Although 25 days seems like a long rest, it is shorter than most previous Bundesliga seasons. The second half of the season will begin on January 15th. Hopefully, a lot of players will return to form.
The first half of the season was mired with injuries, and just plain poor performance from some of the Bundesliga’s most well known players. Teams are in places never expected when the season began. Fans are confused as to what is going on.
We will examine some of the most popular teams, and reflect on how they got to where they are at the Break. We will also try and discover what they need to do to return to the form they are most known for. We will start with the team that is arguably the most well-known out side of Germany.
FC Bayern Munchen
Although they recently made a run like the good old days, lifting them to third place, their season has been one of ups and downs and has lacked the consistency of the Bayern Munchen of old. Their current stats through the first half of the season have them at a paltry 9-6-2. Luca Toni has departed on a loan to AS Roma for at least the extent of the season, Franz Beckenbauer stepped down as club President, and instead of Philip Lahm making an impact on the pitch, he instead was most remembered for his mouth. As we speak, Frank Ribery is down with an injury that could keep him out of play for quite some time, and fans are stil being taunted with the idea of will he stay or will he go.
Things are happening with the German Giants this year, and none of it seems to be good.
However, they have been on an incredible run as of late. Are they remembering that they are truly an impressive team both on and off the pitch?
Players to watch in the second half of the season:
*Gomez currently has 8 League Goals, 3 in the DFB, and one in the Champions League. Expect him to step up, and continue leading the team with his scoring.
*Olic is right behind Gomez in leading the team right now with 6 League Goals, and 2 impressive shots in the Champions League. This is just the start for him.
*Schweinsteiger has been a huge disappointment thus far. He has only provided 1 Goal, and that was in League Play. This is not the Bastian we know, and I am hoping he returns to his spectacular form in the second half.
*Lastly, I feel Lahm, Klose, and Robben will all have big statements to make, and we are all wondering what will happen with Ribery.
If the team returns to their form, keeps quiet off the pitch, and focuses, we could see them take the League Title back.
VfB Stuttgart
After an impressive finish in the 2008/2009 Season, and qualifying for the Champions League, many people expected them to be in contention once again this year. However, they have had a very, very poor showing in the first half of the season.
They currently sit in 15th Place in the table, and have given up 23 Goals! With Jens Lehmann between the posts, this is simply unacceptable, as has his behaviour all season. Instead of propelling VfB Stuttgart to the top of the table, the only news we have seen from him is the “Unirea Urination,” the bizarre red card against Mainz, and German Legend Oliver Kahn pressuring him to retire.
Regarding the rest of the team, there has really been nothing of note except for former Tottenham Manager Christian Gross taking over for Markus Babel.
I am not sure the placement of VfB at the end of the season, but for now, I am holding on to hopes that they avoid relegation. Champions League Teams that get relegated are a bit tough to explain.
One piece of good news for the team – they were able to pick up LB Cristian Molinaro from Juventus on a loan deal until the end of the season. Maybe he will wake the team up!
Hertha BSC (Hertha Berlin)
Yet another team that has fallen from grace. At the end of the 2008/2009 season, they had finished in the Top 4, and qualified for the Europa League. The current season sees them holding on to 18th Place, scratching out just 1 win in 17 League Games.
At this point, they will undoubtedly be relegated, but there are a couple of bright spots for the team. They have been busy during the winter transfer window, hoping that the signings of Theofanis Gekas, Levan Kobiashvili and Roman Hubnik will help the club pull clear of the drop zone, and they have also qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Although the season is only at it’s half-way point and there is a lot more football to be played, let’s compare the current Table to where they finished last season at.
(Last Season Finishing Place)
1. Bayer Leverkusen (9th Place)
2. FC Schalke 04 (8th Place)
3. FC Bayern Munchen (2nd Place)
4. Hamburger SV (5th Place)
5. Borussia Dortmund (6th Place)
6. Werder Bremen (10th Place)
7. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (7th Place)
8. VfL Wolfsburg (League Champions)
9. FSV Mainz 05 (2nd Place – Bundesliga II)
10. Eintracht Frankfurt (13th Place)
11. Borussia Monchengladbach (15th Place)
12. FC Koln (12th Place)
13. SC Freiburg (1st Place – Bundesliga II)
14. Hannover 96 (14th Place)
15. VfB Stuttgart (3rd Place)
16. VfL Bochum 1848 (14th Place)
17. FC Nurnberg (3rd Place – Bundesliga II)
18. Hertha BSC (4th Place)
So the season is half over, and we have seen many surprises, heard a lot of very strange stories from Germany’s finest, and have been shocked week in and week out at the results. After 25 days off, and winter training sessions, we hope to see an entire league return to form for the second half of the season.
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