Stickied German Football

[mistermagic]

There really is nothing to say until the end of the month really.

Except that German football kicks ass!

 

[Skinner]

Mente Captus

 

[Madejski]

Should Dortmund even aim for Europa League spots now, or just focus on staying up / other cup competitions?

12 points behind with 17 games remaining seems like a lot to make up, but they are capable of beating every team in the division and this winter break surely means that most of their returning injured players should be up to speed.

 

[mistermagic]

12 points isn't that big a gap to close when you still have half the season to play but they need to hit some serious form though.
The problem remains finding a decent replacement for Lewandowski which they haven't done. Ramos and Immobile are nowhere near his level but now that they've settled in maybe they'll be able to find the net.
I certainly can't see BvB finishing in the bottom half come the end of the season. 8th minimum.

 

[Madejski]

I think their struggle will be balancing moving up the league table alongside cup competitions. Yes, they have had successful seasons where they have done well on all fronts, but form doesn't just change overnight. As much as injuries have had to play on their team, they also haven't been good enough and tactics haven't been right.

Last 16 in the German Cup and Champions League (Dresden and Juventus) gives good hope to move further forward in them. Bottom half of the Bundesliga is quite tight so it shouldn't be too hard to make the top 10 or so. To make the Europa I feel that the teams above have to slow down, I can't see them naturally catching them if those teams have an equally as good second half of the season. Although can you qualify for Europe through the German Cup? Might be their best chance.

Next two league games are Leverkusen away and Ausburg at home, who sit 3rd and 6th respectively. Will give some idea as to their final positions.

 

[Mustard]

I saw this on reddit the other day. I actually posted it on TFF but just before it went down. Shows the disparity between football clubs in West vs East Germany.

The next two leagues can be seen here - http://imgur.com/a/WikhT

Fun fact - Toni Kroos will likely be the only East German to ever win a World Cup (unless a late bloomer or Schmelzer is in the squad for 2018 and they win it again)

 

[CFC91]

Booked to go tick off my 2nd and 3rd German grounds next month, really looking forward too it.

Will be taking in Frankfurt v Hamburg & Darmstadt v Eintracht Braunchsweig

Anyone who either been to either before, or Frankfurt in general who has any tips etc it would be most welcome.

 

[Madejski]

Is Fo

I saw this on reddit the other day. I actually posted it on TFF but just before it went down. Shows the disparity between football clubs in West vs East Germany.

The next two leagues can be seen here - http://imgur.com/a/WikhT

Fun fact - Toni Kroos will likely be the only East German to ever win a World Cup (unless a late bloomer or Schmelzer is in the squad for 2018 and they win it again)

Is Football in Germany very much a West side sport then? A bit like Rugby League is almost all North England.

 

[SUTSS]

Is Fo

Is Football in Germany very much a West side sport then? A bit like Rugby League is almost all North England.

No. Football is huge in East Germany with some very passionate fans. The main reason why East German teams have largely failed since reunification is that the East German league kept going after the wall came down and all the best players left, and then there was chronic mismangement either by people looking to make a quick buck or by people used to the East German system who just didn't know how the free market system worked in football.

 

[mistermagic]

Booked to go tick off my 2nd and 3rd German grounds next month, really looking forward too it.

Will be taking in Frankfurt v Hamburg & Darmstadt v Eintracht Braunchsweig

Anyone who either been to either before, or Frankfurt in general who has any tips etc it would be most welcome.

Haven't done Frankfurt yet. Should be doing Darmstadt vs 1860 in late February. One of the rare places that I've been without doing a ground. I have done Mainz though which is not too far from Frankfurt. Great ground.

 

[SUTSS]

Union Berlin is well worth a visit if anyone is going to Berlin.

Would like to go back to the Olympic Stadium when there's a game there.

 

[CFC91]

Haven't done Frankfurt yet. Should be doing Darmstadt vs 1860 in late February. One of the rare places that I've been without doing a ground. I have done Mainz though which is not too far from Frankfurt. Great ground.

Think we are doing the 27th Feb Game - main interest in visiting the place is that it is Chesterfield's twin town along with Toryes in France so that fueled the interest learning there are a number of our fans going to games over there and vice versa over the recent years, as well as youth teams playing each other during the summer.

 

[yellow]

Just over a fortnight and I'll be in Dortmund - cannae wait! Glad Reus is back playing over the break, hopefully see him in action as he is class.

 

[thespus]

Should Dortmund even aim for Europa League spots now, or just focus on staying up / other cup competitions?

12 points behind with 17 games remaining seems like a lot to make up, but they are capable of beating every team in the division and this winter break surely means that most of their returning injured players should be up to speed.

Plenty of time for BVB to make it up. They have had unfortunate injuries and the side seems devoid of confidence. Hopefully Gundogan is fully recovered from his back injury and Reus returns. Those are their two most important players when fit. The biggest question marks are Ramos/Immobile and the form of Hummels. As Phil said, I can't see them finishing worst than 8th. Bayern, Wolfsburg, and (probably) Leverkusen are the only sides I can't see them catching.

hT

Fun fact - Toni Kroos will likely be the only East German to ever win a World Cup (unless a late bloomer or Schmelzer is in the squad for 2018 and they win it again)

Massive shame Michael Ballack never won one.

 

[carlospuyol]

What on earth has happened to 1FC Saarbrücken?

 

[yellow]

Looking forward to the return of the Bundesliga next weekend. And what a game it is to kick it off, as the top two go head to head at Wolfsburg on Friday night. Obviously Bayern should win but Wolfsburg have only dropped 4 points at home so far, averaging nearly two goals a game.

On the Saturday, Dortmund travel to Leverkusen, the only other side (outside of the top two) unbeaten at home, though Leverkusen have drawn more times than they've won so far. Dortmund's away form - only four points on the road so far, is clearly the biggest issue, and they'll do well to win at the BayArena. Stuttgart host Gladbach, who will be hoping Dortmund can win so they can leapfrog Leverkusen. Schalke and Augsburg are also in position to move into the top 3 should results go there way. Schalke host Hannover, while Augsburg welcome Hoffenheim in what may prove a tight affair.

Freiburg host Frankfurt, while Köln and Paderborn travel to Hamburg and Mainz respectively. Bremen host Berlin in the second match on Sunday.

I didn't realise the race for 3rd and 4th is so open this season, with only two points separating 3rd-7th. Interesting weekend ahead!

 

[AnthonyOAFC]

Looking forward to to the return of Bundesliga fixtures next weekend, also.

 

[mistermagic]

Saint-Etienne?

 

[AnthonyOAFC]

Saint-Etienne?

Long story.

 

[mente captus]

as the new Bundesliga report were announced, some interesting things:

the 18 Bundesliga clubs generated a profit of 424.9 million € last season
only two announced losses ( Hamburg and Bremen)
the players from the Bundesliga were earning 673 million £ ( EPL 2.3 billion £) in 13/14
the Bundesliga invested 89.8 million £ into youth development ( 90 million £ EPL) in 13/14
over 10,000 new jobs were created in the past three years.


2. Bundesliga

annouces profit of 36.9 million €
average salary of a player is approx 7.5 k p/w ( Championship 9.5k p/w)

 

[Stevencc]

Wolfsburg goal!

 

[Stevencc]

3-0....

....3-1

 

[Mustard]

...the fuck is going on?!

 

[Stevencc]

4-1!

Great stuff.

(Poor Schweinsteiger though )

 

[Cardsfan]

Haha suck it Bayern

 

[yellow]

Yes!

I love this league.

 

[SALTIRE]

Good on ya Wolfsburg, always had a soft spot for them with their funky strips and the huge VW sign on there as well. Get in!

 

[mistermagic]

Wolfsburg may well be Bayern's sole contender this season. Will be nice to see them in the CL next season.

 

[yellow]

Frankfurt, Mainz and now Schalke all ahead as things stand.

 

[Super_horns]

Few big home wins today as well apart from poor old Hamburg who lost again.