Ballack sidelined - Hitzfeld must improvise

[Ross420]

www.fcbayern.t-online.de/en/ (http://www.fcbayern.t-online.de/en/)

There are only two certain starters in any Bayern side, "Oliver Kahn and Michael Ballack," as Ottmar Hitzfeld stated on Thursday, "when they can't play, we don't have replacements of the same calibre."

However, Hitzfeld will be forced to find a replacement for Ballack when Bayern face VfL Bochum this Saturday at the Olympic stadium. "He couldn't even jog today, let alone train. He's got a big problem with his calf" :crying the coach announced. It is the same injury which prevented the German Footballer of the Year from appearing for his country in the Euro 2004 qualifier against Scotland at the end of last season.

Hitzfeld was unable to name a date for Ballack to resume the full training programme. "We really don't know how long he'll be on the sidelines :o . He's having intensive treatment at the moment."

Mehmet Scholl, who missed the trip to Hanover with back pain, is still not recovered and joins Ballack on the list of absentees after breaking off Thursday's training session. "He's not ready yet, and he'll have another go next week," the coach commented.

Just three games into the new season, the General is being forced to improvise, although he gave a few clues as to his thoughts regarding team selection. "I haven't decided yet whether I'll play Jens Jeremies or Bastian Schweinsteiger alongside Owen Hargreaves in central midfield," he mused.

Sebastian Deisler is not yet an alternative for the Ballack role: "I'd rather leave him out wide." And Hitzfeld categorically ruled out fielding all three of Claudio Pizarro, Giovane Elber and Roy Makaay: "They'd get in each other's way down the middle, and who's supposed to supply the crosses?" he enquired.

Apart from the need to cover for Ballack's absence, the coach is likely to make further changes: Bixente Lizarazu, for one, is set for a first appearance of the new term. "He's worked very hard in training. His time has come," Hitzfeld explained, with Tobias Rau making way for the France international. And Sammy Kuffour could be in line for a starting berth after impressing in training this week.

One player certain to feature is Roy Makaay, who will make his first competitive appearance in a Bayern shirt. However, the club record signing is by no means guaranteed a spot in the starting line-up at the moment, Hitzfeld insisted: "I only pick people on merit," he declared.

[bastian]

he will be out of the natinal team too :angry: :o is gonna be hard a win over italy without him :crying

[Ross420]

Goal fest in store against Bochum?

Roy Makaay's memories of the Munich Olympic stadium can only be happy ones: some 11 months ago, the Dutch ace fired a hat-trick as his former club Deportivo La Coruna claimed a 3-1 Champions League victory over the stunned home side.

On Saturday, the 28 year-old will take to the historic field of play not as a guest but as one of the hosts. The record signing is set to follow his 70 minute appearance for Bayern in a friendly against Nuremberg with his Bundesliga debut against VfL Bochum.

Millions of intrigued viewers are expected to tune in and follow how the Holland international fares in his first competitive game for the double winners. "He's a top striker and knows what's expected of him. He was under permanent pressure in La Coruna too," Ottmar Hitzfeld observed, confident his side's new number 10 was equipped to deal with the weight of expectation resting on his shoulders.

Visitors Bochum appear to be relishing Makaay's arrival too. "It'll definitely be a very interesting match. It's a good thing for the Bundesliga that Bayern have signed this player. He certainly ups the quality," VfL defender Frank Fahrenhorst commented.

The Ruhr valley outfit have no intention of thwarting Bayern with purely defensive tactics, and have even rejected a man-marking approach. Coach Peter Neururer has made it clear his side's illustrious opponents would not be permitted to dictate the shape of the game, and boosted his players' confidence with a smile on his face: "It's good to see Bayern need strengthening with a player like this if they want three points from us."

Bayern's aim is to stage a re-run of events against Eintracht Frankfurt two weeks ago and get on the scoresheet early. "That would be important," said Owen Hargreaves, who is likely to join forces with Jens Jeremies in taking over injury victim Michael Ballack's midfield playmaking duties.

If Bayern succeed in taking the lead against the side which was promoted in 2002 it would take a brave man to bet against the champions: Bayern have gone 1-0 in front against VfL on no less than 30 occasions, going on to win 27 and draw only three of the meetings in question.



Probable line-ups:

Bayern Munich: Kahn – Salihamidzic, Linke, Kuffour, Lizarazu – Deisler, Jeremies, Hargreaves, Zé Roberto – Makaay, Pizarro

VfL Bochum: van Duijnhoven – Colding, Kalla, Fahrenhorst, Bönig – Wosz, Oliseh, Zdebel, Freier – Diaband, Madsen

Referee: Peter Gagelmann (Berlin)

[FCBfurimmer]

Whats with Robert Kovac, or demechelis??? Linke is getting old Hitzfeld-eventhall he´s one of my favour player

[Ross420]

http://www.fcbayern.t-online.de/imperia/md/images/fotogalerien03_04/fcb_vfl/fcb_vfl_ddp_4fcb_vfl_ddp_4.jpg

Bayern Munich - VfL Bochum 2-0 (2-0)

Bayern Munich: Kahn – Salihamidzic, Linke, Kuffour, Lizarazu (Sagnol 77) – Deisler (Schweinsteiger 77), Jeremies, Hargreaves, Zé Roberto – Makaay (Elber 77), Pizarro

VfL Bochum: van Duijnhoven – Colding, Kalla, Oliseh, Fahrenhorst, Bönig – Wosz (Diabang 46), Zdebel (B. Gudjonsson 60), T. Gudjonsson, Freier – Madsen (Hashemian 67)

Referee: Peter Gagelmann (Berlin)

Attendance: 63,000 (capacity)

Goals: 1-0 Pizarro (20), 2-0 Deisler (26)

Yellow Cards: Lizarazu, Linke / Fahrenhorst

[Van Der Vaart 23]

what a typical bayern match again :rolleyes:

sooooooooooooooooooo boring, playing the ball around in defence and coming forward after playing the ball around in the back for 15 minutes :rolleyes: Not strange the 2nd goal was from a (beautiful) free kick and the 1st was after the ball came in Makaay's feet with luck and he passed it deep to Jeremies, who could put Pizarro in front of an empty goal... but the match was really boring, so Bayern :rolleyes:

Makaay's performance was bad, he only got 10 touches of the ball (probably was offside more than he got balltouches :laugh), 1 big chance which he should've scored and he set up the first goal.. but over the whole match he was invisible.. But he isn't totally fit yet, since he hardly had any match practice and he needs to adapt to the team and the other way around.. :)

[bastian]

beautiful goal from deisler .. defenitly he's back ,, i think so

[Ross420]

Originally posted by Van Der Vaart 23@Aug 16 2003, 05:49 PM
what a typical bayern match again :rolleyes:

sooooooooooooooooooo boring, playing the ball around in defence and coming forward after playing the ball around in the back for 15 minutes :rolleyes: Not strange the 2nd goal was from a (beautiful) free kick and the 1st was after the ball came in Makaay's feet with luck and he passed it deep to Jeremies, who could put Pizarro in front of an empty goal... but the match was really boring, so Bayern :rolleyes:

Makaay's performance was bad, he only got 10 touches of the ball (probably was offside more than he got balltouches :laugh), 1 big chance which he should've scored and he set up the first goal.. but over the whole match he was invisible.. But he isn't totally fit yet, since he hardly had any match practice and he needs to adapt to the team and the other way around.. :)
You know I think Van der Vaart would look good in a Bayern shirt...

:king

[FCBfurimmer]

Ross420, imagine Van den Vart23 cheering for Bayern,it would be a sight to see... :laugh

Anyway what do you think about Freier of Bochum, he should have score 2-3 times with his dribbling, also scored a goal... Mybe a chance to sell Salihamidzic and buy Freier. Salihamidzic would definantly go for at least 15m€, Paul freier could be bought already for 3-8m€, but but I´m sure we would get him for max. 5m€!!! Your oppinions??

Boring match, Bochum should have leveled, hope Deisler does not get injured again... :crying

[Ross420]

I think the result is positive for the Bayern squad because they won without Ballack in the team, they know they can get points if hes not there.

[orswich]

young Hargreaves and Jeremies can fill in for a few games.

but in the long run Ballack is the player you want on the pitch.. hopefully when Diesler returns to full form they can alternate, but then again i like the idea of both of them on the pitch at the same time

[Ross420]

Reaction to Bayern v Bochum:

Ottmar Hitzfeld: "We played very well in the first half and had our opponents totally under control. We looked very good in possession, we passed well and we basically deserved our 2-0 lead. But then we played extremely badly in the second half, I wasn't at all satisfied. We unnecessarily gave away possession far too often and that encouraged our opponents to get at us. We proved unable to close the game down in midfield any more, and we did far too little down the flanks. We couldn't hold onto the ball and we made too many incomplete passes. It was obvious that some of my players were appearing for the first time today. I'm pleased with the result, but otherwise there's a lot more hard work to do."

Sebastian Deisler: "I'm delighted my free-kick went in and I'm delighted we've won for the second time. That sets us up nicely for the next few weeks. I thought we played very well today. I'm finding my feet more and more, and it's unbelievably good fun being part of this team."

Peter Neururer (Bochum coach): "We were in control, but we had to allow Bayern far too much time on the ball in the first period. We basically went out for the second half looking to attack and we created a few chances, but we failed to score. There are positive things for me to take out of the game."

[footie_master]

Originally posted by bastian@Aug 16 2003, 10:36 PM
beautiful goal from deisler .. defenitly he's back ,, i think so
well the goalie of bochum was a bit late there :nono .

anywayz doesnt take away the fact that it was an excellent free kick though...fryer seemed good on bochums side. and i didnt think the match was boring vd vaart.