CL gameday

[Gerry_BMG]

dear mother of Octopussies....

Bayern plays like they test new sleeping pills developed by a hughe pharmaceutical firm... Bremen lacks agressiveness and I do not see them achieving anything today. Pretty annoying gameday for the german clubs until now. Its not the result but the way they play that disappointes... BEERTIME! :drinkbeer

[Valmiki]

Well Bayern coasting at 3-0 but Bremen losing at 2-0 ---- Klose hits the post then Ballack scores a penalty to make it 2-0.:devil

Seems as though Lampard has been fired as the Chelsea penalty taker and Ballack is the man at Stamford Bridge. Well that's the only positive from this game.

[jordankhamra]

Will Bayern coasting at 3-0 but Bremen losing at 2-0 ---- Klose hits the post then Ballack scores a penalty to make it 2-0.:devil

I guess the results are telling. Overall, how are Ballack and Poldi playing?

[Valmiki]

I guess the results are telling. Overall, how are Ballack and Poldi playing?

I am still in the office following on the net. My plans to run away from work did not work:devil

[Distant Voices]

anybody else hate the champions league ? It's all about money..

Has soon as Bremen went 0-2 they stopped playing-if it was 2 games like the last stage they would play on trying to score an away goal.
Typical German team away from home-lacked total self belief and aggression-Borowski is a great example.
Chelsea penalty came from Drogba falling over the cheat (Lampard did the same a few minutes earlier).
Wome was poor, Klasnic had his usual stupid game and Diego seems has no heart.
It was like watching Leverkusen in Europe.Bye bye Bremen.
Bayern are the only hope as usual.

Chelsea are terrible to watch-are they always this boring ?
I stopped watching after 80 mins-never been so bored.

[matrix666777]

The Chelsea penalty was a joke...the same as the penalty in premier league. Seems that ******* russian is paying big money....
Bremen played good but Diego, Wome, Klasnic just aren't Champions League stuff....
Anyway it's only the first match...there's still hope

[Al_the drummer]

I would not be so quick to write off Bremen, yes they never really looked like scoring but they were playing a solid, solid Chelsea side. The first goal was a howler, Pasanen completely fluffed his clearance and Essien took his chance like any competent pro on his wages would. Second goal was a mistake, albeit a dodgy descision from the ref, by Fritz who otherwise had a very good game.

The second goal killed off Bremen's second half momentum and yes they did give up from that point.

The positives I saw for Bremen were their quick short passing which on a better day will cause problems for other such sides. I thought Diego lacked fire but there is certainly an air class about him, he has a good touch and has a quick, incisive technique, I think this guy needs more time to fill Micoud's boots but I like his style. Clemens Fritz had an excellent first half thwarting Shevchenko and the runs of Cole from the left, he showed a willingness to go forward, the fitness and work rate to get back and an excellent technique to cause a few problems out wide. Only a matter of time before Low calls him up for my money, always liked him and I think he came off quite well despite that silly moment. I also think Naldo deserves a shout for a very professional performance.

The front pair didn't have the service but Klose was far more threatening than the anonymous Klasnic who looks to be continuing off from a completely inept world cup showing.

I like Bremen, give them time, Juan needs to adapt to the team and Mertesacker needs to shove out Pasanen. I'm not writing this one off just yet and they definitely deserve credit for their style of play.

[Al_the drummer]

...That's Diego of course, Juan?

Anyway I'd like to take this opportunity to back up my anti-corporate manifesto with regard to the Chelsea fans.

Tonight the Bremen fans totally and utterly outsang them for the entire game including, the ultimate insult to any English supporter, 'you only sing when you’re winning' CHANTED IN ENGLISH!!! OMG!

For those unaware, Chelsea fans were amongst the most robust and revered fans in Europe not 15 years ago and would never have sat silently chomping on their prawn sandwiches like they did tonight. The fans heart, fire and soul have evaporated as Abramovich's billions have corrupted and mauled the traditional identity of Chelsea football club and transmogrified them into a global conglomerate with more fans in Singapore than south London.

Don't take my errant rantings for truth; simply compare match day atmosphere at Chelsea now and then 15 years ago and you'll notice inexorable differences.

[Distant Voices]

Not so confident meself like.

Pasanen would get nowhere near a team like Chelsea-Bremen really cannot compete with Chelsea and Barca and the main reason is $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Bremen will beat either Chelsea or Barca at home but will lose something like 4-2 in Barca and go out bravely.
Fritz did not look out of place on the pitch-I will say that-but he's nothing special.
I would love to get Borowski by the neck and give him a good shaking and scream 'WAKE UP YOU SLEEPY ****'-jesus he needs urgency.

Ballack was his usual self-made some great long passes but Chelsea play him deep like Germany now where for me he is not maximum effective.
I thought Naldo was very good, Frings and Klose showed their class.

[Al_the drummer]

O.k. another day another dollar, Hamburg tonight against last years runners up.

Unlike Bayern and Bremen I really don't fancy Hamburg to do well, they have one or two big names at the back but it really is a new team and in my opinion they are extremely light up front. Sanogo and Ljuboja are not by the slightest exaggeration anything like Champions League class players for me.

On the other hand now is the time to play Arsenal, after a stuttering start to the new season manager Arsene Wenger has clearly stated that they haven't yet kicked into gear, lucky Hamburg. Throw in an absent Thierry Henry (best forward on the planet), a seething cauldron of north German noise and a fired up champions league return performance from Hamburg and a home victory could be on the cards.

Man for man Arsenal absolutely spank Hamburg off the park quite frankly so I'm going for a 1-1 draw here yet I can't see the gunners taking all three points from a feisty Hamburg who'll will go out all guns blazing tonight back on the big stage.

Only two Germans in the starting line-up, Kirschstein and Trochowski, slightly disheartening from a German point of view but we do get see the one we've been incessantly talking about for the past three years take it up a notch into the very top flight of club football. Trochowski, now is the time to come of age, I think we've spoken too much on his potential now he has to go out and show um what he can do.

[Valmiki]

10 man Hamburg now go 2-0 down at home to Arsenal. What a disaster:devil

[Al_the drummer]

Horrific game, totally flat performance, I need a drink and a wa*k to forget this dog ****e, wasting my life watching this absolute rubbish. Over and out.

[Timonator]

what did you expect AL? :laugh After all it was Arsenal not some silly small club like Stuttgarter Kickers!!! :ninja

Again a german club was unlucky. To me it was a clear dive of Van Persie, never ever in the world a red card and a penalty! If this wouldn't have happened we'd probably see a different result now.

Its typical these days...german clubs are lacking luck. Dunno how you can change that, it seems to be a general problem. Bremen against Juve last year, Klose yesterday hits the bar...Are German teams just too inexperienced or are they too dumb?! I really dont know.

[Distant Voices]

The difference is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Only Bayern can compete with the richer clubs and I wonder when will fans get bored with this **** competition ?
Every year we sit here and watch German teams getting beaten.

To misquote Lineker-'football is a game of 22 men and a ball-and in the end Barca, Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Bayern, Milan, Juve win'

Madrid is the excpetion but they are a circus-any team outside these seven clubs have .05% chance of winning the champions league.
why dont't the seven and Madrid form their own league and **** off ?

[bastian]

To misquote Lineker-'football is a game of 22 men and a ball-and in the end Barca, Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Bayern, Milan, Juve win'



From what i know, Arsenal never won the CL. :nono

[Gerry_BMG]

what did you expect AL? :laugh After all it was Arsenal not some silly small club like Stuttgarter Kickers!!! :ninja

Again a german club was unlucky. To me it was a clear dive of Van Persie, never ever in the world a red card and a penalty! If this wouldn't have happened we'd probably see a different result now.

Its typical these days...german clubs are lacking luck. Dunno how you can change that, it seems to be a general problem. Bremen against Juve last year, Klose yesterday hits the bar...Are German teams just too inexperienced or are they too dumb?! I really dont know. I disagree Timo. Hamburg lacked the last inch of effort and passion. Arsenal didnt even have to play good to control Hamburg. Yes, Hambur was with one man less, but this also a reason to fight even more, but what did happen? Nothing. When I see Sanogo and especially Ljuboja playing I can not avoid smiling about the bad decision to let Barbarez leave. He would pack both of them in his pocket. And like many say, you have to force luck. German teams lack the last inch of will currently and since 3-4 years now. That is why we do so bad in thos years in europe. Bremen was good last year... but not brilliant either! do not say they almost beat Juve... how Juve played last year Bremen shoudl have won. We lack the hard-will players currently. The players who drive a team to success by showing the team that they will win even against stronger teams. Hamburg is on a very dangerous track. Forum darling Trochwski showed again that since his U18 games I saw, his main strength is still the shooting. Passing and vision? amateur level...

[SlantNGo]

Wow, I really want to like Borowski but he's just not fast enough to be an effective side midfielder. Maybe when we decide that Baumann isn't worth a spot in the starting 11 we can play a flat 4-4-2 and have Borowski play CMF where he belongs.

I thought Fritz looked good although that was a penalty for pushing Drogba. There wasn't really much he could do.

Klose looked good. Not his A game by any means but him, Frings and Diego looked to be the only competent attackers. Naldo had a good game, and Wome was just okay.

[derejekissi]

Wow, I really want to like Borowski but he's just not fast enough to be an effective side midfielder. Maybe when we decide that Baumann isn't worth a spot in the starting 11 we can play a flat 4-4-2 and have Borowski play CMF where he belongs.

I thought Fritz looked good although that was a penalty for pushing Drogba. There wasn't really much he could do.

Klose looked good. Not his A game by any means but him, Frings and Diego looked to be the only competent attackers. Naldo had a good game, and Wome was just okay.

As most of you have mentioned, since Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in the final in 2002, almost all German clubs have been extremely unlucky and this fortutious tendency is still running and the reason remains obscure for all of us.Hereafter, I never blame the BUNDESLIGA and Bundesliga teams participating in Europe.I have watched Chelsea-Bremen and Hamburg-Arsenal games and the scorelines clearly show how German teams are unlucky deservedly or otherwise.As to Bremen, their main problem has been the defence line and this problem remains unsolved until and unless Mertesacker steps in.Pasanen is the weakest defender in Bremen ranks and he has been the main cause for most goals Bremen conceded this season.This defender should be fired from the club since he always makes schoolboy howler and never learns from his mistakes.

As to Hamburg SV, the game was predetermined by the most notorious referee of the night and it was double whommy for the home side. Before the dismissal of the goalkeeper Gilberto has afflicted professional foul against Jarolim and the guilty man was not even yellowcarderd.All in all I can say that the bad referee has killed the spirit of the home side earlier on and a 2-1 home reverse is not a bad result with 10 players for over 80 minutes.

[Al_the drummer]

We lack the hard-will players currently. The players who drive a team to success by showing the team that they will win even against stronger teams.

Agree totally, there were no hard players in that team last night, no old hands putting the frighteners up Arsenal and as you say not enough hard work. Remember Dortmund in 97 - Freund, Reuter, Kohler, Sousa, Heinrich - not such superb footballers but they had a will and team spirit totally lacking in that half-assed forigen legion mob last night.

German teams in Europe used to have a degree of notoriety with their hard work and no nonsense attitude, these days the technique is better but the will-to-win has gone. As I said before the game my hopes weren't high for Hamburg but I was expecting a game of football, however it was just a one-sided stroll for Arsenal who utterly dominated like it was a training exercise. I know they were down to 10 men but still as a spectacle it just felt like a waste of 2 hours which I would like back please.

I'd like to watch Bremen some more this year. Bayern are just plain ordinary these days, they fell away from the leading pack 2-3 years ago and are slipping further away. Hamburg are finished.


Forum darling Trochwski showed again that since his U18 games I saw, his main strength is still the shooting. Passing and vision? amateur level...

Last night was inconclusive, the English commentator said he looked 'a very tidy player' meaning technically strong but he didn't exactly set the world alight. I watched him closely last night; I think he takes good set pieces and is very elegant on the ball. Gerry I'd say he showed good vision but lacked with his passing, he tends to overplay the ball and needs to show more willingness to run at players which is what he's so good at. I still rate his potential highly.

[Distant Voices]

Trochowski is only 22 years and players in his position do not develop until later as it is a really difficult position to play-but he needs to show a few signs that he will be good-kicker gave him note 5 which was the worst on the pitch

[Al_the drummer]

Trochowski is only 22 years and players in his position do not develop until later as it is a really difficult position to play-but he needs to show a few signs that he will be good-kicker gave him note 5 which was the worst on the pitch

I think this shows kicker can be a tad harsh, he gave the ball away a few times in the final quarter but he hit the bar at the end and generally tracked back and worked as hard as the others. They were down to 10 men and so their tactics had to alter and I don't think kicker took this into account.

You would've thought somebody getting a five rating would entail scoring an own goal, tripping over your own shoelaces or being tackled by the club mascot, that or just being Mario Gomez I suppose.

Enough talk about the little squirt, we need to ban anybody who keeps talking about Trochowski including me.

[SlantNGo]

Pasanen is bad no doubt... I was very disappointed with his play in the Schalke game as well. But he's better than Andreasen so we can't just cut him altogether. I'd say maybe think about moving Baumann to CB but we don't have another true DMF.

[Distant Voices]

Frings ?

[Schwalker]

Bayern might do well..They often do, experience is so vital in these games.

HSV..are struggling in the league and just added a bunch of new players, no way they might achieve something.

Bremen..Need to win at home, AND LEARN HOW TO DEFEND AWAY FROM HOME!!! Strong experienced teams like Chelsea or why not Schalke in the league will eat them alive if they play "positive" footy away.
Play to win fischköppen!

[Gerry_BMG]

Bayern might do well..They often do, experience is so vital in these games.

HSV..are struggling in the league and just added a bunch of new players, no way they might achieve something.

Bremen..Need to win at home, AND LEARN HOW TO DEFEND AWAY FROM HOME!!! Strong experienced teams like Chelsea or why not Schalke in the league will eat them alive if they play "positive" footy away.
Play to win fischköppen!

Bayern has to get into a rhythm. Podolski has to learn or better realise that he has to move his shady ass more to become a good player. Bayern has certainly the best potential since van Bommel arrived and because they are Bayern and have more confidence in themselves than all other german teams combined. Bremen has the potential to become hughe but it will be the question if Borowski and Frings will find their form.
Hamburg? I might be the ass of the year, but I think Hamburg can be glad to reach the 3rd spot.