Berhalter & Cottbus [Multiple R]

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by numerista, Apr 16, 2006.

  1. numerista

    numerista New Member

    Mar 21, 2004
    On the 13th, Berhalter went 90 in a 2-0 win over Hansa Rostock. His team Cottbus is in third place (top three go up, top of 2.Bundesliga table below).

    Code:
    1.(1.)	A.Aachen 	29  	19 	4 	6 	 56:29  	+27 	61
    2.(2.) 	VfL Bochum 	29  	17 	8 	4 	 49:21  	+28 	59
    3.(3.) 	COTTBUS 	30  	15 	8 	7 	 45:29  	+16 	53
    -----------
    4.(4.) 	Greuther Fürth 	29  	13 	8 	8 	 46:38  	+8 	47
    5.(5.) 	Karlsruher SC 	30  	13 	8 	9 	 43:38  	+5 	47
    6.(6.) 	SC Freiburg 	29  	13 	6 	10 	 35:30  	+5 	45
    7.(7.) 	Hansa Rostock 	30  	13 	4 	13 	 41:40  	+1 	43
    In the second half of today's games, Greuther Furth trail 1-0 while Freiburg are drawn 0-0, so Cottbus may have a six point lead with four rounds to play. A week from Monday they're away to Greuther Furth, then they finish up with three opponents in the bottom third of the table.
     
  2. PaulGascoigne

    PaulGascoigne Member+

    Feb 5, 2001
    Aotearoa/NZ
    Looks like if they win or draw their next game they're about as good as in. That will be good to see GB up there again. He's a great success story. Never considered on one of our "golden boys" but doing as well as almost anyone abroad over the last several years on a consistent basis, barring the facial injury. A nice Bundesliga player who isn't quite good enough to make the US roster (not his fault he's at our deepest field position)--who would have thought it a few years ago?

    Go Gregg!
     
  3. LittleMaradona

    Feb 25, 2001
    What evidence do you have that he is not good enough for the US roster? Are you basing this on his play against Germany, his age? Do you watch his club games in the B2?
     
  4. Martin Fischer

    Martin Fischer Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Kampala. Uganda
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Making that call based on the Germany game is perfectly appropriate for a BS poster. I am sure that Arena has more information, but I am not sure that more information is going to change the decision.
     
  5. tab5g

    tab5g Member+

    May 17, 2002
    and what is the decision that Bruce has made/will make?
     
  6. CanuckFan

    CanuckFan Member

    Dec 13, 1999
    Calgary
    Club:
    FC Energie Cottbus
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    It does indeed look pretty good for Energie Cottbus to advance. I am hoping that will be the case as it will be nice to see two North Americans anchor the back line of a Bundesliga 1 team as Berhalter and Canadian Kevin McKenna are the centre backs, not to mention having an American as captain.
     
  7. CanuckFan

    CanuckFan Member

    Dec 13, 1999
    Calgary
    Club:
    FC Energie Cottbus
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Energie Cottbus manage a draw yesterday with Berhalter scoring on a 2nd half PK to tie Greuther Fuerth. With 3 games to go, Cottbus are up by 6 pts on Greuther Fuerth, the 4th place team, so promotion is very likely now. They could clinch with a win next week as their goal difference is pretty solid compared to GF.
     
  8. The Wanderer2

    The Wanderer2 New Member

    Jan 15, 2005
    B2 is no better than MLS, just a different style of play.
     
  9. scaryice

    scaryice Member

    Jan 25, 2001
    Great result for Berhalter and Cottbus.
     
  10. lmorin

    lmorin Member+

    Mar 29, 2000
    New Hampshire
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I saw this game on German tv. It was miserable soccer--at the level of low MLS. Tons of head balls, poor receiving, too many passes off target and few passing sequences of any duration. Pace was also slow. I have no expectations of good things from Berhalter. He is generally solid, but... Nevertheless, it was a PK taken by him that was nicely struck, hard, on the ground to lower right corner that tied the game and provided promotion certainty.
     
  11. AGF Aarhus

    AGF Aarhus Member

    Union Berlin
    Apr 7, 2001
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    All season long Cottbus have played what the local media derides as 'English kick and run football'. Essentially they (often times the keeper, in fact) boots the ball as far up field as possible, they try to get a flick on, and someone shoots. It's not always pretty to watch, but sometimes it's effective.

    As for Gregg, from what I've seen this season he can be inconsistant at times. His last game before the winter break was simply awful, but other times he's been the steadying force in the defence. To be honest, I think the greatest attribute he brings to the team is leadership and experience (and it's a team with a fair number of odd personalities) rather than any particular skill.

    Is that enough to get him on the WC squad? I don't know. It will make him a great coach one day, though.
     
  12. ohk4

    ohk4 Member

    Jun 22, 2003
    agreed, but this was the biggest game of the year for both teams and neither did so well dealing with the pressure, a pressure that is not known in the MLS.
    As posted above Cottbus is not the prettiest of teams to watch, but Fürth generally plays a very attractive brand of soccer. Just not last Monday on national TV in a must-win situation.
     
  13. numerista

    numerista New Member

    Mar 21, 2004
    Thanks to you and others for the info ... does this suggest that Cottbus would be easy targets in the Bundesliga, or would they buy some players who can possess the ball and take some pressure off their defense? Also, what role would you expect Berhalter to have? He started for them in the Bundesliga in 2002/03, but that's when he was a younger player (and they were pretty bad).
     
  14. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Considering Gregg has worn the captain's armband for two seasons, I highly doubt they would dump him or relegate him to the bench. He's been too important to their success over the years to be cast away after promotion. While the Bundesliga is considerably better and faster than their counterparts in the 2nd division, Gregg the few times he's played Bundesliga clubs hasn't been out of his element. He can play and still be effective club wise, internationally, that maybe a different story. Cottbus will have some money coming to them as a result of promotion and like most they will wisely have to spend it. A holding mid, like you suggested, may be a wise choice. Cottbus is a very blue-collar town, and probably hard to draw players to, so I figure they'd go for some younger current Bundesliga players looking to make an impact.
     
  15. AGF Aarhus

    AGF Aarhus Member

    Union Berlin
    Apr 7, 2001
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Cottbus has a huge mountain to climb next season. Just this morning my paper had an article about how much smaller their budget will be in comparison to other clubs. I'm sure they will try to get some new players in (midfield and goalkeeper have to be top priorities, Piplica is comically awful), but they will not break the bank.

    One thing that helps is that the stadium renovation is complete, so they will be able to get more income at the gate than they were when they were in the Bundesliga before. The trouble is that with Hertha Berlin so close, they are never going to draw many fans. Cottbus is a small and very poor city.

    As for Gregg, this is pure speculation, but I would expect him to play next season and hang it up. One final season in the Bundesliga would be a nice way to end his career. Just speculation, though. I'm not sure they'd force him to the bench with more pressing issues elsewhere on the field.
     
  16. ohk4

    ohk4 Member

    Jun 22, 2003
    this is what Gregg had to say on it last week. But negotians haven't yet started. Aarhus, if you see anything in the paper along those lines, feeel free to pass it along. Cheers, Harris

     
  17. scaryice

    scaryice Member

    Jan 25, 2001
  18. scaryice

    scaryice Member

    Jan 25, 2001
    And while I'm at it, here's the rankings for Keller and Dolo.

    Cherundolo: 42nd best defender, 113th overall

    Keller: 2nd best goalkeeper, 3rd overall

    (all the keepers seem to be really high-rated, in both leagues)
     
  19. AGF Aarhus

    AGF Aarhus Member

    Union Berlin
    Apr 7, 2001
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    I've never put much faith the Kicker ratings, but that's just one man's opinion.

    If 18 clubs have 4 starting defenders each (I know, I'm generalising), that's 72 defenders. Anyone who watches the BL regularly knows that dolo is not in the bottom half if the BL defender pool.

    As for McKenna, I'd be interested to know how much those high ratings have to do with the time early in the season when he was knocking goals in as a striker.
     
  20. LittleMaradona

    Feb 25, 2001
    I agree. IMHO, Dolo should be the 41st ranked defender.
     
  21. CanuckFan

    CanuckFan Member

    Dec 13, 1999
    Calgary
    Club:
    FC Energie Cottbus
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Player of the week honours never HURT rankings dude.
     
  22. CanuckFan

    CanuckFan Member

    Dec 13, 1999
    Calgary
    Club:
    FC Energie Cottbus
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Kick off in 5 minutes for Energie Cottbus. A win today means promotion after 3 years in the Bundesliga 2.
    Live ticker available here (German only).

    http://www.fcenergie.de/
     

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