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So, it's been a busy but good week-and-a-half for the squad, but a little chaotic around my house because of a hurricane which ultimately decided to skip us. Now I've got a pantry full of junk food and booze, and not a whole lot to do besides feast and type. Of course, mindful of the fact that I need to fit in to my dirndls in a couple of weeks for my annual odyssey to Munich for some matches - and a small beer festival you might have heard about.
I could write about the Champions League play-in matches versus Zurich, but, there's really not too much to say. Lots of missed opportunities in both matches... But, really after the first goal in the second match, you weren't going to expect too much more, were you? Controlling a 3-0 aggregate lead might not be terribly exciting, but the job was done.
The real pleasure came against Hamburg. And, for me, also a scare. I was in the Allianz last season when Bayern played Hamburg, surpassing Saturday's five-goal total by one. I was also there for the loss to Inter a few days later. So, to watch us go out and beat Hamburg to death gave me pause for the second leg against Zurich. All for naught... but still...
Saturday's match at Kaiserslautern saw Bayern take their rightful place at the top of the table, winning their last five matches in all competitions. (Does anyone remember the last time we were in first place? Yeah, that would be well over a year ago: May 2010.) Mario Gomez has been finding his form of late, scoring a hat trick. And it seems like Jupp Heynckes has figured out that Toni Kroos is not suited to the playmaker role, keeping Thomas Mueller there, despite the absence of the Flying Dutchman and starting Austrian David Alaba on the wing.
While neither Franck Ribery nor Mueller scored, both were absolute menaces to Kaiserslautern's defence. Bearing the brunt of it was Rodnei, responsible for both of 'Slautern's conceded penalties. Of note: Mueller's fine assist on Gomez's third goal.
Herr Heynckes must feel he has a plethora of talent at the back as Rafinha was sat for a second straight game with Jerome Boateng playing out of position on the wing. Boateng had another good match, although he tended to stay back a bit. He has often stated that he prefers to play in the middle, and he is better there; but it's nice to see there is a quality back-up for Rafinha's position. Keeping in mind that this is only the start of a very long season...
And after the shaky start of the first match, what a season it is shaping up to be! We are getting back to what we do best: To quote Charlie Sheen - Winning! Heading in to the international break, it's wonderful to be on top. And I'm very much looking forward to be heading over there while the mood is this high. Auf gehts!
A couple of unrelated notes: 1) Anyone get a chance to peep the new DFB kits? Away green kits are back! Yeah! I know what I'll be wearing next summer... 2) Upcoming blogs during the international break: Philipp's book and Champions League Group A preview.
You can follow Susie on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/fussballsusie
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Comments
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Posted by jacob on 08/29/2011
susie,
you're on the money, as usual. things are looking really good for the reds this year. for me, the telling thing is the shutout streak. under van gaal, even when bayern played a good game, we still gave up a goal or two. the defense, as we all know, was porous, and bayern shutouts were far and few between. with manuel in goal and our defensive upgrades, i think the team is looking really really sharp (though i don't get playing boateng out side, i think that's kind of pointless).
HOWEVER, the champions league draw, so ein pech! anybody who saw man city play this weekend knows that they're one of the top top top sides in europe. they looked as good as barça, manu, madrid, and bayern. villareal and napoli are going to be really tough too, especially in their stadiums. i am worried. i doubt this'll happen, but i think that we should shell out some money and bring in ONE more top attacker to give us another option in these big games, and to add cover if we have injuries.
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Posted by jacob on 08/29/2011
(cont.)
with olic injured, mario has no cover (pederson can't start a CL game! not enough quality), and we all know about rib/rob and injuries. one more top player up top would really sure things up for us, and give us another option, if we find ourselves level or down a goal in one of these CL matches and need to show something new. even if we can get through the group stage with our current squad (and i think we can and will), i don't think we've got the depth of the other top 5-8 sides. in the elimination rounds, i think that could be a problem, especially if any key players get injured. obviously, with the window closing in a couple days and with jupp saying explicitly that he likes the squad as is, it's not gonna happen. but i think we're just a tad short on quality after the first 11. juuuust a thought.
what do you think, susie? how do you think we match up against mercenary city?
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Posted by Johann on 08/29/2011
Great to see der FCB performing again. The hurricane decided not to miss me, and I just got my electricity back now... Fortunately Bayern played before it got here.
Jacob - The CL draw is a tough one but it just goes to show that Bayern really have to perform if they are going to take the trophy. City are definitely the most daunting opponent in the group, but one must also consider their inexperience and their defense-minded manager.
Both teams are not without their flaws, and I am looking forward to watching some quality matches.
Another advantage is the proximity of said matches. At least our boys don't have to travel deep into Eastern Europe this time around. Spain, Italy, and England are nice and close compared to Donetsk or Haifa.
I don't know if you are superstitious, Susie, but since I got inked Bayern are 5-0 with 12 goals scored and none conceded. If you get yours done soon we might well win the champions league in our own yard.
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Posted by Kody on 08/29/2011
Defensive minded manager shouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but let's say it is. City have scored 12 in 3 thus far. Attacking talent coming out of their ears.
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Posted by Johann on 08/29/2011
12 in 3 against Swansea, Bolton, and Tottenham, respectively. I wasn't putting them down, but Mancini started the season against Swansea with both de Jong and Barry playing, and City didn't score until they took de Jong off and brought on Aguerro. All due respect to Swansea and City, but how is Mancini going to line up on a big European night?
The games against City could go either way, and I'm hoping it's quality football we see.
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Posted by hansmus on 08/30/2011
Bayern didn't play well against kaiserslautern. There was no creativity in midfield. Schwini diidn't do anything. We only won because those two penalties when is all said and done were not really bad fouls at least second penalty should not have been called. The score of 3-0 for bayern looks like Bayern won easy but not. The game we played last week wont work against better teams we need more creativity in midfield and at least one more good player in midfield or attack there.
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Posted by Frank on 08/30/2011
The best thing that happened to us is getting put in a tough group where teams wont be sitting in the 18 with 10 men we can finally show our offensive power once we are give some more space... Man City will have a tough time containing Robbery their defense isnt really all that strong as for villareal they just lost 5-0 against barca which means we can easily beat villareal 7-0 ;) lol
btw I wish Bayern would have signed Cisse from Freiburg he would have been a great striker for Bayern and can score in almost any situation...
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Posted by Stefan on 08/31/2011
Next season I predict Bayern will buy Cisse and Shaquiri, watch this space. Hows the rumours of Ribery going to Chelsea? I love how arrogant epl journos and fans are, they are so ignorant and perceive Bayern as a lesser club, even read an arsenal fan saying that Arsenal should buy some of the Bayern players, as if they wd really leave. How abt they develop their own talent, then the england team wdnt be so rubbish!
Cant wait to see Bayern and Dortmund smack some epl ass!
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Posted by Frank on 08/31/2011
Yeah I don't understand the english and their image of Bayern. I'm just looking forward to the UEFA financial fair play to kick into full gear.
Ribery even will not go to Chelsea, he already cant stand the German weather he would hate the English weather even more lol.
I'm just happy that Bayern and most Bundesliga clubs don't buy the best foreign talents but actually invest in the youth system. No wonder why Germany is having so much success internationally. Soon the english clubs will be all over our german players, Dortmund declined a bid from Arsenal yesterday 40 million euros for Götze lol
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Posted by Shane on 08/31/2011
Yeah... definitely it's been a while since we were on top...
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Posted by jacob on 09/01/2011
yeah seriously i'm tired of the english press just assuming that we'll sell off our best players. regardless of how many times nerlinger/hoeness/etc say that bayern is not a selling club. and moreover, i'm disgusted by the business practices of the EPL. how many of the epl clubs run crippling debts that push them to the brink of financial ruin? how many epl clubs are owned by billionaires from other continents? compare that to the bundesliga clubs which are mostly financially sound, locally owned, better attended, not to mention that bundesliga matches have on average had the most goals per game of all the big leagues in europe for years and years on end. more interesting football and better club ethos! yeah!!!
but seriously, still, i wish bayern had brought in one more big attacking threat before the deadline! i am worried about man city's attacking prowess!
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Posted by Stefan on 09/02/2011
Jacob I completely agree with you, it is highly annoying
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Posted by Scott on 09/04/2011
Hi Susie, great post again. I've been a fan for a while now, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blogs. Any advice on how to get tickets? I just arrived in Munich three days ago, and don't speak much German... yet. But i'm dying to make it to a game, and from what I can make out, you basically have to apply for tickets and then hope to the all mighty that there are some available ones? So if you have any suggestions on how to get tickets easier, and affordably, I would love to hear some advice. By the way, I went to the Bayern Megastore yesterday in the Allianz; that place is heaven.
Tschus
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Just... YAY! Your blog's not blocked at work for a change. Great post, Susie.
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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 |
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