Desire for more

Of course it would have been nice if the Werkself had beaten the bulls. But I can live well with 1:1. It was nice to be among the 6,042 spectators who were drawn for the game on Saturday. Everything took some getting used to: not my usual seat, no smoking in the stadium, drinks and bratwurst only on the pitch. It was still cool, especially since even with 6,000 people you can support the home team loudly these days.

Playfully, our team has clearly increased. We especially liked our newcomer Patrik Schick, who had an incredible number of balls in the midfield. And Daley Sinkgraven also convinced me after initial nervousness and pulled the tooth of one or two bulls.

Of course there are only two points on the account after two matchdays: now it's off to Stuttgart, after the break to Mainz before Augsburg comes at the end of October. That's nine points absolutely not out of reach, even though I can see that Mainz will probably have changed coach by then, and Augsburg is greeting Augsburg from above in the table right now.

In the meantime, the EuropaLeague draw is still on this week. You can't imagine away games in the group phase. But the home games should at least take place in front of a backdrop. I would be there if the draw pot made that possible, even if the opponent comes from Albania, Bulgaria or wherever and is not attractive on paper. That is part of the game

To be better you need more playing practice

I'm absolutely satisfied with the 0:0 in Wolfsburg, because you shouldn't underestimate the fact that Wolfsburg has a good team that has recently qualified for international places time and again.

Of course, we cannot be satisfied with the performance of our team in the Autostadt. We were standing well in the back, but we lacked any punch at the front. I hate all this talk about the fact that with the departure of Havertz and Volland we are missing so and so many scorer points from last year. You can actually see that the team lacks playing practice because of the very short preparation time. By the way, if I was a coach I would have done the same. If you look at the match schedule, you will soon be hunting one English week after another. The last few years have shown time and again - and not only here - that the back of the pack is running out of air. So I think there's now a better chance of doing better from the back.

And I also cannot share this oil in the social media about missing commitments. Particularly in the current transfer window, prices will fall significantly in the coming weeks. Then you can shop better later. Of course, this also applies in the opposite sense to our potential departures. Why buy expensive now and sell cheaper later?

My season ticket is in the draw pot. Hopefully the infection figures in Leverkusen will not rise even further in the next few days, so that the game "Behind closed doors" will take place. I'd like to be there, even if it won't be like before, but it's a step towards normality.

The never champions season forecast 2020/21

No sooner has the last season ended than the Bundesliga starts again. I am no prophet when I say that this will be the most difficult season for all clubs, especially those that play in international competitions and still have to send national players. This is a matter of going from one English week to the next. In this respect, every club should be keen to tackle the issue of 2020/21 with an appropriately broad squad.

With this season's forecast you can once again measure my footballing prowess. Last year my season forecast was consistent in that I correctly predicted three out of four Champions League participants as well as one Europa League starter, just like last year. It's just a shame that the Werkself was the fourth club I've seen in the Champions League, but they had to give the Gladbachers this place. And my predictive power was also not bad when it came to relegation, as I saw both Paderborn and Düsseldorf as relegated.

And here are my entry expectations for the coming season:

1.) Bayern Munich: Yes, unfortunately, the Bavarians will probably remain the measure of all things in the league again, even if many - like me - don't like that.

2.) Borussia Dortmund: Even if the coach discussion starts again after the first defeat. The team is well-positioned and anything less than a placing of three or worse would be a disappointment.

3.) Borussia M'Gladbach: You have to acknowledge the sporting development without envy. The second year is getting more and more difficult for a coach because expectations are raised. Nevertheless, I see Borussia as the number one chaser, but with a distance to the first two.
 
4.) Dose Leipzig: Will certainly have a more difficult year ahead of us after the small change in personnel. The triple burden takes its toll. But we have also learned that, if need be, we can add on more staff during the winter break.

5.) WE: By the end of the transfer period, there will certainly be one or two things happening in both directions. In view of the tight calendar it is important to have a broad cadre. For the EuroLeague it should be enough in any case, the rest has to be seen.
 
6.) Hoffenheim: On balance, it's difficult to judge: good players gone, one or the other brought in, but they still have to settle in. Besides, the coach is new and has to settle in. This year again, there is no more than sixth place.
 
7.) VfL Wolfsburg: Actually, there should be more to it with the squad. The structures have improved, but here too, the triple burden takes its toll.
 
8.) Eintracht Frankfurt: After a disappointing previous year, the Eagle should attack again, especially since he can almost concentrate on the league.

9.) Werder Bremen had barely jumped off the scales last year. I assume that the grotesque home balance will be improved significantly and that a secure midfield position will be achieved.

10.) Hertha BSC: At some point you have to invest properly as a capital city club, market yourself properly and have crisp investors to do better. But all this is of no use if your investor has money, but the right players don't necessarily want to go to the capital.

11.) Schalke 04: I think young coaches are good. But the structural improvement does not happen overnight. So I expect Schalke to remain almost unchanged, but not more. The high financial debts do not allow for more either.

12.) SC Freiburg: Konstanz will be outstanding again this year. The SC will be able to maintain its class with the squad this year as well.
 
13) 1 FC Köln: Class retention is absolutely realistic. The one or other surprising home point should be enough to get into the lower end of the midfield.

14.) FC Augsburg: Actually this non-super-team can't tear more than to sort themselves in just before the relegation ranks.

15.) Union Berlin: Good personalities, supported by the environment, should keep the class again in view of the continuing euphoria in the environment, although not as easy as last year.

16.) VfB Stuttgart: For years VfB has felt the need for a change in personnel in order to achieve more with fresh blood. In year one after promotion the relegation spot is a realistic goal.
 
17.) Mainz 05: From 2021/22 carnival songs will once again be sung in the second league.
I expect the first coach release of the season in Mainz. The teams in direct competition will certainly profit from the higher euphoria.

18.) Arminia Bielefeld: Unfortunately, Arminia will not be able to storm through the Bundesliga as she did last year in the second division due to the lack of financial possibilities. Thus the club remains a clear candidate for relegation in the year of promotion.

You can find the prediction of the bookmakers here:
https://www.fussballportal.de/wettquoten-deutscher-meister

Those of the fans should be available soon at the following link:
https://www.bundesligabarometer.de/

And if you participate in betting games, then take a look at the following link:
https://www.bundesliga-prognose.de/

Room for improvement

After today's cup match against Norderstedt and the clear 7:0, there is still plenty of room for improvement, but we are only just beginning.

I was happy to be one of the 300 chosen ones today to support the Werkself. If you're honest, you could have let a lot more spectators into the stadium, the state government's limit of 300 is an arbitrary number. There's still a lot of room for improvement, and all the hygienic concepts have been adhered to.

There is certainly room for improvement when it comes to exploiting the chances of the Werkself. If you lead 6:0 after 30 minutes and then leave some things lying around, well. But our new assistant coach has already indicated that the yield after standard situations must be improved.

Thanks also to the Norderstedt team for a fair game, so that all Bayer players survived this round unhurt. And thanks also to the Norderstedt coach, who thanked us several times during the press conference alone for the hospitality and the great experience for his boys to play in this stadium. Unfortunately, this is not something you hear every day.

Next Sunday will be the first day of play with the Werkself's guest appearance in Wolfsburg. We have always played better away from home than at home, at least under the current coach. That gives. hope.

Thank you Kai, thank you Kevin

That was some expected and anticipated news that has reached the Bayer fan in the last few days.

It's a pity, Kevin, that you are leaving the club after four years. I always liked your commitment to the club and you were certainly one of the leaders who taught the boys a lot on their way to the top. I had thought that you would continue to play under the Bavarian Cross for many years to come, but obviously a lot has happened that is not discussed in public with regard to money and management. All the best in Monaco, where life is probably a little better than in Düsseldorf.

All the Best also at Kai. Ten years and thus half of life under the Bayer Cross. Thanks for the emotional farewell. London is different, of course, but everyone keeps their fingers crossed for a successful future. I still regret the situation in November last year when some people whistled and verbally attacked you in your own stadium. That's not right for a young, successful player. Kai, stay safe.

When Lars gives up his captaincy, it's certainly not good news at first glance. From my point of view it's absolutely understandable because of his vulnerability to injuries. It's a pity, but Charles as successor is one of the leaders and a worthy successor.

And to all those who are now despairing because no newcomers have been named yet. The transfer window is still open for a long time. You don't have to act immediately, because everyone thinks the Bavarian is sitting on a sack of money. The next season will be difficult anyway with all the English weeks. Our management is aware of this and will work on the breadth of the squad, I'm sure. And the one or other price for a player will certainly be lower than today in two weeks' time. Just like on the stock market, the return on investment is in purchasing.