Every Bundesliga fan knows that any season in which FC Bayern doesn't win the Bundesliga is seen as a forgettable season in Munich.
Bayern München is exactly 13 points behind Borussia Dortmund. Each and every coach in the Bundesliga will concede that FC Bayern has the best squad in the entirety of the league by some distance. FC Bayern has been the dominant side in German football since the 1970s. Therefore, any season in which the double of the Bundesliga and the German Cup or at least the Bundesliga isn't won is seen as unsuccessful and forgettable.
Bayern München celebrated a thumping victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on the side, they managed to wipe away the village side’s chances of earning any points at the Allianz Arena. However, Bayern’s faults weren’t hidden during the game.
FC Bayern München took apart Hoffenheim by capitalizing on the half-hearted defending of Marco Pezzaiuoli’s side. It took only two minutes for Arjen Robben to play a wonderful pass to Mario Gomez. Gomez, sporting a new haircut, scored with a simple touch from close range to put FCB in the lead. Thomas Mueller scored Bayern’s second in the first half while Arjen Robben added two more in the second half to take FCB to third position in the Bundesliga standings.
Yet, even in such a dominant performance by the German champions, Louis Van Gaal’s faults were there for all to see. With the return of “Robbery”,- the name given to the wing pairing of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger was allowed to return to his favoured position of defensive midfielder while Thomas Mueller was allowed to return to the hole behind the striker. However, Van Gaal continued to play Anatoliy Tymoschuk in a central defender’s position and Luis Gustavo in the left back’s spot. As one commentator on Euro Sports put it: ‘Half of Bayern’s defence is made up of midfielders.’
The defence, despite having very little to do, showed its weaknesses. Vedad Ibisevic was given more than enough room to equalize in the first half with the score at 1-0. However, he missed a golden chance, leaving Bayern untroubled. The match happened to be at the Allianz Arena, where Bayern has been relatively untroubled and utterly dominant all season long.
Players being played out of position isn’t Bayern’s only problem at the moment. Especially in away games, there seems to be a problem with Louis Van Gaal’s half-time team talks. Bayern has come out, more often than not, in the second half, looking lethargic and almost unaware of their situation. This has cost Bayern quite a few times when they have allowed 1-0 leads or 2-1 leads and even 2-0 leads slip.
Louis Van Gaal was allowed to spend in excess of 20 million euros in the summer transfer window of 2010 by the Bayern board. He decided to put his faith in youngsters Diego Contento and David Alaba. He also decided to await the return of long-term absentee, Breno, despite knowing that Bayern had missed out on the treble in 2010 because of the poor defence, instead of buying a central defender. Subsequently, Contento started a few games but was then relegated to the bench while Alaba was loaned out to Hoffenheim during the winter. Breno, after a few starts in 2011 is found on the bench.
Van Gaal has run into several arguments with the Bayern board. He has come out and spoken unwanted words in the media at the most inopportune moments. Before Schweinsteiger had extended his contract, Van Gaal had said that ‘Schweini’ should be sold in 2011 if he didn’t sign an extension. The board had clearly previously stated that Schweinsteiger wouldn’t be allowed to leave before 2012.
Van Gaal rarely points the finger at himself for his mistakes. He was almost apologetic after last week’s defeat to Köln. Club President Uli Hoeness recently came out and said that he gets ‘nervous’ when he doesn’t get the assurance of Champions League qualification. Bayern’s poor season can be partly blamed on Arjen Robben’s long term injury. Van Gaal though, has his faults and should have shouldered his share of the blame much earlier.
The next few games will be important in determining Van Gaal’s future. Bayern plays Mainz, Hanover and Dortmund in the league. Two out of the three games (Mainz and Hanover) are on the road, where Bayern has won only thrice all season. They travel to the San Siro to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League and takes on Schalke at the Allianz Arena in the German Cup. A loss in any of these fixtures might see Van Gaal out of the club.
After all, if Bayern sacked Felix Magath midway through a season, after the coach won two doubles with the club, what are the odds that Van Gaal will survive the chop?
Bayern München celebrated a thumping victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. With Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery on the side, they managed to wipe away the village side’s chances of earning any points at the Allianz Arena. However, Bayern’s faults weren’t hidden during the game.
FC Bayern München took apart Hoffenheim by capitalizing on the half-hearted defending of Marco Pezzaiuoli’s side. It took only two minutes for Arjen Robben to play a wonderful pass to Mario Gomez. Gomez, sporting a new haircut, scored with a simple touch from close range to put FCB in the lead. Thomas Mueller scored Bayern’s second in the first half while Arjen Robben added two more in the second half to take FCB to third position in the Bundesliga standings.
Yet, even in such a dominant performance by the German champions, Louis Van Gaal’s faults were there for all to see. With the return of “Robbery”,- the name given to the wing pairing of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger was allowed to return to his favoured position of defensive midfielder while Thomas Mueller was allowed to return to the hole behind the striker. However, Van Gaal continued to play Anatoliy Tymoschuk in a central defender’s position and Luis Gustavo in the left back’s spot. As one commentator on Euro Sports put it: ‘Half of Bayern’s defence is made up of midfielders.’
The defence, despite having very little to do, showed its weaknesses. Vedad Ibisevic was given more than enough room to equalize in the first half with the score at 1-0. However, he missed a golden chance, leaving Bayern untroubled. The match happened to be at the Allianz Arena, where Bayern has been relatively untroubled and utterly dominant all season long.
Players being played out of position isn’t Bayern’s only problem at the moment. Especially in away games, there seems to be a problem with Louis Van Gaal’s half-time team talks. Bayern has come out, more often than not, in the second half, looking lethargic and almost unaware of their situation. This has cost Bayern quite a few times when they have allowed 1-0 leads or 2-1 leads and even 2-0 leads slip.
Louis Van Gaal was allowed to spend in excess of 20 million euros in the summer transfer window of 2010 by the Bayern board. He decided to put his faith in youngsters Diego Contento and David Alaba. He also decided to await the return of long-term absentee, Breno, despite knowing that Bayern had missed out on the treble in 2010 because of the poor defence, instead of buying a central defender. Subsequently, Contento started a few games but was then relegated to the bench while Alaba was loaned out to Hoffenheim during the winter. Breno, after a few starts in 2011 is found on the bench.
Van Gaal has run into several arguments with the Bayern board. He has come out and spoken unwanted words in the media at the most inopportune moments. Before Schweinsteiger had extended his contract, Van Gaal had said that ‘Schweini’ should be sold in 2011 if he didn’t sign an extension. The board had clearly previously stated that Schweinsteiger wouldn’t be allowed to leave before 2012.
Van Gaal rarely points the finger at himself for his mistakes. He was almost apologetic after last week’s defeat to Köln. Club President Uli Hoeness recently came out and said that he gets ‘nervous’ when he doesn’t get the assurance of Champions League qualification. Bayern’s poor season can be partly blamed on Arjen Robben’s long term injury. Van Gaal though, has his faults and should have shouldered his share of the blame much earlier.
The next few games will be important in determining Van Gaal’s future. Bayern plays Mainz, Hanover and Dortmund in the league. Two out of the three games (Mainz and Hanover) are on the road, where Bayern has won only thrice all season. They travel to the San Siro to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League and takes on Schalke at the Allianz Arena in the German Cup. A loss in any of these fixtures might see Van Gaal out of the club.
After all, if Bayern sacked Felix Magath midway through a season, after the coach won two doubles with the club, what are the odds that Van Gaal will survive the chop?
