FCB - General Talk

[skeeta]

Yep, the current Kicker has an article in which Rummenigge says that Bayern is considering quitting the G14 because "everyone are only out for themselves" and "money has ruined football".

Germans usually aren't that good at self parody.

[Oliver_Kahn]

What's your opinion on this subject ?

[skeeta]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

What's your opinion on this subject ?

Bayern are just as bad as the teams Rummenigge is complaining about in the context of the German league and market. In fact, they are arguably worse, as they were hell bent on having a monopoly where Chelsea, Barca, Real Madrid, the Milan clubs, etc. are rather happy with as many as three or four "big" clubs in any one league.

All of which is why I called this self parody when I posted about the German article yesterday. Sniff.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by skeeta

Bayern are just as bad as the teams Rummenigge is complaining about in the context of the German league and market. In fact, they are arguably worse, as they were hell bent on having a monopoly where Chelsea, Barca, Real Madrid, the Milan clubs, etc. are rather happy with as many as three or four "big" clubs in any one league.

You're maybe right about that, but Bayern established themselves as the big gun in Germany by winning CLs and Bundesliga titles, that's why they are so much bigger and powerful than the other German teams.

[Oliver_Kahn]

On a monthly basis, Bayern boss Felix Magath takes time out to offer fcbayern.de an exclusive assessment of events over the preceding weeks. Casting his eye back over the month of November, the 51-year-old commented on the campaign so far, Bayern's rivals in the Bundesliga title race, and Sebastian Deisler's fine comeback.

Felix Magath on…

…his side's form over the preceding month: "I think we can definitely say we've got our act together and moved on in November, even if it's often needed us to go a goal down. One of our greatest strengths is our belief in ourselves, our morale, and our ability to bounce back after going behind."

…the campaign to date: "The first half of the season has proved as tough as we expected, because of the World Cup and our limited preparation time. We knew it would happen, we never expected anything else, and I reckon we've got to bear that in mind when assessing the team up to Christmas."

…Sebastian Deisler's comeback: "The match in Hamburg showed how much we've been missing a player like him, prepared to set off on a run and provide the creative spark. But we've already talked to him about taking it easy until the winter break, and keeping the pressure off him. We can't demand he plays as well as that every time. He won't start at the weekend."

…his targets for December: "I'd like us to recover top spot in the league, go through to the next round in the Cup, and take at least a point from our Champions League meeting with Inter Milan, so that we finish top of our group. I think we should be able to handle our league programme, so our goal of spending the winter break in first place is entirely realistic."

…Bayern's Bundesliga title rivals: "We can assume that the top four at the moment will divide the spoils between themselves. For me, the real surprise is VfB Stuttgart, who rate as new arrivals on the scene with a young team. We have to assume they'll get even better."

[Oliver_Kahn]

He'll be back when we need win, on February after the Winter break.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Hamburg keeper Stefan Wächter had the misfortune to save a Roy Makaay drive with his face last weekend, an experience the shot-stopper would probably rather not repeat: a measurement taken last March revealed the Dutch ace has the hardest shot in the Bundesliga at 137 km/h. A similar exercise conducted at the club on Wednesday by partner T-Com confirmed the striker's place at the top of the Bayern "hardest shot" rankings with a speed of 122 km/h.

"We only got one shot each, so you needed a little luck in terms of striking the ball well," Makaay modestly explained the following day. The 31-year-old has been anything but modest out on the field of late with six goals and two assists in his last eight Bundesliga outings. Not only that, but Saturday's visitors are Borussia Monchengladbach, opponents Makaay evidently relishes.

Four goals in two matches

"I'm in good shape and I've been scoring freely in recent matches," the Dutch ace remarked on Thursday. "I want to keep it going through to the winter break." The next opportunity arrives on Saturday, with Makaay recalling a double strike in both the 3-0 and 3-1 victories over Monchengladbach last season. "And if I fail to score, Claudio will get one. He's in good form as well," Makaay smiled.

Makaay's regular partner Claudio Pizarro has found the net in three successive Bundesliga matches, and fired a brace against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League. "He's not just scoring, he's extremely lively too," coach Felix Magath enthused.

Score to settle

The 28-year-old Peru hitman has something of a score to settle with Saturday's visitors. Monchengladbach are the only current Bundesliga club yet to concede a Pizarro goal, so the striker is keen to remedy the omission at the weekend.

From the club's point of view, it is of no concern whether Roy or Claudia get the goals, although for preference both would bulge the net. "They're both on top form. We can expect plenty of goals from them before Christmas," Magath predicted.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Reaction to Bayern v Borussia Monchengladbach

Felix Magath: "Obviously we're disappointed. A single point isn't enough for us, although we put them under intense pressure in the second half. We always have trouble against defensively-minded teams. We had our chances as well, but the ball didn't want to go in. We lost concentration for an instant at 1-0 up, and conceded the equaliser."

[Oliver_Kahn]

We need a change

[Oliver_Kahn]

The German Football League (DFL) has finalised the exact dates and kick-off times for the first four Bundesliga matchdays in 2007, none of them featuring Bayern in the traditional Saturday afternoon kick-off slot.

The schedule, released by the league governing body on Monday, sees reigning champions Bayern officially open the second half of the league programme away to Borussia Dortmund on Friday 26 January. Kick-off at Signal Iduna Park, formerly known as the Westfalen stadium, is at 8.30 pm CET. Felix Magath's men continue their domestic campaign the following Tuesday, 30 January, in an 8 pm kick-off against VfL Bocum on home turf at the Allianz Arena.

Nuremberg and Bielefeld on Sunday

Following the two fixtures under floodlights, the Reds then contest their next two matches in the Sunday afternoon slot. Munich travel to Bavarian rivals Nuremberg on 4 February, before entertaining Arminia Bielefeld a week later on 11 February. Kick-off for the two Sunday fixtures is at 5 pm CET.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Reaction to Bayern v Internazionale


Felix Magath: "We dictated the pace from the start, although we never intended to open up too much, as we knew a draw would be enough and we also knew Italian teams are extremely good at defending a lead. That's why we didn't play with as much bravado as you can do at home. It was important to avoid conceding a goal, we had a chance or two in the first half, and we were always on top of the situation. We were careless for a moment at the end, as we thought we'd got the game won, but in contrast to what happened last season against Juventus, the goal we let in was only for the record books. The advantage from finishing first is to play the second leg of the last sixteen tie at the Allianz Arena, and last season, seven of the eight group winners made the quarter-finals. There are no easy opponents anymore, looking at a list including Barcelona, Real Madrid and AS Rome. After winning our first three matches, we've drawn the next three, oddly enough, so I'm not totally surprised by tonight's result. There are no grounds for regarding our group stage performance in a negative light, as there were no guarantees we'd qualify so comfortably."

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayern's 1-1 draw with Internazionale on Tuesday evening meant the Reds achieved their target for the night and finished top of Champions league Group B. A record of three wins and three draws from their six fixtures sees the German champions qualify for the last sixteen as group winners for the first time since 2001-2.

"We've got what we wanted. We're all delighted and happy to be entering the draw as one of the group winners," coach Felix Magath enthused after the game in front of a 66,000 full house at the Allianz Arena. The Reds boss reckoned he and his side would be unperturbed by a knockout round tie against the defending champions. "I wouldn't mind playing Barcelona. We're at home in the second game. That's an advantage I like to have against a strong team."

Outstanding group campaign

Uli Hoeneß was not prepared to look that far into the future, preferring to praise the manner in which Bayern marched into the last sixteen. "We've completed an outstanding group campaign, and we've finished undefeated as group winners. We never dreamed it would go so well. I'm very satisfied," the general manager beamed.

"It was a game for the purists," Hoeneß remarked after 90 minutes of football "at the highest tactical level" in which both sides watched and waited for their opponents to make a mistake. "There were a few quiet phases, but that's how it is sometimes," the Munich director observed, praising the home crowd for their patience and the fine atmosphere at the Allianz Arena. "The fans were tremendous tonight."

Lapse in concentration

Roy Makaay opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, "and it was a great goal, but Hasan Salihamidzic' pass was even better. Both were world-class," Hoeneß remarked. Bayern appeared set for a fourth win in six group fixtures, but a momentary lapse in stoppage time allowed Patrick Vieiera to level. "We lost concentration. We've got to learn from that," Daniel van Buyten grimaced.

"You can't afford an error at any time when you're playing at this level," Hoeneß reflected, and although the goal conceded ultimately affected nothing in terms of the group positions, it is sure to be a topic of conversation at the club. "That can't be happening. It would have been scandalous if we'd thrown it all away at the end due to carelessness and lack of concentration."

Fantastic team

Magath was equally concerned at a phenomenon which has happened to his side before. "It's definitely a problem we have to solve," the 53-year-old mused, although he was generally in a very positive mood. "But we've given notice we're capable of competing with the biggest clubs around."

According to Mark van Bommel, substituted in the 72nd minute to avert the acute danger of a second yellow card, Bayern are "not far off that status," although the midfielder who won Europe's elite competition with Barcelona last season had a warning for his team-mates: "Conceding goals at home in the last minute could be fatal in the next round." Nevertheless, Bayern were a "fantastic team," provided such lapses can be eliminated.

Beware the Spanish

The Bayern camp is already licking its collective lips ahead of the draw for the first knockout round on 15 December, where Munich could find themselves up against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid or AS Rome. "It really doesn't matter who you get, although I'd prefer not to go to Spain," van Bommel remarked.

Before then, the Bavarians have a few remaining tasks before heading off on a well-deserved Christmas break. "We've still got three matches, two in the Bundesliga against Cottbus and Mainz, and then a German Cup tie in Aachen. If we win all three, it'll be a happy Christmas."

[Oliver_Kahn]

The G14 and Bayern Munich have resolved their differences with the German champions cementing their position in the group of Europe's 18 most powerful clubs, G14 chairman David Dein said on Thursday.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told a magazine last month that his club were considering leaving the Brussels-based organisation but following a following a meeting of the G14 general assembly, Dein said the matter had been resolved.

"I spoke directly to Karl-Heinz on this and as far as I am concerned Bayern Munich are very much part of G14," the Arsenal vice-chairman said.

"The comments were out of frustration, which happens sometimes. But I am satisfied that this is an end to it and Munich have offered to host the next G14 assembly."

Bayern were among the founder members of the G14 in 2000 with the aim of protecting the interests of Europe's top clubs, including Real Madrid, AC Milan and Manchester United, over issues such as television money.

In the November interview with Kicker magazine, Rummenigge hit out at the group, saying clubs from Spain, Italy and England were looking out only for themselves in a sport ruled by selfishness.

http://www.eurosport.com/football/bu...o1027233.shtml

[Oliver_Kahn]

Reaction to Bayern v Energie Cottbus

Felix Magath: "I'm not going to put a spin on today's victory. Yet again, we've struggled against defensive opponents and looks short of creative ideas. You can't fault the team for commitment, but we currently don't look sharp enough to unpick a packed defence. We struggled and Energie played well. Cottbus must be the only team to have more shots on goal at the Allianz Arena than we did, which just demonstrates the scale of our problems. But the three points keep us in touch at the top. We have to accept we've not been particularly good at home up to now, but we're convinced it'll be a lot better after the winter break."