If Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski are the Bundesliga’s A-list performers, then the formidable creative talents of Müller, Coman, Sancho, Reyna et al hold the limo doors open for them en route to the red carpet. Wolfsburg’s Wout Weghorst and Frankfurt’s André Silva, however, have similarly stellar goalscoring records this season without such first-class service.Continue reading “André Silva and Wout Weghorst: the Bundesliga’s best strikers?”
Author Archives: tomcfussball
Nurturing Young Talent A Given For Synonymous Bosz
Peter Bosz’s Bayer Leverkusen visit Leipzig today, hoping to further their Champions League push against the team three points ahead of them. Leverkusen sit third, having faltered after storming to the top of the table shortly before the curtailed winter break. Leverkusen scored 36 goals in 11 swashbuckling Bundesliga and Europa League games from theContinue reading “Nurturing Young Talent A Given For Synonymous Bosz”
Light at the end of the tunnel
Arguably Germany’s second most famous failing infrastructure project (behind Berlin-Brandenburg airport, obvs), Stuttgart 21 was supposed to overhaul the transport system of South-West Germany’s economic powerhouse. Announced in 1994 and yet still far from completion, the project has long been a fiasco to shame the home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The city’s football fans areContinue reading “Light at the end of the tunnel”
Thomas Müller, the bits and pieces footballer
Watching Thomas Müller’s first 100 Bundesliga goals on YouTube, as I have just done, it is hard not to end the montage feeling more puzzled than before. At least half of Müller’s strikes could generously be described as ugly – scuffed finishes, tap-ins (often as he falls over) or simply sidefoots into an empty netContinue reading “Thomas Müller, the bits and pieces footballer”
Ralf Rangnick, the German Bielsa
Hailed as the visionary who inspired Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann to their Gegenpressing heights, Ralf Rangnick is considered by tactical experts to be among the most influential minds in modern football. But the man who once played for Southwick FC in the ninth tier of English football is largely unknown by theContinue reading “Ralf Rangnick, the German Bielsa”
5 things for Premier League fans to look out for when the Bundesliga restarts
The Currywurst is on the grill and the Weiβbier is in the fridge. As you turn up the recorded crowd noise, here are 5 things for Premier League fans to enjoy when German football gets back underway. 1. David Wagner’s managerial semi-renaissance After a four-year spell at the John Smith’s (née McAlpine) Stadium, David Wagner’sContinue reading “5 things for Premier League fans to look out for when the Bundesliga restarts”
Top Marcus
Another week, another son of a famous father who is thriving in the Bundesliga… It’s the 93rd minute. It’s 1-1. It’s a cup quarter-final. You’re away, facing a team who haven’t lost a domestic cup match in half a decade. In front of whistling supporters, you skewed a penalty over the bar in the 61stContinue reading “Top Marcus”
Gio Reyna, Wunderkind
Given that his team have only played a handful of times in the last four months, the rise of Gio Reyna has been startling. With the usual Winterpause and the unusual coronavirus shutdown, Borussia Dortmund have taken part in just over 900 minutes of competitive football this year – 7 Bundesliga games, a two-legged ChampionsContinue reading “Gio Reyna, Wunderkind”
Wolves’ Haul
With no football due to the coronavirus outbreak, it’s time to revisit some old favourites. First, why it’s worth digging out your DVD of Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich from 2009. If the 2008-9 Bundesliga season didn’t have it all, then at least you don’t need to spend very long listing what was missing. An upstartContinue reading “Wolves’ Haul”
The Klinsmann Dive
The Klinsmann dive [noun] a joyous and ironic celebration of a goal a turbulent, unsuccessful period of managerial control Jürgen Klinsmann. Is there a better example of Anglo-German difference? To Brexiting Britain, he represents the very best of modern Germany – an antidote to the tired, jackbooted tropes that often march through the tabloid press. AContinue reading “The Klinsmann Dive”
Gegenpress 