Dominant Dortmund. Part 1...

greetings roaders.


I thought this issue, I would focus on a team outside of the Premier League (indeed this issue will be staggered over the course of this week as I want to go into things at length) A team who have had past glories and until fairly recently, have faded into the limelight of European Football. A team who I have followed with interest for four years. A team who I would like to claim as my fourth team (but that would be ridiculous)


Borussia Dortmund.


Dortmunds history had its golden era (much like PSGs) in the mid 90s. Ottmar Hitzfeld was at the helm for much of their success. After being hired in 1991, Dortmund went on to win the Bundesliga in '95 and '96 for two successive years and beat a much fancied Juventus side 3 -1, in a memorable 1997 Champions League Final in Munich. The side included European Champion Matthias Sammer, Lars Ricken and the prolific Jan Koller

The years that followed saw their downfall. Hitzfeld was sacked in '98. The Westfalenstadion, (named after the region of Westphalia, where it is located) Dortmund's home, started to mount up debt, due to poor management and the economic climate in Germany. In 2000, the club were floated on the German Stock Exchange with little success. This set the club back further.

In 2006, the stadium was renamed Signal Iduna Park - as it is now - to reduce debts. The stadium is named after a local insurance company. The stadium is the biggest in Germany ahead of the Allianz Arena and Veltins Arena. It holds up to 80,000 people. Any visitors can be assured of an electric, partizan atmosphere.

Though a 'fresh' stadium and fresh financial approach was installed, Dortmund remained in the doldrums until 2008, when Jurgen Klopp was appointed. At the time, Klopp had just resigned as manager of relegated Mainz and was a free agent. In his first year alone, he won the the DFB Supercup (the equivalent of the Capital One Cup), beating Bayern in the final. It was clear that Klopps approach of attacking football had reinvigorated the former champions of Europe.



In the 2010/11 season, Dortmund won the Bundesliga - at a canter - winning the championship with two games remaining. The following season, they defended their title successfully, winning the Bundesliga with a record total of 81 points, together with winning the DFB Pokal, to win Dortmund's first-ever domestic football double. Winning the Bundesliga that season, for the fifth time now means players wear two stars above the crest on their shirts.

In their first season back in the Champions League last term, they made a lot of admirers with their attacking style. However they could only finish bottom of their group behind Arsenal, Olympiacos and Marseille. Marseille, after conceding two late goals at home in the final group game, meaning they missed out on place in the latter rounds of the Europa League.

One former player of that winning roster included Man Utd's Shinji Kagawa (much of whom's performances got him the move).

in Part 2, I will focus on the current roster, Dortmunds current style influences and the potential bright, almost golden, but most certainly exciting future, that may be in store for Germanys most fashionable club.

The Ones To Watch...

greeting roaders!

the interlull is once again up us. sigh. but fear not I have plenty candy for your eyes. read on dear viewer.


so in place of my usual piece, i am going to look further abroad, to the continent. Yes, thats right, the players that may or may not be making an arrival in the Premier League sooner or later.


Luis Muriel, is I have to be honest, a player that slipped off my radar of late. A player that had been offloaded on loan more than a certain Danishman I could name. He seemed to be a player who just didn't quite have it when it came to breaking into the top level of players on the continent. Having had loan spells with Lecce in Serie A, and Granada in Segunda division, Muriel has now returned to Udinese, and signed a new 5 year contract. Now his club obviously see his burgeoning talent coming through.

Muriel, a former two time world under 16 player of the year, has had problems breaking into the first team at Udinese, perhaps due to the evergreen Antonio di Natale. If you are a keen Fifa 13 player, you will be aware of this blistering pace (but not his acceleration as EA Sports, have decided) and he has started this season promisingly and has now been called up to the Colombian national team, alongside the Vargas', Guarins and Falcaos.  


What is going on in Catalonia? There must clearly be something in the water, as Barcelona's conveyor belt of talent shows no sign of breaking down. One again last season saw the emergence of new talent at le Camp Nou. One of said talent being Cristian Tello. Tello came up through Barca's B team and is primarily a winger. He has had limited chances to start games under Pep Guardiola, such is the plethora of talent. It was strongly rumoured that he did not fit into Tito Vilanova's first team plans this season and a move was mooted but the 21 year old has confounded his doubters - and his manager - to force his way into the first team squad.





This season he has appeared prominently in the Champions League, and had a starring role in the comeback home victory against Spartak last month and was named man of the match. Whether he can continue his strides depends very much on his competitiors, and as he is they include Messi, Pedro, Adriano, Cuenca and the returning David Villa, he has his work cut-out.



Another player who finally has his chance to shine is Isco of Malaga. When Santi Cazorla departed for Arsenal in the summer, it was meant to signal the end of the Qatari owned club's short lived spell of wealth. Santi left, Rondon departed for Serie A and Isco was meant to follow, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd all mentioned strongly. But nothing materialised - yet. he seemed happy to stay. In Cazorlas absence, Isco has been given a free reign of the midfield and left wing, much like Hoilett was supposed to be QPR (ahem).

In Malaga's champions league debut versus Zenit, he was the star of the show, scoring twice and running the ball from both ends of the pitch. He was also instrumental in the 3 nil away win at Anderlecht. Isco has yet to have his big breakthrough. he played for Valencia's youth team from 2006 to 2009 and progressed onto the first team, before moving to Malaga last summer. At only 20, it seems Isco is primed for his role as one of the most exciting players on the continent, and for me will get a big move within the next two seasons.

I want to finish the weeks piece, on someone you should already be aware of and as such, should not be labelled as 'one to watch'. But as i have not covered him in any sort of detail I will now.

that man is Radamel Falcao.

For me it is straight forward enough. He is the best striker in the world, at present. Period. He is a player I have noted for the last four years. Falcao, for those that have been living under a rock, is a 27 year old Colombian striker. Falcao was purchased by Porto from River Plate in 2009, for the paltry sum of, 3.95 million euros. He then showed Europe what he was all about. In his first season with Porto he scored 25 goals finishing behind Oscar Cardozo only. In 2010/11 he scored 17 goals in one season of the Europa League to overtake Jurgen Klinsmann's record of 15 goals in one european campaign. Suffice to say, Porto won the trophy.

The following summer, he moved to the spanish capital, with Atletico, replacing the outgoing Sergio Aguero, for 40m euros. It has been with Los Coloncheros, that Falcao has impressed me the most. Particularly in the Europa League. Every time I see him play he scores goal; he is prolific; he oozes skill and balance. His performance versus Bilbao in the final last year was sensational, scoring two goals and terrorising the Bilbao defence all night. But the key for me is that they had very few clear chances in the game. Anything that comes his way he dispatches, he is the ultimate clinician; GP would be proud of him (bad joke)

In the Super Cup versus Chelsea, even as the season was in its embryonic stages, he destroyed and humiliated Chelsea's defence. Falcao ruthlessness infront of goal makes him the best striker in world football.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are sniffing very loudly around him and a move of 45million euros is being suggested in the spanish media. He is a very likely to be seen in the Premier League very, very soon.

That fills me with  huge amount of excitement.

Oh and of course dread :/