McMonkey's Eintracht Frankfurt game

[McMonkey]

Start of the winter break

Fabio Santos and Sabri Sarioglu are both allowed a months leave of absence to try and get settled in the area.

Jadson arrives from Shaktar Donetsk. Immediately his estimated value jumps up to £5 million.

Ahlen (Away) Friendly

13 minutes. Franz taps in from Jadsons corner. 1-0

15 minutes. Zaki latches onto great through ball by Jadson to score. 2-0

Full time score: 2-1
Man of the match: Jadson


Pirmin Schwegler is sold to Birmingham for £1.9 million. Begovic's loan is made permanent with Frankfurt paying Portsmouth the pre agreed £2.2m. Colombian centre back Nelson Rivas of Inter milan agrees to join in July 2010 when his contract expires, as does French right back / right midfielder Francois Clerc of Lyon.

Fabio Santos goes out on loan to Napoli for the remainder of the season for a fee of £300k and a future fee of £1.8m if they wish to make it permanent. Sylvain Marveaux will spend the rest of the season on loan to NEC Breda.

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Lell, Russ, Franz, Monzon, Gunnarsson, Bajramovic, Carmona, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

28 minutes. Maik Franz recieves a straight red for a challenge near the half way line. Ochs on for Fonseca and Lell moves to centre back.

41 minutes. From a corner kick Russ' header hits the crossbar.

43 minutes. Berg is one on one with Begovic but puts it just wide.

45 minutes. A long clearance from Begovic falls just right for Cisse to race onto. He picks his spot with a powerful finish on the edge of the area. 1-0

Half time. No changes.

51 minutes. Guerrero beats his marker and scores form the edge of the area. 1-1

76 minutes. Rost makes a important save from a corner.

84 minutes. Linderoth on for Bajramovic.

91 minutes. Begovic makes a vital save to deny Jarolim a winner.

Man of the match: Boateng
League position: 11th

Fabian Monzon is injured and will be out for 3-4 weeks.

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Sarioglu, Russ, Aygun, Ze Carlos, Gunnarsson, Linderoth, Carmona, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

6 minutes. Linderoth wins the ball and plays in Cisse who takes two touches then smashes it in from the edge of the area. 1-0

27 minutes. Begovic tames powerful effort by Polanski.

31 minutes. Another great save by Begovic to deny Polanski.

Half time. No subs.

50 minutes. Teber on for Carmona who has taken a knock.

59 minutes. Lell on for Sarioglu.

63 minutes. Cisse has a great chance to finish the game, but he is denied by a superb last ditch tackle.

66 minutes. Great run down the right by Cisse who makes headway into the box, chips the ball across to an unmarked Fonseca who volleys in from a couple of yards out. 2-0

68 minutes. Borja is one on one for Maniz but he blasts wide.

74 minutes. Bajramovic on for injured Linderoth.

Man of the match: Asmir Begovic
League position: 10th

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Sarioglu, Ze Carlos, Russ, Aygun, Bajramovic, Gunnarsson, Teber, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

5 minutes. Aygun controls a Gunnnarsson long throw in the box and lays it back to Teber who smashes it in from the edge of the area. 1-0


19 minutes. Cisse's determined run down the right ends in a superb curling cross which clears Wiess and is headed in by Fonseca at the far post. 2-0

Half time. Lell on for the injured Gunnarsson. Sarioglu goes into right midfield.

58 minutes. Wiess manages to get his fingertips to Tebers free kick and tips it around the post.

66 minutes. Sarioglu with a mazy run drills in a low cross to Cisse who blasts it in off Wiess. 3-0

74 minutes. Meier on for Cisse.

Man of the match: Selim Teber
League position: 7th

Gunnarsson will be out for 3-4 weekss. Frankfurt now unbeaten in the last six games.

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Lell, Russ, Aygun, Ze Carlos, Bajramovic, Sarioglu, Jadson, Carmona, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

12 minutes. Hleb hits the post.

18 minutes Begovic makes a great save to deny Cacau.

20 minutes. Cacau close from long range free kick.

26 minutes. Great tackle by Lell in the area to deny Garcia Garcia.

28 minutes. Khedira scores from 25 yards with a placed shot past Begovic. 0-1

44 minutes. Begovic thwarts Pogrebnyak with a great save.

Half time. It has been mostly one way traffic in favour of Stuttgart so far.

48 minutes. Jadson rattles the crossbar with a powerful shot.

51 minutes. Cacau through on goal but blasts just wide.

52 minutes. Cisse plays in Fonseca who shoots low from the edge of the area under the despairing dive of Lehmann. 1-1

61 minutes. Pegrebnyak scores with a low, hard free kick from 25 yards out. 2-1

65 minutes. Begovic pulls off a top class save from a powerful Pogrebnyak shot.

71 minutes. Zaki on for Sarioglu who is injured. Also Teber on for Bajramovic.

76 minutes. Another powerful Pogrebnyak free kick is saved.

Man of the match: Sami Khedira
League position: 10th

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Ochs, Ze Carlos, Russ, Franz, Bajramovic, Carmona, Teber, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

20 seconds. Schafer just manages to tip Cisse's long range shot around the post.

25 minutes. Ze Carlos piledriver from 25 yards after great work by Jadson. 1-0

29 minutes. Fonseca powers in from close range after Cisse's shot ricochets of keeper. 2-0

33 minutes. Cisse with a powerful header to finish off a sublime curling cross by Ze Carlos. 3-0

38 minutes. Jadson scores with a direct free kick that goes in off the post. Great goal. 4-0

Half time. No changes needed.

58 minutes. Zaki on for Cisse.

72 minutes. Meier onm for the injured Fonseca.

Man of the match: Ze Carlos
League position: 6th

Only downside of the match is the injury to Fonseca who will be out for 3-4 weeks.

Stephen Appiah wins the African Cup of Nations with Ghana.

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Ochs, Ze Carlos, Russ, Franz, Appiah, Carmona, Jadson, Teber, Cisse, Zaki 4-3-1-2 Counter

36 minutes. Kuranyi headed goal disallowed for offside.

Half time. Monzon on for Teber.

48 minutes. Howedes rises above the crowd to head in a corner. 0-1

75 minutes. Kenia a whisker wide.

84 minutes. Meier on for Zaki.

88 minutes. Epic scrabble in defence with shots coming in from all angles, but Begovics keeps it out.

Full time score: 0-1
Man of the match: Howedes
League position: 9th

Stephen Appiah banned for one match for accumalating too many yellow cards.

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Ochs, Monzon, Russ, Franz, Bajramovic, Carmona, Ze Carlos, Jadson, Cisse, Zaki 4-3-1-2 Counter

6 minutes. Begovic makes a great save from Helmes.

38 minutes. Teber on for the injured Monzon. Ze Carlos moves to left wingback.

40 minutes. Helmes hit the post.

43 minutes. Maik Franz brings down Kroos in the area. Pinto scores the penalty. 0-1

Half time. No changes.

50 minutes. Kiesling scores a neat header. 0-2

51 minutes. Sarioglu on for Bajramovic.

75 minutes. Teber thumps home a shot after the ball breaks to him from Jadsons reverse ball. 1-2

80 minutes. Meier on for the injured Amr Zaki.

Man of the match: Kadlec
League position: 11th

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Ochs, Ze Carlos, Russ, Franz, Gunnarsson, Appiah, Carmona, Jadson, Cisse, Meier 4-3-1-2 Counter

22 minutes. Cisse reacts first to thump the ball home after Gunnarsson's shot is parried by the Berlin keeper. 1-0

25 minutes. Raffaels goal is dissalowed for offside.

30 minutes. Sarioglu on for the injured Ochs.

43 minutes. Meier's header comes off the cross bar from a corner kick.

Half time. No changes.

46 minutes. Begovic makes a great save to deny Raffael.

74 minutes. Teber and Bajramovic on foor Gunnarsson and Meier.

80 minutes. Begovic makes a vital save. It looked impossible but somehow he heald onto the shot.

85 minutes. Another vital save from Begovic.

Full time score: 1-0
Man of the match: Asmir Begovic
League position: 11th

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Sarioglu, Russ, Franz, Ze Carlos, Gunnarsson, Appiah, Carmona, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

16 minutes. Tremendous shot by Gunnarsson somehow tipped over by Benaglio.

21 minutes. Another brilliant save by Benaglio, this time from Jadson.

33 minutes. Magical goal from Jadson who twists and turns on the edge of the area before breaking through with a turn of pace and smashing a drive into the top left. Cisse is credited with an assist. 1-0

36 minutes. Great play by Fonseca who picks out Cisse in the six yard boix who has a simple tap in. 2-0

Half time. No changes needed.

70 minutes. Monzon, Lell and Teber on for Sarioglu, Ze Carlos and Gunnarsson.

73 minutes. Begovic blocks Simunek's close range effort.

75 minutes. Cisse plays a through ball to Jadson who tucks away his second goal. Game over. 3-0

79 minutes. Russ rises almost unchalleneged to nod in a Monzon free kick from a few yards out. 4-0

Full time score: 4-0 The moody Diva take down the reigning champions in stylish fasion.
Man of the match: Jadson
League position: 10th

The scouting network is expanded to cover South America, Eastern and Central Eurpope, Holland, France and Scandanavia.

Stefan Reuter is linked with the vacant Hamburg job but declines to comment.

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Sarioglu, Russ, Franz, Ze Carlos, Gunnarsson, Appiah, Carmona, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

12 minutes. Stajner capitalises from a mix up in defending a long ball. 0-1

24 munutes. Jadson is fed by a probing Gunnarsson pass and takes an excellent first touch, races into the box and slots the ball under Enke. 1-1

Half time. No subs.

72 minutes. Stajner hits Frankfurt on the break after being picked out by Forssell. 1-2

Man of the match: Jiri Stajner
League position: 11th

Hannover are definately becoming the bogie team of Die Diva vom Main.

*Linked with the vacant Bayer Leverkusen job but again decide not to comment.

[Dario]

Will you post Energie Cottbus club?
that is Radyserb's team.

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Sarioglu, Russ, Franz, Monzon, Gunnarsson, Appiah, Carmona, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

7 minutes. Gunnarsson goes close with a long shot that is palmed away by Vilar.

14 minutes. Ribery ghosts in to finish off a dangerous cross by Skjelbred. 0-1

31 minutes. Robben controls a Skjelbred through ball and slots home a shot from the edge of the area. 0-2

39 minutes. Mario Gomez latches onto Robben's pass to squeeze the ball under the advancing Begovic. 0-3

43 minutes. From a corner kick Russ' header hits the crossbar.

Half time. Frankfurt have played some good football, but Bayern's finishing has been clinical.

48 minutes. Lahm's long range drive deflected away by Begovic.

54 minutes. Cisse pounces on a mistake by Lahm and scores with a trade mark shot from the edge of the area. 1-3

78 minutes. Powerful effort by Sarioglu saved by Vilar.

86 minutes. Substitute Klose manages to squeeze in a shot from a very tight angle. 1-4

Full time score: 1-4
Man of the match: Robben
League position: 11th

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Sarioglu, Russ, Franz, Monzon, Appiah, Gunnarsson, Teber, Jadson, Cisse, Fonseca 4-3-1-2 Counter

16 minutes. Salihovic scores with a sublime long range curling shot that flies into the top left corner. Later voted goal of the month. 0-1

41 minutes. Monzon free kick. Franz's header rattles the crossbar.

45 minutes. Equalizer from Cisse who beats the offside trap to latch on to a long ball from Russ and finishes from just inside the area. 1-1

Half time. No changes.

50 minutes. Begovic makes a good save from Ibesevic.

52 minutes. Cisse nicks the ball in midfield and bears down on goal, but his powerful shot is parried by the goal keeper.

53 minutes. Salihovic free kick is just kept out by Begovic.

64 minutes. Bajramovic and Dazzan on for Appiah and Monzon. There are now four Bosnian Internationals on the pitch!

76 minutes. Another wicked Salihovic free kick saved by Begovic.

89 minutes. Zuculini scores with a speculative long range effort that flies into the top left corner. 1-2

92 minutes. Russ takes down Demba Ba in the area. Salihovic's penallty is saved by Begovic.

Full time score: 1-2
Man of the match: Luiz Gustavo
League position: 11th

[McMonkey]

Team: Begovic, Sarioglu, Russ, Franz, Monzon, Gunnarsson, Appiah, Ze Carlos, Jadson, Cisse, Zaki 4-3-1-2 Counter

12 minutes. Jadson in acres of space on the break shoots straight at the keeper.

13 minutes. Franz with a powerful header from Ze Carlos' corner kick. 1-0

Half time. Fairly drab match so far.

48 minutes. Zaki breaks through, plays an intelligent ball to Cisse in space and the Senegalese striker firles in from the edge of the area. 2-0

53 minutes. Pouplin does well to block Gunnarsson's close range shot.

65 minutes. Zaki is allowed too much time and space on the edge of the D and he lets rip with a shot that flies in off of Pouplin. 3-0

74 minutes. Fonseca, Bajramovic and Carmona on for Zaki, Appiah and Ze Carlos.

77 minutes. Jadson plays an inspired pass to pick out Fonseca who makes no mistake with the finish. 4-0

Full time score: 4-0 Morale was low before this game, but the emphatic result sends it soaring.
Man of the match: Maik Franz
League position: 11th

Poor Freiburg (17th) are having a terrible season. If only they had a young African goalscorer smashing in the goals Still, not as bad as Mainz who are already relegated.