WTF News of the Day: Ribery Signs for Bayern
In what could be termed as one of the most dumb-fuck career moves (pardon my French) may I take the opportunity to stick my head out and say that Franck Ribery’s move to Bayern Munich represents precisely that very thing.
Yes you heard right. Franck Ribery has indeed moved to FC Bayern, shrugging off competitors like Arsenal, Madrid, Liverpool and so on. This may appear a little too harsh on my part to some people, so allow me to clarify.
The thing that linked Franck Ribery to a lot of big clubs was his intense desire to play in the Champions’ League. He has always stated that he intends to play in the Champions’ League and has waited at Marsielle enough. Last season he shrugged off interest from Lyon by wanting to lead Marseille into the Champions’ League. Which also indirectly implied his desire to play in the CL with Marseille once he went through all that effort to lead them there in the first place.
However, for a person of his ambition (as was apparent to the media) he wanted to really, really play in Europe. So things pointed out to either staying on in Marseille and playing in Europe for a season. Or at least a move to a club that had a greater chance of progressing further in the Champions’ League (beyond the group stage). Thus a host of top Spanish, English and Italian clubs came to be linked with him.
Of course, it is not as if Bayern’s capture of Ribery was under the radar. There was speculation that the need for Bayern to bring in a host of replacements into their club would require signings of the quality of Robben, Ribery and so on. But at least I did not expect he would move over to the Bavarian giants.
Let’s be honest and fair here. Bayern have been a European power in the past. But more recently they haven’t been convincing. This summer would come as a serious body blow to them with the departure of Pizarro, Hargreaves, Salihamidzic, and Deisler’s premature retirement. All this puts their chances of mounting a serious title challenge in doubt. And it’s not as if they did superbly this season. They couldn’t even qualify for the Champions’ League that Ribery so badly wanted to play.
Buying a host of stars will be what a club of FC Bayern’s stature would do. What follows on the pitch however is a different issue altogether. It would be crazy to expect that all these signings (which I am sure will be more than the two they just signed) would lead to a Champions’ League qualifying team next season. Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Schalke are fairly settled with their squads and would definitely try to improve them in light of their UCL qualification.
The only advantage on Bayern’s side is the significantly less number of fixtures that they would have to play. It is suicidal to write Bayern off as far as performances on the domestic front is concerned (just as bad as trying to write Manchester United off in England). But their team would require 1) a great pre-season, and 2) getting the business of acquiring their targets over with quickly.
Getting back to our main man of the day, Ribery’s move to Bayern is a mistake due to one more reason. Not that I am pro-EPL or anything. But Bayern Munich cannot quite compete with the financial clout of Real Madrid, Milan, Chelsea, Man Utd or any other of the big European clubs which mean that chances of Bayern actually progressing far in the Champions’ League on a consistent basis would be limited. I have respect for the German league as far as its competitiveness and entertainment value goes, but their overall quality in comparison to say, the French league, wouldn’t be too much of a step up.
Something, I thought a player of Franck Ribery’s quality might have pondered over. As some of us at Soccerlens would say, “What was he smoking while talking to Bayern?”
- Why Ribery to Bayern doesn’t make sense
- The Klinsmann effect - Bayern Munich plans for a serious overhaul in habits and training
- Transfers update: Ribery / Hargreaves / Owen / Nani
- Bayern’s summer buys are scary
- Is Ribery now out of Arsenal’s and Manchester United’s reach?
Discussion - 26 Responses
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Erm mate - Bayern are the 5th richest club in the world. They have always been able to compete financially. Their problem has been that the Bundesliga, though strong, and improving, is not of the same calibre as other leagues (La Liga, Serie A, the Premier League), and is not nearly as fashionable.
“It would be crazy to expect that all these signings (which I am sure will be more than the two they just signed)”
So, you’re writing a piece of expertise, but you don’t know the most basic of facts. FYI pal, along with Toni and Ribery, Bayern have four new signings: Schlaudraff(German international striker), Jansen(German international fullback), Hamit Altintop and Sosa(Argentine midfielder). Enough said.
I’d just like to add that Arsenal had zero chance of landing him. People just made the connection french player = arsenal.
Arsenal won’t be signing anyone because simple economics state that you can have a stadium or players but not both. It’ll be at least another season before the gunners will have recouped enough on the gate to start building again. Until then it’s make do and mend…
RR - I must say this was a rant
Ribery to Bayern doesn’t make sense because we trusted Ribery when he said he wanted to play in the CL. Apparently, if someone’s willing to pay big wages, he can wait one year.
Did Spurs think of that, Hugo?
Toby - it’s easy to say now that the Arsenal connection was just the ‘french’ deal, but Arsenal fans were so dead sure about Ribery that it’s not even funny (search for Franck Ribery on SL and see all Arsenal comments).
Overall, a good move for Bayern and Ribery.
Thank you for the ‘expertise’ bit. (I know, I got the sarcasm)
I was kinda having a nice laugh about the deal, especially when I thought about Arsenal fans.
Schlaudraff, Jansen would definitely not be regular fixtures next season (they are very young. podolski would be the one they will look to). Altintop is average, not spectacular by any standards.
I was talking about quality signings that would actually replace the stars that left bayern, because if Ribery needed to play in the champions’ league he needs to wait a little longer here. Bayern are planning for the long haul.
Everyone else, I agree my post has the occasional inaccurate facts (even the Guardian does so), but most of it is opinion. And I did have a good laugh over this deal anyway.
If Bayern wants to perform they should stop the hire and fire policy of theirs. They started the season badly, but was there enough ground to fire Macgath? They did the same to Hitzfield some time back, then they rehired him. How can a team have stability with such changes? Every coach needs some time. As for Ribery, I agree, he made a mistake, he could have continued to play in Marseille………..
Podolski and Ballack are the reasons they’re in the UEFA Cup next season!
RR and AB, I told you so. Bayern are a big club. There’s no
way Ribery would have chosen an Arsenal over Bayern for mere champions league football. A big club is a big club. An my Bayern are BIG!!!
I bet you that Spurs did look at Ribery. But ultimately, if you have to choose between Spurs and Bayern, you choose the latter. They are quite simply a bigger club, certainly at the moment. Anyway, I have a feeling that if we sign a left winger, it will be a bona-fide, left footed, attacking midfielder, rather than someone who is stronger with the right foot. For that we have Malbranque, Lennon, and (yesss) Taraabt!!
Red Ranter
Since you put it that way, I suppose it’s true, that these players were brought in mostly to give depth to the squad and not to star, but still, Altintop was a regular in the Schalke team that spilled the title in the penultimate game, and Schlaudraff and Jansen are German internationals, and don’t forget that Barcelona were interested in Jansen.
As for Ribery, he is, like the majority of footballers for that matter, a dumb greedy git. I really hope that his case will contribute to people’s understanding of that fact. It doesn’t matter what they say or want(most of them anyway want what their agents tell them to). It even doesn’t matter if they sign a new contract. All that matters is money, and 95% of them will go to the club that offers more of it (that 5% are rare cases where emotions are involved). So, there’s a guy who’s been telling for a year that he wants to play in the CL, then qualifies for it, and 3 weeks later moves to a club that is not in it. He also said that his “dream” is to play for some 6-7 of the richest clubs in Europe(a dumb arrogant git, normal people dream of playing for a specific club) and he specifically said that he is not interested in a move to Germany?!? As i said, most footballers are greedy dumbasses, and what they say is the least important thing, they will probably change their opinion anyway.
Hugo Steckelmacher:
You are wrong according to the 2007 Deloitte report. Bayern are the 8th. Behind the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United, AC Milan, Chelsea and Inter.
Even Manchester united are not doing good. The thing is that since the takeover, Manchester United have dropped from second to fourth behind Juventus. Despite being relegated.
Here is the link: http://www.deloitte.co.uk/RegistrationForms/PDFs/DeloitteFootballMoneyLeague2007.pdf
Redondo - note that those figures are for the 2005/2006 season.
United’s revenues increased in the 2006/2007 season, if you take into account the downsizing / no big transfers (carrick and kuszczak for mikel and rvn) and the AIG sponsorship, AS WELL as the stadium extension which brought in more revenue.
Btw, who are Real Madrid going to buy now, if Robben signs a new contract for Chelsea?
Malouda? Liverpool vs Real Madrid for Malouda would be interesting.
Oops - my statistics were for 2004-5. Still, being 6th or 8th is no big deal - the point is that they are one of the richest clubs in the world, ahead of Arsenal, Liverpool, and many other clubs with whom Ribery was linked.
No idea what’s going to happen with Real. It probably hinges on the next two weeks. If they win the title, who knows what could happen? (the noise coming out of the club now is that Capello is to stay…). If they throw it away, it could be even more interesting. Metzelder is in the bag, you can expect Gago and Higuaín to be at the top of their game next season, and I am convinced that Emerson will move to Milan.
Ahmed Bilal:
Those stats are from last season. Deloitte publish their reports once the season is over and the clubs have opened their books. So this season has not been included but i can see Manchester United moving up the list again.
I agree with Steckelmacher, Emerson will most likely move to Milan. They have a thing for aging players.
Who are Real Madrid going to buy? I have no idea. There are no extraordinary ringsided players out there except Ronaldo and Ribery and both are taken.
There are some option but not good as the once i mentioned above. There is AS Roma’s Mancini, Porto’s Quaresma.
y r u so angry of ribery,the only reason he moved 2 bayern is to get some game time,if he had moved to Liverpool,he woodnt replace any1. and like shevshenko, ribery woodnt be used to the English game and have a shit season.
There is still Kaka for Real and expect the rumors to start up again. Bayern have again pull another rabbit out of the hat and it took a kick up their ass for them to realize that when Ballack left and with Makaay ageing and Elber gone, there is a need to change things. Only if Podolski made as much an impact as in the world cup. But judging from their dealings, all wrapped up early, their intent is clear. The folly, will Ribery be a hit or the doubt from Arsenal and Real Madrid be proven true? Face it, if Arsenal or Real came in and met the price, Ribery will choose between those two any given day. Just weird that neither made any noise.
As much as i would like Kaka to join Real Madrid, i don’t think its going to happen. Its not that he does not want to but more that AC Milan will not let go of their only jewel. I can understand it, i wouldn’t want Madrid to let go of Kaka if we had him.
We have been linked with Heinze these last weeks. I really don’t care so much for him and wish our Sports directors would look at Abidel or Chivue
Redondo - could you please call me Hugo? I haven’t been called ‘Steckelmacher’ since high school
I don’t want Real to sign Heinze either (plus, Ahmed would have a breakdown if Heinze left United ;)) - they have always been linked to Chivu in the press, but he is constantly quoted as saying that he wants to stay at Roma. Mancini would be a fantastic signing, he reminds me of Mijatovic in his play. I don’t see Quaresma happening - perhaps because of the Barca connection. I think that Madrid will have to sign, at the very least (a) a good support striker (Raúl has been playing ok, but I wouldn’t want to count on him, Higuaín is young and learning, and Robinho - well he has been excellent recently, but how much does Capello trust him? - if Capello stays, that is), (b) a player to replace Beckham, (c) another wide midfield player and (d) a left back to compete with Marcelo, whilst he is still learning. That is the bare minimum.
Rumours are linking almost half of the squad with an exit: Diarra is said to be unhappy, Emerson will go to Milan, Cassano has never really settled, Pavón will (hopefully) finally leave (he has never been even nearly good enough to don the shirt), Carlos is leaving, Beckham is leaving, Reyes may not stay. So this leaves Real with a desperate need to replace outgoing players, even with some very promising canteranos like Granero and Mata.
Just watched Real Zaragoza - Real Madrid! UNBELIEVABLE drama in La Liga in the last few weeks!! Some of the most scintillating football I have seen for quite some time. And Ruud with 25 in the league this season.
P.S. Check out Maradona in his newest incarnation - Lionel Messi. He has now repeated the hand of G-d goal - an absolute disgrace.
Hugo:
Woooooooooooooooooohoooooooooo .. Yeeeeeees .. 90minutes from being crowned Champions .. What a awesome match and nonetheless, it almost gave me a heart attack.
Messi is doing everything he can to mimic Maradona .. First that famous dribble and now the hand of god.
I’m seriously jumping up and down like a mad man.
Moving on:
The fact that Quaresma has had ties with Barcelona is not a problem. We have had Laudrup, Figo and so on from them. It is really not a problem. Diarra is very happy at Madrid and well settled .. I honestly dont know where these reports come from. His team mates say he is the most optimistic and happy guy there.
Emerson will leave, Pavon, Helguera, Cassano, Reyes, Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Mejia.
–
I’ll follow up on this later .. Gotta go out and celebrate this.
Hugo:
It was a shame you guys let Ruud go .. He is such a great player. I can believe he went for €15mill when the useless Shevchenko went for €30mill.
Redondo - I am not a Manchester United fan! I am a Spurs fan, and a madridista!
I am ecstatic about the result - the spirit in the squad is the best I have seen it for some time. As for Ruud - well, he has been unbelievable. His all-round game has improved so much since the move, his passing is excellent, his work-rate is second-to-none, he has answered pretty much ever criticism levelled his way.
Hala Madrid!
i read news article the other week quoting Ribery as saying he fancied Spain or England and that the thought of playing in Germany “did not excite him”.
How quickly things can change.
You can’t deny Bayerns financial clout but the fact is, the Bundesliga isn’t comparable to La Liga, The Prem., or Serie A. More akin to the Dutch Eredivise (spelling!). So for that reason alone its a strange decision. Bayern apparently showed more concrete interest, surely if Madrid or Aresnal had been keener he wouldn’t have been so quick to take Bayerns offer.
Redondo i agree with you 100% that Real Madrid got a bargin buying Ruud for 15mil, although we we never going to recoup the exact amount we paid which when you looked at his goals ratio we should have!
As for should we have let him go then i have to actually say yes i think it is another great decision by SAF! For 2 reasons. 1. I don’t believe Ruud would have fit in to our new style of play as well as a striker such as Saha does (although the idiots always injured and can have some appalling games at times) and 2. From all the reports ive heard Ruud was not as happy at United as he had previously been, a few in team rows and the fact that he was not guaranteed first striker meant that his influence on the team was not a 100% positive one and as SAF has always proven at United no one player is bigger than the club i.e. Beckham, Stam!
I still believe Ruud is a great player but the time was right for him to leave United. P.S. I hope Real win the title this year, id like to see Beckham win La Liga before he moves to Amerca!