After some 64 days of lockdown and no football, I have
some good news and some bad news. The good news is football is back. In no better way than with the RevierDerby. The return
of the Bundesliga gave us a preview into what football will look like in the
foreseeable future. The bad news is it is nothing like we've seen. The absence
of fans, socially distant benches, and celebrations. However, football is back,
and that's refreshing. With this in mind, let's look at five thoughts from the weekend.
Erling Braut Haaland
While there was an enforced break from football for
about two months, the Norwegian hitman returned like he never left. Setting
Dortmund on their way to a relatively easy RevierDerby win. In doing so, he
becomes the first player to score at least 10 goals in three competitions
(Austrian Bundesliga, Champions League, and German Bundesliga) this season. Looking
at his size, he defies logic and continues to awe us week in week out. In
addition to size, he is deceptively fast and possesses a goalscoring desire
that belies his age. With these and his hard work, Haaland's ceiling is expected
to be higher than the average player. Expect the Norwegian Terminator to evolve
into a goalscoring juggernaut (assuming
he isn't one now).
There's Everything To Fight For This
Season
It seemed like eons ago when Bayern was in fourth
place and looked unconvincing. One would've been forgiven for thinking a new
champion would emerge (looks to the Rhine). Nothing in their play has shown that they on their
way to retaining the Meisterschale as Dortmund, Moenchengladbach, and Leipzig have
turned up the heat at different points in the season, with Moenchengladbach
being leaders for 8 consecutive game weeks. The quality of the league has been
on display this season, as no leader has a lead of more than 4 points. Also, competition for Europa league places has been
enthralling as places in the top half have been ever-changing.
Similarly, the relegation battle has been a thrill a
minute. All teams in the bottom half of the league have had a stint there.
Unlike most seasons, this year's version is a classic
free for all in which anyone in the top 4 can knick it. The bottom half is a
scrap in which a semblance of a decent run can lift or drop anyone there.
Paradoxical Schalke 04
Schalke 04 has been a bit of an enigma this season. Under the tutelage of David Wagner, they have shown some absolutely delightful play with their raft of young guns. This makes them one of the most exciting teams to watch in the division.
In contrast, their lack of experience is often their undoing as the younger players try to take take the initiative and end up making costly errors, especially in defense.
Once finances and the futures of loan players like Todibo, Kenny, and Miranda are sorted out, along with general stability, they expected them to rejoin the elite and make a push for the title.
Dortmund will do just fine without
Sancho
Fans of Borussia Dortmund must be wondering why always
us? Whenever they unearth or develop a generational talent, the elite comes
picking. The lack of titles and lower financial incentives is always their undoing,
as was with Lewandowski, Goetze, Sahin, Kagawa, and now Sancho. Despite this, the
club has done well to keep the squad focused as they fight for the title as the
rumors just won't go away.
However, the talent factory, along with their scouting
network, has and will make sure it won't be an issue. The emergence of American
wonder kid Gio Reyna should ensure that Sancho's eventual departure won't be
felt as much. Not to say he's a like for like replacement, but he along with other
stars, like Brandt, Akanji, Hazard, and Can should be able to keep BVB
competitive.
Hans-Dieter Flick reminds me of Ancelotti
Both men are calm tacticians who let their teams'
onfield performances speak for them. They were somewhat convinced into
coaching teams bigger than their profiles. They are both tactically astute and can
get the dressing room and the board behind them. And oh, Bayern Munich. The only
difference is he started out as an interim manager.
Hans Flick has been a quiet revelation this season as
he has gone about the job of restoring the ruins of the Nico Kovac era. Under Kovac,
a key player like Muller lost his way (and game time) and looked like a substandard
Sunday league player with the occasional moments of brilliance. This is a player
who has won it all in football.
However, Muller's adaptability and Flick's tactical
brilliance resulted in a resurgence for both club and player. This has pushed
Bayern back to the top in a heated Bundesliga race. Flick has also led the team
to the knockout stages of the Champions' League, the semis of the DFB-Pokal. The
Flick-Bayern combination is not perfect yet but based on the results,
stability, and the board's decision to hand him a new contract shows the
potential. Let's hope he end like Don Carlo.
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