Gladbach’s victory over the stalwart’s of the league, Werder Bremen, gave us a glimpse at a team that has been revitalized under Jos Luhukay and Christian Ziege, and could well be in for a bright future. The addition of Michael Bradley added another young international the next day. So what is it about Gladbach? Is this another false dawn or is their return to glory imminent?

Much will depend on their ability to hold onto Marko Marin, who didn’t live up the hype, but exceeded it. It was like hearing all about Heath Ledger as the Joker and then going to see Dark Knight only to realize that your friends had undersold him. Watching Gladbach’s performance against Werder, it would seem that this young side is more about a return to glory if Luhukay, Marin and the supporting cast can be kept in place. They are a brilliant defending side, with an acute timing for a tackle. They broke up play in the middle, forced Werder outside and then smothered their forwards so that they were able to neutralize the most lethal attack in Germany.

Let’s take a look back at the week that was.

1) Michael Bradley

The young American international joined the team from Heerenveen of the Dutch Eredivisie near the close of the transfer window. While, it is a fantastic signing for the Foals, it isn’t obvious what the plans for the versatile midfielder are at this juncture. While his scoring record in Holland was impressive and speaks towards his box-to-box abilities, he has often been deployed as a holding midfielder for the US National team. It could be that he is deployed along side Alberman to form a potent double pivot. Or he could play deep and run onto the ball, with Rob Friend’s ability to hold the ball providing him the same scoring opportunities that Daniel Alves did at Heerenveen. He is joining a team that should play well to his strengths. And in return he provides options in the midfield for the former champs to help their push to stay up.

2) Gal Alberman

The reason Bradley won’t see sole DM duties is due to the dogged play of the Israeli international, who just joined recently. I had really looked forward to watching Gladbach’s first game because of Marko Marin, but there were more than a few players that pleasantly surprised me after their victory over Werder Bremen. This ball winner was definitely high on the list of players that impressed. He shadowed superstar Diego for the entire game, leaving him no room in the middle to create and forcing the Bundesliga’s biggest stars to move to the wings to have any effect on the game. He is also technically gifted, tactically astute and calm on the ball. I don’t think it was coincidence that his substitution was followed by both Werder goals. If this type of performance becomes the norm, he might just be considered the best DM in the Bundesliga by year’s end.

3) Karim Matmour

He is another new signing in attack. This was his first start and he played in the right-hand channel to great effect. He set up the second goal and scored the first. But he was provided the perfect counterbalance to Marin so that Werder couldn’t focus on just one side of the pitch when defending. He was able to move to the left when Marin moved right and still have some positive input on the game.

4) Christofer Heimeroth

Brilliant game! He had 12 saves and wasn’t at fault for either goal. He got a hand on the first goal to save it as it had deflected towards goal. Unfortunately at a stretch he could only palm it out of goal, leaving it for Pizarro to clean up. The second goal was a brilliant free kick from Diego. Other than one dropped ball on the goal line that cost them nothing, he was flawless. And it is just one more reason that the Bundesliga is spoiled rotten with great keepers.

To be fair, the defense seems to be settling after the opening game shelling. Daems and Brouwers kept Pizarro and Almeida/Rosenborg in check throughout the game. It wasn’t until they lost the shielding of Alberman and Schaaf went to three forwards that they started to panic and found themselves vulnerable at times. Even so, they were only culpable for the first.

5) Marko Marin

I have contacted Interpol. After Gladbach kidnapped Lionel Messi, dyed his hair and forced him to play, it was time somebody did the right thing. What a revelation this kid is. In a league blessed with fantastic #10, great wingers and phenomenal forwards, he has all the attributes to be the best of them. If Manchester City isn’t putting a 40 million bid on him in January, I’ll eat my hat (it’s a chocolate hat). This kid has speed and skill to equal the diminutive Argentine. He has the same low center of gravity to offset his size in a physical league. He can play in the middle and on the right as well as in his natural position. He made two second half crosses with his right foot that would have made Beckham jealous. Oh and he can defend. In a nutshell, he’s the complete package, and his exclusion from the Euro’s might well have cost Germany the title.

And yes, just like Heath Ledger, all my hype won’t make up for your first experience. Go! Watch! Revel!

Football is not always a beautiful game; sometimes bookings are necessary. This season was no different in Germany, even if statistically player discipline was comparatively better than in the past several seasons. While goal scorers have the Torjägerkanone (awarded by the magazine kicker) to shoot for, no comparable trophy exists for the Bundesliga’s best/worst troublemakers. That is a need BundesligaTalk can fill. We can think of no one better than Stefan “111 Yellow Cards in only 370 Bundesliga Games” Effenberg after whom to name the trophy. History will remember Effenberg as so many things: the architect of Bayern’s Champions League-winning midfield in 2001, not-so-celebrated author, and now an annual trophy’s namesake as well.

So who is this year’s worthy winner?

3. Grafite (Edinaldo Batista Líbano) - VfL Wolfsburg, Striker (9 Yellows, 1 Red)
Grafite begins this countdown, barely edging out Tomasz Zdebel for third place (who had comparable numbers, but in more games and with a less interesting name). His 9 yellows and 1 red were earned in just 22 starts for Wolfsburg this season. This was a significant increase from his numbers the previous year with Le Mans in the French Ligue 1. Across the board he improved in goals, assists, and yellow cards per game. It appears as though he’s adapted to the Bundesliga quite well. Look for him to make a strong push for the top spot next season (and on the scoring charts as well).

2. Mark Van Bommel — Bayern München, Midfielder (7 Yellows, 2 Reds)
No one does it with less class on a consistent basis than Mark Van Bommel. An entire article full of youtube clips could be dedicated to his antics. In the 26 Bundesliga games he started this season (undoubtedly it would have been more had it not been for the constant suspensions) he made quite an impression and online readers of the German tabloid Bild duly voted him this year’s “Stinkstiefel” (“stinking boot”). Statistics aside, he’d likely win the Eurovision vote-in equivalent for least likeable player.

1. Mihai Tararache — MSV Duisburg, Midfielder (13 Yellows, 1 Red)
While a bit of subjectivity marked the decision to put Van Bommel and Grafite on the list Tararache is without doubt the only choice to win. It would be a bit harsh to suggest that Tararache’s antics alone doomed Duisburg to drop, but his 13 yellows and 1 red certainly didn’t help. It would not be unfair to mention that his on the field performances sealed Duisburg’s spot at the bottom of the Bundesliga’s fairplay rankings. So while he will likely not be around next season to defend his trophy, how does he compare to the worst offenders of some of the other major European leagues? Not well, honestly:

Spain — The league may be lauded for its players’ technical skill but they’re also either very tenacious or very sloppy in going after the ball. Mihai Tararache, the Bundesliga’s poor discipline standard bearer would do no better than sixth behind Daniel Alves, Fernando Amorebieta, Sergio Ramos, Roberto Ayala, and Aitor Ocio. Interestingly enough both Fernando Amorebieta and Aitor Ocio play for Athletic Bilbao, perhaps the Bundesliga could learn something from the Basques?

Italy — While not quite as outrageous a disciplinary situation as in Spain, it seems as though everyone in Serie A is required to end the season with at least half a dozen yellows. Tararache would place third behind Manuele Blasi and Morris Carrozzieri (while a strong argument can be made for Napoli’s Maurizio Domizzi above Tararache as well).

England — Reliable old England. Finally something the Germans can proudly say we do better than the English (not including World Cups, European Championships, Health care, etc.): player indiscipline. Mihai Tararache would comfortably place first (having played in a league with fewer games to boot) ahead of Nicky Butt, Nigel Reo-Coker, and Christopher Samba.