<b>Bayern Obliterated by Hoffenheim</b>
In their second match of the Bundesliga season, Bayern traveled to Hoffenheim to take on Sebastian Hoeneß’s side. The starting 11 raised a few eyebrows with the absences of Robert Lewandowski and Leon Goretzka in favor of Joshua Zirkzee and Corentin Tolisso. These moves were understandable however. Bayern have a very packed schedule ahead, they played 120 minutes on Thursday night and they are going to have to rotate players in order to keep everyone healthy.Whether it was these changes or any other myriad of reasons you could come up with, Bayern Munich for the first time under Hansi Flick lost. Not only did they lose however, they were completely outplayed and the 4-1 scoreline for Hoffenheim could have easily been 7 or 8 if they had converted some very easy chances and Neuer hadn’t made some epic saves.<a href="#kramaric-exploits"></a>Kramarić ExploitsSo much has been made of Bayern’s high backline under Hansi Flick. The “experts” across Europe expected that it would be Neymar and/or Mbappe that would exploit this trait. However, it was Andrej Kramarić that would be the one to really punish Bayern.From the start, Hoffenheim’s game plan was plain to see. Play quick balls over the back line and hope that the Croatian got on it. This plan worked better than probably anyone in Hoffenheim could have possibly predicted. Again and again they played seemingly perfect passes to Kramarić who had no trouble outpacing Bayern’s backline. While he didn’t actually get on the score sheet till the 77th minute, it was his runs that created most of the mischief in the match.<a href="#exhaustion"></a>ExhaustionFrom a Bayern perspective, it’s debatable how much they can take from this experience. I doubt that Hansi is going to change much based on this beating but he also can’t ignore how things played out today. Neither can the board and Salihamidžić. It is extremely early in this season, but the congested schedule, reduced summer break and general wear and tear are already becoming factors.Multiple players looked less than 100% today. Alaba, Davies, Boateng, Sané and Gnabry all appeared increasingly exhausted as the match went along. Most of them never really displayed the explosiveness that they normally possess. The passing was subpar. When those passes went awry, Hoffenheim’s long balls over the backline left the players struggling to catch up. These problems are only going to get worse. There are no huge gaps in the schedule this year for players to get rest naturally and while no doubt the players will play themselves into better condition, that exhaustion is going to play a massive role.<a href="#time-to-act"></a>Time to ActAs cliche as it has now become, squad depth is a real problem. While on the surface most of the players who appeared in today’s match are ones that we would be expecting to play a major part in Bayern’s season regardless of who they would potentially bring in, the adjustments in positioning that were required due to these changes is a problem. Kimmich specifically. In a match like todays, if you need or decided to take off Pavard, Kimmich then becomes the only option at right back. This was not a huge issue when Thiago was around, but now it creates a massive hole in the midfield. Goretzka and Tolisso have their strengths, but they do not provide the stability and organizational leadership that Kimmich does. No one else in the squad does. He is the engine of the team now and to remove that engine leaves them vulnerable in several areas.It doesn’t stop there though, even before Kimmich moved back, Tolisso’s presence in place of Goretzka was also an issue. Goretzka’s physical presence and ability against the ball has made him nearly as indispensable as Kimmich. Tolisso is still a good player, but his strengths are as a 2 way player. He does not provide the calming, steady presence of Kimmich and he doesn’t provide the strength and defensive prowess of Goretzka.…
In their second match of the Bundesliga season, Bayern traveled to Hoffenheim to take on Sebastian Hoeneß’s side. The starting 11 raised a few eyebrows with the absences of Robert Lewandowski and Leon Goretzka in favor of Joshua Zirkzee and Corentin Tolisso. These moves were understandable however. Bayern have a very packed schedule ahead, they played 120 minutes on Thursday night and they are going to have to rotate players in order to keep everyone healthy.Whether it was these changes or any other myriad of reasons you could come up with, Bayern Munich for the first time under Hansi Flick lost. Not only did they lose however, they were completely outplayed and the 4-1 scoreline for Hoffenheim could have easily been 7 or 8 if they had converted some very easy chances and Neuer hadn’t made some epic saves.<a href="#kramaric-exploits"></a>Kramarić ExploitsSo much has been made of Bayern’s high backline under Hansi Flick. The “experts” across Europe expected that it would be Neymar and/or Mbappe that would exploit this trait. However, it was Andrej Kramarić that would be the one to really punish Bayern.From the start, Hoffenheim’s game plan was plain to see. Play quick balls over the back line and hope that the Croatian got on it. This plan worked better than probably anyone in Hoffenheim could have possibly predicted. Again and again they played seemingly perfect passes to Kramarić who had no trouble outpacing Bayern’s backline. While he didn’t actually get on the score sheet till the 77th minute, it was his runs that created most of the mischief in the match.<a href="#exhaustion"></a>ExhaustionFrom a Bayern perspective, it’s debatable how much they can take from this experience. I doubt that Hansi is going to change much based on this beating but he also can’t ignore how things played out today. Neither can the board and Salihamidžić. It is extremely early in this season, but the congested schedule, reduced summer break and general wear and tear are already becoming factors.Multiple players looked less than 100% today. Alaba, Davies, Boateng, Sané and Gnabry all appeared increasingly exhausted as the match went along. Most of them never really displayed the explosiveness that they normally possess. The passing was subpar. When those passes went awry, Hoffenheim’s long balls over the backline left the players struggling to catch up. These problems are only going to get worse. There are no huge gaps in the schedule this year for players to get rest naturally and while no doubt the players will play themselves into better condition, that exhaustion is going to play a massive role.<a href="#time-to-act"></a>Time to ActAs cliche as it has now become, squad depth is a real problem. While on the surface most of the players who appeared in today’s match are ones that we would be expecting to play a major part in Bayern’s season regardless of who they would potentially bring in, the adjustments in positioning that were required due to these changes is a problem. Kimmich specifically. In a match like todays, if you need or decided to take off Pavard, Kimmich then becomes the only option at right back. This was not a huge issue when Thiago was around, but now it creates a massive hole in the midfield. Goretzka and Tolisso have their strengths, but they do not provide the stability and organizational leadership that Kimmich does. No one else in the squad does. He is the engine of the team now and to remove that engine leaves them vulnerable in several areas.It doesn’t stop there though, even before Kimmich moved back, Tolisso’s presence in place of Goretzka was also an issue. Goretzka’s physical presence and ability against the ball has made him nearly as indispensable as Kimmich. Tolisso is still a good player, but his strengths are as a 2 way player. He does not provide the calming, steady presence of Kimmich and he doesn’t provide the strength and defensive prowess of Goretzka.…
@FCBayernEN: RT @Plettigoal: (1/2)🚨I have spoken to the agent of #Kramaric. Vincenzo Cavaliere told me: „I can‘t confirm that Hasan #Salihamidzic has contacted me. That wouldn’t be professional. All I can say is that a lot of top clubs are interested in Andrej.“ @SPORT1 #FCBayerni
Report: Andrej Kramarić wants transfer, but still too expensive for Bayern Munich
TSG Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga Photo by TF Images/Getty ImagesHoffenheim forward Andrej Kramarić might want a move, but it likely won’t be to Bayern Munich.SPORT1 reporter Florian Plettenberg has been at the forefront of all of the rumors that Bayern Munich might have interest in Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramarić. With the original price quoted at €40 million, it appears that estimate might have been at least a little high.Regardless, it appears that anything north of €30 million puts the price outside of Bayern Munich’s willingness to spend. Interestingly, Plettenberg indicates that Kramarić is pushing for transfer, but does not state whether that is specific to Bayern Munich or another destination:Update #Kramaric: Right now #FCBayern doesn’t expect an affordable price for the player. The expectation is higher than €30m. Some teammates at TSG are informed that Kramaric is pushing a transfer. @SPORT1— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 1, 2020BFW AnalysisIt is really hard to believe that Bayern Munich will entertain bidding more than €15 million to €20 million on any player who projects to be a back-up. With that in mind, it seems really, really far-fetched to think that the Bavarians — despite their alleged interest — would be willing to break the bank to bring-in a player like Kramarić.If acquired, the 29-year-old Croatian could conceivably fill voids as a back-up to Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, and also at left-wing. Despite his talent, however, his price just seems to be a bit too high for a player who would not garner a ton of playing time behind machines like Lewandowski and Muller, and the talented winger trio of Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman.This is not Bayern Munich’s first time being linked to Kramarić either, as Niko Kovac allegedly wanted to bring in the forward back in 2018 as well.“Where have you gone, Ivan Perisic? Bayern Munich fans turn their lonely eyes to you”Read more...
TSG Hoffenheim v FC Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga Photo by TF Images/Getty ImagesHoffenheim forward Andrej Kramarić might want a move, but it likely won’t be to Bayern Munich.SPORT1 reporter Florian Plettenberg has been at the forefront of all of the rumors that Bayern Munich might have interest in Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramarić. With the original price quoted at €40 million, it appears that estimate might have been at least a little high.Regardless, it appears that anything north of €30 million puts the price outside of Bayern Munich’s willingness to spend. Interestingly, Plettenberg indicates that Kramarić is pushing for transfer, but does not state whether that is specific to Bayern Munich or another destination:Update #Kramaric: Right now #FCBayern doesn’t expect an affordable price for the player. The expectation is higher than €30m. Some teammates at TSG are informed that Kramaric is pushing a transfer. @SPORT1— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 1, 2020BFW AnalysisIt is really hard to believe that Bayern Munich will entertain bidding more than €15 million to €20 million on any player who projects to be a back-up. With that in mind, it seems really, really far-fetched to think that the Bavarians — despite their alleged interest — would be willing to break the bank to bring-in a player like Kramarić.If acquired, the 29-year-old Croatian could conceivably fill voids as a back-up to Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, and also at left-wing. Despite his talent, however, his price just seems to be a bit too high for a player who would not garner a ton of playing time behind machines like Lewandowski and Muller, and the talented winger trio of Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman.This is not Bayern Munich’s first time being linked to Kramarić either, as Niko Kovac allegedly wanted to bring in the forward back in 2018 as well.“Where have you gone, Ivan Perisic? Bayern Munich fans turn their lonely eyes to you”Read more...
England Training Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images Germany vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina...are you ready? Kane okay with Three Lions benching (90Min.com)Bayern Munich star Harry Kane might not have been expecting to sit the bench vs. Greece during England’s 3-0 victory in the UEFA Nations League, but that is exactly where he found himself. England interim head coach Lee Carsely said that Kane took the news in stride.“He was absolutely fine. It would be fair to say he wants to play every game, like all top players do,” Carsely said. “I think he understands that it’s important that other players experience that kind of experience that we had tonight. He’s a great example to the rest of the players and I expect him to start on Sunday and play well.“It was brilliant for Ollie (Watkins) to get a goal. It’s important that I think if we are going to put these players in a position where we are going to go and win the World Cup then these players need to have as many experiences as they can.”Kane did go on to play roughly 25 minutes, but probably needed a blow anyway. Surely, Bayern Munich will not complain about Kane getting a little extra rest. PSG, Barca ready to pounce on Kvaratskhelia (ESPN)Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona are both taking a close look at Napoli attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: PSG and Barcelona remain interested in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as contract negotiations with Napoli continue, per Gazzetta dello Sport. The Georgia superstar is under contract at Napoli until 2027, but his current deal sees him earn just €1.5 million ($1.6m) per season. Negotiations are set to continue this week, with Kvaratskhelia currently requesting a salary increase to just under €8m per season. PSG are reportedly willing to test Napoli’s resolve once more, after having a €100m bid for the 23-year-old rejected last summer.Kvaratskhelia under Hansi Flick might really be something...Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show Season 4, Episode 18 (Bavarian Football Works)Bayern Munich is on break, but there is no shortage of topics to talk about. This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show: Breaking down the report from Sport1 about Bayern Munich’s rumored proposal to Jamal Musiala. What kind of money? How long? Why none of that really matters as much as having the ability now start to build around him as the club’s centerpiece. Bayern Munich is reportedly going to offload at least one winger this summer...who will it be? Can Paul Wanner help fill the void without Bayern having to spend for a replacement?João Palhinha is injured and some fans are unraveling, but it is not the end of the world even against a daunting schedule. Final thoughts on The Penguin.Kramarić nearing auto-extension (@Plettigoal)Andrej Kramarić could trigger an automatic contract extension if he plays 20 games in the Bundesliga and Europa League this season: Excl | Andrej #Kramaric’s contract with @tsghoffenheim will automatically be extended by one year until 2026 if he plays 20 games in the Bundesliga and the Europa League this season.
The 33-year-old striker is currently at a total of twelve games (5 goals, 2 assists).
New… pic.twitter.com/YCtswXLBsF— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) November 12, 2024 Excl | Andrej #Kramaric’s contract with @tsghoffenheim will automatically be extended by one year until 2026 if he plays 20 games in the Bundesliga and the Europa League this season.The 33-year-old striker is currently at a total of twelve games (5 goals, 2 assists).New TSG boss Andreas Schicker wants him to stay as he already confirmed at Sky. Kramarić was linked to Bayern Munich just a few years ago and was once referred to as “the best player I ever coached” by Julian Nagelsmann. Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show Special Edition: Breaking down our re-watch of Game of Thrones (Bavarian Football Works)Let’s get this out of the way — this is not a Bayern Munich podcast (for this edition only), so we want to give you a fair warning for anyone seeking…
The 33-year-old striker is currently at a total of twelve games (5 goals, 2 assists).
New… pic.twitter.com/YCtswXLBsF— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) November 12, 2024 Excl | Andrej #Kramaric’s contract with @tsghoffenheim will automatically be extended by one year until 2026 if he plays 20 games in the Bundesliga and the Europa League this season.The 33-year-old striker is currently at a total of twelve games (5 goals, 2 assists).New TSG boss Andreas Schicker wants him to stay as he already confirmed at Sky. Kramarić was linked to Bayern Munich just a few years ago and was once referred to as “the best player I ever coached” by Julian Nagelsmann. Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show Special Edition: Breaking down our re-watch of Game of Thrones (Bavarian Football Works)Let’s get this out of the way — this is not a Bayern Munich podcast (for this edition only), so we want to give you a fair warning for anyone seeking…
