VfB Stuttgart - Pushing for Europe, 08/09 Season Thread Part III (R)

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Well, there was an article on Hleb at the headline today, but it wasn't too optimistic, saying the chances are 'gering' - slim - that we can bring Hleb to the club. I hope Kicker's got it wrong.

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/509580/



Kicker has also already cancelled out the Helmes issue and I pretty much considered it over with, but BILD, for what it's worth, today has come out with an article in which it continues to speculate that Bayer may yet sell him and Helmes may yet leave.

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/stuttgart/2009/06/02/patrick-helmes/poker-wo-ist-die-schmerzgrenze.html


One thing that all major sites are reporting however is that we are very interested in Tranquillo Barnetta, so that transfer is a very real possibility. He would be a very solid purchase in my opinion, good addition to the squad, I see him as being like Hilbert but slightly better.

[BayernWake]

Race for Hleb so far appears to be between three sides:
Us, some other German side I can't remember the name of ( :D ), and Lyon.

Every morning when i get up first thing I do is check Kicker in the hope that the front headling will be 'Hleb Returns to VfB'.... but the whole thing doesn't appear to be coming closer to a finish at the moment

Hendrik posted on the Bayern board:

"SportBild reports that there is some sort of agreement between Bayern and Stuttgart concerning Hleb. Bayern will only go after him if Ribery leaves. Hleb is apparently willing to accept a major pay-cut to return to Stuttgart."

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Thanks for the news man!

But we'll see, Kicker rarely gets stuff wrong and if they're writing that our chances are slim it's hard for me to be too optimistic. We'll see what happens.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

And, about Kicker normally be reliable, I am very pleased to be able to offer this article:

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/509613/

It appears that Hoffenheim's Demba Ba has decided that he wants to leave Hoffenheim for VfB, according to a letter by his agent sent to Kicker. Hoffenheim's management denies this. So, nothing clear yet, but it does seem that Ba wants to join the side, and if this is the case, we may soon have our first new signing of the summer season!

And it would be a good one!

[Rainer24]

That would be a sweet addition, but I'm really hoping we sign more of the clinical finisher type.

[footyfan1]

Thanks for the news man!

But we'll see, Kicker rarely gets stuff wrong and if they're writing that our chances are slim it's hard for me to be too optimistic. We'll see what happens.


Bayern probably made the "agreement" because they expect huge bids for Ribery once the Kaka and C. Ronaldo situations are settled.

I'll bet you Hleb makes no commitment to Stuttgart until he knows what's up with Bayern........ :rolleyes:

[footyfan1]

And, about Kicker normally be reliable, I am very pleased to be able to offer this article:

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/509613/

It appears that Hoffenheim's Demba Ba has decided that he wants to leave Hoffenheim for VfB, according to a letter by his agent sent to Kicker. Hoffenheim's management denies this. So, nothing clear yet, but it does seem that Ba wants to join the side, and if this is the case, we may soon have our first new signing of the summer season!

And it would be a good one!


Ba would be a nice improvement over Marica, but hardly an adequate replacement for Gomez.

[Kirsten19]

Schieber has the potential to be the next Mario Gomez imo

physically strong, good finisher, aerial threat, decent off-the-ball and skill. Really high ceiling

[Rainer24]

Schieber has the potential to be the next Mario Gomez imo

physically strong, good finisher, aerial threat, decent off-the-ball and skill. Really high ceiling


I know our youth system is great, but there aren't too many Gomez level guys floating around. It would be truly amazing if Schieber turned out to be even half the player Mario is.

[footyfan1]

I know our youth system is great, but there aren't too many Gomez level guys floating around. It would be truly amazing if Schieber turned out to be even half the player Mario is.

Thank you. If having the tools was all it took, there would be a thousand Gomez' clones running around German football.

It is what you do with your tools that is most important.

I've seen plenty of kids with the same tools of a Gomez or a Klose, but not too many willing to work their asses off to refine and better those tools ala Gomez and Klose.

[berloha]

Ba would be a nice improvement over Marica, but hardly an adequate replacement for Gomez.

Thanks for that. Ba will leave Hoffenheim one day to EPL, a club like Arsenal..not Stussgart.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Thanks for that. Ba will leave Hoffenheim one day to EPL, a club like Arsenal..not Stussgart.

I'll keep you on the record for that.

Fact is: you are right, he might not leave to us.
But if he stays with you, it will not have been his choice. Because he has openly said he does not want to stay with you.

[footyfan1]

I'll keep you on the record for that.

Fact is: you are right, he might not leave to us.
But if he stays with you, it will not have been his choice. Because he has openly said he does not want to stay with you.


That much is true.

And who can blame the guy for wanting a chance to compete in the Champions' League sooner rather than later???

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Ba would be a nice improvement over Marica, but hardly an adequate replacement for Gomez.

This is true, but seriously, who WOULD be a truly equal replacement to Gomez?? Players of his calibre simply don't want to join us. And if they've been brought up here, they soon leave.

Maybe Gignac. But then again, I'd hardly expect us to actually sign him.

If we sign Ba i'll be pleased because i'll know we have at least one top striker for next year. He scores goals, has good technique and is young. No, he isn't Gomez, but who are we kidding, players like Gomez don't come to VfB (unless, perhaps, if they are Alexander Hleb. But i'm not optimistic anymore) and he's still a good player. I'd be happy to have him.

I'd be happy to see this deal get done.

[berloha]

I'll keep you on the record for that.

Fact is: you are right, he might not leave to us.
But if he stays with you, it will not have been his choice. Because he has openly said he does not want to stay with you.


http://mainzelsmile.ioff.de/froehlich/roflrofl.gif

his agent has announced this. in a letter send to a newspaper not even to hoffenheim, how serious is this ?

I am sure, Ba is having the time of his life in las vegas, and has no idea what his dumb agent has done, anyway Schindelmeiser made a point:


"Dass ist doch der Klassiker, davon lassen wir uns nicht unter Druck setzen. Da kommt ein Berater um die Ecke, der persönliche Interessen durchsetzen will. Aber so wie der sich das vorstellt, läuft es nicht", sagte Schindelmeiser gegenüber dem kicker sportmagazin.

[footyfan1]

This is true, but seriously, who WOULD be a truly equal replacement to Gomez?? Players of his calibre simply don't want to join us. And if they've been brought up here, they soon leave.

Maybe Gignac. But then again, I'd hardly expect us to actually sign him.


Dude, I said an ADEQUATE replacement. I didn't say an EQUAL replacement.

"Adequate", where I'm from, is not the same, but good enough. I think you can do better than Ba.

Ba has potential, yes, but going into the CL, you need someone PROVEN.


If we sign Ba i'll be pleased because i'll know we have at least one top striker for next year. He scores goals, has good technique and is young. No, he isn't Gomez, but who are we kidding, players like Gomez don't come to VfB (unless, perhaps, if they are Alexander Hleb. But i'm not optimistic anymore) and he's still a good player. I'd be happy to have him.

I'd be happy to see this deal get done.


I think you overrate Ba man. I'm not saying he sucks or anything like that. No way.

But I think you're a bit over-impressed because he nailed you guys for a hat trick this season.

I think you guys should take your time and see how the transfer market shakes up.

I think you can probably do better.

But I will also admit that Ba and Cacau would be a strike duo with MASSIVE potential.

Especially if you guys can get a half-decent creative midfielder behind them.........

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Players don't have agents who say to the press that they want to leave to somewhere if they don't want to leave to somewhere.

But whatever, you obviously won't see it that way. Hell, for all I know you could be right, i've got no insider information.

We'll see what happens.

[footyfan1]

I am sure, Ba is having the time of his life in las vegas, and has no idea what his dumb agent has done


I'm pretty sure an agent who wants to keep his job wouldn't make an announcement like this without consulting his client first.

BTW, they do have phones in Las Vegas. :rolleyes:

[berloha]

I'm pretty sure an agent who wants to keep his job wouldn't make an announcement like this without consulting his client first.


Dreamy and romantic thought. Agent's suck.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Dude, I said an ADEQUATE replacement. I didn't say an EQUAL replacement.

"Adequate", where I'm from, is not the same, but good enough. I think you can do better than Ba.

Ba has potential, yes, but going into the CL, you need someone PROVEN.





I think you overrate Ba man. I'm not saying he sucks or anything like that. No way.

But I think you're a bit over-impressed because he nailed you guys for a hat trick this season.

I think you guys should take your time and see how the transfer market shakes up.

I think you can probably do better.

But I will also admit that Ba and Cacau would be a strike duo with MASSIVE potential.

Especially if you guys can get a half-decent creative midfielder behind them.........

Nah, it's not because of the hattrick. Obviously that made an impression but i'm aware that he isn't the world's greatest finisher.

But he is good, imo one of those strikers who doesn't only play well by scoring. In games where he doesn't score, he still tends to put in a good performance from what i've seen.

Out of the players we've been linked with, I guess a few are better. Helmes - he doesn't want to come. Gignac - am 99% certain we could never get him. Love - heard the rumours but nothing concrete.

And then the next rumours are players like Voronin who would no help us in my opinion. So out of the strikers we've been rumoured with, he's the best one imo who I also can realistically see joining. But maybe we can do better. But one thing I don't want is to go all summer not getting a striker and then buying a Marica last-minute for a crazy amount only for him to play badly for two years. It would be nice to get a first big-name early on in the window.

Plus Ba would not take away all our budget, others would follow him still.

I don't know, if I heard now that Helmes or Gignac wanted to join, i'd say 'OK forget about Ba, let's go for these guys!' but i don't see that happening, and Ba is a good player.