40 Days And 40 Nights - Winter-Break
One city is do to the unthinkable. No football. Whatsoever. For 40 Days and 40 Nights. After a brutal loss to Wolfsburg, Dortmund vows to stay celibate during
the 40 days of Winter, but finds the player of its dreams and is unable
to do anything about it.
And so it began
Recap: After taking the head of "Jahrhundertrainer" Ernst Middendorp on December, 7th Borussia got a hammering at Felix-Magath-run VFL Wolfsburg, the most boring club to appear in Bundesliga since its invention. Shortly afterwards a trip to Indonesia proved that BVB can represent. A Petric penalty was enoug to beat the National Team. A few month before DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) chose Dortmund, Energie Cottbus and Arminia Bielefeld to conquer the gigantic Asian market. A careful selection of simply the best ambassadors the league has to offer.
Conny throws a monkey wrench in Zorc's plans
Missing our "Match Of The Year" was Roman Weidenfeller, who just some two days later admitted being handicaped for most of the first season. "Sometimes after a match I was not able to raise my arm for two days", he explained and suddenly found himself on the outside of the most interesting rumour to arise over Christmas. Jens Lehmann, 2002 Meister with Borussia, found himself on the bench at Emirates Arena in London for most of 07/08. The German Nr.1 was looking for a change of scenery to ensure his Nr.1 status in the Nationalelf. Conny Lehmann (for you Yellow Press readers: Formerly with Dortmund legend Knut Reinhardt) however threw a monkey wrench in Zorc's plans. Zorc had been to London to put in an offer and Lehmann looked all set for 17 matches with the black'n'yellow ones. When being asked about his trip to London Zorc showed a great sense of humor and replied: "Been to Scotland. Fishing. Trying to track down Nessi". Well, Nessi's wife decided to stay in London. Husbands, love your wives! Jens does and spared Dortmund a huge discussion. Only recently 37year-old Alexander Bade signed with Dortmund from fellow Westphalians Paderborn. He's going to be Marc Ziegler's sub. Ziegler during all this discussion never spoke a word. Weidenfeller to ´conclude will miss most of this season due to his shoulder injury.
Germany, Brazil, Croatia, Serbia - Hunting down a right-back
Besides Lehmann Dortmund flirted with Brazil turned Croatian Etto of Dinamo Zagreb, a move that never materialized. Why? ...One reason Borussia also had high hopes of signing Sevilla-substitute Andreas Hinkel - a decent right back in his days with VFB Stuttgart but overpriced. Desperate to leave Sevilla Hinkel decided on talking to the most boring club to appear in Bundesliga, ever! as well as to Borussia Dortmund. With Philipp Degen never holding up to his reputation a key position for Borussia Dortmund was to be filled with a former international. But it was not to be. After everything seemed set for the transfer, Hinkel took the money and ran to Celtic Glasgow. In it for the glory of playing the Old Firm. Hinkel signed the contract in the first days of January, played his first few minutes and left the pitch injured. Bad news for Hinkel and enter good news for Dortmund. During all those rumour-filled days Sports-Director Michael Zorc had eyed 23year-old Serbian International Antonio Rukavinia. The deal was finalized with a speculated fee of 2 Million €. This could be the beginning of the end for Degen, who's contract expires by the end of this season. The first and final transfer is Mats Hummels ,a 19year-old full back from Bayern Munich II. He's on loan til the end of next season. Defender Nr.5. Bayern loans in the past have proven to be good assets both parties. Markus Babbel had his breakthrough during his spell with Hamburger SV and more recently Philipp Lahm blossomed at VFB Stuttgart. Hummels might also be an option for Sebastian Kehl.
The Boys Are Back In Town
Which brings us to the long-injured Kehl and Alex Frei, who's last match for Borussia got Schalke closer to their "50 year of hurt"-festivites at the end of this very season. Kehl who already played a vital role in the wins against VFB Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld looks set for a departure from the Westfalenstadion after this season. His contracts expires and so far no signs indicate that he's gonna renew the papers. For the time being he should oversee an upswing that with Frei's comeback announced for tomorrow might actually will come close to Borussia. The team looked good in the test-matches. Nelson Valdez scored quite a few goals pre-season. Will endurance finally pay off?
Bring The Cup Home
During those test-matches the starting eleven for tomorrows Cup-Clash vs. Werder Bremen crystallized. Ziegler should have Rukavinia, Amedick, Kovac and Dede just in front of him. Midfield will see Kehl as holding back, Tinga and Krinke covering the flanks with Federico playing the 10. Depending on Mladen Petric's road of recovery (injured in last test match vs. Gent and only maybe cleared to play) its either the astonishing Croatian or often lethargic Diego Klimovicz playing alongside above-mentioned Valdez. Frei will sit on the bench and wait for a comeback after 66min. The match kicks off at 8.30pm and will be broadcasted live on ARD-Television. Werder, who still chew on September's 3-0 defeat, have to replace Fritz and Frings, who is out with yet another knee-injury. Diego, Borowski (departing for Bayern soonish) are still borderliner candidates. Referee Fandel is to supervise. And Dortmund is to win. Let's bring the Cup back home.
In Brief
Michael Zorc and Thomas Doll both extended their contracts. Zorc signed for another season and Doll til the end of 09/10. Mental-Coach Lohr, of whom is said that he is far too influential for Doll, will leave the club after this season.
Tamas Hajnal will be the second Hungarian player to wear our colours after Zoltan Varga (1974-1976). The 26year-old played an amazing first half of the season (six goals, five assists) at the Wildparkstadion in Karlsruhe. Promoted KSC relied on his playmaking. Hajnal follows Giovanni Federico and could be followed by defender Mario Eggimann, a Swiss-International.
Skipper Christian Wörns deleted a 25game-renewal-clause from his contract. Wörns only appeared in 11 matches so far and wants to end his career in style and not in everlasting speculation. He abhors crookedness.
Former Dortmund Giant Jan Koller will make his Bundesliga-Comeback for FC Nuremberg. He never found his peace in Monaco. It will be strange to see him in a different jersey other than ours
Our second team's going to start their third-league campaign in mid-February. Legend Lars Ricken should stay with the team. They need to finish in 10th position (and with no more than one other Second Team of a Bundesliga-Club above them) to qualify for next seasons new 3.Liga. They will start off on #4 with a six point advantage over RW Ahlen who are currently on #11.
Jens Volke, one of the founders of this very page, took on a job as Fan-Tutor for Borussia Dortmund.
The 2010 WC-Qualifier Germany vs. Russia will be held in Dortmund on October, 11th.
Bayern Munich announced their new coach. Jürgen Klinsmann is back and will overlook the training from July onwards. Ottmar Hitzfeld, the two-times "Meisterschaft"- and Champions-League-winning coach with Borussia, seems to finish his career as Swiss National-Coach
Berti Vogts claims that he's only got one hope to qualify for the Knockout-Stage at the Africa-Cup: "The Ivory Coast and God"
Eike Immel, Borussia's great goalie in the early 80s, appeared in the latestest edition of "I am a Star get me out of here". A sad performance left him finishing in fifth place
Felix Magath so far has transferred some 30 players during his eight month at the most boring club to surface in Bundesliga since its invention
steph - 28.01.2008
