Bundesliga.de Continues the Ernst Middendorp Lovefest
Tuesday, 25 September 07, 07:25 PM · Comments(0)
In an earlier post, I posted a column by Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger which sang the praises of manager Ernst Middendorp on ESPN Soccernet. Well, the lovefest for the mercurial manager continues on the official Bundesliga website with not just one, but two articles of our Fearless Leader.
Article number one is an article which shows the extent of Bielefeld's turnaround. Among the stats listed (Before Saturday's match against Schalke, of course)...
- Only Bayern München have scored more goals so far this season (12) than Arminia (11, like Dortmund)
- Bielefeld have a dangerous duo up front in Eigler/Wichniarek, with seven goals between them. That matches the other top pairings - Bayern's Klose/Toni, Hertha's Pantelic/Okoronkwo and
Dortmund's Petric/Klimowicz.
- Arminia have committed less fouls (81) than any other side and received the fewest yellow cards (5).
- Seven goals from substitutes. The only coach who can match that over the last 15 games is Bremen's Thomas Schaaf.
Not too shabby if you ask me.
Article number two is an interview with Middendorp where he calls the Bundesliga "a special league," gives credit where credit is due for the remarkable start by Artur Wichniarek and Christian Eigler, as well as discussing the future of the club and its European ambitions. Despite being a short, by-the-numbers interview, it's a very good read.
Now, if we can only get an English interview where he calls a reporter a dolt for asking a dumb question or referring to a match as "not unlike a bad day in a trench in Flanders in 1915." like he's done in the past. Like the recently-departed Special One, an interview with Middendorp is never a dull one.
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Arminia Bielefeld news and notes, with a little fantasy football thrown in for decoration
