Leverkusen result

That was a real B team on the pitch yesterday. The defence line with Preuß (overpaid talent who was just bought to give Frankfurt money to avoid insolvency), Cris (not integrated yet, can't be a defence boss after just two games), Kleine (a 25 year old amateur who doesn't even have ten pro games in his career), Ojigwe (on good days he's over D2 level) is rather D2 than Champions League level. And the mistakes they did at all three goals were terrifically bad. The only positive aspects of the game are that Hörster saw the players he cannot rely on, that Simak and Franca were the best ones, and the fact that they did not get shot and improved in the second half after it looked like a disaster in the first. On Saturday there surely won't be more than five of yesterday's starters in the lineup

 

Thanks Olaf.

I didn't have a chance to see the game here. If this is the case Bayer have a lot of rebuilding to do over the next few seasons.

If Franca and Simak are looking good, at least we know we may be able to rely on them in the future, but it's too bad for Toppi that they didn't produce immediately.

I wonder in the off season if we're going to see a massive clear out of players who were here under Toppi, perhaps it'll give the new manager some funds with which to build for the future.

 

With Franca is is nothing uncommon - in the CL he had some good games and time and again in the BL you also have the impression that now he had his breakthrough, but then he collapses again in the next game. Simak already was best Leverkusen player in the first game after the break, but Toppi put him to the bench in the game though. I still think that Simak will make it in Leverkusen, but it might take some time - currently he's definitely better than Bastürk.

There won't be much movement in summer. I can very well imagine that there'll be a well known new coach even if they stay in the league, but no player contract expires except Kirsten's. Bastürk shall either sign a new contract or leave (as he'd be a free agent in the season after), but I doubt that there are many teams interested. I'm not sure about Zivkovic, Ramelow and Schneider's contracts, but I think they'd only let Zivkovic go (although it would be good for both sides to seperate from Ramelow). Otherwise only someone like Brdaric, who's always complaining about lacking playing time, but doesn't have a high standard of play might leave. Quite in contrast, the team is very young (except Kirsten the oldest players are 29) and they got a bright future once they got used to BL level.

 

You're right Olaf. The only true wasteland to me with Leverkusen is the midfield. There's no 'take charge' player in the centre of the park for the team. I mean contrary to the displays this season, I do think the defence will prove to be one of our better strengths in the future.

We just need the type of player who can change a game on his own in the middle. Once Ballack left, that was it for us. Ze Roberto was hard but we can eventually find a good player to replace him...

If we can get a strong presence in the midfield we'll improve greatly next season.

 

Actually already the B defence is playing and this rather was the C version. The A version is Juan, Nowotny, Lucio, Placente - all four are injured. Then they got Zivkovic, Cris, Ramelow and Sebescen as first replacements, but Zivkovic got a break, Cris is not yet familiar with Leverkusen, Ramelow in horrible shape and Sebescen is also injured. Preuß, Ojigwe and Kleine are nothing more than the C version - any other team would have massive problems with these injury problems as well. The C team are players 9-11 for the defence, which are no good players in any team of the world.

Because of the defence problem, the midfield is playing a way too defensive role to compensate it, but then they lose energy for the offence and the strikers are not provided enough - one of the basic problems. Hörster wants to solve it with a 4-1-4-1 formation: four men defence chain, one central defensive midfielder before, two midfielders in the half positions, two offensive midfielders on the wings and one striker. We'll see how it works, but one game surely is not enough to evaluate it.

 

What’s wrong with Lucio, and when will he be back? Another thing: Cris, Lucio, Juan, Franca – that’s four non-EU foreigners right there. Have the rules changed or will this cause problems in trying to find a lineup in the future.

As far as Bastürk goes, you really don’t think there is any interest in him? I saw him play some stunning soccer when I was in Leverkusen.

 

Re: Relegation Zone

Great, just great, 13 games to go and Leverkusen are starting to sweat. I can't say that we're relegation candidates as of yet. If Leverkusen are where they are now by the 26-27th game of the season, then I will be mightily worried.

 

Five non-EU foreigners can be dressed (Ojigwe is another one).

Bastürk will probably get offers, definitely from Turkey, but the big offers from big clubs with big cash (Arsenal, ManU as it was rumoured) won't be available.

 

I kind of wonder if it will depend on where Toppi ends up. Toppi has really been a mentor for Bastürk, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see them reunited in the future.

 

Lots of reading stuff for you, all taken from kicker and not exactly with a positive outlook:

BAYER’S CHOICE: SWITCH THE KEY OR RELEGATE

Only names, only frames. No content, no statements. The team of Bayer Leverkusen in February 2003 is just a picture of a Champions League participant, the personified decline of class and seriousness.

When Reiner Calmund and the rest of his crew are shattered by fears about the existence, when the crisis is discussed and search for solutions goes on, then there always remains the scary question: “Is there enough character in the team?” Bayer is lying on the execution bench, the well paid pros are swinging the axe. Those, who want to guide and now have wet pants regardless of the opponent, no matter how weak and limited he is. It is always going deeper down – Butt, Neuville, Simak, Schneider and the others are proving it week after week, game after game, day after day in the training.

Bayer Leverkusen will have to face relegation if the agents told their players that they will find a new Bundesliga team. The alternative: fight to the death for the employer, for the pitiable fans, the jobs of the “normal” employees. Really demanded too much?

Probably! Take Pascal Ojigwe. A nice guy, meanwhile also as pro player – if you neglect the two to three concentration mistakes each game – useful. This Pascal Ojigwe reacted on Tuesday on the sentence “If Mönchengladbach wins the postponed game, then they’ll pass you” astonished with the question “What? They have a game less than we do? How many points do they have?” Any questions regarding the topic professionalism and seriousness? Okay, let’s go on with Jan Simak. “The coaching change is good for me, because I had no chance under Toppmöller” is a sentence he told the Czech sports information service. This is said by someone, who was urgently wanted by Klaus Toppmöller before the season, and who is not an unimportant factor for firing the coach.

Incredible also is the way of treating the problems by the main responsible persons, the players. Usually spoilt they fall with the slightest wind blowing into their direction; those, who might help, are not available, Jens Nowotny or Lucio, also Ulf Kirsten. Oliver Neuville, Bernd Schneider, Jörg Butt, Carsten Ramelow – experienced players, all with a good character, nice guys, but all no team leaders. Nobody, who could ask himself: “Am I to blame for relegation?” And definitely nobody, who is drawing the right conclusion from it.

In the next difficult weeks this roster will determine, whether the Champions League finalist 2002 has to play in Burghausen in the next season. Everything depends on the question if the pros find a way out of their head-dilemma and switch the key. Also in this case Bayer Leverkusen would have to sort out without mercy.


BUTT: THE BITTER TRUTH

Clear, it was a mean joke about Jörg Butt in the BayArena last Tuesday. But alone the fact how much was laughed about it, says a lot about the reputation of the goalie under the Bayer cross. At a stadium entrance a placard was hanging and showing a game scene of Butt. “A montage!” was said. Why? “He saves a ball on this picture.”

You don’t have to laugh about it, but once again the goalie, who is weak since months, showed a horrible performance. […] “Insecure”, said team mates later on about Butt without wanting to attack him. An insecurity that costs lots of security of the defence.

Not a single bit better is what Butt told to the microphones after the game. The situation in the league is “critical”. Really? Against Newcastle there were “signs of tactical discipline in the defence”, and “some things have to be improved in the offence”. But if they base the next performances on this one, “then we can get a point in Hannover”. Wake up, Mr. Butt! Mainly on the pitch. The truth is different. Also if it is bitter.


BALITSCH: THE DEEP DECLINE

At least after the game Hanno Balitsch was right. “I have nothing to say”, said the 22 year old. Sure not the worst evaluation for someone, whose decline is even quicker than his rise at the beginning of the season, when the midfielder won a starting position and delivered solid work.

His kicker average rating in the last four games: 5.0. His performance in words: confuse in the game opening, weak in the tackling, lacking timing in the air, weak defence behaviour.

Also Klaus Toppmöller recognised it and took Balitsch – as one of his last actions – off the team to integrate Radoslav Kaluzny to the midfield. Against Newcastle the Polish with more routine and physical play had to watch the game from outside in the first 79 minutes.

Last year Balitsch already relegated with 1.FC Köln and now his nerves seem to be down. Reiner Calmund likes him “as he always gives everything” – but in his current shape he rather damages than helps the team…


FRANCA: THE TRACE OF HOPE

When you look at Franca you’ll see that he likes to laugh. But the smile is gone in Leverkusen for the Brazilian. As the season is not working as he imagined it, as it is not working for Bayer in general.

At least: Franca, with 8.5 M the most expensive transfer in Bayer’s club history, is playing much better after the winter break. In the first season half sometimes ridiculed and often put to the bench, he is now showing aggressiveness in one on one situations, high playing intelligence, he’s running a lot and he scores as against Newcastle. Not surprising at all as Franca was the only one who played on Champions League level.

“At the beginning of the season I only was injured”, says Franca, “I needed the off-season in Florida to get my body in shape. Nobody in Germany saw the true Franca yet. In Brazil I was playing full 90 minutes over years, I want to make this in Germany as well.”

This can only improve his scoring rate. So far the national player scored twice in Champions League and DFB Pokal, and once in the Bundesliga. Reiner Calmund: “The guy is really good now.” A trace of hope in dark times.



HÖRSTER’S BIG PROBLEM

It is not the job of his dreams. “I never felt too much attracted by pro soccer”, says Thomas Hörster. “I am doing it for the club!” With all consequences, also that he can’t continue coaching “his” reserves. […]

Chance and risk – Hörster did not think a lot about it. Not about the chance to become Bayer-hero when avoiding relegation or having to start back with the youth teams in case of relegating. He is concerned with other sorrows. “I got to find away to solve this blockade.” He recognised: “Basic aspects are missing.” Order, will to run, game intelligence, playing together – Hörster’s team forgot everything and now he’s got to bring it back. And among that he also has to care for the pros. He addressed the team: “Criticism is never personal, always constructive.” But he already doubts: “Do they get that?”

Thomas Hörster, Bayer’s veteran, is standing in front of a mountain full of problems, and he could not detect the solutions yet. He tries to influence the mood with changes, cancelled the training camp before the Newcastle game, sent Carsten Ramelow home and advised him not to come to the stadium. But how many of these measures can you do? Especially if the success has to come quickly. Cause: “I got little time, basically I got none.” He wants to use it today for analysing the games. “This won’t be a pleasure”. Hörster wants to master the challenges. He does not care what is happening afterwards, also that Bayer continues searching a sports director. Volker Finke was asked as well as Morten Olsen, but both did not want to work in this function. Otto Rehhagel is not out of the officials minds yet. Hörster does not care. His credo: “I got to do this thing, no matter how!”

 

This is worse than I could have imagined. I had no idea that things were this piss poor for Leverkusen. The lack of professionalism within the team is both disappointing and astonishing? Pascal and Simak are glaring examples of this in the article.

And poor Butt, I always fancied him a decent keeper, but it looks as if the choices are limited, as there seems not to be any decent back up keeper. It also sounds to me as if Hoster doesn't want the Leverkusen hot seat once the season is over regardless of relegeation or not, if he manages the club that long.

Things aren't looking well at all. Hopefully Hoster can do what he was brought in to do, instill discipline and a team ethic, and most important, win games.

 

He's well unfit to even play a proper game of first team football.