Einmal Löwe – Immer Löwe / TSV 1860 München Official Thread 2010/2011 [R]

I'd like to be in Germany sometime this season.

 

Whoops - didn't see the new thread.

Do we have an idea of this season's first team lineup yet?

 

I do not completely dislike your Starting XI there, Keith.

Obviously there are some assumptions (Biero on health and Beda on staying, etc.)

But in reality, this is a club that can make some moves in the table. If there can be any sense of consistency (so long as it is not consistent in taking zero points), there is potential here.

I am trying not to free base the Kool Aid, but there are some pieces here.

 

The keys to this season:

• Health to key players
• Luck
• More money
• German High Court ruling in favor of 1860
• Luck
• Youth players stepping up
• A billionaire dies and leaves his money to 1860

 

We "may" hit 3 out of your 7 points... Any more than that and Sechzig could be nipping at the heels of the top three in the 2.BL.

 

Dude, the thing that may kill us -- which has killed us EVERY year since 2004 -- is the utter lack of depth. In year's past we have had a deep youth system on which to rely. No longer. If we are unlucky enough to blow through some of our key starters we are in deep, sodding trouble.

Here is what I think the line-up MAY be based on who we have so far. Mind you I have no clue what "system" Maurer will employ but given the notations on the 1860 website it appears they are going with a 4-4-2, having designated only 4 forwards (Lauth, Schaeffler, Cooper and Lushtaku). As always, our problems will be in central defense and up front.

[LINEUP-4-4-2]
Lauth, Savio, Halfar, Lovin, Ignjovski, Aigner, Holebas, Ghvinianidze, Buelow, Rukavina, Kiraly
[/LINEUP-4-4-2]

Center Midfield
I am not as worried about defensive midfield, wing defense or outside midfield. In defensive midfield we have Stahl who, IMHO, might actually beat out Lovin (if he does not get more aggressive) or Ludwig (if he does not start playing with more heart). I think Ignjovski, if he stays, will be a starter until he screws up. I cannot see anyone beating him out right now. I think the open position is up for grabs between Lovin, Stahl and Ludwig. Everyone knows that Lovin and Stahl are natural DMs and Ludwig prefers playing forward in a diamond 4 midfield arrangement. The BIG question is: "What will Maurer play?" Frankly, I don't think Loving is up to playing a lone DM right now and Stahl is too inexperienced to play that role effectively, especially given how lazy Ludwig has played of late. The wild cards are Uzoma and Halfar. Uzoma was unimpressive last year. Where does Halfar fit in? Is he a wing? An attacking midfielder? DM? Can he play in the double 6? Where will he play his best. Frankly I don't know. This will be interesting to see where he plays. Like Holebas, he may play out of position and become good at it. Or, like Ludwig, he may play out of position and suck at it.

Wing Midfield
This is the area of least concern for me as we have guys like Camdal, Kaiser, Biancucchi, Biero and now Savio. If Aigner and Halfar (assuming he plays outside left) have problems, I can see any of these guys stepping in and doing just fine. I don't know where Savio will end up either given he can play striker and MF. Since the 1860 depth chart has him listed as a midfielder I can only assume (for now) that is where Maurer wants to play him. We won't really know until the first few friendlies. Sadly, I think Biero is done. I think 1860 will carry him on the books for this season and will use him very, very sparingly. I hope he can come back and has a few years left, but the odds are against him.

Central Defense
Here, we are screwed. Unless mgmt gets at leat one more decent player we have ZERO depth. Mate is wanted by Lienen and, frankly, I think we should take the money and run. Alas, mgmt loves this guy so I highly doubt he leaves. The only depth we have here is Beda...that's it. No one else on the roster is a natural central defender. The loss of Felhi will be rough. Hopefully mgmt gets someone who has experience, is good in the air and not lazy.

Attack
With only Lauth, Schaeffler and Lushtaku healthy, you might see guys like Savio playing up front if Halfar and Aigner are truly playing on the wings. Heck, I would even try Biancucchi up front as an option to Lauth. I think Lushtaku won't see much playing time...he has simply done nothing to warrant it. Given Savio is on a one year loan and knowing how Stevic hates to have loan players on the bench, I think Maurer will get pressure to play Savio up front from Day One with Lauth. I think Schaeffler will be used as a late "Joker" all season, as will Cooper when he gets healthy again.

Anyway, I have no clue who will play where until Maurer begins to show his cards during friendlies. The last one on the weekend saw him play a 4-1-3-2 with Lovin in CDM behind Aigner-Ludwig-Biero in midfield. I like this formation to be honest...I think it fits our personnel and leaves less of a hole than the double-6 formation Lienen had tattooed on his chest.

Well, that's my thoughts for now. I am sure we will see more to discuss in the coming days.

 

Funny but you and I were almost the same on our formations and I did not even look at this before I posted. I left Biero out simply because I think they won't risk him too early in the season. Beda I left out simply because I think Stevic & Co. love Mate so much they will want him started. Maurer does not strike me as having the backbone to stand up to Stevic. Hope I am wrong and that Beda is the man to start. Also hope the double-6 goes out the window...we do not have ther personnel for it.

Damn, Keith....two eye-2-eye things we see so early in the season??

 

Well, Germany's run to the WM title is over, unfortunately.

So, now, we can turn our full focus on to Promotion 2011!

I am insane, I know. But I also know I am looking forward to the club season.

 

They went farther than I thought they would. The good news is that they will be well positioned for EM 2012. That team was very young and have proven that they can play well without Ballack. All they need is someone to take over up top for Klose.

Side Note: Poldi and Khedira were not good today. Oezil as well was flat.

In club news, Cooper was in and out of surgery in 45 mins so sounds like it may not have been all that bad. Let's hope.

 

Well said, Garry. I agree, finding a striker to replace Klose will be important.

Podolski and Khedira and Oezil were virtually invisible, but I think a lot of that was due to Spain's uncanny ability to control possession. Germany were running everywhere, trying to get and maintain possession.

Agreed on Cooper. That would be a solid boost.

 

Can Rukavina play central defense? I have seen Strobl's name come up in interviews so I assume he is going to get some time--probably at right back. (Maybe they just want to bring him up but why would they do that if he is not playing?)

Savio may be a preference at striker but I do not think Lauth has any guarantees right now. He will probably play but I cannot imagine any coach have too much patience with him if he is not working for position and/or scoring.

Edit my own post: Hofstetter and Schindler played right back today in the BlitzCup (which 1860 won!!) so maybe Strobl is already out of the running.

 

Not effectively. He is WAY too short.

Strobl and Ratei can play central defense and both have been with the U23 for years; Ratei being on his last year with the U23s unless they decide to keep him as one of their few over-age players, so he will HAVE to produce this season. I think the new guys brought in (Colak, Kurtovic) have been brought in to the U23s as possible central defenders.

Seems he was playing outside mid in the blitz games.

Results and formations for that blitz tournament are here.

 

Not surprised bu the Schaeffler thing...he is seend as a Kurz/Reuter "boy" and we know who Stevic treats them.

I am VERY surprised about Holebas given we have ZERO depth in that position. I wonder why 1860 is selling a player in a position where we have no depth. Makes not sense to me. I cannot fathom why the club would do that.

 

Loewen News

Not a ton out there but here are the latest rumblings:

• German Only: Rainer Maurer is insisting on German only during training sessions. He will only be speaking German and insists that the players all learn German and use it in training and during games. He is quoted as saying that Lovin and Biancucchi are picking it up just fine.
• Savio on Savio: Here is an interview with Nsereko where he talks about his travels, injuries (too many for such a young guy with not much playing time IMHO) and the fact Bayern "wanted" him. The funniest bit is in the comments section where a fan states his belief that with such a player he is looking forward to promotion; to which another fan writes, "Promotion? Hahahahahaha...and here comes another Ground Hogs Day". As an 1860 fan I have to agree I have felt like Bill Murray in that movie the past 6 years.
• Tschauner and Vaseline: What do the two have to do with each other? Well, Tschauner is feeling a bit ill-done by Stevic & Co. Seems Coventry City is interested in him, however, having let go of Michi Hoffmann and both young U23 keepers not being ready to step in should Kiraly get injured, Stevic is reluctant to let Tschauner go. What sucks for Philip is that Michi Hoffmann would have been MORE than capable of stepping in for another year or two if Kiraly got injured. What's more is that Michi would have been the PERFECT guy to help train up the two young keepers to take over one day. Oh well, I guess Stevic knows best.
• More on Holebas: Jose is gone and on his way to Athens. We got 900k for him. Clearly we needed the money to sell a player in a position we have ZERO back-up. The article notes that we only have Rukavina (who still may be up for sale) and Schwarz (who is not fully fit) as natural wing defenders. The article goes on to say that Sandro Kaiser and Tarek Camdal may need to be used to fill in either wing defensive roles. Also that ex-Hachinger Necat Aygun (an central defender) has received a contract for the U23s and is training with the pro team; and that youth talents Daniel Hofstetter and Christopher Schindler are also central defenders from the U23 team training with the big boys....none of which have enough experience to really give Maurer much comfort about his defensive depth.
• Schaeffler: Maurer confirms that "a change of air" may be needed for Schäffler and that he may go on a loan to Duisburg or Ingolstadt. This would leave 1860 with just Lauth, Savio, Lushtaku and Cooper up front. Young prospect Mathias Fetsch left for Braunschweig. Of course the press is not saying a thing about the fact our mgmt missed the chance to sign this kid and get money for him. More talent out the door without any money back in our pocket. This cannot continue.

Anyway, that's what's in the news today.

 

Re: Loewen News

Pass the bottle of Baerwurz.

 

Can't believe the fall from grace from Nsereko.....And to think that I really thought he would make it early on.

 

Perish the thought...

No kidding. What gets me is the injuries. The kid is what, 20? And he has had very few senior games (12) and yet two very big injuries. I am starting to wonder if he is not a Deisler want-to-be in disguise.