Yay for La Palma! His Bochum beat Bielefeld today, 2-0.

Well, with 10 minutes remaining, the current scoreline is Bayern 1-5 Bremen!

FT Bayern 2-5 Bremen. Bye bye Klinsmann.

I watch part of the match.

And I don't remember Bayern being humiliated (in Germany) like this. Milan, Chelsea, etc did it but in Europe.

Klinsmann must leave. It's the problem of giving a huge club to the hands of a unproven coach like him.

So, newly-promoted Hoffenheim are top of the Bundesliga after this weekend's games.

Hoffenheim punished Hamburg 3-0. Other results of note: Leverkusen 2 - 0 Koln; Stuttgart 2 - 0 Bochum ; Bayern 4- 2 Wolfsburg.

Here's the league table:

1 Hoffenheim 19
2 Leverkusen 18
3 Hamburg 17
4 Stuttgart 16
5 Bayern 15
6 Berlin 15
7 Schalke 14
8 Dortmund 14
9 Wolfsburg 13
10 Bremen 13
11 Cologne 13
12 Frankfurt 9
13 Karlsruhe 9
14 Hanover 9
15 Bochum 7
16 Bielefeld 7
17 M'gladbach 7
18 Cottbus 5

In the Friday game, Leverkusen beat Wolfsburg 2-0.

Leverkusen had 63% of the possession and pretty much dominated the game.

Holy Christ, what is with big clubs being mid table in most of the leagues this season? Serie A, EPL and now the German league. Maybe the smaller clubs have finally bridged the gap somewhat.

Wolfsburg isn't really a big club though. That said, Bremen are having ALL kinds of issues this year. It's shocking how porous their defense is in the league. Stuttgart are struggling too (those two teams are 9th and 10th respectively). Bayern are in 4th place, 6 points off the leaders. Note that Bayern are yet to play this weekend (though Luca Toni is out with injury) and Leverkusen, the current leaders, have.

Hoffenheim are the surprise so far for the Bundesliga - they've just been promoted into the 1st division and they're in 2nd place (yet to play this weekend). They look REALLY good. Hamburg are in 3d and playing perfectly attractive football even with the loss of Rafael Van der Vaart to Madrid.

Fishdoll highly recommends the Bundesliga to everyone -- if you haven't seen a game, do so! It's seriously entertaining football.

True, I second that. I've been catching up with Bundesliga more so than before. Even more so than EPL and the Spanish league. The quality of football is there, but I can't help but think that they lack super duper stars that other leagues have. Some very big name signings will only help to raise the German league's profile.

Still it's enjoyable and highly watchable football.

I don't think it's something special. It's just season start, and many teams pile up in mid-table with only a few points below the league leader. Soon the big ones will merge out and make a margin.

Bundesliga offers a special situation - Bayern are again vounerable as they play on two (three) fronts and still have to accept Klinsmann's system. Also, most of the germans who played the summer EURO now struggle to find form/fitness. But the other contenders aren't so strong as in some prior situations either - Schalke has mentality problems and very real scoring problems, Bremen's defense is awfull (surprisingly, there is no injury crisis so far, though some vital players miss) and Stuttgart is lacking of, well, that certain "something special". HSV, Dortumnd Leverkusen and Hoffenheim so far took their chances and gathered some important points,..but I don't think it'll last.

Yeah, but I'd never have expected to see teams like Udinese, Napoli, Hoffenheim, Leverkusen, Valencia and - wait for it - Liverpool anywhere near the top, with the other giants behind them. We're almost a quarter into the season, give or take. There's a bit of a bridging of the gap, somewhere.

Anyway, like you said things should be back to normal in a while. Hopefully. It won't be fun seeing Leverkusen in the CL. Or Napoli for that matter. Or Liverpool. Particularly at the expense of other big clubs.

You wouldn't expect to see Valencia? Why not? They're the best team in Spain after the big two. It's just that they got that joke Koeman.

I watch the Bundesliga, but I don't like the tactics aspect. Somehow, the players seem to lack too much vision. It's just a smarter version of the EPL for me.


But I like watching Hoffenheim play. They're very athletic, and it's amazing how they counteratttack, with something like 5-6 players. And even though they're financed by Hopp (I might work for him someday, unless my current company make me a better offer..) , their most expensive transfer is something like 10mill.

I suppose that's one way of putting things. But I'd expect either one of Barca or Madrid leading the pack, if not both. They're the usual suspects. Then again, David Villa is on fire (with 9 goals), so can't say I'm too surprised. As the season rolls out, I'm sure any of the big two will take over the leading duties.

Unless something totally strange happens. Which, on second thought, might not be that bad an idea! Change.

Well, I'd be more then glad to watch Napoli or Bayer in the CL in place of let's say Lyon. Those teams (Napoli, Bayer) at least have a history and did actually made it to the final in the past. While Lyon is always there, but never ready to make the big step forward.

And it is boring to watch the same clubs over and over again. Some of the most remarkable CL games over the past decade were presented by Valencia, Marseille, PSV, BVB, (yes) Liverpool,..and of course Milan..

You have a valid point, Filli, but the way world football is polarized now-a-days, a second tier teams translates to less revenue, and subsequently less interest too from the general public because they lack big name stars. Even though they can provide good or even better display football like you said.

To be quite honest, I'm happy with three big names and one comparatively smaller one reaching CL.

One note I'm not sure has been mentioned here: attendance at Bundesliga games is very high indeed - to the point that it's hard to get tickets if you're going there on holiday, and not just for Bayern games. The stands are full.

Ribery > Bundesliga.

FACT. For me he was the best player in the German league last season.

Bah Hamburg...err Humbug!!

Dietmar Hopp> Bundesliga.

What do you mwan by that? I would not say that Ribery "owns" the Bundesliga..

^^

Don't worry..I corrected it.

I mwan nothing.

Bayern just seems another team when he's fit. Today he scored another on, a great counter. With a decent coach they'd lead Bundesliga without problems. With Klinsmann... we'll see.

Ahaha!

I think Klinsmann is a decent coach at least. And yes, maybe it's Ribery> Bayern, at this time.

Have you seen Diego score against Hertha?
Bundesliga is a very good league and I don't think it's all about Ribery and Bayern.

+1. Ribery is Bayern's star player at the moment, but the league as a whole is very competitive. The games are entertaining to watch, too, and there can sometimes be big surprises. One big surprise last year was when last place Energie Cottbuss beat Bayern 2-0. It was a great game. This year's thrown up a couple of good games too, like the 5-4 game between Hoffenheim and Bremen or the Ruhr derby that ended 3-3 - Schalke led 3-0 at halftime and Dortmund pulled even with what was pretty much the last kick of the game.

Ahhh...Hoppenheim...simply hate that team. I'd even prefer Bayern to them. Hoffenheim has the dirtiest most unappealing team in Germany...BAH, BAH, BAH!!!

A cookie to La Palma, who must be pleased today.

Hertha Berlin defeated Hoffenheim 1-0. That result means that Leverkusen are now top of the Bundesliga on goal differential.

Top of the table as of today:
Leverkusen
Hoffenheim
Bayern
Hamburg
Berlin
Schalke

Leverkusen beat Schalke 2-1 today, meaning they stay top of the table on goal differential; Hoffenheim beat Wolfsburg 3-2 and remain in second. They're both 3 points ahead of Bayern, who drew 2-2 with relegation strugglers Gladbach. One of the Gladbach goals was scored by American Michael Bradley.

Hertha playing Hoffenheim is like fight between the devil and satan. But in this case I think I'm happy Hertha won.


Schalke are really a joke. They always want to play successful and beautiful football with great combination, but don't understand that they lack the players for that kinda football no matter which coach they have. Schalke...that's hard working strong players fighting for success. Nowadays they only have divas like Kuranyi, Rafinha and Altintop. Leverkusen on the other hand was quite impressing...at least for an hour. Helmes' strike was amazing, I would have never thought he'd be that good in the Bundesliga (already has 10 goals). Just like Hoffenheims Ibisevic who already scored 14 goals. I dunno how this guy does it...he's not very fast, not ver strong, not very agile....but he scores. As much as I dislike all Hoffenheim players...Ibisevic reminds of Pippo a little.
Bochum...what should I say? the seventh draw of the season against Hannover...it's too much. We HAVE to win against Hertha next Saturday or otherwise we'll be in deep, deep trouble. Hope that Sestak will be fit again after he broke his toe some weeks ago.
Btw here's some transfer stories....Leverkusen will sign Swiss child prodigy Eren Derdiyok from basel for about 5 million. Most probably they'll have him in January already.
Bayern are also very active on the market and it seems as if they want to sign Zenits Anatoly Tymoschuk as replacement for Mark van Bommel. Also Beckhams teammate Landon Donovan is on their radar.

LaPalma, how're Hamburg playing this season? I've checked up on them a few times in terms of where they are in teh table, but it's hard to get a reading of how good they actually are. Hopefully the game is irrelevant when Villa play them anyways, but in case it's important, what kind of standard are they at?

Where's LaPlama these days? The Bundesliga thread is suffering!

They are quite unpredictable Kurt. I might say, Ivica Olic is in great form. The croatian duo Olic-Petric which played against England several times are maybe their best players. The have some defensive problems after Kompany left, and Mercell Jansen still isn't fully integrated. Don't understand why Jol don't uses the young Pitroipa that often.

I'd tip it will end up with a draw, but since Olic appearently rejected a contract extension and several English teams look after him (Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham,...Villa also mentioned here in Croatia) he could be very motivated too.

---

Short Bundesliga update:

- Hoffenheim still top the German league
- Bayer lost at home to Bayern München 0:2 with goals from Klose and Toni
- Klinsmann changed his system to the good ol' Hitzfeld 4-2-2-2
- Stuttgart sacked their coach Armin Veh; newly appointed coach Markus Babbel having a excellent start after winning Schalke tonight


Some pretty nice goals have been scored in the Bundesliga this and last week. Petric scored a wonderfull goal, Olic as well and today Simak for Stuttgart.

I missed watching most of the last couple of rounds of Bundesliga stuff with holidays and being sick, so I totally missed the sacking of Armin Veh at Stuttgart. That's a bit of a surprised; didn't know it was coming.

I DID see highlights of Olic's goal, however. It was a beauty!

Thanks for that, Fillipo. I hadn't noticed you'd replied!

Hopefully the game will be irrelevant to us, a win against Zilina tomorrow and depending on how many we win by, we can still win the group with a defeat in Hamburg. I've always thought they were quite decent when I've seen them, but were poor against Ajax. But like you said, they're unpredictable, so we'll have to wait to see which Hamburg shows up.

I expect much from this match cause I like both HSV and Villa and they play this season very well so...it should be interesting.

Thank you Bayern, thank you Luca Toni for winning against this dirty Hoffenheim, the most unappealing team that ever played in the Bundesliga.
It was a nice match btw. Maybe the two best teams in Germany atm.

Sign #127 that the end of the world is drawing close.

It's not the end of the world...just the end of an era. gosh...I've never wanted Bayern to win a single match before....But Hoffenheim....I'd have to use many Porty words to express how much I "dislike" them. Their arrogance, the hype surrounding them in the media, their "we have no money" affectation and lots more...
Even Bayern are better than that!

LaPalma, what's so disgusting about Hoffenheim? This is the first time I heard the name of this club.

Bayern to scout Gourcuff - GOAL.COM

Funny scene from the every day life as a football fan in Germany:

When I entered the editorial department of the local newspaper I work for as a freelancer (part time to earn some money) I ran into a colleague. And he said "Ahh...reporting from the lower leagues as well?" Me: "Yap." And he looked at me saying "I think I'll stop watching the Bundesliga...ruined my entire saturday...again" Me: "Yeah...I know what you mean...."

OKOK....it's not funny...it's sad....being a Werder or a Bochum fan is not easy these days....only one victory in 16 games....

Awwww. Poor La Palma! Fishdoll recommends copious amounts of gluhwein. And at least Bayern beat Hoffenheim!

Hmmm...that'd be a solution for my problems but not for Bochums....Marcel Koller has to resign as coach and we should sign someone more capable...the only problem is...I have absolutely no idea who that could be. Armin Veh doesn't have a job, but I'm sure he'd get better offers than coaching Bochum. Thomas Doll would do the job but the's the most incompetent Bundesliga coach since Ottmar Hitzelds little helper Michael Henke became head coach.

What about Bernd Schuster? Looks like he may be needing a new job (with Real losing today).

Bernd Schuster is/was head coach of Real Madrid...I'm afraid coaching Bochum is the last thing on his "things I wanna do when Real fires me" list. I'm glad Peter Neururer recently took over at Duisburg...I was really afraid he'd coach Bochum again.
Mirko Slomka would be a good choice IMO...he has talent and was the most successful Schalke coach since the 1950ies. But nah...he has to much prestige...

What about Dariusz Wosz? He knows the situation, he's got reputation more the anyone else? Wouldn't he be a pick to consider?


Haha...Michael Henke and Doll. A class of their own.

Darek is a living legend among Bochum fans as you might know. Very much like Maldini at Milan. But I doubt that he has the skill and knowledge to rescue Bochum in this difficult times. Armin veh would be a dream. He's a young and modern coach who won the Meisterschaft in 2007 with a team of nobodies. He knows a lot about football and during his reign Stuttgart played fantastic football (at least in 2007).
But I'm afraid it'll stay a dream.

I just hope it won't be a relegation-coach like von Heesen. Toppmöller maybe?

Von Heesen? It'll very likely be one of these guys, one of the firemen who are only hired when you're in real trouble...Neururer, Röber, Falko Götz...no thanks. I liked the idea of signing Marcel Koller back in 2005. He was very successful in Switzerland...and he was very successful in Bochum as well. At least until now. Anyway...he's not responsible for the situation. It's our stupid president who dumped our Manager Stefan Kuntz. He did an awesome job

Kuntz? Isn't he a ex-Bochumer as well? Gee, I don't think it's a wise decision. Yeah, I fear they'll go for one of those guys you said. But I do like Falko Götz, complete out of pro-austrian bias. And Peter Pacult.

Well, we'll see what will happen. Just hope that the situation will go better..

Me too...believe me...me too.
And yes, Bochum made Kuntz a star. We signed him when he was still working as a cop....the good old times. I think it was in 1986 when he won the "Torjägerkanone" for the most successful striker.
Btw....what's wrong with this Ibisevic guy? He's scoring and scoring and scoring. Some already think he might break Gerd Müllers legendary record (41 goals).