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Canucks in Germany - May 2011


Guest Ed

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Only two weeks left in the pro season over in Germany. The league title has been decided in the Bundesliga 1 and Bundesliga 2, but relegation still has to be determined.

In the top flight, FC St Pauli are in last place and are all but doomed, 5 points off the pace of the relegation playoff position team, Eintracht Frankfurt. Borussia Moenchengladbach are two points below Frankfurt and are also in deep trouble. St Pauli could do the world a favour and defeat Bayern Munich this weekend, leaving the door open for Hannover 96 to grab the 3rd spot, the Champions League qualification entry. More likely Hannover will end up playing in the Europa Cup, still a huge accomplishment for the club. FC Koeln look to be safe, with a 4 point lead on Frankfurt. Surprising to see clubs like Hannover, Mainz, Nurnberg and Freiburg in the top seven, ahead of such established clubs as Schalke, Bremen and Hamburg.

In the Bundesliga 2, Hertha is up, but Augsburg is still in a fight to clinch promotion, just 2 points up on Bochum. Energie Cottbus cannot finish above 4th.

In the 3. Liga, Braunschweig and Rostock are miles ahead in the top 2 spots. But the race is on for the 3rd spot, the playoff promotion position. Dynamo Dresden sit there right now, with Rot-Weiss Erfurt, SV Wehen Wiesbaden and Kickers Offenbach all within 2 points. All three chasers have Canadian content, so I have to hope one of the three can get a shot at promotion to the Bundesliga 2 next season. Somewhat satisfying to see reserve sides of both Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen being relegated to the Regional Leagues. Even more satisfying to see clubs with Canucks coming up to replace them in the 3. Liga. Preussen Muenster and Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault should clinch the Regional League West title today, ensuring their spot in the 20 team 3. Liga next season.

Here's a preview of the weekend pro games involving Canucks:

Saturday

Bundesliga 1

FC Koeln (11W-5D-16L - 38 pts - 14th) host FC Schalke (11W-7D-14L - 40 pts - 10th). Will the 'royal blue' be easy pickings on the road after being knocked out in the Champions League semis? Kevin McKenna might make the bench for the hosts.

Borussia Moenchengladbach (9W-5D-18L - 32 pts - 16th) are away to Hamburger SV (12W-7D-13L - 43 pts - 8th). I was surprised to hear that Paul Stalteri has been keeping fit with the 'Gladbach reserves, as he is not in the team's plans going forward.

3. Liga

Kickers Offenbach (16W-9D-11L - 57pts - 6th) are away to FC Heidenheim (13W-9D-14L - 48 pts - 9th) , with Olivier Occean starting up front for Offenbach.

SV Wehen Wiesbaden (16W-10D-10L - 58 pts - 5th) host Tus Koblenz (13W-10D-13L - 49 pts - 8th). Nik Ledgerwood expected to start in midfield. Here's to a big home victory, would love to see Nik back in the Bundesliga 2.

Rot-Weiss Erfurt (17W-7D-12L - 58 pts - 4th) are away to Rot Weiss Ahlen (10W - 9D - 18L - 39 pts - 18th). Two young Canucks on their U19 squad but they haven't had appearances with the senior side.

Sunday

Bundesliga 2

FC Augsburg (18W-8D-6L - 62 pts - 2nd) have a massive home game against FSV Frankfurt (11W-5D-16L - 38 pts - 12th). Marcel de Jong to start at left back for the Bavarian club. For me, Aue would be the surprise club of the season in the 2nd flight.

Hertha Berlin (21W-5D-6L - 68 pts - 1st) are away to Erzgebirge Aue (15W-8D-9L - 53 pts - 5th). Rob Friend might finally get another start, with Lasogga and Raffael out. Despite being out of favour for most of the season, Friend, who is on contract til 2013, has surprisingly stated he would like to remain at Hertha.

Energie Cottbus (15W-7D-10L - 6th) are away to FC Union Berlin (10W-9D-13L - 39 pts - 11th) , a bit of a derby for them. Adam Straith might be on the bench for Cottbus, but not starting.

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Can't find a full game report yet but Preussen Muenster defeat Borussia Moenchengladbach reserves 3-0 to put them into the 3. Liga next season. Congrats to JBB!! Fourth division - attendance was 18.500 in Muenster!

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As posted by Loyola in the Canucks Abroad thread, Olivier Occean scores but Kickers Offenbach lose 2-1 and are now out of promotion contention.

A huge 1-0 win for SV Wehen Wiesbaden, with Nik Ledgerwood going 90 at right back. Interesting final round has SV Wehen Wiesbaden at home against bottom of the table Werder Bremen reserves, while Olivier Occean and Kickers Offenbach can help Wiesbaden as they have Dynamo Dresden at home. Dresden currently have a 1 point lead over Wiesbaden. A Wiesbaden win and anything other than a win for Dresden next Saturday and Nik Ledgerwood and company have the playoff promotion spot!

Kevin McKenna on with 12 minutes to play for FC Koeln in an impressive 2-0 win away from home.

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Mostly good day for our Canadians in 2. Bundesliga (though not for long!)

Marcel de Jong's FC Augsburg beat Frankfurt 2-1, thereby clinching promotion to 1. Bundesliga with a week to go. De Jong went 90 minutes at left back.

Rob Friend got the start at forward and scored in the 44th minute as Hertha Berlin beat Aue 2-0. Hertha Berlin have already clinched promotion.

And Adam Straith finally got off the bench with a start for Energie Cottbus against Union Berlin. Cottbus were 4-2 losers and Straith was subbed out at 76 minutes with the score 2-1 for Union.

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Great end of the season for our Canucks after a very mixed season overall. Hopefully it continues through the final fixtures and our boys can take that momentum on to Canada. Thanks for your work in this thread, Ed.

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Marcel de Jong's FC Augsburg beat Frankfurt 2-1, thereby clinching promotion to 1. Bundesliga with a week to go. De Jong went 90 minutes at left back.

There's a chance they won't get promoted, but with their 20 Goal Differential edge. (Insert your Dumb & Dumber There's a chance clip) But I doubt Bochum fans will shout yes.

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Was fishing around and saw rumours of Occean going to either Bochum or Furth, saying that Cottbus had cooled their interest: http://forum.westline.de/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=866792

^ Yes. Must be one of the last posts in last month's thread but Cottbus decided he didn't fit their plans (too old). Bochum is the front runner in the rumour mill for Occean's next destination.

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Article on FC Augsburg. Article singles out the defense as the strongest part of the team and states that the group, including Marcel De Jong, is likely cut out for the 1.Bundesliga. Other parts of the team, not so likely. Good news, because that means the team will likely be more focused on improving the midfield and attack.

http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/sport/fc-augsburg/FC-Augsburg-Das-Prunkstueck-war-die-Abwehr-id15014431.html

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Keeping their good form, SV Wehen Wiesbaden managed to win the local Hessen Cup, with a team largely made up of subs, they defeated Kessel 3-0, with Nik L on for the last 15 minutes.

Again, if Olivier Occean and Kickers Offenbach can take a point off Dresden this weekend, a win will put Wiesbaden into the playoff promotion spot. If they get there, there are 3 difft clubs in the running to fall into that 16th spot in the Bundesliga 2 table that the 3. Liga 3rd place team plays for promotion.

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Hertha will be celebrating this Sunday as they receive the Bundesliga 2 'shield', given to the league champions. Joining them will be over 77,000 fans as they take on FC Augsburg to end the season.

Rob Friend, after scoring his first goal since September, was asked about next season. "I'm not going anywhere, without showing what I can accomplish". Expect more competition up front next season.

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Way too busy with work and personal matters to post much, but bottom line:

Biggest games involving Canucks this weekend are in 3. Liga, where a win by OO's Kickers over Dresden and a win by NL's Wiesbaden puts Wiesbaden in playoff promotion spot (playing posn 16 from Bundesliga 2).

Good luck to Nik!!!

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Way too busy with work and personal matters to post much, but bottom line:

Biggest games involving Canucks this weekend are in 3. Liga, where a win by OO's Kickers over Dresden and a win by NL's Wiesbaden puts Wiesbaden in playoff promotion spot (playing posn 16 from Bundesliga 2).

Good luck to Nik!!!

OO is game time decision for this one.

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Way too busy with work and personal matters to post much, but bottom line:

Biggest games involving Canucks this weekend are in 3. Liga, where a win by OO's Kickers over Dresden and a win by NL's Wiesbaden puts Wiesbaden in playoff promotion spot (playing posn 16 from Bundesliga 2).

Good luck to Nik!!!

Nik L. played 58 min (picked up a YC) in a 4-1 win over Werder Bremen II. But Kickers lost 3-2 without OO, sadly no promotion playoff for Wehen!

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Promotion playoffs are underway. VfL Bochum (3rd in Bundesliga 2) and Borussia Moenchengladbach (16th in Bundesliga 1) are scoreless early in the first half. Second leg next week.

Dynamo Dresden (3rd in 3. Liga) take on VfL Onsabruecken (16th in Bundesliga 2) tomorrow in their first leg.

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Promotion playoffs are underway. VfL Bochum (3rd in Bundesliga 2) and Borussia Moenchengladbach (16th in Bundesliga 1) are scoreless early in the first half. Second leg next week.

I will always remember the contrast in the atmosphere and the size of the stadiums and fan bases of these two clubs when i attended each of their home games a day apart on my visit to Germany. Ironically, at the time Bochum were a 1.Bundesliga club and Moenchengladbach were in 2.Bund. I am hoping BM win this playoff, the hurt their fans would go through if they were to relegate would dwarf any enthusiasm from promotion for Bochum fans.

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Hey Ed, is Stalteri free of his contract as of next Wednesday after BM's second match with Bochum?

Officially the contract is good until 30-Jun-2011, but seeing as how BM have given him the green light to look for another club for about 1 year now, he can start looking anytime.

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