2018/2019 European Football Thread

So Bundesliga finally starts tomorrow. Some random thoughts...

* Bayern will win the title again with ease. Not 100% sure how Kovac will fit in, but our players are too good to let anyone get near. 10 points difference at least.
* In the race for the Champions League spots I see Dortmund, Leverkusen and Mönchengladbach. Not because of their quality but because of the lack of competition
* Among the succesful teams of last year I expect Schalke and Hoffenheim to drop back. Schalke's offense is below average and them winning the 2nd spot last year will get exposed as lucky coincidence. Hoffenheim will suffer from the international calendar and their mastermind coach Nagelsmann becoming a lame duck (already signed with Leipzig for next season)
* Not sure if there will be a surprising team. Bremen might take a step forward, maybe Stuttgart
* Frankfurt has had a good couple of years but the terrible offseason will cost them. Expect them to finish around 10th-14th. No relegation issues only because other teams suck more
* First relegation candidates to me are Nürnberg and Düsseldorf. Don't see a lot of Bundesliga quality in their rosters, but maybe at least one of them can overcome that the way Augsburg did the last seasons. Also think Mainz and Wolfsburg will be in serious danger

Really hope to see more attractive football after disappointing seasons, but not too optimistic, especially after what we saw at the World Cup. Teams will adapt, park the bus and hope for corners and free kicks.

Also frustrated with Dortmund. One day before the season starts Zorc whines about how Bayern has so much more money and how nobody has a chance to beat them. That's the kind of attitude that made Bayern the heavy favorites for years now. In Italy, teams like Roma and Napoli still challenge Juventus even after they signed Ronaldo and the players are not afraid to speak out so in public. German teams and players seem to be ok to run for 2nd place, too scared to fail. No wonder no big name wants to sign with them or forces the way out.

 

From your post I can only deduct a lot of sucking and 'no real' competition.

 

Unfortunately, yes. Would love to see more Bundesliga teams thrive and play attractive offensive football, just don't see that happen.

 

German teams will suck in European competition yet again.

 

And he wants to play in Barcelona? Messi would have him exiled if he played like that.

 

Somehow Heim scored the equalizer.

 

Can't enjoy the win because of that, Coman is our best winger. Bundesliga should be no problem even without him, gotta hope for an easy Champions League group now though. Ribéry and Robben might still be valuable as bench players, but for sure not as regular starters. Hopefully Gnabry will be good to go soon and acclimate well to our game.

 

That foul was moronic, as was the interview Nico Schulz gave after the game.

 

Doesn't he have maturity issues? Also we would have to overpay him, guys from England usually make more than our best players, so that's a threat to team chemistry. If we get a doable CL group on Thursday I think we should be fine, no time to panic (yet?). With James back on court and Gnabry almost there we should be good for Bundesliga and CL group stage. Davies is coming in January, so there will be a new option anyways.

 

United having this shetty Offense system, would be surprising to let a weapon go like that at the last minute.

Even if he does not play regularly.

Rashford, Lukaku not scoring much. They are really in trouble, with the Defense having problems to keep clean sheets.

 

All true, just don't want to see us overpay a spoiled PL brat. If United asks for something like €60m and Martial asks for a PL salary, you're not making that deal. If we can find an agreement like back in the day with Real and James - two year loan deal for "small" money and then buy-option - that's fine. Pretty sure we can find a better deal for a quality winger next summer than right now.

 

You mean David Neres.

 

i think you meant Teves

 

Brandt and/or Bailey (if he shows more consistency) in two or three years. Right now I think Draxler is the most viable option - but only on a Coman/James-esque loan deal. PSG needs transfer money and has no long-term plans for him anyway. Draxler speaks the language and knows the Bundesliga, so no questionmarks here. He is not a classical wing, lacks speed, but his dribblings would help since over 90% of the Bundesliga teams park the bus against Bayern. And as you said, a coach like Kovac plus our vets will show him pretty soon how things are handled in Munich, no preciousness like back in the day with Schalke and Wolfsburg.