[LaPalma]

Well, here's the thing for me:

1) When it comes to Bayern, they still have a very flawed defense. If they even sign Arturo Vidal, they'll have to bring in also another CB as well. Breno sucks, while van Buyten stopped being good long time ago. Badstuber isn't bad, but not good enough, same goes for Contento. They'd need someone from abroad, someone reliable.

Heynckes is a question mark for me, but I get where your optimism is coming from. It may result in something good, the whole story about his appointment. We'll see.

2) Dortmund is a big question mark too for me. They've got Kagawa back (who was instrumental for the first few weeks) and they've signed Perišić who's supposedly very good and talented, even if I watched him a few times and he was awful in every occasion. I think they need one more signing to make up for Sahin's departure. Who? I'm not sure.

3) I don't think Leverkusen can hold on to their previous results. I'd say Schalke or a reformed HSV, even Wolfsburg - all of them have more chances in becoming dangerous to Bayern. Also, I'm very keen to see Gladbach and Stuttgart trying to start a better season then the last one.

1) I agree with what you said. Most of it at least. Badstuber still lacks experience and I think he's got the talent to become a lot better, unlike Contento. Bayern wants to sign Cities Jerome Boateng and I think he'll be a valuable reinforcement for them to his versatility. He can play CB, WB and DM. Plus, Bayern now has Manuel Neuer and he already proofed that he#s the best possible solution to make up for a lawsy defense.

2) I think Ilkay Gündogan is meant to be Sahins replacement. He's been very good at Nürnberg last season and I'm quite sure he can still improve a lot. But he's not a deep lying playmaker like Sahin is, he's a bit more attack-minded. So I'm curious to see if he can live up to his task as new Pirlo-type midfielder.

3)Leverkusens coach Robin Dutt is a guy I really respect. What he did at Freiburg was exceptional. He's a good tactician who knows how to teach young players a thing or two. Schalke is, for me, the biggest question mark in the league. But I think that they won't be able to achieve anything more than a spot in the Euro league. They lost their iconic leader and best player Manuel Neuer. Their still in massive financial trouble and have to get rid of Magaths legacy 8all the crappy players he bought). Gladbach and Stuttgart will probably be mid-table teams next year, which should be a success for Gladbach. Wolfsburg needs a complete refit to fight for a CL-spot again. After the trouble with Diego in the seasons last week I doubt he'll ever play for them again. Or, I hope so.

[CHU-LIP]

Congratz to Fortuna Düsseldorf for winning the Derby-Cup vs Borussia Mönchengladbach and Alemannia Aachen. I didn't watch Düsseldorf vs Aachen, but I did watch Borussia vs Düsseldorf and Aachen. In both halfs (each game existed of one half) Borussia failed to score drewing 0-0. At least vs Aachen Gladbach won the PK shootout, though that game Aachen dominated ruining lots of goalscoring chances. Against Aachen Gladbach played with Stranzl and Dante in central defense, their starters, so not really good to see all those chances for Aachen.

Talking about Dante: most of his hair is gone! He had a bunch of hair on his head (Felliani-ish). Now it's just short and normal.

Stranzl is an excellent PK taker (both times very convincing). And which I already knew Heimeroth is good in saving PK's, Ter Stegen not so much unfortunality.

Bad display from Borussia.

[Fillipo Simone]

Didn't Dante say he'll cut off his hair if Gladbach stays in Bundesliga?

[LaPalma]

He did.
Before:
(IMG:http://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/1008/Bilder/dante-interview-514.jpg)


After:
(IMG:http://www.borussia-fotos.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dante-ohne-haare-300x225.jpg)

[kurtsimonw]

Jerome Boateng from Man City to Bayern Munich - £15m

[LaPalma]

Dortmund totally dominated yesterdayys opening match of the Budnesliga. Amazing display. It's as if they just play the great football of the last season. Only slightly better. 3-1 against Hamburg and it could easily have been 5-1. Kagawa, Großkreutz and especially 18yo Götze were unstoppable. I swear that this kid, Götze, will become a big star soon. Maybe the most talented German midfielder since Günter Netzer.
Uli Hoeneß was in Dortmund yesterday and he looked a bit scared (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Do you fancy Dortmund to go and win it again?

[kurtsimonw]

Who replaced Sahin?

[LaPalma]

Do you fancy Dortmund to go and win it again?

I usually prefer anyone else over Bayern. Don't particularly like Dortmund. They were bankrupt a few years ago and should have been relegated due to this, but they (Klopp as a coach and Zorc as manager) did a great job and built an amazing team and didn't spent big. That I respect.

Who replaced Sahin?

Ilkay Gündogan. Very talented kid who's been playing a good season for Nürnberg before. Not as good as Sahin but certainly on his way up. Löw recently nominated him for a friendly against Brazil.

Schalke-Stuttgart should be interesting today. Two underachievers from last season which both want to be among the top 5 again. I'm going for Schalke on this. Stuttgarts coach Labbadia is an idiot and the most overrated person in german football.

[CHU-LIP]

Uli Hoeneß was in Dortmund yesterday and he looked a bit scared (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Rightfully so.

Do you fancy Dortmund to go and win it again?

Yes. In my opinion they are clear favourites again. After yesterday's game, I can't imagine them not becoming champs again. I can't recall to ever enjoyed a half as much as Dortmund's first half. It was simply amazing, especially Mario Götze. Superstar in the making. It's just sick how good he is for his age, not only yesterday, but also last season. Dortmund plays simply terrific football. It was beautiful. Götze goal with Lewandowski's backflip was wonderful.

Only Bayern has got the potential to avoid them becoming champs again. I don't see it happen, though expect more of them this season obviously. It should be a nice battle between the two. Dortmund are really impressive, just like last season when they proved to do that on a consistent basis which is key for winning the league.

Schalke-Stuttgart should be interesting today. Two underachievers from last season which both want to be among the top 5 again. I'm going for Schalke on this. Stuttgarts coach Labbadia is an idiot and the most overrated person in german football.

I really don't see Stuttgart finishing top 5. Schalke should though, and I expect them to do so. Since they changed from coach they seem obvious better to me. They should be more consistent now; they have a good squad.

This post has been edited by CHU-LIP: Aug 6 2011, 01:56 PM

[Fillipo Simone]

Only Bayern has got the potential to avoid them becoming champs again. I don't see it happen, though expect more of them this season obviously. It should be a nice battle between the two. Dortmund are really impressive, just like last season when they proved to do that on a consistent basis which is key for winning the league.

Well, I expect at least 2-3 teams to be near the leading duo - Bayern and BVB. But I'd say Bayern will win this championship. Dortmunds football might be amazing, but they still lack some experience. Only truly great teams can pull off a double. Let's see..

I really don't see Stuttgart finishing top 5. Schalke should though, and I expect them to do so.

To paraphrase LaPalma, Rangnick is one of the most overrated coaches in Germany. I don't think he has made the needed changes. Their defensive line-up is more then problematic, and Rangnick is know as a coach who's start is good but ends up badly.

Fuchs is the only good player they signed. Beside that (and maybe Fährman), Metzelder, Jones, Raul, etc. all present certain problems that will pop-out during this season.

Maybe the most talented German midfielder since Günter Netzer.

Hey, hey, hey! I respect Netzer very much, but Andi Möller and Thomas Häßler would be my pick!

Stuttgarts coach Labbadia is an idiot and the most overrated person in german football.

Why do you think he's an idiot?

I must say, the last 2 years of Bundesliga are a bit different then in the past when it comes to coaches. Some real good young coaches appeared, but they seem to be a bit too serious, boring. I do miss clowns and weirdos like Neururer, Lorant or Mayer.

[LaPalma]

Well, I expect at least 2-3 teams to be near the leading duo - Bayern and BVB. But I'd say Bayern will win this championship. Dortmunds football might be amazing, but they still lack some experience. Only truly great teams can pull off a double. Let's see..

I think Dortmund plays better football than Bayern (obviously) and they have the more interesting players. And a more suited coach. Bayern is Heynckes first major job since he won the CL with Real in 1998. He was great at Leverkusen, but the environment at Bayern is a different one. In Leverkusen there's no media that questions your every decision, there's not a lot fans either and the management is very calm. At Bayern it's quite the opposite. I think it's the second hardest job after coaching Schalke. I dunno if Heynckes is up to the task.
Klopp on the other hand seems to become better every year. I didn't rate him a lot when he came to Dortmund. For me he was just a mediocre coach being most popular for his appearances on TV as "TV-coach of the nation". But what he did at Dortmund was big. Dortmunds championship last year is one of the very few in Budnesliga history which was won without spending big. Also Klopp and Zorc seem to be great duo. They can do it again, although Bayern won't give away this Meisterschaft as easily as the last one.

To paraphrase LaPalma, Rangnick is one of the most overrated coaches in Germany. I don't think he has made the needed changes. Their defensive line-up is more then problematic, and Rangnick is know as a coach who's start is good but ends up badly.

I think he's an expert in tactics. One of the best in the world. But he lacks quality when it comes to deal with players as human beings.

Fuchs is the only good player they signed. Beside that (and maybe Fährman), Metzelder, Jones, Raul, etc. all present certain problems that will pop-out during this season.

True. But I expect a lot from Julian Draxler. Talented kid. Could become the next Olaf Thon. Also, they didn't have any money to sign players.

Hey, hey, hey! I respect Netzer very much, but Andi Möller and Thomas Häßler would be my pick!

I thought about Häßler too. He was very talented but his career didn't live up to the hype. That's why I didn't mention him, cause I hope Götze will live up to the hype.

Why do you think he's an idiot?

I think Labbadia would be a great waiter in a nice Italian restaurant. But as coach he's a zero. He failed at Darmstadt in the third league and Fürth hired him as coach in the 2nd Budnesliga. He failed as well and Bayer Leverkusen, one of the top clubs in the Bundesliga hired him. Come on! he failed as well and Hamburg, an even bigger club hires him. He fails again and gets another chance at Stuttgart. Sorry, I don't get it...

I must say, the last 2 years of Bundesliga are a bit different then in the past when it comes to coaches. Some real good young coaches appeared, but they seem to be a bit too serious, boring. I do miss clowns and weirdos like Neururer, Lorant or Mayer.

Mayer wasn't a clown. I once had the honour to meet him and I think he's the most intelligent football coach in the world. Neururer...yeah, he's a clown, but I like him a lot. Miss guys like him, just like I miss players like Effenberg, Scholl or Basler. Todays players are mostly boring professionals.

[CHU-LIP]

Klopp is a brilliant coach. I have always rated him. He is mostly definitely key in Dortmund's success and amazing display. And I am confident he is capable of becoming champs with Dortmund again.

This post has been edited by CHU-LIP: Aug 7 2011, 03:22 PM

[Fillipo Simone]

Mayer wasn't a clown. I once had the honour to meet him and I think he's the most intelligent football coach in the world. Neururer...yeah, he's a clown, but I like him a lot. Miss guys like him, just like I miss players like Effenberg, Scholl or Basler. Todays players are mostly boring professionals.

I know. Yet, he's pretty weird, isn't he?

[CHU-LIP]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

Igor is his name! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fiesta.gif)