They do! Schalke-Dortmund, Köln-Gladbach, HSV-St. Pauli et al.
And they say the Bundesliga doesn't have rivalries!
Isn't Koln biggest rivalry with Leverkusen? The Rhein Derby, that's what I thought.They do! Schalke-Dortmund, Köln-Gladbach, HSV-St. Pauli et al.
A lot of them simply are no more due to clubs getting relegated: Bayern-1860, HSV-Werder, Bayern-Nürnberg...
Pauli-Rostock or Pauli-Dresden was always a lot of „fun“ as well
Very likely, you are correct. I just remembered Köln-Gladbach being classified as a „Hochsicherheitsspiel“ (a nice German word for all yall).Isn't Koln biggest rivalry with Leverkusen? The Rhein Derby, that's what I thought.
I know! But it's been said elsewhere. I think that was about Bayern having no rivals (more correctly: in the league), which is why all German posters support them (haha!). Anyway, I know these rivalries persist and can still be very heated.They do! Schalke-Dortmund, Köln-Gladbach, HSV-St. Pauli et al.
A lot of them simply are no more due to clubs getting relegated: Bayern-1860, HSV-Werder, Bayern-Nürnberg...
Pauli-Rostock or Pauli-Dresden was always a lot of „fun“ as well
I'm sure most Cologne fans will rather see Gladbach as their main rival, given that Leverkusen is "plastic" and in a lot of ways an insignificant club.Isn't Koln biggest rivalry with Leverkusen? The Rhein Derby, that's what I thought.
How dare you, it was a beautifully executed Robben shuffle.What a dive!
Nah, it was actually a bad execution too, couldn't even properly connect with the GK. Robben at least knew how to do that.How dare you, it was a beautifully executed Robben shuffle.
I expected VAR to overturn it, but from the replays on Sky it wasn't fully clear to what extend Reus was hit, so maybe there was a perspective that made it not a clear and obvious mistake. On the other hand: if you come out like that as a goal keeper and don't win the ball you're sending any striker an invitation, hence the Robben comparison, because he was a beast at accepting them.Nah, it was actually a bad execution too, couldn't even properly connect with the GK. Robben at least knew how to do that.
Honestly no idea how the VAR didn't see that.
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This appears to be a video of the incident. You can hear the guy taking the video saying "they are hunting the players" in a dumbfounded voice and you can hear people in the background shouting "Uth, Uth, Uth, you son of a xxx!! ". A bit ironic since it was also him who everyone was concerned about when he got KO'd against Augsburg last fall and he was one of the few players who seemed to speak honestly around that time.
When one of the big clubs goes down it is never pretty. I still remember a banner telling players they have x hours to leave the city, HSV ultras accidentally setting their own banner on fire and disbanding subsequently (ok, that one was actually funny) or Cologne (I think) fans filling their entire stadium with smoke bombs before they set about invading the pitch.
Schalke is perhaps even worse since Gelsenkirchen is such a desolate place and a lot of people tend to fill that void with football. Their relatively steep fall from a great height probably also made things worse. Hamburg for example had their string of near misses to mentally prepare fans.
Some insults are par for the course, but any violence or threats cross the line. And there should also be questions asked about how things were allowed to escalated into hunting and direct violent contact, when both club and police knew a group of angry fans was waiting for the team bus.
The thing is that you have to make these changes before things go this far. You could see that point in Schalke's quest for a DoF appointment already: Rangnick, Krösche, Schröder, Runert, Stoffelshaus, etc. There is a long list of candidates who were (supposedly) approached and in the end they had to take Rucksack Knäbel. It will be the same for the coaching role and other positions. Schalke is a toxic place, that's all but sure to ruin your reputation, right now. The club can only attract people who have nothing to lose, because they either have not build a reputation yet or because they have already ruined it.Regarding the relegation itself: well, well deserved. Absolutely deserved. It's the outcome of years and years of mismanagement in every aspect of the business. The list is far too long to put together seriously in a forum, but I think it's safe to say that the whole club and its officials failed in every possible way in the last 5 years. Hopefully, there will be changes on a revolutional level at Schalke, otherwise its fecked for decades or so. If the club does not make hard cuts and implements completely new structures, faces, attitudes, players, coaches (head coach, assistant, fitness, everything!), there's no chance Schalke will get promoted at the end of next season.
If it's a couple of players, then I say feck those players (especially you, Julian Brandt!!). But if it's "literally" everyone, even all time greats such as THE HUNTER (tm) or "Kola" and "Ralle", then it seems safe to assume that it's more likely to be a collective dynamic. Either the club creating a dysfunctional atmosphere or the weight of the situation crushing the players or both. You see it all the time in these scenarios: e.g. Rudy seems to be a productive player at Hoffenheim as far as I can tell. Taking Uth in and out of Schalke was like flipping a switch, both with Hoffenheim and Cologne. Hamburg fans can tell you a thing or two about that.While I condone the way of this expression of discontent (criminal activities), I think the players deserve all the hate that's legally and morally acceptable. They are an absolute disgraceful bunch and I started hating almost everyone of them. There's very few likeable players in the squad which will be able to help Schalke in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Yes, 50+1 definitely plays a part here. Schalke's approach is just not professional enough on many levels. Incompetence, nepotism omnipresent. Expectations are always high at Schalke and reality differs quite a bit most of the time, so spot on. But in a way I think many fans are starting to realise that getting demoted to 2nd Bundesliga might be a chance to get the club back in proper shape again and maybe even a chance for fans to have a better fooball experience in general. Stadium will be full as always once covid is tackled enough to allow mass events and while the 2nd Bundesliga definitely is a brutal place, it will be much more enjoyable to see Schalke win from time to time on a monday than see them get 13 points after 30 games on saturdays. Which is why I hope for the best regarding the drastic changes which have to be made and personally, I don't think the club has not understood that these drastic changes need to take place. And other than that, I'm actually looking forward to next season. This one was hard to endure, honestly. Especially in a pandemic with all other shit going on, saturdays were by no means a nice distraction from everything grim that's going on at the moment.The thing is that you have to make these changes before things go this far. You could see that point in Schalke's quest for a DoF appointment already: Rangnick, Krösche, Schröder, Runert, Stoffelshaus, etc. There is a long list of candidates who were (supposedly) approached and in the end they had to take Rucksack Knäbel. It will be the same for the coaching role and other positions. Schalke is a toxic place, that's all but sure to ruin your reputation, right now. The club can only attract people who have nothing to lose, because they either have not build a reputation yet or they have ruined theirs.
And while I'm all for fan influence and 50+1 in these situations you can see one of its downsides, because while what the club needs is some peace to quietly rebuild at the right pace the fans won't allow that. The 2nd division is a brutal place and Schalke's reality is that with the players that are likely to remain they have absolutely no right to expect to be directly promoted again. But I'm all but certain fans won't accept that when the stadiums reopen. They already chased out Jobst as collateral damage, they will need a year or two to wholly accept if it turns out the club needs to consolidate itself in the 2nd division's midtable first and meanwhile they will put unjustified pressure on players, coaches, officials and have a very low threshold to just tear down any rebuild right away and trust their club to charlatans with big promises, but their own self interest at heart.
It is a collective dynamic, of course. The whole club is rotten to the core and I hope the officials realise that and perform a drastic and swift surgery on this club. As I said before, it's incompetence on every level and at the end of the day, this incompetence reflects on the players as well. It's impossible to play well in such an environment. But it is still very disappointing to see how most of the players don't really care since they will play at other clubs next season and earn the same money. I'm 100% sure they didn't give their best, many of them didn't even try to perform.If it's a couple of players, then I say feck those players (especially you, Julian Brandt!!). But if it's "literally" everyone, even all time greats such as THE HUNTER (tm) or "Kola" and "Ralle", then it seems safe to assume that it's more likely to be a collective dynamic. Either the club creating a dysfunctional atmosphere or the weight of the situation crushing the players or both. You see it all the time in these scenarios: e.g. Rudy seems to be a productive player at Hoffenheim as far as I can tell. Taking Uth in and out of Schalke was like flipping a switch, both with Hoffenheim and Cologne. Hamburg fans can tell you a thing or two about that.
A similar phenomenon was visible at Dortmund when things escalated in Klopp's last season and almost everyone seemed worthless, only to have basically the best league performance in the club's history, when Tuchel took over and brought in some fresh air.
I get that this is extremely frustrating for Hertha, given their current predicament, but that looks a lot like your standard schedule for an EL/CL team (which I know Hertha haven't built their squad for, but still). It's important for the integrity of the competition to finish the league simultaneously and it's the nature of this crisis that some clubs will get shafted, so everyone can keep going and survive.So the DFL has finally decided how to handle Hertha's postponed matches. This is the upcoming schedule:
April 29th: end of quarantine
May 3rd: Mainz (A)
May 6th: Freiburg (H)
May 9th: Bielefeld (H)
May 12th: Schalke (A)
May 15th: Köln (H)
May 22nd: Hoffenheim (A)
So apparently 5 matches in 12 days are a good idea right after coming out of quarantine. ^^
It's ridiculous that they insisted on keeping the May 15th date for all teams.
I really don't know how this is supposed to work out. Maybe use 2 squads and let both of them play 1 match per week?
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That looks like the schedule the CL and Europa League clubs have been on for the last 8 months. Maybe one day less but nothing outrageous.So the DFL has finally decided how to handle Hertha's postponed matches. This is the upcoming schedule:
April 29th: end of quarantine
May 3rd: Mainz (A)
May 6th: Freiburg (H)
May 9th: Bielefeld (H)
May 12th: Schalke (A)
May 15th: Köln (H)
May 22nd: Hoffenheim (A)
So apparently 5 matches in 12 days are a good idea right after coming out of quarantine. ^^
It's ridiculous that they insisted on keeping the May 15th date for all teams.
I really don't know how this is supposed to work out. Maybe use 2 squads and let both of them play 1 match per week?
The good thing is nobody in Germany has currently any sympathy for the DFB and especially Bierhoff so it at least puts us in a better position than it could have been under different circumstances.It also looks like Bayern are going to get fleeced by their own FA
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If DFB's position is that they don't buy out coaches from clubs and if Flick's position is that he won't be coaching Bayern next season, then I don't think those two leave Bayern much room for "winning".The good thing is nobody in Germany has currently any sympathy for the DFB and especially Bierhoff so it at least puts us in a better position than it could have been under different circumstances.
I think so too. What's the benefit of an unmotivated coach on relevant wages and a future employer that doesn't want to pay a penny to release him from his contract? Smells like Bierhoff is waiting for Bayern just to release Flick on a free.If DFB's position is that they don't buy out coaches from clubs and if Flick's position is that he won't be coaching Bayern next season, then I don't think those two leave Bayern much room for "winning".
This isn't really about "winning", it's more about not being made a joke by the DFB and it's not like we couldn't afford to just keep Flick under contract.If DFB's position is that they don't buy out coaches from clubs and if Flick's position is that he won't be coaching Bayern next season, then I don't think those two leave Bayern much room for "winning".
I'm all for DFB compensating Bayern and I think especially Flick is looking really ungrateful in this. But if the best Bayern can get from this situation is to have their star coach on gardening leave for a year, then that's a really shitty development for them. And having more people dislike Bierhoff after that isn't a real compensation for their losses. It just means someone else loses too.This isn't really about "winning", it's more about not being made a joke by the DFB and it's not like we couldn't afford to just keep Flick under contract.
Not to mention that after Rose, Hütter and so on there are really no arguments left not to compensate us for Flick. So I'd argue there is also no "winning" for the DFB if they don't want to pay up but the DFB is under a lot more pressure to have some "wins".
I mean, obviously DFB has to present Löws successor in fall, but I think Bayern is in a very bad spot since Flick already said he won't be coach after summer. Bayern can't keep an employee like that under contract, they'd just lose money. It's a real dick move by Flick and the DFB but it's kind of refreshing to see Bayern on the receiving end this time since it's usually them doing stuff like that.This isn't really about "winning", it's more about not being made a joke by the DFB and it's not like we couldn't afford to just keep Flick under contract.
Not to mention that after Rose, Hütter and so on there are really no arguments left not to compensate us for Flick. So I'd argue there is also no "winning" for the DFB if they don't want to pay up but the DFB is under a lot more pressure to have some "wins".
Stuff like what? We never sign your players before they've finished their contracts.I mean, obviously DFB has to present Löws successor in fall, but I think Bayern is in a very bad spot since Flick already said he won't be coach after summer. Bayern can't keep an employee like that under contract, they'd just lose money. It's a real dick move by Flick and the DFB but it's kind of refreshing to see Bayern on the receiving end this time since it's usually them doing stuff like that.
No way. They need to pay up, and they will.I think so too. What's the benefit of an unmotivated coach on relevant wages and a future employer that doesn't want to pay a penny to release him from his contract? Smells like Bierhoff is waiting for Bayern just to release Flick on a free.
semi-fair negotiations where two parties feck over the club that‘s actually entitled to a relevant fee and being the club that is losing someone they don‘t want to loseStuff like what?
Good thing than that your players now no longer have the quality to be poched.You need 2 worry about clubs like Augsburg or Bielefeld now.semi-fair negotiations where two parties feck over the club that‘s actually entitled to a relevant fee and being the club that is losing someone they don‘t want to lose
There is an increasing chance, that the attendance to second league games will be higher than for the first league (once Covid is over). THAT would be crazy.Meanwhile HSV are on track for their annual bottle job....
2019: 37 points in the first half of the season, 19 in the second half
2020: 30 points in the first half of the season, 24 in the second half
2021: 36 points in the first half of the season, 14 in the second half
There's a decent chance that next year's 2. Bundesliga will feature HSV, Schalke, Köln and Hertha (not to mention other big names like Nürnberg, Hannover or Düsseldorf).
Sensational. The gift that keeps on giving.Meanwhile HSV are on track for their annual bottle job....
2019: 37 points in the first half of the season, 19 in the second half
2020: 30 points in the first half of the season, 24 in the second half
2021: 36 points in the first half of the season, 14 in the second half
There's a decent chance that next year's 2. Bundesliga will feature HSV, Schalke, Köln and Hertha (not to mention other big names like Nürnberg, Hannover or Düsseldorf).
Oh shite, totally forgot Hansa is likely to go up, even more northern power in the second league.Guys please stop teasing me how awesome next years second league will be, I`m already nervous as feck that we`ll bottle it as it is.
And on the other side that would just put way too many "happy to be here" clubs in the Bundesliga. Imagine Bochum, Fürth, Kiel, Bielefeld, Mainz, Augsburg, Freiburg and Union all in the Bundesliga at the same time...that's half the league. They've all worked hard to get there but the league would be less attractive with so many underdog teams around.As attractive as that set of names looks on paper it would also mean every one of those clubs who got relegated or Hamburged their promotion will be exponentially more screwed because of it, since it kind of denies every single one of them the competitive advantage that big clubs used to have in the 2nd tier. I guess by now Hamburg have consolidated themselves(?), but for the big Hertha club or Schalke a lap of honor or two down south could be catastrophic.
Bold words from a Hertha supporterAnd on the other side that would just put way too many "happy to be here" clubs in the Bundesliga. Imagine Bochum, Fürth, Kiel, Bielefeld, Mainz, Augsburg, Freiburg and Union all in the Bundesliga at the same time...that's half the league. They've all worked hard to get there but the league would be less attractive with so many underdog teams around.
Honestly I'm actually really looking forward to the next season. Great clubs, cool cities and actually some chance of winning every now and then. Hopefully we won't stay there too long, though. That could have disastrous impact on the finances, as they're already in shambles. Man nowadays as a Schalkefan you can just pray that everything turns out fine, even in the 2nd division. Can't rely on secular institutions to help Schalke get on track again.Meanwhile HSV are on track for their annual bottle job....
2019: 37 points in the first half of the season, 19 in the second half
2020: 30 points in the first half of the season, 24 in the second half
2021: 36 points in the first half of the season, 14 in the second half
There's a decent chance that next year's 2. Bundesliga will feature HSV, Schalke, Köln and Hertha (not to mention other big names like Nürnberg, Hannover or Düsseldorf).