Re: Ze German Thread

[VivaStPauli]

We suck so bad, can't wait for Löw to get sacked.

[rwo power]

I bet you can wait for a while longer until he gets sacked...

[urbaNRoots]

Yep, Löw and DFB are probably speaking about a new contract right now. It sucks for the fans but there's nothing else to do but support the team anyway.

Hopefully Löw has experimented enough and starts to use his best team from now on. I won't hold my breath though.
..

[urbaNRoots]

Löw post match interview:

"Löw: After the game today we are going to talk about my contract. I don't think that something will get in the way there."

"Löw: If we fail at the WC, I would reconsider my decision to extend the contract. The expectations in Germany are very high."

[Sina]

then who would you suggest for his Successor?
--------
any update on Özil?

[urbaNRoots]

Löw didn't mention Özil in his press conference which most likely means it's nothing too serious.

[VivaStPauli]

But seriously, we need to talk about defense. Let's stop mindlessly bashing random defenders, neither of them was really at fault for any of the goals. The entire defensive composure of the team sucked.

Löw has become the Louis van Gaal of international coaches, we look like 2010s Bayern in defence. This will make us impressive flat-track bullies, and able to outgun any team with some luck, but we won't win any knockout tournament like this.

We need a shift in priorities like Bayenr had under Heynckes. We need the entire team to defend. Sure, the scoring took a nosedive in the first few games under Heynckes, but the scoring also went back up pretty fast, but the defensive composure didn't go away.

I know Löw wants to think the defense up starting at the offense, thinking we can play an incredibly high line if we press early enough, which is half-right, but I'd rather we come at it from the other direction, reminding our team that the offense starts at the defense.

Composure first, shield our goal, move into position - our offense is good enough to not rely on crowding the box, or overloading hte pitch in the last third, I'd rather we exploit the technique, touch, and speed of our forwards and sit back just a tiny bit deeper, collect the ball there, and make use of the fact we have three world class deep lying playmakers in Gündogan, Schweinsteiger, and Kroos (though Kroos is a bit better as an 8, but who cares for the sake of this argument) - and in front of them we have fast, creative players with decent finishing. I just don't see the need to sacrafice all our defensive composure for the sake of throwing everything at the opposing goal. We can score with much less, but we obviously can'T defend with this little cover.

I remember us being far more balanced, like in 2010, when Schweinsteiger and Khedira actually got to sit back deep enough to save our butts in defense.

[rwo power]

I think you pretty summed it up. Now if one could just manage to make Jogi Löw see the light!

[VivaStPauli]

What really bothers me is that it's so obvious he doesn't adress it. When Schweinsteiger said post-match that he'd rather win matches 2-0, Löw backtracked on this and basically said he doesn't care too much about goals conceded, unless they're the result of blatant mistakes, as long as they score more themselves.

That's a suicidal attitude.
And they blatantly refuse to train standards. They look like headless chickens during corners on either side, and while half the squad how to serve up a great free kick, the movement to take advantage of that sucks.

It's just infuriating this all results in Löw getting extension after extension, and this is not even touching on the issue of him using reactive scary-pants tactics against the most dangerous opponents, basically committing tactical suicide against Italy in 2012, opting to go for a defensive shape against Spain in 2010 - both of which arguably lost us those matches, or at least drastically reduced our chances to make the matches more open.

So first he spends years eroding the defensive solidity of the squad, and then he elects to employ a defensive game plan, which we don't know how to execute anymore, against the toughest opponents. That's just stupid.

And let's not even talk about the Kießling/Weidenfeller-conundrum.

[Toffer Harley]

word, but honestly: is there an alternative?

[rwo power]

word, but honestly: is there an alternative?

If just Jupp Heynckes were 10 years younger!

[urbaNRoots]

Ottmar Hitzfeld

The guy is still a world class manager who's probably happy managing Switzerland and is probably not interested in the job, but I would like the new manager to be of similar style. He doesn't even have to be a world class manager, just someone who's hasn't a problem managing 'big name' players and be able to learn this team to defend properly while doing the same selection of players in attack. It isn't that hard to find such a manager is it?

The style Germany play atm is cool for the neutral but so frustrating for the actual fan. This Germany reminds me of the times when Arsenal played beautiful football, reaching finals and semi finals but winning nothing because of poor defending. Atleast Wenger changed his ways, Löw doesn't even look he's trying to change his 'philosophy' which has won Germany nothing over the years despite the talent.

I really don't understand why DFB are rushing with the contract extension, atleast wait after the World Cup - who knows... the pressure might make him more cautious against the bigger sides and actually win the whole thing. Maybe... but we'll never know because according to reports a new 2 year deal will be signed soon.

[VivaStPauli]

I would love to get him, could still do us like 4 years of good, after that, Kloppo can take over.
Barring that, we could unretire Henyckes for the umpteenth time, or just do it right and get the Kaiser!

[rwo power]

Today the German Women NT play in Frankfurt/Main against Croatia in the qualification for the World Cup 2015.

After beating Russia 9:0 in Cottbus and Slovenia 13:0 in Koper, SLO (highest win ever in a World Cup qualification group for the German NT), they are currently held 0:0 at half-time against the Croatian ladies whose defense holds admirably so far.

Official livestream:
http://www.sportschau.de/fussball/frauenfussball/videostreamlivestreamdfbfrauengegenkroatien100.html (German proxy needed)

Germany:  Angerer - Wensing, Krahn, Bartusiak, Maier - Marozsan, Goeßling - Laudehr, Mittag, Behringer - Sasic.

Once Celia Sasic (née Okoyino da Mbabi) managed to miss the goal in best Mario Gómez style

FT - Germany 4:0 Croatia

[rwo power]

German NT Call-Up for the friendly against Italy:

GKs: René Adler (Hamburger SV), Manuel Neuer (Bayern München), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund)

Defense: Jerome Boateng (Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (FC Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)

Midfield: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Mario Götze (Bayern München), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern München), Thomas Müller (Bayern München), Mesut Özil (FC Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sidney Sam (Bayer Leverkusen), André Schürrle (FC Chelsea)

Strikers: Miroslav Klose (Lazio Rom), Max Kruse (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

You won't believe it - Jogi Löw really called up Roman Weidenfeller!!

[M99]

Still no Kiessling  

[rwo power]

You can't expect Jogi Löw to jump over two shadows at once

[VivaStPauli]

I'm currently thinking... If we win the world cup, I might be forced to buy one of the new kits.
They're ugly as f*ck.

I love my 2010 and 2012 kits, though. Especially the 2010 away kit still looks awesome.

[rwo power]

I read somewhere that the 2014 Away kit is supposed to be all black with that red bar. If that is true it might just look cool enough to me.

[futbol]

If we win the world cup

Löw winning World Cup.

[urbaNRoots]

Löw pretty much told us the starting XI against Italy in the press conference, Neuer will start, Boateng and Hummels because Per is out, Schmelzer comes back, Lahm, Kroos and Khedira in midfield etc...

It'll be something like this:

Neuer
Lahm Boateng Hummels Schmelzer
Khedira Kroos
Müller Götze Reus
Özil*

*assuming Özil is fit to start

[VivaStPauli]

We're getting trounced either way, no Schweini, no party.

[Casciavit]

Dat Muller Gotze Reus Ozil attack http://www.abridgedforums.com/images/smilies/abf/datass.gif

Gotzeus

[urbaNRoots]

Ding ding...

Official line-ups:

Neuer
Höwedes Boateng Hummels Jansen
Lahm Khedira
Müller Kroos Schürrle
Götze

Buffon
Abate Barzagli Bonucci Criscito
Pirlo
Motta Montolivo
Marchisio
Osvaldo Balotelli

[rwo power]

Sami Khedira suffered a rupture of his anterior and his inner cruciate ligament in the knee and will be out for at least half a year. Germany's DM woes worsen.

At least it seems that Bastian Schweinsteiger will return to proper training in January (he is supposed to return for the winter training camp of FC Bayern München.)

Maybe we will see the double Bender starting on Tuesday?

[ProXima]

These new trikots for the WC are mediocre. "Classic" green kits have been so much better...

Spoiler:

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