“force our qualities on the match”
By: 21 | December 12th, 2008A sold-out crowd will great Bayern München at the Neckarstadion with full knowledge of the importance of the match. Optimism swirls around VfB since Markus Babbel has taken over as his “take no prisoners” approach has bled the team the attacking spirit of old. Aggressive is the new axiom of VfB whether it is the attacking spirit or Jens Lehmann spouting venom and daring those to come forward.
Markus Babbel is coy in saying “For me it’s a game just like any other and there are three points up for grabs” but the young general knows a victory is crucial if VfB has hopes of bringing home some hardware.
Referencing recent matches against Energie Cottbus, Schalke 04 and Sampdoria: “If we can reproduce that, then I firmly believe that we have every chance of beating Bayern. If you allow them the space to play football, they will leave you with no chance.”
He added:
“I have explained to the team that we are not at the end of our journey. We have no need to be afraid of them, but instead, go into the game with a healthy amount of respect for their ability and then attempt to force our qualities on the match.”
VfB is still unsure whether Mario Gómez will be healthy and will also be without Ludovic Magnin to injury and Arthur Boka who is suspended. However they have received a major boost with Yıldıray Baştürk ready to return. The Turkish international is a crucial link for the club and could be immediately penciled into the opening lineup.
Yildiray Bastürk is expected to return to the squad after a long injury related lay-off. Babbel will have to make do without Ludovic Magnin (muscle sinew tear) and the suspended Arthur Boka. The team boss is still hopeful that striker Mario Gomez will be fit enough to play a part on Saturday. While the Bavarians are without Franck Ribéry and Lukas Podolski remains questionable (moving day to Köln ?) they are anxious to continue their unbeaten streak that stretches back to September now.
Drop by during the match, we can say nice things about VfB.
Category: Uncategorized
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
The last I read, Franck Ribery will not be joining the Bayern squad at the Neckarstadion. The place I read says that he has severe pain in the right shoulder. I was actually reading a translated version of the website, so maybe it is being lost in translation. I think it wrote that it happened during the final Champions League group match away at Lyon.
http://72.14.235.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=auto|en&u=http://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/0812/News/Suedgipfel-findet-ohne-Poldi-und-Ribery-statt.html&tbb=1&usg=ALkJrhhKLwj3cGVPKh4LRwsccxfABYpd9A
And in the same report, it also said that Lukas Podolski will not be part of the squad as well.
Me sounding a little more optimistic about the match after the news of Ribery’s absence.
Posted from
Singapore
-
Let me try again…
http://72.14.235.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=auto|en&u=http://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/0812/News/Suedgipfel-findet-ohne-Poldi-und-Ribery-statt.html&tbb=1&usg=ALkJrhhKLwj3cGVPKh4LRwsccxfABYpd9A
Posted from
Singapore -
Never mind. The link did not work. I found it on Spox.com under its football section.
Posted from
Singapore -
Diana – thank you. If you have the original German link just let me know. I assumed Lukas Podolski was out (picking out a new home in Köln but hadn’t heard anything of Franck Ribéry. They may have released info after my report though.
Btw – I know you’re in Singapore and just wanted you to know I’m going to be in your area on work next spring.
Posted from
Bulgaria -
Next spring? Wow. Do you have any idea exactly when? Given it can be still kind of rainy in January till around like early February. It is almost mid-December and usually at this time of the year, it rains on an almost daily basis. But now it is like at the moment, going against the norm.
Okay, I had found the original German link – http://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/0812/News/Suedgipfel-findet-ohne-Poldi-und-Ribery-statt.html
Posted from
Singapore -
I just updated the post because the Bundesliga site finally listed that. I’m feeling good now that I beat the Bundesliga preview – lol.
Yes, should be the April through June as the group I work with has a number of speaking engagements.
Posted from
Germany -
Ha, you beat the Bundesliga website to the preview!
So, April through June…the weather is better around that period of time. But if what happened in June this year is anything to go by, it will be really hot. But then again, my country is famous for being that. Hot and humid, that is our climate…lol! But the funny part aside, it has to do with where we are located on the world map. Lying very near the equatorial zone, there is no chance of the four seasons. I actually always envy people who can enjoy snow actually.
It is either rain or shine here, nothing else. So sometimes listening to the weather forecast on the radio can be kind of boring. Mainly the same old stuff like rain in certain parts of the country, for example. But most of the time, the weather can be unpredictable here.
But apart from that, people had said Singapore is a beautiful country. I take their word for it, considering it will have been unthinkable in my parents’ days for people saying it is worthwhile making a trip here. Singapore has always been a stopover place for travellers. People saying they know of Singapore because they had to make a stopover at our airport. It has always been our ‘reputation’.
But I rather see my country as, we are efficient in doing things. Like how we organised the Formula One race a few months ago. If I want to believe what the papers wrote here the day after the race, it wowed the international TV audience. It did wowed me too, even though I knew all along Singapore look pretty at night. I may be biased given I am from here, but still!
Posted from
Singapore -
I’m looking forward to it and brushing up language skills as well. Thats possibly the best part right now and something I can work toward.
Posted from
Bulgaria -
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!
Posted from
Bulgaria -
Argh! You spoiled it for me! I have to wait till Monday before this match is on here actually.
Damn. 2-1 to Bayer now! Me following it on the kicker website.
Posted from
Singapore -
Bayern, I mean.
Posted from
Singapore -
Oh man, thank you Khedira! THANK YOU!
Posted from
United States -
Kris; you are right, whew that was close.
Diana; Monday? I had no idea the delay. Hopefully the new media rights deal will open up all broadcasts.
Posted from
Bulgaria -
2-2. Now Bayern temporary at the top after this match, we will have to see how Hoffenheim do on Sunday. Now there is only a point difference between Bayern and Hoffenheim for the unofficial ‘winter champion’ title.
Now have to wait on Monday to watch this match on TV. I had been following through the kicker website’s commentary.
Posted from
Singapore -
Would you ever want me to do live match blogs? I could and possibly add photos during as well.
Posted from
Bulgaria -
Saturday’s matches are always on delayed broadcasts here, 21. But then again, I cannot complain. The pay-TV channel which always show the Bundesliga matches here also show football matches from other leagues (the Premier League from England, Japan’s J-League and Spain’s La Liga) as well. Ended up the Saturday matches (we always get two for each matchday) are either shown on Sunday or Monday the latest.
We get whatever it is being sent to us. I think it is more like the pay-TV network here and how they arrange the TV timings of the matches. I don’t think the new media rights deal will impact the DFL’s international market though. From what I read of the new deal, it is only in Germany alone.
21, actually just a year ago, I will not have imagined I will be watching Bundesliga matches on TV here. It’s unthinkable just a year ago. I mean, back then if anyone tell me we will get Bundesliga TV rights for the 2008/09 season, I will say that it is impossible.
I actually started follow the Bundesliga after the 2006 World Cup. Maybe I am easy to please sometimes. Sometimes I just watch what we have here, even if it is not a Stuttgart match. If it is a Stuttgart match, I always try to make time for it. If not, I always wait for the weekly highlights programme. It is repeated throughout the week.
Posted from
Singapore -
Live match blogs…I am okay with it.
Posted from
Singapore
Comments are closed
Home 
