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Last week football in Germany was brought to a standstill by the sad news of the passing of Robert Enke. Only 32 years old, the national keeper took his own life after years of suffering depression. It seems that only very few were made aware of his condition – his closest family members, some medical practitioners and one or two friends. For the rest of us he was a talented keeper who was held in high esteem by teammates and fans alike.
“Don’t just think about what you can see. Also consider what is part of each one of us – doubts and weaknesses. Football isn’t everything.”
RIP Robert Enke.

So, what do you think?
Last week players set off for various parts of the world to play games that are largely forgotten this week. Does anyone care that Spain beat England, or France lost. How did Holland go? Can you remember? Because the fact is that these games are played by different rules. Coaches can change the whole team at half time – give the younger players some time on the pitch, whilst everyone else uses it as a break from the real pressures of club football. John Terry said as much in the wake of the Scolari sacking.
Of course it is a good way for players to collect caps (Beckham being a good example), and it can be entertaining (full houses at many games), and coaches can tinker (Germany had several debutants), but the reality is that friendlies are meaningless and little can be read into the results. I am sure that when the ‘real’ games are back on the tackles will have a little more bite. There must be a better time in the calender for national squads to get a little practice than last week. Your thoughts please.

It feels good again to be a Derby supporter. Over the last two weeks wins against Sheffield United and QPR (away) and draws against Cardiff and Swansea (away) make a pleasant change of fortunes for the (once) mighty rams. Suddenly there is an air of confidence sweeping through the club. This is something we haven’t had for a long time (well at least for 362 days as Ed kindly reminded me of two weeks ago!) and with a home game against Birmingham next, perhaps we are seeing a slow turning of fortunes.
And it looks like Derby have unearthed another star of the future in Miles Addison. He is only 18, a strong, confident midfielder with a powerful shot, and the reason why Robbie Savage is having a tantrum in the stands every Saturday.
And finally, for all of you who have been using the word ‘Derby’ as a joke recently, I have a joke of my own: Tottenham!
Go the mighty Rams

A week to go until the Championship kicks off and much work has been going on in the off season. This being a post about Derby County, I can report that the squad has been ‘freshened up’ (whatever that means!) and several new faces have been brought in to replace those failures from last season. Manager Paul Jewel, who did actually get his first win under his belt in the pre-season – a victory over Burton Albion – has been shopping in the lower leagues for talent, and he thinks he has found some in the likes of Kris Commons, Paul Green and Liam Dickinson. Not too many other teams will be shaking in their boot at those names. But there are also the arrivals of Nathan Ellington and Rob Hulse to add some experience.
If the pre-season is anything to go by, this will be another long and painful season for the Rams, but there is a quiet confidence around Pride Park that Jewel is the man to bring us back up the the Premier League. He has been given time to settle and is now preparing for the might of Doncaster next week. Can Derby bounce straight back??

An exciting weekend for the Bundesliga where all eyes are at the top of the table. Bayern, currently 3 points ahead, entertain their closest rivals Bremen in the Allianz Arena in Munich. This game will go some way to establishing who will win ‘die Schale’ at the end of the season. Klose, playing against his former club, will be hoping to score, but must do so without the service of Ribery who is out injured. continue

The Bundesliga wakes up again this week after the winter break when Bayern visit Rostock on Friday night. It will be interesting to see how the second half of the season unfolds.At the top, Bayern have a slender lead, on goal difference over Werder Bremen. This has been mentioned many times in recent weeks with Bremen mocking their arch rivals that all the money they spent has gained them no extra points. Bayern meanwhile are hoping to send Captain Oliver Kahn into retirement with the treble by winning the league, the cup and the UEFA cup. continue

This may be a little difficult for some of you to understand.

After all, supporting the likes of Man U. or Liverpool, you get used to mucking in at the top of the Premiership. You come to expect results and are disappointed with failed European title challenges. You relegate the Carling Cup to a B-grade event because you’re oh so busy with all your other games. continue

Germany did just enough to qualify for Euro 2008 this week. A draw and a home defeat are hardly flattering, but the business is only just beginning. The national team still seems to be riding a wave of confidence. Players that hardly rate (or are even unknown) outside of Germany are proving again that the Bundesliga is producing quality on the international level. Ever heard of Trochowski or Jansen? What about Odonkor? continue

It seems that Bayern are indeed scoring for fun, and Klose is enjoying the ride. A hat trick during the week against lowly Cottbus sees the Bavarians comfortably on top of the table, three points ahead of Leverkusen. continue

Several topics of conversation are circling around German soccer fans this week:

1. Victory at Wembley. The national team continues to surprise with strong results, despite a very weakened line-up. Beating England at Wembley, even in friendlies, is always a pleasant experience.

2. Can anyone keep up with Bayern? After three games Bayern have not yet conceded a goal and have already opened up a lead on their rivals. Some people are even talking of them going through the season unbeaten (though I feel this is a little premature). continue

It has only taken one weekend of the new season for one thing to become clear: the old order has been re-established. Bayern, a disappointing fourth place finisher last season are set to ruthlessly dismantle any challenge to “their” title. And make no mistake about it, they mean business this season. continue

Last week about 60,000 fans filled Schalke’s home ground for the game against Dortmund. This wouldn’t normally be surprising except that it was an away game. And they witnessed their team seemingly giving up the championship by losing. Now Schalke, often accused of choking, have to hope for Stuttart to choke at home against lowly Cottbus, to have any chance of winning the Bundesliga. continue

Oh dear!
If Schalke can win this weekend, they will have one hand on the trophy, (or indeed be crowned champions if Stuttgart lose and Bremen don’t win). But to win they have to travel to their bitter rivals Dortmund. If ever there was a game to spark the imagination, this is it. continue

Three games to go.
The champions in the Bundesliga this year will not be Bayern Muenchen. They have failed in all competitions and are planning a total revamp of their team. They are in fourth place. At the top it looks like this. Schalke are ahead of Stuttgart. Bremen are in third place. One of these teams will win, but whilst Stuttgart are on a winning run, having won their last five games, confidence in the other two teams is low. Bremen are continue