At some point, somebody at the DFB needs to sit Germany’s best young footballers down and explain that moving to England is not a mandatory career milestone.
Seriously. Can we stop doing this?
Germany keeps producing ridiculously talented players, only to watch them head to the Premier League, where their careers sometimes turn into expensive exercises in frustration.
Need examples? Glad you asked.
Timo Werner went to Chelsea after establishing himself as one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards at RB
Leipzig. He won the Champions League, but his confidence and goalscoring consistency never recovered to the same level. He was mocked by the media, chided by fans, and pummeled on social media into becoming nothing more than a meme. His subsequent return to Leipzig did not restore his former standing, and he eventually found himself rebuilding his career in MLS.
Kai Havertz is perhaps the most frustrating example. Arsenal still seems fascinated by the player they believe he can become rather than the player he actually is. He is a useful, versatile footballer, but the idea that he is some elite attacking superstar needs to be retired. He has consistently underwhelmed for Germany, too, and his performances rarely justify the expectations surrounding him. Yet coaches keep trying to unlock something that might not actually be there.
Florian Wirtz was arguably the best player in Germany before moving to Liverpool. Now he is struggling to reproduce that extraordinary Bayer Leverkusen form consistently. The talent has not disappeared, but perhaps there is a lesson in leaving a system where you are thriving.
And Nick Woltemade? Another enormous talent who has moved to England and suddenly finds himself fighting to establish his place and rediscover his best form… at Juventus, while on loan from Newcastle United. The Magpies spent a fortune on Woltemade and could not even stomach keeping him on the roster for the second year of his contract… yikes!
There is nothing inherently wrong with the Premier League. It is an excellent competition. But England is not the promised land, and a bigger transfer fee does not automatically mean a better career.
Germany has Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart, and several other excellent clubs. Players can develop, win trophies, play Champions League football, and become superstars without crossing the English Channel.
Maybe the next time a German wunderkind receives an offer from England, someone should remind him that sometimes the best career move is staying exactly where you are. Germany needs its best players playing their best football—not spending three years trying to convince England that they are worth the transfer fee.
In the end, German youngsters should just consider this sage advice from Cousin Avi (Dennis Farina) in the movie Snatch:
Simple…easy…and without all of the drama that will undoubtedly ensue.
Song of the Week: “Disco Science” by Mirwais
Well, we might as well keep the Snatch theme going. We have already featured “F*ckin’ in the Bushes” by Oasis and “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers, so why not use the tune from one of the movie’s defining scenes:
Snatch is one of those movies that gets forgotten in history, but what a freakin’ great film. So much fun is packed into that runtime. If you have never seen it, you should check it out—you’ll recognize so many actors who went on to have some great careers.
Entertainment Rundown
Tires
Admittedly, I did not plan on starting this show, but I was looking for something on short order and had been implored by some friends to give it a run for a couple of years now. Given that it is filmed about 20 minutes from where I sit, it just made sense.
The comedy lived up to the billing. It is filmed in the jumpy style made famous by Arrested Development and The Office, but its comedy is more along the lines of Eastbound & Down or Veep. For me, there were a few laugh-out-loud moments in just about every episode.
The episodes are very short, which makes it an easy view. The comedy is very juvenile, which — you know what? I need that every once in a while. Below is a brief synopsis of what the show is about if you are interested.
Background and plot
Tires is a workplace comedy created by Shane Gillis, Steve Gerben, and John McKeever that follows the everyday chaos of running an auto repair shop. The Netflix series centers on Will (Gerben), a nervous, inexperienced manager who finds himself responsible for keeping his family’s struggling business afloat while dealing with difficult customers, unmotivated employees, and constant workplace headaches.
Will’s biggest problem might be his cousin Shane (Gillis), an outspoken, immature employee whose crude humor, questionable decisions, and relentless teasing make an already stressful job even more difficult. Despite frequently undermining Will’s authority, Shane occasionally demonstrates the practical skills and confidence that his cousin desperately lacks. The duo often plays off the dry and unassuming character, Cal (Chris O’Connor), a mechanic in the shop, and Kilah (Kilah Fox), who absolutely nails the regional eccentricities you might find here in suburban Philadelphia. Stavros Halkias’ character, Dave, is the absolute wildest one of the bunch and—hilariously—has the most racy storylines, while Thomas Haden Church plays the role of Shane’s father to perfection.
Of course, there is a host of complementary, oddball characters as well, which bring the show full circle.
Much of the show’s humor comes from the contrast between Will’s attempts to act like a serious businessman and the ridiculous situations that unfold around him. From awkward customer interactions to inappropriate conversations among coworkers, the garage becomes a breeding ground for insults, arguments, and absurd mishaps.
The series features blunt dialogue, uncomfortable exchanges, and jokes that frequently push social boundaries. Rather than focusing on elaborate storylines, Tires builds its appeal through the dysfunctional relationships among its characters and the familiar frustrations of working in a small business.
At its core, the show is about family, ambition, and the struggle to earn respect in an environment where professionalism is often in short supply. It is an irreverent comedy for viewers who enjoy raunchy humor and chaotic workplace dynamics.
While it was not a retail/service-based environment, I once worked in an office like this that made for wild times. I should write a book on my early career…
Regional appeal
One of the factors that makes it more appealing to me is the nuance of how they integrated so much of this area (Southeastern Pennsylvania) into the show. For people living in this region, it definitely hits home a little more.
The comedy in this show will not appeal to everyone, but I absolutely need something like this in my rotation every once in a while. Shows like Eastbound & Down, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the original Arrested Development do not come around too often anymore to provide the kind of craziness we all need once in a while.
If you’ve been around here long enough, you know I am a sucker for shows that are filmed (sometimes literally) in my backyard, like Mare of Easttown and Task. I cannot explain it, but it’s always cool to see different places in the area make it to the screen.
Rating: 9.00/10.00
Predictions
Bayern Munich will hit the road to face Mainz 05 in what could qualify as either a “letdown” game or a “getaway” game—both of which are major issues for the Bavarians.
The dramatic and draining win over Atlético Madrid took a physical and mental toll on the squad, and having to bounce back so soon is not always easy. Meanwhile, many players will also have the specter of reporting for international duty or looking forward to a few days off, which could prove distracting.
This is not an ideal situation.
However, given the renewed focus and determination exhibited by the team to battle through a very tough period, there is no reason to think that they cannot dig deep to pull out another strong effort before everyone goes their separate ways for a couple of weeks.
Prediction: Mainz 05 0-3 Bayern Munich
Other Bundesliga predictions:
- Hamburger SV 1-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Borussia Dortmund 3-1 SV 07 Elversberg
- RB Leipzig 2-1 FC Augsburg
- SC Paderborn 07 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
- VfB Stuttgart 3-2 Werder Bremen
- FC Köln 2-4 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- SC Freiburg 2-0 1. Union Berlin
- TSG Hoffenheim 1-0 Schalke 04
Prediction Records
- Total: 301-181
- Perfect Picks: 39
- Bundesliga Last Matchday: 3-6
- Bundesliga Overall: 32-40
- DFB-Pokal: 40-8
- World Cup: 71-28
- International Friendlies: 50-30
- UEFA Nations League: 58-46
- Champions League: 44-28
- Club Friendlies: 5-1
- Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 1-0
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