Kaiser30 wrote:No_20 wrote:
Lack of class from Rudi Völler. Called the most famous German sports TV host an alcoholic many years on national TV ago, now he slags off Marcell Jansen and basically calls him a quitter.
I have to both agree and disagree on this topic.
First of all, it's Jansen's decision and I have much respect for leaving millions on the table.
But on the other hand, it's a fair point to question his love for the game. I mean this guy was once thought of being heavily talented and keeping in mind the lack of good fullbacks in Germany, it's disappointing that he has never reached his full potential and now even retires where he should normally be at his peak and a constant starter for the national team. I truly believe that he has had all the tools to become one of the better left fullbacks. Living in Hamburg is of course enjoyable but maybe having a fresh start somewhere else would have been exactly what he needed. Especially considering all the trouble going on in Hamburg during the last years.
Actually I think Völler should just shut up and mind his own business.
Him crying about the refs this past season has already become comical but that quote was just plain out dumb and showed that he knows nothing about Jansen and the situation.
Just because he played until everyone and their mother called for him to finally stop doesn't mean everyone has to do so.
Jansen has played for 12 seasons(making a good amount of money) and had to deal with quite some injuries that never allowed him to gain back the form he had when he first started out for Gladbach.
Also, Marcel is one of the few professionell soccer players who already thought about his future during his playing days and is already an established business men in Hamburg.
If he would've gone somewhere else it would've been Portugal, England or maybe Italy and by doing so, his business and future would've been in danger.
So yeah, him ending his career at age 29 is pretty uncommon but calling him out and saying he never loved the game to begin with is just an insult to the guy and a dumb thing by Völler to do.
cgf wrote:I haven't seen you guys much this summer, but I've heard a lot of things that have me excited to see what Favre does with you this season;
-Dahoud and Sow shining is fantastic. I don't rate Nordveit as more than a late game destroyer when you have to sit on a lead, but those two kids have some serious talent.
-With Xhaka & Stindl, Dahoud & Sow, Nordveit, possibly Elvedi/Christensen/Schulz pushing up into midfield, and maybe Hazard dropping deeper to create from behind Raffael; Favre should be able to craft a very exciting and fun midfield.
-Glad for Hazard to score and Drmic to have a strong positive impact. Those two having great seasons would answer a lot of questions.
-Bummed I didn't get to see how Stindl looked playing up front with Raffael.
-Christensen, Elvedi and Egbo have made me ever more excited since you snapped them up. I've watched some of Elvedi's old matches and holy crap could he and Christensen/Alvaro become a simply majestic CB pairing. Both are natural thinkers of the game, both are mobile, and both are very skilled with the ball. With Alvaro, Tony, Wendt, Korb, Schulz and Nkansah, that D should only continue growing stronger in the coming years.
-I have to wonder if Favre doesn't try out a back 3 at some point. Jantschke and Dominguez are perfect for the outside CB spots; it would help cover for Stranzl/Brouwers's ever decreasing mobility; Egbo seems to be cut from the same cloth as Jantschke as a player and so to could find himself converted to CB by Favre in time; both Elvedi and Christensen should be able to thrive either sweeping up in the middle or as one of the outside CBs; between Wendt, Herrmann, Traore, Johnson, and Korb you'd be well set as far as wingbacks go; and it would give you better cover without needing a proper 6 behind the double-pivot;
Traore/Wendt/Johnson -- Alvaro/Christensen -- Stranzl/Brouwers -- Jantschke/Elvedi -- Herrmann/Johnson/Korb
becoming
Traore/Wendt/Johnson -- Alvaro/Schulz -- Elvedi/Christensen/Nkansah -- Jantschke/Egbo -- Herrmann/Johnson/Korb.
Well, Dahoud is getting there and one should also keep in mind that Nordtveit will miss the first two games thanks to that joke of a red card against Augsburg.
Egbo hasn't been part of the first team so far and hasn't been part of the preseason for Favres side. He's part of Andre Schuberts under 23 team.
Schulz has played CB every time he was on the pitch and they played him at CM last season with the U-23 team so he could get more comfortable with the ball on his feet and his passing game. So I doubt he's an option at CM for the first team.
Right now I feel pretty confident in stating that Christensen is a starter for us(at least as long as Stranzl's out) and that Dahoud has a chance to see minutes at the very least.
Brouwers, on the other hand, has been pretty shakey in the preseason and seems to have fallen behind the young guys. Could be him having the same "role" as Filip Daems had last year.
That Stindl/Raffael combo at striker is something I don't like that much cause there's not much thrive going into the box.
