Excerpts of a kicker article: ‘The win [in Unterhaching] saved his job on a short term base as Reiner Calmund emphasises: “We won and first of all are happy about it, there are no discussions, we need calm.” After the trembling game in Unterhaching everything focuses on the road game in Bochum – Toppmöller’s next trial. Because: the ray of hope by reaching the semifinal is terrifically weak. An intact team would have played differently in this important cup game. But in this team you could not even see an improved performance against a D3 team. It is neither fitting in the defence, nor in the midfield or in the offence, everywhere are unexplainable deficits, which surely would have been punished in Bundesliga. Calmund is not lying when he says “The best would be to turn everything around with Toppmöller.” The performance in Unterhaching does not even nearly give hope for such a turning point. Fact is: Toppmöller’s contract has an expiring date – and this is, if not even earlier, the next loss in the Bundesliga, maybe on Saturday in Bochum. The Coach of the Year can only rescue his job with a winning streak now. As successor Thomas Hörster (46) is waiting. The former Bayer pro and current Coach of the Bayer reserves already watched the last loss against Dortmund. Hörster is known to be caring for discipline and a worker without compromises, and he kept the necessary distance to the pro-team – arguments that are speaking for an internal solution. Discipline and work without compromises seem to be bitterly necessary to avoid a further fall of the Champions League Finalist’
Won't be long before Toppi is gone, and it sounds like Horster is already getting ready. Olaf, what do you think?
While this might be more appropriate for YA, any thoughts on how Hoerster might view Donovan? Did he coach him, did they get along, etc.
In Donovan's mind "everyone hates me in Germany", so it probably doesn't matter what Horster thinks. I bet Horster could bring Landon a birthday cake, and sing happy birthday to him and Donovan would say "He only did that to confuse me and believe that they really want me to come back, but when I get back they'll have eaten all the cake and be singing something by the Toten Hosen" [or whatever that cool band is called - Dead Pants]
I think Bayer's management refuses to wake up until they land on a relegation rank. With a loss in Bochum Toppmöller's basically can't be saved anymore with then four straight losses and one win in the last eight games, but I'm not sure whether Calli & Co keep up with their attitude "we don't do what the public demands". Hörster deserves a chance, but I would give him two or three games to prove himself. If the team still does not improve, then they should hire someone from outside; if they collect enough points, then they still can give him a contract. Worst thing they could do is give him an immediate contract before they know his effect on the team. After all he's very much known in Leverkusen as he was their sweeper for very long years, but he never had a coaching job in the pro business.