retired_jgirl87

Good start. I like seeing the summaries of the earlier seasons so that I can see how your current team has been built.

I'll be interested to see how your writing is now that you are going to give us more details on the current season.

KUTGW :thup:

retired_shijo007

Thanks Spav. I thought it would be better to post the history for a better overview instead of starting in the year 2008 with 4 seasons played already.


Your comment in my mind, I thought it would be better to post an overview of my current team. Who ist part of the team and on which position do they play. I try to summarize their past in the dress of Bayern Munich aswell.

Goalkeeper:
Absolutely my number One is Tim Wiese. The young goalie came from Kaiserlautern, three years ago. Even Oliver Kahn was noct able to stop his rise. Wiese is Europeanm Goalkeeper of the year for the past 2 seasons. One of the best goalkeepers worldwide he is not for sale. Munichs Manager told all interested clubs to keep their fingers off from Wiese who is essential for the team.

Nestor Peralta (or Michael Rensing) are both young goalkeepers and reserve. Since Wiese is number one, they just receive a handful of matches. Rensing asked for being transfered since he wants to play more often, but until now he did not find a new club. Peralta is a talented player. But he has much to learn. His problem is Tim Wiese. He will not get much practise. I hope he will adjust to the german lifestyle and he accepts sitting on the bench.

retired_shijo007

Left Defender:

Three very good players for just one position.
Currently being the main force is Dede. Brasilian international and with an 8.40 rating last season, he stormed the first team in his first season for Bayern.
Directly behind him is Philipp Lahm. The german international came back from Loan from Stuttgart 3 years ago and can play both sides of the pitch. Lahm is an extreme important player and plays as often as Dede does.
Third man for this position is steadily improving Christian Pander. The young german international gets his share of first team football and is getting better from season to season.

retired_shijo007

Right Defender:

A close fight for the number One spot. For four years Salihamidzic and Görlitz shared the matches. While Salihamidzic has a small advantage, Görlitz`great advantage is the age. At the age of 32 Salihamidzic (called Brazzo), he thinks of retirement. His career will surely end in Munich and with Görlitz getting very much time on the field, his successor is already waiting. And do not forget Philipp Lahm who can easily play on this position as well.

retired_shijo007

Central Defender

Two legends and 3 very good Defenders of middle age are fighting for 2 free spots.
Lucio and Alessandro Nesta, two legends in their thirties are surely an impressing first line for any striker. But Patrick rarely let them play together. He positions one of them beside Kevin Hofland and Christoph Metzelder. These four build a very good defense. The only problem about this position is the age. Metzelder is the youngest with 27 years. Experience is important, but Nesta and Lucio won`t play for 5 years anymore. Some young players should join Munichs defense within the next 1 or 2 years.
Robert Kovac is in his last season for Munich. 34 years old, he gets weaker and slower. He had great success and a great time at Bayern, but his contract will not be renewed. If he ends his career or looks for a new challenge is up to him. Right now he is a valuable reserve if the main four defenders get injured or booked.

retired_shijo007

Defensive Midfielder

In Munich, Bayern plays with one defensive midfielder. In away games they play with two of them. Currently Munich has 4 players for these positions.
Torsten Frings, veteran german midfielder, is the leader in our midfield. Frings is an essential member of our squad and number one. Beside him Owen Hargreaves, english international, is an important player. Hargreaves is a very good reserve or partner for Frings. In very difficult situations, Hargreaves would also be able to play as a defender.
Behind them, Levan Kobiashvili (georgian international) and Leon Andreasen (danish international) fight for their places. Kobiashvilis first season was impressing. But the last season was not good. In the age of 31 he has a disadvantage against Andreasen, whose future looks bright ahead of him. Kobiashvilis contract is expiring and Patrick Schulz wants to wait if the contract should be renewed or not.

retired_shijo007

Midfielder

3 youngsters and a veteran for 1 or 2 places. The last season showed: Fabregas is the man to beat. He is very important and debuted in the spanish national team last year. The Wonderkid is always watched by the Top 5 clubs in Europe, but Bayern tries everything to keep him.
His congenial partner would be Paul Daly. The 19 year old Wonderkid from Ireland is very dangerous in front of the goal and gets better from year to year.
Fusco is the third youngster. The italian U21 international has a few problems with his temper. He is very aggressive. The last season was good, but he is currently Number 4 in the midfield.
Number 3 is the oldest midfielder, Barry Ferguson. The scottish international was quite disappointing last year. But his experience is of much value for Munich. He is the leader for the young players and plays regularly.

retired_shijo007

Attacking midfielder

After Ze Robertos career ended, only 3 players for one or two positions. Patrick Schulz is looking for a forth man and found one in his own amateur squad.
Definitely the number one is Wesley Sneijder. The young dutch midfielder is a very important player. On a good day, he decides a match on his own. Last season was not his. Because of a few injuries he was a bit disappointed. But Patrick Schulz keeps him as his leader behind the forwards.
Yildiray Bastürks start last season was terrible. It took about half a year for him to play better. He is not very dangerous in front of the goal, but he makes a lot of assists.
Number 3 is young austrian international Johann Berger. He already gets his share of time on the pitch. But he is not very stable in his matches. Number 3.
Markus Steinhöfer from Bayerns second team joins the first team. But a terrible injury forces him to pause for 7 months. Patrick Schulz will give him a few matches to see if he can play for Bayern or not.

retired_shijo007

Forward/Striker

2 (away) at most 3 (home) places to share. And 6 candidates for them. It is quite a rotation between the six man struggling for one of these spots. First of all we have the italian connection. Cassano and Gilardino are excellent players, both playing for Italy on a regular base. Both had a great start in Munich. Especially Cassano who was an Enfant terrible in Italy did very well and impresses the club again and again. Gilardino is a great striker, one of the best in Europe. Then we have the two Bayern Veterans. Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro. Both scored more than 100 times for Bayern and both are still excellent finishers in front of the goal. Last but not least the two youngsters Lukas Podolski and Freddy Adu. Adus Debut season was quite good. He really made an impact and surely Bayern will have much fun with him. Podolski had a great first season, but the last one was terrible. Scoring only twice (!) he was really disappointing. Many minor injuries did not allow him to do better.

So that is my team.

retired_shijo007

Back to the present...

03.08.2008 - Juan Veron announces his immediate retirement. The argentinian Midfielder thinks that he has to do this because he finds it more and more difficult to retain a place in the team. He played 105 times for Argentina (18 goals). For Bayern he played 107 times (18 goals). Comment from Patrick Schulz: It is a pity but we did not try to convince him to stay for another season. He earned a lot of money and was injured regularly. Furthermore he needed very long to regenerate so we decided to let him go. We wish him the best for his future. He is already looking for a job as an Assistant Manager.

03.08.2008 - 1. Match Bundesliga
Bayern München - 1. FC Kaiserslautern (0:0) 0:0

What a disaster. 15:1 shots on goal for Munich. They did not find a way past Kaiserslauterns keeper. 13 yellow cards in a very hard game. A disappointing draw for Bayern that shows that Bayern is still looking for their form.

Team
Wiese, Lahm, Dede, Metzelder (ab 46. Lucio), Nesta, Frings, Daly (ab 46. Ferguson), Bastürk (ab 46. Cassano), Podolski, Adu, Gilardino