The 2013-2014 Football Thread

[twietee]

Kroos has said zip, Bayern have said he isn't going, Manchester United have an interest - this season/next, or don't have an interest - they are clear on that. So Kroos will be at Bayern unless he says he wants to leave and the Club see it as a favour to the player; I think that's how they work - twietee, takao, Cox Orange?

Cheers,
OW

chances are good; ~75% at least

My gut says: "Pep wants him to stay, Kroos wants to play for Pep but wants more money - which he deserves in some twisted logic compared to the other big dogs. Officials, other than Pep, don't rate him that much to pay him top €€€. Hope he leaves. Notoriously underrated imo (although notoriously overrated by himself )."

 

[Fizzoid]

Kroos has said zip, Bayern have said he isn't going, Manchester United have an interest - this season/next, or don't have an interest - they are clear on that. So Kroos will be at Bayern unless he says he wants to leave and the Club see it as a favour to the player; I think that's how they work - twietee, takao, Cox Orange?

Cheers,
OW

You're getting the idea!

What's your real name?

 

[oscillatewildly]

Eliza, though some say it's Mud and others call me Lightning.

 

[mojolicious]

Seems Moyes has already passed the first interview for the Celtic job

No mention of a Glasgow kiss, sadly.

 

[takao]

i not sure about a Kroos transfer either ... the "under/overrated" comment by twietee wildly is spot on ... but wasn't he put out on a loan to Leverkusen while LVG was at the helm ?

Müller was much more a LVG favorite ("Müller spielt immer") who has been put on the bench more often by Pep Guardiola who favors the passing midfielders with the superb touch. But i can't see Bayern selling him ... ever.

 

[twietee]

Well, 75% being a wee bit high...they'll wait til after the wc anyway.

 

[Cox Orange]

I, too think, Kroos will stay

I thought I read/heard something that seemd to make clear that he actually wants more money and would like to stay at Bayern and Bayern wants him.

unless he says he wants to leave and the Club see it as a favour to the player

If my impression/memory is correct Bayern is known to care for their players, right? (even after their career)


On women's CL Finale:

Tyresö leads 2:0 since 28' by Brazils Martha (alone against 4 defenders!) and the 30th by a combination of two US players and the spanish national team player Bouquete.
The funny thing is, they read like an All-Star team and they are bankrupt (Hence the nickname "Real Tyresö", I learned). The state pays them currently and they are in fear to loose their license and will be set to the 3rd league.
46th minute Wolfsburg 1:2

First 20 minutes were a bit boring, though. But it got good from there after.

PS for Lord Blackadder: US national team has set coach Sermani on vacation and the former (2012) interims coach has the helmet now, again. They planned to get Tyresö's coach as a replacement (a Swede).

PPS: 52nd minute, 5th chance in 2nd half for Wolfsburg and 2nd goal, 2:2 now.

Edit: 3 minutes after I logged out, Tyresö went 3:2.
Wolfsburg won 4:3, though. They changed to 4-4-2 for the last 7 minutes.

In the end this match was really good to watch.

 

[mojolicious]

they read like an All-Star team and they are bankrupt (Hence the nickname "Real Tyresö", I learned)

Heh. Haven't they got a training ground they can sell?

 

[Kariya]

You guys are probably right about Kroos. Just many 'sources' saying a deal had been 'agreed'.

But its probably fluff.

 

[Cox Orange]

Heh. Haven't they got a training ground they can sell?

Hehe.

One additional information though. Even with those expensive players, they went down to 8th of the 1st league this season (Swedish football ladies league has 12 places, same as German). They were 1st last season, having same number of points as FC Malmö, but had the better goal difference. (FC Malmö is now renamed LdB Rosengarden, because the sponsor has changed - no money loss involved here -, but hey, there can be worse than being named after Ibrahimowitschs' hometown as a swedish team ).

Marta btw did cost 15.000EUR (I can't speak of swedish clubs, but the top three German clubs have 1-2mio. EUR to work with, per year (69.000EUR of that is money from TV).

--------
Did someone see the Samsung "Galaxy 11" commercial? Götze with Ronaldo. Nice idea.

 

[Fizzoid]

If my impression/memory is correct Bayern is known to care for their players, right? (even after their career)

I expect poor Yaya will be giving them a call then!

 

[oscillatewildly]

You guys are probably right about Kroos. Just many 'sources' saying a deal had been 'agreed'.

But its probably fluff.

The best papers are around 2 to 3 out of 10 and the rags about 1 to 2, there is a lot of fluff - papers to sell/click revenue. On Kroos, he has said he is staying.

Edit:

PSG giving UEFA the finger - GBP/Euro 50m for David Luiz? Luke Shaw to Chelsea?


Cheers,
OW

 

[Cox Orange]

Takao, may I emlpoy your trustful expertise?

Today, 24th, til 23:59 o'clock, I will have to set my list of the final 23 going to Brazil for the tip game.

Bender is injured. ZDF suggested that this means, that Kramer will come with them definitely. (Neuer and Lahm arrived today, though still a bit injured, said to be ok in two weeks.)

What do you think will the final list look like? (or others think?)

I expect poor Yaya will be giving them a call then!

Ok, there are cases...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Landon Donovan is not going to be in the USA's squad for the World Cup. Big move by Klinsmann and he's taking a lot of heat for it at the moment.

 

[Cox Orange]

Landon Donovan is not going to be in the USA's squad for the World Cup. Big move by Klinsmann and he's taking a lot of heat for it at the moment.

Would you say it was a right decision? The numbers speak for Donovan, I heard on TV.

 

[Kariya]

QPR win their playoff final with a classic sucker punch performance, and thus return to the EPL.

Looking forward to images of 'Arry driving out of a training ground on a cold January 31st night again.

Tony Fernandes set to have £120m injected into his club.

Now then, will Loic Remy return to QPR or still move to either Liverpool or Arsenal as rumoured.

 

[takao]

Takao, may I emlpoy your trustful expertise?

Today, 24th, til 23:59 o'clock, I will have to set my list of the final 23 going to Brazil for the tip game.

Bender is injured. ZDF suggested that this means, that Kramer will come with them definitely. (Neuer and Lahm arrived today, though still a bit injured, said to be ok in two weeks.)

What do you think will the final list look like? (or others think?)

puhhh difficult choices ... with all the injuries Germany sure moves dow the favorite lists

afaik Meyer, Goretzka and Jansen aren't currently in the south tyrolean training camp and are on a "call list" so those are unlikely to go,

The keepers (neuer, weidengeller, Zieler) and the strikers (Klose, Volland) are set in stone IMHO

for the defenders i think Mustafi will stay at home unless there is some injury... he showed promise but had only a single game with the other players ... a no go for a central defender

Hummels is a guarenteed starter, the other in the line will be Mertesacker or Boateng, Höwedes the most likely 4th backup for the central position since he also can play a defensive right back. (Here Löw could perhaps gamble and take Ginther instead since he can play central back or defensive midfielder, but i think that's unlikely)

on the left it will be Schmelzer and Durm as his backup ... both are used to work with Hummels and the most likely player in midfield ahead of them (Reus)
on the right Lahm and Grosskreutz (with Höwedes as additional cover should Lahm play midfield)

Defensive midfield positions:Schweinsteiger, Khedira (if he is fit), Kramer(who covers crazy distances .. every single game)... Löw will very likely take Lahm in the midfield instead of playing Ginter IMHO so he's another to be dropped

Attacking Midfielders: Reus: guaranteed starter IMHO,
Müller: the lucky charm,
Özil, Götze: can create magic, unthinkable to to leave them behind,
Podolski: might not really fit in the squad,not in his best form, but he is hugely important in terms of squad spirit and he is a good tournament player/scorer
Kroos: the best central midfield passer and best long distance shot

That leave Schürrle and Draxler....
Schürrle is a one trick pony on the left wing, but he is a perfect substitution joker in case of playing on the counter attack

Draxler: absolutely out of form, unless a miracle happens in south tyrol ... IMHO he shouldn't be on the squad but i'm not sure Löw will send another schalke player home, he is young and showed in the past that he can deliver in cup tournaments

personally i would have taken max meyer (or even Sebastian Rudy over Ginter)

those are my guesses but i guess we will see at least 2-3 surprises

 

[Kariya]

Ronaldo really being nerfed in this match. Has been completely anonymous.

Athletico doing a job on Real thus far. The energy levels are just ridiculous. Considering the squad depth and number of games played.

EDIT: ...and alas they ran out of gas.

EDIT2: And with that 2013/2014 club football comes to an end. A season where money still had a big say in swaying titles, but passion & belief also had convincing arguments.

Bring on the WC

 

[Cox Orange]

@ takao:

Thank you very, very much!!!

I had troubles registering for the tip game and succeeded 5 Minutes before it closed. Puh!
But there is good news, they changed the rules, it is not 23, but now only 11 players to select. Much easier.
One had to put the names in a pitch. A bit strange, it was: 2-2-1-2-2-1. Heh, do they expect Löw to play 4-1-4-1? Stupid supermarket management people.

What I didn't get first is, that one can also tip all matches. Which I did now. I set the goals for Germany so, that they just get through the group. I didn't calculate it, though, but did close wins.

On the injury situation. After I posted, I watched WM-Extra on ARD with Klose and Löw and later after the CL finale heard Bierhoff speak.
Interestingly Löw said he sees no problem for Neuer, but absolutely can't say, if Lahm will be fit, since he did not train with the ball and he doesn't know when he can start with the ball.
Bierhoff said, that Lahm will definately be fine, but isn't sure Neuer will be ok.
Interesting.

I wonder, if having send Mustafi to the press conference, means, that he will have a better chance of not going home.

Klose said, he had talked to Italian players, that were in South America lately and they said they didn't know where to take the air to breathe after 20min. Not a good sign for european teams, it sounds.

On that Lidl tip game site, Nadine Angerer comments on the several groups, btw.


Edit: some more gossip. Klinsmann's son made fun of Donovan not being nominated, which forced Klinsmann to a reaction.
Großkreutz was caught peeing against a hotel wall (he was in the media a few months ago because a fan claimed he had thrown a Döner on him). Seems media has started campaigning against Großkreutz after they have praised him.

 

[Tilpots]

Landon Donovan is not going to be in the USA's squad for the World Cup. Big move by Klinsmann and he's taking a lot of heat for it at the moment.

Would you say it was a right decision? The numbers speak for Donovan, I heard on TV.

I'm definitely giving Klinsmann the benefit of the doubt on this one. He's got young, hungry players and an internationally experienced leader in Dempsey. Donovan just took a 4 month vacation and has always carried a fair amount of baggage with him wherever he goes. I think he's convinced these kids they have a chance to move past the group stage. Dempsey's on board, but I'm guessing Donovan didn't share the same enthusiasm. Klinsmann's staking his US career on it, too, so he's putting his money where his mouth is.


Happy to see Bale get that game winner today. He struggled otherwise...

 

[Happybunny]

And with that 2013/2014 club football comes to an end. A season where money still had a big say in swaying titles, but passion & belief also had convincing arguments.

It is the end of this seasons club football in Europe.

But what an end, a better advertisement for football you couldn't get. Fantastic game, supporters who really did come together in the spirit of sport. In the end the better team did win.

But as a neutral I really would have liked Athletico to have won.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

At the end of the day, Real fans will forget that Ronaldo and Bale were not the decisive figures that the scoreline suggest they were. Ricky Lambert or Grant Holt would have put away more of Bale's chances than Bale himself managed, and Ronnie's posturing after the penalty was simply nauseating.

Real stumbled over the line against a team with vastly inferior resources but nobody will remember how much they struggled. It wasn't a great match in terms of quality; rather it was all about drama and story lines.

Real barely deserve that win, and there is only one reason they won it: Angel di Maria.

Donovan: I think his inclusion would have made the squad stronger on paper, but Klinsmann is thinking to the future and I'm still in board. Even if we finish last I the group in don't think Klinsmann should be fired, as many USA fans are suggesting.

 

[jsolares]

At the end of the day, Real fans will forget that Ronaldo and Bale were not the decisive figures that the scoreline suggest they were. Ricky Lambert or Grant Holt would have put away more of Bale's chances than Bale himself managed, and Ronnie's posturing after the penalty was simply nauseating.

Real stumbled over the line against a team with vastly inferior resources but nobody will remember how much they struggled. It wasn't a great match in terms of quality; rather it was all about drama and story lines.

Real barely deserve that win, and there is only one reason they won it: Angel di Maria.

When you're up against a team that defends really well like Atletico you're going to struggle, Barça had the League in their hands and couldn't manage a win, Real in la Liga only managed a point on two matches, they had the fewest goals against in la liga and the champions, i think they hadn't allowed a goal in the final 15 mins of a game in the champions until ramos goal.

They truly ran out of gas, losing like that has got to sting, and worse they'll probably get dismantled. I wonder if Costa is already Chelsea's player and who they'll get to replace him if so.

I'm really happy for La Decima , CR7 wasn't 100%, and maybe even if he was Atletico has bottled up him quite well before, Di Maria was the best player by far.

Donovan: I think his inclusion would have made the squad stronger on paper, but Klinsmann is thinking to the future and I'm still in board. Even if we finish last I the group in don't think Klinsmann should be fired, as many USA fans are suggesting.

I think he looks chubby (compared to his younger days mind you) perhaps he's not on his best form, i don't see USA making it out of group play with or without donovan, heck i don't think any CONCACAF team will make it. but that'll only make it sweeter for their supporters if they do.

And we're only a couple of weeks away, i really don't see a clear favorite to win it though.

 

[oscillatewildly]

The first half of the Champions League final was like the Championship play-off final, Derby v QPR, dull. The real game was the League One play-off final; Leyton Orient v Rotherham United.

jsolares; La Liga and the Champions League - do Real and Atletico supporters see it as at least Barcelona didn't win, or does their rivalry trump all?

Kariya; Harry Redknapp - I tend to think of this character and his tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEyRVWpSYoo

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

When you're up against a team that defends really well like Atletico you're going to struggle, Barça had the League in their hands and couldn't manage a win, Real in la Liga only managed a point on two matches, they had the fewest goals against in la liga and the champions, i think they hadn't allowed a goal in the final 15 mins of a game in the champions until ramos goal.

They truly ran out of gas, losing like that has got to sting, and worse they'll probably get dismantled. I wonder if Costa is already Chelsea's player and who they'll get to replace him if so.

It all came down to pure luck and a bit of skill. extremely fine margins but as soon as Ramos scored all the Atleti players thought "This is ********, Real ALWAYS get have it their own way in the end". And so it proved. Real ground out a win, it was not a vintage performance but for overdog teams used to winning all the time it will do. All will be forgotten except the scoreline.

Di Maria should be the hero but it's all about Bale and Ronnie.

II think he looks chubby (compared to his younger days mind you) perhaps he's not on his best form, i don't see USA making it out of group play with or without donovan, heck i don't think any CONCACAF team will make it. but that'll only make it sweeter for their supporters if they do.

And we're only a couple of weeks away, i really don't see a clear favorite to win it though.

I don't care what other USA supporters say, the draw will have a lot more to do with our fortunes than Donovan's presence or absence in the squad. We drew Germany and Portugal, two teams who are much better than us on paper, and Ghana, who always knock us out of the World Cup. Landon was there the last two times Ghana knocked us out, as a matter of fact. Portugal and Ghana are teams we should be looking to beat. They are good but not great, and on our day we can defeat them.

But I hope nobody gives us a chance in hell, because that takes all the pressure off - especially for the younger players. Klinsmann should stay regardless of the outcome in Brazil.

I am not optimistic, I think a number of our key players are a bit off-form, but the USA are a squad that wins through teamwork rather than individual brilliance so we always have a chance. We can play well in the heat and the team will be fit.