[footyfan1]

It is one week before the match, but I don't think it's too early to start talking about it.

Bayern has had a turbulent week with the sudden retirement of Sebastian Deisler and all the hoopla surrounding them and if they are going to make a big payment for a big-named replacement immediately.

In the past few weeks, they've also had Lucio go public with his unhappiness with the club and they released midfielder Ali Karimi to return to his former UAE club.

In comparison to what's happening in Munich, BVB's preparation has been quite boring.

Sure, we had the national headlines here in Germany right after BvM was fired, but since then, at least as far as the national press is concerned, Juergen Roeber has worked in relative peace and quiet.

There are nice articles about the training camp in Marbella at the Official BVB Site and the work Juergen Roeber has done not only trying to repair the morale of this team, but also getting them into better shape.

Most of you know that I was a staunch supporter of BvM, but even I have to admit that he did not keep the team in the shape that he should have. It also seems he trashed their morale too. Not as badly as Sammer did before he left, but yeah, BvM was guilty of it.

Anyhow, from helping with some of those articles and you readers will be able to point out the ones that got on the page without my approval or KC's approval , I have the impression that:

o Roeber has gotten some players back in good morale standing. Namely guys like Pienaar, Degen and Ricken. So, as far as I'm concerned, if these guys still suck this half of the season, they have no excuses. Especially Degen and Ricken. Pienaar is still being asked to play a position that's not his best.

o Roeber has really been working on their fitness. So much so, that I'm actually afraid that some of them may still be sore for the match next week.

o Roeber seems to be a true 'hands on' trainer. I think that is exactly what we need at this time.

o If there is one person who isn't happy with the decisions made it's Ebi Smolarek. And I don't blame Smolarek one bit. I don't remember if I posted it here, but I know I said on our e-mail list that I would not be surprised if the two guys on the team who have "BvM Written All Over Them" are somehow pushed out because Watzke wants this to be "his team". Those two guys are Smolarek and Amoah.

o Many think the big "winner" in the BVB lineup for the first half of the season was Kruska. I disagree. I think it was Amedick. By far.


The way things have looked at the site I think our starting lineup will look like this.

GK: Weidenfeller

RB: Degen

CB: Metzelder, Woerns

LB: Dede

Sweeper: Kehl (Kruska)

Left half mid: Kringe

Right half mid: Tinga

Central midfielder behind the strikers: Pienaar

Strikers: Frei, Valdez

[BayernWake]

Hmmm....the first game of the Rückrunde is always the hardest for me to predict. There's so much locker room turmoil at Bayern...but we looked pretty good against HSV yesterday. So I don't know what to think

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by BayernWake

Hmmm....the first game of the Rückrunde is always the hardest for me to predict. There's so much locker room turmoil at Bayern...but we looked pretty good against HSV yesterday. So I don't know what to think

A one legged girls team would look good against HSV right now.....

[footyfan1]

I'm not happy after reading how BVB fared at a mini-tournament in Duesseldorf this past weekend.

Seems we have the same old problem of not being able to put chances away.

I'll be honest. I told the guys over at the Bayern boards that Lucio and van Buyten might not have to get dirty.

Sorry, this team just isn't inspiring any confidence in me right now.

Hopefully, they can change that come Friday night. I'll be in my BVB gear cheering hard as usual, but I'm not expecting anything from them......

Sorry, that's just how I feel at the moment.

[BayernWake]

How has the BVB defense been this year?

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by BayernWake

How has the BVB defense been this year?

The defense has been pretty good considering the offense has rarely carried their weight so far this season.......

[footyfan1]

Judging by the lack of interest in this thread, I take it I'm not the only one less than confident about this match???

[MetroChile]

I am.
Sorry--been busy as of late.

In recent times (the games I've seen) we've never been played off the park by Bayern, so I guess that is not a bad sign. Then again, this is a new coach and his concepts hay not have been grasped yet.

Thanks for keeping us informed, footy!

Metro

[footyfan1]

Originally Posted by MetroChile

In recent times (the games I've seen) we've never been played off the park by Bayern, so I guess that is not a bad sign. Then again, this is a new coach and his concepts hay not have been grasped yet.

Metro

Very true. Hell, if Frei, Valdez and Smolarek had not shit their pants in front of the Bayern net in the first match of the season, we could have possibly come out of there with a point.

Let's see if these guys can finally shake this home jinx.

We'll see if they prove my thoughts wrong and show us that BvM was truly the main problem by himself........

[roxbury]

Sure..It will gonna be tuff game..

You never know ,first game of season_second half result..

But,

I say 3-2 BVB




iwa