Xavi Simons SHOULD be the player to galvanise that Tottenham attack but for some reason it just isn’t working out for him in the Premier League right now. I have a few theories as to why. And I think there’s a huge part of his game that Spurs fans haven’t even had a chance to watch yet…

New Gegenpressing #Bundesliga podcast. @sbienkowski.bsky.social and I chat: 10 young players to keep an eye on in German football this season gegenpressing.substack.com/p/10-young-p...

Xavi Simons SHOULD be the player to galvanise that Tottenham attack but for some reason it just isn’t working out for him in the Premier League right now. I have a few theories as to why. And I think there’s a huge part of his game that Spurs fans haven’t even had a chance to watch yet…

The long and short-term problems facing Wolfsburg gegenpressing.substack.com/p/the-long-a...

Gegenpressing #Bundesliga Pod deep dive with @sbienkowski.bsky.social The long and short-term problems facing VfL Wolfsburg. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMls...

Niko Kovac will have a lot to think about during the international break: Are his Dortmund team struggling in front of goal because he doesn’t have the right players… or because he isn’t using the right system and tactics?

Classic FM (and Jazz FM) must be one of the oddest and most insidious parts of the British media landscape. Their entire content strategy is based around relaxing music all day long. But on the hour, every hour they then shoehorn alarmist, exaggerated right-wing news bulletins from Global News.

Niko Kovac will have a lot to think about during the international break: Are his Dortmund team struggling in front of goal because he doesn’t have the right players… or because he isn’t using the right system and tactics?

Leverkusen 👀

On Tottenham’s unconvincing start to the season and whether they should be doing better in the Premier League: www.transfermarkt.co.uk/should-frank...

On Tottenham’s unconvincing start to the season and whether they should be doing better in the Premier League: www.transfermarkt.co.uk/should-frank...

New #Bundesliga Gegenpressing pod. @sbienkowski.bsky.social, @matt4d.bsky.social and I chat: 🐝 Boring BVB stumble 🐎 Gladbach win Rheinderby ⚔️ Union stop Bayern win streak 🇩🇪…and much more! youtu.be/YHH0smYC1Wo?...

The low-hanging mist from Loch Venacher on a lovely winter day in Scotland

Brb new Outdoor Boys just dropped.

I dunno if it’s down to Van Dijk’s age or Konate apparently wanting to leave for Madrid, but that defensive duo already looks out of steam and it’s only November.

Incredible performance from Doku.

Man City were great against Dortmund and have continued that today. Just on top of everything and relentless in attack. Dortmund couldn’t handle it and neither can Liverpool.

That’s a crap call. Get VAR in the bin.

Absolutely mental from Konate there.

Arne Slot has stuck with Wirtz instead of bringing Gakpo back?!

Chelsea are… second in the Premier League

Really, really odd decision from Vincent Kompany to pick the same starting XI that played PSG in midweek. They’ve looked tired, clumsy and not at all up for a physical battle with Union Berlin. The B team beat Leverkusen last weekend and it would have probably done the job today too.

For the first time since he joined Man City, Pep Guardiola has dramatically changed his tactics. And he’s done it all to get the best out of Erling Haaland.

For the first time since he joined Man City, Pep Guardiola has dramatically changed his tactics. And he’s done it all to get the best out of Erling Haaland.

Adidas just didn't bother at all with the new Scotland top. Copy and paste template effort because they were spending all their time on this amazing Germany top:

I have picked out the signing of the summer from each Premier League club so far for @transfermarkt.co.uk taking into account fees, impact & future prospects👇Any disagreements?

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🇫🇷 Bayern slam fans' treatment in Paris 🎾 BVB: Return of the tennis balls 🏛️ Augsburg: ultras remembered, club criticised 🏟️ Berlin: Hertha fend off Saxon invasion Full stories on Gegenpressing: gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

The only redeemable thing about Gianni Infantino’s shamelessly insane presidency of FIFA is that the fall is going to be epic and catastrophic.

Dortmund just nowhere near it tonight. Tactics and individual errors played into Man City's hands and Kovac didn't do enough to fix things at half time. But that shouldn't take away from an excellent performance from the hosts. Guardiola's team looked like their old selves there. Terrifying.

Another tremendous goal from Foden

Pretty dreadful first half from Dortmund. The back 3/5 is leaving Ryerson and Svensson pretty isolated, while the midfield duo are struggling to keep tabs on Foden. Man City are walking through them with ease. Kovac will need to make some big changes at half time.

Dortmund just can’t handle both wide players for Man City. Their defenders are getting beaten in one-vs-one situations and that just makes things so easy for Haaland to tap home the chances.

Lovely placed finish from Foden. Dortmund have been chasing shadows for the last 10 minutes and it certainly felt like a Man City goal was inevitable.

Really underwhelming performance from Chelsea. Estevao great throughout and Fernandez, Caicedo & Garnacho looked good in the second half, but they never had control of that match. Qarabag were great and perhaps should have won it at the end.

That's a wonderful goal from Garnacho. And a huge let off for Chelsea, who've been under immense pressure from Qarabag in the second half.

Poor Jorrel Hato has had a shocking first half for Chelsea.

Kompany stakes claim for greatness as Bayern aim for UCL dominance

Well, it wasn't pretty but that was a superb defensive performance from Bayern to get over the line. PSG basically pinned them back for the entire second half, but great from Neuer, Upamecano and Laimer in particular. All three points in Paris and a sign of intent for the UCL.

Wirtz? On the left? Worked really well? Imagine my surprise...

Not sure what else Bayern can do, but they’ve been far too deep in the second half. PSG have one and a second seems inevitable at this point.

Red card aside, the best 45 minutes I've seen from Bayern in a long time. They've completely played PSG off the park and should be up by three or four goals. No possession focus. Extremely direct and just going man-for-man across the pitch. Bayern have bulied PSG from the first whistle.

These TNT commentators are baffling. Diaz with both feet off the ground and flying into the back of Hakimi and they can't understand why it's a red. It's pretty obvious and really puts a dampner on what was a perfect first half for Bayern.

Upamecano and Tah are man-marking PSG's forwards, which means they're routinely following them into central midfield when they drop deep and leaving Stanisic and Laimer to cover. Very interesting.

What a howler from Marquinhos! Diaz nicks it off the defender and makes it two to Bayern

Wow. Perfect start for Bayern. Luis Diaz puts them in front with a rebounded shot, after Gnabry played Olise in and the Frenchman missed.

This week’s #bundesliga newsletter takes a look at the man behind RB Leipzig’s impressive start to the season: Christoph Baumgartner And how Ole Werner has turned the midfielder’s career around in Leipzig

New #Bundesliga Gegenpressing Pod. This week @sbienkowski.bsky.social and I chat: 🐝BVB boring but successful 🏴‍☠️St. Pauli's struggles continue 🐻Does nobody care to challenge Bayern? www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiUK...

I'm not saying the Athletic have taken their eye off their Scottish football coverage in recent years, but the Scottish top-flight hasn't been the "SPL" in over 10 years...

Nobody can beat Bayern in the Bundesliga because nobody wants to beat Bayern in the Bundesliga 🤷‍♂️

Good win for Liverpool against a decent Aston Villa side. Probably no surprise that the return of Robertson and two central midfielders played in the right position worked wonder for Slot's side.