The importance of getting the old Ribery back

The Bundesliga season ended in 2007, and Bayern for the first time in over a decade finished outside a Champions League position, in 4th place behind Stuttgart, Schalke & Werder Bremen.  Suffice to say, it was a humiliating time for Bayern and their fans.  The fans were furious and let management knew it, and that is when Hoeness & Co. decided to splash the cash like never before.  They brought Ze Roberto back as a free transfer, but they went and bought Toni for 11 million euros, Klose for 15 million euros and an unknown potential star named Frank Ribery for 25 million euros!  Little did they know the gem that they picked up because Lyon & Real Madrid at the time didn't think he was worth the money..  However for this move, we should all be thankful of Fergie and United for splashing 25 million euros on Hargreaves which funded the money to buy the French wizard.  He was Bayern's most expensive signing at the time, and now it certainly is clear that he was worth every single penny!

Ribery & Toni signing for Bayern in 2007

Ribery took the legendary number 7 shirt, Scholl was the last to wear it and was loved by Bayern fans in his many years with us even though he was injured through many seasons.  For 3 years in a row, Ribery played as good as one might wish, goals and assists galore.  He along with Lahm made the best left wing in Europe for a few seasons.  His last season when Robben came back however, was probably his worst in his career.  Nearly half season injured, the sex scandal with a French hooker while being married, speculation on joining a different club and the time he spent playing was very poor compared to his first 3 years.  He even got a red card in the semi-final vs Lyon which meant he couldn't play in the final of Champions League.  Bayern went to court and fought but ultimately lost, they also protected him vs the sex scandal news.  Ribery then decided last summer that he would extend with Bayern on a 5 year contract, even though his wages currently are the highest of any player.  Now that history is out of the way, I only think about one thing.. getting Ribery back to his old form..

It was clear last year, we missed Ribery in the CL final.  He's always been Bayern's most creative player since he's signed for us and Altintop spent the entire game passing back to Badstuber.  This season especially when Robben gets back, we need him for the Champions League title fight.  Robben last season was phenomenal and if he can regain such a form, we need Ribery to do the same.  Having "Robbery" on form would be dangerous vs any team.  Until last month, Ribery was either injured for 2 months or average.  However the last few matches he reminded everyone of Ribery of old.  In his last 4 matches, he scored 5 goals & assisted 4 goals!  Those phenomenal stats may be a bit misleading as he played 3 very poor teams however he showed his old self during that time which is great. 

Ribery misses his old partner

One other thing that he is lacking since last season is Lahm.  Robben with him behind played his best season ever and Ribery with Lahm behind him also was at his best, this common denominator insinuates that Ribery needs a great left-back to be at his best.  Contento just isn't good enough, Alaba is far too young to handle it & Pranjic is far too weak defensively to be a long-term option as Ribery's partner.  Ribery needs someone stable defensively that has the IQ to play the quick passing game with Ribery.  Baines, Criscito, Tremoulinas & Coentrao are names that have been thrown as his potential future partners.  Baines however recently stated that he wishes to play with Everton until the end of the season and I doubt Bayern will pursue him in the summer if he doesn't join them in January.  The others are all potential good options.  The best option in my opinion could be Coentrao, though last season Benfica asked for a ridiculous 30m which Bayern quickly walked away from.  Either way depending who joins is very important as it could help escalate his form back to where it was with a proper left-back.  Getting Ribery back to his old form could be the missing key to getting Bayern to accomplish what they've wanted since 2001.. the Champions League trophy

Lahm & Schweinsteiger, the new Icons of FC Bayern Munich

Every big club has icons, players you automatically think of when you hear the name of the club.  Raul for Real Madrid, Xavi & Iniesta for Barca, Maldini for Milan, Zanetti Inter, Giggs United etc etc..  Even Bayern had these players, Kahn being the last, Effenberg before and even the Kaiser if we were to go back 30 years ago.  However Bayern may indeed have two new icons from Bayern, both raised who came from the city and youth system to turn into arguably 2 world class stars in the football world.. Phillipp Lahm & Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Lahm & Schweini, before the United match

Both had contracts expiring and clubs after them.  Lahm before signing his last extension had a chance to join Barcelona but refused and signed for us two years back.  Barcelona, United & Milan had been rumored to be after him.  Schweinsteiger being reinvented in the central midfield position (thanks to Van Gaal) has been a transfer spotlight from all over the place, Juve, Inter, Chelsea United & Real Madrid are clubs that in the past 2 seasons have wanted his signature.  Yet after the last Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena, he took the microphone and said I have signed an extension until 2016, long live Bayern!  In an interview afterwards, he stated he'd rather win the title with Bayern rather with Real Madrid or Inter Milan.

 Schweini telling 69,000 fans live of his extension with Bayern!

One interesting thing that I noticed from Rummenigge that was similar to both extensions was the time frame it took to pen the deals.  According to him, both players took 5 to 10 minutes before signing.  Both players have signed until 2016, which would make Lahm & Schweini 33 and 32 years old by the time the contract runs out.  It's a statement that they wish to stay for the club for a long time and likely retire in Munich.  Their extensions is great news for many reasons.  For one, it states that Bayern can keep their stars and have serious ambitions to be a top club.  Another is that since last year, Bayern has many good youth talents thanks to Van Gaal.  Many look up to Schweini & Lahm.  In fact based on a few interviews from last season, Muller, Badstuber & Contento in particular talked how both these two players and not the current captain Van Bommel were ones they look up to.. the players they want to become in the future.  It sends a great message because in the future if these youngsters grow and become big name players.. once the big clubs come in to ask for them, they may look at these 2 icons from Bayern and decide to stay with Bayern, to do what their role models have done.   Players like Muller, Badstuber & Kroos in particular look very talented and could be the ones who replace these two in many years to come as the face of Bayern Munich..   Both are vice-captains at Bayern & Lahm is captain with Schweini as the vice-captain for the German national team.  Assuming Van Bommel leaves in January or the summer, these two will lead Bayern & Germany for many years as the captain and the vice-captain.  However for them to be remembered, they need titles and important ones.  Winning the Champions League, Euro Cup & especially the World Cup in the future is something they will need to do to immortalize their names in the German & Bayern Munich fans' eyes!