How can something that happened today strengthened a decision that has been made one week ago or so?

Not having a chance at the title is mostly amazingly done well by Dortmund. Obviously the position Bayern are in is noet acceptable for them, but the main reason VaN Gaal is leaving Bayern is because of the differences of phylosophies, and when he disappoints in the league then, then this is the decision. It's partly of the reason. Because of the bad relationship Van Gaal and Hoeneß have, Van Gaal MUST preform well or else OUT.

Kurt, your assesment is plain unfair and based on superficial observations. Sure, the coach is one of the reasons a team can fail. But I'd put these reasons above:

1) A simple failiure at the market - Bayerns weakness last year was the defense, and this year nothing has been done to reinforce this part. On the contrary, the problem escalted: Demichelis left, van Bommel also (whom journalists in Germany just like we here called a rubbish player and a disgrace as Bayern captain, but now suddenly criticise van Gaal for letting him go) and no real defender was signed. This grave mistake goes on Hoeneß and Rummenigge, not on van Gaal who has to play Tymoschchuk or Breno all season long as starters.

2) Injuries of key players like Ribery, Robben, Olic (yes, the one who made Bayerns CL success possible last year) and Klose for long parts gave them much problems during crucial Bundesliga matches.

So the main reason for Bayerns fail IMO is the managements blind behaviour regarding the defensive problem. And now, today, Bayern simply lost a won match exactly because of that problem.

Bayern are still the top scorers in Germany so the attacking injuries haven't been much of an issue. Klose's about as useful as me anyway.

Some of them blame clearly has to go on the management, I don't disagree with that. But a great coach, or even a decent one, would make that Bayern squad competitive. They have a top class midfield and a top class attack already! What squad in Germany do you think is better? Sure, Dortmund have alot of promising young players and a few estabslished player, but so do Bayern. Defensive Dortmund are better, but then I think Bayern have the better players going forward.

In my opinion, despite their worries at the back, they are a top 2 team in Germany. A coach with that squad should be expected to finish in those position and he may do that come the end of the season. But to be this far off is down to the coach too.

Kurt, Bayern started to score as soon as those two or one of them got back.

Their defense is one of the weakest in Germany - almost every team (beside Mainz and Hannover) above them have a better equipped defense.

IMO, yes, part of it is LvG fault, but Hoeneß should shut up for once because it's also his fault!

Agreed. Nicel analysis above.

You do know that this was specifically LvG's decision? He didn't want to make any transfers from last season...despite the management's recommendations.

If he has been laying the blame totally on Van Gaal then I agree, he should shut up.

Mochengladbach vs Kaiserslauten

What a horrible way to lose a relegation 6 pointer. This pretty much puts them down.

Cologne were the poor victims of Hamburg's backlash after that Bayern embarassment last week. Hamburg 6-2 Cologne, Petric first half hat-trick. Bayern won. Dortmund just took an early lead as I type.

Are you sure? If so, yes, then he has to be blamed for the defensive lineup.


Felix Magath joins Wolfsburg...again...
What a chaotic situation.

This is really a special Bundesliga season which will be remembered in their long history. Teams like Stuttgart, Wolfsburg (all champions a few seasons ago), Gladbach, Schalke and Werder fighting to avoid relegation while coaches change teams like players nowdays. Let's see:

Schalke - Magath sacked, Rangnick hired
Wolfsburg - McClaren sacked, Littbarski sacked, Magath hired
Bayern - van Gaal - till season end
Bayer - Heynckes - till season end

All this in just a few months.

It's really scary how Schalke are in the CL quarters despite them being 10th in the league.

And Inter couldn't be more lucky.

So, Bayern München fire Louis van Gaal. I don't know what to say - I really like and admire Hoeneß, but he's lost it IMO.

I hope not to see him at Juve next season...

I've been watching Bundesliga for decades, but this season is one to remember. Out there are 18 teams, and none of them deserves relegation IMO. In the past seasons there was always a team like Arminia, Hertha or Duisburg who was miles away from staying in. But this year teams with quality, like Stuttgart, Wolfsburg or even Eintracht fight to stay. Mönchengladbach, who is last, managed to win 5-1 last week. Teams like Hannover, Mainz and Dortmund meanwhile occupy a respectable league position and head for European competition. A really memorable season.

hehehehe

Dortmund can't throw it away can they? 1 win in the last 4, only 5 points clear now with 5 to go. Would be a shame if they lost it now. Although the only team in the top half they play is Nurnberg so they should be okay.

I don't think they can loose it. Would be a miracle.

Big games ahead: especially Bayer (2nd) vs. Bayern (4th). FCB could return to a CL spot after a win today, while helping securing Dortmund the title as well.

Bayer got owned!

5-1. Well, the next Bayern coach is the current Bayer coach...hmh....

That's exactly why coaching changes within the same league shouldn't allowed to be finalised until after the season. Although, I highly doubt he's going to give up the chance of winning a title just so he can manage Bayern in the CL next year.

Well, there is a slim chance anyway.

Looky looky .. Who is first !!! Milan 1-0

Haha. Pippo

It really strikes how stronger he was back then (his constitution).

Oh God, Simic!

Schalke Ultras are super p!ssed. One of them will leave the club for bayern next season - Manuel Neuer. Congrats Bayern

Great buy. I hate Schalke, so good thing he decided to go!

Nah, Bayern are worse.

No way! Bayern are still a Milan friendly club and I usually love their players. Schalke...Magath, Kuranyi, Rangnick, Wilmots, Büskens, Olli Reck, Stevens and Assauer...an endless list of players and managers I detest.

I wanted him here... That's a very good buy for Bayern, they needed a top keeper for a long time.

Bayern do seem to get what they want. A great buy, unless he finds things terribly hard to adjust to, Bayern Munich have got the goalkeeper for the next decade or more.

Bah, typical Bayern transfer. Simply buy the best player your opponents have. I wonder which Dortmund player will show up on their payroll next season. Götze? Hummels?

Btw. Mike Büskens is one of my favorite coaches! He's such a great bloke (How he roasted Magath via Facebook, legendary.). Assauer is an idiot. I gave you that, Fillipo.

What did he do via Facebook?

Well, it's a long story. First you have to know that Büskens and Magath don't really like each other. When Magath started at Schalke he brought in his own guys (Press office, coaching staff, everything). Büskens who had been at Schalke for over a decade back then (first as player, then as coach of the 2nd team and occasionally as makeshift when Schalke looked for a new coach) was fired almost instantly by Magath.

This year, when Magath became more and more unpopular at Schalke. You have to know that Schalke has the most passionate fans in Germany. Mad people who wait for Saturday the entire week. They sometimes have a few thousands spectators at normal training sessions and so on. The main point of critique was that Magath did not talk to communicate with the fans, which was why he started a facebook account. His first video was this one. As even a person without any knowledge of the german language might recognize, Magath doesn't quite know what to say and looks like a total amateur and idiot.

Mike Büskens who's quite successfully managing a club in the 2nd Bundesliga these days, responded with this video. Great imtation of Magath.

thanks for that. what's Büskens saying in the second video, any good quotes? or is he just mocking what Magath said in his?

Well, he's basically mocking Magath because of his appearance in jacket and tie. Büskens says, that he's still too young and that wearing jacket and tie would like a masquerade for him. That's why he's wearing sports wear later on. You know, Büskens has always been a worker on the pitch, and he thinks that a football coach like him shouldn't wear a jacket and tie. You know, some in Germany still think it's a bit unsuitable for football coaches. Too posh.

Hahaha...a typical German response to Bayern matters. But I never understood; what should they do, other then buy the best players? Buy Fin Bartels, Robert Lewandowski and Logan Baillly instead? To me it's pretty much logical to buy Bundesligas best if you wanna be the best.

Only trouble is, more and more German players start thinking about Bayern as the only team that is able to secure you trophies and victories in Europe. The last Cup was won by Bayern against Valencia, teams like Dortmund, Werder, HSV or Bayer stood close, but never did it. That's why I hope Schalke will at least get to the final.

[Btw. thinking about it, Germany in the last 2 decades developed a interesting loser mentality. Germany lost every semi final or final they had in recent Euros and WC, so did Bayern and the rest].

Can't disagree with your post above, Fillipo, if I tried. Well put, and agree with all your thoughts. I may have mentioned it earlier but for a neutral watching from the outside, Bayern are the club to follow in the German league. Though I can see why other clubs in the league may not like them.

But like you said what should they do other then buy the best players?

This evening: Manuel Neuers old club vs. his new club. Schalke vs. Bayern. Schalke Ultras already expelled Neuer and Bayern fans are likely going to protest against signing Neuer again. Should be an interesting match...

Why would they protest against signing him?

As things stand, Dortmund will be Champions I think.

Borussia Dortmund2 - 0Nurnberg

Congrats for BVB, they fully deserved Bundesliga title.

Nurnberg:That team had the worst defense I've seen in a long time.

Congratulations Dortmund. The youngest team to ever win the Bundesliga. And well deserved. They played some great football and especially young Mario Götze is a revelation! Also, finally the title returns to the west were the heart of German football beats.

Well, first, he's a die hard Schalke supporter. And then there was this story, when Neuer made fun of Bayern.
You know, in 2001, the Bundesliga saw it's most exciting title race ever. It was the week of the season and Schalke already won their last match, which would make them champions UNLESS Bayern were to win. Now, when Schalkes game was over and they won, the announcer in Gelsenkirchen said, that Bayerns game against Hamburg was almost over and that it ended in a draw (which would have made Schalke champions). Now, the game wasn't over and Bayern scored the late winner through a debatable indirect freekick. You can imagine what the people in Gelsenkirchen, Germanies secret capital of football, felt like, especially as they saw this picture of the celebrating Oliver Kahn:

Years later Manuel Neuer, who witnessed all this in 2001, copied Kahns gesture after a win against Bayern, which made their supporters VERY angry.

So, as the deal came closer in the last months, the Bayern Ultras, known as "Schickeria" decided to move against the signing of a keeper who'd always be Königsblau at heart, and showed this posters when Schalke played Bayern in the DFB-cup:

It says "Koan Neuer" which is bavarian for "Kein Neuer" (No Neuer). It was a massive affair and a major embarasssment for Uli Hoeneß and the other club officials.

I'd never heard of that before, very interesting.

Yeah, the small stories which make football such a great sport. If you, someday, wanna know more about football in Germany you should read Uli-Hesse Lichtenbergers book "Tor! The Story of German football".

Anyway, next weekends going to be great. Friday: See my hometown-club Preußen Münster being promted to the third Bundesliga (18.000 spectators expected...yes!); Saturday: Watch the Bundesliga + 25th birthday; Saturday: See my favorite club VfL Bochum play in Osnabrück (and hopefully getting a chance of being promoted to the Bundesliga). Great weekend. (To bad I can't watch Milans match... )

Sounds like a good weekend! Don't drink too much though!

OK so now I know why Bayern fans don't want Neuer... but I don't get why he wants to join Bayern...