Where is the outrage?

A couple of days ago after having read some of the latest sports papers, I asked myself the question of the worth of a football player.

A question that certainly crossed some borders. On one hand, because a whole lot of “experts” tried to answer it, and on the other hand because Gareth Bale is the subject of discussion.

Gareth Bale who is the personified transgression of borders of the human rational.

Bale. A seemingly endless Transfer-Saga, which has pretty much all the elements that one could describe as despicable in the professional football scene.

Where is the proportionality? Where is the end of the line?

Who will show decency and will bridle the mammon?

Where is the outrage?

After all there has been a huge outrage about the Manager wage and their bonuses. Yes one could even speak about the public anger these topics have brought up.

However, the madness in football doesn’t seem to be socially applicable.

Like the financial markets, the transfer market has already started to disconnect from the real world market economy. All across Europe, the sword of Damocles is hanging over the broke economies. With hefty financial cuts especially in the social areas of public spending, they are trying to reanimate the patient while he is collapsing.

In between all this misery, between Dublin and Athens, football is sitting in the ivory tower, untouched by the shakeup of the financial crisis. Spain seems to have no usage of the future building bricks that the unwilling desertion of highly qualified students resembles an exodus.

Tolerated Madness

On the other hand, young men with high wages are wooed into the country. Men whose only talent is to kick a ball with their foot. Thereby, Lionel Messi was probably calm and happy that at the birth of his son Thiago he had an under-paid midwife with her invaluable knowledge there instead of his financial consultant.

It seems ludicrous that we in Germany debate about the social justice and how after we “saved” the banking system we now can save the democratic commonwealth. No one seems to be bothered that in football disproportional sums are paid to finance footballers.

It is not so much about the fact that is happens. It is more about the perverse naturalness with how this happens. And that’s where we get back to Gareth Bale. With the exception of some rules the world is full of invaluable human lives – at the moment around 7,2 Billion. Gareth Bale with his talent is one of them. This does not make him more valuable though.

Fans and Media should therefore have a change of mind and they really should complain loudly about the insane Transfer fees instead of creating the godlike imagine of people.

Many people are speculating about the real worth of the Welshman. 130 million? 100 million? 75 million? Or really just 30 million? In my opinion, no club should pay more than 50 million for a player.

Will financial fair play really tame this monster? We will have to wait and see. That the tool will actually come into effect in 2015 can be seen as a step into the right direction.

“Less personal wealth rather than the concentration of financial power of disposal and mass psychological influence in relatively few hands is becoming a serious threat to an open society”, reminds Helmut Schmidt.

Since football is a skewed reflection of our society, this reminder echoes after the Financial Fairplay in a way. 

For just as in society, the excesses of individual well-torpedo all, they eliminate just in football every little remnant of virtue.

Shouldn’t we have an outrage over that for once?

Question of Identity

The new jersey of FC Barcelona, which will be unveiled today at 18:30pm in the game against FC Bayern, is certainly something  Bayern coach Pep Guardiola will find quite neat. The jersey is in the Catalonian colors of red and yellow, something which won't be well received in Spains Capital of Madrid. However, for someone as home rooted as Guardiola it will mean something special.

Guardiola admires the club for which he works, said longtime friend David Trueba. He never want's to be more then just a part of the whole and never ask for coffee without giving something in return. A very noble mindset, which he is trying to transport over to his new club FC Bayern.

For four weeks the new coach has been working in Munich and quite a lot has happened already - so much that you sometimes have to ask for the identity of the Club. Especially in is homeland. Who is role model and who is the one who has to try to imitate? Bayern won the triple last season, they beat Barca with 7:0 goals - so is it right to turn this club into FC Bayern Barcelona?
Yes and No. To find answers in football is often not very easy. Often times you need time. Guardiola has the task in Munich to make a team at the top even better. So normally there are two options. Either you just change really small things. The easy way if you will. Guardiola however has chosen the slightly harder way. He is trying to create something new. Risky.

If he manages to do so, a place in the history books will be guarenteed. As for now it is looking quite good for him and Bayern. However, you can't take the pre-season games and draw a definite picture. One thing we know is that the new coach has a clear idea of offensive football. The two central defensive midfielders of Schweinsteiger and Martinez is no more in the new 4-1-4-1 System. In this system new man Thiago has played the 6. Against Hamburg and Gladbach certainly something without much risk. In Dortmund though, they surely are planning out how to attack this system with quick attacks.

The game today against Barcelona can be a somewhat of an indicator of whether Guardiolas Revolution will work against the top level of European Football. However, we should be careful with whatever outcome. The Catalonian Club has traveled to Munich without is new Superstar Neymar and without their new coach Gerardo Martino.

Once again the eyes will be on Thiago, the man who just switched clubs more then a week ago. He is seen as the synonym of the fusion of two worlds. Looked at the sport side of things he is certainly a big gain. However, for the clubs Identity he might become a political issues. Will he push out Bayerns home-grown talents such as Schweinsteiger, Müller or Kroos? And what will the club be under Guardiola? FC Bayern München -  or FC Bayern Barcelona? Or yet just a mixture of the two?

Bayern also presented their new CL Jersey. In Blue. The color of the local rival 1860. You shouldn't however, jump to the conclusion that they are on the search for identity.

The Different Breed

If you want to be a world class racer in the world of motorsport, bravery is the essential pre-requisite. Now if you want to be in the top class of two-wheeled racing, that bravery has to be up a notch. Now if you want to be a racer at the Isle of Man TT, that bravery has to be in another league.

If you ask people about motorcycle racing stars, most people will say names like Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo. Some people with a bigger memory might tell you of Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz. However, there are at least two names that deserve to be on that list, but unfortunately don't receive the same credit. These two names would be Joey Dunlop and his modern day successor John McGuiness.

These two fellows might not have won Moto GP Grand Prix or Superbike titles, but they have mastered the toughest, most dangerous motorcycle road race in the world, the Isle of Man TT.  And they have not only won it once but multiple times.

I think it is safe to say that the riders at the TT are a different breed than those who ride at Moto GP. Don't get me wrong, they are all talented racers. But the TT requires the racers to be made of different stuff. If we say that racing in the Moto GP takes bravery, well then racers in the TT need nerves and cojones of steel. Ever felt you like you need proof of the bravery these racers have? Simply watch the video below.

 

This footage is from the 2010 TT race and features Superbike racer Connor Cummins, who was in contention for a strong finish in the race. Prior before his crash he had achieved a 131mph lap. But when you race at the Isle of Man the risk is high.

In the 106 year history of the TT, more than 230 people have lost their lives on the Mountain Circuit. That sheer level of risk and one of the toughest if not the toughest road races make it the ultimate challenge for any motorcycle racer.

Cummins' crash left him with a multiple broken left arm, two bone fractures in his back, a dislocated knee and damaged knee ligaments, bruised lungs and a hairline fracture of his pelvis. He came back the following year! Yes, he came back. 

Many people might wonder know why these racers and their families do this. I thought that what Mrs Dobbs, wife of Paul Dobbs who died in a crash at the 2010 TT, said about the TT in the Closer to the Edge documentary of 2011 sort of explains it. She said: 

"Anyone could lose their partner tomorrow. People step in front of a bus, people lose their life everyday in road accidents. You talk and joke about it all the time "I might not be here next week". It is what people say. But it is part of your conscious, even a sub-conscious part it really does make you love life. It makes you appreciate who you've got and what is special about them. The reason we go racing is the while you know have a good time, how can we get the most fun out of life. Still love the TT, still love the island. You can't change that. You can't love the death and you can't love the loss but you can't love the excitement and thrill without knowing its part of it. It wouldn't be so exciting if it didn't have the risk. That is why they want to do it. They do what they love and they are willing to risk their lives for the sport they love.

We live in a world where sport does all it can to make events safer for the competitors, the TT remains a throwback where the risks are all too real.

TT racers are modern-day daredevils, but let's not kid ourselves. They're not crazy. They're among the most precise, disciplined, focused racers on the planet.
And that's why they deserve to be lauded.

The Quiet Heroes

Fans at Anoeta saw six goals last Sunday. Three were scored by one of the biggest if not the biggest football club in the world, Real Madrid, but the other three were scored by Real Sociedad that will add to the growing sense of belief that echoes around San Sebastián these days.

This season of the Liga BBVA is the 10th since La Real took everyone by surprise and finished second in La Liga, just two points behind Real Madrid. If we look back the squad from those times we find the forward pairing of Darko Kovacevic and Nihat Kahveci which was supported by a young Xabi Alonso, while Dutchman Sander Westerveld kept the goals out on the other end of the pitch.

Now, ten years later, there are several parallels to that season. Real Sociedad has been to the second division and back since then, but it now sits fifth in La Liga with only two points behind Valencia. One more game is left to be played in La Liga and Valencia undoubtably will face the harder opponents in FC Sevilla. Real Sociedad will face Deportivo who currently still face the threat of relegation. The club and its fans are dreaming of a return to their Champions League days. Raynald Denoueix, a Frenchman, was the manager that last took Sociedad to that particular promised land, and it is another French coach, Phillipe Montanier, who has them back on the verge of European competition.

Now many people will think that this Spanish side probably features some sort of star-ensemble. However, this is not the case. Much as they did a decade ago, La Real continues to use hard work and teamwork to supplement a roster bereft of true star power. The age is certainly on La Real's side as well. The oldest player in the ranks of this squad is Ion Ansotegi who is 30 years old. Real Sociedad are known for their investment in locally sourced youngsters, and this edition of La Real are not short of prodigious talents.


If La Real manage to clinch the fourth spot and qualify for the Champions League next season it would be a true success story. One that does not involve big investors or star players but rather one of a team filled with young talent and a coach who put together the pieces to form this masterpiece of a team. Even if they "only" place fifth it will not dampen this seasons performance. In the shadow of the big Spanish club, the quiet heroes of San Sebastian have risen up to take their rightful spot in La Liga.

The uncrowned King of Wembley

Roman Weidenfeller, the goalkeeper of Dortmund, was on the way to make himself a legend. But then struck his nemesis and wiped away this new status.

He stretched, he punched, he stood in the way of the Bayern attackers and he even had to use his face to stop the incoming shots of Arjen Robben. He flew through this historic night at London, a night that could have been his.

Roman Weidenfeller tried everything to fulfill his biggest dream as a sportsman and to help his team climb the thrown of European Club football. At the end of these incredible 93 minutes at the Wembley Stadium he stood there with empty hands.

One thing is certain: If Borussia Dortmund would have won, then he would have been the big Hero. On one level with Lars Ricken who shot them to the 1997 Champions League title.

What he displayed was the continuation of his incredible performance in this year’s Champions League campaign.

Robben Strikes back

The man who stripped him of the legend status was Arjen Robben. A story that only football could possibly write. The man who has been Weidenfellers nemesis for the past year’s. Last season the Dortmund Keeper was successful and denied Robben at the crucial Bundesliga game in April. Even in the final this year he was able to successfully stop Robben and yes even with his face! However, in the end Robben struck back with a sense of brilliance.

National Team Mr. Löw?

Despite the loss in this incredible football show, Roman Weidenfeller has proven that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Now with a display like that other nations would think that he must certainly be playing for the national team. Well folks he isn’t. Of course we all know that Manuel Neuer, who had an incredible game on Saturday as well, is the number one in Germany. However, Weidenfeller hasn’t even been selected as number three in the German squad by which many are surprised. Oh well anyone who follows the German national team has probably noticed that Joachim Löw has a strange selection process. Weidenfeller isn’t the only case. Look at Kießling the striker from Leverkusen. You may ask who is that guy? Well, while personally I am not a big fan of him, he was the top scorer in the Bundesliga this season. Despite that great performance he has not been nominated since the World Cup in 2010. Sad sad story for him and for his fans. At least he has been part of the national team once. Weidenfeller has never been selected.

So Mr. Löw, how about giving this bloke a chance to showcase his ability on an international stage? He certainly deserves it!

The uncrowned King of Wembley

While he might not have been able to lift the trophy this year, he certainly did his best to help his team get close to it. A fantastic display of performance and yes indeed Dortmund can say “We have a grandiose Saison gespielt”. Roman Weidenfeller the uncrowned King of Wembley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHw-H03U4bs

Thoughts on this years Final

We did it!
With one single, dramatic, flick of his right foot he finally rid himself of of all the hurtful tags. The man that many wanted to see depart last season and who always had the tag of "World Class but not in Finals" stripped himself of this title and has truly shown that he is indeed a World Class player. The man I am talking about is obviously Arjen Robben.

This time around, finally, the Dutch winger was the man of the moment, taking control of this game in a way he couldn't in any of the three huge disappointments in his career.

Saturday night at London's Wembley Stadium, Robben's expression said it all as he wheeled away, sprinted towards the Bayern fans and screamed with relief and delight after running through the Dortmund defense and calmly clipping the ball past goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to decide this contest. You could see all the pressure falling of the shoulders as he shouted the words "Oh my god! What? What?" at the red crowd.

This win could be the beginning of a new era in European Club Football, but as Ottmar Hitzfeld former Coach and two times Champions League Victor wisely said, "We will only know if its a new era after we have played it". Whether this is the start to a new era or not, only time will tell us.

One thing we certainly saw last night was that the German Football has caught up and might be even at the top now in the World. Once again hats off to Dortmund who played fantastic yesterday. Both sides displayed technique and tactical nous of the highest order and yet it was highly entertaining to watch as well. The times are over were German football was only famous for its high aggressiveness and its hard-running. While the opening ceremony blatantly displayed that there are obviously still a lot of stereotypes surrounding Germany, we can say that this final has disproved the stereotypes of German football.

Another story that has struck me, especially as a life long Bayern fan, is simply the way Bayern has come back from last years gruesome defeat against Chelsea. A lot of people thought that they will give up and fall apart but they have proven their true strength this year by making this incredible comeback. After last years defeat I personally was crushed but I remember that I wrote the next year we will come to their city and take the Trophy back to where it belongs. And yes we did it. I might have had my doubts this season, especially after the group stage and before the Barcelona games which I had the pleasure of witnessing this incredible FCB squad live at the Allianz Arena crushing the world greatest team at that point. So as a fan I have huge respect of what these guys have done this past year. Coming back from such a harsh season not only in the Bundesliga and Champions League but also from the Euro Cup.

What comes next? Well hopefully we can secure the triple next Saturday in Berlin. After that the best season in Bayerns history will end and we will have to see who comes and who goes. One thing we know for sure is that one of the best coaches will depart. Thank you Jupp Heynckes! Mario Götze will join only adding to our incredible offensive squad. Many say Lewandowski will follow but I hope not--cause Fuck that guy. Hopefully this great team will continue in this shape next season. But even if they dont thats okay. They have proven Europe and the World what a great team we have here in Munich!

So long! MIA SAN MIA