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Posted (edited)

Bayern Munich's reign of terror in jeopardy?

The curse of Harry Kane? (yes, i know he is have a great season)

Bayer Leverkusen unbeaten in league play so far.

 

 

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Edited by yoladu
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

VfB Stuttgart has a clinic in Pflugerville this weekend and are part of a sports information (maybe? I am unclear) track for SXSW, so they had a watch party at The Pub (formerly Fado) for today's match vs Union Berlin.  We won 2-0, but better than that, I'm pretty sure I was the only American there, so they hooked me up with a home jersey and set of decals.  Got to talk to a bunch of club employees, and others tangentially connected.  Coolest convo was with the data guy - their version of Peter Brand/Paul DePodesta.  Another dude works for the construction company currently renovating the stands for Euro Cup play.  Another was with Stuttgart business development - if you're a Porsche guy, they have a brand experience deal going on at Brazos Lofts that doesn't require a badge.  Got to talk Germany and Stuttgart and sports with a bunch of folks who live on the other side of the world, but I have a connection with - pretty good afternoon, for sure.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Another Saturday, another Stuttgart W.  3-0 over Hoffenheim and former VfB manager, Mattarazzo.  Match was at Hoffenheim and Stuttgart took 15,000 supporters. 😲😲😲

 

 

Posted

While I'm over the moon about this season already, I may spontaneously combust if Stuttgart is able to finish above Munich.  

7 games left in the season, including 1 vs Munich, so 4 points on the table there.  However, matches vs Leverhusen, Dortmund, Frankfurt and Augsburg (7th in the table) as well, so not going to be easy.  

2009 was the last time VfB Stuttgart has finished as high as 3rd in the Bundesliga.  2007 was the last time they finished ahead of Bayern Munich (and won the Bundesliga).

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Today was the 1000th match played in Neckarstadion, and what a rollercoaster....  Dominant 1st half, up 2-0 @ 53', down 2-3 @ 85' and the salvaging G to tie at 97'+

 

Posted

Love that Stuttgart is investing so much time/effort into the US market.

VfB strengthening activities in the USA

VfB Stuttgart are further bolstering their presence in children’s and youth football in the USA, and visited the country once again with coaches from the VfB Football School.

Following the VfB first team’s visit to Austin, Texas in 2022, there have been regular exchanges with the local football school there. A VfB Camp was held in the city for a third time and once again proved to be hugely popular among the participating children and their parents. 

In addition to the training sessions and other football-related activities for the youngsters, VfB once again held coach development courses across the city. Within this framework, Dr Michael Stügelmaier (Head of Youth Academy Analysis, Data & Science) gave a talk on “Strategic Talent Development” to coaches from local clubs and high schools. 

After the camp in Austin, the VfB contingent travelled on to Warwick, where a VfB football camp was held for the first time, with more than 80 boys and girls taking part in the three-day event at the Hudson Sports Complex. There has been a regular exchange programme with the German American Kickers from Trenton for a while now. This latest trip to the US also focused on the theory and practice of coach training.

Recently, a delegation from Trenton also visited Stuttgart and watched the 2-0 home win over Union Berlin, among other activities. The German American Kickers’ trip also included wide-ranging conversations with staff at the VfB youth academy, a stadium tour and several other meetings. The Kickers’ youth teams have participated in digital training sessions with the VfB academy for the last three years.

The U15s from the Solar Soccer Club, an academy that develops gifted youngsters, also made the trip to Stuttgart in mid-March. They played a friendly against their VfB contemporaries, which ended in a 2-0 win for the boys from Cannstatt. However, the focus of the visit was not the game itself, but rather intercultural interaction between the youngsters, as well as strengthening the ties between VfB and Solar. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Heartbreak in extra time today....  Stuttgart up 2-1 in the 96th minute of 90+5 and Leverkusen score on a free kick pinball.  Fuck me running.

Next week vs Bayern Munich, effectively for 2nd place.

 

 

 

 

Posted

This is my Wrexham promotion.  Truly can't believe this is where Stuttgart is today.

 

It's official. 🙌🤩
VfB Stuttgart will play in the UEFA Champions League again in the 2024/25 season!! 💪🌍

 

  • Hook 'Em 2
Posted
On 5/1/2024 at 3:55 PM, Mittens said:

This is my Wrexham promotion.  Truly can't believe this is where Stuttgart is today.

 

It's official. 🙌🤩
VfB Stuttgart will play in the UEFA Champions League again in the 2024/25 season!! 💪🌍

 

When I was in Germany in 2019 and went to Stuttgart to see the auto museums, I saw their stadium near the MB museum. Very nice looking and huge. It was then that I realized that when looking for soccer matches that fit our schedule, I didn’t recall seeing Stuttgart on any schedules.  They were B2 at the time I believe. 

Posted
20 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

They were B2 at the time I believe. 

Correct.  Relegated after the 2018-19 season, promoted back after the 2019-20 season.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Dominating 4-0 win to close out a glorious season for VfB Stuttgart and Bayern collapse from up 2-0 to lose 4-2 at Hoffenheim.

2nd in the table
Champions League
Beat Bayern at home
Stadium has been renovated and ready for Euros
5 players named to Die Mannschaft
#s 2 and 4 scorers in the BL

Just an absolute fever dream of a season!
 

  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Absolute domination for Stuttgart over Dortmund today, with the only BVB goal coming from Guirassy against his old club.  At 75', it was 3-0 and like 63% possession for Stuttgart.  VfB now 3-1-1 on the season.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Unbelievable luck to save a loss to Germany GK Oliver Baumann and Hoffenheim.  Stuttgart down since the opening minutes of the 2nd half w/ Hoffenheim playing excellent defense and our midfield have zero fucking sense of urgency.  Hand ball in a scrum in the final minute of stoppage.  VAR gives the penalty and VfB equalize in a walkoff PK that is originally saved, but he gets the rebound.  Undeserved point, but we'll take it.

  • 1 month later...
  • 2 months later...
Posted (edited)

2-1 win for VfB Stuttgart at BvB Dortmund today.  Nice to see first class fußball from my side in such an inconsistent season, compared to last.  Absolutely dominant for the majority of the match.  

edit:  Damn!  Apparently that's our 5th W in a row vs Dortmund!  Fuck yeah!

Edited by Mittens
  • Fuck Around and Find Out 1
Posted
3 hours ago, Mittens said:

2-1 win for VfB Stuttgart at BvB Dortmund today.  Nice to see first class fußball from my side in such an inconsistent season, compared to last.  Absolutely dominant for the majority of the match.  

edit:  Damn!  Apparently that's our 5th W in a row vs Dortmund!  Fuck yeah!

Reyna had 4 (or fewer) minutes to make an end of the game impact before Dortmund went down to 10 men. 

After seeing Reyna play physical defense and give effort when he was 17, it is just strange to see how rarely he sees the field when healthy. 

I would love to see what he does in training to never get to play. 

I would also be interested in having a psychologist get him to explain what his thought process is for training, why he believes the manager doesn’t play him, and what he thinks he could change to get on the field. 

He was such a shining player as a 17 year-old and now he just seems like a 37 year-old guy who’s contract makes him undroppable.

Posted

Also kinda weird that Dortmund keeps him just to sit him.  Been there for 5 seasons, 121 appearances, and how many starts? Less than 20?  Would love to know the % of minutes he's played vs potentially could have played (healthy/in the lineup).

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/usmnt/2025/02/17/americans-abroad-reyna-struggle-dortmund/78854150007/

It's not happening for Gio

Gio Reyna's season finally looked to be up and running in mid-December.

The Borussia Dortmund attacker started his first two games of the season, scoring a thunderous goal against Hoffenheim to open his account for 2024-25.

Two months later, Reyna has added a grand total of one more start to his season total. It's becoming increasingly clear that the 22-year-old isn't going to find the playing time he so desperately needs in Dortmund.

This weekend saw another typical Reyna outing. The attacker was brought on in the 80th minute of a 2-0 loss at Bochum, barely giving him the chance to get going before the final whistle sounded. Reyna now has a total of 21 minutes over Dortmund's last five league matches.

Though he's shown glimpses of his undoubted potential in recent months, Reyna has now failed to convince two coaches — Nuri Şahin and Niko Kovač — that he deserves to be more than a bit-part player this season.

Reyna didn't move in this winter's transfer window like he did last year. After his nightmare loan at Nottingham Forest, it's hard to blame him for opting to stay put. But this summer looks like the time Reyna must find a team where he can play. At this point, almost anywhere but Dortmund will do.

 

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Fucking hell. Up 3-1 at home vs Leverkusen, and should have been 4-1. Own goal to equalize at 88’ and Leverkusen scores a beauty to win at 94’.

🤮🤮🤮

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Haven't visited the BL thread in forever. Thanks for keeping it going, @Mittens. Will try to contribute. Mainz fan here -- normally worrying about relegation, but big fun on the other end of the table this year.

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Posted (edited)

Had a Rotary Scholarship to study at Gutenberg Universität in 83-84 and stayed on in the Odenwald through early 1985 because of some generous Rotarians who gave me temporary work at their firms. Was not a fan at the time, and Mainz 05 was no more than a regional club. But I stumbled across some Bundesliga stuff about 10-11 years ago and was surprised to see Mainz in the top flight. Been watching ever since, especially after I started doing some high school sports on the side and our regional sports web site needed soccer coverage. Still a bit of a noob, I'd say, when it comes to following the rest of the league -- coming late to a sport seems to affect my ability to retain info.

Had a couple of younger siblings born in Bad Cannstatt in the early '60s, but I was too young to develop the same ties to Stuttgart. We were later stationed in Darmstadt, so I follow Darmstadt a bit. What drew you to root for Stuttgart?

Never got across the river to Wiesbaden for some reason, but have always wanted to go see a few things there.

Edited by Hayduke
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Posted

Grew up in Germany from about 6mos to 5yrs and then back for 8th/9th at Gen HH Arnold HS in Wiesbaden, then 10th and 11th at Patch Barracks just outside Stuttgart.  My little brother was born at Bad Cannstatt in 77.  Older brother was born over there as well, but can't recall where.  VfB Stuttgart was pretty solid when I was there (87/88) w/ Klinsmann as the most notable player.  They were terrible up until a couple years ago when they got relegated, then promoted, and have been (relatively) pretty good since coming back up.

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Posted

I do remember watching Stuttgart lose that painful game to Mainz in May 2017 when it made that first relegation final (although I had to look it up to check my memory). The fans were so crestfallen and angry -- and rightly so after that really long run in the Bundesliga. 

That was the first time that relegation really registered with me. I watch more of those games now than those involving the top teams. More often than not, Schalke, Hamburg, St. Pauli, Darmstadt, and of course Mainz have tended to provide more drama for a league where Bayern finishes things early.

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Posted

My family spent a few days in 2019 in Frankfort, taking trains here and there. The football match they made the most sense with our schedule was hoffenheim vs shalke so that’s the team I took on to casually follow. 
 

but when we went to the m-b museum, the Stuttgart football team was practicing right there by the same train stop and the big stadium (m-b stadium?) was right there, and I wondered why I hadn’t considered them. Then saw they were in B2 at the time, with that great stadium. 

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Posted (edited)

Stadium is currently called MHPArena, but was Mercedes-Benz Arena from 08-23.  Most locals call it Neckarstadion, in reference to the Neckar River, which is a couple hundred yards to the south/west.  MB Museum is circled in yellow.

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Edited by Mittens
  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

My family spent a few days in 2019 in Frankfort, taking trains here and there. The football match they made the most sense with our schedule was hoffenheim vs shalke so that’s the team I took on to casually follow. 

So you went to Hoffenheim for a game? An aspect of German football I love is that a village like Hoffenheim (with barely over 3,000 people) can have a club playing big-time sport, although I know the stadium is now in Sinsheim. And that's around 13K itself, with only about 37K in the area right around Sinsheim-Hoffenheim.

Makes a small city like Mainz seem like New York in comparison, and Mainz is about the size of Bryan-College Station. (And everyone knows B-CS isn't very good at keeping its pro sports teams competitive in the bigs.)

One of the reasons I probably can't keep up with players is I spend too much time looking at Google Maps, like the view @Mittens provided above, around game time. Great way to get myself in the mood for being temporarily in Germany.

Posted
17 minutes ago, Hayduke said:

So you went to Hoffenheim for a game? An aspect of German football I love is that a village like Hoffenheim (with barely over 3,000 people) can have a club playing big-time sport, although I know the stadium is now in Sinsheim. And that's around 13K itself, with only about 37K in the area right around Sinsheim-Hoffenheim.

Makes a small city like Mainz seem like New York in comparison, and Mainz is about the size of Bryan-College Station. (And everyone knows B-CS isn't very good at keeping its pro sports teams competitive in the bigs.)

One of the reasons I probably can't keep up with players is I spend too much time looking at Google Maps, like the view @Mittens provided above, around game time. Great way to get myself in the mood for being temporarily in Germany.

We went to sinsheim.  Got in early and had a meal near the river there and walked around the town square area. 
 

then after the match, got on a ridiculously packed train car back. 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Ha - I go down the googlemaps rabbit hole every now and then.  This is the house we lived in for 8th grade in Wiesbaden-Breckenheim.  The open window was my room.  Gate is new, but everything else is exactly the same - just poking around the town in street view and it's a time warp.
Haven't been able to figure out my 9th grade home in Taunustein-Wehen.

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  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Looked around my old haunts in Lincoln Village in Darmstadt, part of the now-closed Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne. Seems the old enlisted quarters are being reclaimed as apartments or something, but the street view wasn't available. My old junior high school is up in the upper-right and just looking at the map made an address I hadn't thought of in decades pop right up in my head: Bldg 4431 C6 Lincoln Village, last apartment in the last stairwell. Like @Mittens says, absolutely a time warp.

Found a blog post about the shuttered base with a ton of pictures in it. One of them showed the fence around the main base, where the PX and commissary were. As kids we found a spot where the space between the metal pole and the concrete column was wide enough for us to sneak through so we could go into the snack bar and play pinball all Saturday morning without needing our parents to get us onto the base. I can still hear all that Motown soul on the jukebox.

 

Lincoln Village_3.jpg

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  • Like 1
Posted

I still get a kick out of the fact that regardless of age or location, every single brat calls them stairwells, and not apartments.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted

Terrible weekend for the international break. Unless the Horns can show a little more against LSU today, it seems like slim pickings for sports viewing. The early NCAA exit killed my interest in the tourney. I'll watch the women's softball and basketball for a bit, but don't expect much competition in those, so it's mostly Bundesliga withdrawal symptoms for the day. Like the caffeine headaches I get when I cut out the morning joe for three days before a long driving trip.

In keeping with the military theme while waiting for football to return: our son should be about 45 minutes into the Baatan Memorial Death March in New Mexico by now. We wanted to be in White Sands for that but it just didn't work out. He's competing for his second year with the University of Minnesota ROTC team, which is gunning for NMSU, winners of the collegiate ROTC division by about a minute last year over the Gophers. Team marathon in which everyone must cross the line together. 

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