While everyone around seems to want to jump forward and talk about the possibility of taking over for Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich, Jonas Urbig just wants to keep his head down, embrace the grind, and get better every day.
“That’s not my decision. What I can influence is bringing the right mindset and quality and then converting that into something, because FC Bayern is a very big club. I feel I’ve done very well with that approach so far. Always being mentally prepared to be needed and being there
to deliver on the pitch. I believe I’ve succeeded in that so far,” Urbig told Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “My focus right now is clearly on my knee, my recovery, and the important weeks we have here at FC Bayern because we can win in all three competitions. We need everyone to do that. Whether I should be at the World Cup or not is still up to the national coach. Before that, my focus is on being as successful as possible with the team.”
When asked about why he made the move to Bayern Munich when Neuer was solidly in place as the No. 1, Urbig gave sound reasoning.
“Ultimately, it was the opportunity I saw to develop both athletically and personally. All this with a very good coach, a very good goalkeeping coach, a very good goalkeeping group, and generally a very good team. These were four components that contributed to my taking the courageous step to FC Bayern. I don’t regret it,” said Urbig.
It would be easy for Urbig to embrace this newfound stardom and attention and milk it for all that it is worth, but the youngster has not bought into it. Earlier this season, there were some doubters on whether or not Urbig could actually take on the mantle from Neuer, but now, Urbig is being regarded as Germany’s next No. 1 goalkeeper, too.
The kid’s status has grown exponentially in recent weeks, but his ego has remained in check (at least per the reports and quotes we have seen publicly) and in today’s day and age, that is no easy feat.
Clearly, Bayern Munich’s future is in good hands with Urbig.
Song of the Week: “I Predict a Riot” by Kaiser Chiefs
In 2005, this tune from the band’s debut album put Kaiser Chiefs on the map for a lot of folks. While I cannot profess to being a Kaiser Chiefs aficionado (they really only got airplay on one radio station in Philly, so my access was very limited), I do remember this tune from the period and it was one of those songs I would often hear in the early mornings during my long commutes to work. It was upbeat enough to get some juices flowing for some good listening making those rides.doable Enjoy:
Take this with a grain of salt
By now, you might know that Ghana — oddly — sacked its coach after losing to Germany in a friendly. Now, Ghana Soccernet is reporting that Joachim Löw is on the verge of taking the gig.
Yes, the same Löw, who led Germany to the World Cup title in 2014. For now, you can take this with a grain of salt, but it is out there:
Former Germany coach Joachim Low is on the verge of accepting the Ghana Black Stars head coach position on a short-term deal focused solely on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, multiple sources have confirmed.
The 2014 World Cup-winning manager is expected to earn around €150,000 per month under the proposed agreement. Personal terms are now close to being finalised following extensive negotiations over the last 24 hours.
Low, who led Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil 2014 and spent 15 years in charge of Die Mannschaft, brings a wealth of experience at the highest level of international football. His tactical acumen and track record of managing top-tier talent could provide the stability and direction Ghana needs ahead of the tournament.
If true, this would be…wild.
Entertainment Rundown
Landman — Season 2
The continuation of Taylor Sheridan’s oil-land drama had a very good second season. We saw the introduction of new characters, who seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the show, and we got some insights into the past that help for the personalities we see on screen.
It is hard — sometimes — to quantify why the show is so good, but the writing and storytelling is just smooth as hell and the actors hit the mark on how those characters are supposed to be portrayed. Let’s dive into it, here are some quick hitters on the show:
- Sam Elliott as T.L. Norris was perfect casting.
- A lot of people will say that Ali Larter is over the top, but I would say she is perfect for this role. I get that a lot of people think her character is annoying, but the series just would not work the same without her in that role acting the way she does.
- The whole storyline with Cooper Norris and Ariana is exhausting and really came across as filler. It felt like too much time was spent on this.
- Andy Garcia as the cartel leader / money launderer Gallino was excellent casting as well.
- The plot was smooth for the most part and progressed nicely. We saw extreme events (the gas leak) and some wastes of time (Cooper / Ariana), but — in the end — we look for entertainment and if the show is worthwhile of your time. I would say that it was definitely worthy of the time spent watching it.
- I think that Demi Moore is Courtney Cox every time I see her on screen in this show…I seriously cannot break my brain of this.
- The developments at the end of the season took some surprise turns, including one for the Cooper / Ariana storyline that did feel pretty forced. The bar fight was just too…much and unnecessary.
- As far as Tommy goes, his M-Tex fallout and the new venture definitely allow more room for ample storytelling and new plotlines that might not have been available had things stayed status quo. However, you do have to get over how Tommy proceeds to start this new pathway forward and who he partners with for it. It is a drastic turn of events.
- You can tell that some storylines are a bit forced within the great show, but it was handled pretty well and the time was balanced well. The truth of the matter is that people watch the show for Tommy, not for Cooper or Ainsley or any other of the secondary characters. That said, there has to be some way to fill time. You could argue that those parts of the show are the weakest, but they are necessary.
- Overall, a very solid season, despite some choppy writing (at times) and forced plotlines. I was entertained by the characters and storyline for the season and part of that is the way that Billy Bob Thornton can just carry a show — he was born for this role. It is hard to think about where this show would be going had there not been that major plot shift — it could have very well morphed into a procedural (something bad happens at oil field, Cami makes questionable decisions, Tommy has to clean it all up) and people still would love the show, so this new angle definitely presents a whole new world of stories to tell. At a time where many shows are content to get popular then comfortable, Landman has chosen the hard way…the better way. Now, can the magic be recaptured and can the intrigue of the show stay the same? We think so — it is a story based on strong characters after all. Let’s see where things land for season three, but this was a strong — very strong — set of episodes overall.
Rating: 8.25 / 10.00
Cape Fear
This movie has been remade a few times now, but nothing will ever top the Robert De Niro-Nick Nolte-Juliette Lewis version. Anyway, here is a look at the latest reboot:
Predictions
This game has every reason for fans to think it will be a struggle:
- Bayern Munich is banged up with several injuries.
- Bayern Munich has no healthy or eligible striker.
- Bayern Munich will travel to SC Freiburg just days before it makes its way to Spain to face off with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
All of that could lead fans to think that the Bavarians will come out flat in this match, but when so much points toward a zig of a result, we will zag. Bayern Munich will simply be Bayern Munich in this game.
Prediction: SC Freiburg 0-4 Bayern Munich
Other Bundesliga predictions include:
- Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 Heidenheim
- Werder Bremen 1 -3 RB Leipzig
- Hoffenheim 2-1 Mainz 05
- Hamburger SV 2-1 FC Augsburg
- Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 VfL Wolfsburg
- VfB Stuttgart 2-2 Borussia Dortmund
- Union Berlin 2-1 St. Pauli
- Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 FC Köln
Prediction Records
- Total: 487-318
- Perfect Picks: 53
- Bundesliga Last Matchday: 5-4
- Bundesliga Overall: 136-107
- DFB-Pokal: 49-11
- World Cup Qualifiers/Friendlies: 164-95
- Champions League: 94-74
- Club World Cup: 39-23
- Club Friendlies: 4-0
- 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…
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