Do they, or is that a friendly myth. He surely manages to create a spirit of team bonding (sometimes like Mou by lashing out on everyone else, but that is a different story), but lets make no mistakes, the are professional sportsmen who will do what they think is good for their career.
Jurgen Klopp and Dortmund
- Thread starter DiaboliQue
- Start date
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Well yes but that doesn't go against the idea that they love him. Götze could well have decided to leave the club because he believes it's best for his career, doesn't mean he doesn't love Klopp.
He was soon known across Germany. His incisive yet amusing work as a television pundit brought him a first flush of fame. More importantly, his outstanding coaching impressed Bayern Munich. "Uli Hoeness [Bayern's president] asked if I would see him. I said: 'Yes sir – I have to ask my mother first but I think it will be fine.' He told me they were thinking of two coaches and I was one of them. Later Hoeness decided on Jürgen Klinsmann. It wasn't too disappointing – for a second division manager to be called by Bayern is not the worst thing in the world."
the quote had me on stitches.
the quote had me on stitches.Klopp will get 300.000 Euros should Dortmund win the final, each player of the final squad will get 150.000 Euro in case of a Champions League win.
Each member of Bayern's squad got 200.000 euros just for winning the semi-final.
http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/j...praemie-fuer-den-bvb-coach-30486986.bild.html
Each member of Bayern's squad got 200.000 euros just for winning the semi-final.
http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/j...praemie-fuer-den-bvb-coach-30486986.bild.html
Unimpressive money for most of the players in those teams.
I don't know, €150k is a lot of money. Dortmund certainly cannot afford to give away more than that in incentives and they'll have the greatest incentive anyway without the money, it's just a bonus.
The winner of the final gets 10 million EUR of the UEFA + participating on Fifa Club World Cup + participating on the SuperCup what will give additional money. The looser gets 6 million EUR.
Additional earnings through better commercial income etc. not included.
Bayern is in black numbers since New Years - that means that no matter of the additional incomes and sales they had all costs for the season taken care off already then. Everything since then is just bonus...
A couple articles about Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund: From ground zero to Wembley
Posted by Stephan Uersfeld
Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images
The lowest of the lows for Dortmund fans came in 2005 when their beloved club nearly entered administration.
Eight years after Borussia Dortmund's biggest triumph, they hit rock bottom. The 1997 Champions League winners were facing administration. President Gerd Niebaum and general manager Michael Meier had paid the price for the successes during the 90s and their craving for status.
Throughout the 90s, Borussia Dortmund spent money on players, luring the likes of Andreas Moller, Stefan Reuter, Jurgen Kohler, Matthias Sammer, Karl-Heinz Riedle, Julio Cesar and Paulo Sousa to Dortmund. Under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, Dortmund won back-to-back championships and in 1997 lifted the Champions League trophy. It then went all downhill.
A tired Hitzfeld was kicked upstairs as a mere figurehead into the newly founded sporting director position. In 1998 he subsequently returned to coaching and took over Bayern Munich. Hitzfeld was replaced by Nevio Scala, who hoped "to coach the best team in the world", but got a smug team instead. Scala lasted a season. Injuries added to the misery. Sammer, the 1996 European Footballer of the Year, played his last Bundesliga game on October 4 1997, finally announcing his retirement in 2000.
The Champions League triumph was followed by a handful of mediocre Bundesliga seasons and several overpriced transfer flops with Victor Ikpeba, Fredi Bobic and Sunday Oliseh serving as the most prominent names. Dortmund finished outside the European ranks in 1998, finished fourth the year after but failed to make it out of their Champions League group. In the aftermath, coach Michael Skibbe was sacked, making way for Bernd Krauss, whose record of eight games without a win is unmatched in Dortmund's history.
Niebaum and Meier did not give up. They appointed Udo Lattek and Sammer as joint coaches and all the while had everything set up to get enlisted on the stock market. They did so in October 2000 and made some 140 million euros. "This is the club's second birthday," president Niebaum said. To celebrate, Dortmund went on a shopping frenzy. They signed Tomas Rosicky, Jan Koller, Marcio Amoroso and Sebastian Kehl, to name a few. To this day, the 25 million euros paid for Marcio Amoroso remains the club's highest transfer fee ever. It bought Dortmund the title as they gambled on future successes and built their financial structure on Champions League qualifications for the next few years.
Moreover, the prospect of hosting a 2006 World Cup semi-final fuelled Dortmund's policy of "stones and bones", as the duo Niebaum and Meier used to label their philosophy. The capacity of the famous Westfalenstadion was increased to 83.000 (and later reduce to 81.264), and while it got Dortmund the World Cup semi-final, the club was forced to sell their shares for 75 million euros to finance the expansion. A company named Molsiris bought it and leased the stadium back to Dortmund.
In August 2003 they lost the Champions League qualifier against Club Brugges and a few months later the first media reports mentioning Borussia's financial difficulties appeared. In a last desperate attempt to sweep negative stories aside, Niebaum and Meier threatened to sue the journalists breaking the story. They never did. In February 2004 Dortmund had to announce a loss of 29.4 million euros over a period of six months.
In the summer of 2004 Dortmund sold the stadium name and to this day have yet to buy it back. They also put five players in pawn, one of them being Rosicky. The downward spiral spun faster and faster and by October the club announced a loss of 67.7 million euros and reported 118.8 million euros debts. Niebaum was forced out of presidency.
When the second half of that season kicked off Dortmund fans marched through Hannover with "not for sale" banners in front of them, but things were even worse, with newly appointed CEO Aki Watzke admitting the club was close to going into administration. But in March 2005 things slowly began to turn around. Shareholders in the Molsiris stadium fund granted Dortmund a lifeline during a meeting at the Dusseldorf airport. They renounced several millions of interest payments instead of forcing the club into administration. President Reinhard Rauball stood in front the press. "I don't want to be in this situation ever again. Those were the worst hours of my career," a chalky white Rauball said.
A year later Dortmund began the rebuilding of their squad. But it was not all sunshine with hardly any money to spend, and while paying off debts, Dortmund tumbled towards becoming one of the former greats. In 2007 they nearly got relegated and general manager Michael Zorc came under heavy fire from the local media, who tried to install former Dortmund player Michael Rummenigge, the brother of Bayern's Karl-Heinz.
"They had thrown me on to the scrap by then," Zorc said looking back on the time when Dortmund entered the third phase of re-building. "The first chapter was survival, the second restructuring, the third working on a new sporting philosophy," Watzke explained in an interview. The new philosophy built around looking back on the club history and giving the Dortmund fans what they wanted for a long time, a team fighting for its life, regardless of what they were capable of as players. The philosophy did not include Thomas Doll.
By the time Jurgen Klopp joined Dortmund from second-tier team FSV Mainz, Dortmund had entered chapter four, converting the philosophy onto the pitch. From day one on Klopp conquered the hearts of Dortmund fans by storm. "I am certain we have found a convincing solution for Borussia Dortmund," said Zorc, who was a key to attracting Klopp to Dortmund. And so the fairytale began.
Dortmund finished the next season just outside the Europa League spots, and while at the same time re-adjusting their squad continued their rise from the dead. They qualified for Europe in 2010, throwing away their first real European campaign in several years for their triumphant return to the top of Bundesliga football.
In the summer of 2011 they lost Nuri Sahin and signed Ilkay Gundogan from 1.FC Nurnberg, who had problems filling the gap Sahin left. But Shinji Kagawa, bought for 300k euros from Japan the season before, returned from a foot injury in impressive fashion and guided Dortmund back to the top of the league. And when Mario Gotze missed the second half of the season, Poland international Kuba arrived at Dortmund, after four years of being considered a promising player. However, they did not make it out of their Champions League group that year.
In 2012-2013 they did. By now most of the debts have been paid off. "The fifth chapter," Watzke said "is sustainability."
Dortmund fans hope it is a chapter that lasts forever.
Posted by Stephan Uersfeld
Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images
The lowest of the lows for Dortmund fans came in 2005 when their beloved club nearly entered administration.
Eight years after Borussia Dortmund's biggest triumph, they hit rock bottom. The 1997 Champions League winners were facing administration. President Gerd Niebaum and general manager Michael Meier had paid the price for the successes during the 90s and their craving for status.
Throughout the 90s, Borussia Dortmund spent money on players, luring the likes of Andreas Moller, Stefan Reuter, Jurgen Kohler, Matthias Sammer, Karl-Heinz Riedle, Julio Cesar and Paulo Sousa to Dortmund. Under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, Dortmund won back-to-back championships and in 1997 lifted the Champions League trophy. It then went all downhill.
A tired Hitzfeld was kicked upstairs as a mere figurehead into the newly founded sporting director position. In 1998 he subsequently returned to coaching and took over Bayern Munich. Hitzfeld was replaced by Nevio Scala, who hoped "to coach the best team in the world", but got a smug team instead. Scala lasted a season. Injuries added to the misery. Sammer, the 1996 European Footballer of the Year, played his last Bundesliga game on October 4 1997, finally announcing his retirement in 2000.
The Champions League triumph was followed by a handful of mediocre Bundesliga seasons and several overpriced transfer flops with Victor Ikpeba, Fredi Bobic and Sunday Oliseh serving as the most prominent names. Dortmund finished outside the European ranks in 1998, finished fourth the year after but failed to make it out of their Champions League group. In the aftermath, coach Michael Skibbe was sacked, making way for Bernd Krauss, whose record of eight games without a win is unmatched in Dortmund's history.
Niebaum and Meier did not give up. They appointed Udo Lattek and Sammer as joint coaches and all the while had everything set up to get enlisted on the stock market. They did so in October 2000 and made some 140 million euros. "This is the club's second birthday," president Niebaum said. To celebrate, Dortmund went on a shopping frenzy. They signed Tomas Rosicky, Jan Koller, Marcio Amoroso and Sebastian Kehl, to name a few. To this day, the 25 million euros paid for Marcio Amoroso remains the club's highest transfer fee ever. It bought Dortmund the title as they gambled on future successes and built their financial structure on Champions League qualifications for the next few years.
Moreover, the prospect of hosting a 2006 World Cup semi-final fuelled Dortmund's policy of "stones and bones", as the duo Niebaum and Meier used to label their philosophy. The capacity of the famous Westfalenstadion was increased to 83.000 (and later reduce to 81.264), and while it got Dortmund the World Cup semi-final, the club was forced to sell their shares for 75 million euros to finance the expansion. A company named Molsiris bought it and leased the stadium back to Dortmund.
In August 2003 they lost the Champions League qualifier against Club Brugges and a few months later the first media reports mentioning Borussia's financial difficulties appeared. In a last desperate attempt to sweep negative stories aside, Niebaum and Meier threatened to sue the journalists breaking the story. They never did. In February 2004 Dortmund had to announce a loss of 29.4 million euros over a period of six months.
In the summer of 2004 Dortmund sold the stadium name and to this day have yet to buy it back. They also put five players in pawn, one of them being Rosicky. The downward spiral spun faster and faster and by October the club announced a loss of 67.7 million euros and reported 118.8 million euros debts. Niebaum was forced out of presidency.
When the second half of that season kicked off Dortmund fans marched through Hannover with "not for sale" banners in front of them, but things were even worse, with newly appointed CEO Aki Watzke admitting the club was close to going into administration. But in March 2005 things slowly began to turn around. Shareholders in the Molsiris stadium fund granted Dortmund a lifeline during a meeting at the Dusseldorf airport. They renounced several millions of interest payments instead of forcing the club into administration. President Reinhard Rauball stood in front the press. "I don't want to be in this situation ever again. Those were the worst hours of my career," a chalky white Rauball said.
A year later Dortmund began the rebuilding of their squad. But it was not all sunshine with hardly any money to spend, and while paying off debts, Dortmund tumbled towards becoming one of the former greats. In 2007 they nearly got relegated and general manager Michael Zorc came under heavy fire from the local media, who tried to install former Dortmund player Michael Rummenigge, the brother of Bayern's Karl-Heinz.
"They had thrown me on to the scrap by then," Zorc said looking back on the time when Dortmund entered the third phase of re-building. "The first chapter was survival, the second restructuring, the third working on a new sporting philosophy," Watzke explained in an interview. The new philosophy built around looking back on the club history and giving the Dortmund fans what they wanted for a long time, a team fighting for its life, regardless of what they were capable of as players. The philosophy did not include Thomas Doll.
By the time Jurgen Klopp joined Dortmund from second-tier team FSV Mainz, Dortmund had entered chapter four, converting the philosophy onto the pitch. From day one on Klopp conquered the hearts of Dortmund fans by storm. "I am certain we have found a convincing solution for Borussia Dortmund," said Zorc, who was a key to attracting Klopp to Dortmund. And so the fairytale began.
Dortmund finished the next season just outside the Europa League spots, and while at the same time re-adjusting their squad continued their rise from the dead. They qualified for Europe in 2010, throwing away their first real European campaign in several years for their triumphant return to the top of Bundesliga football.
In the summer of 2011 they lost Nuri Sahin and signed Ilkay Gundogan from 1.FC Nurnberg, who had problems filling the gap Sahin left. But Shinji Kagawa, bought for 300k euros from Japan the season before, returned from a foot injury in impressive fashion and guided Dortmund back to the top of the league. And when Mario Gotze missed the second half of the season, Poland international Kuba arrived at Dortmund, after four years of being considered a promising player. However, they did not make it out of their Champions League group that year.
In 2012-2013 they did. By now most of the debts have been paid off. "The fifth chapter," Watzke said "is sustainability."
Dortmund fans hope it is a chapter that lasts forever.
Explaining the Dortmund love affair
Posted by Stephan Uersfeld
RONNY HARTMANN/AFP/Getty Images
Dortmund supporters have been through some down times in the last 16 years, but are now ready to once again stand atop Europe.
"... And now go out there. You can make a lot of people happy." -- Former Borussia Dortmund president Gerd Niebaum ahead of the 1989 German cup final.
How do you become a fan of a certain club? What is it that infects you and when does it hit you? Why is it that football fuels you with more emotions than a lifelong love-affair? And why do we follow the ups and downs of our club? Sometimes when losing everything else we have cared for in our lives, when we have reached a dead-end and have nowhere left to turn to, we head outside, meet up with friends, have a beer and walk into a stadium, and for 90 minutes forget about whatever makes our lives so miserable. Why?
- Goetze out of Champions League final
- Sammer hits back at Klopp comments
Why do we let go in a football stadium? Why do grown men suddenly in one moment forget their upbringing and have a go at the opposing midfielder or the referee? And why do they cry tears of joy, get heady with victory and kiss and hug people they have never met before? Why are we attached to one club and despise the other?
A lot of books have been written about those questions. Some giving this answer; some giving that answer. However, there is no such thing as a universal answer and there never will be an answer; maybe a rough approximation. The Dortmund-born German TV man Jorg Thadeusz came closest for me in a recent piece he did for Berliner Zeitung. "Dortmund's pride is fuelled by passion. Convinced that where there is nothing, a lot can be. Our home is a no-man’s-land with central station that still stinks of deep fry after three renovations. But BVB turns everything into Wesfalen di Janeiro over and over again." Dortmund is no beauty, but it has the most beautiful club in the world.
I came close to never finding out about this.
When I was a mere four or five years old, I sported the Schalke 04 jersey with proud and dignity. Born in Dortmund and raised just outside of Dortmund, my parents and grandparents did not look too satisfied, from what I can still remember. At that time, a Schalke centre-back lived just up the road. One day, all I wanted was an autograph, but the Schalke defender instead chose to make me a Dortmund fan, when shouting, "Go away. I don't have any time."
He might have only had a bad day, but looking back, it was the defining moment in my life. Ever since that day, I have been a Dortmund fan and only a few months later would go and see my first game in the Westfalenstadion. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Matthias Schipper demeaned himself to signing that Schalke jersey? It worries me. Looking at my circle of friends, looking at my so-called life and how it would have panned out in just another way, a more miserable way, I'd like to think.
Fortunate enough to be born in the football capital of Germany, I'd have been stuck with being the black sheep in my family and celebrating nothing but a few cup titles. Being a football fan, I could have taken the latter; being a family man, the former would have been quite sad. Throughout the years my love for the game and for the club intensified. Like so many people I have come to know over the years, Borussia has been our love through thick and thin.
We cherished to see the club rise to European fame in the nineties and felt responsible for its downfall a couple of years later. We never let go, wherever the wind had blown us. We like to believe, it was us that helped the club back on its feet. Long before the current version of Borussia Dortmund introduced the marketing claim "real love", we all shared the same, never-ending passionate love for the club. Be it during a mid-week cup defeat to Carl-Zeiss Jena in August 1993 or when hitting rock bottom in Bielefeld 2007, we have been there. Gunter Kutowski means as much to us as Jakub Blaszczykowski. And Mario Goetze is just another Andreas Moeller, an immensely talented footballer with no heart.
Following Borussia from an outside perspective, following this very blog through the knockout stages of Champions League, one could get bored to death by Dortmund's underdog statement and the glorification of the fairy tale story the club has written over the past eight years. But it is this attitude that has brought the club back from the dead and eventually has taken the club all the way into the Champions League final.
Over the next few days, you can follow this blog as I try and share some Dortmund love with you. Up until the final you will be introduced to a few people I meet along my way to Wembley 2013, and you might even catch up with my lovely colleague Susie Schaaf, who, God knows why, turned out to be a Bayern Munich fan. She might tell us her reasons.
It will not be about Goetze or Robert Lewandowski, nor will it be about Uli Hoeness or Matthias Sammer when the teams go out there on Saturday night. It will be 11 Borussia players against 11 Bayern players. It will not be about future career plans. One team will make a lot of people happy and one team will -- for a few minutes, maybe even for a few days -- make a lot of people sad. And players will transfer and others will retire. That is the nature of the beast.
Posted by Stephan Uersfeld
RONNY HARTMANN/AFP/Getty Images
Dortmund supporters have been through some down times in the last 16 years, but are now ready to once again stand atop Europe.
"... And now go out there. You can make a lot of people happy." -- Former Borussia Dortmund president Gerd Niebaum ahead of the 1989 German cup final.
How do you become a fan of a certain club? What is it that infects you and when does it hit you? Why is it that football fuels you with more emotions than a lifelong love-affair? And why do we follow the ups and downs of our club? Sometimes when losing everything else we have cared for in our lives, when we have reached a dead-end and have nowhere left to turn to, we head outside, meet up with friends, have a beer and walk into a stadium, and for 90 minutes forget about whatever makes our lives so miserable. Why?
- Goetze out of Champions League final
- Sammer hits back at Klopp comments
Why do we let go in a football stadium? Why do grown men suddenly in one moment forget their upbringing and have a go at the opposing midfielder or the referee? And why do they cry tears of joy, get heady with victory and kiss and hug people they have never met before? Why are we attached to one club and despise the other?
A lot of books have been written about those questions. Some giving this answer; some giving that answer. However, there is no such thing as a universal answer and there never will be an answer; maybe a rough approximation. The Dortmund-born German TV man Jorg Thadeusz came closest for me in a recent piece he did for Berliner Zeitung. "Dortmund's pride is fuelled by passion. Convinced that where there is nothing, a lot can be. Our home is a no-man’s-land with central station that still stinks of deep fry after three renovations. But BVB turns everything into Wesfalen di Janeiro over and over again." Dortmund is no beauty, but it has the most beautiful club in the world.
I came close to never finding out about this.
When I was a mere four or five years old, I sported the Schalke 04 jersey with proud and dignity. Born in Dortmund and raised just outside of Dortmund, my parents and grandparents did not look too satisfied, from what I can still remember. At that time, a Schalke centre-back lived just up the road. One day, all I wanted was an autograph, but the Schalke defender instead chose to make me a Dortmund fan, when shouting, "Go away. I don't have any time."
He might have only had a bad day, but looking back, it was the defining moment in my life. Ever since that day, I have been a Dortmund fan and only a few months later would go and see my first game in the Westfalenstadion. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Matthias Schipper demeaned himself to signing that Schalke jersey? It worries me. Looking at my circle of friends, looking at my so-called life and how it would have panned out in just another way, a more miserable way, I'd like to think.
Fortunate enough to be born in the football capital of Germany, I'd have been stuck with being the black sheep in my family and celebrating nothing but a few cup titles. Being a football fan, I could have taken the latter; being a family man, the former would have been quite sad. Throughout the years my love for the game and for the club intensified. Like so many people I have come to know over the years, Borussia has been our love through thick and thin.
We cherished to see the club rise to European fame in the nineties and felt responsible for its downfall a couple of years later. We never let go, wherever the wind had blown us. We like to believe, it was us that helped the club back on its feet. Long before the current version of Borussia Dortmund introduced the marketing claim "real love", we all shared the same, never-ending passionate love for the club. Be it during a mid-week cup defeat to Carl-Zeiss Jena in August 1993 or when hitting rock bottom in Bielefeld 2007, we have been there. Gunter Kutowski means as much to us as Jakub Blaszczykowski. And Mario Goetze is just another Andreas Moeller, an immensely talented footballer with no heart.
Following Borussia from an outside perspective, following this very blog through the knockout stages of Champions League, one could get bored to death by Dortmund's underdog statement and the glorification of the fairy tale story the club has written over the past eight years. But it is this attitude that has brought the club back from the dead and eventually has taken the club all the way into the Champions League final.
Over the next few days, you can follow this blog as I try and share some Dortmund love with you. Up until the final you will be introduced to a few people I meet along my way to Wembley 2013, and you might even catch up with my lovely colleague Susie Schaaf, who, God knows why, turned out to be a Bayern Munich fan. She might tell us her reasons.
It will not be about Goetze or Robert Lewandowski, nor will it be about Uli Hoeness or Matthias Sammer when the teams go out there on Saturday night. It will be 11 Borussia players against 11 Bayern players. It will not be about future career plans. One team will make a lot of people happy and one team will -- for a few minutes, maybe even for a few days -- make a lot of people sad. And players will transfer and others will retire. That is the nature of the beast.
FC Barcelona currently in talks with Dortmund to loan them winger, Gerard Deulofeu
They've signed a Greek international defender, Sokratis Papasthatopoulos from Werder Bremen for around €9m. He's a pretty good defender and they can do with another one, especially as Santana is very likely to leave and go to Schalke. Let's see which two of Papasthatopoulos, Hummels and Subotic form the main centre half duo.
He'll be better off playing regularly for a smaller club in Spain. I don't think Dortmund will be able to give him more than 15 starts next season.
The club wanted him to have CL experience
Ah, I see. I don't think it's a particularly good idea but I guess he has to be significantly better than Schieber (what was Klopp thinking there?).
Is that the Greek player that the Scouse lot and Brentan were keen on?
nope. That is kyriakos papadopoulos.
Sounds exactly same. Will somebody not think of English commentators, FFS. They'll have a tough time pronouncing that.
The one Dortmund signed is usually known as Sokratis, I think the commentators will be fine with that.
Do you think he's a great choice for Dortmund? He's a left winger, right? The way you described him in one of the other threads, he would have to change a bit in his attitude, I think. Klopp likes very disciplined players, he prefers simple passes with a lot of movement and a lot of defensive work, quick transitions, not fancy players who keep the ball at their feet longer than necessary. Maybe Klopp is exactly what he needs in his development?
Do you think he's already good enough to start for Dortmund on a regular basis and smart enough, eager to learn Klopp's tactics? Do you think he could play instead of let's say Blaszczykowski? How long will he be loaned out? I don't think one year would make a lot of sense, but he probably has to learn german if he stays for 2 years.
I'm not sure if I ever saw him play, can't remember him in any Barca game I watched the last 2 years, but read so much about him. Sorry for all those questions, feel free to ignore if you're bored answering them
.
The one Dortmund signed is usually known as Sokratis, I think the commentators will be fine with that.
Oh of course. I had no idea who papthastapolopolopulousidis was. Why didn't people just say they'd signed Sokratis.
I think they actually need a bit more depth on the wings.
With Götze leaving and De Bruyne or Eriksen replacing him they will get players that are less effective on the wings, which essentially leaves them with Reus, Kuba and Großkreutz.
Of course Dortmund needs to make sure that they either got a first buy option on the player or make a deal with a buy back clause for Barca, otherwise they will just invest time and money in the player and get nothing for it, just a simple loan deal wouldn't make much sense for them imo.
Deulofeu is not Bojan or Romeu, they count on the player for the future. There will be no buyback option, that's for certain
Deulofeu def on something, the kid lacks a chin
As far as I know Barca wants to loan him to Borussia (the impulse coming from the Catalans)? I don't think Dortmund will be interested if no option for a permanent transfer is included in the deal..
Deulofeu is one of those talents, IMO, that can play on any team. Who couldn't use a pacy goalscoring winger who can also dribble the entire opposition? He can play left & right wing although I think he used to be stronger on the left but now seems strongest on the right - but he's definitely a two sided winger. I think Klopp ticks all the right boxes from the perspective of Barça for Gerard's ongoing development. Truth is, I'd be thrilled if that's where he went. He just wouldn't see many minutes with the 1st team and he's already the best player in Segunda, no point seeing him stagnate with another year there. He needs first team football, preferably with CL experience.
Dortmund has a great team, I doubt he'd start straight away but he'd certainly be a factor - no question.
I've never read a coach criticizing him that he was uncoachable but I do think coaches have struggled to get him to work as hard on the defensive end as he does the offensive side. From what I've read about Klopp, he has exactly the sort of personality I could see resonating for an impressionable young talent like Deulofeu. The rumours are that it's on a yearly basis as I'm sure both club & player seek his eventual play with the first team. Language for a kid that age, I imagine is not easy - I suppose that's one of the negatives for him going to Germany although the club recognizes the excellence of both Dortmund & German football for experience.
Eusebio, Pep & Tito have on different occasions called the player out in the press/media about working hard - it's been a mantra. So it's clear everyone is trying to keep his ego in check while pushing to round out his game. I could see Klopp being ideal really, the players seem to love playing for him and have bought into the team concept.
The downside, obviously, for German fans is that he'd be a rental player and so what would really be the incentive to take him on? I guess to profit from his talent in CL & the league and perhaps Klopp will be working his voodoo to convince Deulo to stay should things work out. Still, the Catalan kid has rebuffed approaches from all over for years - he will eventually play for Barcelona
I'm not sure if I ever saw him play, can't remember him in any Barca game I watched the last 2 years, but read so much about him. Sorry for all those questions, feel free to ignore if you're bored answering them
He's had only occasional appearances with the 1st team in the last 2 years and he's never impressed enough to warrant consideration for minutes in the rotation with 1st team for next season. Hence, the decision of a loan. Personally, I'm probably among the fans who is most critical of the player and while he hasn't really impressed with the 1st team, his last appearance for just over a quarter of an hour gave me hope. He looked less nervous and shunned the pressure of having to score or impress everyone, seemed to genuinely work hard within the team concept. Supposedly he'll be in preseason with the 1st team which usually means big minutes, if a loan isn't already arranged by then and he actually impresses then perhaps he'll stay
This is a message board, why I love it. I'm sure I'll be hitting you up for questions often on the Bundesliga
Thanks a lot, great read.
It looks like Dortmund are really close to sign Eriksen, the player already agreed and the clubs are negotiating the transfer according to a danish newspaper that's quoted in the german media today.
And Klopp stated that the Lewandowski mess will be sorted within the next days and he still thinks that he will be at Dortmund next season. Bayern haven't made an offer yet.
If both is true, Dortmund will look just as strong next season and they aren't done yet.
It looks like Dortmund are really close to sign Eriksen, the player already agreed and the clubs are negotiating the transfer according to a danish newspaper that's quoted in the german media today.
And Klopp stated that the Lewandowski mess will be sorted within the next days and he still thinks that he will be at Dortmund next season. Bayern haven't made an offer yet.
If both is true, Dortmund will look just as strong next season and they aren't done yet.
Well the media is going crazy atm. Bild reported just yesterday that they are in the final stages for the transfers of Eriksen, de Bruyne and Bernard. A couple of hours later a German TV station (Sport1) reports that they've agreed terms with Hamburg's son and now they supposedly are close to signing Deulofeu.
Can't trust no one these days
Can't trust no one these days
I think this Dortmund side is here to stay. I am so happy they are getting on their business so quickly to replace their two stars.
Well the media is going crazy atm. Bild reported just yesterday that they are in the final stages for the transfers of Eriksen, de Bruyne and Bernard. A couple of hours later a German TV station (Sport1) reports that they've agreed terms with Hamburg's son and now they supposedly are close to signing Deulofeu.
Can't trust no one these days
2 of those 5 would be pretty good, one of those 2 should be Eriksen or de Bruyne though. Sokratis is already an upgrade to Santana imo. They need to find a solution for Piszek (he's out for 5-6 months) though. Maybe Großkreutz really is the best option if he consistently plays right back, Sokratis can fill in as well.
Well why than should Dortmund loan him?
So he can take time away from their players to get CL games?
I hardly doubt they would do such a deal where they have absolutely no benefit from.
I think Sokratis and Großkreutz will cover for Piszczek, if need be Blaszczykowski can play a somewhat decent rb too (at least for the league). What their defense probably still lacks is a second lb after Schmelzer.
Sokratis is the solution. He is a great right back, actually better than as CB imo he can in any case play both positions quite well and is an ideal signing for them I think because he can cover for both CBs and Piszczek.
Non the less they really need a good alternative for Schmelzer I feel.
Oh yeah and I wonder if Pizarro will come as well, would be a good deal for them even though he is getting old I feel he is still a good striker.
Thought Schalke want to sign Pizarro? Is there anyone in germany who doesn't want him? I want him to stay .
If Dortmund plans with Sokratis as right back they need another center back as well. They can't go into the season with
Schmelzer Hummels Subotic Sokratis
and only have Großkreutz as a backup and if Subotic or Hummels are out for a game they have to change the whole formation and play two players out of position. That might be possible if Piszek was out for a few weeks, but he's missing until christmas.
.If Dortmund plans with Sokratis as right back they need another center back as well. They can't go into the season with
Schmelzer Hummels Subotic Sokratis
and only have Großkreutz as a backup and if Subotic or Hummels are out for a game they have to change the whole formation and play two players out of position. That might be possible if Piszek was out for a few weeks, but he's missing until christmas.
They'll only have a problem if two more players get injured. If Großkreutz is missing then Sokratis can play RB if one of the CBs is missing then Sokratis can play there and Großkreutz will play RB.
I don't think they'll sign another player for the CB or RB position, a second LB that's flexible too at best.
As far as i know there is no definite information on the state of Piszczek's hip. The 5 months are only the worst case, but not the expectation.
I don't think they'll sign another player for the CB or RB position, a second LB that's flexible too at best.
As far as i know there is no definite information on the state of Piszczek's hip. The 5 months are only the worst case, but not the expectation.
Depends on Großkreutz. He really needs to become a full time full back then and he really should start as right back ahead of Sokratis in that case, imo.
Thought Schalke want to sign Pizarro? Is there anyone in germany who doesn't want him? I want him to stay
If Dortmund plans with Sokratis as right back they need another center back as well. They can't go into the season with
Schmelzer Hummels Subotic Sokratis
Yeah they need backups in defense. They have Kirch to play as backup RB until Piszchek returns. And they have Koray Gunter, a CB who is 18 and rated well according to an article I read. Maybe he might get some chances next season? If not then they still need 3 players in defense.
In addition to their defense, they also need attacking options. They need a winger and a CAM for sure. They need a backup striker if Lew stays and they need a starter if he leaves.
Thought Schalke want to sign Pizarro? Is there anyone in germany who doesn't want him? I want him to stay
If Dortmund plans with Sokratis as right back they need another center back as well. They can't go into the season with
Schmelzer Hummels Subotic Sokratis
and only have Großkreutz as a backup and if Subotic or Hummels are out for a game they have to change the whole formation and play two players out of position. That might be possible if Piszek was out for a few weeks, but he's missing until christmas.
I think Günter might actually make the move to their first team next year but it would be of course a big gamble if he would be the only one available as a backup in the first half of the season if Piszczek is out that long so they will probably be looking for a reliable, experienced backup as well, maybe van Buyten?
Of course the left side is imo in most need of a reliable backup, Schmelzer seemed to tire towards the end of the season and was a major weak spot in the final.
Well I guess it's going to be an interesting summer for a lot of teams this year, muppet season has only just begun.
If they get Son they will have a player similar to Reus, who can also play up front.
If Eriksen and De Bruyne both make the move to Dortmund they will have two top players for the center AM position with Eriksen capable of playing deeper as well and they will have Sahin, so I feel the center of the pitch is pretty well packed if anything they might need a more traditional winger like Kuba for their right side.
Bayern has still not made an offer for Lewandowski so it might very well be that they want to get him next year for free and avoid paying a competitor 25m €.
If he leaves they of course need a quality striker option like Benteke and Pizarro as backup would of course be better than Schieber.
Whenever I have seen Son this year, he has been quite good but Im not sure about him leading the line. So if they get him Im guessing him and Kuba will battle for that right wing position.
I also doubt they are going to sign both Eriksen and De Bruyne. The former is capable of playing the deeper position but I dont think they need any more additions there. If they do a deal for Sahin, then they have Gundogan, Sahin, Leitner, Bender and Kehl. Unless they plan to push Grosskeutz as back up left back and maybe use De Bruyne on the left wing along with Reus. Not sure if that would work out. If I was to choose between the two, I would pick Eriksen since right now he is much more of a finished product that De Bruyne.
I have a strange feeling if Bayern dont get Lew this summer, he is going to sign that contract extension. Something about that place might convince him to change his mind.
His agents have made it more than clear that he want's to move to another club. If he signs an extention after leaving a €3-5mil wage rise on the table for 1-2 years he'd be pretty stupid.
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