FCB - General Talk - Page 56 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 27-09-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellas

I assume they are favourites to win the league and any other cup in Germany?

We were entitled favorites right from the beginning.

I don't care what people and media say though.

I just want a successful Bayern.

The team is doing perfectly thus far, and I hope they'll continue like that.

I doubt anyone asks more from the team.

It's good how it is.

The title can be won with those kind of performances, without a doubt.

**Trim** · 28-09-2007, 04:54 PM

When Miroslav Klose scored his third goal of the evening in the 89th minute to make it 5-0 to Bayern, the Allianz Arena seemed no longer to be located amid the greenery of Munich’s Fröttmaninger Heide, but on the Theresienwiese. “Oana geht no - Oana geht no nei” and “Oh, wie ist schön” rang down from the terraces as the crowd rumbustiously celebrated Bayern’s biggest home victory since moving out of the Olympic Stadium in the summer of 2005. At that moment the atmosphere couldn’t have been much better inside a beer-tent at the Oktoberfest.

“The team has desire, that’s evident,” said manager Uli Hoeness after the match against bottom-of-the table Cottbus, trying to strike a measure tone. “We’re pleased,” he added, but the expression on his face betrayed that “pleased” was a considerable understatement. Hoeness had that certain smile that only appears when he’s thoroughly delighted with the performance of the team.

An average of three goals a game

And well might he smile. Germany’s record champions might have spent nearly an hour vainly trying to break down the strugglers from the Lausitz region, but once Klose had scored the first goal of his hat-trick they landed blow after blow. Martin Demichelis after 63 minutes, Luca Toni after 69 and then two more from Klose in the 75th and 89th minutes after perfectly-flighted crosses from the young substitute Toni Kroos set the stadium throbbing with a fairground atmosphere.

“Once the first goal went in, the dam burst,” said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld following the final whistle. “Then the pressure was lifted and the play flowed much better.” His team have managed five wins and two draws in the seven games so far and are averaging three goals a game. Bayern’s goal difference of 18 is by far the best in the league. Rarely in recent years has a Bayern team been as goal-hungry as the present one.

Pedal to the metal

“By now I find it quite natural that we should score so many goals against an opponent like this,” said Hitzfeld. “We’re certainly capable of it.” With high-profile recruits such as Luca Toni, Franck Ribéry and not least Klose – who took his goal tally for the season from five to eight on Wednesday night – the Bayern coach has a world-class attacking trio at his disposal. “It’s helped us that the strikers have hit form right at the start of the season and no-one’s been struggling for goals,” Hitzfeld said. “We’ve been able to show what we’re capable of, which is very satisfying.”

But other new arrivals such as Hamit Altintop, who already has three goals this season himself, the ball-winner and engine-room of the team Zé Roberto, and the tireless Marcell Jansen on the left wing have also made their contribution to a playing style that repeatedly brings the fans in the permanently sold-out Allianz Arena to their feet. Even with a comfortable lead the ‘new Bayern’ keep the pedal to the metal.

Hitzfeld will take stock after Leverkusen

“After we took the lead we stepped up a gear,” said Mark van Bommel, highlighting a completely new characteristic for a Bayern side. “Normally in a week with two matches we would take it a bit easier, but we demonstrate that we have a good team that always wants more.” It’s a far cry from the many nervous 1-0 or 2-1 victories over the past couple of seasons, and the dropping of points to manifestly inferior sides like Cottbus.

“Up to now we have fulfilled our expectations or perhaps even exceeded them,” Hitzfeld confirmed with satisfaction the following day. However, he prefers to wait until after the next matchday, which sees the top-of-the-table clash with second-placed Leverkusen, before taking stock of the season so far in greater depth. Said Hitzfeld: “ If we can get past this challenge, we will be on the right track.”

**Trim** · 01-10-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Reds stars on parade at the Oktoberfest

Switch off for a minute and think about something else – where in there better to go in Munich at the moment than to the ‘Wiesn’? On Sunday afternoon after training Bayern’s coach, players and officials together visited the 174th Oktoberfest, where together with their families they enjoyed a cheerful and agreeable afternoon with excellent food and one or two steins of beer. Some of the new arrivals in Munich such as Luca Toni, Franck Ribéry and Miroslav Klose cut a particularly fine figure on their first official appearance in lederhosen.

Check the pics at: FCB - Pictures & Videos

**Trim** · 01-10-2007, 05:14 PM

This is the weekend when the Bayern squad traditionally makes a communal visit to the Oktoberfest. Last year's outing took place under a cloud following a 1-0 defeat against bottom club VfL Wolfsburg, but the mood will be a lot more positive this time round after Saturday's narrow 1-0 victory away to the team in second up to that point, Bayer Leverkusen.

"I'm delighted we were able to swing the top match of the weekend in our favour," Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld commented after Sunday training, before the squad, officials and their families made their way to the Oktoberfest grounds for a pleasant and relaxing afternoon.

Toughest test

The atmosphere was rather less relaxed some 24 hours earlier at the BayArena, packed to its 22,500 capacity. "Leverkusen provided our toughest test so far," Hitzfeld observed, complimenting Bayer on "pushing us to the limit" in an eventful, high-tempo encounter. General Manager Uli Hoeneß agreed: "We had to work extremely hard for victory against a very good Leverkusen side.“

The league leaders remain undefeated, but the home team came preciously close to opening the scoring in an impressive opening half hour. However, Bayer hit a post on ten minutes and otherwise ran up against an obdurate Michael Rensing, a late and capable replacement for Oliver Kahn after the veteran keeper injured an elbow in the warm-up.

Plaudits for Rensing, Klose and Toni

"We weren't very well organised in the first half hour, we had a very tough time," acknowledged Mark van Bommel. "Leverkusen played good football, they let the ball do the work," Marcell Jansen agreed. Added Hitzfeld: "Michael Rensing was the reason we didn't go a goal behind.“

With the young goalkeeper outstanding at one end of the field, star strikers Mirsolav Klose and Luca Toni were confirming their potency and class at the other. Klose was robbed of a 13th minute "goal" by a poor refereeing decision when the ball bounced off the crossbar and over the line, prompting an angry reaction from Hoeneß: "You have to give the goal. There can be no excuses.“ However, there was no doubting the legitimacy of Toni's 40th minute winner from Klose's intelligent assist.

Völler praises Bayern's 'world-class' line-up

"They're there when it matters. It's amazing," Hoeneß commented after the league's leading strike pair took their combined tally to 14 goals. "It's fantastic up to now, like a fairytale. They're exceeding expectations," Hitzfeld chimed in, while Toni set his sights even higher: "We each understand how the other likes it, but we can get even better.“

After half-time, Bayern turned in a display bristling with trademark intelligence and resolve. "We were closer to going 2-0 up than Leverkusen were to equalising," Hitzfeld analysed. "Bayern came here and played like a world-class team," Bayer Director of Sport Rudi Völler commented admiringly. The Bavarians' sixth victory in eight matches sees them extend their lead in the Bundesliga to four points over new second-placed outfit Schalke 04.

**Trim** · 03-10-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Hitzfeld sees no early return for long-term injured

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is not banking on an early return to action for his long-term injured roster of Willy Sagnol, Philipp Lahm, Valerien Ismael and José Sosa. “Nothing’s happening in the near future, Hitzfeld told FCB.tv in an interview on Tuesday. At present all four are only capable of working toward their recovery with strength exercises. “We now have to wait for the players to be able to undertake intensive running work outside,” Hitzfeld said. “But they won’t be back within the next two weeks.”

***

**Trim** · 04-10-2007, 09:33 AM

When Bayern go travelling for European competitions, Gerd Müller is invariably there with the team. The man once known as ‘Der Bomber’, who himself scored 66 goals in 74 international matches for Bayern, is something of a talisman for the men from Munich. Coming hard on the heels of the withdrawal through injury of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, Ottmar Hitzfeld can only hope that some of Müller’s sharpshooting prowess rubs off on the current side.

During the journey to Lisbon fcbayern.de seized the opportunity to speak with Müller about the absence of Klose and its impact on Luca Toni, and about his scoring record of 40 goals in a Bundesliga season. Will it ever be broken?

The Gerd Müller interview:

fcbayern.de Bayern must do without Miroslav Klose und Lukas Podolski for the game in Lisbon. Is that why Ottmar Hitzfeld has brought along “Der Bomber”, as a talisman?
Gerd Müller: (Laughs). “No, in fact I travel with Bayern on all their Champions’ League trips, and of course in the UEFA Cup too.”

fcbayern.de How serious do you think the absence of Klose will be?
Gerd Müller: “I believe Klose is a terrific forward. He’s strong in the air, shields the ball excellently, and always lays the ball off skilfully for his colleagues. Everything he’s done so far has been top-class.”

fcbayern.de The dream duo of Klose and Toni has been parted for the moment. How difficult will it now be for Luca alone up front?
Gerd Müller: “If Miroslav can’t play, it’s more difficult for Luca Toni. As a lone striker you always find it more difficult, because when you’re on your own the defence can focus on you better. And in addition Klose has already set up a few goals for Toni.”

fcbayern.de After Klose scored eight goals in the first eight Bundesliga matches people have started talking about whether your record from the 1972-73 season might be in danger…
Gerd Müller: “I do believe that some day, someone will break the record. But first you have to score 40 goals, and it will be hard for Miroslav now with this injury. But talking about it doesn’t seem to bring people luck. Two years ago Roy Makaay was considered a candidate to score 40 goals after he hit six in the first three matches. But then he got injured and afterwards he didn’t score for ages.”

fcbayern.de Ottmar Hitzfeld believes your record will still be standing 50 years from now.
Gerd Müller: “I think that if no-one does it this season, then no-one will manage it for a long time. But if anyone is capable score 40 goals, it would be Miroslav Klose.”

**Vargas_4** · 06-10-2007, 08:54 PM

I wanna see Jan Schlaudraff get more minutes!

**Trim** · 08-10-2007, 05:15 PM

Our league goal difference is 22 now.

25 scored, only 3 conceded.

9 matchdays played.

**Trim** · 08-10-2007, 05:20 PM

The 174th Oktoberfest came to a close on Sunday, breaking new records for turnover and the volume of beer consumed. In the suburb of Fröttmaning, some seven miles from the city centre fairground, thousands of Bayern fans saluted their heroes as the men in red signed off for a two-week international break by setting a record of their own.

“It was a great game and we played fabulous football. We rewarded the crowd again and they’ve enjoyed it. People are going home totally satisfied,“ smiled Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after Munich completed a stylish 3-0 victory over Bavarian rivals 1. FC Nürnberg and extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga standings.

Beckenbauer impressed

“Five points clear of Karlsruhe, six clear of Bremen, seven clear of Schalke, 13 clear of Stuttgart – that’s a decent lead,” commented Rummenigge after the club’s best start in nine seasons. Bayern have only bettered the current record once, in Ottmar Hitzfeld’s first term at the helm back in 1998-9, when they opened with 25 points from eight wins and a draw, ultimately taking the title by 15 points from Bayer Leverkusen.

“Bayern are very impressive at the moment,” observed club president Franz Beckenbauer, praising the team’s attacking instincts: “25 goals scored and only three conceded - that says it all.“ Bayern’s goal difference of +22 after nine games is a new Bundesliga record. “This team can go far, it has quality and desire,” Rummenigge continued, before adding a warning: “Let no-one think we’re home and dry. No-one’s ever been crowned champions after nine matches.“

Superior in every respect

Nevertheless, few would bet against the Bavarians completing a lights-to-flag run to their 21st domestic championship. Sunday’s 69,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena watched a Bayern side “superior to us in every respect,” seasoned Nürnberg boss Hans Meyer freely admitted. “We had very little chance of taking anything from today’s game, especially not when Bayern simply let the ball do the work in such an amazing fashion.”

After struggling to unpick the visitors’ packed defence for the first quarter of the game, the Reds began firing on all cylinders midway through the first period and could easily have led at half-time by more than the goals from Luca Toni (31) and Zé Roberto (40). “We were flying, we passed very well and piled on the pressure,” Hitzfeld observed, delighted by “one of the best halves of football we’ve played this season.”

So far, so good

Bayern continued to press after the interval, but were a shade careless with their chances and only increased the margin of victory when Toni completed his first brace for the club with nine minutes to go. Hitzfeld was in no mood to criticise his men. “I was very pleased with our approach today, we passed well and put them under pressure. If we can keep winning games like this, we’ll finish as champions.“

Looking back on the first phase of intense activity this season, in which Bayern have recorded six wins and a draw from seven matches, the General declared himself pleased with the opening quarter of the campaign: “The team has emphatically indicated we’re among the favourites for the title,” the 58-year-old remarked. The thousands in Fröttmaning may well have a number of festival days ahead in the months leading up to May 2008.

**Trim** · 08-10-2007, 05:22 PM

I LOVE THIS CLUB!
Oh God, how much I do.

**Trim** · 10-10-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Klose, Lahm und Ribéry Weltfußballer-Kandidaten

Mit Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm und Franck Ribéry zählen drei Spieler des FC Bayern zum 30-köpfigen Kandidatenkreis für die Wahl zum Weltfußballer des Jahres 2007. Nach der Vorauswahl der FIFA schreiten nun die Spielführer und Trainer der Nationalteams zur Wahl. Anfang Dezember wird die FIFA die Namen der drei Spieler veröffentlichen, die die meisten Stimmen erhalten haben. Am 17. Dezember wird der Gewinner dann im Rahmen der 17. FIFA World Player Gala im Züricher Opernhaus geehrt.

Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm and Franck Ribéry are the 3 Bayern players among the other 30 players from teams all over the world, competing for the prestigious award of 'FIFA Player of the Year 2007'.

By December, the closest 3 names will be learned.
While the winner will be announced on 17 December.

---

I personally don't think one of our players have a chance in getting one of the top 3 places.

But, as things are going right now, Ribery and Klose can be candidates for one of the 3 places for next year's award.

**Trim** · 10-10-2007, 07:01 PM

Despite Bayern’s five point lead in the league, achieved thanks to the Bundesliga’s best attacking and defensive records, a large proportion of the squad will turn their attention away from the club’s superb start to the season over the next week and a half. A total of ten stars have been called up for international duty in a busy programme of EURO 2008 and World Cup qualifying ties.

Marcell Jansen, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger can help Germany seal a berth at the European Championships when Joachim Löw’s side travel to face Ireland on Saturday 13 October. The following Wednesday (17 October), the Germans entertain the Czech Republic at the Allianz Arena in the match which could settle first place in qualifying Group D.

Comeback for Toni

Jan Schlaudraff and injury victims Philipp Lahm and Miroslav Klose also travelled to Germany’s Berlin team base on Tuesday, as Löw summoned an expanded squad of 35 players for a pre-EURO get-together. The trio returned to Munich on Wednesday.

The 2006 World Cup host nation are all but assured of their place in Austria and Switzerland next summer, but the situation is considerably less clear-cut for Franck Ribéry and Luca Toni in Group B, where just two points cover Scotland, Italy and France at the head of the section. Toni is set to return for the Azzurri after pulling out of the previous international round in September, as the World Cup holders go in search of victories at home to Georgia and away to Scotland which would see them top the group.

Wary Altintop

An Italy win in Glasgow would benefit Ribéry, as France could then overtake the Scots, provided the Equipe tricolore defeat the struggling Faeroes and Lithuania.

Over in Group C, Hamit Altintop and his Turkey team-mates are hoping to take a giant stride towards a qualifying berth by defeating bottom team Moldova and leaders Greece. Turkey are handily placed in third, but Altintop issued a strong warning before the Moldova clash: “It’s an incredibly important match. We’ve unexpectedly dropped points against the smaller teams in the past.“

World Cup action in South America

The chances of Daniel van Buyten appearing at next summer’s EURO remain remote, as Belgium lie a lowly fifth in Group A with four matches remaining, eight points off the second qualifying berth currently occupied by Finland. The Red Devils urgently need a win at home to the Finns on Saturday to preserve their faint hopes, before Armenia visit Brussles the following Wednesday.

As normal, Martin Demichelis and Lucio will clock up the most air miles at the outset of the marathon South American qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Argentina and Demichelis host Chile on 13 October before visiting Venezuela on 16 October, while Lucio and Brazil travel to Colombia and entertain Ecuador, playing the day after the Argentines on each occasion. Ten nations contest a league format in South America, with the top four qualifying directly for the global finals and the fifth-placed finishers entering a play-off.

Fürstner in Indian adventure

The honour of the most unconventional trip belongs to greenhorn professional Stephan Fürstner. The 20-year-old, currently completing his national service, joins up with the German armed forces national team for the football tournament at the World Military Games from 10 to 20 October in Hyderabad, India. Germany’s first round opponents are Cameroon and North Korea, with the top two progressing to the quarter-finals.

**Trim** · 10-10-2007, 07:01 PM

Ottmar Hitzfeld supervised a rump squad of just eight senior stars and three up-and-coming hopefuls in Wednesday’s first training session of the break for international matches, although the coaching staff has promised a demanding schedule for the players left behind in Munich.

Goalkeepers Michael Rensing and Bernd Dreher pursued a separate programme, while fitness coach Zvonko Komes put the remainder of the squad through their paces with a series of uphill sprints, a dash round a course formed from poles and low hurdles, and a final punishing exercise centred on pulling weights.

Sosa returns

For all the rigour and the small size of the group, 22-year-old José Ernesto Sosa visibly enjoyed every minute of his return to the squad programme following a five-week lay-off to recuperate from surgery to remove bone splinters from his right ankle.

Ottmar Hitzfeld is hopeful of seeing the Argentine back in match action very soon: “He may yet be in contention for the Bochum trip, and definitely by the time of the meeting with Dortmund,“ the coach explained. Miroslav Klose (shin) should also be fit again soon. “I hope to see him training with the team again next week. That would be perfect,“ Hitzfeld remarked.

Zé Roberto absent, Kahn back in Munich

Klose is not yet at the stage where he can contemplate running. “Miro still has a touch of fluid around the injured area,“ Hitzfeld explained, although the striker should get the green light to go jogging any day now.

Zé Roberto will be absent for a short time, as the Brazilian called in sick with the flu on Wednesday, although Oliver Kahn dropped by the Säbener Strasse for the first time since undergoing surgery in the USA. The club captain was still heavily bandaged on his right elbow, but Hitzfeld said the operation had been “optimal”. The keeper should be back in action by early November.

Lahm closer to fitness than Sagnol

Philipp Lahm (stretched knee ligaments) should also be fit again at about the same time after missing out since sustaining the injury in early September. “I’m guessing he’ll be able to play again in two to three weeks,” Hitzfeld said. On a less positive note, no date has been set for the return of Lahm’s fellow full-back Willy Sagnol (convalescence after knee surgery). The France star managed a few laps of the training ground on Wednesday. “He’s a long way off resuming the team sessions,“ Hitzfeld commented.