van Gaal takes over team
By: Angela | May 13th, 2009After much speculation, it has been confirmed by Bayern Munich that Dutchman, Louis van Gaal will take over as head coach for two years beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2011. He is expected to put ink on paper within the next few days.
The big dogs for Munich, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uli Hoeneß and Karl Hopfner, left on Wednesday to speak with AZ Alkmaar’s President Dirk Scheringa, Toon Gerbrands and Marcel Brands to finalize the transition from their club to Munich. The agreement between the two clubs means that van Gaal will end his contract with AZ, which was scheduled to come to an end in 2010, a year earlier. They released him with no conditions. What are they getting in return? A friendly against Bayern in which they will not charge an appearance fee for.
I wonder if I can make it to the Netherlands in time to see Mark play at least one game in a Bayern shirt…
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I am very pleased with the choice and the speed with which it was achieved (and that I predicted it too!).
Louis van Gaal will not need to do any “on the job training”, he’s won the Champions League, he’s dealt with superstar egos of all shapes and sizes, and will not be afraid to shake things up in the dressing room if the situation calls for it. He will maintain discipline in the squad. He will not stubbornly stay with the same misguided formation week after week convinced that it will work. And he will not rely on inexperienced assistants who have never coached in Europe before.
The board is to be commended for resolving this matter in short order. There won’t be any distracting dramas on this front, and Louis can start putting his staff together and strategizing for the transfer window almost immediately, with AZ’s season over.
Now let’s all get behind Jupp and hope we can score enough goals in the next two weeks!
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It might take some effort rotating the midfield troops Bayern has. Anyone willing to speculate who might leave? What are the odds Boro stays?
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It seems to me that either Ottl or Borowski will go, but somehow I think it will be Borowski, even though he’s the better player. While it’s not quite the disconnect that Frings had at Bayern, Borowski just doesn’t seem to fit in here. Even when he scored important goals this season, didn’t you shake your head when he was getting subbed in? Borowski? Now? Why him and why now? That was often how I felt, but then again maybe we can chalk that all up to Klinsmann.
Of course, if Ze Roberto leaves, then maybe it’s a straight up swap out for Tymoschuk. Obviously a lot hinges on what kind of system van Gaal chooses to implement.
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The way things are going with Franck Ribery at the moment, I think Bayern have had enough of his antics and their’s a good chance he will leave this summer? It appears Deigo will be going to Juventus as he said that he has agreed terms with the Italians! Although nothing is officially signed yet, but he hopes that everything is sorted out come Friday? I think Ze Roberto will leave and Borowski will probably follow! But with Tymoschuk and Baumjohann coming into midfield, I think it all depends on what happens with Ribery as to whether we get in another midfielder. It would be nice if Deigo would come as he his young and creative and we could do with someone of his abilities!
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“he’s dealt with superstar egos of all shapes and sizes, and will not be afraid to shake things up in the dressing room if the situation calls for it. He will maintain discipline in the squad. He will not stubbornly stay with the same misguided formation week after week convinced that it will work.”
van Gaal is well known for his stubbornness, he will not change his philosophy and system to accommodate players strengths, either you fit into van Galls system or you don’t play and your transfer is arranged, which is one of the main reasons why he has never held a long term coaching job despite winning so many trophies… you could sign the best player in the world if he does not fit Van Gaal’s system he will never play. the other thing van Gaal is famous for is alienating players, he chased Rivaldo from Barcelona over how much tme Rivaldo spent on the ball and where Rivaldo should play, he terrorized the Dutch national team to such an extent that the senior players came out and publicly complained. he also does no get along with the media or other coaches which lead to him resigning from th duch coaches association.
van Gaal has a weird and aggressive controlling personality but if his payers bear with him and infighting does not occur then van Gaal’s teams play great short passing, one touch football. If van Gaal does not freak out Bayern’s players with his aggressive controlling personality then Bayern will play the best attacking football in Germany.
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Diego deal looks to be dead in the water
Rummenigge: “We have backed out of it because we are a reputable club. All what’s happening right now irritates us.”
http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/fussba…fc-bayern.html
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I don’t rate van Gaal. I mean if you can’t take a talented group of Dutch players to the World Cup finals in 2002, then that’s got to count against you. When he returned to Barca after that fiasco, he had no success either. And as for his recent success in the Dutch league — well fair play to him, but it is only the Dutch league…
He’ll win the league at a canter next season and Bayern will get knocked out at quarter final stages. Yawn.Posted from
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Van Gaal likes to play with open wingers and midfielders who can score getting into attack, so I consider that Ribery, Schweini, Van Bommel, Lahm and even Boro should fit in his style. It is also true that he has no problem transfering stars you can consider untouchable, I am thinking of Toni. What is also true is that he takes with him Frank Hoek, as keepers coach, and a goalie will come, sure Rensing is over with him (by the way, he likes tall goalies with ability to kick the ball with sense)his prototype is Van der Saar, but too old now…
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I’m reserving judgement till I see a few matches. A lot depends on personnel as well. Bayern has a glut of midfielders but is thin on defense and forward. The transfer policies are also going to be key. These last few years, other than a couple, Bayern’s not made too many smart decisions.
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van Gaal can’t be any worse than the former Dutch National coach when it comes to terrorizing players. At least with van Gaal they only complained – under van Basten, they refused to play as long as he was coaching. van Bommel has played for him (van Gaal) previously when he was younger. I agree with Imi… van Bommel, Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Ribery should fit just fine.
And I personally would love to see a keeper the likes of van der Saar at Bayern. Something needs to be done since the loss of King Kahn.
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Don’t you mean van Bastard – Angela?
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Van Basten coached Holland to a world cup and the euros, Van Gaal could not even get the team to qualify because of all the infighting generated by his player punishments and excessive discipline. Players did not want Van Basten as coach because they felt he was self righteous and looked down on players.
with Van Gaal its always black or white, Van Gaal’s teams either play well like his first stint with Barca or they play horribly like with his stint with the Dutch national team and his second stint with Barca.
Scwienstiger will probably not feature much as a part of Van Gaal’s system which is based on technical ability and passing with the wingers doing most of the play making. Altintop and Sosa who are both more technically gifted will probably compete for he right wing starting spot. Van Gaal does not like players to stay on the ball for long periods of time, in fact he has desired amount of time each player should have the ball… so Ribery will have to get used to being more of a passer than a dribbler. Van Gaal also likes fast strikers Olic, Toni and Klose are all slow which means another fast striker might be signed maybe another creative central midfielder as well if Ze Roberto leaves. either which way Van Gaal will bring attacking football based on creativity to the bundesliga and German football is lacking a great deal of creativity at the moment.
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I would like to share my memories of Van Gaal´s FC Barcelona, as maybe a clue to next season with FC Bayern:
- As I posted before he brought a goalie, Ruud Hesp, though he had portuguese Vitor Baia (regarded the as one of the best in the world).This less known goalie gave a relevant performance, so we can consider he has a good eye on keepers.
-I do not agree with John on Schweini´s role, cause in his team two players with great characteristics were untouchable in the midfield, Cocu and Luis Enrique (multirole players, able to defend, to score playing on one wing or in the centre, and so on)
-Open wings, with Figo and Rivaldo, so I see Ribery in this role, though it is true that he also likes to play with an offensive midfielder who can assist the main striker, and the frechman also can perform this role.
-The number nine he likes is the Kluyvert style,and I don´t think Toni can perform it well, for he is slow. The man I think could be similar is Arsenal´s Adebayor. Maybe Mario Gomez could fit also, for he is quite fast and also able to assist.
Finally, some numbers, in his first period he was the main coach at FC Barcelona for tree years, winning two leagues and the cup, he resigned cause the chairman who contracted him left the club due to social troubles, in spite of his running contract. His second period was a hard time for FC Barcelona, with a non competitive squad. I think it is clear he is loyal, and also stubborn, it is true, and he did not get along with spanish press at all, so the view here is very critic.
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Scwienstiger cannot compare to Cocu and Luis Enrique both were very talented technically which Scwienstiger is not… Cocu was a generalist player and his role was mainly to win the ball and pass it off quickly initiating offense… passing is not what Scwienstiger does nor is he particularly good defensively. Luis Enrique was one of the best play makers in Europe and did most of his damage interchanging passes with rest of the Barca front line if Luis Enrique was marked out of a game Barca’s offense stalled. Scwienstiger is a forward/attacking midfielder and is decent at getting into good positions and shooting. Van Gaal is about fluid moving offense so the emphasis is more on moving the ball than receiving it and that’s why Scwienstiger wont be a clean fit in Van Gaal’s system.
i suspect Toni and Klose will compete for a starting spot next season to play alongside a quicker striker. Van Gaal also plays with only one real defensive midfielder so van Bommel and Anatoliy Tymoschuk will probably compete for a starting spot to play alongside a creative central midfielder.
Van Gaals second stint at Barca was bad because he and the players could not get along… that was the time he chased away Rivaldo i remember him saying to the media either Rivaldo leaves or he leaves Rivaldo left first and Van Gaal followed shortly after. Barca’s team was competitive as it finished 4th and went to the champions league semifinals the previous season under Van Gall Barca went into a nose dive and were barely scraping 8th spot.
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A bit off topic, but I thought I’d share which players have 4 yellow cards going into this weekend from the contenders. As you’ll agree, this title could very well be determined by the referees, or who keeps their cool under fire:
Wolfsburg:
Dzeko
GrafiteBayern:
Oddo
Ribery
Toni
Van Bommel (9 actually!)
Ze RobertoHertha Berlin:
Drobny
SimunicStuttgart:
Gomez
Lehmann
LanigPosted from
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Come on yellows for Grafite/Dzeko
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I asked this on the Koln offside, but its not as popular as this one so i’m gonna ask here too. Is Podolski still coming to Koln next season? I’m just making sure, because even though Koln have for sure now avoided relegation and are staying in the first Bundesliga, but it doesnt say he’s playing for Koln from 2009 onwards anymore on Wikipedia, and he’s been playing more since Klose has been injured and since Klinsmaan has been sacked too. So i’m just making sure he’s still coming back to Koln next season?
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i think we can forget about the title this year, at least we have to secure the second place, so it means beating Supermario and co.The spanish press is messing around Ribery and R Madrid,as they say he has agreed to the transfer. We´ll see, I guess this week everything about player movements (coming and leaving)will be stopped until the horizon clears. This counts also on Podolski, I think it is not clear cause we do not know what new coach wants.
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Podolski joins Cologne in the summer. The deal has been signed long ago. The only get out clause would have been a scenario where Cologne gets relegated, but that’s not the case, so he’s definitely gone.
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As much as I’d hate to see Ribery leave, there is no doubt he will be gone next year when his contract expires. If they could get around 80 million Euros in a transfer fee they could use that to get 3-4 really good players and fill the holes like goaltender (Kameni might be a really good pickup and wouldd be free) and right back.
I’d also not mind if they could sell Luca Toni. He is missing so many easy goals right now and has no other skills than putting the ball in the net with help from others. They could then use the money they get for Toni, and what’s left from the Ribery money and get Grafite from Wolfsburg. He has a far higher skill level and can do everything (dribble the ball through defenders, set up other people and score goals).
Bayern is loaded at midfield, so they would not need a replacement for Ribery. In saying all this, I’d love to see them keep Ribery, but it would not be doomsday if he leaves and they spend the money they get wisely and shore up the need positions. 80 mil is a lot of money and could net us a lot of players for just that one. He is one of the five best players in the world right now, so let the bidding war begin, and then see if the money is right… Maybe even try to trade him to Barca for E’To and cash…Posted from
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Thanks for clarifying that for me Jan.
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@Luke Van Bommel (9 actually!)>> You’re just trying to make me love him more aren’t you?
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Midway through the season if you had asked me where we should sell Ribery I would have laughed and flat out said “no fricking way.” Now, I think we may need to do it. It has become clear that he wants to get out and an unhappy Ribery can be prone to mental lapses (his recent red card of frustration) and spells where he decides not to put in the extra effort. I’ve seen this from him after the Barcelona loss and even a bit before and if he is forced to stay at Bayern next year I think we will see a lot more of it and a new coach isn’t going to change that. He’s an incredible player and it will be a huge blow to lose him.
However, during this off-season we can sell him for an enormous price tag to England or Spain and make a couple of key moves. I agree with Roger above that if we sold Ribery I’d like to see a move to replace Toni with someone like Grafite or Dzeko, a new goalie, left back and center back. Above all I don’t want to see games next season where we have a Van Buyen/Demichelis center defence, my lord that is horrible.
There’s only one or two players like Ribery that can kick your team into another gear but we still would have an excellent midfield especially if we brought Kroos back.
This is all talk for later. For now I just want to make sure we win or tie this weekend and guarantee we will be seeing champions league football next year. If we find ourselves sitting in 4th at the end of Saturday our prospects for making quality off-season moves will grow very dim.
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Angela: Strictly a qualifying statement of fact
It seems the players themselves were all aware of their status in that regard..Building off of Shane’s comments a bit, it is rather difficult to swallow, but it hard to understate how important this weekend’s match is to our club’s future. I suppose we’re not supposed to worry–all the other club’s fans have just seen us succeed too many times to think we’ll trip on our shoelaces Saturday. But, to fail Saturday and be forced into the Europa League again might be the moment that we look back on 5 years down the line as the moment Bayern molted out of its shell of dominance. But for now, I am dusting off my 00-01 Sagnol jersey (it’s not an Andersson, sadly), as we’re going to need some 2001-style luck to spark a spontaneous celebration on the Marienplatz.
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@Luke: It’s okay – it’s part of the reason I love him. I’m just a sucker.
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United States
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