The game kicks off at 9:00 AM PST — on FS2 in the US — but feel free to jump in and comment/chat with each other before then. Please talk about whatever you want! I’ll be in the thread around 8:45. Here’s some pre-game reading from me.
Tottenham and Leipzig are somehow 50/50 (per betting markets) to advance to the next round of the Champions League. I have a really hard time buying that. Leipzig seem like a significantly better team.
Can't believe there weren't any goals; it's my fault. Three "Big Chances" for RBL, one for Bayern, and I imagine the xG is gonna be roughly even and significantly higher than one for both sides. The pass totals tell a pretty good story for how this one played out:
Total passes: BM 631, RBL, 208
Attacking third passes: BM 131, RBL 35
Penalty area passes: BM 10, RBL 9
That was fun. Hope you all felt the same way. Seems like there was enough interest, so we'll do this again next weekend. Alphonso Davies is better than Lionel Messi.
A couple simple passes across the final-third got Werner an OK look from inside the box. You can see Bayern's weakness there -- they don't "defend" well -- but it's just hard to ever get settled possession in the attacking-third against them.
But Leipzig have done a really good job of getting bodies behind the ball in the box. Bayern have seven shots, but five of 'em have been blocked. Neither of Leipzig's two attempts were blocked.
Given that Bayern has been rather conservative with transfer fees compared to other top teams, I feel it is highly unlikely that they would buy both Sané and Havertz (or keep Coutinho). Both are expected to cost € 100+ Million. Who do you think would be the better investment?
I'd go for Sane. He's a proven world-class attacker, imo, and you can just stick him out on the wing and be good to go. Havertz is kind of a tweener, position-wise, and he hasn't been great this year, so he's a lot harder to project.
This may be a little outside the realm of game specific, but since these are the two playing... Comments by other Bundesliga GMs about RB Leipzig “ownership” being afoul of the league’s ownership structure has me wondering your thoughts on: is it better for the Bundesliga to have that structure challenged by RBL in an effort to end Bayern’s long time autocracy at the top of the table, or is it a way to bring some parity into what many see as a one team league?
Great question. The Bundesliga is certainly more interesting with Leipzig in it -- and the team/organization itself is doing some of the most interesting stuff in the sport. I think the 50+1 rule you're referring to is great in theory, and it doesn't need to be challenged. Ultimately, there needs to be some kind of revenue sharing in all of Europe's big leagues to increase parity, and if that's not gonna happen then I guess an energy drink buying a team is the neoliberal-ish solution to competitive imbalance.
I reread my question and realized it asks the same thing twice, but hopefully you got my question... is it good or bad to see RBL “ownership” being different than the rest of the Bundesliga, especially with their recent success?
In a vaccum, I do. The new tactical trend -- which is just an old tactical trend -- is teams playing a more defensive fullback on one side and a more attacking FB on the other. Pavard is definitely more of a FB/CB hybrid, while Dest is a pure attacking FB. They've currently got Davies playing at LB, and he's sort of the extreme of attacking fullbacks, so Pavard does provide that balance. However, Bayern have like 70-percent possession in a lot of their games, so they can probably afford to go all-out at both FB spots. That's a long way of saying "yes".
Has there ever been two left-footed players playing CB together (like Alaba and Hernandez now) at the top level before? I can’t seem to think that has ever happened.
Wait, what’s up with the T Mobile... ad? People? Seating arrangement? Is this common? I’m new to Bundesliga and it’s funny how similar and different everything is.
Do you project Davies as a left-back? He’s been great there this season but being that his natural tendency is to be more attacking, would you like to see him return to a more forward position?
It's an interesting Q. I'm not sure he could play LB at any team other than Bayern (maybe Man City), since they have the ball so much. There's more space for him to run into as a fullback. I'm not quite sure he'd be more effective as a winger; feels like he wouldn't be able to weaponize his speed as much.
I'm old enough to remember when Manuel Neuer wasn't a complete liability.
Neuer running out to do something stupid is how you know this is a big match
Lineups have been announced. Tyler Adams starts at right wingback for Leipzig. Gregg Berhalter nods, while USMNT fans riot in the streets. Also: hi!
Tottenham and Leipzig are somehow 50/50 (per betting markets) to advance to the next round of the Champions League. I have a really hard time buying that. Leipzig seem like a significantly better team.
OMFG
Can't believe there weren't any goals; it's my fault. Three "Big Chances" for RBL, one for Bayern, and I imagine the xG is gonna be roughly even and significantly higher than one for both sides. The pass totals tell a pretty good story for how this one played out:
Total passes: BM 631, RBL, 208
Attacking third passes: BM 131, RBL 35
Penalty area passes: BM 10, RBL 9
That was fun. Hope you all felt the same way. Seems like there was enough interest, so we'll do this again next weekend. Alphonso Davies is better than Lionel Messi.
A couple simple passes across the final-third got Werner an OK look from inside the box. You can see Bayern's weakness there -- they don't "defend" well -- but it's just hard to ever get settled possession in the attacking-third against them.
Love seeing Lookman come on for a team fighting for a Bundesliga title when Everton are still trotting out Theo Walcott on the right wing
Never forget that Alexi Lalas said, pre-game, that he didn't trust Peter Gulasci, who's been one of the best keepers in the world over the past two years. https://fbref.com/en/players/bcb2ccd8/Peter-Gulacsi#all_kitchen_sink_keeper_adv
(Please "forget" this, not worth your brain space.)
Leipzig totally dominated the second half of the first game vs Bayern. Same thing is happening today.
Can we finally admit that the bundesliga is the superior league to watch in comparison to the PL? This is such a great game!
Totally agree. In terms of a scoreless game without many (any?) big chances, it doesn't get more entertaining than this.
We could be looking back on that Sabitzer miss at the end of the season ...
Bayern have obviously had the better chances so far:
https://twitter.com/InfogolApp/status/1226563645938765824
But Leipzig have done a really good job of getting bodies behind the ball in the box. Bayern have seven shots, but five of 'em have been blocked. Neither of Leipzig's two attempts were blocked.
Looks like Werner has switched over to the right side, probably to try to exploit the space behind The Best Player in the World.
Davies should have a more difficult time going forward since he has to respect Werner’s pace. Unlike Olmo.
https://twitter.com/AshwinRaman_/status/1226556332490117120
Alphonso Davies -- damn.
So impressed I wrote this twice.
Alphonso Davies -- damn.
Alphonso Davies just made Dani Olmo look like he was 75 years old. He's ... 21.
Did anyone see Jose Mourinho in the stands, wearing headphones? What was he listening to?
I feel like he is a Father John Misty kinda guy
Given that Bayern has been rather conservative with transfer fees compared to other top teams, I feel it is highly unlikely that they would buy both Sané and Havertz (or keep Coutinho). Both are expected to cost € 100+ Million. Who do you think would be the better investment?
I'd go for Sane. He's a proven world-class attacker, imo, and you can just stick him out on the wing and be good to go. Havertz is kind of a tweener, position-wise, and he hasn't been great this year, so he's a lot harder to project.
thinking ahead to the Bayern v Chelsea champions league tie... Alphonso Davies v Reece James... battle of the teenage full backs
This may be a little outside the realm of game specific, but since these are the two playing... Comments by other Bundesliga GMs about RB Leipzig “ownership” being afoul of the league’s ownership structure has me wondering your thoughts on: is it better for the Bundesliga to have that structure challenged by RBL in an effort to end Bayern’s long time autocracy at the top of the table, or is it a way to bring some parity into what many see as a one team league?
Great question. The Bundesliga is certainly more interesting with Leipzig in it -- and the team/organization itself is doing some of the most interesting stuff in the sport. I think the 50+1 rule you're referring to is great in theory, and it doesn't need to be challenged. Ultimately, there needs to be some kind of revenue sharing in all of Europe's big leagues to increase parity, and if that's not gonna happen then I guess an energy drink buying a team is the neoliberal-ish solution to competitive imbalance.
I reread my question and realized it asks the same thing twice, but hopefully you got my question... is it good or bad to see RBL “ownership” being different than the rest of the Bundesliga, especially with their recent success?
Sergino Dest to Bayern: is it crazy?
I would say it's multiple orders of magnitude less crazy than Alphonsho-Davies-to-Bayern seemed at the time.
Do you think Dest is a better solution at RB than Pavard or Bayern's other non-Kimmich options?
In a vaccum, I do. The new tactical trend -- which is just an old tactical trend -- is teams playing a more defensive fullback on one side and a more attacking FB on the other. Pavard is definitely more of a FB/CB hybrid, while Dest is a pure attacking FB. They've currently got Davies playing at LB, and he's sort of the extreme of attacking fullbacks, so Pavard does provide that balance. However, Bayern have like 70-percent possession in a lot of their games, so they can probably afford to go all-out at both FB spots. That's a long way of saying "yes".
Has there ever been two left-footed players playing CB together (like Alaba and Hernandez now) at the top level before? I can’t seem to think that has ever happened.
I'm sure it's happened at some point, in some random situation like this one. But a left-footed CB playing the right CB spot almost never happens.
Wait, what’s up with the T Mobile... ad? People? Seating arrangement? Is this common? I’m new to Bundesliga and it’s funny how similar and different everything is.
I'm glad I'm not the only person distracted by this! Are they employees? Fans who were given white outerwear? Fans who were told to wear white?
I have .... no idea. I guess that's, uh, why so much of Bayern's money comes from commercial revenue: https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/1217715773315198976
they are trainees who get to go for free but have to wear the capes
For real?? That’d be awesome!
haha yes
[insert cliche about being clinical]
Do you project Davies as a left-back? He’s been great there this season but being that his natural tendency is to be more attacking, would you like to see him return to a more forward position?
It's an interesting Q. I'm not sure he could play LB at any team other than Bayern (maybe Man City), since they have the ball so much. There's more space for him to run into as a fullback. I'm not quite sure he'd be more effective as a winger; feels like he wouldn't be able to weaponize his speed as much.
Where do people see Werner heading after Leipzig? Where does he fit best?
I'd guess he ends up in the PL since Bayern apparently doesn't want him.
in most of my FIFA Career Mode seasons he usually ends up at Chelsea by the 2nd transfer window lol
Not impossible, just wonder if he fits the system they're trying to run w/r/t Abraham as striker and the two wingers (Pulisic and CHO (?)).
wow, leipzig turned that counter on so quickly. fun stuff
we need more counter-attacks that involve a gigantic center back dribbling 60 yards at full speed
Harry Maguire is just a poor man's Upamecano
Something very weird when I see Tyler Adams directing Timo Werner. Still hard to believe the level of US talent playing in Europe right now.
It's Canada vs the US on that side of the field!
Alphonso Davies had been the best player today
how many goals today? i saw over/unders at 4.5 and 5.5
My guess would be 3 or 4.
Not that Leipzig will or should, but what do you think the transfer fee would be to get Werner?
His contract runs through 2023. Seems like he'd go for €90 million or more.