Weekend Warm-up: Bayern Munich’s transfer plans are still in limbo; What TV shows would you kill off; Remembering a We Are Scientists classic; Bundesliga predictions; and MORE!

With just days left in the transfer window, Bayern Munich is linked to three talented Bundesliga players in RB Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer and the Borussia Mönchengladbach duo of Jonas Hofmann and Matthias Ginter.

Rumors regarding Sabitzer and Hofmann have been around for a bit, but the Ginter news broke this morning and would seem to have major roster implications — if true. So what exactly would a pursuit of Ginter mean? Let’s take a look:

In danger

• Benjamin Pavard: I would say that if Ginter signs, Pavard will leave next summer. Like Pavard, Ginter can play right-back or center-back and there is likely not room for both players on the roster unless Julian Nagelsmann shifts to a back-three formation or...Niklas Süle’s future is in doubt.
• Niklas Süle: The Germany international needs a new contract or he can bolt next summer, so Bayern Munich has to figure out exactly what it is going to do with the big man...like now. Losing Süle is not a move I’d personally endorse as I think he’s got a big future. Still, Bayern Munich already has Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez on the backline already. Something might have to give.
• Chris Richards: While the Ginter move is not necessarily for this window (it could be for next summer), adding another versatile and experienced defender — especially a Germany international — would put Richards in a very difficult spot. With a ton of talent and a game that is first-team ready, Richards needs to be on the pitch. An addition of Ginter would likely snuff those hopes out. Hopefully Richards is able to work out a loan agreement where he can gain more experience in the Bundesliga for the next season or two.
• Josip Stanisic: Young and versatile, Stanisic has seemingly passed every test he has been given, but a move for Ginter — without the team losing any of the players mention above plus Bouna Sarr — could mean the Croatia youth international ends up like Angelo Stiller, Niklas Dorsch, and so many other campus players who could not wait forever to get their chance.
• Bouna Sarr: If Bayern Munich could sell him now they would.

Whatever happens with Ginter — and whenever it happens (if it does) — there will be a roster fallout. I have to admit, I did not see this one coming.

The Shadow Team strikes again I guess...

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What shows would you keep?

Most of you probably saw this viral sensation from the past few days where LADbible asked people to pick three of the series below that you can save, while the others disappear into the void:

I’m going to take a run at breaking this down quickly:

• Prison Break: I never saw this series, but am stunned it’s included in the list. I know it had a good start based on reviews, but have absolutely never heard anyone ever refer to the show as one of the best ever. This was an easy omission. Verdict: Kill it.
• Boardwalk Empire: This show was completely up and down. It had a good start, but in my mind, fell apart too quickly. I found it interesting, but again, not exactly a show that I would list among the best series of all time. Verdict: Kill it.
• Sons of Anarchy: This was a popcorn show…nothing more, nothing less. It was entertaining at times, completely absurd at others. I always felt like the writers put themselves in a corner too much and subsequently couldn’t find ways to write out of those corners. It seemed that they tried to push the envelope with plot angles too much and they rarely delivered on the impact I think the writers thought they would. Verdict: Kill it.
• The Walking Dead: I’ve ranted about this show numerous times in this space. It had so much promise, but sold out by compromising the storylines to extend seasons to draw in more money. There are far too many throwaway episodes in this show, but for a spell, it was can’t miss television. Unfortunately, it was a short spell. Verdict: Kill it.
• Ozark: Okay…I really like this show. I think it’s tremendous, but it’s hard for me to save this when I don’t know how it ends. Jason Bateman is tremendous in it and the storylines have consistently kept me entertained throughout the seasons. Still, I can only keep three, and unfortunately Ozark has to go — even though I’m thoroughly excited for the next season. I hope it continues to deliver. Verdict: Kill it — but there is a possibility for this to move up at some point since it is still going.
• Game of Thrones: If you would have asked me this before the disastrous final season or two, I’d have no doubt had GoT in my final three. Sadly, the writers had worn down over the years and packed it in at a time when they should have been ramping it up. The final season left me — and many others— feeling wholly unsatisfied. It pains me to kill this in some ways, but that trainwreck of a final season just really ruined what should have been a Mount Rushmore series. Verdict: Kill it — The showrunners and writers could not land the plane that was on a runway 500 miles wide and 1000 miles long.
• The Sopranos: I’d keep this show because it was entertaining, fun, interesting, and groundbreaking — make no mistake, this was the original prestige show. Still, it was flawed. There were far too many throwaway episodes and even one complete throwaway season, but the overall quality of the story compensated for those flaws. And let’s get this out of the way, the final episode was a complete cop out. You owe more to your viewers than to have them to invest in something for so long and then ask those same viewers to determine their own ending based on a complete cliffhanger. I’ve heard what David Chase said about the ending, but come on, show some guts and write a real, complete finale. Verdict: Keep it — though this could potentially fall off at some point. It is not a permanent fixture because of the lapses.
• The Wire: I’ll be honest, for the longest time, The Wire was my absolute favorite show ever and I raved about it to everyone. Literally everyone. I probably sold more people on the show than anyone at HBO ever did (and don’t get me started about the lack of support the network gave its finest long-term series). The writing, characters, the plot…it was near-perfection. If not for a very shaky Season 5 — that was saved my a terrific series finale — it would be hard to place any show above this. To me, the difference between The Wire and Breaking Bad (below) is that Breaking Bad was just more complete and had the best finale in the history of television. Verdict: Keep it — four absolutely tremendous seasons with one not so great final run. The series finale episode saved that last season from damaging it too much.
• Breaking Bad: Yup, I’ve got BB as the show I would most like to save. The rationale: Fantastic characters, a terrific storyline, an overarching theme that never strayed from its point, and an absolute banger of an ending (the entire final season was off the charts — which is how it earned my nod over The Wire). If there was a fault with the show, it is that every single character was tough to like in one way or the other...but the overall storyline was just brilliant. In fact, it was so well done, they could seamlessly created a prequel (Better Call Saul) that will eventually lead right into the first episode of Breaking Bad and a movie sequel (El Camino) that tied up the storyline of Jesse Pinkman.

So, those are my selections and they are not even really that close. Tell me in the comments, what three shows you would save.

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Song of the Week: “After Hours” by We Are Scientists

This song is not exactly hype music, but it’s great nonetheless. It involves drinking and hanging after hours...two of my favorite activities!

I think it’s an indie rock classic, but I am sure this one is not on many people’s respective radars. Released in 2008, I first came in contact with it when I used to leave my house at 4:30AM every day for a 63-mile (one way!) commute to the office. I often fondly remember those drives because a lot of times the music and the coffee gave me the energy to keep that schedule. Enjoy!

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ICYMI: Bavarian Podcast Works — The Weekend Warm-up, Episode 14

There was no shortage of news surrounding Bayern Munich this week as the club had an active week in the media.

Whether it was Joshua Kimmich’s contract extension going official, ongoing transfer news, two games, and the Champions League, there is plenty to discuss. Here is what we have on tap:

• What Kimmich’s deal means moving forward.
• Bayern Munich’s performance against FC Köln and Bremer SV.
• The latest on Marcel Sabitzer and Jonas Hofmann.
• The juicy Champions League match-ups.

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Predictions

Bayern Munich is poised for a big win here. Robert Lewandowski is rested, Leon Goretzka is rested, and the team looks like it is starting to find its rhythm under Julian Nagelsmann. Hertha Berlin is no pushover, but they are catching the Bavarians at the absolute wrong time.

The key things to watch are who starts at right-back, if Nagelsmann continues to use Leroy Sane on the left-side (and how that relationship with Alphonso Davies works), and who gets a rest day (if anyone).

I think this would will not be close — and probably could end up worse than the score I’m predicting.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-0 Hertha Berlin

Other Bundesliga predictions include:

• Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Hoffenheim
• Arminia Bielefeld 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
• FC Augsburg 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
• FC Köln 3-1 VfL Bochum
• Mainz 05 2-1 SpVgg Greuther Fürth
• VfB Stuttgart 2-2 SC Freiburg
• Wolfsburg 2-3 RB Leipzig
• Union Berlin 1-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach

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Prediction Records

Last Bundesliga Match Day record: 6-3

Overall Bundesliga record: 10-8

DFB-Pokal record: 1-0

DFL-Supercup record: 1-0

Overall record: 12-8

Guest prognosticator record: 0-1