#11 Lukas Podolski ~ Set for exit?

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Originally Posted by BlackNess

so can he play against Bremen ?

I guess so.

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Bayern fans were delighted to see Lukas Podolski make a first competitive appearance of the year after recovering from a slipped disc. Poldi came on as a 59th minute substitute in a left midfield berth, contributing the assist for Gomez’s strike ten minutes from time.

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Hitzfeld rotated right from the start, finally. He gained a plus from FCB fans.

Podolski started from 1st minute for FCB in the 5-1 win against Aberdeen.

That's how it should be often, rotations must be made.

Podolski is a perfect example, it was his night, that's a definiton of a 'chance given' (a chance given to him is not some last 20 minutes). This was a proper chance given to him, and he rewarded that with a great performance and two goals. He was just brilliant yesterday. As the commentator said: 'Poldi is back!'.

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Jurgen Klinsmann is determined to prevent highly-rated German international striker Lukas Podolski from being tempted away from Bayern Munich when he takes charge at the end of the season.

Podolski has struggled to hold down a regular place under current coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who has preferred to partner Miroslav Klose with Italian Luca Toni.

As a result, the striker has been linked with a move to German rivals Stuttgart as well as English Premier League side Manchester City.

"He (Klinsmann) wants to have him in his team and that's way we haven't responded favourably to the offers which came during the winter break," manager Uli Hoeness tells Saturday's Suddeutsche Zeitung.

The 22-year-old Podolski arrived at Bayern in 2006 but has played just 13 times this season, 11 as substitute and has yet to score.

Voted the best young player at the 2006 World Cup, Podolski has already had talks with Klinsmann who is due to succeed Hitzfeld at the end of the season.

Klinsmann was German national coach during the 2006 World Cup finals where the hosts made the semi-finals.

"We talked about it a few weeks ago and it was an interesting discussion," said Podolski who has a contract with Bayern until 2010.

The player has often been regarded as a favourite of Klinsmann's and has scored 24 goals in 44 internationals.

Klinsmann determined to keep Podolski at Bayern - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

[Munchen Minded]

Poldi is a really good forward as he showed against Aberdeen, given the chance and that he is 100% fit. Poldi also is really dangerous in the build up, and coming through mid-field. So he is a great partner with some other striker like Toni who is a penalty box kind of striker. Poldi is also really strong physically in terms of his play. I am glad that Klinsmann has expressed interest in keeping him. I still dream though of Klose-Toni (Kloni) partnership up front and Poldi as an AM right behind the front two -- with Ribery left, and Altintop/Sosa/Schweinsteiger right. Talk about an attacking wave!

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Lukas Podolski was in confident mood at a pre-DFB Cup news conference this week. “Of course I'd take one if it came to penalties,” he fired back immediately in response to a reporter's question. Should Wednesday's semi-final against VfL Wolfsburg still be deadlocked after 120 minutes, Poldi would be quite happy to step up to the spot.

The statement certainly speaks volumes for the Germany international's innate self-belief, despite his current third spot in the strike hierarchy at the club behind Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose. However, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's rotation policy has handed Poldi a run of regular appearances.

Poldi keen to build on good form

“He's done very well in recent matches,” said Ottmar Hitzfeld on Tuesday. “I've been playing regularly of late, and that gives me something to build on,” Podolski responded. The striker has five UEFA Cup goals to his name so far, although he has yet to get off the mark in the Bundesliga and DFB German Cup.

In terms of the domestic knockout competition, Wednesday offers Podolski the opportunity to open his account this term. Top scorer Luca Toni is suspended after his sending-off in the quarter-finals against 1860 Munich, so Polid is certain to start against the Wolves. “I'm delighted he'll get another chance to play from the start and prove he's worthy of his place at Bayern Munich,” Hitzfeld remarked.

Hitzfeld welcomes competition

The Bayern coach is expecting a good display from his number 11. “I have a solid feeling about Lukas. He was in great shape in training yesterday and scored a lot of goals in our tactics exercise. He's on good form,” reported Hitzfeld, who is also hoping for a decent showing from Podolski's strike partner Miroslav Klose: “I hope the goals start coming again for Miro."

“We can still win three trophies, and I'll give everything I have to the cause,“ declared Podolski, determined to put forward a case for first-choice status with a fine performance against Felix Magath's VfL Wolfsburg. "The battle for places in attack is wide open," Hitzfeld insisted, “at the end of the day, performance is the decisive factor.“ Poldi will have heard and understood.

[RunX]

Today Poldi Will Playy !! YooHooo
Hope Him To score twice ....

[Vargas_4]

^ Hoping for that also

[USBayernMunichFan]

Good to see Poldi getting some action ... Wonder if he will replace Klose with Toni back in the lineup?

[RunX]

nice game lucas !!!
lucas rulez ....

[USBayernMunichFan]

He came thisclose to scoring against Bayer - a couple times

[RunX]

i hope that he will score ... today in switzerland match

[Munchen Minded]

Poldi is definitely on the up and up, so this game should help him get more out of his form.

[Vargas_4]

Had a really got match on the minutes he was on.

Assist & a goal.

Hope this gives him a confidence boost.

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Podolski was really good yesterday, proving everytime he deserves his chances at Bayern (and Germany) always.

Dangerous in the very first minute he got in with that shot, was so unfortunate not to score that.
Assisted to Gomez for the 3-0 goal, what a smart, brilliant pass that was.
Also scored a good goal himself, so calm in the zone in between 2-3 Swiss players.

Bravo Poldi, we trust you!