Bundesliga Pics

Terrific Game

Wolfsburg a late two-all draw bringing Monchengladbach’s home winning streak to an end, at the last game in the German Bundesliga round 17 on Sunday. Both teams started with a wait-and-see strategy therefore goal scoring opportunities were a rare occurrence in the opening period. But, things changed just before the half-hour mark when Monchengladbach’s custodian Marc Andre ter Stegen denied Wolfsburg’s Ivica Olic and Maximilian Arnold the opener. After the restart, Wolfsburg were rewarded for their efforts as Diego made use of Ricardo Rodriguez pinpoint cross into the box to break the deadlock at the 53rd minute.

The fight was not done with the scoring as Juan Arango turned the tides from 27 meters with a well-placed dead ball over the wall into the top right corner, at the 64th minute. The host tried to kill the game with a third goal but instead Wolfsburg’s joker striker Bas Doost netted the equalizer at the 85th minute to snatch one point on the road.  “We saw a terrific match by both sides. I think it’s a fair and deserved 2-2 draw,” Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking said.

Bayern Munich in the Lead

As much as it is troubling to write, this won’t be a weird christmas – the Bundesliga has got the blues. An overwhelming sense of futility and defeatism, a soul-corroding realization that 2013-14 will be another season of little-to-no success will accompany the vast majority of clubs into the winter break. “The league is dead,” is the often-heard lament in light of Bayern Munich’s suffocating superiority. The league leaders have gone through the entire calendar year unbeaten in the Meisterschaft; they’re so good that they’re winning titles even when they’re not playing.

After dabbling in Inception-style fantasy – they dared to dream about dreaming about dreaming about the title two weeks ago – Leverkusen slipped again following last week’s home defeat by Eintracht, and were beaten 1-0 at Werder Bremen. And Gladbach and Wolfsburg, the two most improved sides, only managed a 2-2 draw as well. The Bayern players and officials politely refused to accept congratulations for the defence of their title but their heart wasn’t quite in it. They’re seven points ahead, with one game in hand, without playing anywhere near their limit except for a handful of matches.

At least the unhappiness in the rest of the country is of a loud and shrill kind. Collectively, the top flight has reacted to its existentialist fear of irrelevance by adopting extreme forms of thrill-seeking and out-of-character behaviour. And as a result the Hinrunde (first half of the season) has gone ever so slightly off the rails. Experienced practitioners will recognise the symptoms: in its 51st year, the Bundesliga is gripped by a severe midlife crisis.

Everywhere you looked, records were broken. Schalke coach Jens Keller, who has just been given another vote of confidence following an “authentic and ruthless” review, as sporting director Horst Heldt put it, spent the entire Hinrunde walking up and down the plank, without ever getting the push. The longest goodbye in the history of the league is set to continue until May, when a suitable replacement will hopefully be found.

Meanwhile 17th-placed Nürnberg have gone one worse. The Franconians finished the year without a single win so far this season – a feat unparalleled. Gertjan Verbeek’s team have hit the post and bar 15 times and they were at least Schalke’s equals in the 0-0 draw on Saturday night. The Dutchman has vowed to let his beard grow until they return to winning ways, even if he’ll end up “playing Santa Claus next year”, as he jokingly suggested. It will be close shave, in any case.

 

But this shouldn’t be unduly disconcerting. On the contrary, the sheer level of (relative) underachievement in Germany’s top flight is actually strangely comforting. Everyone, Bayern included, can do much better and, at some point, they will. In the meantime, watching the competition rage against the red machine will provide a different but no less compelling spectacle. Have a great Christmas and happy new year, we’ll see you on the other side

 

The Talent Show

These are young players that aren’t so big now, but will be in a couple of years time they will be the next Bundesliga superstars. Some of these players are already starting for there team, while lease popular players are benched. These players have come from the teams at the bottom of the table and the top so their is a variety of skill levels throughout the Bundesliga.

Xherdan Shaqiri: Xherdan is a talented young player who plays for the giants Bayern Munich. With a great cross and control that make him an excellent midfielder. He’s a 22 year old playmaker that can add that extra boost to the team when they are down. He can play center-midfield but his preferred position is right-midfield.

Thomas Muller:  Thomas is becoming more popular now but he is still growing . This player is a fabulous player and Bayern Munich are very lucky to have him. The 24 year old is a brilliant finisher and dribbler, but he can work on his pass and trying to find and create space to score goals.

Emre Can: Emre is a brilliant 19 year old, center-midfielder he would be a great recruit to have in your team. He used to play for Bayern Munich but he was sold to Bayern Leverkusen for $5 million. Emre is a great tackler and defender so sometimes he plays center defensive midfield.

Mario Gotze: Mario was developing skills at Borussia Dortmand and becoming a great player, but now Dortmand have let him go to the table toping giants Bayern Munich where he will become a international star for Germany, and hopefully help Munich win the Champions league again. He is a outstanding player and developing skills and will become a automatic starter for Germany and Munich.

Marc-Andre ter Stegan: Marc is a automatic starter for Borussia Monchengladbach and a great player and goalie. He is also in the Germany squad and a backup for Manuel Neuer. The 21 year old is a great one-on-one goalkeeper, but he can improve his long passes and goal-kicks. Its very rarely that he lets a clean sheet in.

Julian Draxler: Julian isn’t really big now but I think he will be a great success for Germany and Schalke 04. This kid is a great midfielder and can play any position except defensive midfield. He can adapt to any position very quickly.

Amin Younes: Amin is a 20 year old that plays for Borussia Monchengladbach who already starts for them, and also gets subbed on to give the team and boost, to put the ball in the back of the net. Younes will soon become a great player and maybe get into the Germany squad.

Branimir Hrgota: Branimir is showing his true inner ability to prove himself, he’s good enough to be a starter instead of de Jong and Kruse. The Swedish 20 year old is already in the under 21’s team, and will probably be in Swedish team and a backup for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander in a few years time.

Heung-Min Song: Heung is a young talent that was sold to Bayern Leverkusen for $10 million dollars from Hamburg. The Korean is a great success, and buy for Bayern Leverkusen. Heung is 21 year old and will be a star for South Korea in the next couple of years.

Bundesliga

We are heading to the transfer season with Bayern Munich at the top of the table, and Bayern Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmand not so for behind. Lewandowski leading             Borussia Dortmand to the top, but the question is if he can hold up the great skills and goals or will he go down a level, with the help of Marco Reus. Dortmand is letting Mario Gotze go to the leading giants Bayern Munich for $37 million dollars. It is a big loss for Borussia Dortmand and I wander how Dortmand will cope without the brilliance of Gotze?Munich has it all with Neuer as goalie, Lahm and Boateng in the back line, in the midfield Robben and Ribery  on the attacking wings and in the center Schweinstieger, Kroos and new recruit Gotze and up in front the trustful Thomas Muller, Frank Ribery the best bundesliga player has really boosted Bayern Munich, but the problem he isn’t getting younger at 30.

While at the bottom of the table Nurnberg and Eintracht Braunschweig who will hopefully be on the move. Hopefully we see Borussia Dortmand buy a replacement for Mario Gotze, I think their looking at buying Draxler from Schalke. Otherwise Dortmand will be in trouble, but then I guess they have young recruits reading to start a match for their team. The people who I really want to see are Matip, Meyer and Draxler, from Schalke. Surr, Durm and Hoffmann from Borussia Dortmand. Can, Oztunail and Heung- Min Song from Bayern.