Comments on: Bayern Munich 2.0: A Piece of Art or Desperation

By: Dafeld

Dafeld — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:45:20 +0000

Altintop was just backup in the first half and the beginning of the second half of the season, but in the last 5 or 6 matches, he fought his way back to the starting XI. If he wants to leave the bench in Munich, he will have to keep that level for the complete season. He might also profit from other players´ injuries, as he can play on any position on the right wing (this is why I compared him to Salihamidzic, who also had to play on various positions).

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:27:37 +0000

Fernando: yes, they had a bad season in 1994/95 (6th place). Although the didn’t dramatically rebuild the team then. But Jürgen Klinsmann joined them and they won the UEFA Cup next year. But as you pointed out didn’t manage to win the Bundesliga title (2nd place).

Dafeld: Altintop wasn’t really a player that was on my radar last season and I wondered wether he had a chance for a spot in the starting XI.

By: Dafeld

Dafeld — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:49:13 +0000

I agree with Fernando: I think that Munich bought real quality, but even players of that skill need some time to become a team (plus some of them have to get used to a new country and a new language).
As a Schalke-supporter, I´m quite sad that Hamit Altintop left his home town Gelsenkirchen. If he manages to keep his form of the last games of the season, he will take Salihamidzic´s place.

By: Fernando Arteaga

Fernando Arteaga — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:12:22 +0000

i was a baby back then, but in the nineties, after a bad season (Mid table) , Bayern got a lot of great players (Scholl, Jorginho, Helmer, Mathäus) and still they didnt performed that well, they werent champions until the next year. So im still skeptic about how will Bayern perform next season.

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:55:56 +0000

Now that you mention those contracts again. I just remembered an interview that Michael Ballack gave when he was preparing to leave the club. Uli Hoeness was still eager to keep him and offer him a new contract. Michael Ballack said in the interview that he refused to have a private talk with Uli Hoeness and only negotiated with Munich through his agent because he feared that should he talk with Uli privately he would agree on a new contract with Munich.

Uli has mastered the art of persuasion and unless you are clearly aware of that, like Ballack was, you’re doomed.;-)

By: Inara

Inara — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 03:30:07 +0000

I think there is something going on with those contracts Uli is handing out. I mean, Ribery and Klose both swore up and down that they wanted CL football/a foreign experience. Then they sign for Bayern. Luca Toni too!

I’ve heard about Lyon’s interest in Klose, but according to the club, they claim that Werder offered Klose in exchange for Diarra + cash, which the club refused.

I personally think that Lyon were interested in Klose and the club just said that to cover their tracks. It’s no secret that Lyon need a good striker.

In any case, I hope Diarra goes to Bremen anyway. It’s a great club with great players, and I think he’d do well there.

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:51:18 +0000

Yup, I think you can add Podolski and Jansen to the wasted talent list as well. Although I also read that Ottmar Hitzfeld is a friend of rotating through the squad to give some players more time to rest and regenerate. So probably it won’t be that bad. And then again, teams like Bayern need depth or rather want depth in their squads to compensate for injuries without losing quality. Still a pity.

By: Steven

Steven — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:05:29 +0000

Well, obviously they are going to be pretty potent up top. Franck Ribery and Ze Roberto should be pretty good as well. I still think Bayern will be suspect to giving up goals though.

I’m disappointed to see players like Schlaudraff and Sosa go to Bayern, though. As you said in your article, they will see nothing but the bench. What a waste of talent!