[Ethel The Frog]

The Dortmund Leverkusen game was broadcast here in the USA.

I was again impressed by Toppy's ability to field an entertaining team and make me wonder why I route for Dortmund.

Simak was great -- turns on a dime, either foot, okay off the ball -- invisible for a lot of the second half, but several flashes of brilliance in the first half -- and he made his briliant moves straight down the middle where Sammer likes to pack the team in with hard tackling defenders.

I do not think that Donovan can take Simak out of the starting lineup -- having watched the quakes play the same day as the Leverkusen game, I am more sure of this.

On Saturday's Quakes/DC game, Donovan played in a midfield and disrtibuting role. He did not seem comfortable with that role and I was not impressed with his moves off the ball -- he stood around too much and his through balls were not on the money. It may be that he had a bad day. Donovan had a few great plays towards the end, but could not beat the DC keeper.

In contrast, Simak was never standing around and he created some interesting situations, especially on the dribble. Simak did not get a goal though.

I know it is not a fair comparison -- only one game for each team. And the field at San Jose is so small that it is hard for Donovan to show his best moves. In contrast it looked like Simak had a lot of space to run around.

[Basti]

before Toppmoeller decided to buy Simak he is supposed to be the equivelant to Tomas Rosicky... ant they are both Czech

things are looding good for the Czech Rebublic

[Ethel The Frog]

Interesting. I had no idea that Simak was so talented. My impression is that Rosicky is better at creative passing, and Simak is better on the dribble.

I am interested to see how the Czechs do in the next European tournament. They also have Koller. I know nothing about their back line though.

[notebook]

Originally posted by Ethel The Frog
I do not think that Donovan can take Simak out of the starting lineup -- having watched the quakes play the same day as the Leverkusen game, I am more sure of this.

On Saturday's Quakes/DC game, Donovan played in a midfield and disrtibuting role. He did not seem comfortable with that role and I was not impressed with his moves off the ball -- he stood around too much and his through balls were not on the money. It may be that he had a bad day. Donovan had a few great plays towards the end, but could not beat the DC keeper.

What do you think Donovan's prospects would be at right midfielder? I think that would be his best shot at cracking a top lineup: he is fast, extremely fit, plays good defense, and is top notch at all the basic skills. He has only played the attacking midfielder role a few times and I don't think it is his strong suit, at least not yet.

[olafgb]

Simak is an entirely different player compared with Rosicky and Donovan.

Simak is rather playing offensive midfield, he is using his brilliant technical skills and always seeks the chance to finish himself. Probably he's the best goal scorer of these three.

Rosicky is rather central or even defensive midfielder. He is losing lots of his abilities if you order a defender to take care of him. His strength is to direct the game from the defence on - he is no brilliant scorer and is still having problems with physical play.

Donovan is rather a player like Neuville. Very good speed, excellent in a counter attack system and a very good assistant. Regarding scoring abilities I think he is someone who can score, but he's not the natural born finisher. I think he has to add some weight for playing in a top league, but that's easy to compensate.

If you're thinking of right midfielder in Leverkusen, then that's probably a position where he has no chance at all against Bernd Schneider. Left and offensive midfield or forward are the positions where he might find a spot.

[Ethel The Frog]

Thanks for the information Olafgb.

I have never thought of Rosicky as a defensive player. I will have to focus more on his defensive moves next time I watch a game (if I can stay awake). I have seen some very clever passing from Rosicky and felt that he fires up the offense when he is in the lineup. I have a kicker issue on the wall of my office with his picture saying "Von Mir werden immer Wunder erwartet". I have always thought of him as a creative player with unique vision and the technique to follow through on his ideas -- more of a Nakata or Valderama style player than a defender. (But of course, Dortmund is defense central). I agree that it is too easy to mark Rosicky out of the game.

I think Schneider has a solid spot at right wing for Toppy. I even read that he was up for Captain when Ramelow is not in the game.

Who is left wing now that Ze Roberto is gone? (Wrong way Roberto). On TV Basturk was listed at left wing, but I was not sure that he actually played that position -- people moved around so much I could not tell.

I do not see Donovan as an alternative to Neuville. In my eyes Neuville is a speed demon who gets past the offside trap and wins the footrace to the goal. I see Donovan as a finesse player -- creating chances in the last third through clever positioning and passing. I think Donovan is at his best in the last third and should not be placed at attacking midfielder. I know Donovan is fast, but have not seen him on many fast breaks. (Of course there are not many fast breaks to be had at Spartan stadium, unless you want to slam into a concrete wall).

[olafgb]

Originally posted by Ethel The Frog
I have a kicker issue on the wall of my office with his picture saying "Von Mir werden immer Wunder erwartet".

That's not very old, right before the season start I guess (or at least this off-season). Possible that this is true, but such a highly praised and paid player is always in the center of attraction. Until now I got to admit that I do not see him as the overwhelming player in Dortmund, though he of course has a good career ahead. Oddly his fellow Jan Koller is always underrated.

Who is left wing now that Ze Roberto is gone? (Wrong way Roberto). On TV Basturk was listed at left wing, but I was not sure that he actually played that position -- people moved around so much I could not tell.

That's really not easy to say. I expected Bierofka to play this part, but he hasn't been in the starting lineup yet. TV indeed listed Bastürk left, kicker had Simak on the left - probably they are changing the positions quite often. I can't say as I didn't see a live game of them this season.

[uniteo]

Right wing? No, no, no, no, no, okay he could play it, but LD has such a gift for making passes, especially on one touch, and has such a great first touch to be able to control and make a play in tight spaces that it would seem to me a waste of his abilities to put him out wide.

And as for your comment about "could not beat the DC keeper", let's not just let that go without giving credit to Rimando for making a truly phenomenal fingertip save on LD in the 2nd period of extra time...a shot created by LD getting the ball centrally, making a run to his left, and uncorking a brilliant, left-footed shot across the goal mouth that was headed for the far side netting. It didn't go in and I think it should be goal of the year (okay, that's exageration)...how can a player who makes shots like that, consistently, not be a 'finisher'?

Oh, and as for starting at BL, with the German Cup, Champion's League, and an entire Bundesliga campaign, no one player is going to monopolize that position.

[uniteo]

Oh yeah, for what it's worth, I'd rather have a player creating havoc at the end of a game than at the beginning.

[Brihodge]

Originally posted by olafgb

That's really not easy to say. I expected Bierofka to play this part, but he hasn't been in the starting lineup yet. TV indeed listed Bastürk left, kicker had Simak on the left - probably they are changing the positions quite often. I can't say as I didn't see a live game of them this season.

Olaf- to help you out a little. I was at the game Sat. Lev-Dortmund and here is my take on the Left midfielder situation. Suprisingly enough it was Placente who was playing left midfield, he would come back on defense a lot more than a normal midfielder but they were really playing more of a 3-5-2 with Placente as the midfielder, which is what enabled him to score the goal. He of course came back and played defense on corners and freekicks when Lucio and Juan went forward. Hope this helps, I thought it was a bit odd at the time, but with 4 talented defenders one has to play another position or they'll have to switch to a 4-4-2.