Dortmund, United, and the Biter

Lightning In A Bottle?

As soon as Mario Gotze was announced to be leaving Borussia Dortmund the questions began. The departure of Gotze was a blow, even without it being to German rival Bayern Munchen, but was it a sign of troubles to come? Dortmund overcame financial issues on the trail to building one of the best teams in Europe over the past 5 years under 45 year old Mainz 05 wunderkind Jurgen Klopp, but how tenuous that success is may be the real question. Coinciding with the rise of Dortmund was the rejuvenation of Bayern as European elite, and losing your star creative midfielder to them may be the first in a series of body blows sending Dortmund back to the lower echelon of the Bundesliga from whence they came.

Last season saw the departure of creative ace Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United, only a minor blow with Gotze still on board, but as Klopp is being eyed up by several clubs from around Europe and several more players look to head for the exit door this off season, can Dortmund keep their trajectory as one of the top 10 clubs in all of Europe? 4 goal hero against Real Madrid in the Champions League first leg semi-final, Robert Lewandowski, has only a year remaining on his contract. Despite Dortmund's claims otherwise, its hard to imagine they will allow him to walk away for free after next season when the large offers start rolling in this summer from the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Defensive rock Mats Hummels is also on the shopping list of every major club in Europe, as are defensive midfielder Sven Bender, central defender Neven Subotic, forward Marco Reus, all the while returned midfielder Nuri Sahin is only back on loan from Real Madrid. The Dortmund team could have a very different look next season.

While Leonardo Bittencourt is a fine little player in FIFA 13, can he really be expected to fill the massive boots of Gotze and Kagawa? Can Ilkay Gundogan continue to grow in the midfield? Can the additions and replacements Dortmund could make with the money brought in from transfers gel with a team that seems to be very close knit? Is the newfound financial stability strong enough to hold this team together over the next few years while making a push for domestic and European honors? Who would/could replace the German Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp?

As Borussia Dortmund attempt this week to seal a place in the Champions League Final, most likely against fellow German club Bayern Munchen, one has to wonder, is Dortmund a team of the present as well as the future, or did they just happen to capture lightning in a bottle? While many people I respect believe this is just the beginning for Dortmund, I have to say, it feels more like the beginning of the end to me.


Sir Alex The Magnificent!

As Manchester United wait to officially lift top flight trophy #20 when they face Swansea at home in May, the autopsy on the season has already begun.

When the season began, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini all but granted United would lift the trophy based upon the signing of Robin Van Persie from Arsenal. What is interesting about Mancini's premonition is that since United won the title, the EPL table minus club top scorer has come out, and subtracting Van Persie's league leading goals from United still would see them top of the table, and see Manchester City actually falter to third behind Arsenal. It could be said that the title was won before a ball was even kicked this season based on perception and the ultimate Fergie mind game alone.

But what may be the most impressive part of this seasons record pushing title win by Manchester United, is that as they lift their 13th EPL crown, and the 13th title of the Ferguson era, Sir Alex now has as many top flight titles as the third placed team in all of England (Arsenal) all by himself. Given his current pace of lifting the trophy, Sir Alex could tie or even better Liverpool's second place standing all by himself in just another decade at the helm of Manchester United.

While not likely, would anyone suggest it is out of the realm of possibility? For all the hate he receives for his brilliance from opposing fans, it is time they all bow down to the genius of longevity and dominance that is Sir Alex Ferguson. In fact, "Sir Alex" is no longer an impressive enough title for the man who just can't keep from lifting silverware. The history books should forevermore refer to him as Sir Alex the Magnificent.



The Damned United

Every season as I do my MLS preview, as always happens in a league based on parity, I get a few predictions miserably wrong. So far this season, no prediction has been as horribly wrong as that of the fate of DC United. Having played 8 matches, DC are firmly and miserably in the basement of MLS, not just the Eastern Conference.

After 8 matches, DC have only scored 4 goals, none on the road, and have a negative goal differential of -3 at home, -6 on the road. With one of last seasons star men Andy Najar now in Belgium, and another, Chris Pontius, currently on the injured list, the turnaround for DC may be more difficult a task than expected. Manager Ben Olsen has even gone so far as to throw his hands up already and suggest that the only way to turn the season around is if the players begin to perform, and such a turnaround is solely up to them.

While Olsen is no Brian Clough, this season does seem to have an ill-fated feeling about it. Time will tell if DC can make enough of an adjustment to still make the playoffs, but MLS history tells us that if DC is still in the basement after 10 matches, this will be another wasted season in the nations capitol.


To Sell Or Not To Sell

When does a players talent outweigh his status as injury prone? If a player is "world class" when playing, can a club continually tolerate a player missing 10-20 matches a season due to injury? Should a club cut their losses and sell the player for less money than they could if he was always fit, replacing him with a lesser but healthy player?

Now think about that scenario again, but instead of the player missing a dozen matches a year or more with fitness issues, what if it was due to suspension based on behavioral problems?

Once again Luis Suarez has made the news for his on field antics, and once again he is facing a lengthy ban.

In recent weeks the Uruguayan forward has received a 10 match ban from the English FA for biting Chelsea defender Branislov Ivanovic, and may face a ban from FIFA after an incident in an international where he obviously and intentionally punched another player. This, coming on the back of his performances in recent years which have included an intentional handball in the World Cup followed by a spastic celebration of his feat, the racial abuse of Manchester United defender Patrice Evra which resulted in an 8 match ban, and the biting of PSV's Otman Bakkal which got him dubbed "the cannibal of Ajax" and resulted in a 7 match ban.

In most of these cases, Suarez has followed his actions with a quick apology. Much easier to do than change your behavior, no? So while Liverpool appear willing to stand behind the only top level talent they have, from a club as well as a public relations point of view, one has to wonder if the cost of the genius, being madness, is too high. Should the obvious pattern of behavior from the forward continue, the day will quickly arrive where Liverpool no longer have the option of selling Suarez. Common sense says that the time to cash in is now, while they still can. But this is Liverpool, and common sense does not exist.



Thank you for reading, and until next time, I will see you Off The Woodwork.