't know, but maybe Brecko could play LB as soon as Özat returns?

By the way, according to "kicker.de" the FC has reached an agreement with midfielder Derek Owusu Boateng (25), Beitar Jerusalem. He is said to be a free signing for next season.

He's a center midfielder, kind of a mini-Appiah I think IIRC.

[MicFW]

Ehret - Womé: hopefully you are right about Ozat - that would be a huge help for us. Any reports on how he is doing?


There are no real news about him as far as I know. If the occasional reports in the local press are anything to go by, his physical recovery seems to progress. It seems quite possible that Ümit will play for us again one day, but at the moment he still needs to rest and take it slowly.

[MicFW]

He's a center midfielder, kind of a mini-Appiah I think IIRC.

If this rumour turns out to be correct, I hope he can play in front of Petit and Pezzoni. If Boateng is supposed to replace the latter I would be disappointed.

[panicfc]

My guy in Israel - "Very good player, will move to Köln" - not a lot to go on with that info.

[MicFW]

My guy in Israel - "Very good player, will move to Köln" - not a lot to go on with that info.

I like the part where he calls him a "very good player" though. :)

[panicfc]

I like the part where he calls him a "very good player" though. :)

Better than the alternative ;)