cambridgeshire canary 6,716 Posted December 16, 2020 (edited) Just out of the sake of curiosity, and of course the many links between our manager and quite a few of our players and the Bundesliga. Union Berlin are one to watch- Only promoted to the Bundesliga for the very first team recently and are currently sixth. They also have quite a few interesting and decent players including one Max Kruse who is quite frankly a fantastic player. Not quite going to call him the 'German Hoolahan' given he is quite tall but his fantastic dribbling and passing skills do somewhat remind me of our Irish Messi 😉 They also happen to have quite the unique and fantastic little stadium. The Stadion An der Alten Försterei.. Yes, quite the mouthful. Translates to 'Stadium at the old forester's house' in English for those of you not well versed in the Germanic tongue. It happens to be slap bang in the middle of the woods and you need to go on a very scenic walk through the trees to get to it. And just like most German football fans their fanbase and support is fantastic. Edited December 16, 2020 by cambridgeshire canary 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Hairy 3,772 Posted December 16, 2020 After a most enjoyable save on FM about 4 years ago, I started following RB Leipzig. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheGunnShow 5,940 Posted December 16, 2020 (edited) I used to follow Energie Cottbus and Dynamo Dresden quite closely, but I used to live on the German-Polish border for just over a year so Cottbus was the nearest town of any size. In fact, when they were in the Bundesliga back in 2000-1 I watched them beat Bayern Munich at the Stadion der Freundschaft. What was really funny was that a former Bristol City and Hungary international defender, Vilmos Sebök, scored the 1-0 winner. Cottbus have fallen back into the regional leagues, came back into the 3. Liga, but fell again. Their old coach when they were in the Bundesliga, Eduard Geyer, was famously the last coach of the old East German national side. Speaking of Union Berlin, they used to have a big fans football tournament in a small village called Altranft, as I played in it twice. Lost the final on penalties one year, came nowhere the next. Union Berlin were in the Bundesliga last season for the first time in their history and stayed up with a little bit to spare. They were basically an East Berlin club that wasn't Berliner FC Dynamo, which was the old Stasi team and have fallen back into the regional leagues. If your German is up to it, Kicker.de is the website to follow for German football. Edited December 16, 2020 by TheGunnShow 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pockthorpe 531 Posted December 16, 2020 I’ve always had Cologne as my favourite German team . I used to like Tony Woodcock and it sparked my teenage interest when he moved there in 79 . And it just stuck . That was a big deal back then , even though Keegan had led the way going to Hamburg in 77 (?) . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
overthebordercanary 141 Posted December 16, 2020 Borussia Dortmund, started when Shambert was playing for them in the Champions League, then has kept going with us getting Farke. Also really impressed with Borussia Monchengladbach, if Man City play anything like they did last night they are in for another shock in the Champions League, have some very impressive young players and a manager who is another up and comer in Marco Rose Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dylanisabaddog 4,916 Posted December 16, 2020 I'm half Polish and support Bayern. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
overthebordercanary 141 Posted December 16, 2020 2 minutes ago, dylanisabaddog said: I'm half Polish and support Bayern. Great player, will put good money on it when the time comes that Bayern replace him with Erling Braut Haaland Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GenerationA47 751 Posted December 16, 2020 It’s Mainz 05 for me. They were 2.BL at the time I was there and experienced their remarkable rise (and fall... and semi-rise) just after I left Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheGunnShow 5,940 Posted December 16, 2020 47 minutes ago, overthebordercanary said: Borussia Dortmund, started when Shambert was playing for them in the Champions League, then has kept going with us getting Farke. Also really impressed with Borussia Monchengladbach, if Man City play anything like they did last night they are in for another shock in the Champions League, have some very impressive young players and a manager who is another up and comer in Marco Rose Mönchengladbach have had a tradition of encouraging young players as well, hence their nickname "die Fohlen" (the foals). Particularly true in the 1970s during their huge rivalry with Bayern. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy 3,298 Posted December 16, 2020 I’ve always had a soft spot for Hansa Rostock since visiting it, but not that good. Nice stadium though, about the same size as Norwich. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feedthewolf 4,846 Posted December 16, 2020 I'm a bleeding-heart leftie liberal, so I follow FC St Pauli. And Dortmund in the Bundesliga, because Lambert/Farke/yellow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,459 Posted December 16, 2020 If anyone has thought about going to a Dortmund match I can highly recommend it, covid allowing obviously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rich T The Biscuit 562 Posted December 16, 2020 Hertha Berlin and Bayern for me. Why, well some may remember that there used to be a sports stall on Norwich Market in the late 80's/early 90's that had random football kits (probably fake). I got the second Bayern kit and the first shirt for Marseille as they were the same style and the Hertha Berlin shirt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy 3,298 Posted December 16, 2020 25 minutes ago, Feedthewolf said: I'm a bleeding-heart leftie liberal, so I follow FC St Pauli. And Dortmund in the Bundesliga, because Lambert/Farke/yellow. St Pauli are the Leeds of Germany! Real thugs in their supporters aren’t they? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feedthewolf 4,846 Posted December 16, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Indy said: St Pauli are the Leeds of Germany! Real thugs in their supporters aren’t they? The reason they tend to be so unpopular is because they're fiercely liberal, antifascist, anti-racist and anti-homophobic. The more 'active' ultras get in lots of conflict with neo-Nazí elements of opposing fan bases, but generally speaking they're one of the most diverse and welcoming fan groups in Germany. This is a great read: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pirates-Punks-Politics-Falling-Football/dp/190752441X Edited December 16, 2020 by Feedthewolf 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scot-e-dog 34 Posted December 16, 2020 I lived in Munich for 4 years and my eldest son was born there. He is now a huge Bayern fan, so the whole family now follows them. When we lived there we followed 1860 more, as they were the local underdogs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,820 Posted December 16, 2020 I follow pretty much all football, but I don't have a particular team in Germany. The team I like to see do well though are Dortmund, like many others, because the Yellow Wall is fantastic and their track record for bringing through talent in the last decade or so is excellent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spillay 180 Posted December 17, 2020 Always been a Dortmund fan, being part of the Yellow Wall just once is on my bucket list 🙂 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock The Boat 1,330 Posted December 17, 2020 Lived in Munich for three years so Bayern is my team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ROBFLECK 132 Posted December 17, 2020 I support Borussia Mönchengladbach, as I was able to go and see them a few times when I worked in Germany for a few months. Great club with top supporters! Wir sind Borussia Wir sind die Fohlen ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GenerationA47 751 Posted December 17, 2020 9 hours ago, Rock The Boat said: Lived in Munich for three years so Bayern is my team. The Man U/Liverpool des Südens. why not 1860 out of curiosity? 😉 Not condemning the choice though it’s not very ‘Norwich’ club - there is the uefa cup link of course Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cambridgeshire canary 6,716 Posted December 17, 2020 4 hours ago, ROBFLECK said: I support Borussia Mönchengladbach, as I was able to go and see them a few times when I worked in Germany for a few months. Great club with top supporters! Wir sind Borussia Wir sind die Fohlen ! Mönchengladbach have one fancy stadium, looks fantastic at night even more so when it's full of fans. Something about the black and green that works so well Share this post Link to post Share on other sites