When Bayern Munich announced the signing of Ismael Saibari, it was still a little shocking after weeks of rumors, but not because the Bavarians had interest in the talented Moroccan.
There is no doubting that Saibari is a player, but it was at least a little shocking to see competition being brought in for Jamal Musiala. Despite the presence of other young and talented players, Musiala is the gem of Bayern Munich’s organization and the foundational piece that is had been seeking to build around.
However,
the youngster’s performances since coming back from the catastrophic leg injury that he suffered at last year’s Club World Cup have left him limited physically and mentally.
Because of how Musiala has looked, Bayern Munich felt the need to add a contingency plan and also provide the kind of quality depth that has been lacking in recent seasons. It all just makes sense, even if it could have been a wake up call for Musiala.
This week, the Germany international underwent surgery to remove a plate from his foot, something that had been weighing on the attacking midfielder per Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk. While Musiala was not slated to have the plate removed already, he opted to get it done now, so that he would be ready for the starting of Bayern Munich’s preseason training camp:
It was always in Jamal Musiala’s head that he had to remove the metal plate in his foot (surgically inserted last summer following his unfortunate injury at the Club World Cup). The secret operation, which I exclusively revealed at the time, wasn’t originally planned for this summer. Certainly, if Germany had progressed further in the World Cup than they did, there would have been no time for this surgery to take place. If it had taken place later in the summer, Musiala would inevitably have missed the first few weeks of pre-season training. However, the 23-year-old was keen to be available on the pitch from the very first moment, which is why he had the surgery now instead of later in the winter. Now the hope is that he’s completely over the injury and the midfielder can play free in his mind (and foot).
For the first time since his academy days, Musiala might be feeling the pressure to perform — and that could be a good thing. For too long, Bayern Munich has slotted Musiala into the lineup, caved to his alleged contractual demands, and not really offered a reason for him to make changes within his game.
Now, he has just that.
Saibari, while injured now, is coming off of a World Cup where he was a breakout star. A player in his prime ready to make an impact at a big club and one comes without the baggage of knowing he will play second fiddle to Musiala in this new era at Bayern Munich.
This could be exactly what Musiala needs to drive some change into his game and the make the necessary improvements to continue his upward trajectory. It will not be easy, though, as he will have to figure out if he can get fully back physically to where he was before his major injury (not a certainty), while also seeking to improve his vision, decision-making, and fit into Vincent Kompany’s attack — something he struggled with big time last season.
If there was ever a time to be compelled to make some personal improvements, the acquisition of Saibari might have ensure that it happens now.
Musiala will have the backing of fans and every Bayern Munich fan will want him to be successful. At his best, Musiala is a game changer. To be the best he can be, he will have to make changes, though, and that responsibility will fall solely on him. Musiala seemed to have trouble fitting in with Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz last season — and maybe the fact that he was no longer the focal point of the attack. That kind of adjustment is not easy to make, but it is necessary.
A new season is on the horizon, though, and everyone will get a fresh start. From there, it will be up to Musiala — and everyone else at Bayern Munich to take advantage of it.
Song of the Week: “Spirits” by The Strumbrellas
This one comes to us from the Great White North and the band, The Strumbrellas. Released in 2016, this one got some decent airplay here in Philadelphia and stuck with me for quite a while.
Admittedly, I might have played it out a bit on my iTunes at the time it was released, but I still enjoy going back to it now. Enjoy:
Entertainment Rundown
House of the Dragon — Season 3, Episode 3
One of the old tropes that we see in each iteration of Game of Thrones is a theme that it is hard to rule n Westeros. In fact, you could argue that this has become a staple of every show in the thematic universe.
That is exactly what we got in episode three of House of the Dragon. Let’s dig in:
- Okay, so Rhaenyra is queen again…now what? A whole lot of problems and decisions to make.
- That was it…that was pretty much the entire episode. Oh, and she had cramps, too.
- It was a truly bizarre follow-up to two great episodes, but there had to be a come down, right? That kind of pace was never going to be sustainable, was it? Definitely not.
- So, what we got here was not a bad episode, but one that did stunt momentum.
- Aside of the pains of ruling an empire, there was the reveal that Ormund Hightower was not just some random character, who was overhyped. His deception in handing over a fake Prince Daeron has added some intrigue into the next phase of the battle.
- Surely, there is a lot of action to come and that is what makes this episode okay. There had to be a come down to build back up to the bigger, more impactful episodes.
- Overall, it was…fine. It was not awful, but it was a necessary “possession to drain the clock.” While some modern series have started to eschew these kinds of episodes, they are necessary for complex series like House of the Dragon. So, we will deal with it and take it for what it was. Hopefully, the show’s pacing and action can right-size themselves in the coming episodes.
Rating: 6.75/10.00
Task and Mare of Easttown
As had been rumored, there will be a crossover of the two HBO series Task and Mare of Easttown.
Both shows were nothing short of excellent, one-off mini-series in the Brad Ingelsby universe and this should some has exciting news. So, what is the connection (aside of being set in the same fictional, yet based on real life Delaware County, PA) that will bring the shows together? This is what Variety knows at this point:
Julianne Nicholson has joined Season 2 of the HBO detective drama, reprising her Emmy-winning role as Lori Ross, the mother of three children who lives in Easttown. While, until now, “Task” was not directly connected to “Mare of Easttown,” both series hail from creator and showrunner Brad Ingelsby and take place in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia.
It’s unclear how, exactly, Nicholson’s character will factor into the storyline of “Task.” The vague Season 2 logline reads as follows: “Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) takes the helm of a new task force, but the deeper the operation runs, the harder it is to tell who’s the target.”
Aside from Ruffalo, Nicholson joins previously announced Season 2 cast members Mahershala Ali, Harry Melling, Adam Nagaitis, Aminah Nieves and Edgar Ramirez. “Mare of Easttown” premiered on HBO in 2021 and starred Kate Winslet as Marianne “Mare” Sheehan, a police detective investigating the murder of a teenage mother while her own life bursts at the seams. Nicholson played Lori, Mare’s best friend, whose son becomes embroiled in the murder investigation.
Winslet and Ingelsby have teased a second season of “Mare of Easttown,” which was designed as a miniseries. In 2024, HBO’s drama head Francesca Orsi said there were “early discussions” about continuing the show, and earlier this year Winslet said about a second season, “I think we probably will do it,” even suggesting it could film in 2027. It remains to be seen what that might look like, or whether Winslet could also enter the world of “Task.”
Ingelsby has yet to have a miss and both of his shows were met with both critical and audience acclaim. That is hard to do, but let’s hope he has more magic up his sleeve.
Predictions
The World Cup is in its final stages and the quarterfinal round has some solid (but not spectacular matches):
- France 3-1 Morocco (W)
- Spain 1-0 Belgium
- England 3-2 Norway
- Argentina 2-1 Switzerland
Results will not be entered until the round is over.
Prediction Records
- Total: 116-56
- Perfect Picks: 22
- Bundesliga Last Matchday: 0-0
- Bundesliga Overall: 0-0
- DFB-Pokal: 0-0
- World Cup: 66-26
- International Friendlies: 50-30
- Champions League: 0-0
- Club Friendlies: 0-0
- Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 0-0
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