Well, I know only 2 matches remain in the season. But I'm so ****** off at the fact that German football doesn't get the respect it should get.

So, everyone who watches or likes the Bundesliga, post here!
I'm sure there are Germans who play Total War...

28/4/2010 - Table 'till now. First number is Played Games, Second is Points

PLD PTS
1 FC Bayern 32 64
2 Schalke 04 32 64
3 Werder 32 57
4 Bayer 04 32 57
5 Dortmund 32 56
6 Stuttgart 32 53
7 HSV 32 48
8 Wolfsburg 32 46
9 Eintracht 32 46
10 Mainz 05 32 45
11 Hoffenheim 32 38
12 M'gladbach 32 38
13 1. FC Köln 32 37
14 Freiburg 32 31
15 Nürnberg 32 28
16 Bochum 32 28
17 Hannover 32 27
18 Hertha BSC 32 23

2. Bundesliga

PLD PTS
1 1. FCK 32 65
2 St. Pauli 32 61
3 Augsburg 32 58
4 Düsseldorf 32 53
5 Arminia * 32 50
6 Duisburg 32 49
7 Paderborn 32 45
8 TSV 1860 32 45
9 Gr. Fürth 32 43
10 FC Energie 32 43
11 Karlsruhe 32 42
12 Aachen 32 42
13 Union 32 41
14 Oberhausen 32 41
15 Frankfurt 32 36
16 Rostock 32 35
17 Koblenz 32 29
18 RW Ahlen 32 21

18 Hertha BSC 32 23

Click to expand...

Good you added the 2nd Bundesliga("the best 2nd devision in the world").

But its a good thread idea IMO, lets keep it around, and refresh at times so it doesn't disappear on whatever page next week.

Yeah Hertha have had a very unlucky season

Their last game against Schalke was expecially unlucky. They deserved a draw at least.

Since we're talking about German football...anyone think that Frings and Kuranyi might JUST be chosen for South Africa?
The squad is full of youngsters, some experience is needed in the fray aswell. Ok; Ballack, Friedrich, Lahm, Mertesacker, Klose and Podolski have quite some experience but Frings would be decisive alongside Ballack in the Defensive Midfielder role

This would be my ideal German National team :

Wiese(GK), Lahm(RB), Mertesacker(CB), Friedrich(CB), Boetang(LB), Ballack(CDM), Frings(CDM), Marin(LM), Schweinsteiger(RM), Ozil(CAM), Klose(ST)

I recently learned how to pronounce Borussia Mönchengladbach.

SonOfOdin said:

Yeah Hertha have had a very unlucky season

Click to expand...

Not unlucky, just plain catastrophic allround and everyone close to the club could see that coming.

We changed the philosophy not to long ago. We used to be a club putting allot of effort in the youth and just had a couple of high quality foreign players. That worked out well playing UEFA-cup every year and lots of young players made it into the first squad(KP Boateng now Portsmouth, J Boateng - Ben Hatira now HSV, Madlung -Dejaga now Wolfsburg, Fatih now Spartak Moscow and so on)and our foreign stars(Pantelic, Simunic, Van Burik, Dardai and Marcelinho) where loved by the fans and played their important roles in the team.

But since we are ruled by a bunch of s, having more ego than football knowledge thinking the capitols team should be German champion now and right now, they completely destroyed a well oiled team with lots of potential.

The management hired this Swiss coach having a good seaon with Basel in the CL and having a rep in the scene. This guy wanted his own entirely new team and sold all the youth players and club favorites Pantelic, Marcelinho etc, but instead got himself an odd 20 new mediocre unknown players from across the world.

That guy got fired, and now where left with his team, without any coherence, without quality nor club-identification. All we got now is a 40 million debt and a place in the 2nd Bundesliga next year.

They flew to high near to the sun, and this is what happens.

Their last game against Schalke was expecially unlucky. They deserved a draw at least.

Click to expand...

True, but Schalke is lucky allot this season. We have a saying in Germany "they force their luck". Also it wouldn't have changed much seeing the gap between the 16th place for relegation.

Since we're talking about German football...anyone think that Frings and Kuranyi might JUST be chosen for South Africa?

Click to expand...

Kuranyi yes, hes together with Kiessling the best striker ATM. He should be forgiven by Löw for making a stupid move years ago.

Personally I'd like Frings in the squad to, hes still good, but the problem is Frings and Ballack are best friends and the players highest in the hierarchy. In the past they both undermined Löw at several occasions, and Löw threw Frings out to part that powerful couple, also so Ballack has less of a voice.

Not good IMO, I think Löw is worn out and we should get a new trainer anyway, though I understand Löw decision somewhat seeing how he needs a team in line.

The squad is full of youngsters, some experience is needed in the fray aswell. Ok; Ballack, Friedrich, Lahm, Mertesacker, Klose and Podolski have quite some experience but Frings would be decisive alongside Ballack in the Defensive Midfielder role

Click to expand...

Both Podolski and Friedrich dont belong in this team IMO. Both suck for quite some time now, if not years.

This would be my ideal German National team :

Wiese(GK), Lahm(RB), Mertesacker(CB), Friedrich(CB), Boetang(LB), Ballack(CDM), Frings(CDM), Marin(LM), Schweinsteiger(RM), Ozil(CAM), Klose(ST)

Click to expand...

Mine:

Neuer/Rost/Adler/Wiese(GK), Lahm(RB), Mertesacker(CB), Boateng(CB), Aogo(LB), Ballack(CDM), Schweinsteiger(CDM) Marin(LM), Özil(RM), Kurany/Kiessling(ST)

I recently learned how to pronounce Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Click to expand...

Lol even though I'm learning German, I had alot of trouble to pronounce it as well. First it was "Mochengladbach", without an umlaut. Then it was "Munchengladbach", then just "Gladbach" because I got tired of the Mönchen part, then it was "M'Gladbach", I know it is an abbriviation, but I spoke it aswell, finally I got it right after I heard Commentators say it in Gladbach vs Eintracht, "Mönchengladbach"

Kuranyi yes, hes together with Kiessling the best striker ATM. He should be forgiven by Löw for making a stupid move years ago.

Personally I'd like Frings in the squad to, hes still good, but the problem is Frings and Ballack are best friends and the players highest in the hierarchy. In the past they both undermined Löw at several occasions, and Löw threw Frings out to part that powerful couple, also so Ballack has less of a voice.

Not good IMO, I think Löw is worn out and we should get a new trainer anyway, though I understand Löw decision somewhat seeing how he needs a team in line.

Click to expand...

That's just stupid. I really think Frings could help the team, and I'm not saying this because I support Werder Bremen.

Both Podolski and Friedrich dont belong in this team IMO. Both suck for quite some time now, if not years.

Click to expand...

True, Podolski missed from the 6-yard line in Werder vs Cologne last weekend. Not top-class performance if I may say so myself

Friedrich is simply aging a bit. Westermann has had a much better season

Mine:

Neuer/Rost/Adler/Wiese(GK), Lahm(RB), Mertesacker(CB), Boateng(CB), Aogo(LB), Ballack(CDM), Schweinsteiger(CDM) Marin(LM), Özil(RM), Kurany/Kiessling(ST)

Click to expand...

You have 10 players here
Or do Kuranyi and Kiessling play together? As in, 2 strikers?

I'm not so sure about Neuer. His lack of consistency worries me.
Conceded a VERY stupid goal against M'Gladbach when he rushed out needlessly.
Occasionaly, he does put on a great performance but he's still got a lot of work to do if he wants to earn the #1 shirt in the German team. Adler and Wiese are milestones ahead of thim(From this season's performance at least)

SonOfOdin said:

Lol even though I'm learning German, I had alot of trouble to pronounce it as well. First it was "Mochengladbach", without an umlaut. Then it was "Munchengladbach", then just "Gladbach" because I got tired of the Mönchen part, then it was "M'Gladbach", I know it is an abbriviation, but I spoke it aswell, finally I got it right after I heard Commentators say it in Gladbach vs Eintracht, "Mönchengladbach"

Click to expand...

Just say Ö like the Scandinavians do all the time.

Translated it means Prussia Monks-Shallow-Creek btw.

That's just stupid. I really think Frings could help the team, and I'm not saying this because I support Werder Bremen.

Click to expand...

Yeah what can you do. Its a personal feude and Frings isnt the type giving in so he can get a spot, so thats that then. Löw is still the boss and cant give in when he doesnt want loose face against the younger players etc.

True, Podolski missed from the 6-yard line in Werder vs Cologne last weekend. Not top-class performance if I may say so myself

Click to expand...

Yeah he really lost it. He always did good for the national team eventhough sucking for his club, but his late form is just not enough.

Friedrich is simply aging a bit. Westermann has had a much better season

Click to expand...

Never liked Friedrich much although being a Hertha player(also because of smearing his team-mates - he got recorded with hidden camera), but he always was very slow and mediocre allround. Though he is level headed and never panics, never does crazy things etc. But no...Westermann or Boateng over him any day.

You have 10 players here
Or do Kuranyi and Kiessling play together? As in, 2 strikers?

Click to expand...

Oops, yes thats what I meant. Pretty crowded center, but Germany always played best with two strikers. Could be Klose or/and Gomez as well.

I'm not so sure about Neuer. His lack of consistency worries me.
Conceded a VERY stupid goal against M'Gladbach when he rushed out needlessly.
Occasionaly, he does put on a great performance but he's still got a lot of work to do if he wants to earn the #1 shirt in the German team.
Adler and Wiese are milestones ahead of thim(From this season's performance at least)

Click to expand...

He has a bit of a bad period ATM, but so has Adler. Wiese is also a bit unpredictable and has some profound weaknesses, so thats why I'd like to see Rost there.

But of those three younger keepers Neuer is the best IMO. Alex Ferguson wants to buy him because Van der Sar retires next year. They all have periods with mistakes, thats always with young keepers, but the 1 1/2 years before he played without errors and has the most allround talent IMO.

Yeah and I'd also like to see how Löw adjusts according to the opposing teams

Example :

Against Ghana, he should really put up younger players for speed
But against Australia, strong players are a must

----------------------------------------------
In other news,

Hamburg have been eliminated from the Europa League after a 2-1 loss to Fulham in Craven Cottage
...Fischköpfen........

SonOfOdin said:

Yeah and I'd also like to see how Löw adjusts according to the opposing teams

Example :

Against Ghana, he should really put up younger players for speed
But against Australia, strong players are a must

----------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

I think you should adapt your team somehwat to your opponent, but teams like Germany always need to play their own game.

In other news,

Hamburg have been eliminated from the Europa League after a 2-1 loss to Fulham in Craven Cottage
...Fischköppe........ its northern Germany

Click to expand...

All looked good till the 70th minute. They could have scored the 2-0 many times...quite sad for them as the finals is in Hamburg, they lost in the semi's twice in a row now(last year against Werder), it was the only chance for European football next year, and they now cant pay next years salarys and the team will break apart.

I think next year is without Boateng(to Man-City), Aogo(to AC Milan)Ze Roberto(to Red Bull NY) and Guerrero(? but he has a to high salary).

Yeah, not to mention that they are Coach-less as the sacked Lebbadia or whatever his surname is
Seeing HSV in 2. Bundesliga would be better than winning the lottery. Actually if I win the lottery, I'll make sure to put Bayern and HSV out of business

o awesome. i was wondering when id see this thread. i was gunna start one but i figured id wait till the next season. rep OP

Yeah, I hesitated a bit to open it aswell, but after I saw Italian/English/Spanish football lovers all placing their leagues before the Bundesliga, I got so ticked off that I finally decided to open a thread on the Bundesliga.

Besides, it is not commeted to this season only

well u wont get any complaints from me

Matchday 33(1/2 - May 2010)

Bayern Leverkusen vs Hertha Berlin

Bayern Munchen vs Bochum

Stuttgart vs Mainz

Hamburg vs Nürnberg

Köln vs Freiburg

Hannover 96 vs Borussia M'gladbach

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Hoffenheim

Dortmund vs Wolfsburg

Match of the Week(in my opinion) - Schalke 04 vs Werder Bremen

RESULTS :

Bayern Munich 3 - 1 Bochum - Bayern win Bundesliga
Schalke 0 - 2 Werder Bremen - Werder hang on to 3rd place, Schalke losing dream of title chase
Leverkusen 1 - 1 Hertha Berlin - Hertha surely relegated, Leverkusen still in for 3rd place, but it's very difficult...
Dortumnd 1 - 1 Wolfsburg - Dortmund, same situation as Leverkusen
Hannover 6 - 1 M'Gladbach - LOL
Hamburg 4 - 0 Nurenburg
Frankfurt 1 - 2 Hoffenheim
Koeln 2 - 2 Freiburg
Stuttgart 2 - 2 Mainz

ah i overslept. didnt see any of them. any good games? I see Müller had a hat-trick for Bayern. Looks like Hannover had a good game too . and seems like Hertha has a bit of fight left in them or did Leverkusen just kinda suck today?

I saw all of Schalke-Werder.
Schalke were dominant in the first half, but neither team was really critical in the first half. Neither goalkeeper was tested.
Then in the 60th minute, Ozil runs past all of Schalke's defence and scores a beauty...in front of the German National Coach Low

A bit later, a pass into the box past all defenders by Ozil and Almeida quickly sprints to finish off Neuer.
Basically those were the only action points since most of the game was played in Midfield. Wiese only had 1 save to made from a free-kick and he held it well.

Bayern were dominant throughout, from the little I saw. Hat-trick for Muller and the Bundesliga firmly in their grasp due to Schalke's loss.

The Dortmund match, I only saw about 2 minutes of it but it was very balanced and was not that entertaining.

Even though the Schalke-Werder match was VERY action-lacking, it was so tense and entertaining, knowing the high stakes for both teams. Both needed a win. And the atmosphere of the Valentins arena was just amazing. Sold out 61,000 capacity crowd all chanting even though their team was loosing. Quite impressive I might say

Ohh and as I already said, Low and his goalkeeper coach were watching the Schalke-Werder match from the stadium. Maybe a hint of Kuranyi/Frings return to the team? Maybe scouting for Neuer or Wiese? Who knows?

Congrats Bayern. Though ugly new jersey...

Sad but it had to happen for Hertha, hope we learn from our past mistakes quick.

Thorn777 said:

Congrats Bayern. Though ugly new jersey...

Sad but it had to happen for Hertha, hope we learn from our past mistakes quick.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I couldn't recognise Bayern players from Bochum players. The kit is too white-based in my opinion.

SonOfOdin said:

I saw all of Schalke-Werder.
Schalke were dominant in the first half, but neither team was really critical in the first half. Neither goalkeeper was tested.
Then in the 60th minute, Ozil runs past all of Schalke's defence and scores a beauty...in front of the German National Coach Low

A bit later, a pass into the box past all defenders by Ozil and Almeida quickly sprints to finish off Neuer.
Basically those were the only action points since most of the game was played in Midfield. Wiese only had 1 save to made from a free-kick and he held it well.

Bayern were dominant throughout, from the little I saw. Hat-trick for Muller and the Bundesliga firmly in their grasp due to Schalke's loss.

The Dortmund match, I only saw about 2 minutes of it but it was very balanced and was not that entertaining.

Even though the Schalke-Werder match was VERY action-lacking, it was so tense and entertaining, knowing the high stakes for both teams. Both needed a win. And the atmosphere of the Valentins arena was just amazing. Sold out 61,000 capacity crowd all chanting even though their team was loosing. Quite impressive I might say

Ohh and as I already said, Low and his goalkeeper coach were watching the Schalke-Werder match from the stadium. Maybe a hint of Kuranyi/Frings return to the team? Maybe scouting for Neuer or Wiese? Who knows?

Click to expand...

i know exactly the type of game. good to know. yea i cant wait till we see who Löw is going to pick

SonOfOdin said:

Yeah, I couldn't recognise Bayern players from Bochum players. The kit is too white-based in my opinion.

Click to expand...

i saw a pic online of it. i have to agree i didnt regonise them till i noticed one of the players faces

---------------------------------------------------------------

I just saw the 2nd bundesliga tables, and Hansa Rostock possibly getting relegated to 3rd division. gotta say i find that shocking

Yep, 2.Bundesliga table after Matchday 33

1) Kaiserslautern - 66 Points : Promoted
2) FC St.Pauli - 64 Points : Promoted
3) Augsburg - 61 Points : Playoffs
4) Fortuna Düsseldorf - 56 Points
5) Arminia Bielefeld * - 50 Points
6) MSV Duisburg - 49 Points
7) SC Paderborn 07 - 48 Points
8) Karlsruher SC - 45 Points
9) TSV München von 1860 - 45 Points
10) FC Energie Cottbus - 44 Points
11) 1. FC Union Berlin - 44 Points
12) SpVgg Greuther Fürth - 43 Points
13) Alemannia Aachen - 42 Points
14) Rot-Weiß Oberhausen - 41 Points
15) FSV Frankfurt - 37 Points
16) F.C. Hansa Rostock - 36 Points : Playoffs
17) TuS Koblenz - 30 Points : Relegated
18) Rot Weiss Ahlen - 22 Points : Relegated

* Arminia will have deducted points at the beginning of next season

Nice. There is rumors Klose will return to his hometown "K-town", and the last time Kaiserslautern promoted they immediately became German champion under the great Otto Rehagel btw, who got the EC title with Greece.

St Pauli is always a treat and Jos Luhukay proved to be a great coach getting Augsburg in the playoffs with beautiful football.

Looking forward to these three.

Hmmm...despite his great talent, he's not been getting such good playing times in Bayern. And because of his age, no real top-class team would want to invest in a 31 year old. I would quite like him again at Bremen though Hugo Almeida is not THAT good and Hunt is still too unexperienced.

Yeah it seems as if St.Pauli has a major fan base, but then again which German team doesn't have a large fan base?

Next season will be thrilling. A shame to see the Olimpiastadion not in the Bundesliga though...there aren't too much countries with the Capital city excluded from the top league of the country. And Bochum + Nürnberg deserve to stay in the Bundesliga =/

SonOfOdin said:

Hmmm...despite his great talent, he's not been getting such good playing times in Bayern. And because of his age, no real top-class team would want to invest in a 31 year old. I would quite like him again at Bremen though Hugo Almeida is not THAT good and Hunt is still too unexperienced.

Click to expand...

Yeah, same counts for Gomez. They both scored their goals when playing, but with Ribery and Robben on the flanks dragging the ball to the inside more often instead of making crosses, the allrounder Olic was just the better pick in this 4-4-3.

Though Almeida isn't to bad. He did his job well enough as a pinch-hitter, also considering he was free coming together with Diego in that deal back then.

He certainly has earned allot of respect among the Bremen fans.

Yeah it seems as if St.Pauli has a major fan base, but then again which German team doesn't have a large fan base?

Click to expand...

All people of the alternative scene that love football love St Pauli. Great little anarchist club, always playing honest football and giving it all in that small, full of marijuana in the air and incredibly loud stadium.

Next season will be thrilling. A shame to see the Olimpiastadion not in the Bundesliga though...there aren't too much countries with the Capital city excluded from the top league of the country. And Bochum + Nürnberg deserve to stay in the Bundesliga =/

Click to expand...

Yeah its the only European capital without one, but we'll be back, we relegated 5 times already in the past and came back. Luckily we still have an A+ Basketball team and an A+ Ice-hockey team.

btw some fresh news.

Kuranyi has gotten the shoe now officially. He wont go to the worldcup.

And Steve McLaren who just got Dutch champion with Twente, will be next years Wolfsburg coach.

Yeah I read about Kuranyi
What a shame, he should be there instead of Podolski

SonOfOdin said:

Yeah I read about Kuranyi
What a shame, he should be there instead of Podolski

Click to expand...

i havnt kept up with kuranyi but i have good faith in Poldi. in the last euro he scored quite well despite having his dry spell with bayern. player performance in the league doesnt always reflect national performance anyway. besides he and klose have been pretty consistently scoring goals in the games between 08 and now. i dont think strikers will be too big a problem given that Löw plays the right people and doesn't just put Gomez in. of course who knows he might even show some talent this time around.

IT'S OFFICIAL!!
I saw it on the Bundesliga.de website.

Rene Adler will NOT be taking part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup due to his recent rib injury.
My guess is that either Wiese or Neuer will take his place. Rost and Weidenfeller are good candidates aswell

Rolfes will miss the World Cup aswell because he is NOT fit, and will not be fit until the World Cup
Probably Hitzelsperger will replace him but ICH WILL FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Petition for dear Loew :
FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!! FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!! FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

source : bundesliga.de(not the frings part lol)

Isn't Kuranyi a free agent this summer?

How has Leverkusen been doing since the winter break? Has Sami Hyypiä kept his form? We should have kept that legend.

Ishoss said:

Isn't Kuranyi a free agent this summer?

How has Leverkusen been doing since the winter break? Has Sami Hyypiä kept his form? We should have kept that legend.

Click to expand...

Probably not. I guess Schalke would want to re-sign him since he was the club's top scorer.

Leverkusen were leading the Bundesliga for a short period of time. Then after a disastrous 2 months Bayern, Schalke and Werder Bremen passed them and are now 4th place with 2 points behind Bremen and with the same points as Dortmund(passing them by goal average)

Leverkusen's 1st keeper Adler was injured for about 2-3 games with a rib injury, and will miss the World Cup(even though he was Loew's first keeper)

Ishoss said:

Isn't Kuranyi a free agent this summer?

How has Leverkusen been doing since the winter break? Has Sami Hyypiä kept his form? We should have kept that legend.

Click to expand...

Sorta. He did great the first competition-half but the entire team slugged along later.

Anyway yes Frings over Hitzelsperger any day. Whats up with Löw and nominating players out of shape?

Also Kurany said hes going and has offers from Juventus, Dynamo Moscow and a couple of English clubs, but in football that means nothing, and he might stay after all. To often thats just strategy to get a higher salary.

SonOfOdin said:

IT'S OFFICIAL!!
I saw it on the Bundesliga.de website.

Rene Adler will NOT be taking part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup due to his recent rib injury.
My guess is that either Wiese or Neuer will take his place. Rost and Weidenfeller are good candidates aswell

Rolfes will miss the World Cup aswell because he is NOT fit, and will not be fit until the World Cup
Probably Hitzelsperger will replace him but ICH WILL FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Petition for dear Loew :
FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!! FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!! FRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

source : bundesliga.de(not the frings part lol)

Click to expand...

i figured as much about adler. sukcs for him

and i can see someone likes frings . idk y löw wouldnt pick him. at the very least he brings some experience to what looks like a midfield with a lot of youngsters


o and i just found this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8659560.stm

"Coach Joachim Loew will announce a preliminary 30-man squad on Thursday"

cant wait