Bundesliga Fanatic Podcast

During this international week, we welcome special guests, hosts of the Bundesliga Show and curators of the Bundesliga Lounge, Jon Hartley and Terry for a special version of this internet broadcast.  On this episode we dive into German football history head first and recall some of our favorite teams, players and moments of the past and what ultimately led everyone to the Bundesliga.  What are some of the moments most edged in our memories and who are some of the unsung heros and most despised players of the past? We also go around and discuss our take on German football's greatest ever moment and share some personal anecdotes ranging from first trip to stadiums and meeting certain players.

Be sure to check out the Bundesliga Lounge for the latest Bundesliga Show where Niklas makes a guest appearance to review Matchday 23.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:48:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (Loading)

Welcome to a special midweek episode of the Fanatic podcast.  In this edition we will focus specifically on the 2. Bundesliga and all its exciting plot-lines.  People talk about the exciting title race in the first division but the race might be even tighter in the second flight.  In our first segment we interview Eurosport's 2. Bundesliga correspondent Stuart Telford and discuss everything that is happening atop the table.  Are Eintracht Frankfurt a shoe in to win the league and get promoted?  Is Armin Veh finally happy with his squad after tweaking it the whole season?  Also, who will join them in what is shaping up to be a six team race for 3 promotion spots.  Can Fortuna Düsseldorf rebound and discover the great form from early in the season and can this year's surprise package, SC Paderborn pull the ultimate upset and overtake St. Pauli and Greuther Fürth?

In our second segment we welcome SC Padeborn striker Matthew Taylor to discuss his team's incredible Cinderella season.  What has made them so effective this year and we get his opinion on the club's chances of gaining promotion.  We also get an inside take on Padeborn's training methods, preparation and how coach Roger Schmidt works.  We finish with a third segment focusing on the bottom end of the table and discuss who the candidates are to go down and who can avoid the drop.  The relegation dogfight could be just as exciting as the race for promotion as Hansa Rostock, MSV Duisburg, Karlsruher SC, Ingolstadt, FSV Frankfurt, Erzgebirge Aue, Alemania Aachen and Energie Cottbus are all in danger.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:42:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (Loading)

Welcome back to the latest BLF podcast in which we dissect all the action from matchday 22 and go into a bit more detail about Bayern's mini crisis and what we can expect from the upcoming European matches midweek.  We start discussing the all out action from Sunday's matches, 13 goals scored in two games.  Are sides like Stuttgart and Wolfsburg not practicing set piece defending and just how long can Labbadia hold on to his job?  Hannover got a record win by scoring 4 goals for the first time this season while Schalke broke their three match winless duck by battering Schalke.  We also analyze the Nordderby between Hamburg and Bremen and explain how Bremen were able to get their first win in Hamburg in four years.

In our second segment we focus on Bayern's surprise draw against Freiburg as well as Uli Hoeness's recent comments suggesting referees in Germany are unfair to Bayern.  Is there really a bias when it comes to decision called against Bayern or is this a smokescreen for other issues going on at the club?  Also, what can we expect of this Bayern side in the Champions League against dark horses Basel, will they regret being drawn against them considering their recent form?

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:48:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (Loading)

On this episode we dissect all the action from matchday 21 and look ahead at the European fixtures midweek.  With Skibbe fired on Sunday, we ask, why was he a bad fit for Hertha and what is head for the Berlin club now?  And will Dutt ever compromise on the Ballack situation or is he frozen out of the squad for good?  Also, we comment on Wolfsburg's frantic win over Freiburg and look at Bremen's future after fielding the youngest squad in close to three decades.

In our second segment, we ask how Leverkusen will fare against the mighty Barcelona.  Do they have a shot at all and what are Barcelona's weaknesses?  And what can we expect from Hannover and Schalke in the Europa League?

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:47:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (Loading)

It was another memorable weekend in the Bundesliga, the first time since the 1997/98 season in which none of the home teams won their games.  Furthermore, six of the nine fixtures ended in a stalemate with plenty of talking points to go around.  In our first segment we all the events of matchday 20.  Dortmund were the only side form the top four to win their match, moving into first.  Are they the team to beat now after going 14 games unbeaten?  And was the selfishness of Robben and Ribery the reason Bayern failed to win at Hamburg?  We also go into the continuous changes made at Leverkusen and take a look at the performances of the relegation candidates.

In our second segment we preview the German Cup quarter finals midweek.  Can Kiel continue their Cinderella story and oust Dortmund?  Are Greuther Fürth capable of eliminating Hoffenheim and can we expect another goal thriller in the Bayern/Stuttgart match?

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:38:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (Loading)

On this special midweek edition of our podcast we have football writer Christopher Atkins on to discuss all things African Cup of Nations and African football in general.  We find out how the Bundesliga players on duty at the Cup are faring and what some of the biggest talking points have been so far in the tournament.  Who are some of the standout players and who are the favorites to win it?

Furthermore, we detail the progress of African football in the past decades in the face of economic stagnation and the controversial issue of player trafficking that has been widespread throughout the continent.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [00:59:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (Loading)