Friday night
Borussia Dortmund v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 3-1
As predicted in our season preview, TBG is 1 for 1 in predicting exact scores in 2011-12.
Saturday
Werder Bremen v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 2-0
Bremen will not want anything less than the maximum against surely the worst team in the top flight.
1. FC Koln v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 2-1
TBG will favor the home side since the Wolves seem to be in disarray.
VfB Stuttgart v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 1-1
A draw seems about right for two teams we forecast as finishing in the Champions League places.
Hannover 96 v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 2-1
Hannover have looked strong in preseason and should have enough to get the points at home.
FC Augsburg v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 1-1
This battle of the 'burgs' will give the Bavarians a well-earned point.
Hertha BSC v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 2-0
There is plenty of anticipation in the nation's capital for Hertha's return to the top flight while Nurnberg have injury problems in defence.
Sunday
FSV Mainz 05 v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 1-2
Two teams entering off Cup shocks, Leverkusen exiting the German Cup while Mainz left Europe.
Bayern München v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 3-0
Gladbach have provided stiff resistance in the past at the Allianz but not in this curtain-raiser for Jupp Heynkes.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Bundesliga Season Preview
Welcome back to all of our loyal followers. Yes, it's time once again to get the world's most exciting football league kick-started and TBG has your forecast to get you through all the fun.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACES
1. Borussia Dortmund - Although many believe that the champions will be unable to repeat after losing Nuri Sahin to Real Madrid and facing the arduous task of Champions League, don't believe it. They will have to survive the first month or so without Paraguayan ace Lucas Barrios, but the addition of wunderkind Ilkay Gundogan should make up for Sahin's loss.
2. Bayern Munich - The heavy favorite to regain the crown, Bayern always seem to win it in seasons that end in even numbers. Jupp Heynckes has strikers galore and should the Bavarians get off to a better start this year, things should fall into place.
3. Schalke 04 - This is TBG's most hated club because of the rivalry with Hertha, but there is plenty of talent here for the Champions League semifinalists. With Lewis Holtby back in the mix, there is potential for a return to Europe's most prestigious competition.
4. VfB Stuttgart - This was a better side as the 2010-11 season went on and should contend this season for a Champions League berth since Germany gets four now, having passed Italy in the UEFA coefficients.
EUROPA LEAGUE
5. Werder Bremen - There is still plenty of experience here for Thomas Schaaf to redeem himself after last season's disaster. Bremen were a defensive nightmare but it's time to fix those woes and also get Marko Marin back on track.
6. Hamburg SV - It's true this squad is young and unproven in some areas but a veteran strike force of Paulo Guerrero and Mladen Petric should do well enough to get Hamburg into Europe. Now can Elijiro Elia and Gojko Kacar rediscover their past form?
ALMOST IN EUROPE
7. Hertha BSC - There's nothing special about the promoted side from the nation's capital, and some would say nothing interesting. But what Marcus Babbel has brought is some much-needed energy and optimism, and a Europa League place is there for the taking if Adrian Ramos and Pierre Michel Lasogga can fire.
8. FC Koln - The Goats played some of the league's most exciting football last season. If they can duplicate that and get off to a better start, they can challenge for Europe behind a motivated Podolski - who would like nothing better than to lead his home side to glory.
9. Bayer Leverkusen - Andre Schurrle brings some much-needed youth to these graybeards but playing Champions League football and navigating through the league could be a big ask, as it was for Schalke and Bremen last season. Plus, Michael Ballack's situation should continue to be a distraction for the side which crashed out of the German Cup in spectacular fashion.
10. Hannover 96 - The 96ers overachieved last season to get into Europe, which should be a short stay having drawn Spanish giants Sevilla. Logic only dictates that Hannover will come back to Earth this season.
MID-TABLE MEDIOCRITY
11. FC Nurnberg - These Bavarians punched above their weight last year and nearly crashed the European party. They will be a bit further off the pace this season, for sure.
12. 1899 Hoffenheim - There are some interesting African players here in Chinedu Obasi and Prince Tagoe, while Vedad Ibesevic still has yet to find his form from three years back. Anything is possible with this squad.
13. VfL Wolfsburg - Felix Magath's side is already out of the German Cup and he has already changed captains. Plus, the Wolves have yet to sell Diego. This is a mess that could get worse.
BARELY HANGING ON
14. Mainz 05 - This side already crashed out of Europe to some Romanian unknowns and will find life in the top flight difficult without Holtby and Schurrle. Survival would be impressive.
15. Augsburg FC - The top flight's third Bavarian side, Augsburg becomes the 51st different team to play in this division. There are few recognizable players, but Jos Luhukay previously coached 'Gladbach so he knows all about battling the drop.
PLAYOFF SPOT
16. Borussia Monchengladbach - This is where 'Gladbach finished last year and it should be another painful season. There's plenty of pressure on Venezuelan star Juan Arango and Cameroon striker Mohamadou Idrissou, since they have very little help.
GOING DOWN
17. SC Freiburg - Pappa Demba Cisse is one of the best unknown players in world football, but Freiburg's winning ways have surely come to an end. This squad has problems everywhere else, and should be able to sort them out in the Zweite Liga in 2012-13.
18. Kaiserslautern - It's hard to believe this side finished seventh last year - which would nearly be good enough for a European place this season. That miracle won't happen again - it will be a miracle if they stay up.
OPENING NIGHT PREDICTION
Dortmund 3, Hamburg 1
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACES
1. Borussia Dortmund - Although many believe that the champions will be unable to repeat after losing Nuri Sahin to Real Madrid and facing the arduous task of Champions League, don't believe it. They will have to survive the first month or so without Paraguayan ace Lucas Barrios, but the addition of wunderkind Ilkay Gundogan should make up for Sahin's loss.
2. Bayern Munich - The heavy favorite to regain the crown, Bayern always seem to win it in seasons that end in even numbers. Jupp Heynckes has strikers galore and should the Bavarians get off to a better start this year, things should fall into place.
3. Schalke 04 - This is TBG's most hated club because of the rivalry with Hertha, but there is plenty of talent here for the Champions League semifinalists. With Lewis Holtby back in the mix, there is potential for a return to Europe's most prestigious competition.
4. VfB Stuttgart - This was a better side as the 2010-11 season went on and should contend this season for a Champions League berth since Germany gets four now, having passed Italy in the UEFA coefficients.
EUROPA LEAGUE
5. Werder Bremen - There is still plenty of experience here for Thomas Schaaf to redeem himself after last season's disaster. Bremen were a defensive nightmare but it's time to fix those woes and also get Marko Marin back on track.
6. Hamburg SV - It's true this squad is young and unproven in some areas but a veteran strike force of Paulo Guerrero and Mladen Petric should do well enough to get Hamburg into Europe. Now can Elijiro Elia and Gojko Kacar rediscover their past form?
ALMOST IN EUROPE
7. Hertha BSC - There's nothing special about the promoted side from the nation's capital, and some would say nothing interesting. But what Marcus Babbel has brought is some much-needed energy and optimism, and a Europa League place is there for the taking if Adrian Ramos and Pierre Michel Lasogga can fire.
8. FC Koln - The Goats played some of the league's most exciting football last season. If they can duplicate that and get off to a better start, they can challenge for Europe behind a motivated Podolski - who would like nothing better than to lead his home side to glory.
9. Bayer Leverkusen - Andre Schurrle brings some much-needed youth to these graybeards but playing Champions League football and navigating through the league could be a big ask, as it was for Schalke and Bremen last season. Plus, Michael Ballack's situation should continue to be a distraction for the side which crashed out of the German Cup in spectacular fashion.
10. Hannover 96 - The 96ers overachieved last season to get into Europe, which should be a short stay having drawn Spanish giants Sevilla. Logic only dictates that Hannover will come back to Earth this season.
MID-TABLE MEDIOCRITY
11. FC Nurnberg - These Bavarians punched above their weight last year and nearly crashed the European party. They will be a bit further off the pace this season, for sure.
12. 1899 Hoffenheim - There are some interesting African players here in Chinedu Obasi and Prince Tagoe, while Vedad Ibesevic still has yet to find his form from three years back. Anything is possible with this squad.
13. VfL Wolfsburg - Felix Magath's side is already out of the German Cup and he has already changed captains. Plus, the Wolves have yet to sell Diego. This is a mess that could get worse.
BARELY HANGING ON
14. Mainz 05 - This side already crashed out of Europe to some Romanian unknowns and will find life in the top flight difficult without Holtby and Schurrle. Survival would be impressive.
15. Augsburg FC - The top flight's third Bavarian side, Augsburg becomes the 51st different team to play in this division. There are few recognizable players, but Jos Luhukay previously coached 'Gladbach so he knows all about battling the drop.
PLAYOFF SPOT
16. Borussia Monchengladbach - This is where 'Gladbach finished last year and it should be another painful season. There's plenty of pressure on Venezuelan star Juan Arango and Cameroon striker Mohamadou Idrissou, since they have very little help.
GOING DOWN
17. SC Freiburg - Pappa Demba Cisse is one of the best unknown players in world football, but Freiburg's winning ways have surely come to an end. This squad has problems everywhere else, and should be able to sort them out in the Zweite Liga in 2012-13.
18. Kaiserslautern - It's hard to believe this side finished seventh last year - which would nearly be good enough for a European place this season. That miracle won't happen again - it will be a miracle if they stay up.
OPENING NIGHT PREDICTION
Dortmund 3, Hamburg 1
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hertha BSC 1, Real Madrid 3
A festive atmosphere was in place in the nation's capital this evening as TBG's favorite German team Hertha BSC - back in the top flight - hosted Jose Mourinho's collection of Real Madrid superstars in front of over 70,000 strong. The men from Madrid won 3-1 in a mouth-watering encounter.
Hertha were the team that started brightly with Ramos and Lasogga combining well in the early going. Lasogga's long-range effort after a terrific long ball from Ebert nearly surprised Casillas and sent the Berlin crowd into a friendly.
Minutes later, it was a dream start for Hertha. Ramos sent in Austrian U-23 national Lustenberger on the left side and his cross found Ebert, who blasted into the left side netting.
Hertha continued to look strong on the counter but the match turned on a needless foul that created a Cristian Ronaldo wonder strike on a freekick for the equalizer.
The visitors showed their class a few moments later when Callejon's perfectly-weighted pass found Benzema for a neatly tucked in goal and a 2-1 lead at the half.
Mourinho and Markus Babbel each made numerous changes in the second half. Benzema scored two minutes into the half. It was the result of slapstick defending when Mijatovic clumsily crashed into a teammate and Khedira scooped up the remains and fed Benzema.
No more goals would come as Hertha striker Rob Friend failed to latch onto a through ball from Rafael on one occasion. Hertha also inserted defender Alfredo Morales, who is eligible for the United States national team.
So a good time was had by all and Hertha now prepares for Sunday's German Cup trip to face ZFC Meuselwitz, who should be inspired to see a proper side from the top flight on their home ground.
Hertha were the team that started brightly with Ramos and Lasogga combining well in the early going. Lasogga's long-range effort after a terrific long ball from Ebert nearly surprised Casillas and sent the Berlin crowd into a friendly.
Minutes later, it was a dream start for Hertha. Ramos sent in Austrian U-23 national Lustenberger on the left side and his cross found Ebert, who blasted into the left side netting.
Hertha continued to look strong on the counter but the match turned on a needless foul that created a Cristian Ronaldo wonder strike on a freekick for the equalizer.
The visitors showed their class a few moments later when Callejon's perfectly-weighted pass found Benzema for a neatly tucked in goal and a 2-1 lead at the half.
Mourinho and Markus Babbel each made numerous changes in the second half. Benzema scored two minutes into the half. It was the result of slapstick defending when Mijatovic clumsily crashed into a teammate and Khedira scooped up the remains and fed Benzema.
No more goals would come as Hertha striker Rob Friend failed to latch onto a through ball from Rafael on one occasion. Hertha also inserted defender Alfredo Morales, who is eligible for the United States national team.
So a good time was had by all and Hertha now prepares for Sunday's German Cup trip to face ZFC Meuselwitz, who should be inspired to see a proper side from the top flight on their home ground.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Worst Football Injury ever
We think the honor of dumbest injury belongs to Kaiserslautern striker Adam Nemec.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Novelty Soccer
Panama 2 - US 1
Really!?!? We lost to Panama in soccer? Not that the US is a powerhouse, but Panama has never been relevant in soccer. I'll give them props for some baseball stars (Mariano Rivera and Rod Carew) and boxing champions, but soccer??? The US boasts a domestic league and players that play all over Europe. We have made it to the last 6 World Cups. Yet we lost to 11 guys that play at clubs no bigger than Santos of Mexico. To be fair, one Panamanian does play in Europe - for Lech Poznan of Poland. Guess how many times Panama has made it to the World Cup?
When is Bob Bradley going to figure out how to get this team to start fast? Why are we always playing from behind? I don't want to hear about how he won his group last summer in the World Cup. That was the worst group in the entire World Cup field. Bradley needs to go if we are going to be real players on the international soccer scene. In the '90s, the excuse was soccer is just now growing in the US. Ten years later, we seem to have made little progress. Our players have made strides making it into European clubs. But where is the development of the national team? How long do we have to wait? 10 more years? 20? We need a "game-changer" manager and we need him now. Enough of this bulslhit!
Oh yeah, and Landy cakes, if you don't want to play - get the fuck out of here!
Really!?!? We lost to Panama in soccer? Not that the US is a powerhouse, but Panama has never been relevant in soccer. I'll give them props for some baseball stars (Mariano Rivera and Rod Carew) and boxing champions, but soccer??? The US boasts a domestic league and players that play all over Europe. We have made it to the last 6 World Cups. Yet we lost to 11 guys that play at clubs no bigger than Santos of Mexico. To be fair, one Panamanian does play in Europe - for Lech Poznan of Poland. Guess how many times Panama has made it to the World Cup?
When is Bob Bradley going to figure out how to get this team to start fast? Why are we always playing from behind? I don't want to hear about how he won his group last summer in the World Cup. That was the worst group in the entire World Cup field. Bradley needs to go if we are going to be real players on the international soccer scene. In the '90s, the excuse was soccer is just now growing in the US. Ten years later, we seem to have made little progress. Our players have made strides making it into European clubs. But where is the development of the national team? How long do we have to wait? 10 more years? 20? We need a "game-changer" manager and we need him now. Enough of this bulslhit!
Oh yeah, and Landy cakes, if you don't want to play - get the fuck out of here!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Nice to see FIFA is run like a third-world country
This is the actual ballot used in today's FIFA election.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
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