Official Bayer Leverkusen thread 08-09 [R]

[posteador]

Haha...I was going to point out the same thing...suddenly they are a lot better. :D

[Aspirin FC]

Great game against the blue crew. Hope we can stay up on top til winter break.

[footyfan1]

Awww you're just saying that 'cause they beat Schalke...:D

Kinda....... ;)

[asdis]

You're right, they won't fall apart but I think he is important to them. Leverkusen are a team unit that pretty much relies on all players to make things work.

If they continue like this I don't know how many of their young talents they'll be able to hold onto though.

I think it's more likely that our "youngs talents" will leave if we are unsuccessful;) The potential of players like renato augusto, adler or barnetta is well-known anyway. But I think most of them wouldn't pass up the opportunity to play CL with Bayer. Adler and Rolfes also say that they want to win a title with Leverkusen, but that's impossible as we all know:D. Eventually most of our talented young players will leave Leverkusen anyway cause they want to play for a big international club (adler dreams of ManU for example). Hopefully the transfer fees are high enough so that we can buy new talents and extend the suad, especially the midfield. It seems that Schneider will return in January btw, he's alrady training with the ball.

some transfer news:
we want to sign swiss striker Eren Derdiyok (20, FC Basel) who has alrady stated that he wants to switch to Leverkusen, but the clubs still have to agree on a transfer fee
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1229/bayer-leverkusen/2008/11/17/968722/eren-derdiyok-close-to-bayer-switch

[footyfan1]

I think it's more likely that our "youngs talents" will leave if we are unsuccessful;)

Well, a couple of your "young talents" are only there on loan. (Henrique & Kadlec)

And when Bayer was "successful", it didn't stop players such as Ballack and Ze Roberto from running when Bayern came calling.


The potential of players like renato augusto, adler or barnetta is well-known anyway. But I think most of them wouldn't pass up the opportunity to play CL with Bayer. Adler and Rolfes also say that they want to win a title with Leverkusen, but that's impossible as we all know:D. Eventually most of our talented young players will leave Leverkusen anyway cause they want to play for a big international club (adler dreams of ManU for example). Hopefully the transfer fees are high enough so that we can buy new talents and extend the suad, especially the midfield.

Rolfes and Barnetta strike me as potential career-long Bayer players. I agree that Bayer will probably eventually lose Adler and Augusto. Adler to Bayern or Man U., Augusto to either Real or Barca.

I know you were kidding, but I think Bayer will eventually win a title. I'm not sure about it being this season, but if Stuttgart and Bremen can win titles, so can you.

Only Schalke can't. LOL!!!


It seems that Schneider will return in January btw, he's alrady training with the ball.

And where is he going to fit besides the bench??? I think he'll screw up the chemistry you guys have going.

I really think this team moved forward without him.

However, if he can be successfully integrated, maybe you guys will have a shot at the title.....


some transfer news:
we want to sign swiss striker Eren Derdiyok (20, FC Basel) who has alrady stated that he wants to switch to Leverkusen, but the clubs still have to agree on a transfer fee
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1229/bayer-leverkusen/2008/11/17/968722/eren-derdiyok-close-to-bayer-switch


Yeah, Kicker reported that on Monday. They were Goal.com's source.

My question is this. Where are you guys going to play him?? Who's going to sit?

This kid isn't going to be happy moving from Basel's bench to Leverkusen's bench....

[banok]

Leverkusen - Bayern München 0-2
LONG HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.videoplayer.hu/videos/play/274592

[footyfan1]

Forget that comment. I must have been feeling a bit bitter.

I'm f#cking impressed already.

Nice win over Schalke!!


I guess I spoke too soon. :(

[Borussia]

No more BLTLEO in this thread lately (obviously she supports only Klinsi & Bayern now) ... so I can't tease her after Bayer's defeat at Borussia-Park on Saturday. ;)

Dear Bruno, don't forget the motto "Aller guten Dinge sind drei!" :-))

He lost both games against BMG last season ... so I hope he'll do me a favour and also lose the 3rd one. PLEASE!!! :) Afterwards he can win everything. :-)

[bltleo]

No more BLTLEO in this thread lately (obviously she supports only Klinsi & Bayern now) ... so I can't tease her after Bayer's defeat at Borussia-Park on Saturday. ;)

Dear Bruno, don't forget the motto "Aller guten Dinge sind drei!" :-))

He lost both games against BMG last season ... so I hope he'll do me a favour and also lose the 3rd one. PLEASE!!! :) Afterwards he can win everything. :-)

oh, you miss me

of course i can come here ..I still like Leverkusen..

i have two hearts..one for Bayern and other for Bayer.

so you still can tease me:)

I like you!!!!

and sorry you lost....you must choose other team you root for....better one..then M`Gladbach...

[footyfan1]

oh, you miss me

of course i can come here ..I still like Leverkusen..

i have two hearts..one for Bayern and other for Bayer.

so you still can tease me:)

I like you!!!!

and sorry you lost....you must choose other team you root for....better one..then M`Gladbach...

"Two hearts, one for Bayern and one for Bayer?" Oh please.

(Insert sound of continuous puking here)

[Borussia]

I like you!!!!


Oh. :o



and sorry you lost....you must choose other team you root for....better one..then M`Gladbach...

Na na, I'm still very happy with Gladbach. ;)


Btw: Congrats on the win. Shame that Bruno didn't agree with my proposal....:(

[bltleo]

Oh. :o




Na na, I'm still very happy with Gladbach.

Btw: Congrats on the win. Shame that Bruno didn't agree with my proposal....:(

yes I like you:)...

how can you be happy with Gladbach..and you come from Nürnberg...why don´t you
support Nürnberg team or other team....hm..Bayern Munich..haha...or team in your
area....why Gladbach?

Bruno is doing well here....on Wednesday they will visit Bayer shop and make some
signatures for fans...i saw him already few times here....

[footyfan1]

Now that we know "Borussia" and "bltleo" like one another, let's try some football, shall we?? ;) :D


Apparently Greek striker Theofanis Gekas has been given permission by Leverkusen to find a new club.

Of course, he won't be free to whatever club signing him.

I'm thinking Frankfurt since Amanatidis can't stay healthy for more than two weeks at time.

Story in German at Transfermarkt.de (http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/news/24450/leverkusen-will-gekas-keine-steine-in-den-weg-legen.html)

[The Old Lady Hertha]

I think its more likely that Bochum will try to get him, but Frankfurt is a good shout. Bochum is a more attractive proposition for him if he's complaining about playing time, because it seems that Liberopoulos and Fenin are beginning to gel and they still have Amanatidis. The papers have also linked with Karlsruhe (where he would start, if only be default :D ), Werder (another striker? bs), Nurnberg (I don't know if 2. Bundesliga appeals to him if he's been linked supposedly with loads of 1. Bundesliga teams) and Koeln (could also make sense I suppose to).

Don't understand Leverkusen here though, that leaves them with 3 strikers again I think (Kiessling, Helmes and Derdiyok). Gekas has been okay as a joker and even if they're just playing in 1 competition this year, what happens when Kiessling and/or Helmes and/or Derdiyok are injured? Barnetta as striker? Sakuta-Pasu makes the step up? Or are they going to buy another striker that will demand minutes (i.e. Marc Janko, top goalscorer in the Austrian Bundesliga). Even if he is unhappy, I'd say keep him at least for this year because you never know.

Even right now I think they're walking on a tight rope with 3 strikers...

[footyfan1]

I think its more likely that Bochum will try to get him, but Frankfurt is a good shout. Bochum is a more attractive proposition for him if he's complaining about playing time, because it seems that Liberopoulos and Fenin are beginning to gel and they still have Amanatidis. The papers have also linked with Karlsruhe (where he would start, if only be default :D ), Werder (another striker? bs), Nurnberg (I don't know if 2. Bundesliga appeals to him if he's been linked supposedly with loads of 1. Bundesliga teams) and Koeln (could also make sense I suppose to).

Don't understand Leverkusen here though, that leaves them with 3 strikers again I think (Kiessling, Helmes and Derdiyok). Gekas has been okay as a joker and even if they're just playing in 1 competition this year, what happens when Kiessling and/or Helmes and/or Derdiyok are injured? Barnetta as striker? Sakuta-Pasu makes the step up? Or are they going to buy another striker that will demand minutes (i.e. Marc Janko, top goalscorer in the Austrian Bundesliga). Even if he is unhappy, I'd say keep him at least for this year because you never know.

Even right now I think they're walking on a tight rope with 3 strikers...


a) Tell me where Bochum is going to get the money for him. Leverkusen isn't letting him go free. For that matter, tell me where KSC or FCN would get the money for him too.


b) Would Bochum really try to play Sestak and Gekas? That would be interesting seeing that they are pretty much the same player. I could see Bochum going for Gekas if they sell Sestak first, but not as long as Sestak is there. However, if Bayern and HSV go against what is being said in the press and make a winter deal for Olic to move to Bayern, I could see HSV raiding Bochum for Sestak, opening the door for Gekas to return to Bochum.


c) What makes you think Liberopoulos and Fenin are "starting to gel?" Because they had one good match against Bochum? And I gave the reason Frankfurt could/would go for Gekas despite having Amanatidis along with Liberopoulos and Fenin.

Amanatidis can't stay healthy for more than two weeks at time. Yeah, I'm exaggerating a bit, but name another supposed top striker besides Alexander Frei who stays on the injured list as much as Amanatidis does?

Another thing. Liberopoulos is 33 and his contract expires after next season. Frankfurt wouldn't have a problem dropping him for Gekas.


d) Why would Koln make sense? They just got Ishiaku back from injury and everyone knows they are saving their money for a shot at Podolski this summer. I think Koln would make no sense.

e) Why can't you understand Leverkusen? They have a good thing going and they don't want an unhappy player poisoning the atmosphere. You of all people should know what that is like. Think about Marcelinho's last season with Hertha.......

f) Yeah, I think Leverkusen would have confidence in Sukuta-Pasu to step up. It also wouldn't surprise me if they went after a good 2nd Bundesliga striker to be their third striker if they sell Gekas.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

a) What do you think the valuation for Gekas will be? I'd say something like 3-4 million. Guess that does leave out Bochum and KSC and 1. FCN.

b) I don't know if they plan to, but its possible that Bochum think they can recover at least some of his goalscoring that got him the cannon (although to be honest, I think he still has it in him, although he won't top the list again). Sinan hasn't done terribly IMHO (not the best striker I know, but there are worse strikers out there) and also, Bochum won't have the money (unless Leverkusen and another club can thrash out a loan w/ buying option, like what Hertha have done with Pantelic, Gimenez, Voronin, Domovchiyski). The problem with that is Hertha has done this with clubs outside of the Bundesliga where the risk is less for the clubs (since they don't have to play Hertha and worry where they are in the table).

c) I think for the last few games it has been more promising. Fenin looks pretty exciting. I sincerely hope that Fenin gets hot for Frankfurt (except against Hertha). He looks like a very exciting player. Could Frankfurt use Gekas? Certainly.

d) Maybe a plan B if Leverkusen can't sell him in the winter or if Poldi does move somewhere else in the winter. Certainly possible, I have my reservations of a Gekas-Novakovic strike partnership (mainly because neither player offers much besides scoring and if they're cold...)

e) Okay I'd understand Leverkusen if they were linked with other strikers...which they aren't. If they are, then fair enough. But if they are not looking for another striker, they should be.

Derdiyok I don't think would also be very happy on the bench either though to be honest...I can see him replacing Kiessling though.

f) I'll admit I've never watched him play, but he's an 18 year old striker...I don't see many title contenders who have an 18 year old striker as their 4th striker, but if they think he's good enough, then fairplay to them.

If he's not than I can see them going for maybe a veteran striker...or a loan.

[footyfan1]

a) What do you think the valuation for Gekas will be? I'd say something like 3-4 million. Guess that does leave out Bochum and KSC and 1. FCN.

According to Transfermarkt.de, Leverkusen paid just under 5M for him (4.7M) a season and a half ago, so I'm assuming the low number they'll take is 3M or maybe even 2.5M.



b) I don't know if they plan to, but its possible that Bochum think they can recover at least some of his goalscoring that got him the cannon (although to be honest, I think he still has it in him, although he won't top the list again). Sinan hasn't done terribly IMHO (not the best striker I know, but there are worse strikers out there) and also, Bochum won't have the money (unless Leverkusen and another club can thrash out a loan w/ buying option, like what Hertha have done with Pantelic, Gimenez, Voronin, Domovchiyski). The problem with that is Hertha has done this with clubs outside of the Bundesliga where the risk is less for the clubs (since they don't have to play Hertha and worry where they are in the table).

I don't think Leverkusen would be worried about facing any club with Gekas lined up as striker. If they would, they'd just keep him.

Plus, again, Bochum has replaced Gekas well with Sestak.

I don't think anyone is going to get Gekas to repeat those numbers of two seasons ago again.

I think it was just a one-hit wonder. Want other examples? Nuernberg's Marek Mintal and the year Delron Buckley scored 15 for Bielefeld.


c) I think for the last few games it has been more promising. Fenin looks pretty exciting. I sincerely hope that Fenin gets hot for Frankfurt (except against Hertha). He looks like a very exciting player. Could Frankfurt use Gekas? Certainly.

Fenin reminds me a lot of a younger Alexander Frei. Only Fenin is faster and better at making his teammates better. Believe me, I've been dropping Fenin's name on our e-mail list as a possible Frei replacement quite a bit recently.


d) Maybe a plan B if Leverkusen can't sell him in the winter or if Poldi does move somewhere else in the winter. Certainly possible, I have my reservations of a Gekas-Novakovic strike partnership (mainly because neither player offers much besides scoring and if they're cold...)

I believe Bayern when they say Podolski isn't going anywhere this winter. I think the only way that changes is if HSV wants to make a winter deal with them for Olic. If that is done, then, I think there is a chance Gekas could wind up not at Koln, but at HSV.

To me, Gekas and Koln simply makes no sense as long a Koln harbors the dream of brining Podolski home.


e) Okay I'd understand Leverkusen if they were linked with other strikers...which they aren't. If they are, then fair enough. But if they are not looking for another striker, they should be.

They should be bringing Derdiyok in this winter. Especially with Basel having crashed out of Europe.


Derdiyok I don't think would also be very happy on the bench either though to be honest...I can see him replacing Kiessling though.

If Derdiyok is what the press claims he is, he'll push Kiessling or force Labbadia into considering a 4-3-3 or a 4-1-2-3.

Kiessling can always be moved behind the strikers, but then Labbadia has to decide who to drop from the lineup.



f) I'll admit I've never watched him play, but he's an 18 year old striker...I don't see many title contenders who have an 18 year old striker as their 4th striker, but if they think he's good enough, then fairplay to them.

I'll throw some names from the past at you. Lars Ricken, Roque Santa Cruz, Marco Reich, and Nelson Valdez.

Question: What do these players have in common??

Answer: They all were teenage third and fourth strikers on Bundesliga title-winning teams.

In the cases of Ricken and Santa Cruz, they both won the CL with their teams as teenagers.


If he's not than I can see them going for maybe a veteran striker...or a loan.

Which is pretty much what I said........

Hell, I wouldn't put it past them to bring Neuville back from Gladbach to finish his career.

[Mengão86]

How's Renato been?

[footyfan1]

This one is for those of you breaking your arms to pat Labbadia on the back and prematurely calling him a "great coach."

You guys do have a full TWO more points than you did at halfway point of last season.

You guys have the same amount of losses, but one more victory than draw than at this point last season.

Wow. WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!!!

Despite arguably having better personnel than you did last season at FOUR POSITIONS (Henrique, Kadlec, Augusto and Helmes), you have just two more points.

Wow. What a great coaching job.

And what's funnier is that despite having two more points, you're one place lower in the standings than at the halfway point of last season.

You guys are in fifth place now. At this point last season, you were fourth.

I'll tell you this. The main reason I'm sending this message is not because I don't like Bayer Leverkusen. I like Bayer. I always have. There's no "official" friendship between Bayer and BVB, but I believe there's always been an "unspoken one."

I'm sending this message because some of you acted like I was being ridiculous when I said Labbadia wasn't the difference from last season, but your new players were and that Skibbe would have done just as well or better if he had these new players.

Well, I think the fact that Skibbe DID just as well with a WORSE team proves my point.

Yes, I know there's half a season to go, but I really think this "Labbadia=Great Coach" bullshit is really premature.

Again, all he's had to do is not f#ck things up. And for the most part, he hasn't.

Although, I will say I was very disappointed to see that you guys still shit your pants when Bayern comes to town...... :(

[footyfan1]

Kicker.de: Leverkusen Signs Former Bochum Captain Zdebel (http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/502539/)


According to the "Kicker" report linked above, you guys have signed Bochum's 35 year-old Polish defensive midfielder Tomasz Zdebel.

This guy will not start for you, but I think he will help behind the scenes. I think he gives you bench depth. He'll also challenge the youngsters in training.

Not a "difference-making" move for Bayer, but one that should help a bit in my opinion.