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It All Comes Down To…

March Madness – Join The Party

Out of Champions League, disappointing result in the Derby. Keeping tabs on who’s injured and who’s not. After 10 straight victories, setting new records, it’s back down to earth again.

Long time fans will recognize this roller coaster of emotions as a typical Rückrunde, but here’s the difference: The team seems to have fixed a lot of its issues this year (defense, set pieces, mentality) and the Coach is not in danger of losing his job.

With that in mind, we are still looking at three meet-ups in a row. That too is probably a record. So after the Derby, two more big weekends.

Borussia Dortmund vs Köln – March 18 at 10:30am @ LA Draught

You may remember our sad showing in Köln last October. Alexander Meyer started, along with Anthony Modeste. Brandt scored our single goal. Tigges put the game away for Köln. This time may be very different. Haller is up front, and Kobel should be back. Reus should also be back.

Köln is sitting at 12th in the table coming off a 2-0 defeat to Bochum. They are not having a good year. Will this match put us back on winning ways?

Bayern München vs Borussia Dortmund – April 1 at 9:30am @ LA Draught

I can’t say I like the Der Klassiker title added to this match, but if it generates more interest in the Bundesliga… If you remember back to the Hinrunde, we played them to a 2-2 draw with Anthony Modeste supplying a miracle header for the tie.

I won’t make any predictions this time around, but I will say that if Adeyemi, Brandt, Kobel and Reus are all healthy, we can go toe to toe with the current Bayern team.

LA Draught

3021 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Phone: 310-919-1221

March 2023 – Is This Finally Our Year?

Nine games in a row. A new record! Games won in league, a game won in the Pokal and a first leg match won in UCL. All good in January and February. The future looks bright!

The downside is, we had an easy schedule in February with Bochum, Hertha and Hoffenheim. March is more daunting.

Mar 03, 11:30am, Fri: Borussia Dortmund vs RasenBall (BUN22)
Mar 07, 12pm, Tue: Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund (UCL)
Mar 11, 9:30am, Sat: Sch*lke vs Borussia Dortmund (BUN23)
Mar 18, 10:30am, Sat: Borussia Dortmund vs Köln (BUN24)

When Karim Adeyemi went down for a minimum two weeks, there was a lot of gloom. He was the star against Chelsea for one shining moment. We heard “Here it comes again! Injuries!”

But really, our injury list is tiny compared to previous years and even the first half of the season. Our defense has solidified, our pressing is organized. Forward play looks pretty again, with smooth and delicious movement into the box. Since Can has come back to the midfield together with Özcan, we have a steel curtain look.

None of this is by accident. This is the team that Edin has been working for, but never had the healthy players to implement. This team has turned a corner.

In March we will have the rare opportunity to meet up three times in a row. (OK, that includes April 1 versus Bayern). March 11 is our second leg Derby against the Baby Blues. March 18 versus Köln is at a reasonable 10:30am.

The Bayern Match is still TBA, but it’s hard to believe that it won’t be the feature match of the day. Stay tuned.

2023 – Back To The Future

It’s been a disappointing first half, starting with Sebastian Haller’s diagnosis, continuing through more injuries (Reus, Dahoud, Reyna, Bynoe-Gittens). Some players have still not lived up to their promise, most notably Malen and Adeyemi.

The result is we are sitting at 6th in the table, 4 points off Frankfurt at 4th, 9 points off Bayern at 1st.

Long time fans will recognize this as not so bad. They will look back to 2015 (aka Klopp’s last season) when we fought to get to 7th; or maybe 2018 when Peter Bosz took us to the bottom of the league, and Peter Stöger brought us back to 4th.

In other competitions, we are well in the running with winnable draws. On February 8 we play VfL Bochum in the Pokal Round of 16. On February 15 we play Chelsea at home in the UCL Round of 16.

The Good New

We now head into the Rückrunde (plus a few) well rested, with injured players coming back into the mix, and a favorable schedule. Outside of the fact that Haller will probably not see action for a while, it appears that all players are back for Marbella.

Bayern is scrambling to shore up their defense with Lucas Hernández and Manuel Neuer out. Chelsea is in the middle of an historic losing streak and a massive injury crisis (Mount, Sterling, Fofana, James…).

No obvious meetup dates through January and February. Maybe we can sort something out for Chelsea on February 15. I have a feeling that will be a fun match.

2022 A New Hope

July 4th, 2022 – Liam

OK, stealing titles from Star Wars now. Mea Culpa! We can all feel the difference this season and most of us are feeling optimistic. Let’s review:

Players out: Erling Haaland, Steffen Tigges, Roman Bürki, Marvin Hitz, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Axel Witsel, Marcel Schmelzer, Reinier, Marin Pongracic.

I liked Bürki and Hitz, I was sad that Zags couldn’t get over his injuries. That’s about it. Haaland always seemed like a sideshow to me, taking the focus away from the team. Maybe that’s just me being salty. Rumors are abounding about Akanji, about Rapha, about Schulz, about Hazard. Can’t say what will happen, but (at least) Rapha has been a favorite from the beginning. Would hate to see him go.

Players in: Karim Adeyemi, Nico Schlotterbeck, Salih Özcan, Niklas Süle, Jayden Braaf, Alexander Meyer, Sebastian Haller.

Can you feel the defense? Nico and Süle lined up in front of Kobel? Özcan in Defensive Mid? A back three with Hummels?

…and the offensive possibilities? Adeyemi will be a star no matter where he lines up. Malen will feed off that sort of creativity. Haller will be a center target like all Dortmund strikers of the past.

July 2022

July 05, 10am, Tue: Lüner SV vs Borussia Dortmund (PRE)
July 09, 8am, Sat: Dynamo Dresden vs Borussia Dortmund (PRE)
July 14, 9am, Thu: Verl vs Borussia Dortmund (PRE)
July 15, Fri: Training Camp – Bad Ragaz (PRE)
July 18, 10am, Mon: Borussia Dortmund vs Valencia (PRE)
July 22, 10am, Fri: Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal (PRE)
July 29, 11:45am, Fri: 1860 München vs Dortmund (POK1)

A great bunch of pre-season matches this year. Valencia and Villareal should give us a good idea what Terzic is thinking. Then our first trip to München for the season. Not the match we were anticipating, but a solid Pokal opener.

The Bundesliga opener will be our first chance for a meetup:

Aug 06, 9:30am, Sat: Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen (BUN1)

This season, as last season, we’ll meet at LA Draught on Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica. Let’s get a crowd out.

When is A Fan Not A Fan?

Had to stop following the Borussia Dortmund Fans Worldwide Facebook group last week. Too many negative posts. The group was invaded by “fans” who really seemed to have no love for the team at all and very little grasp of the English language. Here’s where I draw the line:

“Burki out!” – this has been ongoing for quite a while, but after Köln it exploded in that group. It was posted no less than 20 times, some demanding that Hitz take over, some demanding that we buy a “better” Goalkeeper. Hey people! He is the Goalkeeper for Borussia Dortmund! He is very good. We are not buying anyone else and he’s been starting ahead of Hitz for Dortmund and Switzerland for years.

“Favre out!” – This was the call after the Union match. I’ll admit that I’ve posted the same thing jokingly, but these idiots are serious.

“Good Riddance!” – I read this sentiment tossed at Abdou Diallo, Omer Toprak, Andre Schürrle and Maxi Phillip. That’s when I knew that these were not Dortmund fans. We support any player that puts on the uniform, and when they leave we wish them well. That’s it. That’s all.*

*OK, this may not apply to Dembélé, but you all know why.

OK…sorry to rant, but needed to speak out. If you are looking for a team that tosses out €100M on a backup striker, Dortmund is not for you. If you are looking for a club that gives up easily on players and coaches, Dortmund is not for you.

There is a reason why Sancho, Witsel, Brandt and others come to Dortmund. It’s because Echte Liebe is not just a marketing slogan. It is the foundation of everything.

This Is Dortmund!

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens starts against Bochum

So many “fans” worried about the last couple of matches. Calls for “Rose Out” after the Dynamo Kiev match. Screaming about the team’s lack of motivation after the rather exciting match versus Bochum. Just get over it. This is what you signed up for.

Borussia Dortmund has managed to hover around the top 10 teams in the World for a decade. Take a look at this list and tell me why those teams are ahead of us. Hint: money. Along the way, we’ve picked up the most exciting 16 and 17 year olds in the world, turned them into superstars, then been forced to watch them move on. That’s kept us in the top 15 every year, but it doesn’t make us rich.

Was this season more disappointing than the last Klopp season? The season of the two Peters? Last season, when Edin Terzi´c saved our bacon? Not really.

And, like every season, this is a time for hope. Tom Rothe and JBG got their shot and took it. A Moukoko start is possible in the next two weeks. Exciting new players are being signed. Imagine Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle lining up in front of Gregor Kobel next season.

But still…Kehl and Rose have said that they will be building through two transfer windows. The process is ongoing. What’s the most we can hope for next season? Fighting for the Meisterschale, winning the Pokal, and quarter or even semi-finals of UCL.

This is Dortmund! Every season a new hope, a new chance to reach the top. Some season in the future it will pay off. Always remember that Klopp took three years to take us to the top. We haven’t given a Manager three years since. Maybe now is the beginning of a new era. Maybe not. We’ll all still be here either way.

All About Notre Dame

South Bend

Thursday, 18.07.2019

Public Training @ Notre Dame Stadium. 6:30pm. Free of charge. All are welcome.

Friday, 19.07.2019

Tailgate – 2:00pm – Let’s make the area black & yellow together!

We are aiming to have a great Tailgating before the match and will come over with our Legends Weidenfeller & Owomoyela!

Therefore, pick up all your tailgating stuff and join us @South Bend!

Preferred parking-slot area is Stadium/Joyce (S/J)

Parking-tickets can be purchased online: Notre Dame Parking

Parking-Slot will be open at 2:00pm on matchday.

Match against Liverpool FC @ Notre Dame Stadium – Kick-off: 8:00pm

Tickets: Ticketmaster

You can filter for the BVB Supporter Section!

Saturday, 20.07.2019

12:00 – 2:00pm @ Puma Store // Meet BVB players // Exact address will be provided soon.

All About Seattle

Monday, 15.07.2019

Arrival at 11:55am (LH 490 flight)

Looking for a warm welcome at the airport. Emma will be there as well!

Tuesday, 16.07.2019

Public Training @ Seattle University. Free of charge. All are welcome.

Time slot between 5:00 – 8:00pm. Kick-off will be provided soon.

Fan training session @ Seattle University.

Want to train like a BVB player? Here’s your chance:

Directly after the A-Team training we are offering our fans a “Train like BVB” – session for our fans as we have two coaches from our BVB Football Academy with us.

We are envisioning two groups. One for ages 7-13 and an adult group. Free of charge. Max attendees 40 in total.

You want to take part? Application at email hidden; JavaScript is required and I put you on the list. First come – first serve. Please bring football equipment with you.

Wednesday, 17.07.2019

Legend-Touchpoint & Raffle: Start around 3:00pm.

Meeting point for all BVB fans around the stadium. Venue will be provided soon.

Match against Seattle Sounders @ Century Link Field – Kick-off: 7:30pm

Tickets: SeatGeek

You can filter for the BVB Supporter Section!

Dortmund at Bayern! Match of The Year!

This is it. It’s all come down to this. The incredible start, the nine point lead, the injuries and disappointments. We were knocked out of Pokal, finally pushed out of the Champion’s League, but here we are, still standing and ready to prove it.

Join us at the Red Lion Tavern on Saturday, April 6 at 9:30am.

The Red Lion Tavern
2366 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
323-662-5337

Get there early to get a Raffle ticket. Grand Prize was signed by every member of the USA Touring Team of 2018.