[retired_jaydeschizo]

Originally posted by JoeWesthead:
They've just released the schedules for matchdays 6 to 10, and I'm trying to pick out some top games to look out for. Are these ones I've got any good?

1. Bundesliga
-----------------
15.09 Bayern - Schalke
22.09 Werder - Stuttgart
25.09 Duisburg - Schalke -> any local rivalry here?
28.09 Schalke - Hertha -> I understand these two have beef going back in time re: league registrations?
07.10 Bayern - Nürnberg -> does this Bayerische match only have relevance/needle when played in reverse?
27.10 Dortmund - Bayern

2. Bundesliga
-----------------
25.09 St Pauli - Monchengladbach -> just because spending a Tuesday night watching St Pauli sounds fffffb
27.09 Mainz - 1860 -> I understand it's their first match in 13 years and they probably consider themselves Bundesliga clubs?
05.10 Köln - Offenbach -> again no real reason other than Friday night in Cologne must be a joy
21.10 1860 - Fürth -> derby?
21.10 Wiesbaden - Mainz -> another derby?

Just trying to see which matches to keep an eye out for. Any comments appreciated

Bayern-Schalke and Bayern-Dortmund are interesting games. I wouldn't say that S04-Duisburg and S04-Hertha are anything special tbh

[retired_jaydeschizo]

Sosa floored by ankle knock

FC Bayern München will begin their UEFA Cup campaign without summer signing José Ernesto Sosa after the Argentinian midfielder was sidelined for six weeks with an ankle injury.

Ongoing problem
The 22-year-old former Club Estudiantes de la Plata player is only just back from an ankle ligament injury that hampered much of his pre-season preparations and restricted him to two substitute appearances in the Bundesliga to date. He complained of more pain, however, and on further inspection club doctors discovered further problems which necessitate an operation. Sosa will be out until the middle of next month, meaning he will miss Bayern's UEFA Cup first round tie against CF Os Belenenses on 20 September and 4 October.

[retired_jaydeschizo]

Interesting story about Germany's new-rich club Hoffenheim:

It takes a village

An €8m fee for a Brazilian 20-year-old, a world champion hockey coach, a village of 3,300 people and the man dubbed the 'German Bill Gates'. What do these things have in common? A team in the 2. Bundesliga relegation zone.

Remarkable transfer
Paying €8m for a 20-year-old would always make headlines, especially this summer in Germany where only FC Bayern München paid more for a player. But what makes the arrival of Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo truly remarkable is that he has not gone to one of the Bundesliga's UEFA Champions League hopefuls or even one of their top-flight rivals, but second-division newcomers TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Rivals amazed
At first, this seems a bizarre move. Not only have they just been promoted from southern regional football for the first time in their history, but Hoffenheim are in the relegation zone with just one point from four games. The Brazilian youth international had several options when he left Grêmio FBPA - SL Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain FC and FC Internazionale Milano were all rumoured to be interested. But he chose Hoffenheim, who have also paid a reported €5m for 21-year old Nigerian forward Edu from FC Lyn Oslo and taken on €3m striker Demba Ba from R. Excelsior Mouscron. SV Wehen-Wiesbaden coach Christian Hock, whose team were promoted with Hoffenheim, admitted: "A €8m signing is beyond my imagination. That is about €7.75m more than we would spend on a new forward and more than our entire budget."

Tycoon backer
Although only now are Hoffenheim attracting attraction, football insiders have been tracking their rise for some time. As recent as the early 1990s they were in the eighth-level Kreisliga but by 2001 they were up to the third-tier Regionalliga. And it was at this point that Dietmar Hopp really got involved. Hopp was once a player at his hometown club and is better known as founder of the world's largest business software company SAP. Germany's answer to Bill Gates had already been supporting the club, but was more famous for his love of ice hockey. But he was now on a mission to take Hoffenheim into the Bundesliga.

Infrastructure
He did not just open his chequebook and buy a team to lift them straight there. Instead he concentrated on infrastructure and youth development. Even before ground was broken in May for a new €40m, 30,000-seater stadium to be ready for 2010, around €7.5m had been spent on a raft of facilities including boarding schools for budding footballers. Former Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann said: "When it comes to youth development, a lot of Bundesliga clubs could learn from Hoffenheim."

Imaginative appointments
Money was also invested in attracting experience coaching staff. Last year ex-VfB Stuttgart and FC Schalke 04 chief Ralf Rangnick took charge and the youth system is now under the control of former hockey national coach Bernhard Peters, who worked with Klinsmann ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Indeed, Peters arrived at Hoffenheim fresh from leading Germany to a second Hockey World Cup triumph under his command having also won 2004 Olympic bronze. Hoffenheim's Under-19s and U17s are already playing at Germany's highest level and no less than 15 youth international are in their ranks.

Youth priority
Unsurprisingly, their rivals looked on enviously. Before the season Ragnick said: "We were called millionaires in the Regionalliga, maybe we can take over the role of the likeable village club in the 2. Bundesliga", but those big transfer fees have dashed those hopes. "We did not change our philosophy, quite to the contrary," insists Rangnick, who pointed out that had they wanted instant success they would have recruited more experienced top-flight players. "We want to guarantee our upcoming youth prospects that they will be joining a good professional team, to keep them at the club for years to come. With an average age of 23 we have probably youngest team in either of the top two divisions for a few years. We want to develop top talents."

Improvement
Even after the big-money signings, Hoffenheim were still beaten 3-2 by SC Freiburg but Edu scored twice and an improvement was already detectable. "We have signed really great players, we only have to give them time to show their potential," said captain Francisco Copado. Anything seems possible at Hoffenheim with the financial support of Hopp, who has yet to turn down a suggestion from his management. How about signing 25-year-old Ronaldinho from FC Barcelona? Rangnick thinks for a moment. "He would be too old for us. Hoffenheim are not a normal club."

[retired_jaydeschizo]

Harnik blow for Bremen and Austria

Werder Bremen forward Martin Harnik will be out of action for three or four weeks after tearing ligaments in his foot in action for Austria.

Short cameo
The 20-year-old, who marked his international debut with a goal in a 1-1 friendly draw against the Czech Republic a fortnight ago, lasted just nine minutes after coming on as a 75th-minute substitute in Friday night's 0-0 draw against Japan, which his side won 4-3 on penalties. "He will be out for no more than three or four weeks," said Austria coach Josef Hickersberger, who has called up another 20-year-old, SK Rapid Wien forward Erwin Hoffer, to replace Harnik for Austria's friendly against Chile on Tuesday. Harnik may also be unavailable for Bremen's first two UEFA Champions League group stage games at Real Madrid CF and at home against Olympiacos CFP on 18 September and 3 October respectively.

Frei a cause for Swiss concern

BV Borussia Dortmund forward Alexander Frei could be out for up to a month after tearing a muscle in his calf in training with Switzerland.

'I could cry'
The 28-year-old has not played a Bundesliga game since undergoing hip surgery back in May but had been due to make his comeback in next week's game against Werder Bremen. "I could cry," he said. "It is sad that I have to go into rehab again for three or four weeks." Frei will also miss Switzerland's friendly game against Japan in Austria on Tuesday.

[retired_jdupont]

Originally posted by Orzelek:
Interesting story about Germany's new-rich club Hoffenheim:

<BLOCKQUOTE> It takes a village
........................

Improvement
Even after the big-money signings, Hoffenheim were still beaten 3-2 by SC Freiburg but Edu scored twice and an improvement was already detectable. "We have signed really great players, we only have to give them time to show their potential," said captain Francisco Copado. Anything seems possible at Hoffenheim with the financial support of Hopp, who has yet to turn down a suggestion from his management. How about signing 25-year-old Ronaldinho from FC Barcelona? Rangnick thinks for a moment. "He would be too old for us. Hoffenheim are not a normal club."

</BLOCKQUOTE>

Very interesting indeed. :thup:

[retired_jaydeschizo]

Beiersdorfer staying at Hamburg

Dietmar Beiersdorfer was delighted to add two years to his contract as general manager of Bundesliga side Hamburger SV, the 43-year-old committing until 2010.

Bulgaria trip
The former HSV captain, who replaced Holger Hieronymus in 2002, said: "I'm grateful that the club continues to put its trust in me, and am pleased that we can continue moving forward together with the board and our staff." Hamburg travel to PFC Litex Lovech on 18 September for the first leg of their UEFA Cup first round tie.

Owomoyela back for Bremen

Patrick Owomoyela looks likely to be fit for the start of the UEFA Champions League group stage next week after returning to full training with Werder Bremen.

Madrid first
The 27-year old defender feared a three-month lay-off when he pulled up with a thigh injury during a friendly against VfL Oldenburg in July, but has recovered after just two. "I feel really good," said Owomoyela after his first training session. "There's no trouble with the leg so I can train with full energy." Coach Thomas Schaaf is unlikely to pick Owomoyela for next Wednesday's Group C trip to Real Madrid CF, however, with further tests against Olympiacos CFP and S.S. Lazio to come.

[retired_jaydeschizo]

Knee surgery frustrates Ramelow

The Bayer 04 Leverkusen captain Carsten Ramelow will miss both legs of the UEFA Cup first-round tie against UD Leiria after going under the knife for the third time this year.

Right knee
The 33-year-old defensive midfielder said: "I had a feeling that something was not right with my right knee. The pain began to worsen on Monday and then I said to myself, 'You're going to have another operation'." Ramelow, who has played twice in the Bundesliga this season, is expected to return in mid-October, sidelining him for the first leg at the BayArena a week today and the trip to Portugal on 4 October.

Abel unable to play for Schalke

FC Schalke 04 will be without Mathias Abel for the next six months after he was diagnosed with torn cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

Loan spell
The 26-year-old picked up the injury in training on Monday and tests have now confirmed the worst, with the player sure to miss the whole of the UEFA Champions League group stage campaign. The defender, who joined Schalke from 1. FSV Mainz 05 in 2006, had spent the second half of last season on loan at Hamburger SV and had not made an appearance for the Gelsenkirchen side during the current campaign. Mirko Slomka's side take on Valencia CF in their opening Group B game next Tuesday and also face Chelsea FC and Rosenborg BK in their section.

[retired_princess160]

Werder... getting embarrassing.

[retired_princess160]

Now then, Bayern - Schalke. Durchmarsch, I think so. C'mon Kevin, prove me wrong!

[retired_princess160]

Toni misses a sitter. Pass by Ribery. Schalke escape.