Even the most optimistic of Manchester United supporters would admit that UEFA Champions League qualification through the Premier League is out of reach this season. So naturally, Manchester United should target UEFA’s secondary European competition, the Europa League. I have to confess, I’m not a fan of this tournament. And the more I bring this topic up, the more I find that a lot of soccer fans agree with me.

The Europa League hasn’t always been like this. Having provided some great moments for Europe’s most prominent teams including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus and United’s great rivals Liverpool, the Europa League was at one point a genuinely coveted trophy. All of which makes its recent fall in status even more glaring. Since the Europa League is played on Thursday nights for television purposes, many clubs see it as more of a hindrance to league form than a worthwhile competition. The matches have often featured under-strength line-ups and youth players, turning a once prestigious tournament into glorified friendlies. Worse yet, it has turned into an absolute death knell for Europe’s coaches.

Of the 48 teams taking part in this year’s group phase, an astonishing 19 of them have undergone a change in manager since the first round of games that were played in September last year. This includes all three English clubs (Wigan, Tottenham and Swansea) as well as long-time big hitters Valencia and Lazio. Whilst some of those clubs (notably Anzhi) were due to other factors, the fact remains that almost 40% of participating clubs now have a different manager from when the competition started.

It is the fates of Andre Villas-Boas and Michael Laudrup that have received the most attention in the UK. Whilst nobody knows what would have happened had they not been playing on Thursday nights, Manchester United manager David Moyes needs to look no further than the other end of the East Lancs Road for evidence of what not qualifying can do for you. After missing out due to league position last year, Liverpool have undergone a dramatic transformation in fortune. Brendan Rodgers found managing an assault on both domestic and European fronts too much for his team last year, which resulted in a seventh place finish in the league. The finish also resulted in a real fight to keep his star striker Luis Suarez at the club last summer. This year, solely focused on the Premier League and powered by Suarez and strike partner Daniel Sturridge. Liverpool find themselves at the top of the Premier League table entering April, along with boasting the most prolific attack in the division.

David Moyes has found himself under severe pressure in his first season in the job. Saturday’s fan protest banner, whilst seemingly having had the opposite effect to their intentions, does underline a growing feeling among supporters that Alex Ferguson may have got this one wrong. Talk of a hefty summer spending spree to rebuild United’s ageing defense and faltering midfield is common. Should David Moyes be the man trusted with the rumored warchest, he may well appreciate a chance to build his new side away from the European spotlight. The Scotsman would be unlikely to survive a second season like the current one, particularly at a club like Manchester United. It will also likely prove hard enough embedding six or seven new signings into the squad. It is a difficult endeavor and that’s without having to traipse his team to the other side of Europe every Thursday night.

Whether or not David Moyes keeps his job this summer could well depend on the availability of names such as Jurgen Klopp and Diego Simeone. But if David Moyes does remain in his role, it is likely to be the most important summer transfer window in the clubs rich history. The Sunday Telegraph newspaper this week suggested that up to £200 million will be available to spend. As important as recruiting new players will be, clearing the squad of highly paid under-motivated and under-performing players will be as important. Having to bolster a squad for a Europa League challenge would make this more difficult for the Manchester United manager.

Yes, the Europa League may provide a financial boost and a welcome distraction to the Premier League grind. Middlesbrough enjoyed a fantastic run that highlighted their season in 2006. Rangers also enjoyed a famous campaign that led to the final in 2008. However this is Manchester United. A club that demands success and fully believes that they should be looking to Europe’s grandest stage. The Europa League should be seen as an unwanted detour on the way back to the top.

For more Manchester United news, analysis and opinion, visit the Manchester United team page.

Since his arrival almost two and a half years ago, Manchester City has seen change unlike any other period in the club’s history. The oil rich owners influence has come to the fore after a period of disappointment under Mark Hughes, with Roberto Mancini bringing legitimately accomplished world class players to the club. Aside from Jerome Boateng, the German international defender that struggled to settle in, the spine of the team was massively altered, and to great expense. Cultured Spanish midfielder David Silva from Valencia, controversial Italian forward Mario Balotelli from Inter, and Yaya Toure, brother of club captain Kolo, from Barcelona were all brought in for £24 million apiece. Highly rated Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko also joined as did James Milner from Aston Villa and Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio. Within the space of just two transfer windows, Mancini had spent £150 million on players. Manchester City expected big things.

A relatively similar season followed, only with one difference that possibly kept him in a job. In May they clinched 3rd spot in the Premier League, improving from 5th the previous year, meaning City’s first ever participation in the money-spinning UEFA Champions League, where they would be competing with Europe’s best. They also managed to convert a 1-0 semi final win against Manchester United into a trophy, beating Stoke City in the FA Cup final to clinch the first medals in the new era.

Third spot, however, was not a league title, and the desire remained. Mancini would spend once again, this time bringing in Gael Clichy, already an accomplished Premier League player at Arsenal, along with Clichy’s countryman and former team mate, one of the stars of the previous season Samir Nasri. Young defender Stefan Savic was also brought in along with injury prone former England star Owen Hargreaves and a reserve goalkeeper (Costel Pantillimon) to replace the departed Shay Given as Joe Hart’s understudy. However these were overshadowed by the big money arrival of Argentina star Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid. Once again success was expected.

The signings would gel incredibly, particularly Sergio Aguero who, prior to Robin van Persie’s virtuoso displays for faltering Arsenal, led the goalscoring charts. David Silva was also lighting up the Premier League, and was drawing comparisons to international team mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi. City was blazing a trail at the top of the league, and were looking forward to their Champions League exploits where they would be facing German giants Bayern Munich, exciting Italian outfit Napoli and the experienced Champions League veterans Villareal.

It was however in this competition, during the defeat to Bayern Munich, that the biggest test so far in Mancini’s reign would come. Want-away striker and former captain Carlos Tevez would refuse to come on as a substitute after starting on the bench, causing a controversial argument with his own manager on the touchline and an even more controversial outcome. Mancini would declare that Tevez would never wear the shirt again, Tevez would also bury the knife into Mancini after fleeing Manchester to his Argentina base, where he would remain whilst his manager worked on keeping Manchester City going, forgetting about the entire issue and remaining in the title race with their surging cross city rivals.

One of the major pitfalls of building a team of expensive world stars tends to be having to deal with interesting personalities. There are very few bigger than Mario Balotelli. The Italian fluctuates from loveable rogue to footballs disgrace in the eyes of the media on an almost weekly basis, and there is very little denying that Mancini has got the best out of him, whilst also seemingly managing to keep the rest of the squad from resenting him.

The European campaign was a disappointment. They would eventually fall to Sporting Lisbon in the Europa Cup, after crashing out at the hands of Napoli in the Champions League, a similar fate to that of Manchester United. The league collapse that first let their local rivals back in to the title race from several points behind, and then gave them the advantage was also a major disappointment. It seemed as though the many millions would again result in a season without much to show for at the end.

With their season looking as good as over, Mancini and Tevez seemingly called a truce. It was announced that he would be returning to add a boost to their run in, and did they need it. An assist for the winner against Chelsea and a hat-trick against Norwich City has left Manchester City a win over their rivals on Monday night, the biggest Manchester Derby in quite some time, from returning to the top of the table on goal difference. Something that didn’t seem possible just a few weeks ago.

Without doubt, the money and riches available to Mancini have not made his job a walk in the park so to speak. He has had issues to deal with and has managed to keep them from boiling over. That all said, the money he has spent should bring success. Jose Mourinho showed this in building a team that dominated English football when he had similar backing at Chelsea in the middle of the last decade.

The Premier League Manager of the Season award is always a contentious one. Whilst usually dominated by the manager of the league champions, there are often several contenders. Overachievers competing for Europe? The newly promoted side comfortable in mid table? Many managers situations can be looked upon favourably by fans and media alike.

This season for example, the league champions will be led by either Roberto Mancini or 10 time award winner Sir Alex Ferguson. Whoever comes out on top will be favourite for the award, and it will be an achievement for either. Mancini will have led an expensively assembled yet inexperienced in terms of title chases to victory over the masters of the craft, the team that look as though they could win titles in their sleep, led by the most decorated manager English football has ever seen. If Sir Alex wins it asserts his dominance once again, and puts another new challenger in their place, as he has done throughout his career.

Below the title chase you have Arsene Wenger. About a fortnight ago I wrote an article suggesting that the situation at Arsenal was close to dire straits, and that they needed a change. A good run since then has put them, with their skeleton squad, injury problems and horrific start, in prime position for automatic qualification to the Champions League.  Whilst I refuse to completely U-turn on that view, as they still look a long shot from trophy winners, his comeback this year deserves respect. Below that is 2010’s winner Harry Redknapp, the only English winner of the award in the league’s history, who kept Spurs hot on the heels of the top two for two thirds of the season, with his bargain group of stars that are dwarfed by the price of Liverpool and Chelsea’s signing over the past two windows. An outsider due to their recent struggles and that they have lost touch with the Manchester clubs, but a consideration nonetheless.

Outside of the top four lay Newcastle United, another bargain squad comfortably holding their own with two of the more expensively built squads, the faltering giants Chelsea and Liverpool. An achievement that is nothing less than stunning for journeyman manager Alan Pardew and his players. The sale of star striker Andy Carroll which at one time looked unambitious has turned out to be an inspired piece of business, considering the additions they have made. The shrewd signings of Demba Ba, one of the top marksman in the league, Yohan Cabaye — who has received nothing but rave reviews from all sources — and now the January addition of Papiss Cisse, whose short time in the north east has been lit up by a few highlight reel goals so far have turned so called relegation candidates into Europa League contenders. Their reluctance to fall away as many overachievers do in the second half of the season has made their season all the more impressive.

Of all the clubs promoted from the Championship, most will have expected QPR, with the financial backing of sports and airline tycoon Tony Fernandes to impress the most, with their signings of established Premier League players. However the opposite has occurred and it is they who struggle. Swansea, who lit up the Championship with Brendan Rogers’ style of attractive passing, has continued that on into the Premiership, where midfield anchorman Leon Brittain is in the same league as Xavi and Iniesta of Barcelona in terms of completed pass statistics. Their signings were cheap ones from abroad — i.e. star goalkeeper Michel Vorm, or from the championship such as Danny Graham up front. A home record to be proud of and a few big results against Manchester City and Arsenal have seen them comfortably making it into the notoriously difficult second season. They will be joined there by Norwich City, who under the stewardship of the shrewd Scot Paul Lambert have adapted to the Premier League in the same impressive manner that they did to League 1 and the Championship. More lower league signings and a willingness to stick with the players that got them there means that that they too have no worries of a fight to avoid the drop at this stage.

Honourable mentions also go to Martin O’Neill, who has turned a solid but uninspiring Sunderland side into exciting climbers, as he did years before with Aston Villa, and Blackburn Rovers’ Steve Kean, who received dogs abuse due to his side’s poor form for large parts of the season however will have to respected if he can lead them to safety after the loss of captain Chris Samba and his defensive partner Ryan Nelsen.

As mentioned this is an early look, as there is still football to be played this year and still important developments to unfold in front of us, both at the top and at the bottom, where it is particularly tight. However the surprising achievements of a few teams this year warrants the already wide array of potential nominees.

Who do you think should be named manager of the season at this current stage? Vote below, and share your opinions in the comments section underneath. And let us know if you think there are managers who weren’t included that you think should be contenders.

[polldaddy poll=6077754]

‘One nil to the Arsenal’ was the famous song that emanated from fortress Highbury during the lengthy and successful tenure of the pragmatic George Graham. They were the team that were the very antithesis of Kenny Dalglish’s latest incarnation of the Liverpool dynasty that was so full of flair with Barnes and Beardsley and Molby and Nicol. The solid Arsenal line-up of the day were the main competition in the late 80’s/early 90’s (i.e. before the Manchester United machine) and were the personification of a powerful, hard to beat team. With the early days of the famous ‘back 5’ and the remaining influences of David O’Leary and Alan Smith the muscle was only broken by the enigmatic Paul Merson and then eventually Ian Wright. The format was successful, and league success was joined by cup victory, an unprecedented League Cup and FA Cup double, followed by the 1994 Cup Winners Cup.

The unfortunate circumstances that followed due to the ‘bungs’ that resulted in the one year ban and obvious departure of Graham brought to an end that era and as it turned out, that style of football. After a few barren years under the skilled but unsuited Scotsman Bruce Rioch, highlighted by the signing of one of the Premier League’s greatest ever, Dennis Bergkamp, Arsenal were soon to be taken over by the little known Frenchmen who was in charge of Nagoya Grampus 8 in Japan, Arsene Wenger. The man nicknamed ‘le professeur’ would revolutionise the Arsenal style, exciting players such as Nicolas Anelka and Marc Overmars, as well as the likes of Emmanuel Petit and the revelation that was Patrick Vieira, soon followed by the man who would become the clubs leading goalscorer; Thierry Henry. Arsenal would become the entertainers, playing a brand of football that nobody had seen before in the English game. A league and cup double in just his second season followed by further success in the league and in the cup was just a prelude to the ultimate achievement. In 2003/04, Arsenal’s 49 game unbeaten league run encompassed an entire league season without defeat, an achievement never before seen over the 38 game distance.

After the following year’s FA Cup triumph, icon and captain Patrick Vieira would leave for Juventus, and after the ’06 Champions League final defeat record goalscorer Thierry Henry left for their opponents that night, Barcelona. Within a few short years ‘The Invincibles’ as the team from the undefeated season were named, would break up entirely, along with Vieira and Henry- Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Gilberto Silva, Mathieu Flamini, Ashley Cole and the last of the bunch Kolo Toure  would all leave within just a few years. And alarmingly for the supporters, they were not sufficiently replaced.

Even more distressingly, the success dried up. Without a trophy for season after season whilst Chelsea were busy overtaking them as London’s top club. Suddenly the seemingly flawless Wenger was being questioned, first by the media scholars, and then by sections of his own support. The summer of 2011 was one that saw the heat from the Arsenal support turned up on Wenger, the early departures of the previous seasons stars Cesc Fabregas to boyhood club Barcelona, and of Samir Nasri to oil rich Manchester City, the out-and-out refusal to sway from his principles, Arsene Wenger would not and did not spend the money on new talent, capable of replacing such established stars. A Crushing 8-2 defeat to Manchester United, the team that less than a decade earlier, Wenger and Arsenal were in a constant battle for supremacy in the English game prompted a swift reversal and a deadline day spree of panic buying. Whilst Mikel Arteta was suited to the club, the unusual signing of the powerful but lumbering German international centre-half Per Mertersacker, along with Brazillian left back Andre Santos, Korean forward Park Chu Young and Premier League journeyman Yossi Benayoun were rehabilitating for the season, but ultimately uninspiring.

So to the future, and the question is, does Arsene Wenger have a future? With this article written just a few short days after an inspiring but eventually unsuccessful comeback in the home leg of the Champions League tie against Italian champions Milan, short term impressive results, of which there will still be a few, is not the point. The basic fact is that Arsenal with their current squad are not and will never be good enough to compete with the title contenders, let alone Europe’s best. The current squad do not have the ability to play the style of football that Wenger made famous, but are still impressive possession artists.

Of course, he still has a future at the club, and he has not turned into a bad manager overnight. However his policy in the transfer market needs to change. The club, as a whole, needs to stop their excessive masturbation over their favourable financial status and their ability to make a profit compared to the other top clubs, and realise that they need to back their manager and force him to spend. Having lost ground on Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea (despite this year’s regression) and even Tottenham has demanded that Wenger can no longer rely on kids, and building a team for five years time, they need to buy their way back to relevancy. This calls for the need to buy established, quality players in order for the third most successful club in terms of league success in the country, to return to their place as a serious threat in competitions.

New Bavarian National Team Captain?

If you thought that Pranks, Jokes and Shenanigans on April Fools Day are to be expected you are correct. Even the sometimes more reserved Germans participate in this day with fervor and the German Soccer press is no exception.

Here are some of the things to be found in the press in Germany today:

The  Berliner-kurier has a story on Jogi Löw making Hertha’s Keeper Jaroslav Drobny the new German Nr 1 in goal.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine has this story  about the State of Bayern wanting to qualify for the European Championships 2012. Question is who will be the coach for this team, Lothar or Markus?

The Website comunio.de has a report of Kevin Kuranyi being spotted at the Airport in Cardiff, Wales. When asked what he was doing there he said “I am going to support the team from the stands and since Mario Gomez can’t seem to score a goal, maybe I will get another chance.”

The Fanzine 11 Freunde has this story on Stefan Effenberg being named the new Manager at Schalke. His comment: “The situation is hopeless, but not critical.”

Along the same lines the Weltfussball.de site has this report  about the duo of Mirko Slomka and Rudi Assauer making a shock return to Schalke.

Mario Basler is getting a street named after him in Trier according to an article that appeared this morning. In the report it is said the Bar Owners and Cigarette Distributors have lobbied the City of Trier since last September to make this happen.

Not to be outdone, Felix Magath is also getting a street named in his honor according to to the aller-zeitung and the VW Orchestra will be there to play for him. Rumor has it that if Wolfsburg win the Championship that he will get a statue or VW will name a car after him.

The Hessischer Rundfunk on their online site is reporting that a Turkish business man wants to replicate the Hoffenheim experience with the suburbs own SG 01 Höchst.

And in a special report the abendzeitung has the scoop that FC Bayern is going to pay 1860 the amount of 18.6 Million Euros in reverse Rent to get them out of the Allianz Arena. To make up the amount paid to the Blues, Boris Becker will have a monthly TV Poker Show broadcast live from the Arena.

There is however no truth to the rumor that all blogging activities about the Bundesliga will be stopped in the event that Hertha actually win the Championship.

Blue and Green stand Toe to Toe

As if KSC Fans did not have enough problems with the performance of their team on the pitch and staring relegation in the face they are also having problems outside of the Stadium. There was an incident in the Karlsruher Hardtwald between the Police and the Fans of KSC recently. www.stadionwelt.de talked to Fanprojekt Karlsruhe leader Volker Körenzig about what happened.

Stadionwelt: Prior to the Bundesliga Game against Arminia Bielefeld the Fan Projekt Karlsruhe and the Supporters Karlsruhe were invited again to „Zam nausdappe“(Walking or Walk in together). What is that exactly?

Körenzig: We have been coordinating the „zam nausdappe“ for the past six years. We bring together KSC Fans at the Fanprojekt, generally about 300 people. About 90% belong to the active Fan Scene and the other 10% are Friends, Acquaintances or just have general interest to participate, regular KSC Fans if you will. About half of those then take the 45 minute walk to the Wildparkstadion and the rest ride on bicycles or drive. Like I said, we thought of this march before Home games about six years ago and coordinated the effort with the Police and the City of Karlsruhe. The „zam nausdappe“ is an action designed to educate and prevent violence at our Soccer games.

Stadionwelt: That did not happen last Saturday the way it was intended. What happened?

Körenzig: That’s true. After about 30 Minutes we came to the Tennis Courts at the DJK Ost. From there the path goes through the woods and the going is slower because the path is narrow. We saw some Rental Vans parked near the path and the Tennis Courts and that was a bit strange, since it was a Saturday afternoon, but there is another School facility nearby so it would have been possible that there was an event going on. As we got closer we saw some people that appeared to be trimming trees in a rather uncoordinated manner. I was curios and wanted to take a look but that never happened as a small truck was coming up the path behind us with some speed. When it reached the Fans the truck stopped and about 25 to 30 BFE Officers (Beweissicherungs und Festnahmeeinheit = Special Police Unit) jumped from the back. This Unit immediately and aggressively surrounded the group and forced us against the fences of the tennis courts. Totally confused I realized that there was another group of about 25 BFE Officers and several regular Police with Police Dogs behind the tennis courts. While we were surrounded there for ten minutes another six 9 Passenger Busses from the Karlsruher Police drove up.

Stadionwelt: That sounds like a bad movie…

Körenzig: …it was an unbelievable Situation. One of the Fans stated he thinks the people working on the trees were Police as well, but I don’t know that for sure and was focused on the Truck and the BFE Officers. I do know that the Chainsaws and other equipment went silent as soon as the whole thing started happening. It seems plausible though as the Police stated in the Badischen Neuen Nachrichten (Local News) that undercover operatives were used for this action.

Stadionwelt: What happened to the KSC-Fans?

Körenzig: We were all held for some time against the fence by the Tennis Courts and each one of us was taken one at a time escorted by two Police Officers to have our Identity checked and we were filmed as well. They actually made us lean against the Car, empty all of our pockets and patted us down. It really looked like an old movie. I think this took about 45 minutes given the amount of Fans that had to go through this and then we were allowed to resume our march to the Stadium.

Stadionwelt: Any idea what the Police were trying to accomplish with this, especially since they checked each and everyone of the participants of the march?

Körenzig: Officer Plate stated over his Megaphon that this had to do with the incidents after the Derby against Stuttgart, since there were some difficulties between KSC Fans and the Police. The Police in Karlsruhe alleged publicly that about 1000 KSC Fans were involved. Where these alleged 1000 problem Fans came from is a mystery to me. According to the Police there were only 96 Fans at the Hardtwald so I cannot understand the correlation. Our Ultras that were there are all known to the Police through their contacts in the Fan scene anyway.

Stadionwelt: How did the KSC Fans react during this incident?

Körenzig: Our Ultras and everyone else that was there deserve praise as no one became aggressive and cooperated with the Police the entire time. The Fans let them do what they needed to do and sadly this type of thing has become commonplace in Germany. Maybe not quite on this scale but the stereotyping of Fans has reached a sad new level and many “put up with it” now.

Stadionwelt: What are your thoughts about this Police effort?

Körenzig: I am strictly against it and don’t see any way to justify it. I have never experienced anything like this on such a scale and never want to ever experience it again. Like I said, among the group were regular Fans and also Youth’s. We have a U-18 Bus that we offer for away matches like in Düsseldorf or Leverkusen and some of the participants registered for the march with us before we left. Some of these guys are only 13 or 14 years old and then have to be exposed to something like this. That their impression of the Police is not positive after an incident like this is understandable. In their age bracket this can really be a bad experience and especially if this happens to a first time visitor. I have to say there were differences amongst the Police as well. The regular Karlsruhe Officers worked well with the cooperative Fans while the BFE Unit stayed masked the entire time and was very aggressive toward the Fans, even when checking an individuals Identification. Why the BFE had to stay masked no one was able to say. It was totally random and one of the Board Members of the Supporters Karlsruhe had to experience it as well, and he is hardly a violent person or extremist or whatever the Police was looking for in the Hardtwald that day.

Stadionwelt: Why is there no mention of this in the Media release from the Police?

Körenzig: That is a valid question. Maybe they do not want the general public to know how they are dealing with Soccer Fans. We were lucky that among the crowd was a Free Lance Journalist who decided to publish this incident in the press. We also had an Attorney among the group of Fans that was marching to the Stadium that day who is taking a close look at all of this this. Something like this should never happen again, it does not matter where.

He can already see BL 2 on the Horizon

The Situation at the top and who will be Meister and who will get the International spots is one to watch for sure. At the other end of the table the situation is just as close but there is little glory in anything other than the 15th Spot and up. So who will go down, who will participate in the relegation playoff and who will be safe? The current Numbers and the games remaining are below, so judge for yourself. And that would add word number 8 to DP’s list of words for Non-German Speakers: Absteiger!

12 Eintracht Frankfurt 25 6 7 11 29:38 -9
13 Hannover 96 25 6 7 11 33:50 -17
14 Arminia Bielefeld 24 4 12 8 21:33 -12
15 VfL Bochum 22 4 10 10 28:40 -12
16 Borussia M’gladbach (N) 22 6 4 14 32:46 -14
17 Energie Cottbus 20 5 5 14 21:42 -21
18 Karlsruher SC 17 5 2 17 18:41 -23

Remaining Games per Club:

Frankfurt:
Leverkusen (A), Cottbus (H), Bayern (A), M’gladbach (H), Stuttgart (A), Dortmund (H), Hannover (A), Bremen (H), Bochum (A), Hamburg (H)

Interesting mix of games for the Main Diva, key stretch will likely be in the middle with Gladbach, VfB, Hannover and Bremen at home. Of course Frankfurt has a habit of going down to the wire so stay tuned.

Hannover:
Hoffenheim (A), Bremen (A), Berlin (H), Hamburg (A), Köln (H), Bochum (A), Frankfurt (H), Karlsruhe (A), Wolfsburg (H), Bielefeld (A)

The next four games are against tough teams, and then the schedule swings in their favor by playing against fellow strugglers with the exception of Wolfsburg. Should be enough to keep them clear with some room to spare.

Bielefeld:
Wolfsburg (H), Schalke (H), Cottbus (A), Bayern (H), M’gladbach (A), Stuttgart (H), Leverkusen (A), Hoffenheim (H), Dortmund (A), Hannover (H)

The team from the Alm has only three Six Point games left, but also plays 5 teams in the Hunt for the Championship or International Spots. Key to avoiding the playoff spot may be the last two games but they have to come up with points against Cottbus and Gladbach before that.

Bochum:
M’gladbach (A), Stuttgart (H), Hoffenheim (A), Dortmund (H), Bremen (A), Hannover (H), Berlin (A), Hamburg (A), Frankfurt (H), Köln (A)

The team that always seems to find a way back after going down has some key matches left against their immediate neighbors in the standings but also has to play some tough away games against the likes of Hoffenheim, Bremen, Hertha and HSV.

Gladbach:
Bochum (H), Karlsruhe (A), Wolfsburg (H), Frankfurt (A), Bielefeld (H), Bayern (A), Schalke (H), Cottbus (A), Leverkusen (A), Dortmund (H)

Currently on a bit of a roll and the only heavyweights left on the schedule are WB and Bayern so they should be able to make it out of the drop zone. Playing five matches against the other teams at the bottom should also help.

Cottbus:
Köln (H), Frankfurt (A), Bielefeld (H), Schalke (A), Wolfsburg (H), Karlsruhe (A), Bayern (H), M’gladbach (H), Stuttgart (A), Leverkusen (H)

On paper the remaining games with the exception of WB, FCB and Leverkusen are not that bad, however the team from the Lausitz has only gotten 10 points at Home this season so that does not bode well for them.

Karlsruhe:
Bayern (A), M’gladbach (H), Schalke (A), Hoffenheim (H), Leverkusen (A), Cottbus (H), Dortmund (A), Hannover (H), Bremen (A), Berlin (H)

It ain’t over until it’s over, but I think I hear a rather healthy woman warming up right now. With the problems that the KSC has the last thing they want to do is play against some of the title contenders, but that is exactly what they have to do.

So who will it be? I think we can say goodbye to KSC and Cottbus for sure and the playoff team from the Bundesliga will be Bielefeld.

FC Köln Fans

74th Rhein Derby this Saturday in the Bundesliga: 1. FC Köln against Borussia Mönchengladbach. A Derby with great history and even better stories, most of the time Borussia came out ahead. 19 times Mönchengladbach has been able to win in Köln, more than against any other Club they have visited in the Bundesliga.

Bundesliga.de conducted an interview with the Borussia Fan Coordinator Thomas Weinmann about this Bundesliga Classic and what makes it so special.

bundesliga.de: Herr Weinmann, what is the current mood of Gladbach Fans after the clear 4:1 Victory against the HSV and ahead of the Derby with Köln?

Thomas Weinmann: Everyone is in great spirits and the confidence in being able to stave off relegation is also improved. We beat Hamburg convincingly and even though we lost to Berlin dominated a good portion of that game. We are pretty confident: We will stay up!

bundesliga.de: How important is the game against Köln?

Weinmann: It is the highlight of our Season, the most important game of the year. For over 30 years now. We don’t want to be relegated; obviously that is the most important thing. At the same time we do not want to lose any games against Köln.

bundesliga.de: How many tickets do you think could have been sold to Gladbach Fans?

Weinmann: At least 20000, perhaps even 30000. Borussia Fans have always traveled well to Köln, in the old Müngersdorfer Stadion in the 80’s and 90’s we often had 15000 to 20000 Gladbach Fans. Today Away travel has only increased because in and around most Stadiums it has gotten much safer. Unfortunately the ticket number to Away fans is set at a certain number.

bundesliga.de: What make this Derby special?

Weinmann: Köln’s view is like this: Köln is a big city and the 1. FC Köln is the Number 1 in the region. In the 70’s you suddenly see “the Farmers from the country” become successful and are the Number 1 team. That laid the foundation for this rivalry; it was played hard but still remained fair. When both teams went through hard times in the 90’s with relegation and trying to survive economically a lot of bitterness came up on both sides. That set the tone and the intensity got a bit rougher.

bundesliga.de: The last Derby in Köln had some tension after the “Fahnenaffäre” (BMG Ultras had their Flags stolen by Köln Fans). How do you see this one?

Weinmann: Difficult to say exactly as there is still some thought about that incident. At the same time our Fans are in a good mood after the win against the HSV; we are confident we will win there again like we have in the past even though we have not won at their new Stadium yet. And I would like to add that even though there was tension at the last match, after the game was over Fans of both teams crossed paths outside of the Stadium and nothing happened.

bundesliga.de: What sort of influence as Fan Coordinator do you have on the behavior of the Fans?

Weinmann: Not much on a match day, our work is more long term. We try to communicate to certain Fans how to behave, that there are rules and consequences. There is no place for violence. This is a process that does not happen overnight; ideally the Fans come to a realization by themselves how to conduct themselves.

bundesliga.de: There is no other team that Gladbach has been able to beat on the road as much as Köln. Is there a game that has a special memory for you?

Weinmann: 1975 I attended my first Derby, at the old Kölner Radrennbahn and we won 2:1. Or the 4:0 win in 1993, as Peter Wynhoff made a spectacular Goal after a solo run that covered half of the field. We also lost there once by 0:4, but the only thing that matter to both Gladbacher and Kölner is that the other team does not win.

Ten thousand Hertha BSC Fans have changed the text to a Hip Hop Song. The Melody is from two Hip Hop artists from Tempelhof that discovered their sudden fame on TV watching the Sportschau.

 Two weekends ago Vincenco de Marcos, 30, was sitting on his couch in Tempelhof. The TV was on and the “Sportschau” was reporting on the Bundesliga Games of the day. “I was sort of flipping channels” said de Marcos. When the Hertha BSC game highlights came on and the Fans were overjoyed at taking over the top spot in the Bundesliga, Vincenco de Marco almost fell off his couch. “The whole Stadium was singing our Melody, our Song” he said.

Vincenco de Marcos is a Rapper, he calls himself “Frauenarzt” (Gynecologist) and together with his friend Marc Schneider, 28, they appear as “Atzen DJs” on stage. They mix Electro beats with Rhymes and published a song that included the lyrics: “Hey, das geht ab – wir feiern die ganze Nacht!” (Hey, this is happening – we party through the whole night). At Concerts the crowd was jumping along and somehow, sometime the song was added to a CD from Fans of Hertha BSC, they played it on a Bus heading to away games. The same way Fans adapt other songs is what happened next: They took the Melody and changed the lyrics. The lyrics that were heard in the Stadium came out like this: “Hey, das geht ab – wir holen die Meisterschaft!” (Hey, this is happening – we are going to be Champions).

This past weekend the Team also sang the Song in the Olympiastadion, dancing arm in arm on the blue running track. “We are not even real Hertha Fans, at least not as bad as the Fans in the curve”, the Rappers said while sitting in their favorite Café near the U Bahnhof Kaiserin-Augusta-Straße. This is their “Hood”, where they attended School. “I have to go back to the Stadium”, said de Marcos, “that deal with our Song – it is hot.” “We make Ballermann Music (so called after the legendary Ballermann 6 Club in Mallorca, many (some older) German Language Songs that are infused with a techno beat), inspired by the 80’s beats from the Band Kraftwerk”, said de Marcos. It seems to be successful since their video for “Das geht ab” was viewed on Youtube over 1.4 Million times. Their Song “Florida Lady” is played at a lot of party’s. And now they created the Melody for the Championship Hymn at the Olympiastadion. And since Berliners are practical people, they are also preparing for the contingency of a UEFA Cup spot: “Hey, das geht ab – wir holen den Europacup!” Hertha Fans have already practiced this one just in case.

I apologize in advance if some of the terminology in the story about the Hertha song is wrong, but I am not well versed in Hip Hop terms.  Especially the German Hip Hop Scene that likes to mix US terms and some of their own as well.

What side of the fence are you on?

Consequences after the Riots in Hamburg: DFB President Zwanziger is considering Travel Bans on Fans, Rostock is not ruling out Court Actions against the instigators. The Police Union is warning that there may be fatalities soon and is demanding games in empty stadiums.

Hamburg – The physical damage caused in the Riots surrounding the 2nd Division game between FC St. Pauli and Hansa Rostock (3:2) from last Friday has already disappeared, but the psychological damage done to German Soccer will remain for some time. DFB President Theo Zwanziger is considering a general Travel Ban on Problem fans. He said to “Bild am Sonntag”: “If it helps, then we have to do it.” The Gewerkschaft der Polizei (GdP = Police Union) went even further. GdP Chairman Konrad Freiberg said after the Street fighting in Hamburg about Matches without Spectators: “As extreme as it sounds it has to remain a possibility, with the increase of violent activities surrounding Soccer recently, it is just a matter of time before we see fatalities.”

The DFB is going to discuss the incidents in Hamburg later this week, Hansa Rostock however is not waiting and has already issued the first consequences: Four people have already received a three year Stadium ban for all of Germany, and the Club has reserved the right that if it receives a Fine from the DFB that it will take the guilty individuals to court to recoup damages. According to Rostock’s Board Chairman Dirk Grabow the actions of some of the Fans were “absolutely unacceptable”. As a “Repeat Offender”, the Club could see serious sanctions from the DFB, to include playing in an empty Stadium. St. Pauli is also looking at a minimum of a monetary fine, after approximately 1000 St. Pauli Fans and other individuals participated in the Street Fighting with the Police. Five Officers, two Fans and a bystander were injured.

The incident has started the discussions about how to prevent Fan Violence once again. The Police think that a Travel Ban is a viable option. “It makes sense not to let Violent Fans travel to the matches” said GdP Chairman Freiberg. The Police tried a limited version of this ahead of the match by enacting Stadium Bans on 11 Rostock Group Leaders and 5 St. Pauli Fans. The Koordinationsstelle Fanprojekt (Kos = Coordination office for Fan Project) however stated that a Travel Ban “would not do anything” according to the Frankfurt Kos Leader Michael Gabriel. Gabriel acknowledged that there has been “an increase of violent incidents in Soccer” but added “It is definitely not only an East German Problem.” Another item brought into the discussion has been criticism of the DFL for setting the date of the match. In the future the risk matches should be scheduled on “an unattractive travel day” according to Hamburg’s Police Spokesman Ralf Meyer – for example Sunday or Monday. He added “Friday Evening is to much an attractive day to have a match like this.” The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL = German Soccer League) coordinates the selection of the match days for the 2nd Division with the Zentralen Informationsstelle Sporteinsätze (Zis = Central Information Office for Sporting Events) of the Police in Düsseldorf. “We coordinate all scheduling for matches with the Zis and did it in this case as well” said DFL Managing Director Holger Hieronymus.

The DFB Safety Coordinator Helmut Spahn sat down for an Interview where he gives his opinion on the statements by the Police Union (GdP)

Q: There has been quite the discussion after the incidents surrounding the St. Pauli vs. Rostock match. How do you view the Coordination with the Police before the game especially in regards to the date of the match?

Helmut Spahn: There was almost nothing that could be improved upon. The Coordination between the teams and the Police was at a perfect level, and that includes the date picked for the match. Contrary to the current criticism, the Zentrale Informationsstelle für Sporteinsätze (ZIS) not only concurred with the date chosen but recommended Friday or Monday to the DFL for this match.

Q: Once again there is a demand that games should be played behind closed doors. As Security Coordinator for the DFB, what is your position on that?

Spahn: We have to make that a possibility, but only as a matter of last resort. You have to remember that the problems do not entirely go away if the match is played without spectators, most of the altercations happen outside the Stadium instead of in the Stadium. The Fans of the Home Team are already in their City and the Away Fans could still come to town. In this case, various observers reported to me that after the game the fighting was mainly with Left Autonomous individuals and the Police and the fighting before the game was with Rostock Supporters and the Police. So we have to see if it would even make sense to exclude the Public if the resulting stretching of resources for the Police would increase the danger to both the Public and the Police forces.

Q: What possibilities are there to prevent this sort of thing for future Risk Matches ahead of time? For example, is it legal to tell known Problem Fans they cannot travel?

Spahn: That is already being attempted. For this to really work the Police laws and regulations have to be the same and applied uniformly, currently each State has different rules and procedures. Something like this can only be successful if all the participants coordinate effectively.

Q: What is your view on the general developments of Violence in the Stadiums? Is there any truth to the comments that there is an increase in incidents to include the 2nd and 3rd Divisions?

Spahn: The statements that say the movement to violence is increasing in the lower Divisions are false. Our data alone indicates that is not correct. I honestly view these comments as having a Stammtischniveau (literally translates to Stammtisch = a reserved table usually found in bars, Niveau = French word meaning level, practical usage in English would approximate hearsay without facts). The numbers indicate the opposite of that.

Q: The GdP is depicting Horror Scenarios that these incidents will only grow in number and size. Do you share these concerns?

Spahn: I am concerned how some of these incidents are moving outside the Stadium grounds. We are only responsible for the safety and smooth operations inside the Stadiums. The problem that we had on Friday was the use of Pyrotechnics in the Stadium. Our strong prohibitions in that regard govern from the Bundesliga down to the 4th Division.

Q: How do you respond to the demand that the Clubs must improve their work with the Fans? What are the DFB and the DFL doing in that regard?

Spahn: That demand is hard to top in its polemic! Every Club from the Bundesliga to the 4th Division has a Fan Coordinator, and there are an additional 44 Fanprojekte doing social education with Fans. There is not much to improve there. The DFB and the DFL is contributing over two Million Euro’s for a third of the total cost, the rest of the money is contributed from the German States and Communities.

Q: What is your response to the statement made by the Chairman of the GdP, Konrad Freiberg that it is just a matter of time before we see fatalities around Soccer matches?

Spahn: I don’t want to call it mental arson, but it is not far removed from that. These comments are not to be taken serious. All we can reiterate is: We don’t want to talk away problems, but we can only solve problems when Politics and Sports in this case the Police and Soccer, work together to solve them instead of trying to blame each other. If the GdP wants to go into a different direction they might find themselves isolated in a Cul de sac.

I really had hoped to get into something a bit more upbeat involving Fan activities after the last few weeks have seen more negative things than positive ones, but these incidents cannot be ignored especially if they may lead to changes in the way the Fans are treated. The sad truth is that the actions of a few extremists are going to impact everyone and the Fans have to step up and police themselves.

The Bundesliga Season 2008/09, a few words come to mind: Exciting, Dramatic and Close. The first half had newly promoted Hoffenheim getting a fast start and ultimately claiming the Herbstmeister Title. Now we have a team at the top that has never been there this late in the season: Hertha BSC.

Hertha is far from a safe bet as between them and the 7th Place team VfB Stuttgart there is a grand total of seven Points difference. The other teams in the pack Hamburger SV, Hoffenheim, FC Bayern München, VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen also still have a good shot at becoming Deutscher Meister.

Since it appears that everyone can beat anyone at any given time, the leaders Hertha have amassed just 43 Points. The last time the leading team had less points was in the 2000/01 Season when FC Bayern had 42 Points. The 3 Point Rule was instituted into the Bundesliga with the 1995/96 Season and the difference between the top 7 teams after 22 Match days has never been closer than now. The previous low was 8 Points which happened twice, 2004/05 between Bayern and Hertha and 2000/01 between Bayern and SC Freiburg.

Under the old 2 Point rule one of the closest races after 22 games was the 1993/94 Season, when the surprising Leader MSV Duisburg had a two point lead on 7th Place Werder Bremen. The “Zebras” would have had 37 Points under the 3 Point rule. The previous 22 match days have given us five different teams at the top: Hertha BSC, HSV, Hoffenheim, Leverkusen and even FC Schalke 04 (more on them in a minute). Hoffenheim held the lead longest with 11 Match days. So where is Bayern you ask? The Rekordmeister has not led the Bundesliga at any time so far this season and with a 4 point deficit on Hertha the earliest they could take the lead would be after Match Day 24. The last time that Bayern did not have the lead at least once by Match Day 22 was during the 2003/04 Season when Werder Bremen was crowned as Champions.

So all of the Contenders can hope to be at the top at the final whistle…

Schalke 04 cancels scheduled Fan Party.

It was a great idea and 9000 Tickets had already been sold, but the Schalker Fan Club Verband (SFCV) after talking it over with FC Schalke 04 front office, has decided to cancel the planned 30 Year Anniversary party scheduled for the 4th of April. “We would have loved to have a party with the Fans and the Team” said SFCV Chairman Rolf Rojek. “But in the last few days many of the Fans have cancelled their reservations and also asked us if this is an appropriate time to have a party. The frustrations of a disappointing season, that everyone from Fans to Team to Management did not see coming, is really hitting home” according to Rojek. “None of us is in the mood to celebrate which is bitter and sad, but it is the reality of the situation. After talking it over with the Club we decided to cancel the festivities for now.” All those that purchased tickets to the event will receive a full refund.
Schalke had high hopes for the season but is currently sitting in 8th Place and 5 points out of 5th Place (UEFA Cup spot) and the team has also crashed out of all other competitions as well, the latest setback being the defeat to Mainz this week in the DFB Pokal.

SGE "Fans" actions in Karlsruhe continue to be hotly debated.

The fines have been handed out by the DFB, Eintracht Frankfurt was fined 40,000 Euros and Karlsruher SC was fined 15,000 Euros respectively for not adequately providing security for the Officials and the Players. While both Clubs grudgingly accepted the verdicts and fines the only ones that seem to accept little responsibility are the “Fans” responsible for the incident. A statement released by the Ultras Frankfurt after meeting with Klaus Lötzbeier from Eintracht Frankfurt seems to indicate that the group is blaming the incident on not being able to perform a previously requested Choreography.

Is this really what Supporters are about? In this case it seems to basically come down to wanting to get your way like a small child and if that does not happen you are going to do whatever you like and blame it on those not giving in to your Childish behavior? Before you say to yourself “What does someone in the US know about this kind of thing” let me say this: I have been involved in the Soccer Fan Scene since I was 8 Years old and have seen and experienced quite a few things in that time both in Europe and more recently here in the US where the Fan Scene is slowly but steadily growing. I have experienced the age of old School Kuttenträger, had my share of Hooliganism and have a few scars to show for it and seen the Ultras Movement make its way on to the scene. I have always been fond of the Loyalty, creativity and the bond that is found in the most ardent Supporters of a Club and still maintain regular contact with people that shared some of the most amazing trips and experiences so many years ago.

While the Supporters groups can be described as the heart and soul of the Club and many are willing to follow their Club to the ends of the earth to attend not only regular season and International Games but also Training Camps, Friendlies, Indoor Tournaments, Public Appearances etc. there has been a disturbing trend of some types of Fans to basically attempt to blackmail “their” Club. Why is a good question, if the groups are doing what their mission statement seems to indicate “Unwavering Support of your Team through thick and thin” how can incidents like this show support of “Your” Club? Are incidents like this that result in fines, potential loss of points, playing in an empty stadium helping your Club and the Players achieve their goals or are they a way for your group to showcase itself and increase the groups standing in the world of Supporters Groups? Many times the latter unfortunately seems to be the major factor that drives the Groups to do things that seem to conflict with what they say they are all about and then when the repercussions come they tend to compound the problem by stating that they will protest as they are being unfairly persecuted. For an example of this see some of the excerpts translated from the statement:

Statement from the Frankfurt Ultras can be found here: http://www.uf97.de/

“This Thursday evening our group had a meeting with Klaus Lötzbeier (Board Member of the Eintracht Frankfurt Fussball AG). We as a group thought it to be best to wait until after this meeting to offer a public statement instead of prior to the meeting. Now that we had the meeting here is our statement in regards to what happened at the away match in Karlsruhe and the sanctions that the Eintracht Frankfurt Fussball AG has brought against the active Fan scene.

In Karlsruhe we were once again not allowed to display a previously made and officially requested Choreography. (Note: They have to be coordinated with and allowed by the teams) For that reason we decided ahead of time to not regulate our Fan Scene in regards to Pyrotechnics as we have done with our voluntary non use of Pyrotechnics since the game against Oberhausen in 2002. With minor small exceptions there has been nothing spectacular with Pyrotechnics in Frankfurt since 2002, even though we have always said that we generally are not going to distance ourselves from Pyrotechnics.

The Pyrotechnic display in Karlsruhe to start the 2nd Half, with the exception of the two flares at the end that landed on the field, was absolutely in order.

Since we have been told that we cannot bring anything to away matches we have decided to not bring anything to the home match against Schalke this weekend. We will not hang banners, flags or participate in any chants or songs. As long as our own Club, Eintracht Frankfurt, continues to impose these penalties we will not be able to support the Club in the way we always have.”

Ultras Frankfurt, 26.02.2009

Now I ask you, does this sound like a group that is acknowledging it made an error and is accepting responsibility or a group that is blaming everyone else for this incident and wants the Club to give in to its demands?

Not the way to light a fire under someones behind

Frankfurt’s “Saboteurs”

 
Eintracht Frankfurt did not exactly bring Fireworks to the game in Karlsruhe this past weekend, at least not on the field. There were plenty of Fireworks in the visitors section of the Wildpark Stadion from the Frankfurt Fans however and the match was almost called off by Referee Michael Weiner. This after Frankfurt was fined the week before due to the behavior of their fans at a match in Köln. Now the Club is again facing a heavy fine from the DFB and Eintracht Boss Heribert Bruchhagen is steamed and calling the Fans “Saboteure”.

 
At the Clubs board meeting on Tuesday those responsible were the first thing on the agenda according to Bruchhagen. Small wonder as the previous fine for the Cologne match incidents was 5000 Euros and the incident in Karlsruhe should be quite a bit more up to about 60000 Euros. Some of the fireworks lit in the visitors section landed in the vicinity of KSC Keeper Markus Miller. Referee Michael Weiner then took the players off the pitch and started the second half only after a 5 minute delay.
“Every Euro we have to spend for this is aggravating” said Bruchhagen in anticipation of the coming fine and added: “We are not going to tolerate this sort of thing. We will probably pay a severe price but this needs to stop. We can’t allow ourselves to let certain parties dictate their actions to us”.

 
Eintracht adds new measures immediately

Eintracht Board Member Klaus Lötzbeier, responsible for Fan Matters with the Club, summarized it like this: “Eintracht Frankfurt will try any means necessary to remove the criminal elements amongst our Fans and we also appeal to all of our Supporters that honor the Club and love the game to help us with this.” According to Lötzbeier this could mean restrictions on every fan as that is the only way to find the “irresponsible people that hide behind the peaceful supporters and eliminate them.”

Of course the Eintracht Frankfurt Internet forums are seeing some heavy use as the different supporters are going at each other over right or wrong, good or bad, and of course trying to figure out the reasons why this happened and how to prevent it.

So what is your opinion is this part of the game and supposed to help the team or is this more about Fan groups trying to make a name and reputation for themselves?

Winners of the BVB Fan Tournament

 Borussia Dortmund Fan Projekt hosts Fan Club Tournament

Borussia Dortmund tradition continued on Carnival Sunday when at 10 AM 40 BVB-Fanclubteams from all over Germany met to play for the Champion of the Brinkhoff`s No.1 Cup.

Besides the over 400 Players, many spectators and prominent guests from the BVB, the Dortmund legends Siggi Held and Lars Ricken were in attendance as well as the Fanbeauftragten (Fan Coordinators) Jens Volke and Sebastian Walleit. The tournament was played on Sunday, 22 February at the Schul- und Sportzentrum Dortmund-Brackel Oesterstraße, Hallen I und II. One of the favorites “Die Abhängigen” from Herdecke was surprised early on by the Borussenfans Herne but the current Südtribünenmeister “Borussia Forever Lüdinghausen” managed to avoid an upset in the semi final after a shoot out win against GSG 09. The second semi final saw the surprise teams of the tournament, Fanclub International and “Kasche and Friends” go against each other. Matthias Kartner and his team have participated in Fanclub tournaments since 1995 (!) and most often they did not make it out of the opening rounds. This was their time as they not only beat “International” but also the heavy favorite from Lüdinghausen in the final.
Besides the bragging rights and the actual trophy the winning team will also be officially recognized at a Bundesliga game at the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. The Fan Projekt Dortmund was very satisfied with the 17th Edition of the tournament and plans are already underway for next year’s edition.

Bayer Leverkusen-Fans to run Half Marathon

Stamina is required of Bayer Leverkusen Fans. After the success of the last two years the Fanprojekt Leverkusen is calling on all Bayer 04-Fans to prepare for the “Leverkusener Halbmarathon” on 7 June 2009. Training will begin on Tuesday, 3 March at 6 PM.

“Our training has become somewhat of a tradition. We have Fans among all age groups that are participating” said Fanprojektleader Stefan Thomé. “Some of our participating Fans in the Leverkusen Half Marathon last year also took part in the Cologne Marathon”.

VfB Stuttgart Serdar Tasci visited Kick Off Camp

Young Fans of VfB Stuttgart, that also like to play the game, used their Fasching vacation to participate in two Kick-Off-Camps organized by the VfB-Fußballschule. Both of the camps were indoors with perfect field conditions and nice temperatures at the Soccer Olymp Fellbach (just outside of Stuttgart).

Among the Highlights in the program was a visit from VfB Defender Serdar Tasci on Sunday the 22nd February, exclusively for the participants of the 1st Kick-Off-Camp. He was available for questions and autographs and enjoyed spending time with the youngsters. The participants of the second Camp in Fellbach were visited by “Fritzle” (the VfB Mascot).

Schalke 04 “Catweazle” auctions off legendary Drum

Among Schalke Fans everyone knows him: “Catweazle”, for 28 years he and his Drum were always found in the Nordkurve of the Parkstadion. Catweazle is now supporting the charity Gelsenkirchener Tafel e.V. and will auction of his Drum and Wig to raise money for them. The auction will also be supported by the Schalker Fan-Initiative e.V.

The auction began on 20 February at 19.04 PM on eBay. The opening bid was also fixed at 19,04 Euro and the auction will run for 10 days. The winning bidder can pick up the Drum, Drum Sticks and Wig at the Fan-Shop of the Schalker Fan-Initiative e.V. after paying in cash. “Catweazle” was first infected with the Schalke virus in 1958 when he visited Hannover to see Schalke win their last German title. Upon returning he helped paint the Train station Blue and White and spent some time as a guest of the Polizei. The only vacations he has ever taken were to support Schalke on the road.

Werder Bremen Ex Player Wynton Rufer for “100% Werder Worldwide”

Werder Bremen will always be International is the message that was announced on the 13th of February from the Ostkurve in the Weser-Stadion. The Green and Whites officially launched their social project “100% Werder Worldwide”, an expansion of the successful project started in 2002 “100 Schulen – 100 Vereine” (100 Schools – 100 Teams) on all Continents.

“We will incorporate our already existing contacts in over 20 countries with this new project and want to expand to create more partnerships” said Klaus-Dieter Fischer, President and Chief Operating Officer of the SV “Werder” v. 1899 e.V. who along with unveiling the new project also presented the new patron for “100% Werder Worldwide” the Ex Bremen Player and former New Zealand International Wynton Rufer.

MSV Duisburg with special pricing for Youth Teams

MSV Duisburg is offering special pricing for all regional Youth teams for the return legs of the 2008/2009 Season in the MSV-Arena.

From the youngest Bambini to the A-Jugend all Youth team players (and one Chaperone per 4 players) can attend a game in the MSV-Arena for only 5 Euros per game.

Alemannia Aachen will have a special jersey for Fans again

The last game at the Tivoli on 24 May will have Alemannia Aachen wearing a Special jersey on the field. Fans that order the jersey by 16 March will also have their name printed on the jersey. The Jersey will be in the layout of the 1969 Kit, the year Alemannia came in second place in the Bundesliga, and will be yellow with one Black stripe. DFL Rules allow for teams to wear a special Jersey for one game a year and some teams have had some interesting variations on that theme.

Gelbe Wand in Schalker hands (or not?)

Have you ever wondered what makes a true Derby and how the emotions of the Fans are affected by the spectacle? After this weekend’s Ruhrpott Derby between Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund (1:1) some of the blogs have interesting takes from both sides. I am not going into the specifics of the game as there are plenty of available match reports but have chosen to translate a few excerpts about one particular piece of Tifo that has been at the center of attention between the two sides.

Schalke Fan:
After all the pre game Music, the Introductions and Advertisements the game is finally about to begin. Everyone starts waving their Scarves as the Whistle blows and we are underway. In the Nordkurve the first Banner makes an appearance “Wir tun alles – ihr nichts…!” (We do everything – you do nothing!), maybe a bit early is my feeling. As I look closer at the Blue Wall I see to my surprise several giant yellow pieces, and they truly look like remnants of the famed “Gelben Wand“ (“Yellow Wall”), the one that disappeared one night about two years ago from its location 80 Meters above the pitch of the Westfalenstadion. As I look at the Visitors section I recognize they are beside themselves and not a very happy bunch, and the Schalke Fans are singing something about “Gelbe Wand in Schalker Hand” (“Yellow Wall in Schalke Hands”) and are celebrating themselves and their so called Heroic Deed. I wonder are those yellow pieces “real”?* When yellow player banners have been imitated even I have to wonder. But UGE (Ultras Gelsenkirchen) would not embarrass us by making this themselves, I can’t really imagine it.
* It seems that apparently there was an incident in which Schalke Fans made Dortmund Player Banners and held them up in the Schalke Section so as to appear they were captured from the opposition.
In a few seconds the entire Stadium is on its feet and singing “Die gelbe Wand, die gelbe Wand, die gelbe Wand ist wieder daaaaa!” (“The yellow wall, the yellow wall, the yellow wall is back again!”). This results in severely testing the stability of the Plexiglas enclosures around the visitors section. Before the match the songs were less about “Support” and more “Anti Support” already because both Fan Groups worried more about each other than with their own team and this incident actually heightens that feeling. At least until a few minutes into the game when the action on the field causes reactions to the actual match……….

Dortmund Fan:
The whistle had barely blown when the Blue Supporters already got our attention. It seems that even though the roof of the arena was closed that some of them were a bit cold and needed to wrap themselves up in a warm yellow blanket. Seems the additional warmth had them feeling better as we could see by their singing and dancing. Since the noble yellow material was apparently the one lovingly manufactured in Dortmund until it changed hands through a criminal action all of us were a bit enraged. The journey from Dortmund to the little Fishing Village already had its share of delays and troubles, this display finally torpedoed the remaining sentiments of those trying to calm the feelings before the derby. In this situation you have to ask yourself why there are talks between delegations of both teams and the police before the Derby. The promises of FC Perjury ahead of the game to not participate in any kind of provocations where broken again. They have had a banner over the Nordkurve since the last derby that made reference to our missing banner: “Einst war ich schwatzgelb und hing im Süden” (“I used to be yellow and black and hang in the South”). If that is their idea of de escalation then that is why we hope this Club does not survive the year 2010. Probably a question best posed to the Russian. (Reference to the Schalke Sponsor Gazprom)

So there you have it, different views on activities surrounding a true Derby match. Thanks to the bloggers from auswaertssieg (Schalke) and schwatzgelb (Dortmund) for sharing your experiences. Right or wrong, it is part of what makes the atmosphere of a rivalry match so heated and different from what we are used to in the United States. Your thoughts?

This is not the "Official" Kreisliga Logo.

Hamburg – League Boss Reinhard Rauball is distancing himself from DFB Boss Theo Zwanziger in the fight on possible monetary compensation for the Amateur Clubs and also criticized the cancellation of the Kreisligaspieltages on 1 March. “I cannot agree with this. I respect the authority of those that have to make this decision, but I personally cannot understand it” Rauball told “kicker” magazine.

Rauball’s criticism is based on the cancellation of the first match day in the Kreisen (Areas) Gelsenkirchen, Unna, Gladbeck und Kirchhellen on 1 March to Protest against the Bundesliga-Sunday afternoon match. He also had some strong words in the direction of Zwanziger, who had recommended monetary compensation for the Amateur teams that are looking at losing revenue and Fans if a Bundesliga game is played at the same time they are scheduled to take the field. In a call between the two sides, Rauball reiterated that the DFL “would not participate in this compensation package”. Rauball also stated that DFB-Generalsekretär (General Secretary) Wolfgang Niersbach had his doubts about being able to make a compensation package work. According to Rauball, Niersbach is said to “have no idea how that is supposed to work”. As long as the Amateur teams do not “strike” Rauball is willing to ask the Bundesliga teams to stage benefit games to help the Kreisliga* teams.

*In case you are wondering where the Kreisliga ranks, it is approximately the 9th or 10th Division (depending on the State) of German Soccer Structure and is comprised of so called Hobby Kicker (working people that are playing the game for fun).

The Teams from the Kreise Gelsenkirchen, Unna, Gladbeck und Kirchhellen in response to the decision by the DFL to have so called “Salami Spieltage” (Match day Games spread out Friday, Saturday and Sunday from next season on) decided to call for a Strike on Sunday, 1 March 2009. DFB Vice President Hermann Korfmacher, Boss of the Fußball und Leichtathletikverbandes Westfalen (Westphalian Soccer, Track & Field Federation) instructed the Chairmen of the Westphalian Kreise to completely cancel and reschedule the first match day of the return legs for this season.

Even Amateur teams from other Regions are now contemplating joining the protests of the clubs from Nordrhein-Westfalen to show their solidarity against the Bundesliga Sunday afternoon game. “This was the last straw for us” said Wiesbadener Kreisfußballwart Dieter Elsenbast in the “Wiesbadener Kurier” explaining his recommendation to the Clubs, to not play on this match day.

“We cannot allow them to just do what they want” said Elsenbast, who also contacted the Hessischen Fußball Verband (Hessian Soccer Federation). If they agree, “we will cancel all games and think about a combined protest”.

The key question is why did Theo Zwanziger come out with a statement promising possible compensation in the first place? Especially when you consider that apparently no one has sorted out the way this is supposed to be handled. Who is going to determine what the financial losses of these teams would be? Is there a formula that allows compensation per Fan lost? Is it a one time payment just for the coming season or will it be recurring as long as the new TV Deal is valid?

There is a meeting scheduled for 25 February between Zwanziger and a delegation from the Amateur teams. Surely it would have been smarter to wait on the outcome of these talks instead of raising hopes for the Amateur Teams that may turn into empty promises and more drama between the Federation and the League?

The Bremen Fans have something creative planned for tonight

Werder Bremen Fans are planning the biggest Choreo Show ever for the UEFA Cup game against AC Milan. The millions in front of the TV and the sold out Weserstadium crowd will get the opportunity to see an impressive display against Racism.

A huge portion of the show will be done with the hard work of the Antidiskriminierungs-AG (Antidiscrimination AG) of the Werder-Fans. The Antidiskriminierungs-AG was founded in March 2008 by Werder-Fans and the Fanprojekt Bremen and has worked since then to educate about Right Wing extremism, Racism, Anti Semitism, Sexism and Homophobia in Soccer. The goal of the group is to help end discrimination amongst the fans and to end Rightwing influence among some of the Fan Scene.

Working Night and Day

“The Show will cover the entire Ostkurve from the top to the bottom. Approximately 20 people have worked on this every day and sometimes through the night”, said Thomas Hafke from the Bremer Fanprojekt.
The exact motifs of the Show will remain a surprise until game time. “Of course we thought about the timing: We have an international match and many foreign Fans are visiting us, so the motto will have an international theme” said Hafke.

Translators for Italian Fans

Besides the Choreo show the Bremer Fanprojekt has also planned to host more events. The AC Milan fans will be invited to a German-Italian Fan Fest in the Ostkurvensaal (one of the meeting halls in the Stadium) with Music, cold and warm drinks, Snacks and Italian Food.

To assist the communication among the Fans the Fanprojekt Bremen will again use translators who are going to assist the Italian Fans at the gates as well. During the game they will be available to answer any questions from the Tifosi in the visitor area of the Weser-Stadium. The invitation to the fans of AC Milan has the motto “Soccer fans against Racism”.

Here is the invitation that was sent to the Italian Fans:

TIFOSI CONTRO IL RAZZISMO

Cari tifosi del AC Milan!

Il “Progetto-Tifosi Brema” v’invita cordialmente a un festino
con tifosi tedeschi nella “sala curva est” (OstKurvenSaal) del
Weser Stadio.

Con bibite fresche, ottima cucina italiana e buona musica,
avete la possibilita di conoscere i tifosi del Werder Brema.
La “sala curva est” (OstKurvenSaal) è aperta per voi e per i
tifosi del Werder dalle diciasette e trenta del pomeriggio.

Siete benvenuti! Vi auguriamo buon viaggio e una piacevole
serata. Vi salutiamo cordialmente. Il “Progetto-Tifosi Brema”

Team supports the Antidiskriminierungs-AG

Among the biggest supporters of the work of the Antidiskriminierungs-AG is the Chief Operating Officer of SV Werder Klaus-Dieter Fischer. “We are very happy that Mr. Fischer supports the project one hundred percent, and the cooperation of the entire club is enormous”, said Hafke, and added that all the Players support the effort as well.

The Antidiskriminierungs-AG already produced T-Shirts with the slogan “Weser-Stadion oder sonst wo – Kein Platz für Nazis!” (Weser Stadium or anywhere else – No place for Nazis!). All of the players from the Bundesliga-Team have a Shirt and have worn them already. Team Captain Frank Baumann said: “We support this type of effort wherever we can. When the team was asked about Photo shoots we had more volunteers from the team than for any other event.”

What do you think about stories like this? Would you like more stories on what the Fans are doing? We have great coverage on the matches and the players but many times we overlook those that bring the passion to the matches. Let me know your thoughts.

Overall the Bundesliga is enjoying quite the title chase as the top 5 teams are only separated by 4 points. This is even more remarkable given the fact that some of the usual suspects like Bremen, Schalke and Stuttgart are replaced by Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin. The sentiment is that Bayern will eventually reach form and take over the lead for good, but can they? With the Champions League starting again soon and the Striker issues that Bayern currently have it will remain to be seen if the extra games will take their toll. Still to be resolved is the Landon Donovan issue where time is running out on his loan and he has failed to impress in league games after enjoying a successful training camp.

Hoffenheim seems to have found their nemesis in Leverkusen, after losing on the road in the first game to the “Factory team” 2:5 this time they were thoroughly outplayed at Home while losing 1:4. Was it a hiccup or the first signs of running out of Gas and not being able to compensate for losing Ibisevic?

A few notes about the last match day: Hertha has been unbeaten at Home in its last eight games; Hamburg is still the best Home team with 9 wins and a draw though. Bayern’s loss at Hertha was their 300th loss in the Bundesliga, but with an all time record of 836 Wins, 350 draws the 300 losses don’t look so bad.

One thing is for sure, the real fun this season is just beginning.