|
|
 |
|
So, my intention was to come home from work today and write about Bayern’s Champions League draw (Juventus, Bordeaux, Haifa - not bad, and you‘ll have more on that from me later), and then write again about our (can I say…?) crappy start to the Bundesliga season. The first assignment a bit less gloomy and depressing than the second.
However, a few hours ago, after I was madly texting footie-friends for the Champions League draw results, I snuck outside work and called one of my best buds. (I will probably get in trouble for that sentence.)
“So, Group A’s not bad”, I venture, “At least AC Milan got handed Real Madrid - Just as long as it wasn’t us.”
“Juventus and Bordeaux, though?”, he says, “Neither are a walk in the park.”
I concur, then he drops the bomb:
“Robben’s flown to Bayern for a medical.”
I love my job, but would’ve killed (or, at least, maimed) for computer access at that point.
Arjen Robben. The ueber-talented-oft-injured-ex-Chelsea-soon-to-be-ex-Real-shiny-bald-Dutch midfielder! One of the four possible Dutchmen that we might have gotten out of Madrid during the summer Ribery transfer saga. We get him on the somewhat-cheap - around 25 million Euro. And his talent is undeniable, it’s his fitness that’s in question.
And, speaking of questions - here‘s some more: Does Louis van Gaal abandon his diamond-shaped midfield to start a more-traditional middle four with Franck Ribery and Robben on the wings? Or: Does Bayern give up Ribery to Chelsea for Bosingwa plus cash and install Robben in the playmaker’s spot at the top of the diamond? And: Where does Mark Van Bommel, the Bayern team captain, fit in when he’s healthy again? Finally: Who do you sit? Pranjic? Altintop? Schweinsteiger? Tymoschuk?
Perhaps the most burning, pressing question is: Which combination of rock stars gets us three points on Saturday? Inquiring minds want to know.
Comments
 |
Posted by Jman on 08/28/2009
i think with robben bayern gave up on getting a playmaker and instead rely on wingers but we need central defender,rightback and a keeper still
|
Posted by Moofo on 08/28/2009
way to go bayern... good signing!
|
Posted by Berto on 08/28/2009
Bayern just bought one of the finest, if not THE best, left wingers in the game, their gain, Real's lost, stupid spanish capital, they obviously didn't know what they're doing selling Robben. Bayern should not fail with Ribery on the opposite flank, that's for sure, when they aren't injured that is.
|
Posted by Alfonso M on 08/28/2009
Problem is that this was most likely a transfer on the terms "We give you him now, you give us that guy later" Him being Robben and that guy being Ribery. For all of Abrahimovich and Chelsea's wanting to sign Ribery he has always said neither he nor his wife want to go to England. So its either Barca or Madrid and i think we all know how this will end up. The only thing to decide is if Bayern will sell Ribery now, in the winter transfer period or next summer. But i think the Ribery to Madrid for about 20 million Euros is basically a done deal that has only to be confirmed.
|
Posted by Gus on 08/28/2009
You made the front page! WOOOT!!!
|
Posted by Susie Schaaf on 08/29/2009
@jman
But, with Basti running up the front... we wouldn't be relying so much on the wings... And, I totally disagree with the keeper part. No one was ever going to be able to take over without being in a shadow. Not to say that Rensing will be legendary, but I think he might end up being rather admirable.
|
Posted by Susie Schaaf on 08/29/2009
@ berto
And there's the rub...
|
Posted by ray on 08/29/2009
Despite his talents, Robben is a player you can't rely on to build a team around. His physical problems are permanent.However, he's a good addition to Bayern.
|
Posted by sid on 08/29/2009
pity you bayern..i really do.from the bottom of my heart
|
Posted by JAMEEL on 08/29/2009
Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a waste of money? Robben for 25 million Euro? No, no, no.
|
Posted by tunde on 08/29/2009
For bayern, good signing. Dutch connection and it will now give room for real madrid to also bring in ribery in the winter. a plus for both club
|
Posted by tunde on 08/29/2009
For bayern, good signing. Dutch connection and it will now give room for real madrid to also bring in ribery in the winter. a plus for both club
|
Posted by Nirvaan Dhanrajh on 08/29/2009
Arjen Robben is a phenomenal player!
Fantastic signing for Bayern! 20 goals from winger position, watch for it!
|
Posted by kurfi on 08/29/2009
Good player for bayern, but get hold on frank because he is the ace..........
|
Posted by Tom on 08/29/2009
Robben and Ribery played phenomenal today against Wolfsburg. I have to say the tandem is prolly the 2 best wingers right now playing together at bayern.
This duo changes the dynamics of Bayern a lot and Bayern will be a big threat in the upcoming CL. Whats scarry it was only their first game together, what a joy it was watching the perform i the field together. Go Bayern
|
Posted by nelson on 08/29/2009
Robben is great, Real Madrid did not appreciate his talent. I think this move is great, as a Barcelona fan, Robben was the one I was actually more afraid of then all these other so called "supperstars". My money is on Bayers now.
|
Posted by jakerds on 08/29/2009
real madrid screwed up big time by letting go of sneijder and robben. i think sneijder was a great anchor and provider to the forwards and robben has extreme talent and speed. Im curious as to how they plan on filling those gaps. Ronaldo will be a winger, but I feel Robben works harder, and dives less. Kaka will probably play attacking mid or some position that gives him freedom behind the forwards. That leaves Diarra or gago like that to play a holding midfield and I dont think they are all that great yet. And their defense is frail. Ramos is the fault of so many goals whenn he is out of position. Henry tore him apart last year, and he isnt even so quick anymore. Barca will repeat no doubt about it. Unless Real can put up 5 goals a game, and Van Nilsteroy and Raul are too old to produce like that.
|
Posted by Caging on 08/30/2009
Alittle Off-Topic: Judging by Real's first game the holding midfielders will be Lassana Diarra and Xabi Alonso. Alonso was really good dictating the pace of the game with the passing rythem. Gago can't do that. Gago would most likley be a back-up to Lass Diarra.
Back to Bayern: Very good signing already paying dividends. I wish my team LFC had the budget to buy him. Unfortunatley our current situation dictates we sell to buy. The only weak side of Bayern is the central midfield for this season. And this will be exposed by teams that play possesion and/or creative passing football from the centre in the CL this year. Notably seen in last season's CL. But thats my opinion and mine only. The defence is still good and so is the excellent flank-attack with the little wizards Ribery and Robben. And you will see these two interchanging flanks and floating into the centre. Maybe if Snijder joined Bayern than I would be of a differing opinion towards the midfield.
|
Posted by aryo on 08/30/2009
good signing, good first impression.. but i still thought bayern needed a center back and a right back, pranjic and braafheidt arent good enough.. we should sign mertesacker (to be nationalistic) or whoever, bruno alves, luisao, cant think of who would be available, but maybe friedrich, rafinha maybe... bosingwa is a must i think, we surely need a right back, lahm is to isolated in that position (strangely enough) hes one of the best left backs around, thus shouldnt be played out of position. fritz even could be a possibility, metzelder used to be an option i thought, but he doesnt play regularly for madrid so maybe not such a good signing anymore..
|
Posted by Chino V on 08/30/2009
Its a good signing for bayern,but the truth is when a player of his calibur is surplus for the greatest club in the world,then ofcourse they are going to sell him or even sell him early so that they can get a good player in exchange later.
|
Posted by mike on 08/30/2009
Robben was the most dangerous player that Madrid had and they forced him out. Now they have a team full of massive egos and they got rid of the one player that could gel them together (sneijder).
As for Bayern, I think if they were to sell Ribery to RM in the end, they should ask for van der vaart plus cash. Van der vaart is an incredibly underrated player and he has lots of experience playing with the likes of Robben, v Bommel, and even braafheid from the dutch national team.
|
Posted by Yago on 08/31/2009
Sneijder the glue that could gel them together? Wait, what? A guy that played 5 good games in 2 years, with no specific ties to the club and already known in all the clubs and discos of Madrid since his divorce? Yeah, sure. It's funny to play armchair-coach, I know, but you should actually watch some RM games first. Good player, but without a place in the team... Kaká, Granero and Guti all play (and play better) in his best position. Regarding Robben... great player and good signing for Bayern but too injury prone. Last year was fit for less than 60% of the season games. He simply can't stand playing much more than 45 minutes without the risk of injury going through the roof. And too selfish. So 25M for a 2n half guy... while Pellegrini doesn't need nor play with pure wingers, all in all not a bad deal. I will miss him, though, he was electric and a game-changer coming from the bench
|
Posted by Josh on 08/31/2009
he's going to make a difference for bayern!!!
Posted by saheed olajode on 08/31/2009
| |
Post your comment |
|
|
|
|
|
About
Susie Schaaf is a footie-obsessed German-American with a Brazilian passport. She promises to be completely biased whilst eliciting as many chuckles from you as she can. When she’s not writing, you can find her pouring pints at her local or on an airplane to anywhere. If you’d like to swear at or praise her, she can be reached at susie.schaaf@gmail.com |
Categories
Recent Posts
Archives
|
RSS feed