[footyfan1]

I didn't know whether to make this a part of the Gladbach v. BVB thread, the Injury Thread or to make a new one.

I decided to make a new one. TOLH or DF, if you guys think it fits in one of the other two, please correct my error.


Now, with Valdez' injury, Ebi Smolarek gets a new chance to prove he should be playing regularly.

Check that. He plays regularly now, he gets a chance to prove he should be STARTING.

Most of you have seen how I've slammed Smolarek's lack of performance since the first half of last season. I even called for him to be sold during this past off-season to help pay for Valdez and Frei.

I still stand by that. However, I also said during that time that if Smolarek finds that scoring touch again, I'd be happy about that too.

Now, we need him to find it. We need him to make "Gunning4Chelsea" right and to play so well that even when Valdez is healed, BvM keeps Valdez on the bench.

Not that I want to see Valdez on the bench.

I am happy with Valdez's play although he hasn't scored a Bundesliga goal. I never thought I'd see another offensive player I would think works as hard for the team as Jan Koller did, but Nelson Valdez does.

Right now, we need goals from strikers. In four matches this season, BVB only has four goals scored by BVB players. Two by defenders (Amedick & Woerns), one by a midfielder (Kringe) and only one from a striker (Frei).

I want to see Ebi Smolarek take this chance and show the attitude Artur Wichniarek showed this past Saturday for Bielefeld. Wichniarek only scored one goal, but he was a thorn in the side of the Bayern defense the entire day. That's what we're going to need from Smolarek while Valdez is out. Especially in Gladbach this Friday as they are going to want to appease their fans after getting their asses handed to them in Aachen this past weekend.

Ebi Smolarek had a goal disallowed in the HSV match for offside. It was a good call. However, except for another offside call against him about a minute or so later, I don't recall seeing much of him.

Ebi Smolarek has a new chance to prove himself. Whether it is to take Valdez' spot or to show potential new clubs that he's still got what it takes to be an effective striker in the Bundesliga.

No more bitching. He's got the chance he and his fans wanted for him to prove himself again.

I hope he doesn't waste it.........

[HypoLuxa]

I'll go along with you on this. However, I'm not holding my breath. It'll be interesting how HE takes it. Does he grab the opportunity with both hands and make the selection decisions difficult when Nelson gets back, or does he just float along...This should show his true character. Last year he was thrown into a difficult situation and for the first part he responded quite well. let's hope he can duplicate that...

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by HypoLuxa

I'll go along with you on this. However, I'm not holding my breath. It'll be interesting how HE takes it. Does he grab the opportunity with both hands and make the selection decisions difficult when Nelson gets back, or does he just float along...This should show his true character. Last year he was thrown into a difficult situation and for the first part he responded quite well. let's hope he can duplicate that...

I think he can score some goals. Especially against the likes of Gladbach, whose defense is sucking badly this season. But yes, I wouldn't advise anyone to hold their breath on this one.

If Smolarek doesn't come through, we'll probably see Amachaibou or Tyrala. Maybe even Senesie.......

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Originally Posted by footyfan1

I want to see Ebi Smolarek take this chance and show the attitude Artur Wichniarek showed this past Saturday for Bielefeld. Wichniarek only scored one goal, but he was a thorn in the side of the Bayern defense the entire day. That's what we're going to need from Smolarek while Valdez is out. Especially in Gladbach this Friday as they are going to want to appease their fans after getting their asses handed to them in Aachen this past weekend.

As a Hertha fan I find this highly amusing to say the least

W.R.T. Smolarek, his disallowed goal was a good goal, he showed good confidence there. I think he can still do a job for you guys and I think he'll be okay. Frei doesn't seem to have his shooting boots as of right now, but maybe a little bit more time for him, he's probably a bit tired due to the WM.

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by The Old Lady Hertha

As a Hertha fan I find this highly amusing to say the least

Laugh if you like. Wichinarek showed the attitude we haven't seen out of Smolarek in over a year. He was out to prove van Heesen wrong for not playing him.

Originally Posted by The Old Lady Hertha

W.R.T. Smolarek, his disallowed goal was a good goal, he showed good confidence there. I think he can still do a job for you guys and I think he'll be okay. Frei doesn't seem to have his shooting boots as of right now, but maybe a little bit more time for him, he's probably a bit tired due to the WM.

I think Frei isn't used to Bundesliga defenses. I'm not buying this "tired from the World Cup" shit. Valdez was at the World Cup too and he wasn't "tired". Klose went further than Frei and he hasn't been "tired". Frei has to get used to a tougher league.

He'll do it, but don't feed me excuses. He's just getting stopped right now. This is what I was talking about before we got him when I said that for the most part, leading French scorers don't do much when they move to tougher leagues.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

mmmh you're probably right, but he does look a bit sluggish.

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by The Old Lady Hertha

mmmh you're probably right, but he does look a bit sluggish.

Getting stopped will do that to a player.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Originally Posted by footyfan1

Getting stopped will do that to a player.

Hehe...

Maybe that shows that we are better than the French League (minus Lyon of course)

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by The Old Lady Hertha

Hehe...

Maybe that shows that we are better than the French League (minus Lyon of course)

From top to bottom, I'd say so. And I said it all summer.

[KUBI_nu11]

Originally Posted by footyfan1

This is what I was talking about before we got him when I said that for the most part, leading French scorers don't do much when they move to tougher leagues.

Well what about Drogba, Henry, Trezeguet just to mention a few?

But you are right Frei needs to get use to Bundesliga even if he should have scored 3 goals right now. (1 post against Bayern Munich and one against Stuttgart)

I am confident that he will start scoring soon you will see

It will be interesting to see if Smolarek can come back to the top...