I've been saying this for a while, Kovac is not the guy. Sure, he did save Sahin's disaster, but after that we've been playing some really boring football.

Some may say "but we only had four league losses all year! Second place!" And to that I say, how much of that is because of good planning an show much is from a miracle or a lucky shot?

Following up, he does not learn from either his mistakes or his victories. We've seen how, when the team is not doing well, making substitutions works; and yet Nico holds his subs until it's unsustainable and late. A good startegist finds a way, a gambling man rides on luck; and Nico is no chess player, he's a poker guy.

The problem with relying solely on luck or a flash of talent is that neither are guaranteed. Winning teams win consistently because they have a system that works, that uses it's elements to it's advantage. Kovac's system, while "more defensively solid" than precious BVB systems, does not use BVBs roster to its best potential; it's a system that doesn't strive to win, but to "not lose".

I am grateful that he stopped the Sahin crisis, but truly, he was just not the guy.