Bundesliga Storylines #1980

Bundesliga

Musiala Unlocked?

Jamal Musiala Is the most critical piece of Bayern Munich That includes Harry Kane. He’s been locked in the cage ever since Thomas Tuchel arrived in Munich. Thomas Tuchel changed everything making him less important to Bayern Munich. He is one of the best and most promising youngsters in Europe and the best dribbler in world football. Before Thomas got there Jamal Musiala was fighting with Julian Brandt going blow by blow for the player of the season. Those were the two best player's last season. I don’t care who got the actual award. It was a battle between Jamal and Julian. Under Julie and Nagelsman we were seeing the very best out of Jamal. It was a huge breakthrough moment for the youngster. He was sensational primarily the entire season. His role got reduced in February when Julian Nagelsman was sacked. The formula for success at Bayern Munich is so incredibly simple. However, Thomas has failed to highlight the most vital part of all of this. Harry Kane is the best striker in the world. He does a lot more than just scored goals, but the biggest chance of success for this Bayern Munich side has to run through Jamal. When Jamal is the primary as we saw this past weekend Bayern Munich have a different level of quality and can really push for another title. Diverting Jamal to a background player has been a catastrophic mistake. The back half of last seasonThomas misused him and he wasn’t able to continue to dominate at Bayern Munich the way he was prior. He found his ways to be effective and still had his moments, but Thomas Tuchel didn’t use him properly. Didn’t put him in those positions and areas where he can make the most damage. In some senses he was driving it wedge between Jamal and Bayern Munich. He is the diamond in Munich. Thomas Tuchel had him locked in a cage. When all he needed to do is unlock the door and let him fly. Harry Kane is extremely important to Bayern Munich, but he is not the most important. Jamal is the most valuable piece of this entire Bayern Munich team. The formula for success this season primarily runs through him. He had a slow start not to his own fault but his manager holding him back. He scored the goal in the 89th minute last season that captured Bayern Munich the title in the final moments of the season. Even with all the additions that were made, he was still being treated as a background piece. Jamal week in and week out should always be the first name on the team sheet for Bayern Munich. Jamal has come off the bench in far too many games this season. He hasn’t really given him a chance to show how sensational he actually is. However, against Hoffenheim we saw him fly. Two goals in a three goal victory. Not only did he score one of the goals of the season, finding an incredibly tight angle and silky finish. He scored another that was an immaculate touch. Jamal ran the game and Bayern Munich looked the best they have in the majority of the games this season. Thomas Tuchel found out how important Jamal is whether or not he will continue to dismiss him or use him as the center piece of piece of Bayern Munich is up for debate, we don’t know. However, what is clear is when Jamal is the primarily decision maker for Bayern Munich. They are a much more dangerous side than when he is a background piece. It’s real simple. You allow Jamal to push forward and attacking positions where he can roam. Not only can he be a game changer in midfield and supply to his teammates he can dribble through everyone. We all know that but Harry Kane and the outside players can find that right type of chemistry and connection to make them an adversary opponent for Leverkusen and really make this title, race something special. Everyone hopes that Leverkusen does the job and finally wins the title. But this version of Bayern Munich is the best version. Even though Harry Kane scoring the level of goals he has this season and being that scoring machine is outstanding. Bayern Munich are at their best when Jamal is the one making everything go. He slowly starting to let go and show the player that Thomas Tuchel slowed down last season. Seven goals and three assists in all competitions. It could be a lot more if Thomas Tuchel knew how to use him earlier this season. It was a dominating performance from Jamal. Harry Kane still scores and Bayern Munich still win but this formula will give them the best chance at winning the title. Hopefully, Thomas Tuchel isn’t planning on locking the door to the cage anytime soon Let him loose. While the player of the season is out of his Probably making Jamal the vocal point could make Bayern Munich a much more difficult opposition not only in the Bundesliga but in the Champions League as well. Thomas Tuchel may have figured it out and may have not. But one thing is clear. The center piece isn’t Harry Kane It’s Jamal and if Bayern Munich want to reach their objectives. They need to identify that and run Bayern Munich through the German talent. Jamal Musiala is back!

Leverkusen show winning mentality

Bayern Munich has dominated German football for more than a decade. Historically obviously they’ve had their fingerprints all over it for longer. However, they have run the table in Germany. They aim to continue to do it again. However, in this case, Leverkusen seem to be keen as the ones to stop them. They’re currently top of the table and they have not lost a game this season. Not in any competition. They have a squeaky-clean record in the cup in the Bundesliga and in the Europa League. They would currently be the favorites in all three of them. They have an exceptional team that has been built by Xabi Alonzo They have been truly outstanding not only this season but the back half of last season as well. They are the most difficult opposition in Germany at the moment. However, in a climate in Germany that is dominated by Bayern Munich. There’s always a foe that stands in the way of the reign of terror. Every champion at some point will be tested. The question always remains whether or not they can withstand a stern test or will they fade into abyss. Dortmund’s test failed last season. Despite having it all in their hands, they let it slip out of theirs. Even with help and 89th strike by Jamal Musiala dashed their hopes. Dortmund probably should have won the league last year. They didn’t have the stomach or the mentality to handle it. Julian Brandt as an individual who was the best player in the Bundesliga last season had those attributes but as a team they floundered. Fact is Dortmund probably owe him an apology because they let him down and the biggest way on the biggest stage. There is going to be a testing point for Leverkusen. They’ve not won every game. They’ve dropped some points to Dortmund and Stuttgart. However, they’re going to need to be put through the blender to see if they can withstand the tests that they will get this season. Last Saturday a huge test was put in front of them. They showed the winning mentality a bit as they managed to take a point from Munich. However, Munich has a game in hand against Union Berlin. They also play Leipzig next week which will be another huge test. In Augsburg in the cold a match that was 7° below freezing. It was a struggle despite the way they dominated many parts of the game. As the minutes ticked on it felt like a match that was going to need that mentality. The the push to stomach the storm. That’s exactly what they did. It took them all the way down to the very last seconds. Alex grimaldo found Ezekiel Palacios who sliced a volley into the top corner in the 95th minute. They went on to win this by a loan goal in the last minute of the match. Augsburg may not be the biggest test. However, the match itself was much more difficult than anyone anticipated from the weather. To everything that occurred They fought until the very end and got the final result. It’s unclear what will happen this second half of the season or what will happen next weekend against Leipzig for them. However, they’ve shown that they can adapt and they can stomach the pressure of being in the driver’s seat. All the cards are in the middle of the table and they’re handling it. They may not be the holders but they are the favorites and are the hunted. They showed that they have the mentality and they won it like champions do.

Frankfurt Putting something together

Frankfurt retooled quite a bit after qualifying for Europe on the last day of the season last term. It was Oliver Glassner’s last season. After propelling Frankfurt to the Europa League triumph and the Champions League round of 16, he left the club. Dino Toppmöller was elected to succeed him. The former Leipzig and Bayern Munich assistant finally got a crack on his own with a big time Bundesliga job. He had to deal with some problematic circumstances. Randal Kolo Muani pushed his way out of Frankfurt in a very dismissive manner. He ended up playing to start the season instead of platforming himself to leave earlier, he waited while putting Frankfurt in a very uncomfortable situation immediately. Dino Toppmöller had to weather the storm and has done it tremendously well. Frankfurt had a bit of a slow start to the season but quickly started climbing the table as they’ve heated up at the right time. They currently sit in sixth place, 6 points out of the Champions League position and three points out of fifth for the Europa League spot. Unfortunately due to the Africa cup of nations They are without two key players. Omar Marmosh,Ellys Skhiri and Chaibi. Putting them in a difficult situation. However Frankfurt has been at work in the market thus far. They’ve been very impressive in a big way. The polar opposite of union Berlin who has had two summer signings already gone. I Don’t reference sporting directors all that often but Timmo Hardung is absolutely terrific. The job he has done putting this team together has been sensational. He brought in all three players that I mentioned earlier that are going to the African Cup. The summer signings he’s put together have been excellent. He found the right coach for this team and now in January he’s already making moves to compensate for some of the pieces they’ll be missing due to the African cup. He brought in Saša Kalajdžić the Austrian 6 ft 7 Monster from Wolverhampton on loan. He scored 23 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart before his failed move to the Premier League. He also made the move of Robin Koch permanent from Leeds United. Then on top of that he went and got Donny Van Der Beek out of purgatory at Manchester United. He was an absolute stud at Ajax but wasn’t really given a serious crack at Manchester United. Bundesliga will suit him his deal does have an option to buy so if Frankfurt like what they see they can add him permanently at the end of the loan. Sasa is just a dry loan but again much like Donnie. If he does well a permanent feet could be negotiated. Timmo Hardung also has one eye on the future as he purchased. Nathaniel Brown from Nuremberg. He will be loaned back there for the rest of the season and then expected to join the club at the start and next season. He is a 20-year-old LB with promise. On top of them building something and putting something really serious together. They have a chance with still the second half of the season to go of breaking down and closing the gap between themselves and the other teams fighting for those more valuable European positions. They should have a good chance to do well in the conference League knockout rounds as well. And nevertheless, they put together something interesting here. Not to mention they beat Leipzig last weekend It should be noted. They scored on their only shot on target. Meanwhile, Leipzig should be charged with assault, considering the amount of chance is peppered at the opposing goal. However, that’s why you have Kevin Trapp. So in a sense they do need to be sharper in front of goal and be a little bit more precise in the attacking front, especially with Omar Marmosh with Egypt at the African Cup. The addition of Saša Kalajdžić should certainly help with that considering his experience of scoring in the Bundesliga. There is still even more time to add some more acquisitions before the month ends. One thing is clear though. Frankfurt is certainly putting something together and as a team to keep the eye on.