Matchday 14: Talking Points

Fantastic Fabian

I wonder how Jürgen Klinsmann is feeling about Fabian Johnson right about now? While all the attention off the pitch has been about Gladbach's new head coach, US midfielder Johnson has been making headlines on it. After a gorgeous goal midweek in the Champions League, his brace on the weekend against his former side was Gladbach's saving grace in a six-goal draw. Having proved his defensive days are certainly behind him - his marking for Hoffenheim's equalizer was noticeable by it's absence - Johnson scored the first and the last (leaving two players sliding in vain as in a Playstation game) to extend his sparkling form beyond 90 minutes. At 27 years old, Johnson is hardly America's next great hope, but with his fitness concerns seemingly behind him, he certainly is one of the first names on Gladbach's team sheet right about now.

Leaky Ingolstadt

Four goals in one game was not only a surprise for a Michael Frontzeck Hannover team, but also for their opposition. Ingolstadt had only conceded 10 goals in 13 Bundesliga games beforehand, but then collapsed to a 4-0 defeat against a side who only scored 13 in 13 before kick off. Two headers won't have pleased Ralph Hasenhüttl, but they still have four more points than Darmstadt, who were also promoted this year.

Happy Hamburg

There's a quiet revolution going on in Hamburg, and it's not even related to the 2024 Olympic bid. Bruno Labbadia has Hamburg playing the stable football that they have longed for in the last two seasons. Even luck was on their side in their derby win against Werder Bremen, a result that keeps fans happy and pundits purring as the Bundesliga dinosaur now draws level on points with Leverkusen and Schalke. The excellent form and leadership of Rene Adler, Lewis Holtby, Ivo Ilicevic and captain Johan Djourou has been a large factor in Hamburg's return to form - and Labbadia deserves a lot of credit for restoring quality to a largely unchanged squad.