Bundesliga Matchday 19 review

Friday night

Hannover 96 v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 1-0
Abdellaoue cracks double digits with his 10th goal of the league campaign.

Saturday

Hertha BSC v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-2
Hertha are sliding into oblivion and appear to be headed for another drop.

Werder Bremen v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-1
Leverkusen were happy with the point, showing bite after Eren Derdiyok was put on at the interval.

Borussia Dortmund v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 1-1
Credit TBG for predicting an exact score thanks to Kagawa's brace for the defending champions.

Bayern München v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 2-0
The new-look Wolves came crashing back to Earth as they failed to put a shot on target with a negative approach that gifted Bayern possession.

FC Augsburg v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 2-2
We knew we would get a draw and this is a result that truly suited neither side.

1. FC Köln v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 1-3
Actual result: 1-4
Hoger's late goal prevented another exact score, but also displayed the Royal Blues' dominance.

Sunday
FSV Mainz 05 v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 3-1
Mainz went up three inside of 17 minutes and cruised home to the three points.

VfB Stuttgart v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 0-3
It's time to stop dismissing Favre's men, who are legitimate title contenders and could pull off the surprise of the decade by capturing the meister-schaft.

Major Celtic FC supporter headed to Super Bowl

For the second time, a major Celtic FC supporter is going to play in the Super Bowl. Celtic FC supporter Lawrence Tynes has helped the New York Giants reach the sporting spectacle once again.

The Scottish-born kicker won the Super Bowl with the Giants four years ago and once again, has provided die-hard Celtic FC supporters a major rooting interest for the Giants against the New England Patriots.

Bundesliga Matchday 19 predictions

Friday night

Hannover 96 v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 2-0
The 96ers should cruise under the Friday night spotlight.

Saturday

Hertha BSC v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 1-1
Skibbe believes his new club may get relegated. They will with that attitude.

Werder Bremen v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 2-1
Another rumour of a rift between Dutt and Ballack has unsettled the Bayer camp. Expect Bremen to take advantage.

Borussia Dortmund v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 3-1
No Götze for two months is a serious blow, but Dortmund will want to avenge their first loss of the campaign.

Bayern München v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 2-1
The Wolves have a brand-new squad capable of great things, but getting a result against a fired-up Bayern with Ribery returning is asking too much.

FC Augsburg v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 1-1
We'll go with the exact same score as last year's matchup between these relegation rivals.

1. FC Köln v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 1-3
Schalke are without Howedes but we believe that the Goats are on the verge of another rough patch of play.

Sunday
FSV Mainz 05 v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 2-0
Freiburg showed some bite at home without Cisse, but Mainz are a difficult side at the Coface Arena and acquitted themselves well last weekend.

VfB Stuttgart v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 2-1
Stuttgart should knock off one of the co-leaders in a treacherous trip to Baden-Württemberg for the surprise packages of the season.

Klinsi has the U.S. team rolling! ! !

While the rest of the football world was busy playing in competitions like the English Premier League, Spanish Primera, Bundesliga, Serie A or even the African Cup of Nations, some countries knew what the last few days were a perfect time for - international friendlies.

Clearly other countries are too lazy to work on their national team form, but thankfully Jurgen Klinsmann has the U.S. finally headed in the right direction with impressive 1-0 victories over Venezuela and on the road against Panama, when the U.S. was down to 10 men and outplayed most of the match. The U.S. win streak is now three, but there's still room to get aboard this bandwagon now!

Our 'Klinsi' made some important decisions, naming German bad boy Jermaine Jones a captain for the Venezuela match. There was also the recall of World Cup goat Ricardo Clark, who basically never plays anymore for German second-division side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Clark saw U.S. action for the first time since his ridiculous giveaway against Ghana in the World Cup. He scored the winner over Venezuela in the 97th minute, giving the U.S. its first victory over a South American opponent in five years!

Said Klinsmann: "I wanted to bring him into camp and see for myself why he was struggling. He had to get his fitness up to the level of the other players, so every day we pushed it a little more and a little more."

Judging from that remark, it's safe to assume that Clark was out of shape, no?

Clark had a different story: "It felt good to be with the national team. Germany’s training is pretty rigorous, so it is not too hard to stay fit."

Clearly 'Klinsi' has a handle on his side and with three straight wins, he has accomplished much this week in laying the groundwork for the U.S.:
"What we did in these last three weeks was get a really good picture. The reason why we need these camps, scrimmages, and games is to get a sense of them so we can help them take the next steps."

The next step could be threatening the world-record 15-match win streaks owned by Spain, Australia, Brazil and France. Only 12 more in a row to go!

Bundesliga Matchday 18 review

Friday night

Mönchengladbach v. Bayern München
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 3-1
'Gladbach tightened up the BL race with this thumping error thanks in part to Neuer's shocking gaffe. Bayern tried to distract supporters from the defeat with a major signing!

Saturday
SC Freiburg v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 0-1
Actual result: 1-0
These teams are the worst in the top flight but Freiburg are no longer bottom.

FC Schalke 04 v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 3-1
No one is touting Schalke's title chances but Raul and company harbour some serious hopes now.

VfL Wolfsburg v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 2-1
The Wolves have a whole new roster and apparently hope to not be the most disappointing team in the league anymore.

1. FC Nürnberg v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 2-0
Hertha are lost without Raffael and could face a difficult relegation fight.

1899 Hoffenheim v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 0-0
No goals and little to speak of.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 2-3
Actual result: 0-0
See above.

Sunday
Hamburger SV v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 0-2
Actual result: 1-5
Dortmund are trying not to get carried away. with the ease of this victory.

Bayer Leverkusen v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 3-2
Lars Bender fired home a winner in one of the more entertaining matches of this round.

Piers Morgan: America still sucks at football

CNN personality Piers Morgan is known for rooting for Arsenal. He also has diagnosed exactly what is wrong with U.S. soccer.

Morgan explains that "America is, at a minimum, five or six years away from really competing for any major international trophies against the best teams." He also correctly compared MLS to Chinese football: "When I went to Shanghai in China, I went to see a match and what I saw there was not dissimilar from what you see in the U.S."

We at TBG believe Sir Morgan is off base. With no players in the Champions League, we believe the golden era for the U.S. national team has ended and the gap will grow in years to come!

Champions League club signs CONCACAF teenager!

French club Lille have a keen eye for talent. On Friday, it was announced that
Costa Rican striker John Jairo Ruiz has joined the club for 4 1/2 years.

The 18-year-old Ruiz starred at the U-20 World Cup and none other than TBG Team of the Year FC Barcelona were interested in his services.

We here at TBG are still waiting for American teenagers (or U.S. players of any age) to make their way over to Champions League clubs. Here is a clip of what that sounds like.

Bundesliga Matchday 18 predictions

We are ready to kick off the second half of the season with another outstanding set of predictions!

Friday night

Mönchengladbach v. Bayern München
Prediction: 2-1
One of the pivotal matches of the season sees the leaders go to 'Gladbach after losing to Lucien Favre's men at home. We see Favre springing another surprise.

Saturday
SC Freiburg v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 0-1
Hard to believe Freiburg won't suffer from a hangover after the loss of Cisse,and FCA have battled hard all year long.

FC Schalke 04 v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 3-1
VfB won this fixture to open the campaign, but Schalke are far superior and will be out for revenge after adding Obasi from Hoffenheim.

VfL Wolfsburg v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 1-1
The Goats have plenty of injuries while it is difficult to think the Wolves will beat any team above them in the table. Will new striker Mikael Ishak be a factor for Köln?

1. FC Nürnberg v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-2
Der Klube won this fixture in Berlin to open the season, but we believe new Hertha boss Michael Skibbe will have a successful league debut with the capital side. U.S. superstar Timothy Chandler is set to return from suspension in FCN's 1,000 Bundesliga appearance.

1899 Hoffenheim v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 2-1
Hannover president Martin Kind ripped into Didier Ya Konan over the break, saying after Ya Konan's new contract that the striker "started taking things easy after signing his new contract. Now he is overweight and has pretty cars."

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 2-3
Bremen are usually horrendous on the road, but 'Lautern are ripe to be picked off as they are winless in seven.

Sunday
Hamburger SV v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 0-2
If all goes well in 'Gladbach, Dortmund have a chance to go level on points at the top and they won't miss that chance, even without Mario Götze.

Bayer Leverkusen v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 2-0
Leverkusen were shocked at Mainz to start the season, but they are on the upswing as they get ready to battle holders FC Barcelona in the Champions League.

Belated first-half Bundesliga review

We apologize for not having our first-half review up for our loyal followers. The second half of the campaign starts in two days with a delectable Friday night showdown between Borussia Mönchengladbach and leaders Bayern Munich at Borussia Park.

But before we move on, let's look back at another interesting Bundesliga first-half!

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT - team version: Wolfsburg. The Wolves are in 12th place but have been truly much more awful than that. Only one team has given up more goals and no one knows what is going through Felix Magath's head. Magath, by the way, has already lost points on his driver's license after being caught speeding. It's symbolic for a club with no direction.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT - player version: Cacau, VfB Stuttgart. There have been other disappointments but all of those players are on Wolfsburg and we have already covered that ground. Cacau was supposed to be a German international who would put VfB on his back and their eight-place standing is hardly anything worth mentioning.

Other flops: Ryan Babel, Hoffenheim (although he may be the best footballing rapper in Germany), Michael Mancienne, Hamburg. Marcel Schafer, Wolfsburg.

BIGGEST SURPRISE - team version: Borussia Mönchengladbach. The team that needed to win a playoff with Bochum to stay in the league has been revitalized under former Hertha boss Lucien Favre thanks to Marco "Rolls" Reus. They are in the last 8 of the DfB-Pokal and look to be on course for Europe.

BIGGEST SURPRISE - player version: Bernd Leno, Bayer Leverkusen. This club looked lost after an early exit in the DfB-Pokal and an unheralded American goalkeeper in David Yelldell. Enter the teenage Leno who is among the BL leaders with seven clean sheets and helped Bayer successfully negotiate a Champions League group with Chelsea and Valencia. Not bad for a loanee from Stuttgart who is now property of Leverkusen.

Other surprises: Marc-André ter Stegen. 'Gladbach. Patrick Herrmann, 'Gladbach. Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Schalke 04. Robert Lewandowski, Borussia Dortmund.

GOAL OF THE FIRST HALF: Eren Derdiyok, Bayer Leverkusen If you have not seen this wonder strike against Wolfsburg, watch and enjoy.

EUROPEAN FLOP OF THE SEASON: Borussia Dortmund. Jurgen Klopp ran truly one of the most embarrassing campaigns in recent memory for a champion with one victory and a ridiculous eight goals conceded in three away matches that knocked the club right out of Europe altogether.

EUROPEAN SUCCESS STORY OF THE SEASON: Hannover 96. While Leverkusen advancing in the Champions League is impressive, no one expected the 96ers to get through a playoff tie with Spanish powerhouse Sevilla. Mirko Slomka's side got a thrilling draw in Spain and have advanced to 2012 with a manageable draw against Belgium's Club Brugge.

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM: Schalke 04 gave up two goals to Finnish star Teemu Pukki in a first-leg loss to HJK Helsinki in the Europa League play-off round and he scored in a 6-1 loss in the reversal. Days later, Schalke announced a new signing - Teemu Pukki!

QUOTE OF THE YEAR: Markus Babbel, Hertha BSC. "You asshole!" That was Babbel's response to Hoffenheim boss Holger Stanislawski after the sides drew 1-1 to end the first half. Stanislawski was asking whether Babbel would be around for the team's Christmas gathering. Babbel, orchestrating his exit from Berlin as he dreams of coaching Bayern, was fired the next day.

What do you think? Please leave your comments below.

Bayern Munich cruise to 4-0 win over India!

India played a farewell match Tuesday for former captain Bhaichung Bhutia against one of world football's powerhouses, Bayern Munich. The Bavarians won 4-0 in a thrilling match in New Delhi.

All of the goals came in the first half, with Thomas Mueller scoring two Bundesliga leader Mario Gomez one and Bastian Schweinsteiger one. Credit Bayern for excellent sportsmanship with nine changes in the second half and as they really weren't trying to add to their haul while India could barely get the ball over midfield.

As for Bhutia, the 35-year-old is clearly past his prime in a career as possibly India's greatest footballers. He may not measure up to India's sporting legends, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Vijay Manjrekar, but Bhutia's contributions have been invaluable in helping India emerge as one of the top 150 teams in world football.

Hertha will not face MLS superstar!

We reported yesterday that MLS superstar Omar Gonzalez has been loaned to FC Nürnberg from the champion L.A. Galaxy in advance of their second-half opener against Hertha BSC.

Well forget about that. Gonzalez has torn a knee ligament after colliding with U.S. international Timothy Chandler in his first training session in training camp in Turkey.

Gonzalez will likely miss the entire MLS season for the Galaxy. It's a stunning blow to the 23-year-old's career and possibly to Nürnberg's relegation battle.

Hertha to face MLS superstar!

When the Bundesliga resumes its season in a couple of weeks, Hertha BSC will face Nürnberg in a matchup to watch in Bavaria.

With FCN battling relegation, they have made an effort to shore up a leaky defence that features U.S. international star Timothy Chandler. Future U.S. national team member Omar Gonzalez has been loaned to 'Der Klub' from the MLS champion L.A. Galaxy, a side that features David Beckham and Robbie Keane. The 23-year-old Gonzalez was MLS defender of the year.

"We are excited to have Omar with us at training camp," Martin Bader, the sport executive and spokesperson at FC Nürnberg, said in a statement on the club's website. "We were planning on signing him this summer, but we were offered the chance to secure his services until at least the middle of February.

"After Philipp Wollscheid's transfer, we needed to consider a way to strengthen our central defence for the coming season. And Omar is an interesting candidate — a young, talented player who could represent FC Nürnberg well.”