ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - FC Bayern Munich

Posted by Susie Schaaf on 10/25/2011

Jupp Heynckes' €12.50 and a flip chart couldn't stop a Hannover 96 squad with the best home record in the Bundesliga. And, truth be told, if you're not a fan of Bayern Munich, it was one of the more entertaining matches in Germany so far this season.

This was my first time nervously pacing - not sitting - while watching a match this year. And the expletives and epithets coming out of my mouth were met with a small amount of consternation from my friendly neighbours. At least they couldn't understand most of what I was saying.

If I had one word to sum up the match, it would be: Unlucky. Philipp Lahm's clumsy poke at the back of the legs of Steve Cherundulo 23 minutes in? Unlucky. The subsequent penalty by Abdellaoue ending Manuel Neuer's Bundesliga 770 minute clean sheet streak? Unlucky. Christian Schultz getting a yellow for pushing Jerome Boateng, while Boateng received a red for pushing back? Unlucky. Christian Pander's shot taking a strange deflection off Gustavo for the second Hannover goal? Yeah, unlucky. Mario Gomez' three chances going awry? Uh huh. Kroos' screamer hitting the crossbar? Schweini knocking the upright? You know it, UNLUCKY.

Most importantly, running in to a Hannover 96 side, confident at home, who believed in themselves? Good on you, '96!

Next up is our DFB Pokal match at home against FC Ingolstadt. They currently are dwelling at the bottom of the 2. Bundesliga, and frankly, I don't see us losing this one. I couldn't even begin to imagine a starting XI for Bayern as I have a feeling Jupp Heynckes will give some players a much needed break.

The player who should definitely not be starting? Philipp Lahm. He's looking tired and slow in his last couple of matches. He is responsible for both of Neuer's streaks coming to an end. The Bayern captain needs a chance to put his feet up for 90 minutes, and I'd expect Contento to get the start. As far as the rest? Your guess is as good as mine.

On a final note, would you have imagined that our only losses of the year would have come against 'Gladbach and Hannover? Looking at the schedule, I'd bet you say no. But, I'll take a couple of glitches along the way of what, so far this season, has been an absolute pleasure to watch. And really, it's not like we lost 1-6 at home now, is it?

You can follow Susie on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/fussballsusie

Comments

Posted by Dan on 10/25/2011

Tell me about pacing, tell me about being unlucky. I knew one of these days would come where we would lose despite being the better and actually the dominant team. I agree Lahm definitely needs a break and next summer they need to buy someone that's good enough to give him the occasional break. No I don't trust Contento to do that, maybe in a few years but not now. He also needs to put his pride second to his responsibilities as a captain and tell the coach when he is tired. And right again, it's not like we lost 1-6 at home. LOL! Too funny.

Posted by Larry on 10/25/2011

You're right Susie...UNLUCKY! I'm still pissed.

Jermoe, I felt, was protecting his player and Christian Schultz was protecting his. 96's coach pleading with the officials to just play on was probably the best way to handle that situation. Now Jerome faces suspension.

I guess in the end, a match like this will just serve to realign focus and motivation for the upcoming matches. Not trying to look too far ahead (and past Nurnberg), but I think Napoli is going to walk into a buzzsaw at the Allianz.

Posted by grudnik on 10/25/2011

Unlucky, and stupid.

Lahm's foul on Cherundolo (who deserved a yellow for embellishing) was stupid, and Boateng not controlling himself was moronic. Everybody knows that the referees always see the retaliatory foul, and usually miss the intial one.

Pinto was an embarassment. He barely got touched on his foot, and went down, screaming, like somebody had just chopped off his leg. How he still gets the benefit of the doubt is baffling to me.

Posted by grudnik on 10/25/2011

The positive to take away from this game is that Bayern showed real heart, and, if you hadn't seen Boateng getting tossed, would have guessed that Bayern were playing a man up.

A stupid penalty and a lucky deflection own goal can happen. If they had given up like ManU did, i would have been concerned.

Posted by Ben on 10/25/2011

Looking at it this way, all goals that was scored against Bayern involved our players, be it an own goal, deflection goal or a penalty. But still, 4 goals against in all matches is still a very good defensive record. A certain team had more goals against in 1 HOME match than Bayern had in all matches.

Posted by Stevavo on 10/26/2011

Well Bayern played Man City off the park, and Man City annihilated man utd so atleast there was something for us to feel good about this weekend past.

Bayern were unlucky but were naive with the penalty and the Boateng sending off. Lahm has been unconvincing at LB esp when defending, which is a concern going forward. Also Kroos distribution from set pieces is poor-always short and not enough pace int he delivery, maybe Ribery needs to have more of a role there until Robben decides his holiday is over.

Posted by T on 10/26/2011

Why the swipe at ManUnite? No need for that. But it was funny, I give you that....

Posted by kaycee on 10/27/2011

Bayern and Man United are my favourite teams. So making fun of the other pains me,really. I think Bayern would win the league, in spite of the Hannover loss. Same way United will win theirs, in spite of the City annihiliation.

www.nigeriantalkative.com

Posted by kaycee on 10/27/2011

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Posted by kaycee on 10/27/2011

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Posted by Johannes Helgren on 10/27/2011

If Bayern and Man U are your favorite teams than I think you know why Bayern fans will always be mocking Man U's lows ;)

Posted by Susie on 10/27/2011

Just to clarify, I have a healthy amount of respect for Manchester United. However, I've never understood how anyone can be a supporter of two of the five biggest clubs in the world. Maybe that's just me....

Over 50 percent of my friends support MUFC. I will get my digs in where I can, as they all do the same to me. :)

Posted by cameron on 10/27/2011

I think Philipp Lahm's performance against Hannover should'nt be a concern. Its more just being exhausted so the game against Ingolstadt was much need rest becuase when he's fully rested, he's one of the best fullbacks in the world. Our core players are rested and im looking foreward to the Bavarian derby against Nurnberg

Posted by Dan on 10/27/2011

I guess the only thing that's really making me mad about the game is that 2 players do the same thing, yet one of them gets sent off while the other one gets to play on. It's simply crazy, it looks like the ref is trying to influence the game. I'm not excusing the loss because Bayern still could have/should have won the game. They played with 10 men as if they had 11 or more. It was just an unlucky game, that's it. It happens.

Posted by Ian on 10/28/2011

Bayern and Man Utd are your 2 favorite teams? Do you just support the rich teams? And then change clubs as they fall down the ladder? So sad. Good to see man city thrashing them, hopefully 1860 will one day do the same and reclaim the city of Munich.

Posted by Susie on 10/28/2011

Ian---

Not likely to happen.

Posted by Dan on 10/28/2011

Susie,

I can't say I'm not concerned about that as a Bayern fan (1860 defeating us). As you know they too have a mega rich sugar daddy Arab. I know UEFA has Financial Fair Play but we have yet to see how effective that's going to be. If they find a way around that then anything could happen. In other words if they find a way around that then we have a new City growing in our backyard.

Posted by DAN LEE on 10/28/2011

NO WORRIES GUYS , CHILL OUT , ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN IN OUR BACKYARD SINCE OUR HISTORY HAS AND WILL HAVE BALANCE THOSE RICH TEAMS THAT ALL OF THE SUDDEN COME OUT BEATING ANOTHER BIG TEAMS.

Posted by benjamin on 10/28/2011

hi susie,

you didn't answer my posts..remember, i said bayern would lose in hannover. anyways, bayern still looks great, i hope they go as far as possible!!!!!!!!!!
and i hope schwarz-gelb gives them a run for their money(does that even make sense???) !!!!!!!!!

HEJA BVB

Posted by Dan on 10/30/2011

No, benjamin, it makes no sense, schwarz-gelb, first of all, needs to stop embarrassing themselves, the rest of the league in CL and need to, most importantly, need to stop losing points that count in the 5 year UEFA coefficient. Now, I'm not Susie but I'll answer your prediction that Bayern would lose against Hannover. That was not a prediction, that was a lucky guess, based on anything and everything that one would reasonably consider in order to make an educated prediction, Bayern should have won. So simply saying Bayern is going to lose against this team or that team, you'll be right at least sometimes. Don't expect congratulations for that lucky guess on a Bayern blog.

Posted by benjamin on 10/30/2011

Dan, of course it was a guess. who can predict the outcome of a football game?

Somebody even called me delusional for saying that Bayern might lose in Hannover, but they are the best home team so far this season.
If i consider everything to make an "educated" prediction, Bayern would/should not lose a single Bundesliga game. but they do sometimes, and i called it for the Hannover game.
I enjoy practicing my English and was asked if i come back even if Bayern would win. I said i would come back and was hoping for a reply.

you could not post without taking a stab at my team, but let me tell you something. Yes, it was a horrible performance in Greece and i hope we can at least grab that 3rd spot to qualify for Europa League. That's the competition below Bayern's standard, although semi-finals in Russia can be brutal sometimes...................

HEJA BVB

Posted by benjamin on 10/30/2011

Oh, and i really wanted to know if that expression makes sense!!
What i was trying to say was that i hope dortmund stays close and makes it a tough race till the end of the season.

HEJA BVB

Posted by Susie on 10/30/2011

Ben---

It totally makes sense. And yes, I hope somebody can stay close, or the BL title starts to lose a bit of luster.

Question for you: Why do you think BvB is fairing so poorly in Europe? Of course, I'm not a fan... but I do like to see all the German squads do well.

Posted by Susie on 10/30/2011

Dan---

I did invite him to come back, win or lose. :)

And I'm happy to have any fans of German footie around here. After all, they don't really have any other outlet on this site.

Posted by benjamin on 10/30/2011

Susie, thanks for the reply!

To your question. I think it is a combination of different things. First of all, you have to look at each game alone. They should have won against Arsenal. Then they lost in France due to some horrible individual mistakes. The game in Greece was the worst i have seen in a long time.
This team has NO Champions League experience. I think the whole team has less than 30 CL games combined. Bayern more than 300. I think that is one BIG reason.
I think they started to feel the pressure against Piraeus and choked..
I am very confident that they will show 3 good games and get that 3rd spot, because they are getting better with every game!!

And Susie, i am pulling for every german team when they play internationally! I think it's cool that you do the same thing!

If Dan doesn't mind i will come back ;-)! I enjoy your posts and maybe a perspective from a non-Bayern fan will spice up the conversations here :-)

HEJA BVB

Posted by Dan on 10/30/2011

I never said I didn't like having fans of other clubs around here, especially German ones because I too pull for German teams when they play internationally. That's why I had to turn off my TV when I was watching Dortmund collapse in France, it was just too painful to watch. I also hate when Barca, Real, ManU fans find out I'm Bayern fan, when they tell me: oh they are only so good cause the rest of the league sucks and then a game happens like the one in France. Although I have to add all other German teams did win, whether in Europa League or CL.

Posted by grudnik on 10/31/2011

Susie and Benjamin,
You're not the only ones who support all German teams in European competition.

If Bayern isn't playing, I always hope for a win for Bundesliga teams. The Bundesliga gets no respect, especially in the US, and every win helps.

In fact, I take it even a step further. I root for 1860 to win, and get back in the BL. It doesn't matter that I've been a Bayern fan since I was a little kid (growing up during the era of Beckenbauer, Müller, Maier, Hoeness will have that effect on a kid), I want Munich to have two top-level teams.

Posted by Jeremy on 10/31/2011

I just wonder if Bayern have an unusual Achilles' Heel this year: playing on Sundays.

Sunday games: 0-0-2, -2 Goal Differential (GD), -1 Average Goal Differential (AGD)
Saturday games: 8-1-0, +29 GD, +3.22 AGD
Other: 6-1-0, +16 GD, +2.28 AGD

Posted by Susie on 10/31/2011

Jeremy---

You beat me to it. I was looking up those stats for my next blog. :)

Posted by ddddddd on 12/06/2011

What about champion league games that are on wednesday?

Posted by Roxanna on 01/18/2012

Well I guess I don't have to spend the weekend fiurging this one out!

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