I have now had a season Ticket for 24 years, and the performance of the Team presently is among the worst that I have seen.

What exactly am I criticising ?

1. The players do not seem to have any idea where they should be running when we have the ball and even less when we lose it.

2. When they lose the ball, with a few exceptions (eg Ochs who is sometimes a little overmotivated) they rarely chase back.

3. Tactically there appears to be little if any Strategy in the line up's that are being presented.

4. Lack of consequence. Players can consistently play badly (eg. Teber) and are given one chance after the other, whilst others (eg Sebastian Jung) are consistently overlooked.

5. Substitutions: Can anyone make sense of those made last saturday and the weeks before. When you are 2 down and have 2 Strikers on the bench (even if they are in the U23) and you bring on Teber, there has to be some question as to your motives.

Its true we have once again been unlucky with Injuries, but the general lack of attitude, and willingness to fight, added to the 'unexplainable' compliments on the team after some games, must raise the question of morale, and the further question , of who is responsible for morale.

Ah yes weren't we promised checking and attacking football. OK attacking football may not be so easy but checking, with the right training and condition is possible.


Am I alone in what I believe that I have seen during the past weeks?

Look forward to your comments/ statements

meliboy schrieb:Am I alone in what I believe that I have seen during the past weeks?

No you're not it's everything you mention is being discussed in the other Boards for weeks now.

I for myself expected that situation to come up somewhen. I was very surprised how our team was really playing football in the first games. But everyone should know that such a big change as Skibbe wants to perform will take it's time especially when the players weren't used to that style of play before.

On the other hand we have a lot of players who are able to fight and run, but pressing and offensice play needs players who are able to do direct passing and as we are all shown we have a lack of players with these skills.
On the other hand it's always a psychological thing, as long as you win everything seems to be very easy you have a lot of self-confidence and rather play risky passes than if you had some breakdowns like the matches vs. Bayern Munich and Leverkusen. The injuries complicate the whole situation but Funkel had to deal with the same.

I really hope we perform this season maybe on a level like 2 seasons before when were able to gain 46 points. Next summer there is the possibility of a big change in the Team because a lot of contracts expire and maybe we can get 1-2-3 players who really raise the quality.

I know it's hard to be patient but you can't just turn a switch in the players haed and in the whole club, to change some things it will dfinately need time, and I can't really understand the people who are calling for a new coach or say that Skibbe failed. The very earliest point for a little interim report will be the winterbreak, rather the summer break than now... and no one should forget Skibbe has a 2-year contract.

Chriz

I totally agree, I have mentioned this before in posts that the players we currently have dont match the system that Skibbe is trying to put in place. These players were Funkel which relied on a more defensive approach. Skibbe is moving everyone aroung to see if they can play in other positions and this is bound to have some bad results (i.e. Neverkusen).

Interesting that you mentioned that there are several people with expiring contracts. Do you know which ones?

eintrachtami schrieb:Chriz

I totally agree, I have mentioned this before in posts that the players we currently have dont match the system that Skibbe is trying to put in place. These players were Funkel which relied on a more defensive approach. Skibbe is moving everyone aroung to see if they can play in other positions and this is bound to have some bad results (i.e. Neverkusen).

Interesting that you mentioned that there are several people with expiring contracts. Do you know which ones?

Sure - these players contracts are expiring:

Oka Nikolov
Markus Pröll
Jan Zimmermann
Christoph Spycher
Alexander Meier
Mehdi Mahdavikia
Christoph Preuß
Nikos Liberopoulos
Marcel Heller

That's 9 players but I read about 10 this week but can't find the news article... I think Nikolov, Spycher, Meier and Preuß will definately get new contracts if they want to naturally. Regerading Liberopoulos it depends on the winter transfer period and what kind of stricker we're able to hire. Pröll and Mahdavikia are regarded to get paid (very) well, especially Pröll who extended his contract when he was performing very very well.

Furthermore there are players who have contract but Skibbe doesn't very count on them and if theres a team who wants to sign them we wouldn't disagree. I think - Steinhöfer, Petkovic and Toski are the canidates here I guess but since they don't perform very well, or don't play at all it's very hard to find a team who wants to sign them and pay their salary - since I think they don't get paid bad at all in Frankfurt even though they're young players - but it could be a real issue for interested teams from the 2nd Division (for example) in Germany to pay their salary I guess, and why should a player pass on a good salary when he has contract - we can't be mad at them for that to my mind, the ones to blame are the managers if you want to blame somebody. They were promising talents when we signed them but they didn't make it for several reasons that's business I guess.

I heard that the following will be offered new contracts:

Oka Nikolov
Christoph Spycher
Alexander Meier
Christoph Preuß
Nikos Liberopoulos

And two rumours keep sticking around:

Theofanis Gekas (forward at Leverkusen)
Lincoln (midfielder at Fenerbahce)

hi everyone. about three months ago I was ready to throw the towel in, the results were bad and what was worse the attitude horrific.

Although the performances have improved and there are at times flashes of genius (dortmund...mmmmm), the thing that is most impressive is the fact that the attitude is the right one.

In a number of areas Eintracht has among the best values in the league (eg 2 Kampfverhalten) and that is a start.

The fact that Seb Jung has been given a chance and is establishing himself with every game is also a great sign.

I guess I have to take my hat off to (i think it was criz) who was asking for a little more patience in response to my original entry. You were right my friend.

We still have a long way to go but the signs are good.

Nevertheless it would be pleasing if Skibbe could keep his criticism Internal. Many of hispoints may be/are valid, but out and out confrontation generally leads to phase 1 : a winner and a loser Phase 2: the winner becomes a loser . Its not necessary to wash the differences in the Public. Discuss things by all means even heatedly, but don't use the press to sort out your differences. Its bit like a couple who split up and then try and use the kids as a weapon.... NO ONE profits from such actions.

Lets carry on developing gentlemen, and hopefully we'll get to see some great games soon in the 'Waldstadium'

All the best
Mel