Bayern Munich Will Be On Top Again
Early reports would have football fans believing that Liverpool are about to become the most active buyers in the world in the coming weeks. Depending on which publication you read, the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Daniel Alves and David Silva are going to be putting pen to paper as Rafa Benitez realises he hasn't had anything close to a squad that can realistically compete for a league title and in multiple cup competitions.But if you think a third-place finish in the Premiership and a runners-up medal in the Champions League is cause for panic, just imagine what is transpiring at German club Bayern Munich right now.
For the first time in 14 years, Bayern have missed out on qualifying for the Champions League and will be playing UEFA Cup football next term.To suggest that the German giants - known as FC Hollywood - are going to be active and competitive in the transfer market is an understatement. Look no further than the recent acquisition of Italian forward Luca Toni for a cool 11 million euros. When Toni wasn't busy flopping on the ground or crying to the officials, he managed to put in 49 goals in the past two seasons for Fiorentina in Serie A.For the second season running Toni had been linked with moves to big clubs all over the world. Inter Milan and AC Milan would have welcomed the 30-year-old with open arms and he would not have had to adapt to a new language or culture.
This says that Bayern Munich made the case to him that they are building a squad that will not just compete in Germany but will once again be feared across the continent. Coming in to this season they could boast being repeat winners of the Bundesliga and the German Cup. Finishing this season a distant fourth place says two things: 1. Lukas Podolski was a terrible disappointment in his first season. How disappointing? The young striker collected just four goals during the season. This is just not going to get the job done in a league as competitive and high scoring as the Bundesliga. Podolski will now have to fight for playing time and work to add to his paltry goal tally in order to meet expectations. 2. Bayern Munich are about to be just as active as anyone on the transfer market. Look at the activity of the club thus far: Hamit Altintop, Jan Schlaudraff, Jose Ernesto Sosa and Marcell Jansen have all agreed to terms. Not impressed because none of these are big-name signings? Then you clearly don't understand how the Bundesliga played out this season. Stuttgart and Schalke battled it out until the final week of the season and none of them have world renowned stars suiting up.
Instead, they are squads that are efficient, technically sound and the players work hard for one another. FC Hollywood should be a thing of the past if Bayern Munich wish to regain the Bundesliga title. Egos should be ushered out the door immediately or slowly transititioned out. This means Roy Makaay, Claudio Pizarro and Marc Van Bommel should be moved. And I would go so far as to say Oliver Kahn's time at the club should come to an end after next season. The legendary goalkeeper will want to be part of (and take credit for) any success experienced next season, but he is not part of a long-term plan which is exactly what the club needs right now.
The prestige that comes with pulling on the shirt has not faded in the slightest bit, but that danger does loom on the horizon if young players do not see a forward-looking front office that is building something that goes beyond the immediate future. Suddenly the likes of Werder Bremen, Stuttgart, Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen could become just as attractive destinations for talent that would have in the past not thought twice about signing for Bayern.
Additional reports are stating that Franck Ribery has signed with the club as well. The Frenchman who made a name for himself, coincidentally, at the World Cup in Germany in 2006 looks to be the next significant signing. Still not impressed? Don't worry as I have a feeling the club is far from finished this off season.
For the first time in 14 years, Bayern have missed out on qualifying for the Champions League and will be playing UEFA Cup football next term.To suggest that the German giants - known as FC Hollywood - are going to be active and competitive in the transfer market is an understatement. Look no further than the recent acquisition of Italian forward Luca Toni for a cool 11 million euros. When Toni wasn't busy flopping on the ground or crying to the officials, he managed to put in 49 goals in the past two seasons for Fiorentina in Serie A.For the second season running Toni had been linked with moves to big clubs all over the world. Inter Milan and AC Milan would have welcomed the 30-year-old with open arms and he would not have had to adapt to a new language or culture.
This says that Bayern Munich made the case to him that they are building a squad that will not just compete in Germany but will once again be feared across the continent. Coming in to this season they could boast being repeat winners of the Bundesliga and the German Cup. Finishing this season a distant fourth place says two things: 1. Lukas Podolski was a terrible disappointment in his first season. How disappointing? The young striker collected just four goals during the season. This is just not going to get the job done in a league as competitive and high scoring as the Bundesliga. Podolski will now have to fight for playing time and work to add to his paltry goal tally in order to meet expectations. 2. Bayern Munich are about to be just as active as anyone on the transfer market. Look at the activity of the club thus far: Hamit Altintop, Jan Schlaudraff, Jose Ernesto Sosa and Marcell Jansen have all agreed to terms. Not impressed because none of these are big-name signings? Then you clearly don't understand how the Bundesliga played out this season. Stuttgart and Schalke battled it out until the final week of the season and none of them have world renowned stars suiting up.
Instead, they are squads that are efficient, technically sound and the players work hard for one another. FC Hollywood should be a thing of the past if Bayern Munich wish to regain the Bundesliga title. Egos should be ushered out the door immediately or slowly transititioned out. This means Roy Makaay, Claudio Pizarro and Marc Van Bommel should be moved. And I would go so far as to say Oliver Kahn's time at the club should come to an end after next season. The legendary goalkeeper will want to be part of (and take credit for) any success experienced next season, but he is not part of a long-term plan which is exactly what the club needs right now.
The prestige that comes with pulling on the shirt has not faded in the slightest bit, but that danger does loom on the horizon if young players do not see a forward-looking front office that is building something that goes beyond the immediate future. Suddenly the likes of Werder Bremen, Stuttgart, Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen could become just as attractive destinations for talent that would have in the past not thought twice about signing for Bayern.
Additional reports are stating that Franck Ribery has signed with the club as well. The Frenchman who made a name for himself, coincidentally, at the World Cup in Germany in 2006 looks to be the next significant signing. Still not impressed? Don't worry as I have a feeling the club is far from finished this off season.
posted by Anonymous at 8:15 PM
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