Canucks in Germany - May 2009

[canucklefan]

This is disappointing, with this loss 3-5 against MSV Duisburg, I don't think we'll see Josh Simpson and Kaiserslautern next season in German Bundesliga.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

Ed, I think I am not alone in saying Moenchengladbach is nostalgic enough for me.

BTW, Fernandes was benched for his performance last week, from what I understand.

[Guest Ed]

quote:Originally posted by sloth8

Does anyone know why Stalteri didn't dress? Did he get injured during training this week? or are the resting him for the last game?

He was out with some kind of strain.

[Guest Ed]

Borussia Moenchengladbach occupy the last safe spot in the Bundesliga 1 table.

They sit 15th, with 30 pts, and +/- of -23.

Arminia Bielefeld are on 27 pts, with a worse +/- of -27.

15 Borussia M'gladbach (N) 33 8 6 19 38:61 -23 30

16 Arminia Bielefeld 33 4 15 14 27:54 -27 27

17 Energie Cottbus 33 7 6 20 27:57 -30 27

18 Karlsruher SC 33 7 5 21 26:54 -28 26

So, off the top, looks pretty good for 'Gladbach this weekend; they could lose against Borussia Dortmund and still could only finish lower than Bielefeld if there was a big change in goal difference. How safe is the gap of 4 goals? Well, it looked a lot safer before I saw who Bielefeld is playing. They host Hannover 96, who gave up the game totally in a 5-0 demolition by Wolfsburg last Saturday. Can Hannover show some spine this weekend? Will 'Gladbach poop the bed? Tune in.

[Guest Ed]

Nice article on the culture of FC St Pauli here:

http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2009/05/19/football-fussball-soccer/#cont

[Guest Ed]

Rumour mill has Simpson being eyed by MSV Duisburg, another Bundesliga 2 side.

[frank]

quote:origianlly quoted by Ed

Rumour mill has Simpson being eyed by MSV Duisburg, another Bundesliga 2 side.

That´s what we heared too. I hope he thinks about it. What does he want with Diusburg. Not really a club where he can progress. So he could stay at K´town, Duisburg is not really an improvement.

Paul Stalteri is questionable for the season final against Dortmund tomorrow. He still has problems with his hips

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/509033/

[Guest Ed]

Full coverage of the two games that decide the title tomorrow on Gol-TV as they will simultaneously cover Bayern (2nd) vs Stuttgart (3rd) and Wolfsburg (1st) vs Bremen. A win by Wolfsburg gives them their first Bundesliga title. Anything else leaves the door open to the winner of the Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart.

Hasn't been this tight since 2001, when the Schalke fans were celebrating their title at Gelsenkirchen as they mistakenly thought Bayern's final match had ended in Hamburg with Hamburger SV up 1-0. They were all in tears a few minutes later when a goal deep into injury time by Bayern took the title away from them.

Fernandes remains benched for Bochum while Imhof starts. McKenna back on the bench as Mohamad is back from suspension for Koeln. Friend out, Stalteri doubtful for 'Gladbach.

[jonovision]

Moenchengladbach draws = another relegation rescue by Stalteri, yes?

[canucklefan]

quote:Originally posted by jonovision

Moenchengladbach draws = another relegation rescue by Stalteri, yes?

I don't think all the credit goes to Stalteri, I would say 1/11 of the credit goes to him.

[El Hombre]

quote:Originally posted by canucklefan

I don't think all the credit goes to Stalteri, I would say 1/11 of the credit goes to him.

Their defence did tighten up after he joined the team.

Fantastic to see Gladbach stay up though. They'll have to do some buying this summer as both Marin and Baumjohann are leaving, no?

[Mazha]

Kyle Porter and Adam Straith both score in a 2-2 draw for Cottbus vs Hamburg --men's reserve team. Cottbus reserve still at the bottom of their table while the Men's senior squad battle Bayer Leverkuzen to a 3-0 win and are now to play home and away relegation matches against third place finishers in Bundesliga 2 (either Mainz o5 or Nuremberg)

[frank]

quote:originally quoted by ED

Rumour mill has Simpson being eyed by MSV Duisburg, another Bundesliga 2 side.

In an TV interview yesterday Josh said that it looks good that he will stay another year at K`town. Negotions are going quiete well. So I hope to annouce his extension soon

[frank]

quote:originally quoted by EL Hombre

They'll have to do some buying this summer as both Marin and Baumjohann are leaving, no

Today Marin informed M´Gladbach that he will leave, probably for Werder Bremen. After Baumjohann, Bayern Munich, they loose another of his great talents. Even the stay of coach and savior Hans Meyer still is in the air.

[Guest Ed]

Huge win by Energie Cottbus on Saturday as they leapfrog Arminia Bielefeld and grab the relegation playoff spot (16th). They play a 2 game series vs FC Nurnberg for the right to play in the Bundesliga 1 next season.

Straith and Porter were crucial in Energie Cottbus' reserves 2nd win in a row to round out the season. Note that Vancouver Whitecaps Residency team was also in Cottbus on the weekend, as they faced the Energie Cottbus U19's. They won (2nd in their current Germany trip) as they prepare for the Insel Cup this week.

FC St Pauli and TSG Hoffenheim are also in the Cup competition. Would be terrific for a young Canuck to catch the eye of Hoffenheim's brass this week.

[Guest Ed]

Interview from bundesligatalk.com with COO of Gol TV regarding their future Bundesliga coverage. Looks better next season!

Rodrigo Lombello is the COO of our favorite network in America GolTV. I sat down for an interview with the congenial Palmeiras supporter to talk about GolTV’s recent renewal of their Bundesliga package for the next three year.

(his answers are in Bold)

Is the new rights package, the same offered by DFL Sports Enterprise?

Yes, it is. It includes every game (306 matches) live as well as the preview show Goal! And the weekly highlight show Hallo Bundesliga. The main difference in the package for GolTV is that in addition to the US and Canadian rights, we have exclusive rights to show the Bundesliga in Latin American for the next three years.

The Bundesliga is restructuring the schedule next year. There will be a Friday night match, five 3:30 Saturday matches, a new 6:30 Saturday match, a 3:30 Sunday match and a new 5:30 PM Sunday match. (these times are all CET, which is 6 hours ahead of EST). How will that affect scheduling?

Currently our plans are to continue to show 2 to 3 games each weekend, live and tape-delayed. The new Saturday late match looks to be a marquee game each week.

Marquee game?

Yes, the league is going to try to make that game a big match.

Typically on Saturday, we get our games tape-delayed, is there any chance this later game could provide more live coverage.

Yes, we have had to use tape delay because Germany is six hours ahead of the East Coast, but 9 hours ahead of the West Coast, which has key markets like Los Angeles. Since we use a single feed for the entire country, we have shown games tape delayed so that the west coast won’t get their games at 6:30 in the morning. With this new game, the match will be at 9:30 AM for the West Coast and it is our hope that we can accommodate more live matches next year.

Well the new times must help, since the old structure had typically 6 to 8 games at the same time, which tied your hands in programming.

Yes, but we are looking into other avenues to provide more programming in the coming years either through partnering with other channels or taking advantage of on-line distribution. Since we own every game, we are working hard to find new means of connecting the fans to the games.

And the Friday game? Can you tell me more about that?

Well the Friday game has a few issues. First it’s at 2:30 EST when everyone is at work. In addition, it rarely involves the more well-known clubs, who are usually involved in mid-week European games. Anytime it involves Bayern, we show that game live and tape-delayed.

Is Bayern the only team that draws substantial numbers?

Not at all. While they do provide the best numbers, Schalke, Hamburg and Werder Bremen have had consistently strong audiences. The Bundesliga is the second biggest league for us, after La Liga; however, I think it’s better to view the games from a team perspective rather than a league perspective. The bigger clubs, whether from Spain, Brasil or Germany have a brand, and that brand carries weight when it comes to an audience.

Does using the DVR with your matches hurt your numbers?

No, we get a Live rating followed by Live+3 days, Live+7 days and Live+10 days. These latter option will pick up any taped viewers. However if you watch it live and tape it, it will show up on the Live rating.

Can we expect the promotion/relegation matches to be shown?

We have the rights to the games. Depending on programming priorities and the time of the matches, we are hopefully going to be able to show it.

And will you continue to show German National games?

That is a separate deal, not incorporated under the DFL package, but we do expect to continue showing German National games for the foreseeable future, especially World Cup Qualifiers.

Finally, two years ago you had a great promotion that sent two lucky viewers to German to watch two live matches. Can we expect anything like that in the future?

Currently we are running the Soccer Cam promotion w with a grand prize of a trip to the Emirates Cup this summer. After that is done, we are going to run another Bundesliga promotion.

Can I bribe you to win that?

No.

[frank]

I just want to say thank you for your contribution the last season here in Germany. It´s nice to see how interessted you are all in how your compatriots are doiong here in Germany. I´m really looking forwar to season 2009/2010 with another great discussions and dues, especially the ones from ED, always appreciated.

[Guest Ed]

Thanks for your reports from Germany Frank!! Always good to hear local opinions. I think I will wear my 1997/98 Sforza jersey tonight while I am coaching in support of your team.

[Guest Ed]

Another good result from Germany as the Vancouver Whitecaps residency squad hammers Hansa Rostock's U19's 5-2 yesterday. They play again today against another of the top youth sides in Germany, Hertha Berlin's U19's. Hansa Rostock, Hertha Berlin and Energie Cottbus all occupy top 6 positions in the DFB's A-Junioren Bundesliga Nord/Nordost division.

From the Whitecaps site [ http://www.whitecapsfc.com/archive/feature05260901.aspx ]

Residency ease past Hansa Rostock

May 26, 2009

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency claimed a third-straight victory on their two-week trip to Germany after a convincing 5-2 win over the U-19 Junior Bundesliga side of Hansa Rostock on Tuesday.

Building on their weekend success over FC Energie Cottbus U-19's, a first-half hat-trick by Jerome Baker gave Thomas Niendorf's side a comfortable friendly win over their German hosts. Alex Semenets and substitute Coulton Jackson were also on the scoresheet for the 'Caps, as Rostock's youngsters struggled to contain their Canadian visitors in the midweek match-up.

Playing near Hansa's DKB-Arena home, the Residency team claimed control of the match with four goals in the first quarter of the contest. There was a ten-minute delay to the start of the match to allow a thunderstorm to pass over the pitch before Vancouver opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark, with Baker easily converting Philippe Davies' fine cross for 1-0.

On 19 minutes, Semenets doubled the Whitecaps lead with a left-footed shot from 20 yards out after the striker took a pass from Sahil Sandhu. Two minutes later, Baker struck his second goal of the game when he took a Sandhu pass before beating one Rostock player and finishing for 3-0. On 24 minutes, Baker completed his hat-trick when he took a Semenets through ball before breaking in on the Rostock goal and finishing to make it 4-0.

The home side replied four minutes before halftime, as a low shot from the top of the Whitecaps box skidded under Residency goalkeeper Simon Thomas to make it 4-1 at the break.

Niendorf made five substitutions for the start of the second half. One of those players to be introduced to the match was striker Jackson, who on the hour mark, struck Vancouver's fifth goal after taking fellow substitute Bobby Jhutty's flick in the Rostock box before finding the back of the net for 5-1.

Rostock completed the scoring from a corner with three minutes remaining, but the 5-2 scoreline seemed a fair reflection on Tuesday's proceedings, as the Residency squad put in another fine performance on their travels through north and eastern Germany.

One disappointing note for the Whitecaps was the absence from Tuesday's friendly of centre back Keithy Simpson. The Jamaican youngster was injured in training on Monday and not available for Niendorf's starting XI versus Rostock.

Whitecaps Residency will have little time to savour the Rostock win, as they return to action on Wednesday when they face the U-19 Junior Bundesliga side of Hertha Berlin.

Whitecaps FC Residency - starting line-up v FC Hansa Rostock

Simon Thomas; Axel Levry, Jack Cubbon, Kevin Cobby, William Hyde; Nolan Moore (Russell Teibert 46'), Gagandeep Dosanjh (Bobby Jhutty 46'), Philippe Davies, Sahil Sandhu (Gagandeep Josan 46'); Jerome Baker (Randy Edwini-Bonsu 46'), Alex Semenets (Coulton Jackson 46')

[Keegan]

Canada has some depth in strikers coming through it looks like. Jerome Baker is eligible for the 2011 U20s. Great to see the Whitecaps continue to grab great young talent as a guy they just sign nets a hat trick before last years hero Edwini-Bonsu gets off the bench. Semenets seems to be scoring a lot more also and Haber for the senior team.

[Guest Ed]

I am hoping we can see a couple of young players get contract offers this summer after their tour opens some eyes.

[FCH]

http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,627349,00.html

Hans Meyer announced his resignation as coach of M'gladbach.

[FCH]

To put this result in perspective you have to keep in mind that Hansa's A- juniors played against Vfl Wolfsburg two days before the match and are still trying to win the league. This was a friendly game with nothing at stake. A win is a win though

[Guest Ed]

Another good result yesterday as the residency team draws Hertha Berlin 2-2.

From the Whitecaps website:

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/archive/feature05270901.aspx

Residency draw with Hertha in Berlin

Striker Jerome Baker scored twice during Wednesday's friendly with Hertha Berlin in Germany.May 27, 2009

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency were held to a 2-2 draw by the U-19 Junior Bundesliga side of Hertha Berlin on Wednesday.

In the fourth friendly match of their two-week trip to Germany, Residency striker Jerome Baker took his goal tally in Europe to six after a pair of first-half goals. Though the 'Caps had further quality chances to extend their lead, their Berlin hosts earned themselves a draw with a goal in each half.

On a nice midweek day for soccer in the German capital, it was the Canadian visitors that took the lead on 13 minutes, as Baker got in behind the Hertha backline before finishing his chance for 1-0.

As they played in the shadows of Berlin's impressive Olympic Stadium, Baker's strike partner Alex Semenets was unlucky not to double the Residency team's lead, as he struck the post on 17 minutes. A second Whitecaps goal did materialize six minutes later, as Baker breached the Hertha defence again before striking home for a 2-0 lead.

Yet, unlike the success they enjoyed in Tuesday's win at Hansa Rostock, the Berliners pulled a goal back on 35 minutes before Baker missed a big chance to claim his hat-trick five minutes later.

It meant Vancouver took a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

Residency head coach Thomas Niendorf made three changes to his line-up midway through the second half, with Hertha having made some positive adjustments of their own soon after the restart.

One of the Residency's substitutes was striker Coulton Jackson, who was unlucky not to make it 3-1 when he struck the Hertha post on 76 minutes. Four minutes later, the Berliners made their guests pay for that miss by scoring the equalizer.

Though the match was level, the Residency team kept pushing for more goals, with Baker missing two clear chances in the final 10 minutes of the match to earn a fourth-straight win for the young 'Caps. In the end, however, both sides had to settle for a 2-2 result.

Though his side squandered a two-goal lead, Niendorf was pleased with the way his team played against a full-strength Hertha U-19 squad. "I'm very happy with the performance from our players, as today's match was played on a very high level from both teams," he told whitecapsfc.com.

Whitecaps Residency will now turn their attentions to this weekend's INSEL-CUP junior international tournament, where they finished third at the U-19 competition last year. The Residency side have been drawn in Group Two for the 2009 event and will play German clubs FC St. Pauli and SpVgg 03 Ilvesheim, as well as Greek outfit Skoda Xanthi FC. All three group games will be played as short-sided matches on Saturday, with the semifinals and final taking place on Sunday.

Whitecaps FC Residency - starting line-up v Hertha Berlin

Julien Latendresse-Lévesque; Axel Levry (Bobby Jhutty 67'), Keithy Simpson, Jack Cubbon, Kevin Cobby; Philippe Davies, Gagandeep Dosanjh, Sahil Sandhu (Gagandeep Josan 65'), Russell Teibert; Jerome Baker, Alex Semenets (Coulton Jackson 67')

[Guest Ed]

Not looking good for Cottbus' chances of staying up. They trail Nurnberg 2-0 with 10 minutes left in their home leg of the relegation playoff. They have to overcome that deficit on Sunday when they travel to Nurnberg.