Bundesliga Season 2009/10 Preview

A couple of more days and the new Bundesliga season will be in full swing. I waited too long this summer, already got used to last year's shorter summer period after the Euro 2008. Worst, there was only very little exciting transfer activity in the Bundesliga.

Bayern decided for some reason to pay 30M Euro for Mario Gomez, Werder bought Marin from Gladbach and the Bundesliga lost in Diego one of its biggest stars. And then there was the never ending theater around Franck Ribery. But at the end of the day, the Bundesliga clubs, like most of the clubs in Europe had less money to spend and fewer transfers were made.

The Bundesliga looks strong overall with many teams able to compete for the title. Schalke 04 with Felix Magatgh is a candidate, but also title holder Wolfsburg, Stuttgart and Hamburg. On an international level, the Bundesliga will still lack behind in terms of quality and public interest. All the eyes will be focused on England and Spain this year and a bit of Serie A. The Bundesliga has only one real star in Franck Ribery and he is not to stay for much longer.

So here are my predictions for the new season:

Title: There can only be one winner: FC Bayern ! After a disastrous season under (I have no idea what I do, but I talk a lot) Klinsmann, we have in van Gaal a very experienced coach.�The squad is still a class better than the rest of the Liga and with Gomez and Olic there are more alternatives in attack. Without Lucio the defense should be more stable. What we are still missing is someone in the creative midfield next to Franck Ribery.

Champions League Qualification: My guess would be that Hamburg and Schalke or Stuttgart will make it to the Champions League after this season. I am a big fan of Felix Magath and while it will be too early for them to be Champion, they should do fine.

UEFA CUP: Bayer Leverkusen should make it and I believe that Dortmund after many years has the ability to be back in the international business. One will need to see how Bremen can compensate the loss of Diego. They have in Otzil and Marin some young and talented players and Borowski is back from Bayern.

Relegation: This is always a difficult one and there are the usual suspects: Bochum, Nuernberg, Freiburg, Hannover 96, Mainz 05.

Top Scorer: Since I believe that Bayern will dominate the league, Mario Gomez will be top scorer. He has already scored twice on the weekend in the DFB Pokal and I believe he will do very well this season.

Enjoy the league ! (Here an interesting article from our friends at Soccerlens:�

http://soccerlens.com/revealed-the-10-newboys-set-to-light-up-the-bundesliga/32503/

24 Kommentare

Kommentar hinzufügen

Von Sebastian_Maximilian

04.08.2009 09:24

nah, I think that the german Bundesliga is the most interesting league (also international) ;-) Why? Well, you mentioned it yourself: "The Bundesliga looks strong overall with many teams able to compete for the title."

Von josephjmichael

04.08.2009 09:41

Hey Mani...This kid Muller seems be really good...do you think he would be the next big thing ?

Von Mani18

04.08.2009 09:44

@Michael: He looks indeed good, but I have seen too many young players at Bayern who did not make it at the end. The problem is probably that he will not get much playing time this season, once Ribery is fit again.

Von benrosendahl

04.08.2009 17:13

Mani, just a technical question: If Bayern is your title favorite (mine, too, by the way), how should Hamburg, Schalke and Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League? IMHO, Bayern will make it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but not further. As for Klinsmann, I agree with you - he should have become a psycho-analyst instead of a football coach. Finally, top scorer Gomez? I beg to differ - I am betting on Ribery: After all that fuzz, he will have to prove that he was worth it!

Von Vsuthered

04.08.2009 17:40

Von Vsuthered

04.08.2009 17:44

I think that the Rothosen have a good chance of winning the league this year......primarily because they have managed to keep last year's squad together...(Olic being the exception)...and added elia, berg and rozenhal....which i think are very astute signings....they have added the kind of players needed to consolidate ..and build on a very successful year till they kept meeting werder in all competitions... at exactly the times when the squad was down to the bare bones....

Von DoublePivot

04.08.2009 20:29

I think there were more moves made than we give credit for. Hamburg have been very active, as have Hoffenheim. And while Stuttgart hasn't added much, they have added well.I personally believe that Hoffenheim are going to be the team to give Bayern the most trouble this season. Ralf is probably the best manager besides Magath and Van Gaal and the strengthening of the defense with the addition of the leagues best CB and LB have flown under the radar, but it makes them a complete team.

Von Mani18

05.08.2009 07:49

@DoublePivot: I agree there were many transfers, but few which really improved team. Hamburg did wisely by getting Ze Roberto. He is still top pf the league. Hoffenheim is a contester, but can they make it all the way to the top? I doubt it.

Von josephjmichael

05.08.2009 09:56

True Hoffe might pull in a surprise or to..but running for the whole season , might not be viable with the current squad... W'burg , well lightning shouldn't technically hit twice...Hamburg is a real contender , especially if VdV comes back..they will run till the end before finally surrendering to the eventual winners ....Bayern Munchen....

Von Daniel_Duesentrieb

05.08.2009 21:13

I think Bayern will win it this season. But I also think you - like many other Bayern fans - are overestimating Bayern's squad. The midfield and attack are first class. The defense and the goalkeeper are average - and I mean average in comparison with other Bundesliga teams. Stuttgart, Hamburg, Wolfsburg, Leverkusen and Hoffenheim look good on paper. Maybe one of them will become a serious title contender. Hertha will have problems. Dortmund looks good.Schalke might fight for a spot at the Europa League at best. Bremen's time as the 2nd force behind Bayern might come to an end this season. I hope that Frankfurt won't have to fight against relegation. I have a bad feeling. Top scorer: Dzeko.

Von Mani18

05.08.2009 21:25

@Daniel: I think that Bayern has also a strong defense. The only real problem is the goalkeeper. Hopefully we will feel it less than last year. Would not be too hopeful about the Eintracht.

Von ruxspin

05.08.2009 22:12

Wolfsburg won last year and will fight to defend , Stuttgart look good ,but you will not have Ribery much longer according to Man Utd and will be distracted by champions league . Let's hope it's as open as last year and the best team prevails.

Von Mani18

06.08.2009 13:07

@Teddy: To have an open season it always good as long as we will win this year :) I can;t imagine Wolfsburg defending the title. In the last years every time there was a surprise winner, the next year they failed badly.

Von josephjmichael

06.08.2009 13:19

Well Daniel beg to disagree on the defence part...Pranjic / Gorlitz is any day better than Lell...Lucio was making too many mistakes and IMO Van Buyten is the defender bayern had for sometime now...Bayern defence is as good , if not better than any other Bundesliga opponent

Von Mani18

06.08.2009 16:30

@Michael: Unfortunately any player is better than Lell :)

Von CCCPPlus

06.08.2009 22:09

Van Gaal is tops. but it will be hard for the players, this guy want it his way all the time. i used to think he's used to youngsters at Ajax that he didnt know how to cope with established players at other clubs (still cant figure his Alkmaar story - luck or ability?). believe Ribery will shine even more under Van Gaal.

Von samster

08.08.2009 19:18

bayern will win 4 sure..wolfburg r a good team, but the 1st tym champions league experience n retaning the league title,will be all too much for them.. n bayen still hve ribery, who cudnt jointhe real revolution..so i guess ,bayern is still the best in bundesliga..

Von bih_girl

12.08.2009 11:48

Hey Mani nice post...I finally found something interesting to me....But I'm mad....Can you tell me what's wrong with Tv rights for Bundesliga? None of many stations in Bosnia , Croatia and Bakan bought rights for Bundesliga matches...Are they really that expensive...I have about 60 Tv channels but I can't find any that 's showing Bundesliga matches...The match against Stuttgart and Wolfsburg I watch in Hungary....I returned back home and my dad told me what's situation like...so pls can you tell me what's wrong anf also do you know for some interner tv chanel where i can search for the bundesliga matches:)))) thanks! I agree about the top scorer, I would like to see Ibisevic on top but he's still under the injury and also Dzeko is under the Grafite's influence so I think Mario has the best chance to be on top:))) kisses

Von ruxspin

12.08.2009 16:21

Elma it's there loss stick to la liga and EPL to see the real REAL stars!

Von Mani18

12.08.2009 16:24

@Elma: Not sure what happened. Maybe the Bundesliga saw a chance to get more moeny this year. I am not aware of any legal internet TV channel that broadcasts the games. You can always try with Justin.tv tough.

Von Mani18

12.08.2009 16:24

Von Daniel_Duesentrieb

12.08.2009 16:35

@Teddy: Ibisevic, Dzeko, Salihovic and Misimovic all play in the Bundesliga, so I guess EPL or La Liga aren't a substitute for Elma. @Elma: I am not sure but I think the Bundesliga sold the broadcasting rights to various Eastern European/ South-Eastern European states to Eurosport. But maybe I can check that out.

Von Daniel_Duesentrieb

12.08.2009 16:42

@Elma: That's what I found: http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2009/08/05/eurosport-2-plans-hd-launch/

Von bih_girl

13.08.2009 00:00

thank you guys...well teddy i follow la liga, epl and calccio pretty well, i even watch french and dutch league but bundesliga is my favorite:))) thanks dani <3