[footyfan1]

Time to forget the Derby debacle.

However, things don't look too much better for this match since we will be missing Frei and Tinga because both saw their fifth yellow cards of the season against Schalke and we will be missing Nelson Valdez because he injured his knee against Schalke.

Our strikers will probably be Smolarek, Amoah and Tyrala. If that's the case, that might be the shortest set of strikers the Bundesliga has ever seen......

[Gunning4Chelsea]

yup...
little off-topic - there's speculation that Ebi Smolarek might be leaving with BVM......HSV apparently would be welcoming BvM with open arms...any truth to this?

[Gunning4Chelsea]

Originally Posted by footyfan1

Time to forget the Derby debacle.

However, things don't look too much better for this match since we will be missing Frei and Tinga because both saw their fifth yellow cards of the season against Schalke and we will be missing Nelson Valdez because he injured his knee against Schalke.

Our strikers will probably be Smolarek, Amoah and Tyrala. If that's the case, that might be the shortest set of strikers the Bundesliga has ever seen......

I would be really happy if Tyrala got 65-70 min....the kid has a nice future....

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by Gunning4Chelsea

yup...
little off-topic - there's speculation that Ebi Smolarek might be leaving with BVM......HSV apparently would be welcoming BvM with open arms...any truth to this?

Not according to Michael Zorc. Zorc wonders where the rumors are coming from. But I guess no one told him that Smolarek is "concerned" for his spot because:

1) The man who brought him to Dortmund has been sacked.

2) BVB are openly seeking another starting-caliber striker.

3) Watzke seems to not "like" anything associated with BvM these days....


I think those concerns are warranted. However, I think BVB management, as f#cking usual, are barking up the wrong tree.

We should definitely get a new striker, but not with an eye on him replacing Smolarek. I think we need a guy who won't mind coming off the bench late in matches. One who isn't a f#cking midget like the rest and has a bit of Bundesliga or 2. Bundesliga experience.

I'm thinking of a replacment for Amoah, not Smolarek or Valdez. That and just getting at least one "bigger" striker on the roster.

Frei is our tallest strker and he's only 5' 9" for crying out loud!

However, in my opinion, BVB's first priorities during this winter break should be:

1) Find a new coach: Keeping BvM on isn't going to do any good. The team doesn't seem to be responding to thim. And if the team says they do want to play for BvM, remind them that their sorry asses are the ones who got him fired. If we are indeed waiting for Thomas von Heesen, try to hire Juergen Kohler or Horst Koeppel as interim coach until the end of the season. Bring Uwe Neuhaus back as interim co-trainer. Of course, that's if these guys want to be interim trainers.

2) Solve the offensive midfield problem: This cannot wait until the end of the season. This is a problem I think needs to be solved IMMEDIATELY. I would not get off the phone until I have a new creative offensive midfielder in Dortmund. If one cannot be found, decide to go with Sahin or Pienaar and live or die with the choice.

3) Find more striker help. As I mentioned above, more for off the bench than trying to replace Smolarek or Valdez. However, the guy should be able to start if the new coach finally gives Valdez that place on the bench he so richly deserves at the moment. I love the way he works his ass off for the team, but somewhere along the line, he needs to score goals. We didn't pay 4.5M Euros for a guy to just run around like a madman. We paid for goals.

As you see, I've said nothing about the Leverkusen match itself. With the way this team is playing, I expect the fans at the Westfalenstadion to seriously show the players how downright DISGUSTED they are with the player's "performances" of late.

If management doesn't take care of business during the winterbreak, I predict the second half of the season will long, ugly and painful for us BVB supporters.........

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by Gunning4Chelsea

I would be really happy if Tyrala got 65-70 min....the kid has a nice future....

I think he has a nice future as a winger or attacking central midfielder. He's too small to play striker in the Bundesliga. A gust of wind can move him off the ball.

I also think BVB has a way of severely over-hyping up and coming young talents.

Sebastian Tyrala is a very good player when he plays with those his age or below.

At the Bundesliga level, he's just another kid........

So far.

[footyfan1]

I guess there won't be much discussion about this match.

I can't see how anyone can be optimistic.......

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by Gunning4Chelsea

I would be really happy if Tyrala got 65-70 min....the kid has a nice future....

With the injuries and suspensions, it looks like we may go back to the 4-4-2 for this match with Tyrala and Smolarek starting up front.


That's a dream for you isn't it?

[Gunning4Chelsea]

Originally Posted by footyfan1

With the injuries and suspensions, it looks like we may go back to the 4-4-2 for this match with Tyrala and Smolarek starting up front.


That's a dream for you isn't it?

not really - when talking about bvb's chances against bayer....
as for Tyrala - i am not sold on him yet....full evaluation will come at the end of the season - leverkusen's back four are rather physical - which Tyrala will struggle with mightily (hopefully - there wont be any strong winds to knock off Tyrala off his feet)
i am expecting loads of through-balls into space
desperately need 3 pts here - and sadly I am not too positive that we'll get the result....

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by Gunning4Chelsea

not really - when talking about bvb's chances against bayer....

Same here.....

Originally Posted by Gunning4Chelsea

as for Tyrala - i am not sold on him yet....full evaluation will come at the end of the season - leverkusen's back four are rather physical - which Tyrala will struggle with mightily (hopefully - there wont be any strong winds to knock off Tyrala off his feet)
i am expecting loads of through-balls into space

I think BVB have overrated most of the young talent coming up. I find that unfair not only to us, but to the young players too.

Originally Posted by Gunning4Chelsea

desperately need 3 pts here - and sadly I am not too positive that we'll get the result....

Again, same here....... I just want his half of the season to be over with.

[Lewie]

1-0 Voronin