Category: Columnist
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A Tale of Two Eagles; Germany’s footballing influence on the United States
Links between the United States and Germany run deep; deeper than most seem to remember. Dating as early as the 1670s, German immigrants – either seeking religious or social freedoms – began to settle on American shores. It should come as no surprise that many of the known footballing hot-beds in the states boast substantial…
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Four Talking Points From The Opening Bundesliga Weekend Including Dortmund Blitz
Opening defeat for last season’s runners-up amidst VAR controversy Perhaps losing star player Leon Goretzka to Bayern Munich will disrupt Schalke’s start after the midfielder was talismanic in their superb 2017/18 campaign, finishing only behind the runaway champions. While the Miners lost 2-1 to a Wolfsburg team who finished just two points above relegation last…
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Lucien Favre Will Succeed with BVB If Three Things Happen
It is never good to be the manager who succeeds the legend, and Lucien Favre is a few years (and managers) after from Jurgen Klopp’s departure. Yet ever since the now-Liverpool manager left, BVB has sought a manager who could consistently challenge Bayern as well as remain a contender in the Champions League. These two…
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Five Shining Young Talents To Watch Out For In The Bundesliga This Season
Leon Bailey Bayer Leverkusen will be delighted to have their flying winger sewn to a five-year contract yesterday. Such news is a major boost for Heiko Herrlich’s side ahead of the new season. Indeed, Bailey scored 12 goals in 34 appearances in his first full season at the club, having arrived from Genk in January…
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Spending Power Across Europe Shows Smaller Clubs Suffer
The desire of German fans to keep the Bundesliga free from lucrative television deals has been outlined on this site before. Such a mentality is all well and good when preserving the authenticity of the fans’ experience. After all, they pay the money to watch their beloved teams play. At the same time, the brutal…
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Kovac, Rangnick, and How the New Bundesliga Managers Will Fare This Season
Lucien Favre was the most important new manager to BVB fans this summer, but he was joined by other new managers like Niko Kovac and Ralf Rangnick. Turnover in the Bundesliga between seasons is not unusual, but the names and nature of some turnover this summer certainly was. For this week’s From the Touchline, we…
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Three reasons The New Bundesliga Season Will Be Intriguing
German players returning from World Cup disgrace Despite running away with the league last season, plenty of Bayern Munich players will be needing to hit the ground running to put their World Cup disappointment firmly behind them. While the likes of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Manuel Neuer have been fantastic servants for…
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Tuchel Faces Test of Genius With PSG Challenge
Last we saw Thomas Tuchel, he was celebrating with his Dortmund players after winning the Pokal. Days later, he quit the club over a disagreement of direction with the Board. With rumours of numerous suitors lining up for his services, Tuchel stood pat to wait for the perfect position. It came in the form of…
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Resistance To Broadcasting Deals In The Bundesliga Meets Fans’ Demands
With Eleven Sports claiming ownership rights to broadcast La Liga and Serie A matches this season, it is notable how the Bundesliga continues to resist being taken over at the risk of disrupting the experience of German fans. Protests One only has to look back to February where the first Monday night match of the…
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Schurrle exit sign of faith in the youngsters
There are times in every transfer window that a deal seems to completely come out of the blue. While negotiations between major clubs for their star players twist and turn, there are also enormous signings and conversations that are going on silently in the background. Borussia Dortmund’s eyebrow-raising decision to send Andre Schurrle and Andriy Yarmolenko…