It as another week of unspectacular picks for me in the Bundesliga, where a number of ties make it hard for me to get any traction. The highlight, for me, was hitting the Dortmund-Munich game on the nose, though that’s a bit of a disingenuous boast, as I didn’t anticipate Mark van Bommel getting red carded. I probably should have seen that coming, though. It was the easiest prediction of the week.

Continue Reading »

Bayer Leverkusen, in getting their first win of the season, was one step ahead of Stuttgart all match.

Bundesliga Standings Rank Club GP PTS DIFF 1 Hoffenheim 2 6 4 2 Schalke 04 2 4 3 3 Hertha Berlin 2 4 2 4 Borussia Dortmund 2 4 1 5 Hamburger SV 2 4 1 6 VfL Wolfsburg 2 4 1 7 Bayer Leverkusen 2 3 1 8 VfB Stuttgart 2 3 0 9 Karlsruhe 2 3 0 10 Bayern Munich 2 2 0 11 Werder Bremen 2 2 0 12 Arminia Bielefeld 2 2 0 13 VfL Bochum 2 1 -1 14 1. FC Koln 2 1 -1 15 Frankfurt 2 1 -2 16 Energie Cottbus 2 1 -3 17 Hannover 96 2 1 -3 18 Borussia M’gladbach 2 0 -3 Results August 22, 2008 Hannover 96 0 0 Energie Cottbus August 23, 2008 Hoffenheim 1 0 Borussia M’gladbach VfB Stuttgart 0 2 Bayer Leverkusen Hamburg SV 2 1 Karlsruhe Borussia Dortmund 1 1 Bayern Munich Werder Bremen 1 1 Schalke 04 Hertha Berlin 1 1 Arminia Bielefeld August 24, 2008 1. FC Koln 1 1 Frankfurt VfL Bochum 2 2 VfL Wolfsburg Next Week Home Away August 29, 2008 Karlsruhe 1. FC Koln August 30, 2008 VfL Wolfsburg Frankfurt Borussia M’gladbach Werder Bremen Energie Cottbus Borussia Dortmund Bayer Leverkusen Hoffenheim Arminia Bielefeld Hamburg SV Schalke 04 VfL Bochum August 31, 2008 Bayern Munich Hertha Berlin VfB Stuttgart Hannover 96

The schedule gave us a special weekend in the Bundesliga, but those of us who follow the league will need to savor it. The great match-ups of this weekend are absent in the upcoming, third round schedule, after which the league will be off until September 12.

Horrible.

To bide the time, we will have to sit on what we learned from the Werder-Schalke, Stuttgart-Bayer, and Dortmund-Bayern matches.  Let’s start with the last one.

What we learned from the Borussia Dortmund-Bayern Munich match on Saturday is Mark Van Bommel is an idiot.  Bayern played almost the whole match with ten men because of van Bommel’s thuggery, and although I have read some comments in the days that followed his red card saying he is being singled out, that view is hard to justify.  Van Bommel clubbed a guy in the head.  If he is being singled out, it’s justly so.

Word that Bayern has warned the Dutchman he could lose the captaincy if he doesn’t stay on the field is good news.  It’s about time somebody starts taking his dirty play seriously, particularly the injury-riddled club that needs him.  Bayern got an unfit Luca Toni back, forming a surprisingly ineffective pair with Miroslav Klöse, but they need van Bommel to hold down thei defense.

Van Bommel got kicked out of the match with his team already down 1-0 and staring a five point deficit in the table straight in the face.  Thankfully, some suspect Dortmund defending gave Tim Borowski an easy equalizer in the second half.  Given the circumstances, it was a good point won for Bayern, though Dortmund should regret the lost opportunity to get to six points.

From the Stuttgart-Bayer Leverkusen match we learned that there is still a gap between Stuttgart and the top six clubs in the league, of which Bayer is apart.  Leverkusen came back after a disappointing loss in Round 1 to Dortmund to get a relatively easy win on the road, building on some of the momentum they had at match’s end the week before.

Leverkusen will be fine.  Stuttgart, although they are getting strong play in goal from Jens Lehmann, we can’t be so sure about.

From the Werder Bremen-Schalke 04 match, we learned that Schalke has lost too many players in midfield.  Playing without Jermaine Jones, Jefferson Farfan and Orlando Engelaar was too much to overcome.  The momentum of their wins over Hannover and Atletico Madrid could not overcome losing more than half of their five man middle.  Ivan Rakitic never got going, and Fabian Ernst had too much to manage in his holding position.

If Schalke can not get healthy for Wednesday’s match in Madrid, they will not make the group phase of Champions League, a somewhat unjust result considering how they played the preceding week.

From Werder Bremen, we learned they can get a result without Diego, something I doubted last week.  They did not get the win over Schalke, but without their best player - a player on whom they depend deeply - it was a point worth taking.  Diego will be back as Werder goes on the road to M’gladbach this week, a match which should be a nice re-introduction to domestic play for the Olympian.

Bremen also debuted Claudio Pizarro, who returned to the club on loan from Cheslea.  The team had a noticeable boost in energy, even if Pizarro was not particularly effective.  Still, he and Markus Rosenburg fronted an attack that continuously threatened Schalke.  Were it not for a player of the week-worthy performance from Schalke keeper Mathias Schober, Bremen would have gotten three points.

These three matches overshadowed the rest of the fixture list, but of note are the still undefeated Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin.  Hoffenheim got a result at home against the still pointless M’gladbach while Berlin could only get one at home against Bielefeld.  Neither result is that impressive, and these two clubs have been beneficiaries of easy early schedules.  This weekend that starts to change when Hoffenheim goes to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday and Berlin goes to Munich on Sunday.  My picks column isn’t until later in the week, but here’s a preview:  Berlin and Hoffenheim combine for no points this weekend.

With none of the league’s top clubs facing off against each other, expect this to be the week where the table starts to take shape.  We could see all of Bremen, Dortmund, Bayern, Schalke, Hamburg, and Bayer get three points.  If you’re put out by me not putting Stuttgart in the group, don’t worry.  They’re likely to win, too.

WFP Bundesliga Rankings

	Rank	Last Week	Club
	1	1	Schalke 04 You hate to see either Schalke or Atletico Madrid go out before the group stage, but the Champions League would be better for having Schalke. As is, I expect Schalke to be early favorites to win the UEFA Cup.
	2	2	Bayern Munich They get a little credit for clawing back against Dortmund with only ten men and with two key players still injured. Franck Ribery’s absence has been well reported, but the player they are really missing is Martin Demichelis.
	3	3	Hamburger SV A business-like win over Karlsruhe, who the book is still out on. Although teams below them played better, their resume is solid: a home win and a point at Munich.
	4	4	Borussia Dortmund Ultimately, they should have gotten more from their match with Bayern, being gifted the advantage by van Bommel. Their win over Leverkusen looks better, though, after Bayer showed so well at Stuttgart.
	5	5	Werder Bremen Even with Schalke’s injuries, it was an impressive result, and they showed a confidence without Diego that was absent the week before. They played much better at the back, limiting Schalke’s opportunities and controlling Kevin Kuranyi.
	6	6	Bayer Leverkusen Their ranking is unchanged, but there is a chasm between this spot an Stuttgart at seven how they controlled. They played this weekend as they did in the second half against Dortmund and got the corresponding result.
	7	7	Stuttgart Have the horses to beat up on the weaker clubs of the league, but against Leverkusen were frustrated and overmatched. It will be interesting to see if the return of Khalid Boulahrouz helps them compete for a European spot. They’re close.
	8	10	Hoffenheim The only perfect them in the league, but they have yet to produce a convincing result. They’ll have their chance this week against Leverkusen. They could lose that match and not fall in these rankings.
	9	8	Hertha Berlin Like Hoffenheim, good early results are built on schedule, not performance. Like Hoffenheim, will have a chance to prove otherwise this week. They face Munch.
	10	9	Arminia Bielefeld With Berlin without a loss and Bremen bouncing back, Bielefeld’s first two results look pretty good. It’s only two points out of six, but for a team that looked to battle relegation, points against good clubs are nothing to scoff at.
	11	12	Karlsruhe Lost to Hamburg but played decent enough to move up a little in these rankings. Unlike some of the clubs around them on the list, they have at least been tested, and although they came up short, they produced a decent result.
	12	13	Wolfsburg Were unimpressive against Bochum but still got a point. With their other result a win over Koln, it’s unclear what we have with this Wolfsburg team.
	13	15	VfL Bochum Showed signs of life against Wolfsburg, enough to were I almost dropped Wolfsburg behind them. Ultimately, they weren’t able to get three points despite playing on their home pitch. Looking decent can only count for so much.
	14	11	Hannover 96 Played in the most boring match of the weekend in a goalless drawn at home against Cottbus. I’m sure that’s what the Bundesliga wants from their Friday night matches.
	15	18	Energie Cottbus The other part of that Friday night disappointment. At least they were the road team. They have that excuse.
	16	14	Borussia M’gladbach Their 3-1 opening weekend loss to Stuttgart at home looks a lot worse now, and with their result this week, M’gladbach has little to recommend them thus far.
	17	17	Frankfurt Their only point has come from Koln. Ouch.
	18	16	1. FC Koln Their only point has come from Frankfurt. Ouch!

With the prerequisite Round 1 surprises, the Bundesliga started last weekend. Those few surprises help keep my pick results modest. Still a decent start (not as bad as Ligue 1), with most of the losses coming in matches that featured two teams I did not get to see in the preseason. Continue Reading »

Hamburger SV have accepted a bid from Manchester City for 22-year-old right back Vincent Kompany.  No personal terms have been agreed to yet, but a move seems likely as Hamburger wants to rid themselves of their formerly prized prospect after a rift has formed over the Olympics.

Hamburg had negotiated a deal with the Belgian football federation that would have their player return from Beijing for last Friday’s Bundesliga start at Bayern Munich.  When Kompany complained about having to leave the Olympics, Hamburg became defensive, publicly noting an agreement had been in place for some time.

Continue Reading »

Schalke 04 exhibited a new, powerful approach during their 3-0 victory over Hannover on Saturday.

Bundesliga Standings Rank Club GP PTS DIFF 1 Hoffenheim 1 3 3 2 Schalke 1 3 3 3 Stuttgart 1 3 2 4 Hertha Berlin 1 3 2 5 Borussia Dortmund 1 3 1 6 Wolfsburg 1 3 1 7 Karlsruhe 1 3 1 8 Arminia Bielefeld 1 1 0 9 Bayern Munich 1 1 0 10 Hamburger SV 1 1 0 11 Werder Bremen 1 1 0 12 Bayer Leverkusen 1 0 -1 13 1. FC Koln 1 0 -1 14 VfL Bochum 1 0 -1 15 Borussia M’gladbach 1 0 -2 16 Frankfurt 1 0 -2 17 Energie Cottbus 1 0 -3 18 Hannover 1 0 -3 Results August 15, 2008 Bayern Munich 2 2 Hamburg SV August 16, 2008 Bayer Leverkusen 2 3 Borussia Dortmund Arminia Bielefeld 2 2 Werder Bremen Karlsruhe 1 0 VfL Bochum Schalke 3 0 Hannover Energie Cottbus 0 3 Hoffenheim Wolfsburg 2 1 Koln August 17, 2008 Borussia M’gladbach 1 3 Stuttgart Frankfurt 0 2 Hertha Berlin Next Week Home Away August 22, 2008 Hannover Energie Cottbus August 23, 2008 Hoffenheim Borussia M’gladbach Stuttgart Bayer Leverkusen Hamburger SV Karlsruhe Borussia Dortmund Bayern Munich Werder Bremen Schalke 04 Hertha Berlin Arminia Bielefeld August 24, 2008 1. FC Koln Frankfurt VfL Bochum Wolfsburg

When you stack their lineups against each other, Bayern Munich’s seems better, but it is surprising how much talent Schalke has. Announcing it to Europe in their Champions League challenge to Barcelona last season, Schalke is on the verge of transcending the perception of plucky, over-achieving club to league title contender. In round one of the Bundesliga campaign, they were the league’s best team.

Their 3-0 victory over Hannover did not do them justice.  Playing without high-profile summer acquisitions Jefferson Farfán (winger/forward from PSV Eindhoven) and Orlando Engelaar (holding midfielder from FC Twente) - both of whom were hurt in the middle of the week during the club’s impressive Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid - Schalke still exhibited the firepower that should make Bayern, who could have trouble with Farfán and Kevin Kurayni working together, scared.

Bayern limped to a tie against visiting Hamburg without Luca Toni, Franck Ribery and Martin Demichelis.  In round two, they play at a Borussia Dortmund team that confidently put three goals on Bayer Leverkusen in opening their season with a win.  If Bayern does not get healthy for their second match, they could find themselves four or five points behind a rolling Schalke 04 team that plays at a Diego-less Werder Bremen.

Four or five points may not sound like much, but in a Bundesliga that looks a little top heavy, the elite teams may face fewer teams capable of stealing points.  With four fewer matches in the Bundesliga season (compared to the big three leagues), a four or five point gifted Schalke now could be the type of thing Jurgen Klinsmann rues at season’s send.  And if there’s any club that knows about elite teams piling up points in the Bundesliga, it’s Bayern.

Werder Bremen was a near-elite last season (there was only one true elite last season), but without Diego they are a completely different team.  There may be no single player more important to his club than Diego, who is in Beijing for the Olympics.  Seeing them struggle to tie Arminia Beilefeld this weekend, Bremen’s desire to keep the Brazilian playmaker out of the Olympics suddenly made sense.  They weren’t involved in Champions League qualifying like Schalke or Barcelona, but even one match without Diego is a huge loss for this club, whose whole style of play is predicated on the young star’s ability to distribute.

Markus Rosenburg’s two surgical strikes helped Bremen get a point from a Bielefeld side that used the visitor’s wide-open style of play to their advantage.  Bremen is unlikely to alter their style for their match against Schalke, so expect Ivan Ratikic and company to have a big day.

In addition to Round 2’s Dortmund-Bayern, Bremen-Schalke headliners, Stuttgart hosts Leverkusen in another potentially defining match.  Stuttgart efficiently dealt with a Moenchengladbach team that, while having chances, lacked the firepower to play with Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mario Gomez.  Now Stuttgart hosts Bayer with a chance for a six point start.  If they get their win, Bayer will have gone without a point in their first two matches, an early hole for a team that has European aspirations.

There was bad news on the injury front from Round 1’s action.  Dortmund’s Dede, who gave Leverkusen so much trouble on Saturday, suffered a major knee injury and should be lost until spring.  And although Schalke has looked the league’s best team, their depth will take a major hit of midfielder Jermaine Jones, who missed almost all of last season with injuries, is out for more than just Wednesday’s Germany friendly.  Jones is doubtful for Joachim Low’s team.   The German-American midfielder is proving to be a vital cog in Schalke’s attack, running off of Kurayni and onto Farfán’s crosses, but any injury scare is twice as frightening for Jones, given his recent injury history.

World Football Postulant Bundesliga Rankings

As their result was injury related, there’s only so much I’m willing to drop Bayern, though they have looked poor all preseason. Likewise, I can only drop Werder so far, seeing as Diego is in Beijing.

With so many clubs who should finish in the top half of the table playing each other this weekend, a lot of teams have three points without being very high in my first rankings set. Those clubs have thirty-three more rounds to show me their value.

And just as was the case with the Ligue 1 rankings, this early in the season, the whole endeavor becomes worthless pretty quickly. We just need to have fun with it.

1. Schalke 04
2. Bayern Munich
3. Hamburger SV
4. Borussia Dortmund
5. Werder Bremen
6. Bayer Leverkusen
7. Stuttgart
8. Hertha Berlin
9. Arminia Bielefeld
10. Hoffenheim
11. Hannover
12. Karlsruhe
13. VfL Wolfsburg
14. Borussia M’gladbach
15. VfL Bochum
16. Koln
17. Frankfurt
18. Energie Cottbus

When I saw the score yesterday, I thought it a great result for Martin Jol.  For him to go to München and get a point from Bayern in his league debut with Hamburger SV was a great start, I thought.  It is an even better result considering the defending league championship were up two half way through the first, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski having taken control of the match.

Bayern can be forgiven a bit if they let Hamburg back into the match.  The ended up playing without Franck Ribery, German Footballer of the Year, who is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered during the European Championships.  München were also without Luca Toni, the league’s leading scorer last term, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury for the last month.  Their starting lineup was also absent center back Martin Demichelis, a loss which have would have been big enough without his partner Lúcio picking up a knock in the fourth minute.  With Breno at the Olympics and Willy Sangol out, Bayern coach Jürgen Klinsmann was without any back-ups at center half.  München adjusted by having Daniel van Buyten do all the roaming while the Brazilian stayed at home.

In that context, Bayern’s 2-2 draw with Hamburger look less a capitulation and more survival.  It speaks to how deep and talented Bayern is compared to the rest of the league that they were still able to compete with the team that finished fourth in last year’s Bundesliga.

This is not to say Bayern had a completely incapable side.  They still had Podolski and Miroslav Klöse up top, with Schweinsteiger, Zé Roberto, Mark van Brommel in the midfield and Philip Lahm at the back.  Zé Roberto helped set-up Schweinsteiger’s opener, while Podolski scored his goal from a penalty kick.

Hamburg fought back and ended with a well deserved draw.  Peruvian José Guerrero pulled them within one with a great first-half goal that came amidst a very impressive performance.  A symmetry-building penalty kick got them even in the second.  The call that led to the penalty kick was not the kind of clear-cut, no-doubt circumstance that you hope for in a tying goal, but given how the visitors had played throughout the match, Piotr Trochowski’s goal did not yield an unjust result.

Hamburg continued the strong play they had exhibited throughout the preseason despite not playing Mohammad Zidan (presumably knowing he was to be dealt to Dortmund) and not getting the kind of dynamic play from newcomer Jonathan Pitroipa that led me to believe they would not be as hurt by Rafael van der Vaart’s sale as many believed.  With Mladen Petric coming in, some of van der Vaart’s goal scoring will be replaced, but this team will be fine regardless if they play with the creativity they showed on Friday.  Martin Jol has Hamburger playing with much more ambition than last season.  That may just be an appearance gathered from Ivica Olic running around Bayern’s back line for ninety minutes, but Jol seems to want Hamburg to open up an attack that finished tenth in goals in last season’s Bundesliga.

We will have to wait for Bayern to get healthy to know where they stand, though there is little doubt that they are the class of the league.  At least, they should be considered as such until they show otherwise.  Hamburg, however, may not be in for the downturn many are expecting.  Some see the sky falling without van der Vaart.  Jol seems to have his players believing otherwise.

Links
Jol happy with comeback draw against Bayern
Bayern held to 2-2 draw by Hamburg
Bayern held on Klinsmann’s debut
Bayern 2-2 Hamburg: Trochowski hits equaliser
Bayern held in opener
Klinsmann: Still Work to Do
Champions Bayern held in opener
Bayern Held By HSV In Bundesliga Opener
Bayern held by Hamburg in Klinsmann’s first game
Bayern held on Klinsmann’s debut

One day after salvaging a great draw at Munich, Hamburg moved to replace the twelve goals they lost in selling Rafael van der Vaart to Real Madrid when they acquired Mladen Petric (top right) from Borussia Dortmund.   The Croatian striker will now join up with national side teammate Ivica Olic, who has carried over this Euro 2008 form into the club season, forming the most potent striking combination north of Munich.  He is best known farther west as the player who scored the goal at Wembley which kept England out of the European Championships.  For Slavan Bilic and Croatia, he’s become a key to that country’s rising international profile.

Petric had only spent one season at Dortmund after coming over from FC Basel of the Swiss league, where he’s played almost his whole club career.  Although he helped lead Dortmund to the DFB Pokalfinal, it was a slightly disappointing season for the club.  Still, the 27-year-old Petric had thirteen goals in 29 league games and will be difficult to replace.

But in dealing Petric to Hamburg, Dortmund gets back cash and a player who could end up being just as good.  For his national team, Mohammad Zidan (right) has been in key in making Egypt the best team in Africa and one of the more dangerous sides beyond international football’s elite.  In Germany, however, he has infrequently gotten a firm foothold.  He has struggled with injuries and playing time in his stints with Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV, scoring only six goals in 36 matches between the two clubs.  He was, however, during a spell at Mainz (between stops with the other two teams) dominant, scoring 22 goals in 41 league appearances.

He can be better than Petric.  Perhaps there is a cultural adjustment issue here, or perhaps it’s a big fish, small pond issue.  Going to Dortmund, he is moving to a smaller pond - a club that is closer to the position the to-be-relegated Mainz was.  Based on his performances in preseason, I like Zidan to be a more than adequate replacement for Petric and, if everything clicks, be even better.

This was a very astute move for Dortmund.  From Hamburg’s point of view, they may have felt they needed to get the more-recently-proven commodity.  It’s a conservative, uninspiring move that hints at there maybe being more to the story.

Dortmund pulled off a great victory at Bayer Leverkusen today (without either Petric or Zidan), winning 3-2 against a side I picked for Europe.

Links
Petric to Hamburg, Zidan to Dortmund

Though speculation this weekend went both ways - no deal while the seller held out for more money; a deal being done before the weekend with an announcement withheld - Dutch star midfielder Rafael van der Vaart completed his move from Hamburger SV to Real Madrid today. He will be presented by the club tomorrow after moving to La Liga for a reported €15 million. The 25-year-old arrives just in time to bolster an attacking corps that lost countryman Wesley Sneijder for three months to injury.

Van der Vaart signed a 5-year contract.  His mother being Spanish, van der Vaart has always seemed likely to move to Spain, almost moving to Valencia earlier in his career.  Somebody with that profile does not often turn down Real Madrid.

He had spent three seasons with Hamburg before moving.  The star had an out in his contract that could have led to Hamburg losing him for nothing had they not sold him within this transfer window.  Though Hamburg coach Martin Jol wanted him to stay, he had little choice but to sell now.

If Hamburg’s performance in London this weekend is any indication, they should be fine.  Van der Vaart’s departure might lessen their chances at unseating Bayern Munich atop the table, but is still a strong contender for second place and the league’s other Champions League spot.

The short-term benefits of compensating for Sneijder aside, this is a long-term move for Real Madrid, putting them in position to have an attacking midfield of Dutchmen as Gutí fades out.  Some have speculated that van der Vaart’s acquisition is to bolster the squad after they sell Robinho to Chelsea - the implication being the former Hamburg nidfielder will play on the right.  That may be a short-term benefit, but with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder both 24 years old, the long-term vision see a midfield of Sneijder-van der-Vaart-Robben playing behind their two forwards.

Gutí is still effective, but he is also 31 and needs to be supported.  Though I disagree with those who think his best use is off-the-bench, that could be his future as soon as the end of this season.  Van der Vaart’s acquisition enables that transition.

Van der Vaart also helps a subtle age issue that was a possible stumbling block to Real repeating atop the table.  First, recognize that Barcelona is going to compete for this year’s title, regardless of how far back they finished last season.  Second, acknowledge that Real still has to be considered the favorite, if only slight.  With those premises in mind, look at the age of some of Real’s regulars:  Fabio Cannivaro, 34; Raúl, 31; Gutí 31; Gabriel Heinze, 30; Ruud van Nistelrooy, 32.  It’s an aging squad, and given the thin margin between Barcelona and Real, one regression amongst those five could be the difference between retaining and losing the title.  Van der Vaart helps this problem by giving them insurance against Gutí being part of that regression.

Part of that insurance, though, is Robinho, who would slide into a forward’s role should Raúl or van Nistelrooy start showing years.  If Robinho is sold to Chelsea, it will probably have less to do with van der Vaart being a long-term replacement, as he and Robinho serve distinctly different roles in that plan.  The price Chelsea is willing to give and van der Vaart’s ability to play in the middle as well as out wide could see the Brazilian star sold and another player eventually brought in to work up top when one of Ruud or Raúl fade.  Without Robinho, Real will be more reliant on somebody like Julio Baptista or Gonzalo Higuaín.

Quotes
“For me to play at Real Madrid is a dream, and if this agreement is eventually sealed I will be a happy man.” - van der Vaart
“As everybody knows I have always wanted to move to Spain because I have a strong bond with that country. Now I’m going to play for Real Madrid…it’s a dream come true.” - van der Vaart
“Tomorrow afternoon I will be presented at Real Madrid. This will be the start of a new chapter in my life. I will do everything to help the team and the club to win trophies.” - van der Vaart
“We wish him a lot of success with his new challenge.” - Bernd Hoffman, chairman, Hamburg
“HSV and Rafael have enjoyed three successful years together.  Rafael was the captain of the team and provided some special football moments with his excellent performances.” - Hoffman
“Rafael has developed into one of Europe’s top players while at HSV and, with his individual class, he played a decisive role in the positive development of HSV.” - Dietmar Beiersdorfer, sporting director, Hamburg
“Looking back at the last couple of years, I’m extremely happy that I’ve had the chance to experience playing for HSV.” - van der Vaart
“No club, and no set of fans will treat you with more hospitality than they do.” - van der Vaart
“Real Madrid and Hamburg have reached an agreement for the transfer for five seasons of Dutch player Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart.  The agreement is subject to the player’s medical examination and his signing of a contract.” - Real Madrid
“I had goosebumps every time I played in Hamburg. It’s clichéd to say that HSV will always remain in my heart, but this really is the case and it should remain so.” - van der Vaart
“I’m glad, but also a little sad. I had a good time here… I’m also hurt to leave. People here always supported me, even in difficult times, such as during the Valencia incident.” - van der Vaart

Links
Van der Vaart wants ‘dream’ Real move
Van der Vaart wants ‘dream’ Real move
Hamburg announce Van Der Vaart Madrid deal
Van der Vaart completes Real Madrid move
Van der Vaart seals Real move
Real confirm Van der Vaart transfer from Hamburg
Van der Vaart seals Real move
Real Madrid confirm move for Van der Vaart
Van der Vaart announces move to Real Madrid
Rafael Ferdinand Van Der Vaart
Madrid gets van der Vaart
Van der Vaart agrees switch to Real Madrid
Offical Announcement
Van Der Vaart Joins Madrid - Official
Dutch master moves to Madrid
Real complete Rafael raid

Luca Toni did not make Bayern Munich’s trip to Japan this week, leaving München to start Miroslav Klöse and Lukas Podolski up top.  That combination my have to persist for a while longer as Toni not only is expected to miss not only this week’s friendly against Inter Milan but also the team’s season opener in two weeks when the club hosts Hamburg.

Bayern’s general manager said today that the earliest Toni could be back looks like the season opener, leaving the total duration on the injury as close to one month.

For a club that has built up as much talent as Munich it should not be that big a deal of Toni is not ready.  Their two world class striker’s aside, it is better to have Toni healthy for when the schedule really picks up (when the Champions League group stage starts).  There is no reason to rush him back when rest will solve his injury problems.  Bayern continues to be wisely conservative with his calf problem.

While losing a player like Toni is always a blow, the news about Frank Ribery should help offset the Bayern fans’ disappointment.  News of the surgery Ribery was to have yesterday was overblown, with the procedure only done to remove a screw from his surgically repaired ankle.  Ribery can now concentrate on verifying his Euro 2008 injury has healed while rebuilding his fitness.  Bayern seems optimistic that his fitness will return quickly and are now leaving open the possibility that their French star will be available for the Hamburg match.

Quotes

“You cannot take muscular injuries lightly.” - Uli Hoeness, general manager, Bayern Munich
“I think the earliest [Toni] could possibly be back is for the opening game of the season against Hamburg.” - Hoeness
“Things are moving pretty quickly with Franck.” - Hoeness
“He (Ribery) is not a heavyweight after all - more like a flea.” - Hoeness
“The procedure took place without any complication and Ribery has already begun his physiotheraphy.” -  Bayern Munich

Links

Toni blow for Bayern Munich
Ribery undergoes surgery
Ribery to undergo second operation
Ribery undergoes surgery

Reports from Spanish radio have Rafael van der Vaart moving to Real Madrid, having been sold by Hamburg to the Spanish champions for €9 million. Spanish radio has proven itself particularly overzealous this summer, so take this relay with some caution. Even if these reports prove themselves to be overzealous, van der Vaart moving to Madrid is a real possibility.

Though (like the whole Dutch team) van der Vaart faded towards the end of the tournament, the central midfielder drew further attention to himself during the Netherlands’ impressive displays during Euro 2008. He would slot in well right behind Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy, though he would be slightly redundant to Real Madrid mainstay Guti. However, as six years younger than Guti, his acquisition would start a transition that need not take place immediately.

Guti is 31 and should not expect to have to play the rigorous schedule an attacking, central midfielder for a Champions League staple would have to maintain. Van der Vaart would be a great compliment to him and the rest of the star-studded Madrid attacking midfield, which also boasts countrymen Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.

There is no truth to the rumors that, having added their fourth player from the current Dutch senior national team, Real Madrid will be wearing orange uniforms next season.

Real Madrid does not exactly need van der Vaart and appears to be taking advantage of a good deal, begging the question of why other teams did not make a stronger play. Van der Vaart is at the point in his career where he only need move to a big club, but there where other big clubs that could have gotten him. Van der Vaart moves to Real Madrid for less money than Inter Milan paid for Sulley Muntari, something Jose Mourinho can not feel great about.

In a season where a revitalized Barcelona and a surging Atlético Madrid stand to give Real new challenges, van der Vaart provides a great reinforcement for their title.

Quotes

“I would be disappointed if he leaves the club, why should we let such a player go? It is ridiculous to do that.” - Martin Jol, coach, Hamburg

“We know what is written in his contact with Hamburg, and we know all the figures and we can’t be sure if he’s going or not.” - Jol
“He is a player that Schuster and the coaching staff like a lot and the deal is close. We are waiting to reach a definitive agreement with Hamburg, but it shouldn’t be difficult.” - Ramon Calderon, president, Real Madrid

Links

Hamburg coach Jol can’t stop van ver Vaart from leaving
Van der Vaart signs for Real Madrid: report
Real close in on van der Vaart
Real close to van der Vaart deal