Summer Transfers, Confederations Cup, Iran and other thoughts
By Mani Honigstein
23 Comments
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"ltr" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed">So the summer is in full swing and I am trying to cope with the fact that there is no real football going on. I am counting the days until the new season starts although it is not for another 6 weeks or so. These are the football topics that keep me currently busy:
1.       The transfer season is in full swing, although the good old days are gone where the whole world debates whether Real Madrid will finally get Cristiano Ronaldo. Even the Winter transfer season was more exciting when Kaka flirted with Manchester City. Real spoiled also this, by signing him early on into the summer. Now what is left for me as a Bayern fan is whether Franck Ribery will leave us. For some reason I have almost no hope that Bayern will be able to keep him. So it is only a question on where he will go.
2.       Well there is some football currently going on in the form of the Federations Cup. Although you have some of the best teams competing with each other, like Italy, USA, Brazil and Spain, I just can't get excited about it. Maybe it is because my favorite teams Argentina and Germany are not playing. But I believe the real reason is that I can't stand friendly games. They do not serve any particular purpose for the spectator and no matter what the result, it is always "just a friendly".  In my opinion stars like Kaka and Fernando Torres had a long enough season, so they should rather rest and be fit for the new season.
3.       Iran : Without getting political, I think what was amazing is that the Iranian team wore green arm bands and what impact it had on the country. People in Iran are crazy about football and they took this act of sympathy for the opposition from their national team (or to be more precise from some players) very seriously. Shows once more how important the sport is.
4.       Amazing season ahead of us: After the next weeks without football, we will have an exciting season. I can't wait for the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona to start and see how La Liga will compete with the Premiership in the Champions League. And the best part of it, it will all end in the World Cup 2010 !!
Have a great summer,
Mani
23  Comments
23.06.2009 17:03
....for me it will be interesting to see how Fortuna Duesseldorf will perform in the 2nd Bundesliga, after so many years.....we were once a great team ....
23.06.2009 17:18
@Henry: You are like me with Bayern. You always bring up Duesseldorf. Even if the topic is about Barcelona vs Real Madrid :)
23.06.2009 17:41
Mani , what are you worried about. I have the feeling that Ribery will stay by Bayern and Bayern will win next year the Champion League. Bayern does want to sell Ribery for no amount, and believe me they are 100 pct right if they realy want to become again a strong team like in the 1970th........ Bayern will be very very strong next year. I am not afraid neither from Barcelona and neither from Real Madrid. Just remember my words. I am very very optimistic with Bayern Munich next season.
23.06.2009 17:45
@Jehuda: I wish you are right, but I have the feeling he will leave. Manchester, Real, Barcelona, Chelsea will all make an offer for him and it will be impossible to resist. More than that he will put to much pressure on the club to sell him.
23.06.2009 18:01
I was also afraid that Ribery will be sold, but now i think everything is quite and he will not be sold. Its the decision of Bayern Munich and not of Ribery. The minute Bayern will again have big success , Ribery will feel very good by Bayern. Unfortunatly Klinsman ruined everything last year. I just hope that Bayern will buy this Defender from Chelsy ( do not rember the name ) and a very good goolkeeper. Please do not worry. Bayern will be very strong next year. Bayern is not a business company . They are a footballteam who need big sucesses. That is why they will not sell Ribery. Thats my opinion.
23.06.2009 18:05
Bayern need Ballack back, they haven't been as good since he left.
23.06.2009 18:52
Hi, Mani. Excellent blog entry! I agree with you about Ribery (Bayern has other problems, like the legal-financial dispute with Klinsmann) and Christian Ronaldo. However, even with him, Real won't bear a chance against Barcelona - they're unbeatable! As for the Federation Cup - you're absolutely right: Who needs it? We already have the World Cup! Finally, I also agree that the Iranian protest on the football field was quite amazing. Unfortunately, it didn't translate into a football victory...
23.06.2009 18:53
P.S. And here's an article I wrote about Iran and football: http://www.zeitjung.de/ZEITZEUGE/artikel_detail,3322,Der-Ball-ist-rund---der-Protest-ist-gruen.html
23.06.2009 19:33
Hi Mani, great blog man!!! The first thing I have to agree with you is about the Confederations Cup being less interesting without Argentina and Germany playing :) About Ribery I also would have to agree with you - Sorry Jehuda, but there is no possible way Bayern can retain him, in my opinion. The offers are too seductive and besides that, if Bayern would simply not sell then for sure his performance will drop if he stays against his will. And about Iran, I just hope the players will be safe on the return to their homeland! They deserve my biggest respect.
23.06.2009 20:25
Ribery will stay for another year before moving on to Real...Hopefully Bayern would do extremely well this season...As far as La Liga is concerned - can't believe Real is making the same mistake of buying all the flair players and no focus on defence - And for Deuesseldorf , think they will find it tough to stay afloat..also would like to see where Hoffenheim ends up come May 2010.
23.06.2009 20:31
@Michael: I think Hoffenheim will constantly improve and maybe, maybe win the league in the next 10 years. @Ballackfcb: I was always critical of Ballack, but he had two great years at Bayern. His last one was a bit weak. I believe he will stay at Chelsea for two years.
By MagPl
24.06.2009 00:58
i hope Ribery will stay...or at least won't join Real, they annoy me with their "Galacticos II" comedy. first was a bit lame and childish (i acted like that when i got my first championship manager when i was 10 or something...) and sequels are usually even worse. CC - i would watch it if i had nothing to do, maybe i'll manage to watch the final. i saw some highlights, games look decent, but the horns drive me mad. i hope Iran will change without much blood on both sides. next season can be mental. i'm already starving for top-level football.
By urubu
24.06.2009 01:23
I can see some interesting points about the the Confederations Cup. I think it is valid as a small preview of environment that will be disputed in the next Cup, particularly in the case of South Africa. The games are not so friendly, a match between Italy and Brasil always have some importance and talking on historical rivalries I still remember the last final between Brazil and Argentina in Germany2005. And this tournament may be the only opportunity to watch a game between the magic Spain against the new Brazil, in my opinion a exciting attraction.
24.06.2009 06:30
I m with Mani on Ballack..Dont think he is what he was a few years back- and dont think we need him...What we really really need is one more playmaker and a Goalkeeper who is actually a goalkeeper - not someone who wears a goalkeeper Jersey...I really dont mind Ribery leaving if we get Robben and Sneijder. One request to Bayern ..Please dont let Rensing wear No.1 ..Its a disgrace to Maier, Pfaff and Kahn.
24.06.2009 07:38
@Michael: You are right about Rensing. They should have seen that one coming. @Urubu: There is a point to it, but maybe it is just that I can't get excited about it. Friendlies are friendlies. I think I would not even watch Bayern playing Barcelona in a friendly.
By urubu
24.06.2009 21:14
Ok Mani, but I see a huge difference between clubs and national teams games, especially when they are preparing for the next WorldCup. I´m not referring to New Zealand x Togo but any game between Brazil, Italy or Argentina, for example, has some importance even for players and coaches from both sides. I said "not so friendly" because this is an official FIFA tournament and beyond the challenge of breaking more records sure that the Spanish want to beat other international champions.
24.06.2009 21:18
@urubu : I am just watching Spain vs. USA and I am asking myself whether Casillas would have let that ball pass if it would have been a competitive game? Not sure Spain is running and fighting full force here.
By urubu
24.06.2009 21:38
That´s football, Mani, failures occur, Brazil has two goals in minutes against Egypt. And Casillas recently in Real Madrid has left to spend more balls than expected. Let´s see de second half, i hope Spain go to the final.
By urubu
24.06.2009 22:33
Damn! No broken record, no final match... But no loser talk, Spain ran and struggled as can and the EUA defense did a perfect job. In football anything is possible and I´m sure the South Africans will give their lives to beat Brazil tomorrow.
25.06.2009 06:56
Anyone for SA beating Brazil...Atleast we will have a decent final to watch. .
25.06.2009 07:46
Brazil has looked unstoppable - but so did Spain. As a US fan I'd rather watch USA vs. Brazil in the final. It would mean so much more to beat Brazil. I don't mean to take anything away from South Africa, it would be great to beat anyone to win the Confederations Cup.
25.06.2009 08:32
@Kidpurple: Congratulations. Well played ! I understand that you would want to play Brazil. Brazil is the ultimate team when it comes to trophies and history. I cannot believe they will lose today. Enjoy the game. @Urubu: I agree, Spain did look that they want to win with all their power. Still I imagine they would have had a different mentality from the first minute onwards if it would have been a real competition.
By urubu
25.06.2009 16:47
It seems that Spain was safe to be in the final. I read statements from players and press quoting a final with Brazil, in football it is a mortal sin. The U.S. grew at the right time and has great chances to win the title. If Brazil reach the final I think the United States, by the strong defensive scheme, an adversary more complicated than Spain. But there is a chance to be Brazil X Spain ... Will depend on South Africa.
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