I think it's the opposite actually and despite the recent misfortunes the team is still doing much, much better than when they were playing 4231(ish) formations every game. Guerreiro and Hakimi aren't fullbacks, the latter might not even be a defender, playing with a back 3 and turning them into wingbacks is the right thing to do. Having three defenders for cover also enabled Favre to field Brandt in CM, which greatly improved his form and made him an integral part of the team - at least in attack.I don't understand why Favre insist on this 3 back like. They look so uncomfortable both defending, and in possession when being pressed. Their squad look so well suited for a standard 433 to.
The thing is that the team seems to lack stability no matter what. Partly because of the players involved, partly because Favre's football just doesn't seem compatible with this squad. He said himself he thinks back four formations are superior, that every top team uses them, but he still uses a back three, because it just complements the strengths and weaknesses of his players back. Just think about Hakimi and Guerreiro, they were the motms today, in a back four you'd rob them of (some of) their attacking impact and force them to do something they aren't very good at (defending).I was thinking more of a straight 433 than a 4231 to be honest. Maybe with one of the 3 midfielders deeper. Either way, I feel like that back 3 don't look comfortable at all. Zagadou keeps pressing to soon, leaving enormous space behind him cause Hummels isn't fast enough to catch up. Zagadous positioning in general seems really bad in a back 3 to me. And in possession neither of the two central midfielders seem to be available for passes when the back 3 has the ball. Just looks chaotic.
Feel like PSG are gonna punish that space between the central midfield and back 3, and on either side of Hummels very easy. Should be a fun game to watch that.
Cool finish by Sancho.
Eintracht rely much more on momentum than on individual quality, they have been quite hit and miss this season and today has been a miss. Playing away also seems to be an important factor for them. They have just 7 points from 11 games on the road, while they took 10 points from Bayern, Leipzig, Dortmund and Leverkusen at home.It was my first time watching Eintracht play for a couple of months, lord it was terrible, are they always that bad? Seems weird they're ranking 9th playing this way, do they have important players injured or something?
You're probably right, Hakimi and Guerreiro definitely look good. I didn't realize Favre said that about a back 4, I just watch Bundesliga when ever it's available on a Norwegian channel really. Favre did look pretty agitated at times himself tonight at some of the defending, even though they kept a clean sheet. Have to say Zagadou looked much better in the 2nd half though. Don't know if he'd been told to hold his position more at half time, but he seemed to stay much closer to Hummels in the last 45. Should be two entertaining matches against PSG for sure.The thing is that the team seems to lack stability no matter what. Partly because of the players involved, partly because Favre's football just doesn't seem compatible with this squad. He said himself he thinks back four formations are superior, that every top team uses them, but he still uses a back three, because it just complements the strengths and weaknesses of his players back. Just think about Hakimi and Guerreiro, they were the motms today, in a back four you'd rob them of (some of) their attacking impact and force them to do something they aren't very good at (defending).
I think Dortmund has a chance to compete with PSG at home, but in general and especially away from home the team is just too vulnerable defensively to have a realistic chance of advancing and it seems inevitable that Mbappe and Neymar will find themselves with too much space eventually.
Yeah, that much is certain.I still have no idea how good of a coach Flick is, but watching Bayern right now shows just how shite Kovac was in Munich.
Just a few clarifications and additions. Evonik will not only be the sponsor on the jerseys for international games but for all cup competitions including CL/EL and the domestic DFB-Pokal. Additionally as you pointed out they will be advertising in international friendlies and preseason tours.Some good and some bad news for Dortmund in the last hour:
the good:
Their main (jersey) sponsor and and shareholder Evonik will stop sponsoring their domestic games and solely be visible on the international stage (be it CL/EL or friendlies) and 1&1 (telecommunications/web services) will replace them for domestic games. Supposedly increasing Dortmund's haul to up to €40m per season, which tbh sounds too good/much to be true, but it's the numbers that reliable sources like RN claim.
I find it hard to assess this situation since it is always a toss up of valuing a persons right to not be insulted or threatened vs acting consistently for everyone. Generally I dislike Hopp and the way he forces Hoffenheim onto the league but I don't condone some of the hatred towards him either. In the end he is simply one of the few people that actually took others to court over these matters and I guess had he been less thin skinned in all this it would not have blown out of proportion as much as it has. On the other hand Dortmund have been on "probation" since 2018 for similar things so it is only consistent to penalize them now. Not a lot of people give a feck about matches in Hoffenheim anyways I guess but it is still a shame for those who do and especially for the majority of them that did not threaten anyone and simply wanted to support their team and maybe call the dick Hopp a dick which should be allowed in my opinion.the bad:
DFB has banned Dortmund's fans from attending matches in Hoffenheim for three years for abusing Dietmar Hopp, the club's sugar daddy. Unsurprisingly I strongly disagree with this move. I think stuff like that banner with his head in cross hairs was definitely way over the top, but for the rest: the simple reality is that the language from football fans is very crude all around. Now if the DFB was actively trying to change our football culture towards a more respectful version then that would be one thing, but the same insult about Hopp's mother that has brought Dortmund's fans their three match ban is basically intoned about Dortmund in every single match they play - for decades. And sure, someone can tell me there's a difference between insulting a particular person and a broader range of people, but ever since his dive in 2016 against Schalke Timo Werner has been dedicated with the same kind of abuse in stadiums around the country (including Hoffenheim, obviously), Schalke in particular to this day.
Hounding a young German international, racism, firing flares at "civilians", invading the pitch, you can do all that without incurring a ban, but go after a billionaire for making a mockery out of 50+1 and you get a collective punishment of three games.
Again, I think the Hasta La Vista Banners are way over the top as they cross into violence and of course it's Hopp's right to sue people. But aside from that how is it any different from the kind of treatment Werner received? Did the DFB issue as much as a fine to protect one of its biggest prospects? Even when he was showing stress reactions in the CL around that time? Somehow they even forgot about their pledge to end collective punishment for fans.I find it hard to assess this situation since it is always a toss up of valuing a persons right to not be insulted or threatened vs acting consistently for everyone. Generally I dislike Hopp and the way he forces Hoffenheim onto the league but I don't condone some of the hatred towards him either. In the end he is simply one of the few people that actually took others to court over these matters and I guess had he been less thin skinned in all this it would not have blown out of proportion as much as it has. On the other hand Dortmund have been on "probation" since 2018 for similar things so it is only consistent to penalize them now. Not a lot of people give a feck about matches in Hoffenheim anyways I guess but it is still a shame for those who do and especially for the majority of them that did not threaten anyone and simply wanted to support their team and maybe call the dick Hopp a dick which should be allowed in my opinion.
*this day. He has been back to a very high level for some time now... but not today.Neuer plays like Joe Hart these days, how on earth is he still German number one?
4 points is hardly over, this is a competitive leage unlike the PL!So if Schalke beats Leipzig tomorrow, it's over?
He has been very good the last months. Today was an outlier. But yes, ter Stegen should probably be number 1 for Germany.Neuer plays like Joe Hart these days, how on earth is he still German number one?
This was one of our if not the worst game since Flick took over.Watched Bayern for first time in months, they look nothing better than us. Put Lewandowski in our team and we are the better team.
No mate. Just no.Watched Bayern for first time in months, they look nothing better than us. Put Lewandowski in our team and we are the better team.
So this is a great example that you should watch a team more than once if you want to know about their true strength. I hate Bayern, don't get me wrong, but since Flick took over, they are really strong. Chelsea will get a beating, mark my words.Watched Bayern for first time in months, they look nothing better than us. Put Lewandowski in our team and we are the better team.
Werner's finish had 5 goalless matches of anger in it, almost ripped the net. Delighted to see him score again.Two 5-0 scorelines in one day. Leipzig showed absolutely no mercy with Schalke and underlined that the title race is far from over.
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That really sucks. I was actuallyjust thinking yesterday that they could be involved in some interesting EL games in the future as well in case they make it past Porto.Tweet
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Volland, Leverkusen's top goal scorer and assister is out for presumably the rest of the season. "only" 8 goals and 7 assists in the league this season, but obviously a big blow anyway. Alario, who will replace him now, is a bit hit and miss and should he also be absent (he's on three yellows fyi) then I don't think they have actually anyone in the squad who could be considered a no9.
Yeah, I'm sure it's funny when your own club isn't involved.Hertha and Klinsmann are the gift that keeps on giving:
Hoffenheim, Augsburg, Union, Frankfurt.With Lewandowski out the next four weeks, Leipzig might gain a few points on us (i.e. overtake us).