From a snow-flurried opener to a snow-cancelled capper, we've got all the relevant action from the 20th round of the 2020/21 German Bundesliga covered. It may be frigid in the Bundesrepublik, but the storylines of this campaign remain red-hot. Here's the re-post for all those needing to catch up on Sunday's column. League-Wide Talking Points: Round 20 Bayern's "Arbeitssieg" The English have a saying. True championship football teams, it is said, must be able to prove their mettle "on a windy night in Stoke". This round, Germany's record champions eked out a grinding victory during a "blinding snowstorm in Berlin". For anyone who might have missed the 1-0 victory of Hertha, … [Read more...] about Bundesliga Tactics Talk–Round 20
Ridle Baku
Bundesliga Tactics Talk–Round 18
The 2020/21 "Rück-runde" officially begins! Down the stretch we go as all 18 top flight clubs play themselves in the exact same order as they did during the first-half of the season. A turning point in the campaign calls for a new commentary-heavy segment in which we assess the journey of certain clubs as they traverse this demanding year. Those who didn't catch last Sunday's release can, as always, catch up here. League-Wide Talking Points: Round 18 Bayern's new right-back It turned out to be quite the weekend for defenders in Germany's top flight. Gladbach's Nico Elvedi netted a brace against Borussia Dortmund, as did Mainz's Moussa Niakhaté in the upset win over Leipzig. … [Read more...] about Bundesliga Tactics Talk–Round 18
January Transfer Window 2021: The Complete German Bundesliga Transfer Primer
January 1st 2021. A calendar change means precious little in this of all years. At least football fans can, as usual, rely upon some novelty and renewal. Those who didn't get a chance to catch the hot sheet can also, as usual, catch the re-post here. A brand new calendar year and football's next international transfer window arrive in a few short hours. This year sees different Euro-zone nations open the market on different dates. Germany, England, and France shall be the first countries to allow their domestic clubs to engage in transactions on Saturday, January 2nd. Four more nations, including Italy and Spain, join the fray on January 4th. Austria and Switzerland will permit their … [Read more...] about January Transfer Window 2021: The Complete German Bundesliga Transfer Primer
Bundesliga Tactics Talk–Round 12
Nothing quite like midweek football in the Bundesrepublik! Writers and players alike have their fair share of extra work to get through; not that we would have it any other way. Those perhaps to pre-occupied to catch this Wednesday's post can catch up here. League-wide Talking Points: Round 12 The top two contenders roll on With Dortmund's status as a title contender put on indefinite hold after the coaching change, the two next best challengers to Bayern's uninterrupted eight-year-reign both kept pace with three-point hauls; albeit in radically different fashions. Julian Nagelsmann's Leipzig finally appeared burdened by lethargy against his old club Hoffenheim. Sebastian … [Read more...] about Bundesliga Tactics Talk–Round 12
Nationalelf Tactical Focus–“Eyes wide shut”
Well shit. That was a perfectly miserable end to one of the most wretched years most of us semi-evolved simians have ever experienced. So much for the normal trajectory toward optimistic support of the national team. Looks like another trend gets bucked in this year of endless shattered norms. Germans won't gravitating toward the side of the "Schwarz und Weiß" anytime soon. If anything, we stand grateful that we can completely forget about them for four full months. Despite all of the yacking about a "historic defeat", one actually doesn't have to reach back a full century or more to locate parallels. The languid performances in the lead-up to the 2006 World Cup engendered similar … [Read more...] about Nationalelf Tactical Focus–“Eyes wide shut”
Bundesliga Tactics Talk–Round Six
While there may have regrettably been no fans on hand to watch it live, round six of the 2020/21 Bundesliga still delivered plenty of great action and intrigue for those who watched. Anyone understandably caught up with other developments can catch the repost of this weekend's bulletin here. League-Wide Talking Points: Round Six Bayern: Business unfinished Congratulations to German hero Thomas Müller on his 260th victory in a Bayern tricot. The result draws him with Oliver Kahn on the club all-time list. Teammate Manuel Neuer, on the other hand, missed out on his chance to tie an Oliver Kahn record when FC Köln scored a late goal. Neuer's 195 clean sheets remain just short of … [Read more...] about Bundesliga Tactics Talk–Round Six