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Alima Hotakie
@https://twitter.com/@AlimaHotakie
Alima Hotakie picks up the pieces after the Pole's less-than-surprising announcement...
In April last year, Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness expressed concern for the decline of
competitiveness in the Bundesliga. He feared a La Liga-style duopoly "Spanische
Verhltnisse" (Spanish conditions) after Borussia Dortmund and Bayern proved their
dominance extended beyond their starting XIs by thrashing opponents with their B and C
teams.
"One must find out if there's the need to change something," said Hoeness. "But my gut
feeling tells me that all is not in order with the way things are in the Bundesliga at the
moment."
A proactive Hoeness went on to say that he'd meet Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke
and other club chiefs to further discuss the matter, insisting it was vital for the rest of the
league to keep up with the top teams.
What no one expected was that nine months on, a two-horse race would be desirable; the
duopoly has become a monopoly. Keeping up with last year's Champions League winners has
been a real struggle even for Dortmund, who have shown that they just dont have the depth
to deal with injuries.
Losing players to their rival only makes it worse. Die Schwarzgelben coach Jrgen Klopp
surely offered a more accurate insight after Mario Gtze's transfer when he said he was wary
of a Scottish situation, where the league is dominated by a single team.
What angers fans is the contradiction in Hoeness's statements, of a situation that his club's
very own transfer policies appear to exacerbate. Even as he offered his legitimate critique in
April, club officials were pursuing Dortmund's key creator Gtze, with an official
announcement right before the Champions League final.
question, with some even pointing to the drawbacks of the popular 50+1 system which bans
majority ownership of any club by a single sugar-daddy.
The Bundesliga table may look a little lopsided this season but there's no reason to panic.
Firstly, dominance is natural when both of last season's Champions League finalists are in the
same league. Second, a treble-winning team like Bayern would dominate anywhere,
regardless of opposition: this is the same team that didn't just win, but hammered teams like
Barcelona and Juventus on their path to Champions League glory last year.
Spain and Italy). What should serve as a worry, however, is if the current situation develops
into a long-term trend as is the case in La Liga or Scotland.
Dortmund's boots to fill
But what does this mean for a club like Dortmund, whose charismatic coach is working on
what he dubbed the "most exciting project in European football"?
One positive is that they have plenty of time to find a replacement for Lewandowski.
Although few will argue that BVB should have sold the Polish striker last summer for
financial reasons, the move would have likely been more detrimental at that time. They had
already lost Gtze and were scrambling to find replacements, bringing in Henrikh
Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the summer. To lose another nucleus player
and expect to find a quick replacement would have only added a sense of instability and rash
decision making the club might later regret.
The 'no' gesture to Bayern also sent out the message that it's not always about money, and that
the club is confident success in the Champions League will compensate for the loss. In the
end it was the right decision given Lewandowski's continued role in helping the team win
important games. While he's not as clinical as last season, he's still tied as the league's top
scorer with 11 goals. There are several players already linked to the club. Edin Dzeko would
be an ideal replacement, but his price tag will surely exceed BVB's budget limits. Other
possibilities include Kevin Volland, Mame Diouf, Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke,
Adrian Ramos, Diego Costa and Jackson Martinez.
Lewandowski is the type of player that is hard to replace. He has scored 65 goals in 115
league games as well as 15 goals in 25 Champions League matches. He fits Klopp's system,
style and counter-attacking football magically, and finding a replacement of his level won't be
easy. While Die Schwarzgelben remain confident 'Lewy' will give it his all - the player has
also promised that commitment - to outsiders his performances have been questionable. With
some feeling the sharpness and concentration from last season is absent.
The worst-kept secret of Lewandowski's move may now be out in the open, but the
implications that accompany it are still very much unknown.
Joe Brewin
Joe Brewin picks out a handful of Germany's brightest hopes who could be heading to a club
near you...
Germany's embarrassment of riches in the youth department is plain to see - just imagine
FFT's plight as we attempted to whittle down a huge shortlist to pick out five of the
Bundesliga's most prized assets.
We eventually did, though, without the likes of Mario Gtze, Julian Draxler, David Alaba,
Ilkay Gndogan, Kevin Volland, Heung Min-Son (well, duh). The list goes on.
So read on and find out more about the ones who did make the cut. You'll be hearing much
more about them soon enough...
Timo Werner
Who is he?
Stuttgarts 17-year-old forward has been nothing short of a revelation in the first half of his
debut Bundesliga campaign. With four goals and as many assists in his cluster of appearances
for the southern side (14 in the league), so far theres been much to admire about the local
boy come good.
Although having learned his trade centrally, Werners impact from the left wing this season
has made him an integral part of Thomas Schneiders plans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Effective trickery and pace helps too, of course. Without being built like a proverbial brick
structure hes also surprisingly strong, as he demonstrated in his brace-netting display against
Freiburg.
Chelsea, Arsenal.
Roberto Firmino
Who is he?
The flamboyant Brazilian with an ever-changing appearance has shone in a free-scoring
Hoffenheim side this season.
With eight goals and six assists from attacking midfield, the 22-year-old has run defences
ragged and proved himself as one of the Bundesligas brightest talents. Indeed, he is one of
the main reasons why his team are the leagues third-highest scorers.
Dont be surprised to see his dodgy celebrations, bad hair bleach-blonde at the moment
tattoos and utterly horrendous fashion choices (I like to try something new, he admitted)
transferred from German to English screens soon. We want it to happen.
clubs looking to snap up the young Samba star would have to part with around 9m to prise
him away from the contract that still has a year-and-a-half left to run.
Who does he remind you of?
Being given something of a free role in the hole makes him something of a Philippe Coutinho
and potentially perfect competition for his even younger Liverpool compatriot. Firmino has
proved effective drifting from wide areas to central ones, as shown by his ever-increasing
heap of goals and assists.
Would be perfect for
Liverpool, Tottenham.
Max Meyer
Who is he?
He missed out on Maxi Arnolds newcomer of the season award by half a per cent, but in
truth the Schalke star looks an even more intriguing prospect.
A central attacking midfielder with an exquisite touch and confidence to dribble at will,
Meyer has taken advantage of injuries to become an established member of Jens Kellers first
team set-up this season.
Already linked with Chelsea after an eye-catching Champions League display against the
Blues (what you buy cant hurt you, right?), Meyers breakthrough displays are helping
Schalke deal with the uncertain future of boy wonder Draxler.
The player with God-given abilities, according to sporting director Horst Heldt, is one of
the few positives in an otherwise dreary season for the Gelsenkirchen club.
Who is he?
A glimmer of hope in the Bundesligas leakiest defence. At just 17 years old the Hamburg
teenager is already a regular for Bert van Marwijks side, who have endured the third-worst
first half of a season in the clubs history.
That Tah has emerged from the rubble with immense credit, despite being part of a defence
that has shipped a joint league-high 38 goals in the league so far this season, is a great
testament. Mind you, he does have former Arsenal stopper Johan Djourou for company.
The Hamburg local has been capped 13 times at U17 level for Germany, but is also eligible
for the Ivory Coast.
ever stopped the big boys from dipping into those deep pockets?
Who does he remind you of?
At 6ft 3in and as stocky as the grown men he plays against, Tah isnt your average 17-yearold. Comparisons will naturally be drawn with Bayern Munichs Jerome Boateng, who
became a Hertha Berlin first-team regular at a slightly older age before moving to Hamburg
for a bargain 1m in August 2007. Tah wouldnt be going too far wrong by following his
lead.
Would be perfect for
Manchester City, Manchester United.
Maxi Arnold
Who is he?
Only the player named the Bundesligas best newcomer by his peers this season. The 19-yearold scooped the leagues prize on the back of a super first half of the campaign in which he
nailed down a regular first-team place in Dieter Heckings exciting Wolfsburg side.
It takes a talented individual to play behind the lone striker, but Arnolds five goals in just 11
appearances in that position have made him impossible to oust. Just ask former Brazil
international Diego, shoved out wide to accommodate his young team-mate and who could
yet leave this month despite declaring hell stay put until the end of the season.
Its been going this way since the back end of last season, in fact, when the goal-getting
midfielder penned a four-year contract shortly after his 18th birthday. Wolfsburgs youngestever player and goalscorer has plenty more to offer.