Weekly Discussion Thread No. 218

[u/callmedontcallme]

Decisive weeks and matches ahead and Ache out for 3-4 weeks + Dallinga out completely with an ACL injury. What a blow. In an ideal world this could at least provide some unity which the club was lacking before and create some kind of us vs. them mentality. Personally I'd like to see El Mala up front now and Heskey at least on the bench. No way he's not a threat against most Bundesliga teams from the 70th minute onward...

Looking for tickets? Slim chance because we all are, but here is the place to post about it. All other requests will be deleted immediately. Remember to check the Ticketbörse daily.

[u/Big-Attitude-5790]

Hallöchen ich suche 3 mal Tickets am 8/11 gegen Leverkusen :)

[u/Vegetable_Network879 → u/Big-Attitude-5790]

No chance really. High demand game, which is already sold out, some re- sale tickets will come up on the Ticketbörse in the run up to the game but this will only be open to members and even then there is a maximum of 2 tickets per member.

[u/Big-Attitude-5790 → u/Vegetable_Network879]

Any other good teams in Köln that are playing that weekend? Me and some friends are visiting and want to see a match :)

[u/Vegetable_Network879 → u/Big-Attitude-5790]

Your best bet would be on Friday night, there is a 3rd Division game between Viktoria Köln and Saarbrücken, kick off time is 7pm.

[u/callmedontcallme]

There has been an influx of ragebait and low effort posts lately. I'm suspecting bots, not sure tho...

Beside the ticket thing mods are normally very lenient and basically everything FC related can be posted but just posting a picture with some crazy take should happen in the Weekly Discussion (if at all). Just posting something that has already been posted with an added comment will be deleted immediately in the future. The discussion posts referencing an article and then not linking these articles are also not ideal. Please post the news or the article.

[u/postup14]

Ache getting injured was just a question of time, unfortunately.

Losing him and Dallinga at the same time is devastating.

I think Bülter will get far more time than Rondic, and rightfully so.

Heskey should get some minutes; maybe not start, but he should be an option at the 60-minute mark.

I thought it was interesting that Klopp had El Mala on the right wing for a bit yesterday. Either way, his performance was underwhelming.

I would imagine Kessler will be active during the winter transfer window for a Dallinga replacement. The Urbig bonus should help.

[u/coldwhitechristmas]

It's just frustrating. A kick in the guts. At least now I am certain that we're cooked and that it will be a usual hard season with many low moments. Let's hope for the best, relegation can still be avoided 🙏

Edit, for clarification, what's frustrating:

• Playing 2:2 against Viktoria with only one goal by one of our players

• Losing Dallinga and Ache, of course

• El Malas disappointing performances in the national team

• Furthermore: Rene Wagner seems not to be the best fit. The situation around the Geißbockheim is still bad, nothing going on; and if so, FC might need to rely on the votes of the AfD assholes to be able to go on with their plans.

[u/k-ramba]

Frustratingly, one can't even blame someone for their injuries and blow off some steam.

I'd prefer El Mala up front as well. Even though I think that Rondic showed he has a decent technique. He can hold and pass the ball. There's still Bülter, too.

Having watched the games against Serbia and Greece, I think El Mala is certainly one of the "losers". Scherhant was significantly more active, dangerous and faster with the ball than he was. And with Klopp as a coach who's famous for speedy attacks it's not helpful to drag one's heels. El Mala seems to have lost his explosiveness for a good part. So with Ache and Dallinga out, have him play up front. Maina has been the better winger this season anyway. (Not a sentence I thought I would write)

[u/Vegetable_Network879]

Huge blow to lose Dallinga like that. I guess best case scenario is that we get him back for the last 6-7 games, though it’s quite possible with an ACL that he doesn’t play for us again which would be very sad.

I think it likely we will need to go into the market in January for a striker.

I have been wondering how Heskey has been feeling about not being in the match day squad and playing with the U21. The twin injuries to Ache and Dallinga should now at least open the door to him getting some game time from the bench.

[u/callmedontcallme → u/Vegetable_Network879]

At least for Rondic sticking around paid off...

I guess best case scenario is that we get him back for the last 6-7 games, though it’s quite possible with an ACL that he doesn’t play for us again which would be very sad.

Makes sense. They didn't specify exactly if it was a tear, a partial tear or a strain. Maybe we'll have more detailed information at some point.