Following this week’s debacle, FC Bayern Forums are off the hook, and this blog just isn’t keeping up.

Again, no disrepect intended, your’e doing a great job.

My problem with Rensing is not his skill level. He has skills. He just has major problems with decision making. I disagree that Kahn would be getting ripped apart like this, because he was one of the best goalies in the world because he was always where he needed to be, he charged balls when he needed to, he stayed in the net when he needed to, he punched balls out in to space, not at opponents feet. Rensing does none of these things.

I highly doubt you will see Klinnsmann next year, unless Bayern wins the title outright. My belief is he is on a very short leash now. He does deserve some of the criticism though. The defensive problems this year do seem to have a lot to do with the system he has put in. The backline is exposed a lot, and this has a lot to do with coaching.
Bayern needs to see if they can bring Olli back to work with Rensing and see if they can turn him into a valuable keeper. I’m sure Rensing could be just fine if he could master the mental aspects of the game. His talent is fine, his decision making is terrible.

We need a right back… Lell and Oddo is not the answer. We need DeMichelis and Lucio to find their 07/08 form again when Bayern yielded the least goals in Bundesliga history.

None of the players signed in the winter transfer help feel any holes in Bayern. Yes, we needed to replace Poldi, but 2 midfielders? This is by far Bayern’s strength. Where are the back line players? We need a really good central defender to put fire on DeMichelis and Lucio’s arse. Play well or get benched. Breno obviously needs more seasoning. I think it was horrible that he had to be thrown into the fire where his first two starts were vs Grafite/Dzeko and then Messi/Henry, two combinations that can make fools of any defenders.

I know I am really hard on Rensing, but I get the feeling the team has lost confidence in him and is showing it in their performances now. When you lose confidence in your keeper you try too hard to make the spectacular play, rather than the right play.

Anyway my hopes for the transfer window… A seasoned goalie, who has demonstrated a good decision making process to either come in and start a year or two, or to mentor Rensing and teach him the mental aspects of goaltending. I know I am very hard on Rensing, but it bothers me immensely when a player who is talented has no grasp of the mental game. Maybe try to bring Kahn on to fill Hoeness’s role and have him double as Rensings personal coach. An experienced and world class right back. Oddo has clearly lost it, and Lell has never and will never have it. More playing time for DVB in the center. This can start now. Lucio and DeMichelis need to be on notice that their starting positions are on the line and DVB has always done a very adequate job when called upon. I think I’d also loan Breno out to a decent team, and get another experienced central defender. Breno needs more playing time, but on a lower level club.

And finally, a coach who preaches better defending. I really like Klinnsmann. I admired the guts of putting in a new system and all that, but I really think Bayern is failing strategically, and that comes down to coaching. I say this with a very heavy heart, because Juergen has always been one of my favorite people in the game.

1) Klinsmann lost enough confidence in him that he’s not 1st choice in the biggest matches. (Although many of us would like to think so, probably not the case.)

2) Klinsmann figured exposing the fragile psyche of Rensing to the onslaught of Barca behind a depleted defense would actually set his development back. (Probably true, but he handled himself well against AC Milan and that was 3 seasons ago! Also, is this the kind if guy you want to invest your future in, if he needs this kind of coddling?)

3) Klinsmann felt Rensing could handle the match, but thought Rensing would bear the brunt of media criticism after the inevitable loss, and wanted to protect him. (I guess if you are hoping for a quick Klinsi departure, you’d hope he is this worried about the media, for maybe they’ll control his fate.)

Butt 3 – Really had no defensive screening in front of him all four goals left him hopelessly exposed, This seems to be a common theme this season.

Oddo 2 – Play kind of OK but far to slow at this top level of football.

Breno 3 – Some decent interceptions to prevent us going 5 or 6-0 down, but still needs to step up a gear or two.
Demichelis 2 – Hopelessly exposed in this game.
Lell -10 – An example of when you play a player who belongs in Bundesliga 3 against the worlds best player. He was comprehensively beaten by Messi on every occasion, completely out of his league!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Schweinsteiger 2 – Hardly saw him in this game non existant for large periods.

Van Bommel 1 – Was largely ineffective although he did try to rever the team up after the horse had bolted!!!

Ze Roberto 4 – As the game wore on he tired harder but a little to late, again the horse had already bolted before he shifted through the gears!

Ribery 2 – Barca did an excellent job closing him down was a shadow of himself and seemed to lack confidence!

Altintop 3 – Tried but was largely ineffective!

Toni 4 – Hardly could be blamed left totally isolated by the midfield who were simply overwhelmed by the clearly better team of the day!!!

Maybe if we ask nicely Hamburgh will let us have Jansen back? He’s not perfect but he’s better than most of what we have now.