The Bundesview Round 12: Could Van Gaal Be Out After the Weekend?

Kicker is known in Germany as a sports magazine that is not afraid to pull punches. A bi-weekly publication, it's main focus is on all things Bundesliga. In their late week edition, Kicker pulled no punches about how Bayern Munich have played under Louis Van Gaal.

Under the headline (this is the English translation), Van Gaal: The Barvarian Crisis, it was noted that a loss for Bayern Munich against Schalke could spell the end of Louis Van Gaal's reign as the Bayern Munich manager. Now understand, no direct quotes from the higher ups in management have said anything of the sort. The only evidence the magazine could produce was the shocking revelation that Bayern Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge did not appear in the dressing room after the club's 2-0 loss Tuesday against Bordeaux. A lower blow came when the magazine openly questioned Van Gaal's training methods, comparing them to those at youth levels. "Van Gaal should question himself, if training low passing without opponents isn't too much youth training", the rough translation, is a damning verdict for a side that has severely punched under their weight.

It's just not Bayern's training either, the in game tactics have been all too familiar. While Kicker took a look at just the Bordeaux game as it's prime example, the same things could be said about the majority of Bayern Munich's games this season.

• "Under pressure, his team isn't capable to do anything creative with the ball, both left and right defenders are playing too high up, further narrowing the field of play for their own offense. They are running into a brick wall and need tactical help by their coach." Munich's high line and narrow play has allowed teams to run roughshod on the counter attack.
• "The one dimensional and aimless passing of the ball to the sides, to the back and so forth is a cry for help and tempo. Tempo that this team lacks significantly on offense. Add to that, horribly planless pounding of the ball high into the opponent's half, hoping for the best, and laughable crosses by Pranjic and Braafheid." Bayern Munich as a team has not shown any flow in their squad. The only exception was the forty-five minutes Ribbery and Robben were on the park agaisnt Wolfsburg. They look clueless in how they want to move forward. Frankly, that's all on the coaching of Louis Van Gaal.
• "With his 'everyone is equal' approach, Van Gaal has managed to drain players like Gomez, Toni and Klose of confidence, who are, on a sidenote, three strikers who are way too similar in their style." Luca Toni getting close to be fully match fit will help that problem as it will give Van Gaal the abilityto have a main target forward as a player for the second striker. I think Gomez will end up being that second striker to Luca Toni, but Gomez's confidence has been shot. Klose has just never fit in at Bayern Munich.

With Schalke coming into the Allianz Arena on Saturday (9:30 am live on ESPN360), Bayern Munich are in a must win situation. Toni looks set to be in the starting eleven, Robben only fit enough for a spot on the bench. Schalke should have confidence in the fact they were able to come back from two goals down last weekend against Bayer Leverkusen to snatch a point late. Bayern Munich at home have only allowed three goals in five matches, Schalke have scored seven in five away. Last season, this same fixture saw Schalke beat Bayern. Farfan and Kevin Kuranyi have the ability to run the Munich defense ragged; but Schalke's back four will have to watch out for the lethal Luca Toni. I see a draw here, something I am sure Schalke will take. However, Bayern Munich fans (and management) will see that result as yet another black eye on their start to this season. It should be noted that Klose is slated to start with Gomez relegated to the bench.

Other Weekend Fixtures (Note: all times at Eastern, with TV in parenthesis).

Friday 2:30 pm: Bayer Leverkusen v Eintracht Frankfurt (Live on GolTV). Rene Adler will miss this game due to an inflamed cornea, meaning Fabian Giefer will be the starting keeper for Leverkusen on Friday. It's a good thing then that Sami Hyypia will be fit after dealing with an ankle injury that limited his time in training this week. This is a strange series in that Bayer Leverkusen has only won one of the last six meetings. I may fall flat on my face with this prediction, but I think Eintracht Frankfurt gives Bayer Leverkusen their first loss of the season. We should see at least one goal, as these two teams have never played in a goalless game against each other.

Saturday 9:30 AM
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (Live on GolTV): Two teams that love to score goals. However, Wolfsburg have had a harder time scoring away from home. Hoffenheim's defense has been a rock at home. Should still be a plenty entertaining affair. Ba will be missing for Hoffenheim, Grafite looks set to make a return to the starting eleven. Prediction, Hoffenheim win 3-2.

Borussia Monchengladbach v Stuttgart: Both will be coming into this game on highs after results last week. A win by Gladbach moves them comfortably mid-table while a win by Stuttgart will move them temporarily away from the relegation zone. It will still be an uphill climb for Stuttgart however. Gebhart will be missing due to yellow card accumulation and Cacau is out with a hamstring injury. Expect the pressure to only intensify for Babbel. Prediction: Gladback 2 Stuttgart 0.

Mainz v Nurnberg: Don't expect this one to be a competitive contest folks. Nurnberg have only scored two away from home. Mainz have scored eleven. Both teams are about as fully fit as they can get. Prediction: Mainz 3 Nurnberg 1.

Bochum v Freiburg: This will be a more interesting match than people will expect. Both teams are tied for second worst in the league with 23 goals allowed (only team worse: Hertha Berlin), so expect goals a plenty. Dabrowski and Ono will miss out for Bochum due to cards, Freiburg are fully fit. Do I expect a winner? No I do not. Prediction: a 2-2 draw.

Sunday 9:30 am: Hannover 96 v Hamburg. I am curious to see how Hamburg play here after Celtic played so well against them on Thursday. Their defense this season has been on the shaky side. Hannover haven't been all that bad at home, but their scoring problems are a major issue that needs addressing somehow. Form says Hamburg should win, but I just can't pull the trigger on them doing so. Prediction: a 1-1 draw.

Sunday 11:30 AM
Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund (Live on ESPN 360): Dortmund loves to set out the stall when away from home, and I don't think it is going to work here. Bremen have too much firepower up front. Even on two days rest, being at home will be the difference in this one. Prediction: Werder Bremen 3 Borussia Dortmund 1.

Hertha Berlin v Koln: OH MOMMY DO I HAVE TO WRITE ABOUT THESE TWO BOTTOM FEEDERS? Damn it I do. Hertha should feel all warm and fuzzy about themselves for scoring three goals against a Dutch side that threw three perfectly good points away. Koln quite frankly, can't score. Sadly, if you're watching this match, it'll be the perfect replacement for a sleeping pill. Prediction: Hertha Berlin 0 Koln 0.

Don't forget to check out The Third Half Twitter page this weekend as I do my 'as long as technology comes through' coverage of the games Saturday. If I can't, I'll keep updated on those games that are on TV.

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'Hunt'ing for Forwards Will Get England Nowhere

He's twenty-three, has a German father and an English mother, and his double on the weekend against Nurnberg to steal a 2-2 draw for Werder Bremen has all of a sudden put this man on the radar of Fabio Capello.

Just one small problem, Aaron Hunt wants nothing to do with the English National Team.

Aaron Hunt, until this season, has been a troubled individual. A person who could never seem to stay on the straight and narrow: either with Werder Bremen or as a member of Germany's U21 national team. A kid with raw talent and the potential to blossom into one of Germany's better forwards for years to come had been halted by his own blatant stupidity. A race row while playing against England in a U21 European Championship (note: it was overturned and the case dropped), a kid who stupidly fought with Diego in training; but above all, a kid who couldn't adapt with the expectations of a man.

I am convinced this was Hunt's last chance to convince at Werder Bremen. With Diego out of the picture, Hunt would have to up his game. Not only has he done that, but he has thrived under pressure. In eleven matches this season, Hunt has scored five and set up another. Hunt has also stayed booking free. Only Claudio Pizarro has more goals for Bremen, but the partnership has been a thing of beauty to watch. Hunt's improved play should see him called into the German National Team, a place that would be nothing but deserved.

This sudden interest from Capello is a shock, but it was not at all shocking Hunt flat out rejected any possibility of playing for The Three Lions. If anything, this should be an insult to the players who have been called in at forward under Capello. Rooney, Defoe, Heskey, Crouch, and Carlton Cole should be insulted that Fabio thinks someone other than themselves would be needed up front.

This is also a move that screams desperation for Fabio Capello. With the World Cup about seven months away from starting; a move like this, even if it is nothing but paper fodder, will unsettle a striker core that hasn't exactly been the definition of harmony. And if you're Hunt, you can't blame him for not wanting to play for a side that doesn't have a prayer at winning the World Cup in 2010, 2014, or 2018 (as controversial as that maybe, England will not be winning the World Cup unless it's played in England in 2018). Sure, Hunt might not feature for Germany at all in South Africa. However, I'd argue that once the 2010 World Cup is over, he will be a feature for Germany in the next two World Cup cycles.

Aaron Hunt should play for Germany. He's grown up playing in the youth set up in Germany, he's been a feature as a youth at international tournaments, and based on this form will be called in by Joachum Low (or any other manager who would come in post 2010 World Cup) eventually. When he is, I'll be one very interested viewer.

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The Third Half Update

This blog has been a long time coming from me.

First off, I deeply apologize to those who read this blog for not updating it as frequently as I should. I make no excuses, it's all on me.

I have to be frank when I say I'm not happy with myself. I'm not happy with the amount of content on this site, I'm not happy with the content on the podcast, and above all I'm not happy at myself for allowing such matters to get in such disarray.

I know some of the more frequent visitors to the site will think I'm being too hard on myself. I can reassure you that I'm not.

When I got into blogging just a few short years ago, two things I told myself was that I would be personal with my work and that I would strive to have the highest quality possible. I think the quality has only be okay, I do not think I've been personal with my writing. While the opinions have been mine, I don't think I've done a good job of expressing those opinions in a personal manner.

What I do know is I need to get back to my fundamentals. I feel guilty that I have let those who have followed my work from day one down. Everyone who reads this blog or listens to the podcast deserves the best I can give. Quite frankly I've let everyone down in that regard. I haven't given you my best and for that all I can say is sorry.

Expect that to change post haste. Sometimes looking at one's self in the mirror and realizing you have to do better is the only thing one can do to improve. I can accept that I haven't given my best. All I can do now is do exactly what I wanted to do from day one.

It's time to get back to being a personal guy with a no nonsense attitude on the leagues I follow and love. It's time to get back to the analysis on both the blog and podcast that was impassioned and purposed. Most importantly, it's time for me to go back to what I know. The same things that kept you around to begin with: here, on the podcast, an on twitter.

Again, I apologize for not doing so as frequently as it should have been done.

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Top of the Table Clash Highlights Bundesliga Weekend

Coming off the international break, the Bundesliga has two massive clashes at the top of the table. The warm-up match occurs Saturday at 9:30 am Eastern when Werder Bremen hosts Hoffenheim in a 4 v 5 battle from the Weser-Stadion. The main event takes place at 12:30 pm when Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen play at the HSH Norbank Arena (live on GolTV).

Both Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen come into this clash unbeaten with six wins and two draws; Hamburg has yet to lose at home while Bayer have three wins and a draw away from the Bay Arena.

It will be interesting to see how Hamburg start up front. Before the international break, Mladen Petric suffered an ankle injury and won't be seen from until the new year. That, along with the cruciate ligament rupture Juan Paolo Guerrero suffered in September, sees Hamburg down two strikers who have combined for six of their team's goals this season. Will Bruno Labbadia go with only one up front, or will he stick with his 4-4-2 formation? If I had to guess, Marcus Berg will play up front alone, Labbadia going 4-5-1.

If anything for Hamburg, the midfield partnership of David Jarolim and Ze Roberto will have to come up big. Ze Roberto currently leads the team with four goals (tied with Guerrero, but he won't be heard from again more than likely until next season), and can get forward. Jarolim will need to hold the ball up in the midfield. The back hasn't exactly been steady, only seeing one clean sheet to start the season. However, they have only allowed two or more goals once. To have any realistic shot of winning on Saturday, knowing the situation up front, Hamburg will need a clean sheet.

Away from home, Bayer Leverkusen have scored eleven goals. The partnership of Stefan Kiessling and Eren Derdiyok have accounted for half the teams goal output. In fact, the entire spine of Bayer Leverkusen has been pretty resolute with Arturo Vidal and Simon Rolfes in the midfield along with Friedrich and Sami Hyypia at center back. Rene Adler has only allowed five goals this season because of the support he's had in the center of the park.

If there is a weakness for Bayer Leverkusen, it's at left back. Eight games into the season, three players have played at least two games in that position. Michal Kadlec, the man who started the season at left back, hasn't played since match day four. It's got to the point Gonzalo Castro has played the last two games at left back, when he's a natural right back. I expect Castro to play again at right back, with Kadlec going back to the left side.

When it's all said and done, I predict Bayer Leverkusen will continue to lead the Bundesliga. Bayer are pretty settled right now; while I think Ze Roberto will try too hard, attempting to put Hamburg on his shoulders. Expect this to be a tight tense affair, with my prediction being a Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 win.

Other Games This Weekend

Saturday 9:30 AM
Eintracht Frankfurt v Hannover 96: Frankfurt have yet to win at home this season. I don't think that changes here. Prediction: Draw
Koln v Mainz: Mainz have allowed thirteen goals in eight games while Koln have only scored five. If there was any game that Koln could get goals, this is it. Prediction: Koln sneaks a late winner.
Nurnberg v Hertha Berlin: MOMMY DO I HAVE TO! 17 v 18 in the Bundesliga, enough said. Nurnberg can't buy a goal right now, Hertha can't stop giving them up. Prediction: a draw that does nothing for either team.
Freiburg v Bayern Munich (Live on GolTV): How badly do Bayern Munich need Luca Toni up front? Even with Robben and Ribery on the wings, it still isn't clicking on all cylinders. Freiburg though are not playing well at home. The same could be said for Bayern Munich on the road. Prediction: Bayern Munich win this with a late second half goal.
Stuttgart v Schalke (Live on ESPN360): Schalke haven't lost on the road, I don't expect that change here. Prediction: Schalke in a blowout.
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim: It's an injustice this game is not being shown on TV here in the states. Both sides play technically sound attacking football. The defense is pretty good also. Prediction: a high scoring draw that we won't get to see.

Sunday 9:30 AM
Wolfsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach (Live on ESPN360): Wolfsburg can score, but have given up their fair share of goals. Gladbach have given up their fair share of goals, but haven't done a good job scoring. Prediction: Wolfsburg wins; Michael Bradley plays, but doesn't have a good showing.

Sunday 11:30 AM
Borussia Dortmund v Bochum: Bochum have point blank been dire on the road. While Dortmund haven't scored many at home, I don't think they will have much trouble. Prediction: Borussia Dortmund wins by two.

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US Gets Late Draw to Put Honduras in World Cup

The hours between 8 pm and 10 pm may have been some of the most exciting we've seen in CONCACAF in a long time. When it was all said and done, 95th minute magic by a side already in the World Cup put the side they defeated on Saturday in.

I will be honest from the outset and say that I did not see all ninety minutes of the United States's clash with Costa Rica. What I saw from the first twenty-five minutes sickened me. Conor Casey found his national team form we all came to hate and despise, Jozy Altidore was walking the tightrope of being sent off; and oh yea, after missing at least 2 golden scoring opportunities, Costa Rica in the span of 3 minutes went 2-0 up. The first goal was simply worthless defending from Gooch, the second coming down to poor defending off a throw in. That said, Ruiz's second goal from the edge of the penalty area was a thunderbolt very few keepers in the world would have saved. I was so disgusted I didn't even bother turning on ESPN360, but turning on Mun2 instead to watch Trinidad and Tobago against Mexico. At the time that game was goalless.

What I wasn't expecting to see was T&T looking the stronger team. Mexico looked like it has already checked out of qualifying, already knowing they were heading to South Africa. What I wasn't expecting was T&T to take the lead. In truth, the referee had no choice but to give T&T the penalty when Torrado used his hand to play the ball. Kerry Baptiste though, placed his penalty perfect past the diving Ochoa.

The second half was pure drama. From Mexico getting their first equalizer, to Baptiste putting T&T back in the lead, the action was just beginning. Then Carlos Pavon put Honduras ahead in El Salvador and gave them hope. However, at that time, it looked grim as Costa Rica was still two goals to the good. At about the same time (with me deciding to throw on ESPN360 to see end the end of the game), Mexico equalized and Michael Bradley pulled one back for the United States. I'm not fond of Michael Bradley right now. He is not playing well at Gladbach right now, but it was his goal that gave the United States hope of an unlikely equalizer.

Then tragedy for the United States. Already using three subs, Gooch tears his Patella Tendon. It was about this moment Costa Rica, I felt, thought they had qualification already secured and let up their play. The United States on the other hand, kept huffing and puffing for an equalizer that would see them top the hex. If it couldn't get any worse for Costa Rica, their manager and assistant manager were sent off for protesting too much on a foul late. That gave us five minutes of second half stoppage time and the unlikeliest of hero's in Jonathan Bornstein. It was a perfect corner; how 11 men could leave a side down to ten unmarked is beyond me. But Bornstein finished the header perfectly to cap off qualifying on top, and well as putting Honduras into the World Cup.

If there is any story that is not getting the play it deserves tonight, it's that Honduras is going to the World Cup. After their heartbreaking loss to the United States last Saturday night, I did not expect them to go to El Salvador and win. Carlos Pavon with one header went from zero to hero. After all the political turmoil, after being so close for so long, Honduras deserves this opportunity.

For the United States, they willed themselves to this late draw while Costa Rica imploded. When it's all said and done, Costa Rica more than likely played their way out of the World Cup.

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Charlie Davies: A Lesson in Personal Responsibility

I'm going to admit right off the bat this blog won't be for everyone. This by far was one of the most difficult blog posts I've ever written in the three plus years I've been blogging. Much of this piece comes from the life experience I've had in my twenty-five and a half years on this earth. I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority on this one, and I'm well aware of that.

When I read the news this afternoon at about 5 pm goofing off at the office, my stomach knotted. When I see any news story involving a car accident with a fatality, I momentarily think about the family of the deceased... and then I went 'why am I reading this on ESPN'.

Never in a million years did I expect to see the name Charlies Davies in the news story.

Charlie Davies, a passenger in a SUV, was involved in a single car crash. Ashley Roberta, the other passenger died, the condition of the driver as far as I've read is still unknown. What we know of Charlie Davies injuries are pretty severe. A fractured right Tibia, right Fibula and left elbow, a lacerated bladder, and facial fractures are what we know about. Davies will be in the hospital at least another week, and he can expect more surgery than the five to six hours he had today. At best, rest/recovery/rehab will be about six months, but it could take as long as twelve. With just that on the table, who cares if he ever plays professionally again at a high level. While it's very likely he will, I'm thankful he's just alive.

Charlie Davies came into quick prominence during this summer's Confederations Cup, scoring the critical first goal against Egypt and setting up a goal in the final. It helped earn him a move to Sochaux, who are now down an attacking option as well.

The more I've read on this story, the more I reflect back on my life. When I was 23, the toughest decision I ever had to make was if it was time to put my dad in a nursing home. At the same time though, this angers me. Charlie Davies was a man who was on the verge I feel of having it all with this US National Team. One moment in the middle of the night changed all that, and Davies is hurt in an accident, knowing that someone else in the vehicle was dead. His career secondary to rehab and getting over the potential emotional scars of that night.

Above all, and this is where I expect to come into the most criticism, I have to question what was he thinking. At first I was angry at the US National Team staff for not setting a curfew. When I saw that Davies had missed curfew, I had to shake my head. I will be the first to admit I've never been a professional athlete, but I've never in my life missed a curfew. I also know the risks of staying out too late. If there was one thing my dad taught me, it was staying out too late always leads to something bad. When you're a professional athlete, I just feel you have to go 'okay for the sake of being at my best I need to cut out at a reasonable hour...I'll have time to party later'. When a professional athlete knows what time curfew is, honor it. Hell if anything, if you have a work deadline, beat it.

If anything, let's all look back on this accident and in the future be more careful in some of the decisions we make. They don't just effect us, but many more around us.

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Avram Grant Makes Smart Move To Portsmouth

Avram Grant's going back to a place he should be comfortable at, while getting his old job back in the process. It's not the manager's position at Chelsea, but the Director of Football role at Portsmouth.

With Abdullah Al Faraj now in control of the Fratton Park outfit, the focus has quickly shifted to make sure the backroom staff is in place to guarantee Premier League survival. When it comes to a football mind that can come into a backroom and help fulfill the vision of Paul Hart, Avram Grant is that man.

Looking at Grant's accomplishments, he was largely responsible for assembling a squad that went undefeated in 2006 World Cup Qualification. Yes, they missed out on the playoffs due to goal difference, but the talent of Israel's squad had no right being that competitive in a group that included France, Switzerland and Ireland. In his previous run at Portsmouth, Avram Grant got along well with Harry Redknapp and helped shaped the squad that eventually won the FA Cup. At Chelsea, he was thrown to the wolves when Jose Mourinho was sacked. What's even worse about the way he was treated at Chelsea was it was not his fault Chelsea lost the Champions League final.

I'm convinced that Avram Grant has picked this job as a way to vindicate everything that happened at Chelsea. Despite what some Telegraph hack wants to believe (paging Henry Winter), Paul Hart can't do this by himself. He needs help. He needs someone who can take his vision and translate it into players who will not only work hard for him in the second half of the season to stay in the Premier League, but will also in case they do get relegated. Grant is not there to work against Hart, but to use the money that will be on offer in January wisely. That is something Grant will do.

If anything, this relieves some of the pressure on Paul Hart. Those who were at Portsmouth when Grant was there before remember him fondly. Hart will be able to focus more on the training and giving Grant the profile of player he wants. It won't be Avram Grant just biding his time to take over the Portsmouth managerial role.

Besides, my gut feeling is Avram Grant doesn't want to manage in the Premier League anytime soon.

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The Fall of Farve from Hertha Berlin

Last season, Lucien Farve guided Hertha Berlin to fourth in the Bundesliga and into the Europa League. Monday, Farve was shown the door at after losing six on the trot, seeing Hertha Berlin at the foot of the Bundesliga table.

Credit should be given to Lucien Farve; he was able to guide Hertha from consecutive tenth place finishes into a position where they could have won last season's Bundesliga title, settling for fourth place. But there are plenty of reasons Hertha Berlin are looking for a new manager right now.

* Farve's inability to get along with top names. When Farve was unable to get along with Marko Pantelic and Josip Simunic, or any real top talent for that matter, it spelled trouble in the summer. Pantelic went to Ajax, while Simunic went to Hoffenheim. He had to have total control of everything in training and in the dressing room. It was his way or the highway...it proved in the end Farve was the one seeing the Autobahn.

* No true leadership in the dressing room. The players on this club are so diverse, there is no true sense of leadership in the dressing room. When captain Arne Friedrich is saying "I can't be the leader of the team in which half the people don't understand a word of my language, and I don't understand them either", there are massive problems within the players at the club. The captain should never say that. Yes, it's a more international club game than ever before. Yes, there should be some common ground in language in the dressing room. However, right now it's apparent the players at Hertha Berlin are more in it for themselves than for the club. That's just a recipe for disaster...and relegation. At least learn enough of the native tongue to get around.

* Ownership without money. When you sell Simunic for six million pounds and spend less than 1.25 million on your biggest signing in Adrian Ramos, you've got problems. Simply put, Hertha Berlin is a club that doesn't have loads of money at their disposal. For a club in the capital of Germany, that's frightening. Look at Rome (though AS Roma is struggling right now), London (two Champions League clubs, one more in the Europa League), Paris (PSG is a steady League Un side), Moscow (of late has come on with one club in Europe on a yearly basis), and Madrid (Real Madrid...say no more); all capital cities with European football pedigree. The board of Hertha have too many questions to ask with regards to how much money they have to invest in the club. For a club who have played in the Bundesliga for over a decade, and been in Europe now twice, money issues should not be a problem.

* The inability to sign Andriy Voronin from Liverpool. He was their heart and soul up front and his goals have been sorely missed. Again, that goes to the lack of money available. What's scarier is that Liverpool only asked five million. They couldn't afford the transfer fee and his wages, what does that tell you?

* Last season was more about luck than talent. Last season, Hertha Berlin rode their luck more often than not to get results, and they rode that luck well. Hertha lost nine games and still finished fourth. Hamburg in fifth lost eleven, Borussia Dortmund finished six and had fourteen draws. Hoffenheim finished seven and had ten draws alongside their nine losses. Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich each had seven losses last season and Stuttgart had eight of their own. That's how tight it was at the top, and how even the top of the Bundesliga was. Take away the key pieces that saw them finish fourth with the luck they had, you have the situation Hertha Berlin are in now.

What's sadder for Farve is that he was playing his strongest eleven when Hertha played Hoffenheim on Sunday. What's even more frightening is they have to travel away Thursday in the Europa League to face Sporting Lisbon. If that wasn't bad enough, Hamburg comes to the Olympiastadion on Sunday. Expect the fans to demand answers, and to be just a little more hostile than normal. The team cannot hide behind Farve anymore, and you can't expect the U23 coach to walk into this mess and be a miracle worker.

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Paul Duffen Unwise to Call Hull City Fans Pathetic

When the club you are chairman of have only won two of their last twenty-eight premier league games, there are certain things you don't say in public.

Calling your fans pathetic in a radio interview for wanting Phil Brown to do a better job or be gone is one of them.

I can understand Paul Duffen's frustration. It hasn't exactly been a 'great' 2009 despite staying up. As with the stuff mentioned above, they are currently sitting 19th in the table and face a daunting away trip to Anfield this weekend. He's frustrated the fans aren't happy with the product on the pitch, and I'm sure there is some worry about being in the relegation zone all season. What Duffen should be aware of is that fans at this point should be questioning where the club is going. At this moment in time, it does look bleak. Yes, this is their second season in the Premier League, but what Duffen and his backroom staff should realize is the fans WANT to stay in the Premier League. They don't want cause for serious concern, and all of their performances in 2009 have been cause for such concern.

When you are in an authority position, the last thing you want to do is something that makes a group of people question your ability to handle pressure. It seems that Hull City's backroom could write a book on how not to handle pressure. Let's start last Boxing Day when Phil Brown decided to give his squad a tongue lashing in front of away supporters at Manchester City. I'll forever be convinced that was the moment everything went downhill at Hull City last season. This season, four points and six games, looking like it will be four in seven after the weekend. The last thing Paul Duffen needs to be telling the fans who pay their hard earned pounds to frequent the KC Stadium that they are pathetic for wanting better. If that means Phil Brown has to go, then so be it.

What makes this seemingly show of support for Phil Brown more ironic is the Guardian report tonight that said that Phil Brown only has six weeks to save his job. It can't be one or the other. With the message Duffen put in the public today, that report makes no sense whatsoever. It's one message or the other. Is Phil Brown safe, or is Phil Brown's job in jeopardy? Having two messages in the press is not what is needed at this moment in time.

The only thing pathetic here is Paul Duffen belittling his fan base. It's something they won't soon forget.

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Hertha Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg Knocked Out of the German Cup

God bless domestic cup competitions.

The second round of the DFB Pokal (German Cup) has come to a conclusion and it produced plenty of shock results. The upsets started on Tuesday night as fourth tiered Eintracht Trier beat Arminia Bielefeld of the Bundesliga 2 4-2 in extra time. Bielefeld took a 2-0 lead, but saw Senesie pull Trier level by the seventy-sixth minute. In extra time, Bielefeld fell apart and Risser put the Regionalliga West side in front before Senesie put away all doubts from the penalty spot. MSV Duisburg went away to Borussia Monchengladbach and won in second half injury time 1-0. Michael Bradley played for all ninety minutes in the loss for Gladbach, picking up a yellow card in the process.

However, the big shocks of the round happened on Wednesday afternoon. 1860 Munich have been in financial trouble for many years, with the German Cup the only way to keep their name somewhat relevant. Kenny Cooper signed for the club in the summer transfer window, and has taken the club by storm and today's matchup against Hertha Berlin was no different. Already ahead 1-0, Kenny Cooper put 1860 ahead 2-0 five minutes into the second half. At that point, it looked like 1860 Munich were going to blow the favorites from the Bundesliga out of the water. When Cooper was subbed out in the sixty-eighth minute, Hertha Berlin tore 1860 apart getting two goals inside three minutes to level the score. In stoppage time, Hertha was unable to find the game winner and paid the price in the shootout. Hertha missed their first two attempts; 1860 hit all four of their spot kicks to advance 4-1 in the shootout.

The other major shock of the round happened at Bundesliga 3 side Osnabruck as they hosted Hamburg. After a dull first half, Hansen put the minnows ahead. Fifteen minutes later, Siegert looked set to put the 16,100 at the Osnatel Arena in pure rapture making it 2-0. Hamburg, to their credit, didn't give up. Starting with Petric, Hamburg pulled one back thirteen minutes from time. Hamburg pulled level in the second minute of added time, sending the game into extra time. In extra time, Hamburg started positively and were awarded with the goal in the 100th minute. In what wasn't even the final twist in the tale, Grieneisen put Osnabruck level just four minutes from time on a goal of the round contender. In the shoot out, the home side Osnabruck hit all four of their penalties. Hamburg however, saw Tesche and Petric miss on awful penalty attempts to see Hamburg knocked out.

Bayer Leverkusen were knocked out away to Kaiserslautern in a match they were never truly in. Koln knocked out title holders Wolfsburg 3-2. Alemannia Aachen nearly capped off a remarkable comeback tonight. Down 5-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt, Aachen pulled three goals back to make it 5-4. However, they conceded a penalty to lose 6-4.

Other sides remaining in the German Cup are Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich, SpVgg Greuther Furth, Bourssia Dortmund, Schalke, TSV Koblenz, Augsburg, Werder Bremen, and Stuttgart.

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