"You Say Schwule, I Say Schwarze"

We can only speculate over what Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller said to Gerald Asamoah in the derby match between bitter rivals Dormund and Schalke back on September 14th. While Asamoah claims the keeper’s trash talk included a reference to his color after he slammed into Weidenfeller, the keeper claimed his slur was homophobic. Such is the idiocy of football at times.

For you English speakers the difference is between “schwule Sau” (gay pig) and “schwarze Sau” (black pig). Either way, the German FA handed Dortmund’s 27 year old keeper a three game ban. Pigs everywhere are wondering why they had to be involved at all.

There is compelling evidence that Weidenfeller apologized twice within the context of the game for the insult, and it is certain that Asamoah accepted an apology by the time of the hearing. Many feel that this led to a reduced sentence. However Thomas Doll might be wondering if Asamoah’s leniency might cost him his job.

Borussia Dortmund started the season in shambles losing their first two games by a combined score of 7-2 to lowly Duisburg and rival Schalke. They have lost their last two games, to surprising Hertha Berlin and Hamburg by an aggregate 6-2. During both of these two-game skids, Dortmund’s defense has looked fragmented and uncommunicative.

During the three games that interceded, Dortmund won three straight, all with clean sheets, climbing to second in the table. It was these three games that saw veteran backup Marc Ziegler between the sticks due to the suspension. While Doll has fluctuated between Philipp Degen and Christian Worns to partner Leonardo, the only consistency to be found is Weidenfeller’s absence. And watching his games, one can’t fault Weidenfeller for goals per se, but there is a distinct difference in the defense’s posture and movement when he is in goal as compared to Ziegler.

It’s one of those nuances that fans can never really know: how a keeper communicates with his backs. When goals are being scored, it is a topical concern. When they are not, it is assumed to be good. But what is quite clear within seven games, and subsequently having seen how much better Christoph Metzelder looks in front of Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, that Weidenfeller does not command his defense and is costing a giant of German football goals (and points) by the handful. Does Doll need another racist/homophobic remark to help him or will he see the light in time to save his job.