FCB - General Talk

[Trim]

Five days ahead of the Bundesliga showdown with closest pursuers Werder Bremen, a crop of injuries is causing concern in the Bayern camp. Alongside Franck Ribéry and Lucio, the name of Christian Lell has been added to the list of doubtful starters. “He’ll be missing for the next few days,” Ottmar Hitzfeld reported on Tuesday.

In further grim news, Franck Ribéry will be sidelined for “at least three weeks,“ according to France coach Raymond Domenech. The Bayern superstar sustained a hamstring injury in Bayern’s 2-1 win away to Hansa Rostock last Friday, and was ruled out of his country’s midweek friendly against Spain after an MRI scan carried out by the France medical staff.

Müller-Wohlfahrt treating Ribéry

The midfielder returned to Munich from the French training base in Clairefontaine near Paris on Tuesday, where he immediately reported for treatment from FCB chief medical officer Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt. “We can’t yet say how long he’ll be out,” Hitzfeld announced, “we’ll do everything we can to get him fit as soon as possible.“

Should the initial diagnosis by the France medical team prove correct, Ribéry would miss a number of critical fixtures for his club. Over the next three weeks, Bayern face Bundesliga showdowns with their title rivals from Bremen and Hamburg, and a two-legged UEFA Cup tie against FC Aberdeen.

Lay-off for Lucio

Hitzfeld has yet to decide a new shape for his team should the gifted wide player miss out on the weekend clash with Werder. “It’s completely open. We’ll have to wait until all our players return from international duty.“ A dozen Bayern stars are currently away representing their countries.

A question-mark continues to hang over Lucio’s fitness. The Brazilian, troubled by an inflamed Achilles, missed training on Tuesday for the second day in a row. On a more positive note, Michael Rensing continued his recuperation from back pain with an intensive jogging session.

Jansen back in training

The best news of the day concerned Marcell Jansen. After two and a half months on the sidelines following surgery to repair torn ankle ligaments, the 22-year-old resumed the squad training programme for the first time on Tuesday, although he will not achieve match fitness for a little while yet.

[Trim]

With the European championships barely five months away, Germany recorded a victory in the first international friendly of the year with a vastly improved second-half display to beat Euro 2008 joint hosts Austria 3-0 in front of a 48,000 crowd in Vienna. Former Bayern youth Thomas Hitzlsperger (53), Munich goal-getter Miroslav Klose (63) and Mario Gomez (80) scored the goals for a weakened Germany line-up.

“We can’t be happy with the first half, but we were better in the second half and played some good football,“ commented Philipp Lahm, who joined Bastian Schweinsteiger and Klose in covering the full match distance. The Bayern left-back remained critical of his side’s display. “Our movement, especially going forward, didn’t work out at all in the first half.“

Poldi provides assist

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.

Bundesliga leading scorer Luca Toni also added his name to the scoresheet on Wednesday evening as Italy defeated Portugal 3-1 in Zurich. Toni fired the World Cup holders into the lead on the stroke of half-time, before Pirlo doubled the advantage on 51 minutes. Quaresma (77) cut the arrears for the Portuguese, but Quagliarella (79) struck 30 seconds after coming on as a sub to seal the win.

No joy for Altintop and Sagnol

Hamit Altintop appeared for the first 61 minutes of Turkey’s meeting with Sweden in Istanbul, although the game was a disappointment and finished scoreless. Over in Malaga, Willy Sagnol’s first France outing in eleven months ended in defeat as Spain defender Joan Capdevila sent a 30,000 crowd into raptures with the only goal of the game after 82 minutes. Sagnol completed the full match distance.

Finally, winter signing Breno was a member of the senior Brazil squad for the friendly against Ireland in Dublin. The Selecao, without injured captain Lucio, won the match courtesy of Robinho’s fine 67th minute finish, but the new Bayern man failed to come off the bench

[Vargas_4]

The 5-1 Pittodrie pummelling at the hands of Celtic was made worse by the injured Aberdeen players who will now struggle to face Bayern Munich in midweek...

Aberdeen are set to have some key players missing for the already daunting visit of Bayern Munich on Thursday.

Stopper Zander Diamond and attacking midfielder Barry Nicholson have been crucial parts of Jimmy Calderwood’s side this term. However, they both limped out of the 5-1 defeat to Celtic at the weekend, though, alongside Ricky Foster.

Derek Young was also battered and bruised come the end of a miserable afternoon. With Jamie Smith unable to play against the Hoops, Jimmy Calderwood now has a massive selection headache.

Indeed, the new-look Dons defence was sliced open time and again by the razor-sharp Glasgow men and the absence of Diamond could be disastrous.

"As far as injuries go it looks like Barry, Foster and Young will all be major doubts but nothing is confirmed and we will just have to see how things work out throughout the week," Calderwood confirmed.

"It is like an emergency ward and it looks as if we could be missing quite a few of them on Thursday, which is a concern."

Meanwhile, Bayern remained three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday after a hard-fought draw against second-placed Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Munich, 11 February 2008: Swiss luxury watchmaker EBEL has been unveiled as official timing partner of FC Bayern Munich for five years from 1 July 2008. “We’re extremely proud to announce this partnership,” commented Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, “I’m certain it will be a very interesting and close relationship. EBEL watches are extremely well-regarded and sporting.“ Rummenigge, a keen collector of watches, believes a timepiece should reflect the wearer’s lifestyle and personality. “Ebel and Bayern fit well together. FC Bayern is unique, Ebel is unique.“

EBEL managing director Thomas van der Kallen underlined the synergies between the brands. “Bayern Munich belongs to the elite and represents more than simply football,” he declared. The Architects of Time, as EBEL are styled, thus perfectly complement the Architects of Victories, van der Kallen’s description of Bayern.

EBEL expanding in football

“This is an important and meaningful agreement for us,” commented EBEL Northern Europe managing director Loek Oprinsen. The Swiss watchmaker, an established sponsor in tennis, golf and Formula 1, boast a successful co-operation with London footballing giants Arsenal and are currently negotiating with a number of leading European clubs. “Our goal is to become timing partner for Europe’s biggest clubs,“ Van der Kallen explained.

From 1 July 2008, EBEL will feature wherever timing plays a role at the Allianz Arena, on the video screens for example. The most visible aspect of the partnership will be a special FC Bayern watch featuring the club crest. “We will jointly launch a limited edition watch especially for our fans,” Rummenigge announced. The Kaliber 245 timepiece, to be presented in April, will be a special football chronograph with an additional indication of the two halves of a match plus stoppage time.

Rummenigge’s wish

The players may be the first recipients of the new luxury watch. “I’d be delighted if we were able to present every member of the team with a watch,” Rummenigge commented, directing a special request to the club’s new partner. “I’ve asked Mr Van der Kallen if he’d care to make a watch which goes slower when we’re losing and speeds up when we’re winning,” the Bayern chairman quipped. “We would if we could,” Van der Kallen smiled in return.

[Trim]

Despite his team’s three-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists the German giants are treated harshly by referees in the domestic league.

Rummenigge says referee Thorsten Kinhoefer’s decision to disallow a goal by Bayern striker Luca Toni in the 76th minute of last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen, only demonstrates how unfairly his side is treated.

“It shows how we face a disadvantage in Germany,” Rummenigge told Munich newspaper TZ after the goal was judged to have been offside.

And Rummenigge goes as far as to accuse a linesman who officiated his side’s 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen last September of not allowing Bayern a goal through fear of reprisals by fans.

“The ball was a half metre behind the goal line and our general manager Uli Hoeness asked the linesman why he had not signalled the goal,” Rummenigge told German tabloid Bild.

“The linesman replied he thought the ball had crossed the line for a goal, but he had not dared to indicate it.

“Because if you give a decision against Bayern nothing happens, but if you make a decision like that in Bayern’s favour, you get a week of abuse in the media and on the telephone.”

Rummenigge: Refs are too hard on us « Bayern Lounge

[Vargas_4]

A list of the wealthiest football clubs in terms of revenue...

1) Real Madrid: £236.2m
2) Man Utd: £212.1m
3) Barcelona: £195.3m
4) Chelsea: £190.5m
5) Arsenal: £177.6m
6) AC Milan: £153m
7) Bayern Munich: £150.3m
8) Liverpool: £133.9m
9) Inter Milan: £131.3m
10) AS Roma: £106.1m

German giants Bayern Munich in seventh place are the only representative not from England, Spain or Italy.

The figures are based on income from ticket sales, merchandising, broadcasting and more, but are not based on profitability nor do they include money made in the transfer market.

[Trim]

It's a shame, we have fallen so much. I bet it will increase though.

[Stephan]

I'm just glad to see Bayern being more wealthy than Liverpool.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Stephan

I'm just glad to see Bayern being more wealthy than Liverpool.

Well welcome to the forum mate

[Stephan]

Thanks! I was a regular on Trim's Website.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Stephan

Thanks! I was a regular on Trim's Website.

Yeah Trim told me so. Good to have you around, the more Bayern fans the better

[Munchen Minded]

Damn with all the money Real Madrid spend on players and other stuff its amazing that their brand pulls in so much. It seems that German club images aren't that well known around the world. But with Bayern now resolute to making sure they get back into the CL and staying there, and after their big name spending spree, then hopefully more money coming in. And by the way, I am damn glad Aloffs had committed to Werder instead of coming to Bayern to replace Hoeness when he becomes president. We need ex bayern players at the helm!

[Stephan]

Originally Posted by Munchen Minded

Damn with all the money Real Madrid spend on players and other stuff its amazing that their brand pulls in so much. It seems that German club images aren't that well known around the world. But with Bayern now resolute to making sure they get back into the CL and staying there, and after their big name spending spree, then hopefully more money coming in. And by the way, I am damn glad Aloffs had committed to Werder instead of coming to Bayern to replace Hoeness when he becomes president. We need ex bayern players at the helm!

Apparently hoeness wants kahn to take his place, but I think Kahn wants to take at least a couple years off, away from football.
But that would be awesome having Kahn as General Manager for Bayern though.

[Vargas_4]

^ Kahn is going to take a break and then head to China to train goalkeepers. I think he's going to be paid really well there, i guess. I don't see him taking a job at Bayern any time soon. I think after 2010 but who knows.

[Munchen Minded]

Kahn would be a fitting replacement to Hoeness as Kahn shoots his mouth off blasting the team like Hoeness does

But it looks like Bayern would have to find someone else -- hopefully it doesn't turn into a major speculation issue like the whole Hitzfeld replacement.