Zak, gotta couple of questions for ya! How's Sipples broken arm healing and when is he scheduled to return? Will he be good to go when play resumes after the winter break or have to wait a while? Additionally Robles, from what I've gathered and from the 2 games I've actually seen, looks comfortable, confident, and like a #1 not a backup. Will Robles have a reasonable chance to retain the #1 shirt or is it Sipples when he comes back? Regardless I say it is a nice dilemma for a manager to have. Having seen both, they impress me, two different styles but similar results. If Sipple is the #1 choice I wonder if Robles has caught the eye of anyone.
Have not heard how Sippel's arm is healing yet. He is not scheduled to be back in training until the team goes to Cypress for winter break training on January 8, and that is best case scenario. While Robles has done well between the posts, the coach was saying he breathed a sigh of relief with Robles' first couple of performances, the job will go back to Sippel once he is ready. Robles has benefited immensely from training under Gerry Erhman. He signed a new contract until 2011 over the summer. Kaiserslautern is going to need a good backup, like Robles, for at least another year, especially if they get promoted. I could see him attracted some interested, but staying on at least another year.
Robles injured in training. Looks like he injured a muscle, but my German with medical terms is pretty suspect. He had to break off training. The coach is worried, Robles not as much. He feels he can play.
Kaiserslautern just beat direct rival for promotion Freiburg today 2-0. Not sure how Robles did or if he had alot to do, another clean sheet though.
A number of great saves throughout the game: Results This moves them into second place, only behind Mainz on goal differential.
I am trying to find the photo of a save he made on a corner late in the game. A perfect example of his unbelievable verticle. Got a hand on it above the crossbar while it is crossing in front of the goal.
It's been noted that once Sipple is healthy, Robles with slide back into the #2 role. Of course anything could happen as I haven't heard an update on his broken arm. That's not a slight on Robles. Sipple is good, real good in fact and a German youth international.. He's 20 and I could seem him breaking into the full national team at some point down the road. I'm hoping, fingers crossed, Robles has impressed enough to at least warrant a fight from Sipple or sparked some interest from other clubs.
id say the later is more likely, the Gladbach folks keep talking about how they need a new keeper, i wonder if thats plausible
Robles is named one of the best players of the match. Two local articles, first being a round up of the game with a couple quotes from Robles: Second being an opinion piece, that mentions how Robles has stepped up:
This is just me, but one of my big reasons/fascinations/desires for Yanks going Abroad and Yanks being Abroad is how it affects our national team. But when it comes to positions we are deep at (I think everyone would agree we are deepest at goalkeeper and defensive mid) - I don't get as excited. For instance, Luis Robles. Now as a Hispanic American, I'm proud that a Latino has gone overseas and is making a name for himself. But at the same time, he's a goalkeeper , and I do feel we are fairly deep here and not only that, but some of our best goalkeepers are young. So to see another young goalkeeper succeeding in Europe doesn't get me as excited as it would if it were a attacking or outside midfielder or a forward for instance. Is it just me or does anybody else feel like that. Again I'm not taking anything away from Robles and what he's managed to accomplish so far. Also, I know it's always better to have depth than not have it, it's just something to throw out there.
I hear what you are saying but this kid is really on the fast track (IMO) and I think is a good dark horse candidate for the 3rd GK in 2010 and 2014.
I think his chances of making the roster for 2010 are reliant upon either beating Sipple out or transferring to another club where he can get PT. Otherwise it will be difficult to beat out Hahnemann, Perkins, etc. if they stay in form and are consistent starters.
Agreed but I am also not enamored with Hahneman or our other options for the 3rd keeper spot (Perkins is it right now IMO).
Hahnemann is also 36 years old. I think Robles is like 26 (?). So he has age on his side. And I agree, if he can transfer to a bigger club to get more playing time, it would help him greatly. But, 1FCK are a big club, even though they are in the BL2. I am sure he is getting noticed somewhere.
And to matabala, he isn't really with Kaiserslautern II at the moment. He has been playing for the first team due to an injury to the number one goalkeeper, Tobias Sippel. Sippel will be returning at some point after the winter break, so it remains to be seen whether Robles will remain the starter or return to his backup role. And perhaps Zak can weigh in here...just how highly is Sippel reguarded? Being 20 years old and the starter at a large club like Kaiserslauten is a major achievement, even if they are currently in the Budesliga 2.
Future German national team player hands down. Better than Fromlowitz and a much better attitude. He trained as a baker, so you know he has good hands.