There has been a lot of praise levied on Max Eberl for the incredible transfer window results from last summer for Bayern Munich.
However, there were even more player exits that played a key role in helping the team evolve to the dominant unit that we have seen so far this season.
Bayern Munich sold the following players: Mathys Tel (€35 million, Tottenham Hotspur), Kingsley Coman (€25 million, Al Nassr), Paul Wanner (€15 million, PSV Eindhoven), Adam Aznou (€9 million, Everton), Frans Krätzig (€3.5
million, Red Bull Salzburg), and Gabriel Vidović (€1.2 million, Dinamo Zagreb).
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich loaned out these players: João Palhinha (€5 million loan fee, Tottenham Hotspur), Jonah Kusi-Asare (€4 million loan fee, Fulham FC), Bryan Zaragoza (€1 million loan fee, Celta Vigo), and Daniel Peretz (€250k, Hamburger SV). Arijon Ibrahimović, Maurice Krattenmacher, Lovro Zvonarek, and Tarek Buchmann had no reported fees associated with their loans.
Finally, Bayern Munich also allowed Leroy Sané, Eric Dier, and Thomas Müller all to leave on free transfers.
Was Sané or Coman leaving the key to getting the stellar wing play the team has received so far this season? Did the club’s dubious handling of Müller’s exit lead to Karl’s emergence? Was clearing Tel off the books for a great price a great way to build the club’s coffers back up?
What about just deciding to move on from Wanner to allow Karl to take his place as the club’s resident next big thing?
There are plenty of possibilities. Tell us your selection in the comments!
Song of the Week: “Into Your Arms” by The Lemonheads
I’ve been back on a 90s alt rock kick of late and ran across this gem from The Lemonheads. I think my brain is not ready to get right back into the harder music I typically enjoy just yet (damn holiday season), but I am sucker for this period of music and was happy to bump into this one after a long time of not hearing it. Enjoy “Into Your Arms”:
Kane thinks squad development has been massive in year two under Kompany
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been around the block, so when a coaching change occurs, the Englishman knows that it can sometimes take a couple of seasons before things really start to fall into place. In year two under Vincent Kompany, Kane thinks Bayern Munich has made great strides.
We did well last year too with the new coach. But a new coach always means you first have to understand how he wants to play. We now understand better what the coach expects from us and have grown as a team this season. I feel more comfortable with positioning and movement. When you train every day the way we do, you can only improve, and that’s why I’m developing personally as well. The connections with my teammates have improved, and I have a better understanding of them,“ Kane told Sky Germany’s Torben Hoffmann (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
Kane is correct — the team has looked far more comfortable and confident in year two, but the group also has much better fitting pieces to play within Kompany’s system. Sure, it has been a personnel upgrade, but the fit is almost as important as the talent itself.
Entertainment Rundown
Still no updates on Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 or The Terminal List, but there was a trailer for the Peaky Blinders movie.
As a big fan of Peaky Blinders (though the last two seasons were not at the same level as previous seasons), this movie will be…interesting. Take a peek at the teaser trailer:
While this author is skeptical about how this will work, he will check it out.
Anyway, there should be some late night viewing this weekend of both Stranger Things and The Terminal List, so expect some updates next week.
Prediction Results
This is where we stand at the break…
- Total: 332-177
- Perfect Picks: 32
- Bundesliga Last Matchday: 4-5
- Bundesliga Overall: 80-55
- DFB-Pokal: 45-11
- World Cup Qualifiers/Friendlies: 99-45
- Champions League: 65-43
- Club World Cup: 39-23
- Club Friendlies: 3-0
- Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 1-0
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
