Liga-Pokal (League Cup) 06/07 - Winners SV Werder Bremen - TalkSoccer

**Pennywise** · 02-08-2006, 06:05 PM

Werder Bremen moved into the final of the German League Cup with a 2-1 win over Hamburg.

The competition is the traditional curtain raiser to the Bundesliga season and a crowd of over 27,000 witnessed Werder battled hard for victory.

Egyptian striker Mohamed Zidan fired Werder ahead on 50 minutes, but Hamburg's summer recruit from Kaiserslautern, Boubacar Sanogo drew his side level 20 minutes from time.

Hamburg's hopes of victory were dealt a blow as Nigel de Jong was dismissed 15 minutes from time and Werder took advantage of their numerical superiority to claim victory when Torsten Frings fired a fine shot into the corner eight minutes from time.

Werder will face the winners of Wednesday's semi-final between Bayern Munich and Schalke 04.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 02-08-2006, 08:41 PM

Bremen beat Hamburg 2-1 and Bayern beat Schalke 4-1 on penalties, after a 0-0 in the 90mins.

So who is going to win the Liga Pokal (League Cup) this year?
Bayern? or Bremen?
The game is on the 5th of August.

**Sven** · 02-08-2006, 08:50 PM

thought they were playing poker, i think bayern will take this.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 02-08-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvenD

thought they were playing poker, i think bayern will take this.

In friendlys Bremen is being stronger then Bayern, I don'r know if you knew, but Bayern lost to Uwara United (the 2nd place in the Japanese League, now that's embarassing) so anything can happen. I saw that game, without Ballack the team isn't the same. There's no one to pick the ball and organize.

**Sven** · 02-08-2006, 08:55 PM

i saw it mate was on eurosport. they show both bayern and wnder bremen games (pre season) i just think bayern have bit more class but they do need a leader.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 02-08-2006, 08:57 PM

I also saw on Eurosport. That Julio dos Santos, didn't do anything, only Podolski, Lahm and Schweinsteiger tried to win the game. Maybe they weren't focused on the game.

**Sven** · 02-08-2006, 09:02 PM

hmm good point ,lahm was excellent for me though.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 02-08-2006, 09:07 PM

Podolski also played well, he did an execelent 1st-half, maybe he became tired in the 2nd half, that's why he broke down a bit.
Let's wait and see what happens, the final is on the 5th of August.

**Pennywise** · 02-08-2006, 10:59 PM

Werder won 3-0 last time they played Bayern.

However, Bayern is the best German team but is it a team which can beat Munchen, its Werder.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 02-08-2006, 11:01 PM

Yes, certainly. Bremen is strong this year and Bayern is weaker. Still I hope Bayern wins!

Lazarus · 03-08-2006, 11:28 AM

I think the loss to Urawa Red's was more down to the fitness of the players. They are not fully match fit and the sharpness will come back.

But I think Bremen will just about edge the encounter as they may take the match more seriously as they will want at least 1 more trophy in the cabinet this season.

Magath has already sadi that he hopes the rest of the midfield take the mantle from Ballack and make a bigger contribution both individually and collectively. This may be a sign that Bayern are not going to bring a replacement for Ballack and if they do strengthen it will be in attack.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 03-08-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus

I think the loss to Urawa Red's was more down to the fitness of the players. They are not fully match fit and the sharpness will come back.

Yeah, maybe you're right, but it was embarassing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus

But I think Bremen will just about edge the encounter as they may take the match more seriously as they will want at least 1 more trophy in the cabinet this season.

I don't agree, Bayern will try to win, just to tell everyone that they are ready to win the Bundesliga, even without Ballack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Magath has already sadi that he hopes the rest of the midfield take the mantle from Ballack and make a bigger contribution both individually and collectively. This may be a sign that Bayern are not going to bring a replacement for Ballack and if they do strengthen it will be in attack.

Bayern should sign a top class AM, they already have 4 strikers (Podolski, Santa Cruz, Pizarro, Makaay), they really need someone for the midfield.

Lazarus · 03-08-2006, 03:50 PM

The Bremen point was more sarcasm as I was trying to say they won't win anything else this season.

On the last point, I agree with what you are saying, I am just syaing that the sign's coming out of Allianz Arena are that they won't be signing an AM to replace Ballack but will instead nurture a younger player into that role. I also agree they have enough strikers. With Bayern's phylosophy of not overspending it is also hard to see them spending 20+ million on a new AM even though they may have the capacity to do so.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 03-08-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus

On the last point, I agree with what you are saying, I am just syaing that the sign's coming out of Allianz Arena are that they won't be signing an AM to replace Ballack but will instead nurture a younger player into that role. I also agree they have enough strikers. With Bayern's phylosophy of not overspending it is also hard to see them spending 20+ million on a new AM even though they may have the capacity to do so.

Yeah, read something today, about not buying a replacement for Ballack. So who do you think is going to play in that position?
Schweinsteiger or Deisler arem't players to play in the middle, maybe Karimi could be a good choice, he played in that position last season when Ballack was injured. Julio dos Santos is too young to be given that responsability.

Lazarus · 03-08-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

Yeah, read something today, about not buying a replacement for Ballack. So who do you think is going to play in that position?
Schweinsteiger or Deisler arem't players to play in the middle, maybe Karimi could be a good choice, he played in that position last season when Ballack was injured. Julio dos Santos is too young to be given that responsability.

Well I think Shweinstieger is best played on the left hand side of midfield and Deisler on the right. I think, probably, Karimi will take up Ballack's place and supply the creativity in midfield. However, I don't think he has the mental atributes to make the same impact as Ballack i.e. he may not have the leadership qualities required.

It is clear to me, that the Bayern staff have decided to make the defence ultra-strong with the arival of Van Buyten and have added a bit more potency in their attack with the pacy Podolski. That may well be the way to go but it is sure that the team need to identify the player for Ballack's position and allow him suifficient time to settle into the role.

I think Bayern may have a slow start to the season but will pick up and ultimately take the Bundesliga crown.