It would be schadenfreude to write these Germans off
Bayern's 5-0 win proves they are champions league contenders, in spite of Jurgen Klinnsman...
As the Liverpool squad warmed down in the Bernabeu last night following another excellent away victory in the competition which defines Rafael Benitez as a manager, people’s thoughts inevitably turned to the post match interview following the latest set of rumours that have arisen about his future. The source of this constant speculation can be traced back just over a year ago, when the clubs two bumbling American owners let slip that they had considered Jurgen Klinnsman as an insurance policy in the event that Benitez might walk away from the club.
While Europe waited in baited breath for Rafa’s take on the matter, Klinnsman himself must have been revelling in what was an excellent away display against an admittedly poor Sporting Lisbon side. Bayern defeated Sporting 5-0, with goals coming from Franck Ribery (2), Luca Toni (2) and Miroslav Klose. The talk of the office in my place of work has been about the 4 English teams and Barcelona as potential winners, but the idea of Bayern as potential champions has on the whole been laughed off. Anyone tempted to play down their chances would do well to remember the old adage – never write off the Germans.
It is a fair point that Bayern have been poor in the Bundesliga this year. They currently sit in 4th place, 4 points behind leaders Hamburg and also chasing surprise package TSG Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin. It is also no exaggeration to say that the Munich public have not taken to Klinnsmans methods. I myself recently wrote in a blog post that he risks being consigned to the list of managers to impress at an international tournament and fall away. No amount of column inches and opinion spouting however can take away from the fact that Bayern Munich are in possession of what is an extremely tasty team.
The talisman of course, is one Franck Ribery. Ribery is the reigning Bundesliga player of the season, following a superlative season last year which saw him score a hatful of goals. It is a measure of how far the Bundesliga has fallen from the European consciousness that he was not being talked about in the same breath as Ronaldo, Messi et al, as he is undoubtedly in the same class as the aforementioned. Ribery also appears to have settled extremely well in Munich, taking to the German culture like a fish in water, and the Bayern fans have reciprocated, showing their appreciation for the Gallic flair and excitement that the former Marseille man brings to the table.
Bayern’s strike force may not be the paceiest, but it is one that can certainly get goals. Luca Toni is much maligned on these shores following a disastrous Euro 2008 championship with Italy, but those who mock his exploits with the national side should take a look at his goal scoring records for Bayern first. Toni scored 24 goals in 31 games in the league last season, and a good deal more in Bayern’s UEFA cup run to the semi finals, where they were surprisingly halted by the talents of Andrei Arshavin and Zenit St Petersburg. Miroslav Klose provides to foil to the more powerful Toni, and his record of 9 goals and 5 assists in the league so far this season illustrates that he is much more than the pure goals corer he is perceived as by fans of the premiership.
A silky and solid defensive partnership of the Rio Ferdinand esque Lucio and the rugged Argentinian Martin Demichelis is complimented at full back by the marauding Philipp Lahm and one of either the Italian Massimo Oddo, or German prospect Christian Lell. Although the clubs record of 30 goals conceded in 21 games is not very good, this is a defence that can step up to the plate and deliver on any given day, and the likes of Lucio in particular are extremely suited to the possession based nature of the champions league.
The other midfield mainstays of the team are the talented but inconsistent Bastian Schweinsteiger, the evergreen Ze Roberto and the reassuring presence of Mark van Bommel in front of the defence. Ze Roberto continues to belie his age providing the guile in the centre of midfield to complement the steel of van Bommel, and it is easy to forget that he has been all the way to the champions league final before as part of the excellent Bayer Leverkusen side who lost to that unforgettable Zinedine Zidane volley in 2002.
The question remains as to exactly why this extremely talented side appear to have been written off. It is common consensus that any champions league winning side has a talisman that the side is built around, be it Ronaldo in 2008, Kaka in 2007, Ronaldinho in 2006 or Gerrard in 2005. Franck Ribery has all the qualities to be that player for Bayern, and is only likely to come into even better form in the second half of the season following a reasonably serious injury he suffered in the summer. The champions league will provide an escape that this Bayern side undoubtedly need from their league form, and I would wager that no one would fancy playing them in the quarter finals. It could well prove to be schadenfreude for the side involved.
As the Liverpool squad warmed down in the Bernabeu last night following another excellent away victory in the competition which defines Rafael Benitez as a manager, people’s thoughts inevitably turned to the post match interview following the latest set of rumours that have arisen about his future. The source of this constant speculation can be traced back just over a year ago, when the clubs two bumbling American owners let slip that they had considered Jurgen Klinnsman as an insurance policy in the event that Benitez might walk away from the club.
While Europe waited in baited breath for Rafa’s take on the matter, Klinnsman himself must have been revelling in what was an excellent away display against an admittedly poor Sporting Lisbon side. Bayern defeated Sporting 5-0, with goals coming from Franck Ribery (2), Luca Toni (2) and Miroslav Klose. The talk of the office in my place of work has been about the 4 English teams and Barcelona as potential winners, but the idea of Bayern as potential champions has on the whole been laughed off. Anyone tempted to play down their chances would do well to remember the old adage – never write off the Germans.
It is a fair point that Bayern have been poor in the Bundesliga this year. They currently sit in 4th place, 4 points behind leaders Hamburg and also chasing surprise package TSG Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin. It is also no exaggeration to say that the Munich public have not taken to Klinnsmans methods. I myself recently wrote in a blog post that he risks being consigned to the list of managers to impress at an international tournament and fall away. No amount of column inches and opinion spouting however can take away from the fact that Bayern Munich are in possession of what is an extremely tasty team.
The talisman of course, is one Franck Ribery. Ribery is the reigning Bundesliga player of the season, following a superlative season last year which saw him score a hatful of goals. It is a measure of how far the Bundesliga has fallen from the European consciousness that he was not being talked about in the same breath as Ronaldo, Messi et al, as he is undoubtedly in the same class as the aforementioned. Ribery also appears to have settled extremely well in Munich, taking to the German culture like a fish in water, and the Bayern fans have reciprocated, showing their appreciation for the Gallic flair and excitement that the former Marseille man brings to the table.
Bayern’s strike force may not be the paceiest, but it is one that can certainly get goals. Luca Toni is much maligned on these shores following a disastrous Euro 2008 championship with Italy, but those who mock his exploits with the national side should take a look at his goal scoring records for Bayern first. Toni scored 24 goals in 31 games in the league last season, and a good deal more in Bayern’s UEFA cup run to the semi finals, where they were surprisingly halted by the talents of Andrei Arshavin and Zenit St Petersburg. Miroslav Klose provides to foil to the more powerful Toni, and his record of 9 goals and 5 assists in the league so far this season illustrates that he is much more than the pure goals corer he is perceived as by fans of the premiership.
A silky and solid defensive partnership of the Rio Ferdinand esque Lucio and the rugged Argentinian Martin Demichelis is complimented at full back by the marauding Philipp Lahm and one of either the Italian Massimo Oddo, or German prospect Christian Lell. Although the clubs record of 30 goals conceded in 21 games is not very good, this is a defence that can step up to the plate and deliver on any given day, and the likes of Lucio in particular are extremely suited to the possession based nature of the champions league.
The other midfield mainstays of the team are the talented but inconsistent Bastian Schweinsteiger, the evergreen Ze Roberto and the reassuring presence of Mark van Bommel in front of the defence. Ze Roberto continues to belie his age providing the guile in the centre of midfield to complement the steel of van Bommel, and it is easy to forget that he has been all the way to the champions league final before as part of the excellent Bayer Leverkusen side who lost to that unforgettable Zinedine Zidane volley in 2002.
The question remains as to exactly why this extremely talented side appear to have been written off. It is common consensus that any champions league winning side has a talisman that the side is built around, be it Ronaldo in 2008, Kaka in 2007, Ronaldinho in 2006 or Gerrard in 2005. Franck Ribery has all the qualities to be that player for Bayern, and is only likely to come into even better form in the second half of the season following a reasonably serious injury he suffered in the summer. The champions league will provide an escape that this Bayern side undoubtedly need from their league form, and I would wager that no one would fancy playing them in the quarter finals. It could well prove to be schadenfreude for the side involved.
posted by Oz @ 11:40 AM
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