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05. The new boss
29 Plays5 months ago
…Marcel Schäfer (Manager of Sport) has arrived. Let’s introduce him. The Bundesliga returns & RB Leipzig will host die Eisernen from Köpenick – 1.FC Union Berlin. We have a closer look at a club, which has pressed the reset button following a narrow escape from relegation.
(00:00) Intro
(01:46) Who is Marcel Schäfer?
(20:00) Brigade Kabelwerk will stage a protest…again
(25:03) 1.FC Union – Der Gegnercheck
(40:21) Starting XI
(43:06) Final thoughts
LVZ online:
RB Leipzig: Geschäftsführer Sport Marcel Schäfer will mit Verein ans Maximum (lvz.de)
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Transcript
Introduction to RB Leipzig and Marcel Scheffer
00:00:00
Speaker
Good day. This is Boussaint Red. Today we're talking about RB Leipzig's new managing director of sport, Marcel Scheffer. Find out why Richard is so surprised. No fucking way, excuse me. If you would have a few that asked me, I would have told you that this must have been as Eric Riebeck was in charge. But in the end, his verdict about Marcel Scheffer is quite positive.
00:00:27
Speaker
And it's it's not that kind of guy that turns his back to his duties as soon as there is a more attractive woman or a club. And of course, we're going to have a closer look at our next opponent.
00:00:43
Speaker
e to f say unon berlin It's annoying as hell. I know. And find out about Niklas Seivald's important mission. Nikolas, your task for this year is to make Richard a fan of yours. and it's not that hard. Welcome to Bulls and Red.
00:01:15
Speaker
Welcome to Bolson Red, your weekly footy podcast about RB Leipzig. We're at home at Leipzig. And every week we invite you to have a look at our RB Leipzig world. Richard and Mario, say hello. So good evening, Richard. How are you tonight? Good evening, Mario. Thank you.
00:01:39
Speaker
I'm fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, trouble fine. Let's go. Thank you very much. Glad to have you with us. And yeah, let's move on to our first topic. And I thought it is a good time to introduce the new managing director of sports.
00:01:57
Speaker
And after the completion of the transfer window, I think this is appropriate and a good time to have a look of who would that muscle shaver or like you say, muscle shaver actually is. Muscle shaver is only 40 years old and it Quite recently, he was playing for Fallfeld-Wolzburg. From 2007 until 2017, he was the attacking left back. and I kind of remember that time as well. and In this time, he earned about 300 caps with Fallfeld-Wolzburg. He did score 16 times and had 51 assists.
00:02:36
Speaker
Do you remember as well, Richard? He actually played for Germany as
Scheffer's Career and Philosophy
00:02:39
Speaker
well. He had eight caps for Germany. I don't remember that too much, but he was part of Yogi Löw's squad. I think Yogi is responsible for... No way. Yeah. um According to the sources that I checked. I mean, I'm a Yogi Löw. No fucking way. Excuse me. If you would have a few that asked me, I would have told you that this must have been as Eric Riebeck was in charge.
00:03:04
Speaker
So maybe from 2007 till 2017, yeah, it is quite possible. It's feasible. Anyway, he's now the managing director of sport and he's the boss of the sporting director, Hoofenschreuter. So, Masei Sheva succeeds, Max Ebel, who left in very unpleasant terms with RB Leipzig. And he's been around now for a couple of weeks, almost a couple of months.
00:03:34
Speaker
I would just like to prove introduce him just to tell you who he is, what he thinks about RB Leipzig, the RB Leipzig's DNA and his comments about expectations of RB Leipzig and their fans. So let's get started. I'm taking the information from a piece that was published in the local newspaper Leipzig. I thought that last week.
00:03:58
Speaker
And they had him in a little interview round where he answered a couple of questions. But master is actually from Bavaria, but he's from the part but of Bavaria, which is close to Hesse, Hesse. And the city is called Aschaffenburg. And I remember we used to call the people who are from Aschaffenburg 5th Minutenbauer, which means he's just five minutes away from Hesse. So he's not really a real Bavarian, but just pretends to be.
00:04:25
Speaker
So he's from Ajebesch, Aschaffenburg. But again, he played for Fauf Veyborsch for quite a long time, from 2007 to 2017. And following his career, football career at Wölstburg, he did something really smart. I mean,
00:04:41
Speaker
He joined for one season the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Tampa Bay Rowdies actually present in the second US soccer league, something I've never heard of before. But he must have liked Florida because he was playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He scored 32 goals, so that just shows you the level.
00:05:00
Speaker
and During his time at Tampa Bay, he managed to take some internships at a couple of clubs. They are a little bit more well known like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
00:05:13
Speaker
the Tampa Bay Lightning, part of the NHL, and Tampa Bay Rays, who are part of
Challenges and Strategies at RB Leipzig
00:05:19
Speaker
the Major League Baseball ah organization. So I think he used his time there really wisely. And in the summer of 2018, he decided to retire and returned to Faufel Walsburg, where he then held the position of a sporting director.
00:05:36
Speaker
and for a couple of years. And this is something I actually remember when he was sporting director over there. So he was with a club which was, which is owned by Volkswagen game VR. And you could, as a traditional fan, dislike Valver Waufsburg as well, because, you know, they have just unlimited funds. But at the moment, Volkswagen is a little bit in trouble.
00:05:59
Speaker
Anyways, this since the summer he's been here and he has something in common with RB Leipzig and that's the year 2009. Because in 2009 his son was born and RB Leipzig was born. And also in 2009, remember who was crowned champions of the Bundesliga? Bloody Faufelhe Wollisburg, remember? Under coach Felix Magat.
00:06:23
Speaker
Oh, yeah. And graffiti and. Oh, beautiful. Actually, they rock the lead back. They did. I rooted for them at the time because, you know, it meant by invention was not to champion.
00:06:38
Speaker
and that was It was a crazy season, miss but 2009, so he knows what it feels like when you win the league. So I think this can only be positive. And it seems like he's a character who's very dedicated and disciplined. um He does get up every morning at five o'clock and he does a 60 minutes workout. i to find this I find this really amazing. el Elis, he does live in Leipzig. He hasn't moved his family to Leipzig yet.
00:07:02
Speaker
But when he is asked about his first few weeks, Ziggy just thinks that it has been very positive. And during the first two matches versus Buchung by Mufir, Leverkusen, everybody could see the potential that the team actually has. And on the transfer window he comments that most of the objectives have been achieved, but it hasn't been possible, has only been possible because There has been a great teamwork and dedication. ah To be honest, it sounds like marketing speak and everybody would tell you that in cooperation talk, but I actually believe that. I think this is an organization which only lives through that anyway and has a clear plan and they follow that through with the with the right people.
00:07:44
Speaker
But Master Sheva is also fully aware of the Arby Leipzig philosophy of mainly developing players further, talents further, and that enables Arby Leipzig to mostly play a successful type of football. So he fully buys into that philosophy and our DNA.
00:08:03
Speaker
And he was also asked to about his decision to leave Valver Walsburg. And something really interesting actually came up because he said that he has always been in touch with Mario Gomes. And Mario Gomes, of course, you don't see in in public so much. And I'm not really sure if he really wants to be associated with our Red Bull all the time because you know he comes from a very sex successful career with Valver Stuttgart.
00:08:29
Speaker
for a long time, and I'm not really sure if he, you know, really wants to be associated with it, but nevertheless, he's now technical director, or has been for a couple of years, technical director at Red Bull Soccer International, and they've been in touch on a regular basis. And when the offer to join RB Leipzig came up, Masser, well, took a couple of days off and talked it over with his family and decided to join RB Leipzig, which caused some really not very positive reactions of Wabsburg. He did say that his children were actually receiving threats and he had to pick him up from school, take him to school, because he was afraid something would happen to them.
00:09:10
Speaker
But you have to bear in mind as well that his time it was was quite long, it was I think almost 17 years, but these these reactions are completely unnecessary. And he was also asked about RB Leipzig and and winning the league with RB Leipzig and this as well.
00:09:28
Speaker
For this to happen, everything has to go in the right way. Everything has to work out just the right way. The same as everything has worked out last year for Bialevic, who's just bare in mind they never lost last year, for example. And for how many times did we watch them coming back in the late, late, late, late, late window of the matches? It's just amazing. But you never know. You never know. And he knows what it feels like to be top of the league.
00:09:57
Speaker
But he also comments on RB Leipzig on a regular basis transferring top players. And he refers to Joshko, Christo or Schopel for example. And he does stage that this is vital for RB Leipzig to do this each year for economic reasons. And it does have a positive side effect as well because the funds that they take into from these sales they're able in the position or they put them in the position to attract really young, highly talented player ah players like um Antonio Nusa or Arthur Vermeeren and this guy, milarotrada which I never pronounced in the right way.
00:10:39
Speaker
I think that is quite interesting.
Key Figures: Marco Rose and Academy Focus
00:10:41
Speaker
He has noticed also that the ah expectation levels have certainly risen in Leipzig over the last couple of years. And when he's asked how to meet those expectations, one could suspect that we all are ready for that trophy of the Bundesliga to win the league.
00:10:59
Speaker
ah he he He remains quite vague because he kind of refers to the year circumstances set in order to achieve the maximum, which obviously is the goal of Arby Leipzig. It all depends on circumstances and overcoming obstacles and how a team can overcome obstacles or bad situations. For example, key ah players are injured for a long time, like Dani Olmo, for example, for a long time.
00:11:25
Speaker
But just imagine if we have, you know, Javi, he's never been injured for a long time, but if he's injured and maybe also go pender, then okay. It is a different way. So I guess what he's trying to say is there's always a certain maximum that you can get out of a season, but there is one minimum requirement and that is to participate in the Champions League. so It is something that we actually all knew, or have known for a long time, that the minimum objective is to reach a Champions League. But anything beyond that, I think it's all according to the circumstances at the time. He is, however, very positive about Marco Rose and something I learned in this ah article, which I didn't know before. Masosheva tried to get Marco Rose to work at Wozbok in 2019, but Rose then went to Broussier-Menschenkladberg at the time.
00:12:20
Speaker
And he really values ah Marco because he knows that Marco can form teams, he can develop players, young players, teleplayers further, put them onto the next door, level after that level.
00:12:35
Speaker
And he also knows that it's very good with leading his staff. um He's got a team of four about 40 people. I didn't realize that, which he needs to to manage. And what I think we can pick up as well from the sidelines and the way Marco articulates himself during a press conference and interviews, he is very close to the team. He lives every moment through the team as well.
00:12:58
Speaker
And according to Marcel, he gets the feeling that Marco Rosas is also on the pitch. I think we saw that during the game when he received two yellow cards. I think he would have been on the pitch to complain instead of the captain. Marcel is convinced that Aby Leipzig can reach the, in quotation marks, maximum with Marco Rosas. So I think this really helps.
00:13:22
Speaker
In terms of pressure, in order to get trophies and titles, I think this will in the beginning not come from Marcel Schaeffer. It'll be more the CEO and the top people, top management of RB Leipzig or Red Bull.
00:13:37
Speaker
Another interesting aspect that he answered is the question, does RB Leipzig need a junior team like an under-23 team? And for a while we had that many, many years ago. And the problem with that is, according to Master Schafer, that it is really not feasible because the gap between the league, the quality that is required for playing in the League of the Under-23, which is effectively a second team of Arby Leipzig. And the first team, which is in the top tier of the Bundesliga, is too great. Remember, Arby Leipzig, an Under-23 team, would very likely play in the Rekionaleiga, and that's like the fourth tier.
00:14:17
Speaker
of German football and it's not a single league, it's so like a regional league. And currently we have the likes of Locomotive Leipzig or Schemi Leipzig in that league. So it's it's not totally professional in that sense. It's totally different. it's and The gap is just too large. So instead, what they are trying to do is to invest their time and effort and money into their own academy. And they claim they have been have already been um profits or benefits visible.
00:14:46
Speaker
I think in the foreseeable future we're not going to see a a junior team, an under-23 team of Abbe Leipzig. He also comments on his relationship with his boss, Oliver Minslauf, who is the CEO of corporate projects and investments at Red Bull Gameby Hall. He claims that he gets open and on his feedback and he's clear about expectations that Oliver Minslauf may have, so he values that. and He also comments on his relationship with Rauvenshoeder, the sporting director that reports to him.
00:15:21
Speaker
And they're both similar in the sense of that they all also have been professional football players or soccer players. They're both team players. They value teamwork a lot. Rovin Schroeder apparently has a huge network or a very good network. And he has worked in more clubs as a sporting director than Master Schafer. So he values his experience. And it seems that Rovin Schroeder is a good communicator. So I think the two of them seem to be getting along very well.
00:15:49
Speaker
judging by these comments over here. So now we know a little bit more about Master Shaver. We know which position he's in, what his background is. And I am really positive about that because he seems to be dedicated, a lot more dedicated than Max Abel. So he wouldn't jump shit straight or sh ship straight away to when Ulyhunis knocks on the door or somebody else. So I think he was he's grounded and he will stay for a couple of years. seems to fit in very, well very well. What I also learned from this is, well, we always have to accept the fact that our real life needs to generate funds from selling top players. And it's always going to happen. And they're going to continue down this road to attract young players to develop in Salomon and continue their and accompany their development for a couple of years time. But I think even with that, we have seen progress.
00:16:43
Speaker
Because if you look at the players, they are hiring or adding to the squad. Now, that is different from five, six years ago and it's on a higher level. So maybe it does work. Maybe it is possible to be successful to win trophies.
00:17:00
Speaker
while developing play and then selling them on. We will have to see. it's It's still going to be something which is really interesting to follow. But hey, the minimum objective is that the Champions League qualification is reached that we are able to play in the Champions League in the next season and I think obviously it's going to be economic reasons attracting the right players. Reputation, I think reputation has increased with the continuous participation of Avi Leipzig in the Champions League as well and that just supports continuous positive development of the club. I think we're on ah on the right on the right track there.
00:17:38
Speaker
And also, I think Marco Rosa should be able to continue his work with the team under, the under let's say, Masa or with Masa Shaver on board, so they're not going to clash. I think they they can continue working together really well. So I'm quite positive looking
Leipzig vs. Union Berlin Preview
00:17:55
Speaker
forward. I'm not sure if it's going to be matching your bold prediction.
00:17:59
Speaker
But I think we're going to be we're going to be in for a very good and exciting season. So there you go. This is my take and introduction of Basel Scheffer. Wonderful. level Thank you. I haven't read the the article or the interview that you mentioned. I guess it was made exclusive from Guido Scheffer.
00:18:20
Speaker
Not sure, couldn't find it, but okay it was something I picked up last week and I thought this is interesting, especially after our last episode when we did talk about the transfer window in more detail. So I think this just follows it up before we go back to bread and butter football.
00:18:38
Speaker
Now it sounds interesting and promising as well. So yeah, you you you named it he seems like he has a plan for himself and what he wants to achieve. And it's it's not that kind of guy that turns his back to his duties. As soon as there's a more attractive woman, woman or club or whatsoever around the corner or more attractive 70 year old president from an infamous club.
00:19:08
Speaker
I don't want to mention any names. No. Comparabilities are by accident. So yeah, I'm i'm i'm hyped and that will be a nice story if if our club develops further with him for for years. and if We ah yeah you be talked about for quite a while to close those gaps, to close those vacant spots in the in the front office. And it seems now that we finally managed all of Minslav and the ah the other peoples people in charge in Red Bull Universe managed to find proper replacements.
00:19:51
Speaker
And hopefully that's what turns into a bright future for the next five to ten years. Exactly. So enough about that. Let's move on to something completely different. And well, the Bundesliga returns this weekend and I'm really happy for it. But one more thing about Germany playing the Netherlands, I have to say it was really funny because You saw David Raum playing for Germany and then Shavi playing for the Netherlands. And Shavi was was really active, really good. And every time they sort of clashed, you were just hoping none of them get injured. And you were kind of wondering, ah how do they actually compete with each other? Because they know each other from from training, from their own club.
00:20:40
Speaker
And can you imagine one of them entering, ah injuring the other and you come back to Leipzig and you see, oh shit, I can't play because of you. So I was, I was just really relieved that none of them got injured. Everybody came back. Benny, of course, wasn't, wasn't on the pitch. He didn't get any minutes, but you know, who got some minutes who came in? This guy.
00:21:02
Speaker
milartrada There you go. So we saw all of him. Anyway, so yes, who's coming to town this weekend, Richard? Oh my god, not again.
00:21:16
Speaker
Yeah. Can I? know it's Oh, sorry. Yeah. No, you go first. Yes, because I picked something up from a Berlin newspaper today in Berlin, Korea. Yeah. And recently, Arby Leipzig women played the women of your. Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:33
Speaker
And Union Berlin actually played in the in the cup, in the German cup, in the Dave B. Bucaille. I think it was the first round, wasn't it? Yeah, it was the first round. The women of Arby Leipzig, as the team, which is in the top flight in the highest tier of the Bundesliga, as the Bundesliga, now the second season, played Union Berlin at Berlin, who are one league below that, in the second league, and they lost.
00:21:56
Speaker
So now this article kind of started. Union Berlin is aiming to repeat that with their men's team at Leipzig this weekend. And there's one with tradition, one Kabelberg-Uberspray tradition, which you're going to keep up. And you know what it is. They're going to boycott the first 15. So, hey, are we Leipzig fans? No need for boycott this time. No, not like versus Bochen.
00:22:21
Speaker
let Union Berlin do that. So every time I think they came here and they had to play in Leipzig, they did the same thing. For the first 15 minutes, they remained silent. They even vacated their section, I think, and then they came roaring in after 15 minutes. And I remember, I think it was probably the first time Union Berlin had to travel to play R.E. Leipzig. Those supporters were absent for 45 minutes because instead they went to enabling Leuch through the woods and to watch the match of Jimmy Leipzig vs Union Berlin. There was some some some some sort of match there or friendship match going on. And then they came back. And by the time they came back, I think I'll be like it was up 3-0 or something. So i'm I'm looking forward to this like last year, because last season they did the same thing. And this happened.
00:23:19
Speaker
oh a So after 11 minutes, Golpenda scored. And I think we should do the same thing again, you know. Just let him be quiet, we just chant, we just have our fun and hopefully work by two. And that just puts the game to bed, hopefully. But Richard, I must tell you, when they come back, you can fall look forward to something like this.
00:23:49
Speaker
are are um
00:24:01
Speaker
And you do this quite often and continuously during the game, and that can really allow you to encounter it. Of course, but what are chanting? Would you would you tell to our international listeners? Because i i'm I'm struggling getting this as well.
00:24:23
Speaker
Yeah, to be honest, I'm just guessing here, but it sounds to be like forwards, forwards on your belly. hey But maybe I'm making this up. But I'm not 100% sure because it's just the continuous melody. but Anyway, it's it's annoying as hell.
00:24:44
Speaker
I know. It's just the way they used to play. But hey, Richard, I know you looked into the squad and it looks like a reset button has been pressed by the Eisen and Horstig, because last year they had a dreadful season, didn't they? After yeah they qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
00:25:03
Speaker
introducing our next opponent dear a k
00:25:09
Speaker
Of course, yeah, you said it ah hit a reset button, at least at the important um buttons of this whole squad. So but let's take a look at the 2023-24 campaign, or better one season before that, and when they were qualified for the Champions League, you named it. And after they qualified, um they acquired Robin Gorsens from Bergamo, they acquired Bonnucci, I think he came from i don't and I don't even remember that. But now that you mentioned it, yeah, he was there. And it seemed like, hey, now we are here to stay in the Bundesliga. We qualify for the first time for DVA for Champions League. And this is our plan for the upcoming years. Can I interrupt you for a second? I'm so sorry. you But this this was this was like a continuous progress, wasn't it? So the first year they stayed in the league, then they qualified for international football, which was, I'm not sure if it was conference league or Europa League already.
00:26:09
Speaker
And all of a sudden they featured in the Champions League. So it seemed to serve this would continue forever, just like with us. Yeah, at yeah you're you're right. yeah It seemed a bit like that at least. so But it not came out of nothing. So there was a clear plan, a clear business plan and a clear plan how to develop the squad, which players too.
00:26:29
Speaker
acquired that are fit into what they were trying to do. And they had this long time manager was Fisher, yeah who let them all out of the second Bundesliga and was in charge for about don know seven, eight, nine seasons or something like that. Impressive, impressive, continuous work, which you don't find that often in this yeah fast business.
00:26:54
Speaker
But all of a sudden, something went wrong. And it seemed they could not, could not um fit or find any proper fit to replace Sherrod or Becker. You remember him? Oh yeah. It was, it was the go-to guy in this UCL qualifying season. Yeah. It was like Michael Owen in his, in his, in his, in his prime and by you.
00:27:20
Speaker
But
Union Berlin's Tactical and Historical Context
00:27:21
Speaker
at least I felt every time he has a magnet in in his in his i know shoes, and in in his cleats and into the balls, just jumped away. And all of a sudden he was at his foot again. come How do you do this all day long? um So, and Sheralda Becker scored 11 times, added seven assists in this 2020-203 campaign.
00:27:43
Speaker
And yeah, after that season, not one player had double digits in this goal and assistant department. for if say o So the plan with Bonucci to strengthen their defense didn't work out as well.
00:28:00
Speaker
I cannot see what went wrong exactly, but obviously the plan didn't work out as as intended. So they they had Robin Gossens. Yes, he was by far the best player. They had Kevin Folland and not a nice addition. I've always been a Kevin Folland fan because I liked his his style of play because he isn't that kind of of tall striker and you know he's as as tall as me and I'm not very tall. and You're a giant. no compared to you.
00:28:30
Speaker
and vanoo I that slide. Let that sink in, okay? In your face. I'm only 160. And no, to be honest. But like Gavin Volant is not that tall kind of guy, but he somehow managed to um to be himself, to to create chances in the penalty box with with nice dribblings.
00:28:54
Speaker
and so And I thought, okay, wow, now june nice addition. But um it's it started not that good for him because he was sent off, wasn't he? Yeah, in this yeah yeah that's what I was thinking of immediately.
00:29:09
Speaker
so And it seems like this was the beginning of of of the of this whole mess, which ended up finally in in a somehow long-term injury. He's not fit yet, so he won't be an option for Saturday, for Union. He's not around. Panucci didn't work out. Nevertheless, he isn't around anymore. But on top of that, they lost Robin Coulson, who's now off to a Fiorentina, and that hurts. That hurts really, really big time for Union.
00:29:38
Speaker
a last minute transfer, wasn't it? I think he was preparing for the next Bundesliga match on a Friday afternoon, or even Saturday, I don't know, because that was the end of the year. It was just before the Friday evening match versus St. Pauli. And all of a sudden he was on the roster. Yeah, crazy.
00:29:56
Speaker
But he was one of their most if not the most dangerous player in in terms of scoring goals six and Most political scorer with six goals that tells you a lot about those those lads who were playing for a neon and the second best in assists with three and the best one in the assistant a Category was Kevin fallen last year who is not around I already tell you that so another one who left is Robin Knocher okay he was a little bit a little bit and not not the youngest anymore he wasn't like 31 32 and not the fastest guy but he never has been and you know he's off to SDFT Nürnberg so
00:30:35
Speaker
three of them fall and goes since and three important cornerstones, I think, in their whole roster are not around anymore. And to be honest, I don't see any proper replacements. And if I Yeah, the impressions I got from their first two appearances away at mines, where they ended up in a one all draw in a Yeah, more lucky fashioned way than it was deserved. So maybe if you look at the whole 90 minutes, it wasn't that bad with the first 45 minutes was just nothing. And they were lucky that mines didn't score more than once. And you mentioned it last Friday, or the Friday before second to
00:31:18
Speaker
We week two Bundesliga home game against Sankt Pauli and a match that was not on Bundesliga level and they ended up with with a 1-0. It could have been easily a 0-0 draw because yeah two weak opponents facing each other it was a lousy game to watch.
00:31:39
Speaker
and So now they're heading to Leipzig. And I'm pretty optimistic that we will end up with a clear win here. But we had 15 matches in total. And guess what? We have six losses and this the third most against any side in the Bundesliga. We lost only more against Bayern and Dortmund.
00:32:01
Speaker
so And if you if you look back, you know, we have always been the favorite in those matches. And all of those union wins ah came became a little bit unseeable, right? so I remember ah remember the time when we lost each game 2-1.
00:32:21
Speaker
Yeah, five times in a row. Five times in a row. Hey, but play to be fair, we won the last two encounters. So declining now. First one won three nil. You know, second, the last one two nil. First time at home though.
00:32:33
Speaker
ah Okay. Oh, yeah true because yeah, yeah, I remember yeah, yeah it's it's a tradition So we we we haven't got as many so this is a tradition now for us not for a new one They hate it that they have to come here to wrap things up even with the new coach post ransom and and I like him I think he's a really good manager that this was a good decision So that own yawn feels like a bit down to earth again from their high flying season last year that they qualified for the UCL and then struggled to not getting relegated into the second Bundesliga. It seems now there is a new down to earth that's coming to a Berlin. and Can I ask you a question? Sorry.
00:33:16
Speaker
You know, they have a new sporting director as well, Horst Hällt. Remember the guy? Do I know him from Cologne? Times at Cologne? Cologne and Schalke and he played for Achtensichtig. Oh, okay. So they have changed things around on several levels?
00:33:37
Speaker
Now, I haven't really heard much about of of what he has actually said and haven't really looked into it, but do you think he's going to be decisive in a new direction, you know, kind of back to Earth and and let's let's get back to being Eun-Yun Berlin and then developing further.
00:33:54
Speaker
To me, it seems like that all all signs that, in my opinion, that can come out of Berlin seems just like that. You know, with the experienced coach, a long term Bundesliga coach who has proven that he can deal with hard circumstances, and it's it's never easy in Mainz, because Mainz will never be a Bundesliga topside.
00:34:16
Speaker
But does he fit in two new Berlin hostel, the Schalke cone background? yeah Maybe it's a good fit, actually. Why why not? Because you if if you you have to you have to, you know, in Germany, we would say you have to have a thick skin if you work at Schalke because, you know, this is a hot seat. Every seat in Schalke is a hot seat. And, you know, and expectations in Cologne are always high as well. yeah and unrealistic and I. So, regarding to that, um I think he is a good fit for Njóndelig because he he has yeah gathered some experience in in much harder places, in my opinion at least.
00:35:00
Speaker
And I think it's it's a good way. um They found for themselves here, focus on solid additions, focus on not getting relegated. And and they seems like they accepted their new role. and From the uprising star, we we we talked about it uprising in the first Bundesliga seasons, always getting better but better results, better positions at the end of the season, which finally led to the UCL campaign.
00:35:29
Speaker
And now it seems like, okay, we have to take a step back and <unk>t make the same mistakes that hamburgg has founded and don't make the same mistakes that that for people to cut it. And it wasn't so unnecessary as they were was, was relegated a few years ago. So, yeah.
00:35:50
Speaker
I do hope really, it's completely honest that this, those things will work out for them and that they do not get relegated. So because I don't like them emotionally, but I do have very, very high level of respect um about their, about the work.
00:36:11
Speaker
and the effort and the dedication that obviously all people that are around and in this club have shown for years or decades now. Because I remember when I was in the Alfred Kunze Sportpark in Leipzig Leutsch,
00:36:29
Speaker
to watch a competitive match between FC Saxenleipzig and Union Berlin. So there there was a time when they are played at the same level in that same league and you know, Union made their way through the leagues and Saxenleipzig went bankrupt once or twice or three times. I cannot count it any anymore. So respect to Union.
00:36:57
Speaker
has a still long tradition. But same here, I got a lot of respect for them as well. And I do, of course, remember Union Berlin from East German times. But of course, you know, they were founded in 1966, not in a natural way, but it was more a constructed way. And a lot of Union Berlin supporters will not like to hear that.
00:37:17
Speaker
But like with all focus clubs in the East German Top League, there was a belit political will behind it. And for economic support, there was always a company behind it. And there was no free decision of any ah members. There weren't any members of these clubs. But in Jomberlin during East German times, although they were one of those focus clubs, they were always in the shadow of the ah big club Beivtze-Junamo, which represented, of course, something more serious like the Well, Stasi, no? Internal service, so to speak, of national service of of East Germany. And they, of course, were the ah top dog of East German football because they were supported in the highest level. So when Jan Berlin in the city was always in the shadow of Beevtigenau, we never had a chance to get past them, really.
00:38:05
Speaker
if everything went right. And it was also a team which either was relegated and and then promoted back into the top league of East German football, but always feared of being relegated. And they had competitive encounters with Schemi Leitig before. Well, they had to play for a spot in the top league of East Germany. So there's a certain tradition there. But for a club like this,
00:38:34
Speaker
No, it took them more than 30 years after unification from 1990. Now, of course, their structure changed. And they are this traditional club in the sense that a lot of traditional fans love, but the existence since 1966 until 1990, hey, it was an artificial club, I'm so sorry. But being able in this economic hard circumstances and in the shadow of this big club, Hertha B.C. in Berlin, to be able to go through those leagues, you know, from the Rekionale League of the fourth tier to the third tier into the second tier, being there for a long time on a solid path. And then all of a sudden, here they are. And they asked the Bundesliga now for a couple of years as well, then qualified for European football. And this is the first time, this is the last we was a step back for the first time in that development. And I take my hats off to that.
00:39:25
Speaker
Although I hate it the way a lot of Union fans behave in Leipzig, I hate it when this always comes up that RB Leipzig is an artificial club, and in many ways it may be, but I don't give a damn. I really have a lot of respect for their development and that as an East German club, and it is in that sense a true East German club, they managed to get to the Västerbundesläger to the top level, to play internationally, and I would love them to stay, of course.
00:39:52
Speaker
of course it's six points we need ah nice one i hope patter comes back because another six points oh my god they will never come back it's like it's never coming home to england is it yeah oh my god i'm leaving now boom should we go on to the starting 11 and then yeah let me know yeah what can we expect funny confidence so
00:40:25
Speaker
Alright, so, Goulashy in goal.
Match Predictions and Conclusion
00:40:30
Speaker
He received 5 most recently and then he got a rest. So he should be well rested after this horrible Friday night versus Germany with Orban still suspended. I expect that Roosevelt go back to his 4-2-2-2 formations and moving back from five defenders and I expect that Closterman will replace Bichiabu. So we will see Henry's Closterman, Lukieba and Raum. So with the Haidar not around, I think our defensive midfield will be containing out of Campbell and Seywald. Okay. Seywald had some
00:41:12
Speaker
you know, national team performances. okay he was he was He was not good. he was He was solid, not great. He was solid. And come on, boy, show us, show us finally and for our colors. Okay. Nicholas, your task for this year is to make Richard a fan of yours. And it's not that hard. And, uh, offensive midfield, I, you know, my blood prediction here, we will see nukes for the very first time from the beginning. Whoa. Looking forward to that. You know what? Because Nusa over Baumgartner. Yes. 24 seven. Okay. At least for now, at least for now. Okay. I think Baumgartner is brilliant player, but he's somehow out of form. I don't know. So, and the other three, of course, Shadi or Panda and Shasko. Beautiful.
00:41:59
Speaker
And even this nice bicycle goal from Yusuf Paulsen versus Serb. I wasn't aware of how smooth he can move and how flexible he is. Because it looks different on the pitch when we see him, don't we? To me, that's like Thomas Muller vibes sometimes. But hats off to him and you know, he didn't hit the head of a defender. So well done yeah in the process.
00:42:25
Speaker
And, but on on the other hand side, Shasko scored four times. I know. As he was off, yeah, for Slovenia and got a penalty didn't score, but had a nice assist and was awarded a water but penalty kick. So I did miss a penalty as well. Yeah, but it was, it was the one he, he was awarded by, ah by action that came by himself.
00:42:43
Speaker
ah it's okay my okay okay So what do you predict ah in terms of score? Old-fashioned 2-0 winner. I'm really positive today. I'm going for a 3-0 and I'm going for a 2-0 within the first 15 minutes of Eun-yun-belin boycotting and protesting.
00:43:00
Speaker
So let's see how that if I'm going to be right. Thank you. Wonderful. So, Richard, this has been really enjoyable. Thank you for your time today. This has been Poulsen Red. And we come to you every week on a Thursday. Probably try plus. There are extra episodes whenever we have extra games like in the UCL Championship or extra matches in the ah Bundesliga. And hopefully in the Dave Bebocar. Hopefully we stay in there for a while.
00:43:29
Speaker
Now, if you like that podcast, we'd be so delighted if you could subscribe to it on your favorite platform. You can also contact us by an old fashioned email, which is a podcast at bullsandred.com. You can find us on Twitter. The username is podcast underscore RBL. We are on Instagram. That's bullsandred. And you can also find our episodes on YouTube. So let's give our fingers crossed. Next three points at the back would be wonderful.
00:43:58
Speaker
Have yourselves a good rest of the week, great weekend, and we hope to talk to you again next week. So all we need to say now is... you and duri and healthky ah leipigga um
00:44:27
Speaker
Oh yeah!