The date is Monday the 25th of April 2011, I'm facing the most important few months of my life, with university finals looming only weeks away. Despite this stress, I feel there has been no better time to begin my life's mission as an Englishman. That mission being the proselytizing of all things German football. This mission came to me many moons ago, when I found out the dirty secret of my own domestic football culture. While most of today's football fans have a relatively complete knowledge of todays game, I'm sure if I asked many of my mates to name Freiburg's leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga this season I would meet a room of silence. This blog is an attempt to feel this cultural vacuum, the empty dialogical space that should be filled with debate on Europe's most competitive football league. Despite this, I know for certain that what I'm about to undertake is not purely an illumination for todays common football fan, but also for myself. While many find it weird that I often refer to Werder Bremen Captain Torsten Frings as if he were a religious deity, I too accept that the Bundesliga remains an enigma for me also, shrouded in a murkey haze. My ambition then is not purely to use this blog to attack Mikel Silvestre as a footballer, or heap praise upon Hoffenheim, but to curtail the myth that the Bundesliga lacks the attraction of Europes top leagues in la liga and the Premiership and hopefully convey what this glorious division has to offer. With Season tickets limited and prices lowered, allowing average day fans to get match day tickets, its clear that we are witnessing a resurgence in the German game. Combined with this tickets come with in bulit train tickets, and on match day your allowed to drink beer and sing! Is this the future template for football, are we going to see children in Africa walking around with FC Kaiserslauten jerseys? I doubt it. But as a match day framework and with its clear success, will the German game soon challenge La liga and the Premiership for status, especially with Germany's increased status in international football of late (a new generation an all that shit)
Here are my top three Bundes classics.(match day songs)
1.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAxJgtsliUo&playnext=1&list=PLEF2C2CA45F7EA708
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK_bRU_FrHI
3.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVKjwfFUHrI&feature=related
This weekends results.
Bayern Leverkusen {2-1} 1899 Hoffenheim
Frankfurt {1-1} Munich
Schalke {0-1} FC Kaiserslauten
FC St. Pauli {1-3} Werder Bremen
Stuttgart {3-0} Hamburg
Borussia Monchengladbach {1-0} Borussia Dortmund
Woflsburg {4-1} Koln
FC Nuremberg {0-0} FC Mainz.
Wolfsburg triumph in a rare victory that salvages survival hope.
As you are aware, to cover every match in detail is unachievable given my current if failing academic calender. Given this, I will focus each week on what I believe to be perhaps the most important game of the week. This week we travel to former club manager and international umbrella stand, Steve McClaren's club Wolfsburg, and ask the question; how can a team that only won the title in 2009, be staring relegation in the face. Is this purely testament to Steve McClaren's managerial ability, the anarchic nature of the league, or like Gazza with a fishing rod and a chicken sandwich, are we witnessing a more internal (club) breakdown. In sum, from what I understand, McClaren never held the dressing room, or the board room, but despite this and his decision to sell Dzeko most argue that like all failing clubs this is a mixture of on and off field instability. Off the field is always a difficult point to analyse so we must look on the field. Arguably, Wolfsburg haven't invested wisely, or at least their signings haven't delivered. The two key culprits being Diego (15 million euro's), who formerly bossed the Bundesliga in his stint at Werder bremen <3, and simon Kjaer (I think it was about 9 million euro's), who, though has clear quality has failed to offer the security in defense that was expected. As well as this, key arrivals were brought in at January in former Leverkusen ace Patrick Helmes and Stoke magician Tuncay, with both arrivals seemingly still adjusting to the rough currents of Wolfsburg. With the convincing victory over Cologne however, Wolfsburg now need to push on in their next crunch game against my struggling team Werder Bremen who remarkably impressed in their match on saturday against St Pauli. With only three games left of the season, Wolfsburg will need to secure at least 6 points in order to keep their first division status. In next weeks post I will be analyzing the spirited Werder Bremen winger, Marko Marin.
Great blog mate. I too share your love for the Bundesliga. What do you think about Podolski's decision to stay at Cologne this season? I think he's far too big for the club. Also Frings is definitely on the decline don't rate him at all anymore
ReplyDeletenext season*
ReplyDeletehello there Sam. I see you have cheekly asked two questions. On Podolksi I can't say I'm a expert, but for me Podolski has never been prolific in club football. Saying this in an international capacity he has always been a mainstay of the general set up. On Frings however I have to disagree with you, and say that not only has he grabbed many points that have led to Werder's survival this season through set pieces but also he played a huge amount of games for a 34 year old. Frings has already announced a few months ago that he is retiring at the end of the season, but I feel this is due to Bremen's stagnation rather than his own, and his arguable distaste at Bremen's tiny and unexperienced squad. With Marin probably out in the summer you look at the Werder squad and feel that they will struggle to finish in the top half of the table next year, especially under Schaaf.
ReplyDeleteR.e Podolski - you make a good point but in the international set-up he's often found joy down the left side which I feel may be his strongest position which leads me to believe he may fit in at the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and perhaps dare I say it at Spurs ahead of Gareth Bale. I certainly think he could be useful at one of these clubs and is risking becoming an after-thought in European football when he promises so much. As for Bremen, I agree they will struggle even more next season than this although if they sell Silvestre they can only replace him with somebody better! Unless of course they continue to sift through the Arsenal bench and approach Arsene Wenger about one Mr. Squillaci! Finally, what do you make of Borussia Dortmund's prospects in the Champions League next season? They've pretty much dominated the Bundesliga this season albeit a slight stumble down the home stretch and with Schalke's magnificent run this season having raised the league's profile even more after Bayern's successes last season, will they be a forced to be reckoned with in next season's European elite?
ReplyDeleteIn order to address both your questions I feel it's necessary to dichotomize International football from club football and the Bundesliga from the Champions league. To tackle the Podolski question I feel if he was as good as you believe he wouldn't remain at Koln. Bayern for one wouldn't have allowed him to leave for I'm not sure what it was, but I think it was near 7 million. He certainly wouldn't make the cut in my opinion at any of the clubs you have mentioned. Saying this he has had a better season that last year where he only scored a small handful of goals. Podolski does take set pieces for Cologne however and this should be noted, in many ways he is the team, and he may be one of those players in a similar sense to Henrik Larsson at Celtic who felt almost an ambassadorial role for the club. Borussia are a young and very exciting team to both watch and admire. With Players such as Cuba, Kagawa and Barrios as well as at the back with Hummels and the imperious Subotic its no fluke that they are where they are in a season where Bayern Munich have stuttered. Despite this its clear to see that against Bayern Leverkusen the other week when Bayern Munich perform they are by far and away the best team in the division. Your right to that Dortmund are clinging on to 1st place and if it wasn't for the Leverkusen malling by Bayern the other week we could have seen the championship in Leverkusens grip. In the Champions league next season I feel that Dortmunds progression will be determined by their abillity to hold onto their talent in the names I have just mentioned. And finally on the Shalke question it is important to say that their domestic campaign has been seemingly unimpressive. Raul stated the other day that they may be where they are as they have played without pressure, due to their consistent mid-table position throughout the campaign. This helped them for sure against Inter and will do when facing Utd this week.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand where you're coming from regarding Podolski. But I think it's important to recognise that when Podolski signed for Bayern in 2006 he joined at a time when they already had a vast number of forwards who monopolised the position (Makaay, Santa Cruz and later Klose) and he wasn't able to get a look in. Rejoining a struggling Cologne side can only limit his opportunites to shine and I feel joining a big club in another country could only be beneficial for him and whoever is prepared to take the risk. He's got pace so I certainly think he could cope with the Premier League and he'd certainly be more a value for money than the say, the £9 million Manchester City paid for Shaun Wright-Phillips when they bought him back from Chelsea. Being released from his 'ambassadorial role' as you put it, may also help him as it might release some of the weight off his shoulders.
ReplyDeleteAs for Dortmund I agree with the assessment that they'll progress if they keep most of their good players but in your opinion what areas do you think they need to strengthen to really consolidate themselves as a permanent competitor at the top of the Bundesliga, to save them from heading in a similar direction to Wolfsburg and your beloved Bremen?
Finally, in the wake of a breakout season for Papiss Cisse at Freiburg, what do you think the chances are he'll still be in Baten-Wurttembuerg next season?
What are your thoughts on Dortmund starlet Mario Gotze? I heard good things and he's even been linked to a move to Manchester United. Is he really that good? I would also like to get your thoughts on Bayern Munich. Is this the start of a decline or is this year merely a blip and will they be back to ruling the Bundesliga next season?
ReplyDeleteI take your point on Podolski yet I feel like there is no argument here. I agree that he is perhaps destined for bigger things but he holds an attachment to Cologne as he also grew up in the area. We have all seen what this is like for players such as Jesus Navas of Sevilla who in perhaps a more extreme example will forever be a one club player. I wouldn't go so far as to call this a selfless act by Lukas, but more a best fit scenario, and the reality that just because he could player at a higher level that he nessecarily will, again I don't feel like I need to give example to justify this point sufficiently.I don't feel like dortmund need to strenghten a particular area and its clear from the crop they currently hold through young german internationals such as Gotze that they must simply grow organically. German clubs are normally quite shrewd in the transfer market in comparison to the Premier league. As I have stated Bremen and Wolfsburg (less so) might both survive the season and challenge for honors next year, as is the anarchic nature of the league. Cisse is certainly the star of the Freiburg team and to a greater extent of the Bundesliga season in general this year. I was surprised given the hive of activity in the British transfer window that no English clubs came in for him in January. If I'm being honest I will imagine that he might move in the summer as their is a lack of affordable number 9's in Europe of late, and I wouldn't be surprised if British teams took a punt on the Senegalese forward.
ReplyDeleteIn response to mr Josephs point I rate Mario Gotze very highly as do Dortmund. While its clear that as a central attacking midfielder he faces stiff opposistion internationally against, Ozil, Kroos, Muller etc for Dortmund he is already a key player. He has been described as extremely gifted and I remember reading at the turn of the year that he had penned a new contract I believe, so I'm sure he won't be leaving this summer. But in football, you never know. As of Bayern I believe they will not only clinch 3rd this season over Hannover but remain the hegemonic power in German football for years to come. It is true that defensively there are weaknesses and I believe they will be active in the summer window. What is crucial for the club is to iron out internal conflict (and ego's) as has been seen recently between Robben and Schweinsteiger and before on the field between Arjen and Thomas Muller.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you refer to Podolski as a one-club man when he's already played for two clubs. But let us not indulge ourselves in hypotheticals on this front as I believe we've covered all the basis' regarding Podolski's future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you say about shrewdness in the Bundesliga as there are rarely big money moves in or out of the league what grounds do you base your claim that Werder will be a force next season? You've already pointed out they're losing their captain at the end of the season so how do you think they will be able to climb the league? Or is this assumption made purely based on the fact that the league has a tendency to swing in round-abouts and law averages suggest that it's Werder's 'turn' to have a run for honours?
I wondered what you're opinion was on the future of Christian Ziege. A great player we all know, having found success at Liverpool, AC Milan and Tottenham during his playing days but sadly he has just been sacked by Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga-2. Having taken to the club to the verge of relegation, a fate they inevitably found impossible to avoid, where do you hope to see the charismatic Euro 96 winner as he looks to take the next step in his managerial career?
I look forward to your comments in next weeks post Mr Lesser.
ReplyDeleteDoes Ms. Hawkins have anything to say on the subjects in question? Or perhaps would she be prepared to offer an opinion on Jan Koller? A Bundesliga hero who apparently shares the same hairdresser as my fellow blog follower
ReplyDeleteare we really doing this?
ReplyDeleteI just ask the questions
ReplyDeleteI asked Alex who this person was Sam and I'd say you have more in common with him than me. I have a gorgeous full head of hear Samuel which is more than I can say for you.
ReplyDeleteMy blog is better than this.
This is a page for debate and we can all offer our own opinions. In this particular case I have to disagree with you Ms Hawkins, I'm afraid. What is your blog about? Perhaps I could bring some intuative insight to the proceeding.
ReplyDeleteLol. You wouldn't understand it sam.
ReplyDelete