Quarantine thoughts: Bayern Munich and beyond

Charles Aranguiz — not Fein?

As the ballad of Leroy Sané and Timo Werner drones on, Bayern Munich is quickly approaching the time when it will have to enact its transfer window plan. As the “news” broke yesterday regarding a possible transfer of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Charles Aranguiz to the Bavarians, I was left scratching my head.

As a depth piece to sit behind Joshua Kimmich, Thiago Alcantara, and Leon Goretzka, there is nothing wrong — in theory — with adding a stable veteran. Still, I don’t think anyone saw this one coming and, in fact, I’m not sure it still makes that much sense (if it’s true).

Still, the arrival of Aranguiz would have an effect on Adrian Fein’s pending opportunity with the first-team upon his return from a loan with Hamburger SV. Is it worth it?

Priorities

I have only come close to panicking one time during this pandemic...and that was when we started to run low on coffee. I am stocked with liquor and beer (I’VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT MY ENTIRE LIFE!), but when the coffee supply ran low I was ready to rent scuba gear as protective gear to go procure some more.

What household item shortage caused you a little anxiety?

Farewell, US Development Academy

With the recent announcement of USSF disbanding its Development Academy, there are a lot of misconceptions about what it was and a lot of bitter people stomping on the the graves of their children’s dreams. Sadly, that’s the American soccer way!

I could fill this space with 5,000 words on the pros and cons of what happened this week, but the bottom line is US Soccer is still a mess. Still, it raises the question of what happens when you cast a smaller net for talent. Does a kid like Chris Richards ever get out of his local ODP in Alabama, progress through the Texans Soccer Club DA, move to FC Dallas, and potentially miss the chance to become America’s next great center-back — and a prime prospect for Bayern Munich?

Chris Richards’ father certainly seems to doubt, here reflecting with Christian Cappis’s father on Twitter:

Will the newly-formed MLS league offer the same reach as the DA? TBD at best. Will the MLS-run league ever make an effort to include girls into that mix (you know, the only United States gender that actually wins anything in soccer)? Also, TBD.

One thing is certain, if there is another Richards is out there and he or she can’t get the exposure needed to get into one of the upper-echelon clubs, US soccer could be missing out on a prime talent and ultimately not be far off from where we were 25 years ago.

Raise ’em right

The pandemic has allowed me to open up my kids to a part of my adolescence. I made Sloppy Joes one night and could not get “Lunch Lady Land” by Adam Sandler out of my head, so I shared it with my kids...who loved it. It’s the little things, right?

If you do not laugh at Chris Farley in this, you have NO SOUL!

Who out there is “Bayern quality”?

Back to transfers: I sometimes hear the phrase, “He’s not Bayern quality.” Looking strictly at the Bundesliga, here is a quick list of “transfer eligible” players who I would deem “Bayern quality” and are talented enough to compete for a roster piece in Bavaria.

Striker: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

Wings: Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Milot Raschica (Werder Bremen)

Midfield: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig), and Niklas Stark (Hertha Berlin)

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund), Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig), and Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig)

Goalkeeper: Kevin Trapp, Eintracht Frankfurt

Honorable mentions: Florian Grillitsch (Hoffenheim), Florian Neuhaus (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jerome Roussillon (Wolfsburg), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Luca Waldschmidt (SC Freiburg), Weston McKennie (Schalke 04), and Alexander Nübel (Schalke 04).

I kept the list to “realistic” transfers, which means most of Borussia Dortmund’s players such as Marco Reus, Jadon Sancho, Mats Hummels, etc. were omitted. Also, I used Halstenberg as a center-back, where he has slid inside admirably for RB Leipzig under Julian Naglesmann.

Maybe one of you FIFA junkies can simulate a game between this squad and Bayern Munich’s current roster. If you do, drop me a line and let me know how it goes.

Runnin’ Down A Dream

I’m a Tom Petty devotee, but most people don’t know of some excellent deep cuts he has that never quite made it big to commercial radio. If you are into Petty, check these out:

• Down the Line
• Travelin’
• Jammin’ Me
• Gator on the Lawn
• The Apartment Song (Full Moon Fever version and the Demo version)
• Scare Easy (performed as Mudcrutch)
• Swingin’
• So You Wanna Be a Rock N’ Roll Star
• Free Girl Now
• The Last DJ
• Depot Street

You could also hammer through the entire Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 album, which is a classic.

Move over Movember: it’s Mopril!

If you don’t #SupportTheStache, we might not be able to be friends.

One final thought: For anyone doubting the work, time and effort that teachers put into your children, this quarantine should have at least made you appreciate the care they put into giving your kids an optimal learning environment during this tough time. To all of you teachers, great work and we all owe you a beer (and not just for dealing with the kids who are a pain in the ass)!