Premier League's new TV deal and the Bundesliga

In light of the Premier League's new TV deal? Is the Bundesliga attractive enough?

It has been a couple of weeks since the Premier League announced its new, record breaking TV deal worth £5.136 billion for the seasons 16/17 through 18/19. That's around £1.7bn per year. In comparison, the Bundesliga TV deal is worth £610m for the 16/17 season; roughly a third. Naturally, it sparked debate about possible changes that could be made to close that financial gap. The first, quite concrete option would be to have one Bundesliga game on Monday. Similar to Monday Night Football in the Premier League. It would take the number of kick-off times to 6: Friday 8.30pm [in weeks without International break], Saturday 3.30pm (Konferenz/Simulcast), Saturday 6.30pm, Sunday 3.30 and 5.30pm and possibly Monday 8.30pm. Since a split like that would leave only 4 games for the Konferenz, it is questionable whether a) the Monday night game would be a weekly feature or b) whether, in an attempt to match the Spanish model, the remaining four Konferenz games would be given their own kick-off time as well. 

The main issue the Bundesliga has to tackle however, is not the number of different kick-off times, but rather the selection of matches for the prime spots. The main spot, the highlight or top match is seen as the Saturday, 6.30pm kick-off. Let's have a look at the matches in the Rückrunde.

Leverkusen - Dortmund (0*)

Hamburg - Hannover (2*)

Frankfurt - Schalke (3*)

Köln - Hannover (3*)

*number of Saturday matches that would have been more attractive.

A main factor in the scheduling and in the subsequent selection of, on paper, rather unattractive matches is the fact that according to the Sky TV deal, each team is only allowed to play in that slot six times a season - which limits the possibilities. The problem remains the same. A large number of games that are in single slots lose out to the ones that are played Saturday 3.30pm. Now, the Konferenz (Simulcast) is big inside Germany and  great fun to watch, but it might not be as big a pull globally as for instance Super Sunday in the Premier League. However, it always has to be taken into account that unlike in England, every Bundesliga match is available for viewing on Sky Germany - no matter the kick-off time [which coincidentally drives down the price per televised game even further to]. So it could be argued that especially for advertising the league inside Germany, scheduling does not have the same impact as it has globally.

That dynamic, of national and international rights, is a further area that sets leagues like the BPL and the Bundesliga apart. While the Bundesliga may not be as attractive as the BPL, and they are still losing out on a lot of money, the main difference in terms of the big bucks has to be the national rights. With the BPL, ever since BT emerged as a serious competitor for Sky, the amount of money spent on the TV deal has skyrocketed. Competition like that does not really exist in Germany. The Bundesliga can push Sky Germany up to a certain limit, but eventually, they'll be the ones taking the deal. Adding to that, Pay-TV simply isn't as big in Germany as it is in the UK; meaning there is less money to spend on Bundesliga or any rights in general.

Another issue would be the competitiveness of the league. Sure, Bayern are running away with the league again - but title race isn't the only selling point of the league. Competitive football and money will always be directly linked. The more money there is in the league, the more competitive the league is. The more competitive the league is, the more money there will be. As seen with the latest BPL deal, in terms of revenue, all 20 BPL teams will soon be in Europe's top 30, financially speaking. Meaning more talent will go there. It'll become more competitive and so on. Hence the difference between top clubs and smaller clubs is much larger in German football than it is in the BPL. While this may be considered as natural and how sports work, it impacts the way the game is seen and played and how attractive it is to the average customer. 

At the end of the day, it is unlikely that the Bundesliga will be able to close the financial gap to the BPL any time soon. Meaning it will be down to the individual clubs to maximise their financial potential. A lot of clubs are currently doing so by inviting strategic partners into the club; raising millions on top of other sponsorship deals. Yet a lot of clubs should be doing significantly better, still. Especially those clubs with a advantage of site, so to speak. Clubs like Berlin for instance. Not only are they the only club within a 130 mile radius, they are also the German capital. I only quite really realised this lately, but the Bundesliga is the only major European league that lacks a strong team from its Capital city. PSG in France; Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham in England; Real and Atletico in Spain, Roma and Lazio in Italy or Benfica and Sporting in Portugal. Germany has Hertha BSC. A club that lately has spent more time fighting relegation than anything else. It could be argued that this would just be another club, but capital cities are leading clubs all over Europe. The league benefits from having them and those clubs are strong because they are located where they are. Being a capital is a massive pull factor and the Bundesliga certainly loses a key player. 

All those aspects considered, the Bundesliga is still a hugely exciting league with terrific talent. It is, as it stands, simply not as marketable as the BPL. Less money also always leads to innovation, new coaching and tactics - to make up for the lack in quality. The Bundesliga is still also more fan friendly, because not every game is dictated by the TV companies. How long that will last? We will have to wait and see.

Joshua Kimmich | Scouting Report | Stärken und Schwächen | Joshua Kimmich Scouting

Joshua Kimmich

Name: Joshua Kimmich

Club: RasenBallsport Leipzig

Position: Def Midfielder  

Age: 19 (08 February, 1995)

Nationality: German

Height: 1.76 m

Weight: 70 kg

Key attributes: Tackling,  passing, composure

        

 

 

 How it all started

            On January 2nd, the news broke that Bayern München would be signing RB Leipzig's Joshua Kimmich in the summer. A player, both Pep Guardiola and Matthias Sammer desperately wanted. The fee, believed to be around €7m, will go to VfB Stuttgart however, who will be making use of their buy-back-option. Leipzig will be left with a fee of €1.5m. With this transfer, Joshua Kimmich essentially will become the most expensive player ever at that level. 

But who is this kid? Joshua Kimmich was born in Rottweil - a town around 50 miles from Stuttgart - on February 8th, 1995. With this close vicinity to Stuttgart in mind, it comes as no surprise that he joined the academy of the Swabian Bundesliga club aged 12. His development at the club and his progress through the youth teams was always of a rapid nature. Joshua Kimmich generally seemed to be at least one year ahead of everyone else - playing under 17 Bundesliga (South/South-West division) aged 15; and under 19 Bundesliga (SSW) aged 17. Thomas Sinz, who is in charge of one of DFB's many specialised training bases, and who watched Joshua Kimmich closely from the ages of 11 to 15 said about the player: "From day one, Joshua was extremely driven and motivated, in every session. In my opinion, it was obvious early on that he would become a professional player. He was always determined, confident, but still helpful and down to earth." Years have passed, yet the focus on confidence in Joshua Kimmich's game and development has not vanished. Speaking about his move to Bayern he stated: "You certainly have to have the confidence, to make it there [Bayern] long-term. And I have this confidence."  

Big developments waited for the player in 2013. First, Joshua Kimmich completed his transfer to RB Leipzig in July of 2013, then he was awarded with the prestigious Fritz-Walter-Medal (given to the best young talents) in silver in the under 18 division. While he was now a Leipzig player, Stuttgart were smart enough to insist on a buy-back-clause, which in hindsight turned out pretty well. 

His time at RB Leipzig and style of play

Joshua Kimmich's stint in Saxony was one of many triumphs. Immediate first team football, admittedly for a third division club; promotion to 2. Bundesliga in 2014; won the under 19 European Championships with Germany and another Fritz-Walter-Medal (bronze in the under 19 division). Can't ask for much more. Even though Leipzig is a club with big ambitions, coach Zorniger trusted young Joshua Kimmich entirely from the start. The player made mistakes, yet also impressed with technique and determination.  

In terms of style, Joshua Kimmich is a defensive midfielder that likes to get involved in attacks as well. Be it for the German youth sides or Leipzig, Joshua Kimmich likes to drive forward, have shots and play final balls. In both sides however, he is allowed to do so due to the dominance of the team, as well as additional defensive cover. At Leipzig, he is often partnered with Rani Khedira - another defensive midfielder. In possession and going forward, Joshua Kimmich is easy on the eye. He possesses good technique, can dribble with the ball and has both, the vision and ability for incisive passes in the final third. The greater part of his work however is done a bit further back. Right in front of the back four to be precise. In possession, he is the first option for the keeper or the centre backs. While defending, he knows how to position himself to approach tackles efficiently or to recover loose balls. His speed helps him to correct mistakes or to get out of situations he has brought himself into. It also has to be praised that Joshua Kimmich does not hide, as he is always available for passes, nor does he shy away from tackles. 

RB Leipzig	Kimmich
Duels win rate	52%
Touches	72.1
Passes (open play)	50.5
Pass %	74.5%
Goals	0
Shots	1.0
Assists	1
Key Passes	2.6

Strengths

• Passing range and vision - Kimmich's passing range is more than adequate for a defensive midfielder - especially his ability to spot a pass in the final third. His pass completion rate of only 74.5% is heavily linked to Leipzig's aggressive and direct style of player.
• Tackling - While he is not the most physically imposing player, he still uses his body well and is aggressive in the tackle.
• Composure - Mostly highlighted in the early stages of an attack. Even when put under pressure, he remains calm and plays simple football.

Weaknesses

• Consistency- As with any young player, consistency is key and can become an issue from time to time.   
• Physique - He is not the tallest nor strongest DM and it has to be seen how he fares against fiercer and better opposition

Conclusion

Joshua Kimmich's move to Bayern is nothing but a logical consequence of his talent and development. Even though competition is high at Germany's best team, you can expect him to nail down a place in the long run. Interestingly, his biggest competitor might be Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who is just a couple of months younger than Kimmich. Right now, he is part of that amazing class of '95, which has produced players like Max Meyer, Leon Goretzka or Serge Gnabry. In the summer, he too will join them at the elite level.

DFB - Youth Development | Football | German football youth development | German grassroots football

first seen on scoutedfootball.com 

Introduction

            This site has featured many players that have been developed in Germany. From Max Meyer, to Timo Horn, Timo Werner or André Hahn. Hence, it may be beneficial, to not only look at those players on their own, but rather at the background they all share. They all have been part of modern and extensive youth development program in Germany. Admittedly, some less, others from the beginning of their footballing career. This feature will introduce said program to you, the key components and why it produces top talent after top talent.  Depending on where you are from, you may see stark differences - or similarities - to the youth development of your own country. 

Before going into detail, the German system is essentially based on a change in mindset and three components. After disappointing results around the year 2000, the German football association realised German virtues alone would no longer suffice to beat the best nations. A more technical and tactical approach had to be introduced, which over the years resulted in the players that can be seen as a benchmark today; for example Reus, Götze or Kroos. With regard to the components, the first would be high-level-coaching. The second component would be the introduction of competitive leagues, with champions and relegation from the under 12 level onwards. The third and final aspect would be the introduction of under 23 teams, B-teams or (II teams, as they are called in Germany) into the league system.

When talking about the German system, we would usually include young players from the age of 11 until the time they make the first team. At the age of 11, certain forms of special training would become available to you for the first time outside of the academy system. The age of 11 also marks a point when the player is not too young to receive additional coaching, yet also not too far advanced in his development for that training to be in vain. Seeing how the age of 14 is usually seen as the end stage of the technical development of a player, it leaves ample time to improve a particular player in that department. Stage 2, age 14-16/17 and stage 3, from 16/17 onwards would involve the improvement of the physical and tactical attributes, respectively. 

Coaching

Generally speaking, the German system can best be summed up in two words: proficiency and accessibility. Proficiency firstly, with regard to the qualifications of the coaches. Players cannot be development into top professionals unless the right coaching is provided. In order to ensure the required standard of coaching, only coaches with at least an UEFA B-licence (now fittingly renamed to, DFB elite youth licence), are put in charge of coaching. The second one, accessibility, refers to two aspects. On the one hand, it can be taken quite literally. Throughout Germany, there are enough training bases, no player has to move too far only to take part. On the other hand, it refers to the entrance level. You do not have to be a super talent or part of Bayern Munich's academy, to be invited to the first level of additional coaching - to the DFB bases. The mantra here is, every talented player should have the opportunity, outside of his own club, to take part in more advanced and professional training.

At the moment, there are 366 of those DFB bases throughout Germany. Once again, pointing to the aspect of accessibility. Here, mostly 11 to 14 year old players, as mentioned, have the opportunity to receive professional coaching - usually once a week. While these bases do not feature the best of the best yet, they are an important part of the foundation. From 2002/3 onwards, the German football association started implementing football bases, all over the country, with the aim to allow every player access to the best coaching. Not every player in that age group is fortunate enough to play in an academy of a professional club. Hence, if he is good enough, he will be allowed to train at such a DFB base. The main idea is to ensure that players that up to that point, had not yet been scouted by professional clubs, are still able to improve and become the best player they can be. Currently, around 1000 people are employed in the areas of coaching and the examination of players to ensure best possible conditions for the players. These bases raise the general standard of quality outside of the academies, and maintain a more realistic approach. Especially in that 11-14 age group, good coaching can be vital, yet not everyone has access to it and subsequently, any chance of moving to a bigger club might vanish without that extra training. On a more personal note, having been part of that program myself, I can only emphasise how great of an experience it was; being able to train in a group full of quality players and under professional guidance - even if it is just once a week. 

DFB bases throughout Germany

The next two layers would be the elite schools, which usually go hand in hand and in cooperation with an existing academy. The schools would look after the education as well as the football aspect, while academies are primarily interested in developing the player. Those two forms essentially represent the next step in the development of a player that is already good enough and does not rely on coaching of the DFB bases anymore. According to the Bundesliga licensing agreement, every Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga club has to have an academy in order to develop young players. 

elite schools             ------             academies

                                          

Competition

As mentioned, providing competition, including titles and relegation, is seen as a major part of development as well. Starting at the under 12 level, these league are introduced. It is about competing against others when it matters. While individual improvement and excellent coaching are the basis, early competition to create a winning mentality as well as motivation to continue to improve are of importance as well. This level of competition continues onwards to the first team. For the under 17 and under 19 players there are also special Bundesliga formats. Divided into three regional groups (South/South-West, North/North-East and West), teams play a standard season modus and in the end, the three champions and the 2nd placed from the best region (according to a complex table), advance to the semi-finals. However, this is fairly standard and can be found in most countries to a similar extent. There is a national cup as well, similarly to the FA Youth Cup. Again, fairly standard. 

B-Teams 

The most drastic difference comes  in the adult stages, with the introduction of B-teams, or 'II teams', into the league system. These teams are under 23 teams, plus up to three over 23 year olds. For instance, Dortmund's II team is currently playing in the 3rd league while Bayern's II team is part of the Regionalliga Bayern (4th division). All in all, a concept similar to Spain's, where B sides are even allowed to play in Segunda División, but completely different to the British approach, for instance. The B-teams provide an excellent stepping stones for players that on the one hand, are too good, or old, for youth football, but are not yet ready for first team football. In the English system, this is usually bypassed by dozens of loans per club - which varying success. While B-teams may play in lower divisions, consistency can be achieved. Those teams usually play the same football as the first team and players can be sure of game time. Not something that can be confirmed with loans. B-teams provide a regular schedule and an opportunity to compete with physically stronger players.

Interestingly, the regulations regarding B-teams have changed recently. For years, B-teams used to be the norm and compulsory. Not having them could have resulted in fines or even point deduction. Starting with the 2014/15 season, this has changed. Clubs are now free to decide whether they want to have a B-team or not. Several clubs, like Bayer 04 Leverkusen or Eintracht Frankfurt made use of that right and no longer have an active under 23 side. Arguments pro and against this change can definitely be gathered. It could be said that players are getting ready for first team football earlier. Clubs may argue that their most promising players are ready for first team action when they would still be allowed to play youth football; players that need longer could be deemed not good enough - making the B-team obsolete. And certain players could still be loaned out, but a club would not have to have a special team just for them. The other side could be understood as well. Jürgen Klopp or Armin Veh for instance, criticised the decision heavily; the former claimed a large number of players would not play in the league without B-teams and Veh added that these teams would provide extra and early competition for very young and talented players. It has to be mentioned though that both, Klopp and Veh, are coaches of clubs where the B-team plays in the 3rd league (the only other one is Mainz 05). Meaning those two play in a professional league whereas any other B-team does not. Had Leverkusen or Frankfurt played in that league as well, their decision might have been different. 

With regard to Klopp's statement that loads of player might not be where they are without B-team experience, it can be said that he is right. Surprisingly many, have played huge number of games at that level. For instance, when looking at the World Cup winning German squad, most of the big players, like Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Müller, Neuer or Klose, spent a full season or two in their respective B teams. Others, like Boateng, Mertesacker, Höwedes or Khedira got roughly half to a full season. Only special players like Götze, Özil or Schürrle, who are also part of the 'ready early generation', went straight into the Bundesliga squad - for obvious reasons you might say - but they are the exception to the rule.