Imagine that you've just flown to visit one of your closest friends. Despite landing at an ungodly early hour, when you arrive, he's ready for the day. And that's when you inform him: for the next two hours, he's going to have to deal with the fact that Bayern are playing their biggest rivals and the Champions League is on the line and, well, you're not missing the match.
And that, friends, is more or less what happened last weekend. I had warned him the day before, but I'm not sure my friend was prepared for the screaming, yelling, overly-involved mess that is me when watching a Bayern match. Thankfully, the match went well, because I was thisclose to cussing in German on several occasions, and he was spared my full Schalke-related vitriole. I think he's still worried that I'm a little TOO passionate about the game.
But I can't help it. I love this team. Even when they're frustrating me, even when I can't make heads or tails of why certain people are playing (Pranjic) or playing out of position (half the team). I can't not care. Especially when we're playing Schalke. I realize that my hatred of Schalke is somewhat irrational (and it was weird to cheer for them in the CL...I felt dirty). But I really do hate Schalke.
That said, I'm not upset that Neuer is going to (almost certainly) be joining us. He's an incredible keeper, he has experience playing with quite a few Bayern players (as they're all on the German NT together), and he doesn't hurt the GQ factor.
More exciting, the love of my football life has extended his contract another year and will be our #2 keeper. Even for a keeper as experienced and decorated as HJB, there's nothing shabby about being Neuer's number two. And I also hope that this means the Jupp Heynckes will realize that, on occasion, it's okay to rest players. And I'm not just talking about Holger when it looks like he needs a nap...I'm talking about the fact that Basti has pretty much had no break for the past three years. Just saying.
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