Episode 114

RB Leipzig 25/26 Season Review: Fan Takes, Player Ratings, & End-of-Year Awards

Full Time β€” The definitive weekly breakdown.

In This Episode:

  • πŸ“Š The Macro View: 2025/26 Season Post-Mortem (Sofascore Data Analysis)
  • πŸ”Ž Squad Autopsy: Comprehensive Player-by-Player Review β€” Heatmaps, metrics, and who really made the difference.
  • πŸŽ™οΈ The Digital Terrace Takeover β€” Reading your unfiltered ballots and spiciest tactical takes from the community.
  • πŸ† The Official RBL Talk End-of-Season Awards β€” Handing out the hardware for Player of the Season, Unsung Hero, and more.
  • πŸ’¬ Fan Voice: Featured comments from Ava and KSmurph

Don’t Miss Out:

  • 🏟️ The Digital Terrace: Don’t just watch β€” join the community. Our Discord is the digital equivalent of the standing area; it’s where we talk tactics, vent after a loss, and celebrate every goal 24/7. Grab your spot on the terrace here: https://discord.gg/jE6ZzwcCYu
  • πŸ“… Next Livestream: World Cup Watchalong β€” Tracking the Leipzig lads in the Germany vs. CΓ΄te d’Ivoire 2026 FIFA World Cup clash!
  • πŸ“₯ Get Involved: Send questions via socials or record an audio message on SpeakPipe to be played on-air.
  • πŸ—£οΈ Join the Show: Want to represent your club or share your RBL take? Book a guest spot here: https://rbltalk.captivate.fm/booking
  • β˜• Support the Show: Help us cover running costs here: https://rbltalk.captivate.fm/support

Partners & Credits:

🎡 Music: Andrii Poradovskyi (Pixabay)

Transcript
Justin Crozer:

Was this the campaign we finally broke through the ceiling or just

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another year of what-ifs and almosts?

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Now that the dust has completely

settled on the '25-'26 season, it is

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time to take a hard, unfiltered look

at exactly what went down on the pitch.

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We had our moments of absolute brilliance.

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We had stretches that made

us want to pull our hair out.

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And through it all, you, the

fans, had plenty to say about it.

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Today, we're laying it all out, the

highs, the lows, the data behind the

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performances, and your unfiltered

takes from the digital terrace.

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Grab a drink, settle in, because

we've got a lot to unpack.

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Welcome back to RBL Talk, the only place

you need to be for completely independent

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fan-driven coverage of RB Leipzig.

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I am your host Justin,

and this episode is 114.

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Thank you so much for tuning in.

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Today is all about closure.

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We are putting a bow

on the season that was.

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In this episode, we are going to

do a comprehensive team and player

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review, look at the underlying

numbers to see who exactly carried

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the squad, and most importantly,

I'm handing the mic over to you.

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We'll be diving into the Digital

Terrace to read your submitted takes

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on the recent results and the overall

vibe surrounding the club right now.

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Finally, I'll be handing out my

personal end of season awards.

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All right, let's get into it.

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We're going to spend the first segment

doing a massive data-driven postmortem

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on the 25/26 Bundesliga campaign.

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Let's start with the macro view.

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Think back to exactly one year ago.

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We were sitting here analyzing

an absolute disaster of a season,

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finishing seventh and agonizing

over missing out on the Conference

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League by a single point to Mainz.

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The mandate for this season was

simple: get back to our DNA,

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get back to the Champions League

spots, and we did exactly that.

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We finished the year in third place

with sixty-five points, a massive

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fourteen-point swing from last year.

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We pulled down twenty wins,

five draws, and nine losses.

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This was our tenth season in

the Bundesliga, and it marks

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our eighth top-four finish.

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Order has been restored.

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But when you compare this season's data

to last season's data, a very specific

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and frankly exasperating story starts

to emerge about how we won those games.

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Let's look at the attack.

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We scored thirteen more goals this year,

jumping from fifty-three up to sixty-six.

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Our creative engine was humming.

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We went from creating two-point-four

big chances a match last year

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to three-point-six this year.

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But listeners, the underlying finish

metrics are going to give you nightmares.

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Because we created so much more,

we also squandered so much more.

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Our big chances missed skyrocketed from

one-point-four a game to two-point-five.

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And if that wasn't frustrating

enough, last season we hit

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the woodwork nine times.

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This season?

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Well, we hit the post or the

crossbar twenty-three times.

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Twenty-three.

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If even a fraction of those go in,

we aren't just comfortably in third,

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we are actively breathing down

the necks of the title contenders.

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We outscored our problems this year,

but the finishing boots were cursed.

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Now tactically, the biggest

difference-maker was entirely mental.

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It was discipline.

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Last year, we picked up five red cards.

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You simply cannot build momentum

in the Bundesliga when you

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keep going down to ten men.

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This season, across thirty-four

intense high-pressing matches, we

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picked up exactly zero red cards.

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Zero.

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Not a single player got sent

off all season, and our yellow

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cards dropped significantly too.

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That level of composure in the

tackle is a massive reason we were

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able to turn last year's agonizing

draws into this year's wins.

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The macro data paints a picture of

dominant, highly disciplined side

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that created brilliant chances but

left a mountain of goals on the table.

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But to really understand why

that happened, we need to

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look at the individual pieces.

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Let's start by breaking down

the squad player by player.

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So let's transition from the macro team

view and start looking at the individual

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puzzle pieces that made this season tick.

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And we have to start at the very back

with our number one, Peter Gulacsi.

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Pete turned back the clock in a lot of

ways this campaign, clocking over 2,000

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minutes across 23 Bundesliga appearances.

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And when you look at the raw numbers,

the standout stat that slaps you

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in the face is the clean sheets.

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We kept 11 clean sheets as a

collective unit this year, and

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Pete was in goal for nine of them.

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But if you look at the underneath

hood, uh, at the advanced

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metrics on Sofascore, it tells a

slightly more complicated story.

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Pete finished the year with a 6.88

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average rating, averaging 2.3

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saves per game.

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However, his goals prevented

metric was minus 3.15.

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In plain English, the data suggests that

a truly elite shot stopper on an absolute

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world-class day might have swatted three

more or those shots away from danger.

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And check this out.

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He conceded 32 goals this season,

and every single one of them

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came from inside the 18-yard box.

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Teams weren't beating him

with 30-yard screamers.

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They were carving us open and

converting from close range.

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But where Pete absolutely salvaged us

was his sheer reliability and composure.

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Think about how many times our

hearts were in our mouths this year

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and when we turned the ball over.

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We committed 21 errors as a team leading

to shots, but Pete committed zero.

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Not one blunder, not one loose

pass out the back that cost us.

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Plus, his distribution was incredibly

clean, completing 83% passes overall

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and a staggering 94% in his own half.

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He was the calm in the

middle of our defensive storm

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But Pete wasn't the only one

tending the net this year.

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We have to talk about the man who stepped

up when called upon, Martine Vandervoort.

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Martine made 12 appearances for

us, starting 11 matches and logging

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just over a thousand minutes.

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And this is where the eye test and

the data really gets interesting.

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Because statistically speaking,

the analytics absolutely

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loved his performances.

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He finished the campaign with an average

Sofa Score rating of seven point zero

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seven, comfortably outscoring Pete.

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He conceded one point

three goals per game.

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But here is the massive difference

between the two keepers.

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Martine's goals prevented

metric was in the green.

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He posted a plus one point zero nine.

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That means he actively saved at least one

absolute guaranteed goal that the math

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says should have hit the back of the net.

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And let's not forget, he faced one

penalty this year, and he saved it.

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A huge moment for him.

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But you could also see the growing pains.

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You could see the rawness that

separates a promising young

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keeper from a 10-year veteran.

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While Pete didn't make a single

blunder all year, Martine did commit

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one error that led directly to a goal.

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We also saw a slight drop in

the distribution efficiency.

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His overall pass accuracy stat

at seventy-three percent, down a

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full ten percent from Gallacci.

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Now, to be fair to Martine, the data shows

he was launching five accurate long balls

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per game compared to Pete's three, which

naturally drops your completion rate.

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He was still hitting ninety-three

percent of his passes in our own

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half, so the composure in the

buildup was absolutely there.

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Overall, looking at the goalkeeper union

this year, we had exactly what you want,

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an incredibly steady mistake-free veteran

backed up by an athletic high ceiling

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shot stopper who can come in, save a

penalty, and steal a goal back for you

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All right, let's move on out

of the penalty area and start

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looking at the outfield players.

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I wanna kick off the defensive

breakdowns by looking out wide at a

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guy who had a very specific rotational

role for us this year, Max van Graafe.

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Now, Max is an interesting one to evaluate

because the simple size is pretty small.

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He only made 13 appearances this

season, starting just five matches

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and logging about 500 total minutes.

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Because of that limited run-out,

his average sofa score rating

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hovered around a six point six six.

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He wasn't the main character of our

season, but when he was on the pitch, he

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had a very distinct statistical profile.

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I'm looking at his season heat map right

now, and it tells you everything you

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need to know about how he was deployed.

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It is just this bright, heavy red

patch glued to the flank, pushing way

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up into the opposition's half, and his

passing metrics completely back that up.

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For a wide player operating

in congested areas, Max was

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incredibly safe in possession.

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He completed ninety percent of his overall

passes and an unbelievable eighty-nine

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percent in the opposition's half.

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He wasn't just aimlessly

lumping crosses in either.

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He was retaining the ball

and recycling possession.

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He even managed to create two

big chances and grab an assist

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in those limited minutes.

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And we have to talk about

his one goal this season.

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The data shows an expected goals rating

of zero point one nine for that shot.

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It was completely outside the

box, entirely on his left foot.

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He had absolutely no right to score

that from there, but he buried it.

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The flip side, however, is

that the defensive output.

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In the matches where Max featured, we

didn't keep a clean, single clean sheet.

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He averaged about one point

two tackles a game and won the

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majority of his ground duels.

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But the overall defensive solidarity

just wasn't quite there when

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he was rotated into the squad.

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Ultimately, five hundred minutes isn't

enough to define a player's entire

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ceiling, but he showed flashes of being a

really reliable possession asset out wide.

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Now from a young rotational piece,

we move to an absolute club veteran

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who had what I can only describe as

a ghost season, Lucas Klostermann.

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When you look at Klostermann's data for

the 25/26 campaign, it is almost bizarre.

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He played a grand total of 102 minutes.

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That's it.

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Across the entire 34-game Bundesliga

season, he made just five appearances

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and was handed exactly one start.

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If you look at his season heat map,

it doesn't even look like a heat map.

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It looks like someone spilled a

few drops of yellow paint down the

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right flank and called it a day.

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But here is the crazy

part about Klostermann.

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His average Sofa Score rating was a 6.95.

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How does a guy who barely

touches the pitch rate so highly?

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Because in those 102 minutes, he was

an absolute machine of efficiency.

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He was essentially deployed

as the ultimate human victory

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cigar to kill off matches.

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He committed zero fouls.

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He picked up zero cards.

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He made zero errors leading to a shot.

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He won 100% of his aerial duels, which to

be fair, was only two duels all season.

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But hey, you can only beat

what's in front of you.

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His passing was incredibly

tidy, completing 91% overall

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and 97% in our own half.

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But my absolute favorite stat of his

entire season, he registered an assist.

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He got an assist in 102

minutes of football.

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For his ex- expected assist

metric, his XA was 0.02.

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That means whatever pass he played

had essentially a 2% mathematical

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chance of becoming a goal.

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Whoever was on the end of that pass

did some absolute heavy lifting.

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Look, it is tough to see a guy who

has given so much to RB Leipzig

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reduced but the data shows that when

the manager told him to lace up his

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boots and lock down that right side

for 10 minutes, he did it flawlessly

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Staying on that right side of the

defense, let's look at another guy who

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was heavily utilized off the bench,

but had a very different experience

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to Klostermann, Benjamin Henrichs.

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Benny's usage rate this year

is actually fascinating.

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He appeared in seventeen matches,

literally half of our Bundesliga campaign,

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but he only started three of them.

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He averaged about nineteen

minutes a game, totaling three

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hundred and nineteen minutes.

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He was the definition of a

late-game tactical switch.

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Looking at his season heat map,

it's a very different picture from

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Frangrafe's high-flying touchline runs.

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Benny's map has the incredibly dense

dark red hotspot sitting deep in

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our own defensive right quadrant.

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The manager was clearly throwing him

on to drop deep, absorb pressure,

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and close out chaotic matches.

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But here is where the data

gets a little bit concerning.

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Benny finished the year with an average

Sofa Score rating of six point five

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nine, and when you look closely at

his duel metrics, you start to see

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why he struggled to make a positive

impact in those high-press cameos.

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He only won thirty-five percent

of his total duels this season.

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Whether it was the ground or in the

air, Benny was losing two out of

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three physical battles he entered.

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When you are subbed on to

anchor a defensive flank, that

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is a tough stat to swallow.

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His pass accuracy in the opposition's

half also dropped down to seventy-two

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percent, and we didn't keep a single

clean sheet in the games he played.

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It felt like he was constantly

being thrown into the fire and

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just couldn't quite put it out.

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But it wasn't all bad news.

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Benny did give us one

genuine moment to celebrate.

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He managed to get on the score sheet

with a goal from inside the box

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on his weaker left foot, no less.

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It was a low probability chance,

about zero point two two expected

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goals, but he tucked it away.

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Ultimately, it was a tough

campaign for Henrichs.

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Being a rotational player who only

gets twenty minutes a week to find his

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rhythm is incredibly difficult, and

the numbers reflect a guy who never

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quite found his footing this season.

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Now we pivot from the rotational

pieces to an absolute cornerstone

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of the team's right flank.

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Let's talk about a man who practically

lived on the pitch this year, Randal Baku

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If you want to understand why our tactical

identity completely evolved this season

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into a faster, more dominant possession

side, look no further than Baku's numbers.

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He registered 32 appearances,

started 28 times, and racked up

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over 2,500 minutes of football.

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I was staring at the season heat map

right now, and it looks like a thick,

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glowing red laser beam running the

absolute length of the right touchline.

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He didn't just play

right back or right wing.

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He owned the entire corridor

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He averaged nearly 73 touches per game.

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Think about how insane

that is for a wide player.

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The ball was constantly

cycled through him, and his

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efficiency was through the roof.

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Completing 86% of his passes

overall and an 83% completion

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rate in the opposition half.

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But listeners, I need you to lock

in for the next stat because it

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is the definition of heartbreak.

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Baku finished the season

with three assists.

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Sounds decent, right?

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Well, the underlying analytics reveal he

got absolutely robbed by our forwards.

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His expected assist metric for the

year was a massive six point zero five.

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He created 10 big chances and

averaged over a key pass per game.

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Statistically, he did everything right

to unlock defenses, but on the finishing

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end of his service just wasn't there.

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If our front line is firing on

all cylinders, Baku easily walks

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away with seven or eight assists

and a much higher average rating

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than his six point eight seven.

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Now, he wasn't completely

blameless in front of goal either.

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He popped up with two goals himself,

but missed six big chances of his

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own, finishing slightly below his

two point five six expected goals.

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Defensively, the output

was incredibly honest.

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Nearly two tackles a game, almost three

clearances, and he helped us secure

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eight clean sheets during his starts.

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Yes, he had th- three errors that

led to shots, but across 2,500

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intense minutes in transition, only

one of those blunders actually hurt

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us in the goals conceded column.

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Baku was an absolute

workhorse for us this year.

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He gave us structure, elite ball

retention, and a constant creative

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outlet that deserved a lot more

statistical reward than it got.

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Let's move into the heart of the

defense now and talk about a young

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giant who gave us some incredibly

fascinating data points in his rotational

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minutes, El Chadaille Bitshabu.

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Chad played 11 games this year,

getting the nod to start eight of

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them, totaling just under seven

hundred minutes on the pitch.

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He walked away with a very

respectable six point eight seven

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average, a sofa score rating.

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And if you look at his season heat

map, you can see him operating

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primarily as the left-sided center

back, occasionally shifting wider

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to lock down that half space.

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But listeners, the passing metrics on

this kid are absolutely ridiculous.

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He averaged over sixty touches a

game and completed ninety-three

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percent of his total passes.

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If you look strictly at our

own defensive half, his passing

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accuracy was ninety-six percent.

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Think about the composure required

for a young center back in a high

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pressing league like the Bundesliga.

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To consistently find his man

nearly every single time.

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Even when he stepped up into the

opposition half, he completed

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eighty-seven percent of his passes.

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His ability to break lines and

find accurate chip passes was a

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massive asset for our buildup play.

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Now, defensively, Chad was the

definition of safety first.

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No nonsense operator.

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When the ball came into the

box, he didn't try to get cute.

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He averaged four clearances per game.

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He justified the danger and

cleared our lines instantly.

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But the data also highlights

exactly where the next step in

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his evolution needs to come.

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Despite his massive imposing

physical frame, he struggled

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a bit in isolation battles.

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He only won forty-seven percent of

his total tools, and that dropped

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to forty-five percent in the air.

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In the Bundesliga, center forwards will

eat you alive if you don't pin them.

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And right now, he's still figuring

out how to pair his timing with

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his natural physical gifts.

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But again, look at the discipline,

zero yellow cards, zero red cards,

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and zero errors leading to goals.

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He gave us elite ball retention,

an absolute mountain of clearances,

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and complete composure at the

back wherever his name was called.

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Let's stay with the defensive rotation

and talk about a young prospect who

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had a very abrupt introduction to the

Bundesliga this season, Kosta Ndulkovich

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Costa is a fascinating case study

in the gap between technical

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ability and physical readiness.

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He came in, made five appearances

for us, started three times, logged

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about two hundred and fifty minutes.

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Unfortunately, it was

a really tough stint.

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He finished the campaign with a six

point three zero average Sofa Score

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rating, which is the lowest of any

player we have looked at today.

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When you isolate his defensive

metrics, the growing pains are

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almost impossible to ignore.

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The headline here is

the duel success rate.

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He won just twenty-seven percent of his

total duels, but the ground duel numbers

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are where he completely ex- got exposed.

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He won exactly fifteen percent

of his battles on the deck.

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In the Bundesliga, if you are a

fullback winning fifteen percent of

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your ground duels, opposition wingers

are going to isolate you, target

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you, and run right past you, and the

data shows they did exactly that.

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But here is why you don't

write off a young player after

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a handful of rough matches.

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When he actually had the ball

at his feet, he did not panic.

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Despite getting beaten defensively, his

possession metrics were remarkably steady.

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He completed eighty-seven percent of

his overall passes and an impressive

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ninety-three percent in his own half.

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Even his long balls were connecting

at a sixty-three percent clip.

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He showed he possesses the technical

foundation to build out from the back.

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He also kept a completely

clean disciplinary record,

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zero cards, completing…

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avoiding the trap of making reckless or

frustrated challenges when he got beaten.

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Ultimately, it was a harsh learning curve.

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He has the passing range, but the raw

physicality and one-on-one defending

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required at this level just were a

bridge too far for him this season.

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All right, we've talked about the

rotational guys learning the ropes, but

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now it's time to talk about the absolute

standard bearer of this football club.

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We have to talk about the left flank.

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We have to talk about

the captain, David Raum.

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:

If there is one player who can hold

his head completely high and say he

359

:

left every single ounce of sweat on the

pitch this season, it is David Raum.

360

:

He made 30 appearances, started 29

times, and played over twenty-five

361

:

hundred minutes, and he wasn't just

out there making up the numbers.

362

:

He was dominating.

363

:

He finished with an average rating of

seven point three three and made the

364

:

Bundesliga Team of the Week seven times.

365

:

I'm looking at his season heat

map, and it is a masterpiece.

366

:

It is just a massive thick

wall of red blanketing the

367

:

entire left half of the pitch.

368

:

He averaged over

eighty-six touches a game.

369

:

When we needed to build

out, we looked left.

370

:

When we needed a spark, we looked left.

371

:

But listeners, remember

earlier when I said Ridle Baku

372

:

was robbed by our forwards?

373

:

Well, David Raum was the

victim of a statistical heist.

374

:

The captain registered an expected

assist metric of twelve point three nine.

375

:

He created twenty-two big chances.

376

:

He averaged three point three

key passes every single time

377

:

he stepped onto the pitch.

378

:

And what did we get to show for it?

379

:

Seven assists.

380

:

Seven.

381

:

The service he was putting into

the box this year was world-class,

382

:

and we left at least five or six

guaranteed goals out there that

383

:

he served up on a silver platter.

384

:

He even had to take matters into

his own hands, scoring three times

385

:

himself, including a brilliant free

kick and stepping up to bury a penalty.

386

:

Now, did he play on the edge?

387

:

Absolutely.

388

:

When you are that heavily involved,

averaging over five ball recoveries

389

:

and three and a half clearances a game

while pushing high up the pitch, you're

390

:

going to get caught out occasionally

391

:

He picked up six yellow cards, gave away

two penalties, and lost possession about

392

:

20 times a match just by virtue of how

many high-risk crosses he was whipping in.

393

:

But you take that trade-off

every single day of the week.

394

:

He was our heartbeat, our primary creator,

and a true leader out there this season

395

:

So if David Raum was the chaotic

creative heartbeat pushing up the left

396

:

touchline, who was the guy covering

his back and feeding him the ball?

397

:

That brings us to our left-sided

center back, an absolute rock

398

:

this season, Costello Lacaba.

399

:

Costello had a phenomenal campaign.

400

:

He featured twenty-six times,

making twenty-four starts and

401

:

pulling down a fantastic seven

point zero seven average rating.

402

:

Looking at his season heat map, you

see exactly how he partnered with Raum.

403

:

There is a massive concentrated

block of red in the left center

404

:

back and left half space area

pushing right up the halfway line.

405

:

But what makes Costello so special

is how incredibly comfortable

406

:

he is with the ball at his feet.

407

:

He averaged nearly eighty touches a

game, and his distribution was flawless.

408

:

He completed ninety percent

of his passes overall.

409

:

But in our own half, ninety-six percent.

410

:

When the opposition tried to press

us, they bounced right off him.

411

:

He was our pressure release valve.

412

:

He even averaged nearly a successful

dribble per game, meaning if the

413

:

passing lane was blocked, he had

the confidence to just drop his

414

:

shoulder and carry the ball directly

through the first line of the press.

415

:

And defensively, he was an

absolute monster on the deck.

416

:

He won seventy-three

percent of his ground duels.

417

:

Attackers tried to take him on,

and they just hit a brick wall.

418

:

He was only dribbled past

zero point two times a match.

419

:

On top of that, when the box was

under siege, he was the guy putting

420

:

his f- foot through it, averaging

almost five clearances a game.

421

:

Now, he wasn't completely invincible

in the air, winning exactly half of

422

:

his aerial duels, and he did have one

error that unfortunately led to a goal.

423

:

But over twenty-one hundred

minutes of high-stakes football,

424

:

you're going to have to slip up.

425

:

Overall, Costello was the perfect

modern center back for us this year.

426

:

Composed in possession,

physically dominant on the

427

:

ground, and incredibly reliable.

428

:

To wrap up this defensive

review, we have to talk about the

429

:

absolute general of the backline.

430

:

A man who was virtually ever-present

and anchored everything we

431

:

did this season, Willi Orban

432

:

If you wanna talk about reliability,

just look at Willi's appearance chart.

433

:

33 matches played in the

Bundesliga, 33 starts.

434

:

He logged 2,950 minutes of

top-flight football this year.

435

:

He was the undisputed bedrock

of this team, finishing the

436

:

campaign with a brilliant 7.22

437

:

average rating and picking up

six Team of the Week nominations.

438

:

When you look at his season heat

map, it's exactly what you want

439

:

from your central defensive anchor.

440

:

A heavy concentrated zone right

in the heart of our penalty area,

441

:

slightly shading to the right, and

he completely dominated that space

442

:

Listen to these defensive metrics

because they are staggering.

443

:

Willy averaged seven point four

clearances every single game.

444

:

Whenever there was panic, whenever a loose

ball dropped in the eighteen-yard box,

445

:

willy was there to put

his boot through it.

446

:

He was a massive reason he

personally walked away with

447

:

ten clean sheets this season.

448

:

And if teams tried to bypass our press

by going long, Willy just ate them alive.

449

:

He won sixty-seven percent

of his total duels.

450

:

An absolutely dominant sixty-nine

percent of his aerial duels.

451

:

He was winning over four headers a game.

452

:

Air traffic control

belonged entirely to him.

453

:

He even continued his streak of being an

absolute menace on attacking set pieces.

454

:

He grabbed two headed goals from

the inside of the box and racked up

455

:

over two expected goals this season.

456

:

Every single time we won a corner,

you could see the opposition panicking

457

:

about where Willy was making his run.

458

:

Yes, he had a couple of errors

in possession, two leading to

459

:

shots, one leading to a goal.

460

:

But when you play nearly three thousand

minutes as the last line of defense, the

461

:

sheer volume of attacks you break down

far outweighs the occasional slip up.

462

:

He was an absolute titan for us this year

463

:

All right.

464

:

That completely wraps

up the defensive unit.

465

:

Let's take a step further up the

pitch and start looking at the

466

:

midfield and the wide attackers.

467

:

And I wanna start with a young player

who is consistently asked to be our

468

:

late game spark plug, TDM Gomes.

469

:

TDM's season is the perfect example

of how difficult it is to be a late

470

:

game substitute in the Bundesliga.

471

:

He made 18 appearances for us.

472

:

That is m- more than half the season,

but he only started two matches.

473

:

He averaged about 20 minutes a game,

logging just over 350 minutes total

474

:

If you look at his season heat

map, it tells the entire story.

475

:

There is no solid red block.

476

:

There is no defined territory.

477

:

It is just a scattering of light yellow

dots scattered across the opposition's

478

:

half and mostly out on the right wing.

479

:

He was consistently being thrown

into broken chaotic games where

480

:

the shape was already gone.

481

:

And the data reflects how hard

it is to catch that rhythm of

482

:

a match in those scenarios.

483

:

He finished with 6.53

484

:

average sofa score rating.

485

:

He was barely seeing the ball

averaging less than 12 touches a game.

486

:

But the biggest issue was what

happened when he did get the ball.

487

:

Tidium is a player who wants to

take men on, but he only had a 34%

488

:

dribble success rate this year.

489

:

He was also only winning

38% of his physical duels.

490

:

He was stepping onto the pitch trying

to be the hero, trying to force

491

:

the issue, and veteran defenders

were just closing the door on him

492

:

and muscling him off the ball.

493

:

It wasn't a total wash.

494

:

He did give us one great moment, grabbing

a right-footed goal from inside the

495

:

box and actually outperforming his

expected goals metric for the year.

496

:

Ultimately, it was a

season of fleeting cameos.

497

:

He got some valuable minutes under his

belt, but the numbers show he still

498

:

has a lot of physical and tactical

development ahead of him before he can

499

:

truly dictate a game at this level.

500

:

Moving right into the center of the

park into the true engine room of the

501

:

squad, we need to talk about a guy who

gave us everything he had and who, as

502

:

we all know, has moved on from Leipzig

following the end of this campaign.

503

:

I'm talking about Xavier Schlager

504

:

It is always tough to say

goodbye to a player who plays

505

:

with his heart on his sleeve.

506

:

But looking back, '25, '26

season, Xavier has absolutely

507

:

nothing to hang his head about.

508

:

He made 26 appearances, starting 21

times, and logged over 1,800 minutes.

509

:

Looking at his season heat

map, it is a picture perfect

510

:

for a box-to-box midfielder.

511

:

There is a massive intense block

of red sitting dead center on

512

:

the halfway line, stretching

aggressively towards both boxes.

513

:

He was the connective tissue of this team.

514

:

And his passing metrics at that

congested midfield were phenomenal.

515

:

He completed 87% of his passes overall,

but the number of that really jumps out is

516

:

the 85% accuracy in the opposition's half.

517

:

When things got tight, when the press

collapsed on him, Xavier didn't panic.

518

:

He kept the ball, and he

kept it moving forward.

519

:

He even managed to chip in with

three goals this year, outperforming

520

:

his expected goals metric.

521

:

But you don't talk about Xavier

Schlager without talking about the grit.

522

:

He was recovering nearly

five balls a game.

523

:

He was throwing himself into tackles.

524

:

He won 52% of his total duels,

which is a solid return for the

525

:

sheer volume of chaotic midfield

battles he found himself in.

526

:

And yes, he picked up six

yellow cards along the way.

527

:

But let's be honest, half of those

were the take one for the team

528

:

tactical fouls that stop a dangerous

counterattack dead in its tracks.

529

:

You need a player willing

to do the dirty work.

530

:

He finished with a 6.94

531

:

average rating, which is

incredibly consistent.

532

:

Xavier, if you are somehow

listening to this, thank you for

533

:

the shift you put in this season.

534

:

You left it all out on the pitch

for Leipzig, and we wish you nothing

535

:

but the best in your next chapter

536

:

Sticking in the midfield, let's talk

about a player who had a different role to

537

:

Xavier this season, but was called upon by

the manager consistently, Ezekiel Benzuzi.

538

:

If you wanna understand the life of a

rotational midfielder in the Bundesliga,

539

:

look at Benzuzi's appearance numbers.

540

:

He played in twenty-four

matches this year.

541

:

That is heavy involvement, but

he only started two of them.

542

:

He was averaging just twenty-five

minutes a game, logging just six

543

:

hundred total minutes on the pitch.

544

:

His season heat map is a perfect

reflection of that substitute role.

545

:

There is no defined deep red hotspot.

546

:

Instead, it is scattered a

constellation of yellow and orange

547

:

dots across the middle third and

back towards our own penalty area.

548

:

He was essentially the manager's

Swiss Army knife, thrown on to plug

549

:

whatever leak had sprung in the

final twenty minutes of a match.

550

:

But the biggest takeaway from

Benzuzi's season is a story of

551

:

immense frustration in front of goal.

552

:

The lad desperately wanted to get on

the score sheet, and honestly, the math

553

:

says he sh- absolutely should have.

554

:

He racked up an expected goals

metric of one point four zero.

555

:

He took fifteen shots over the course

of the season, eight from inside the

556

:

box, seven from outside, and missed

two officially registered big chances.

557

:

But he walked away with zero goals.

558

:

You could practically feel the agony

every time he pulled the trigger,

559

:

and it just wouldn't drop for him.

560

:

But if you look past that finishing

curse, his underlying engine

561

:

was actually really impressive.

562

:

When you come into a game cold in the

seventeenth minute, the hardest thing to

563

:

do is match the physical intensity of the

players who have been out there all game.

564

:

But z- Benzuzi did exactly that.

565

:

He won fifty-three percent

of his total duels.

566

:

He was winning over half of his

battles on the ground and in the air.

567

:

He was a general and physical

presence, and he didn't panic on

568

:

the ball either, maintaining an

eighty-five percent overall pass

569

:

accuracy and even hitting eighty-three

percent of the opposition half.

570

:

He even managed to grab an assist.

571

:

So while the zero in the goal

column is what people might focus

572

:

on, the data shows a really tidy,

physically capable midfielder who

573

:

just needs to find his clinical edge.

574

:

If he finds his shooting boots over

the summer, he could be pushing

575

:

for a lot more starts next year.

576

:

If Xavier Schlager was the chaotic

box-to-box engine of our midfield, we

577

:

have to absolutely talk about the man who

allowed him the freedom to push forward.

578

:

We need to talk about the vault

door sitting right in front of

579

:

our back line, Nicholas Seiwald

580

:

Seiwald is the definition

of an unsung hero.

581

:

Look at his volume this year.

582

:

Thirty-three appearances, thirty-one

starts, over tw- twenty-seven

583

:

hundred minutes on the pitch.

584

:

Out of all the outfield players we

have reviewed so far, only Willi Orban

585

:

was on the grass more than Seiwald.

586

:

He was the undisputed anchor

of our midfield structure

587

:

And if you wanna see what

tactical discipline looks like,

588

:

look at his season heat map.

589

:

It is this massive concentrated red shield

deployed right in the front of the center

590

:

circle, locking down the defensive half

and pushing just over the halfway line.

591

:

He didn't wander.

592

:

He didn't abandon his post.

593

:

He sat in the pocket

and dictated the game.

594

:

His defensive metrics are brilliant,

averaging two full tackles and

595

:

one point seven interceptions a

match, whilst winning sixty-three

596

:

percent of his ground duels.

597

:

But listeners, the next stat is the

one that absolutely blows my mind.

598

:

Playing as a holding midfielder in a

high-intensity pressing Leipzig system

599

:

across thirty-three Bundesliga matches,

he picked up exactly two yellow cards.

600

:

Two.

601

:

And zero red cards.

602

:

To play many minutes in the most combative

area of the pitch and only go into the

603

:

referee's book twice is an outrageous

display of timing and tactical restraint.

604

:

When he won the ball, he was a metronome.

605

:

Eighty-nine percent overall

pass accuracy and a brilliant

606

:

ninety-three percent in our own half.

607

:

He just recovered the ball, kept

it simple, and fed our creators.

608

:

Now, did he offer

anything in front of goal?

609

:

Absolutely not.

610

:

He took 19 shots this year, racked up

nearly two expected goals, and finished

611

:

with a grand total of zero actual goals.

612

:

He missed a couple of big chances

too, but honestly, I do not care.

613

:

That is not what he's in the team to do.

614

:

He finished with 6.90

615

:

Sofa Score rating, which is

always feels a bit harsher for a

616

:

defensive midfielder because the

algorithms love goals and assists.

617

:

But make no mistake, without Nicolas

Seiwald doing the dirty work all year,

618

:

our entire tactical system falls apart

619

:

Okay, we've talked about the calm,

composed vault door of the midfield.

620

:

Now we have to talk about the absolute

agent of chaos, the man who is

621

:

statistically the most frustrating,

brilliant, and unpredictable player in

622

:

this entire squad, Christoph Baumgartner

623

:

Baumi's season is a complete paradox.

624

:

First off, his engine is unbelievable.

625

:

33 appearances, 32 starts, nearly

2,800 minutes on the pitch.

626

:

But you have to look at his

underlying numbers to truly

627

:

understand the rollercoaster

we were on with him this year.

628

:

Let's start with the finishing.

629

:

Baumi finished the campaign as a

massive goal threat from the midfield.

630

:

He bagged 13 goals, every single

one of them from inside the

631

:

box, including four headers.

632

:

If you look at his season heat map, it's

scattered all over the middle of the park.

633

:

But there is one glowing

bright red dot sitting right

634

:

on the opponent's penalty spot.

635

:

His ability to time his late runs and

ghost into the box is world-class.

636

:

But, and this is a massive but,

listeners, the data shows he

637

:

left a fortune out on that pitch.

638

:

He generated over 15 expected goals and

missed an eye-watering 21 big chances.

639

:

21!

640

:

You could literally make a 10-minute

compilation of us pulling our

641

:

hair out after a Baumi miss.

642

:

But the beautiful contradiction

of Christoph Baumgartner is that

643

:

he never stops making the runs.

644

:

He misses a sitter in the 60th minute

and is right back in the six-yard

645

:

box demanding the ball in the 65th.

646

:

And remember how angry we were on, on

behalf of David Raum and Rydell Baku for

647

:

not getting the assists they deserved?

648

:

Well, Baumi pulled off the

ultimate statistical heist.

649

:

He had an expected assist

metric of just 3.94,

650

:

but he walked away with

eight actual assists.

651

:

Whatever chaotic energy he was putting

on the, his passes, our forwards

652

:

were turning it into absolute gold.

653

:

Finally, we have to talk

about the dark arts.

654

:

Baumi is the kind of player you absolutely

despise if he doesn't play for you.

655

:

He averaged nearly two fouls a game and

picked up a team high 10 yellow cards.

656

:

He was constantly snapping at heels,

leaving a foot in, breaking up

657

:

play, and just being a total menace.

658

:

He finished with a 6.93

659

:

average rating.

660

:

But honestly, you can't capture

Baumi in a single number.

661

:

He was our battering ram, our chaos

merchant, and an absolutely vital

662

:

part of our attack this season.

663

:

Moving out wide again, we have to

talk about a player whose time with

664

:

us was short but absolutely electric.

665

:

And this one comes with a bit of a

heavy heart because as of Monday,

666

:

June 1st, his loan officially expires

and he heads back to Brighton.

667

:

Let's talk about Rajan Gruda.

668

:

When you bring a young player in on

loan, you're always rolling the dice

669

:

on whether they will adapt quickly

enough to actually make a difference.

670

:

Well, Gruda didn't just adapt,

he hit the ground running.

671

:

He only made 13 appearances

for us, starting eight times

672

:

and logging just 755 minutes.

673

:

But in that short window, he established

himself as one of our most dangerous

674

:

outlets, pulling down a brilliant 7.18

675

:

average rating.

676

:

I'm looking at his season

heat map and it is beautiful.

677

:

Bright red cluster dominating

that right attacking third.

678

:

And the data perfectly

matches the eye test.

679

:

He was picking up the ball on the right,

isolating his defender and cutting

680

:

violently inside onto his stronger foot.

681

:

All three of his goals this

year were left-footed finishes

682

:

from inside the penalty area.

683

:

But he wasn't just a goal threat.

684

:

He was an absolute nightmare

for opposition fullbacks.

685

:

He averaged 1.6

686

:

successful dribbles a game

with a 60% success rate.

687

:

When he ran at you, he

was getting past you.

688

:

He created five big chances and registered

three assists in just a handful of starts.

689

:

That means he was giving us a direct

goal contribution roughly every

690

:

125 minutes he was on the pitch.

691

:

Elite efficiency.

692

:

We knew he wasn't going to be

here forever, and Brighton has

693

:

a serious talent on their hands.

694

:

But for the short time he wore

the Leipzig badge, he gave us an

695

:

absolute pure entertainment, direct

running, and clinical end product.

696

:

Rajan, safe travels back to England, mate.

697

:

You'll definitely be missed on

that right wing, and I hope to see

698

:

more of you for us next season.

699

:

From the electric high-impact minutes

of Brajan Gruda, we move to a guy

700

:

who experienced a very different

reality as a rotational player.

701

:

Let's look at the incredibly brief

campaign of Andreja Maksimović.

702

:

If you wanna talk about a micro-season,

Maksimović is the poster boy.

703

:

Over the entire Bundesliga campaign,

he made eight appearances, zero starts,

704

:

averaged exactly 11 minutes per game,

and to add it up, he played a grand total

705

:

of 88 minutes of football this year.

706

:

He essentially played one full

match, but had it sliced up

707

:

and spread across nine months.

708

:

Looking at his season heat map, it's

honestly barely there, just a few

709

:

faint yellow breadcrumbs scattered

around the right side of the midfield.

710

:

He never had the time to break

a sweat, let alone establish a

711

:

tactical footprint on a match.

712

:

But here's the thing, getting

thrown on in the 80th minute, your

713

:

primary job is to not mess up.

714

:

You do not want to be the guy who

gives the ball away and cost the

715

:

team three points, and Maksimović

took that assignment to heart.

716

:

He only averaged about eight touches

a game, but his passing was spotless.

717

:

He completed ninety-four percent

of his total passes, and if he

718

:

had the ball in our own half,

one hundred percent accuracy.

719

:

He did not misplace a single

defensive pass all season.

720

:

He even managed to create one

big chance with a lovely chip

721

:

pass in one of his cameos.

722

:

Now defensively, he was

essentially a ghost.

723

:

The data shows zero point

zero tackles, zero point zero

724

:

interceptions, zero ball recoveries.

725

:

He was just floating, making

sure , he kept the ball moving and

726

:

avoiding any catastrophic errors.

727

:

He finishes the year with a six point

six zero rating, which is exactly what

728

:

you get when you play eighty-eight

minutes of completely mistake-free

729

:

but ultimately zero impact football.

730

:

It's tough to judge a player on

that sample size, but he was as

731

:

tidy as the manager asked him to be.

732

:

To completely wrap up the midfield review

before we move on to the heavy hitters

733

:

up top, we have to talk about a young

player who delivered some absolute box

734

:

office moments this season, Osan Odrago.

735

:

Osan's season is a perfect

example of quality over quantity.

736

:

He only logged nine hundred and

seventy-four minutes this year

737

:

across nineteen appearances,

making thirteen starts.

738

:

But if you look at what he actually

did with that time on the pitch,

739

:

his efficiency was off the charts.

740

:

He pulled down a six point eight

nine average rating and even snatched

741

:

two Team of the Week nominations.

742

:

If you look at his season heat map,

it tells a very specific story.

743

:

He's roaming across the middle of the

park, but there are these distinct

744

:

glowing red hotspots hovering directly

outside the opposition's penalty area.

745

:

He was constantly lurking on the

perimeter, and the data shows exactly why

746

:

Assan scored four goals

for us this season.

747

:

Three of them were from

completely outside the box.

748

:

He was our premier long-range sniper.

749

:

He significantly outperformed

his expected goals, turning half

750

:

chances into absolute screamers.

751

:

And here is the most terrifying

part for opposition defenders.

752

:

He is completely ambidextrous.

753

:

Out of those four goals, two were on

his left foot and two were on his right.

754

:

When he picked up the ball

twenty-five yards from goal,

755

:

defenders had no idea which way to

show him because he could bury it

756

:

in the top corner with either boot.

757

:

But he wasn't just a selfish shooter.

758

:

In those limited minutes, he

also registered three assists

759

:

and created six big chances for

his teammates, outperforming

760

:

his expected assists as well.

761

:

That is seven direct goal contributions

in less than a thousand minutes of

762

:

football, a goal or an assist every

hundred and thirty-nine minutes.

763

:

And just to put the cherry on top,

he played incredibly clean football.

764

:

Zero yellow cards, zero red cards,

zero defensive errors leading to shots.

765

:

Assan was a pure, unadulterated

offensive weapon for us this year.

766

:

And if he gets more minutes next season,

those numbers could absolutely explode

767

:

All right, we have finally arrived at

the sharp end of the pitch, the forwards.

768

:

And I wanna start by talking about

a player whose season perfectly

769

:

encapsulates the absolute frustration

of our attacking metrics this year.

770

:

Let's talk about our heavily

utilized striker, Romelu

771

:

Listeners, remember 20 minutes ago

when we looked at David Raum and

772

:

Rydell Bakr who's expected assist

numbers and wondered how on earth

773

:

they didn't have double the assists?

774

:

And remember how Christoph

Baumgartner missed 21 big chances?

775

:

Well, meet the other half

of the exact problem.

776

:

Romelu had a massive workload this year.

777

:

Thirty appearances, 27 starts, over

2,200 minutes leading the line.

778

:

He found the back of the net nine times.

779

:

Eight of those with his right

foot from inside the box.

780

:

But the underlying analytics

are absolutely brutal.

781

:

He generated an expected

goals metric of 14.36,

782

:

and he missed 22 big chances.

783

:

Twenty-two.

784

:

When you combine his misses with

Baumie's misses, that is 43 golden

785

:

high probability scoring opportunities

that we just completely squandered.

786

:

Right there, that is the difference

between fighting for third

787

:

place and putting Bayern Munich

under genuine title pressure.

788

:

Our conversion rate simply wasn't elite.

789

:

So the natural question is, if he

was missing that many chances, why

790

:

did the manager keep starting him?

791

:

The answer is his work rate off the ball.

792

:

If you look at his heat map,

he isn't just standing on the

793

:

penalty spot waiting for service.

794

:

He was dropping deep, pulling

defenders out of position, and most

795

:

importantly, he was the absolute

trigger for our high press.

796

:

He averaged a full tackle per

game as a center forward and was

797

:

consistently winning possession

back in the final third.

798

:

He did the exhausting, unglamorous

running that allowed the rest of

799

:

our tactical shape to function.

800

:

He finished with 6.65

801

:

rating, which is tough to look at,

but the algorithm always punishes

802

:

strikers who miss big chances.

803

:

Romelu gave us, uh, absolutely

everything off the ball, but going

804

:

into the summer, we desperately

need him to find his clinical edge.

805

:

If Romelu was the workhorse who couldn't

quite find his finishing boots, let's

806

:

look at the primary rotation option.

807

:

Let's talk about the

season of Konrad Harder.

808

:

Konrad's season is practically a carbon

copy of the frustration we just talked

809

:

about, just in a much smaller sample size.

810

:

He was our primary attacking substitute,

appearing in 29 matches, but only

811

:

getting the start eight times.

812

:

He averaged about 32 minutes

a game, totaling just over

813

:

900 minutes on the year.

814

:

And listeners, I hate to say

it, but the conversion crisis

815

:

absolutely infected him too.

816

:

He generated over four

expected goals this season.

817

:

He took 30 shots from inside the box,

but he walked away with just three goals

818

:

and a massive eight big chances missed.

819

:

His overall goal conversion

rate was an abysmal 7%.

820

:

That means for every 14 shots he took,

only one actually hit the back of the net.

821

:

Now, when he did score, he proved

he can be an aerial threat.

822

:

Two of his three goals were headers,

but the rest of his physical

823

:

game really struggled to adapt

to the pace of the Bundesliga.

824

:

If you look at his season heat map,

he was often dropping deep right

825

:

into the center circle, trying to

act as a target man to link up play.

826

:

But the data shows that just didn't work.

827

:

He only won 36% of his total

duels, meaning that we played the

828

:

ball into his chest or his feet,

defenders were constantly stepping

829

:

through him and winning it back.

830

:

His passing was also pretty erratic,

completing just 71% of his passes overall.

831

:

He did manage to bail his stats out

slightly by providing three assists and

832

:

creating four big chances for others.

833

:

But ultimately, a 6.60

834

:

average rating tells the story of

a striker who was brought on to

835

:

change games, but just couldn't

find the clinical touch or the

836

:

physical dominance required to do it.

837

:

Let's shift our focus out wide

again, specifically to the right

838

:

flank, and talk about a guy who

brings a very specific direct profile

839

:

to our attack, Johan Bakayoko.

840

:

Johan was another piece of our

heavy attacking rotations this year.

841

:

He made 20 appearances, but only

secured eight starts, logging just under

842

:

eight hundred minutes and averaging

about thirty-nine minutes a game.

843

:

If you look at the…

844

:

his season heat map, it is a textbook

virtualization of an inverted winger.

845

:

There is a heavy bright red cluster

hugging the right touchline and

846

:

bleeding right into the edge of the

penalty box, and you don't even need

847

:

to watch the tape to know exactly

what he does when he gets there.

848

:

He cuts inside.

849

:

Both of his goals this season

were left-footed strikes, one from

850

:

inside the box, one from outside.

851

:

Now, unlike Romelu and Harder,

Bakayoko actually matched his

852

:

underlying numbers almost perfectly.

853

:

He generated a two point zero

eight expected goals metric,

854

:

and he scored two goals.

855

:

But that doesn't mean he was immune to the

overall attacking struggles of the squad.

856

:

His goal conversion rate sat at

just eight percent, he completely

857

:

blanked in the assist column despite

creating over one expected assist.

858

:

When he isolated his

fullback, it was a coin flip.

859

:

He had a forty-eight percent

dribble success rate.

860

:

Half the time he beat his man,

half the time he got dispossessed.

861

:

But here is why you keep a player

like Johan in the rotation.

862

:

He terrifies defenders.

863

:

That direct aggressive running into the

box actually yielded one of the most

864

:

valuable stats a winger can provide.

865

:

He won a penalty for us this season.

866

:

When you run at the defenders

with that kind of pace, they

867

:

eventually make mistakes.

868

:

He finishes with a six

point s- seven two rating.

869

:

The raw talent and the tactical

profile are absolutely there.

870

:

If he can just bump that dribble

success rate up into the sixty percent

871

:

range and find his final ball, he will

be an absolute menace next season.

872

:

If Johan Bakayoko was our raw direct

threat on the right, we have to flip

873

:

the pitch and talk about the man who

was an absolute nightmare for the

874

:

opposition right backs all season

long on the left flank, Antonio Nusa

875

:

Antonio was a massive piece of

our attacking puzzle this year,

876

:

making thirty-one appearances

and twenty-four starts.

877

:

He logged over two thousand minutes

and pulled down a very impressive

878

:

seven point zero seven average Sofa

Score rating, making him one of our

879

:

highest rated permanent attackers.

880

:

Looking at his season heat map, it is

the perfect mirror image of Bakayoko's.

881

:

You see this dense, heavy red block

dominating the left touchline and cutting

882

:

directly into the edge of the penalty

area, and the data confirms exactly what

883

:

we saw with our own eyes every weekend.

884

:

He's a right-footed player who wants

to isolate his defender, drop his

885

:

shoulder, and cut violently inside.

886

:

All four goals this year were right-footed

strikes, perfectly split with two from

887

:

inside the box and two from outside.

888

:

But listeners, the defining stat of

Nusa's season is one-on-one ability.

889

:

He averaged two point two successful

dribbles every single game.

890

:

He was winning nearly sixty

percent of his ground duels.

891

:

Defenders were absolutely

terrified of him, and because

892

:

they couldn't stop him legally,

they just resorted to kicking him.

893

:

He was fouled over two times a match,

constantly winning us dangerous

894

:

free kicks on the edge of the area.

895

:

And remember the massive finishing

crisis we just talked about

896

:

with Romelu and Konrad Harder?

897

:

Well, Antonio Nusa was

the guy suffering for it.

898

:

He created nine big chances this season.

899

:

He racked up over five expected assists.

900

:

When he did get on the

score sheet, three assists.

901

:

Three.

902

:

He was putting the ball on a platter

week in and week out, and the guys in

903

:

the middle just weren't putting it away.

904

:

If we had a clinical number nine

this season, Nusa easily walks

905

:

away with eight or nine assists.

906

:

He played disciplined, mistake-free

football with zero cards, and he matched

907

:

his expected goals output perfectly.

908

:

Antonio was an absolute live

wire for us this year, and if the

909

:

finishing improves next season, his

numbers are going to be terrifying

910

:

All right, we have saved

the absolute best for last.

911

:

Every singles team needs a talisman, a

player who can grab a game by the scruff

912

:

of the neck and win it single-handedly.

913

:

And for RB Leipzig this season,

that man was our new arrival

914

:

from Leganes, Yan Diamande.

915

:

When Yan arrived in July of '25, we

knew we were getting a talented player.

916

:

But I didn't think anyone predicted

he would immediately become

917

:

the best player in the squad.

918

:

Let's just start with the overall

rating, a seven point seven two.

919

:

He made the Bundesliga

team of the week 10 times.

920

:

He was in a completely different

stratosphere this year.

921

:

And listeners, if you've been pulling

your hair out listening to our missed

922

:

chances from the rest of the attack,

Yan Diamande is your absolute savior.

923

:

He was the definition of clinical.

924

:

He generated just over seven

expected goals, but he walked

925

:

away with 12 actual goals.

926

:

His conversion rate was a

staggering twenty-three percent.

927

:

Unlike the rest of the squad, when

Yan pulled the trigger, he found

928

:

the back of the net, and he didn't

care which foot he used either.

929

:

Seven goals on his left,

five goals on his right.

930

:

Good luck defending that.

931

:

But the scary thing is,

he wasn't just a finisher.

932

:

He was our primary creative hub.

933

:

He created 17 big chances and

racked up over 10 expected assists.

934

:

He finished with eight actual

assists, meaning just like Nusa,

935

:

he was heavily robbed by the poor

finishing of the guys around him.

936

:

If we convert our chances at a normal

rate, Diamande finishes his debut season

937

:

with 12 goals and probably 15 assists.

938

:

And you couldn't get the ball off him.

939

:

Three point six successful

dribbles a game.

940

:

He was pressing from the front, winning

possession from the final third, and

941

:

just absolutely bullying Bundesliga

defenders week in and week out.

942

:

What an unbelievable debut season.

943

:

If we can build a slightly more

clinical frontliner around him this

944

:

summer, Yan Diamande is going to take

the entire league apart next year.

945

:

And honestly, when you look at the entire

squad, from the rock-solid discipline

946

:

of Willi Orban at the back, to the

absolute rollercoaster chaos of Baumi

947

:

in the middle, all the way up to the

clinical gold of Diamande, it is no

948

:

wonder the fan base has been an absolute

pressure cooker of emotions lately.

949

:

We've gone from the despair of

seventh place all the way up

950

:

to the elite tier of third.

951

:

We've cheered world-class recruitment

and we've pulled our hair out over

952

:

our 23 shots off the woodwork.

953

:

There is just so much to unpack and

nobody feels that beautiful agonizing

954

:

contradiction quite like you guys.

955

:

Absolute favorite part of

the show, the digital terrace

956

:

This is where your voice

takes center stage.

957

:

I put the call out on the server earlier

last week asking for your completely

958

:

unfiltered takes on the season, the

tactical evolution, and the overall

959

:

mood surrounding RB Leipzig right now.

960

:

And let me tell you, the

inbox was absolutely smoking.

961

:

You guys did not hold

back for a single second

962

:

All right, let's pull up the screen

and look at the first ballot.

963

:

And this one comes from

Ava over in the Discord.

964

:

And let me tell you, he

did not come to play games.

965

:

He came with some absolutely

thermonuclear tactical takes.

966

:

Ava puts the best tactical performance

down as the five-nil smashing of

967

:

Hoffenheim, calling it one of the

most important wins of the season.

968

:

For the worst, he highlights that

the first Bayern game where we

969

:

just got absolutely obliterated.

970

:

But where Ava really starts cooking

is his sliding doors moment.

971

:

He pins it on the Assan Odrago injury.

972

:

He points out that before Assan

went down, he was playing at an

973

:

absolute Chappie Simmons level.

974

:

Ava goes on to name Yandir Monday as

both player and signing of the season,

975

:

and he makes an incredible point here.

976

:

Losing Cesco, Simmons, Upenda, and

Simakin all in the same window, yet

977

:

somehow managing to put together

a better domestic campaign, that

978

:

is a testament to the recruitment

and the resilience of the squad.

979

:

For his unsung hero, he gives love

to Xavier Schlager, but rightly

980

:

highlights Nicholas Seiwald for

stepping up massively in his absence.

981

:

But folks, sit down for this one

if you're not already, because

982

:

Ava's Needs Improvement Award comes

with a massive unpopular opinion.

983

:

He has given it to Krzysztof Baumgartner.

984

:

I know, I know what you're thinking.

985

:

Justin, how can the guy

who's the top scorer and top

986

:

assist be the disappointment?

987

:

Ava says, and I quote, "When

he is not scoring or assisting,

988

:

he's, like, not even playing.

989

:

I don't like him, and my unpopular

opinion is that we should get rid of him

990

:

and search for another creative player."

991

:

He also called out the defense,

saying Orban is getting old, Galacci's

992

:

last game was rough, and the trio of

Raum, Baku, and Fingrafe are far too

993

:

offensive-minded and easily exploited.

994

:

Ava, you are a savage,

and honestly, I love it.

995

:

Let's break this down.

996

:

First, the Odrago point

is a massive what if.

997

:

Before the Asane injury,

he was a cheat code.

998

:

The fluid way he drove the ball

forward generally did echo what

999

:

Xavi Simons gave us the year before.

:

01:01:22,411 --> 01:01:26,331

If he stays healthy, maybe we aren't

just hitting the woodwork 23 times.

:

01:01:26,791 --> 01:01:29,051

Maybe he's the one picking the lock.

:

01:01:30,691 --> 01:01:32,751

And your point about the

recruitment is spot on.

:

01:01:33,172 --> 01:01:36,071

On paper, losing that much

firepower should have tanked us.

:

01:01:36,632 --> 01:01:39,751

Instead, we shifted from a

transition-heavy side into

:

01:01:39,812 --> 01:01:43,931

a team that controls 54% of

the ball and finishes third.

:

01:01:44,332 --> 01:01:46,111

That's a massive collective achievement.

:

01:01:47,031 --> 01:01:50,931

But that Baumgartner take, that

is why the Digital Terrace exists.

:

01:01:51,291 --> 01:01:54,091

It's the ultimate stat sheet

versus eye test debate.

:

01:01:54,632 --> 01:01:58,991

Yes, Baumie got the goals and the assists,

but we've all seen those games where

:

01:01:59,031 --> 01:02:03,371

the midfield feels like it's bypassing

him entirely, and he struggles to impose

:

01:02:03,411 --> 01:02:05,791

himself physically when things get gritty.

:

01:02:06,571 --> 01:02:11,431

I think selling him is a bridge too far,

but the criticism of him ghosting when he

:

01:02:11,492 --> 01:02:13,711

isn't on the score sheet is totally valid.

:

01:02:14,632 --> 01:02:16,771

And you are dead right

about our fullbacks.

:

01:02:17,151 --> 01:02:21,391

When you play with Raum, Baku, and

Fingrafe, you're playing with fire.

:

01:02:21,951 --> 01:02:25,551

They want to fly forward, which is

why we created so many chances, but

:

01:02:25,611 --> 01:02:27,271

leaves our center backs isolated.

:

01:02:27,652 --> 01:02:31,972

If Orban loses half a step due to his

age, that exploitability multiplies.

:

01:02:32,352 --> 01:02:33,332

Brilliant ballad, Ava.

:

01:02:33,593 --> 01:02:34,992

Genuinely elite stuff.

:

01:02:37,332 --> 01:02:40,712

Now let's look at the next submission

because it provides the ultimate tactical

:

01:02:40,773 --> 01:02:42,852

whiplash to the take we just heard.

:

01:02:43,693 --> 01:02:45,533

This ballot comes from K Smurf.

:

01:02:47,052 --> 01:02:50,592

K Smurf goes a different route

for the best tactical performance,

:

01:02:51,892 --> 01:02:55,492

handing it to the six-nil

destruction of Eintracht Frankfurt.

:

01:02:56,212 --> 01:03:02,072

For the worst, he locks in the one

and three loss to Bayer Leverkusen

:

01:03:02,152 --> 01:03:06,392

right before the winter break, noting

we got totally outclassed and went

:

01:03:06,452 --> 01:03:08,352

into the holidays on a terrible note.

:

01:03:09,432 --> 01:03:10,712

For the sliding doors moment, K.

:

01:03:10,772 --> 01:03:14,852

Smith actually aligns with Ava on

the fixture, but focuses on the math.

:

01:03:15,312 --> 01:03:21,272

He points to that five-nil win over

Hoffenheim and notes that with how tight

:

01:03:21,312 --> 01:03:25,432

the table wound up, if we drop those

three points, we finish fifth and miss

:

01:03:25,512 --> 01:03:27,112

out on the Champions League entirely.

:

01:03:28,332 --> 01:03:30,792

But here is where the terrace

debate turns beautiful.

:

01:03:31,592 --> 01:03:31,712

K.

:

01:03:31,832 --> 01:03:36,152

Smurf's player of the season,

it's Christoph Baumgartner.

:

01:03:37,152 --> 01:03:38,452

Shots fired on the terrace.

:

01:03:39,352 --> 01:03:39,432

K.

:

01:03:39,512 --> 01:03:44,432

Smurf writes, "Look, we all know

Dio was probably the best player

:

01:03:44,472 --> 01:03:48,432

this year, but Baumi really stepped

up and was incredibly productive.

:

01:03:48,852 --> 01:03:53,553

For me, he has filled the massive

hole left behind by Emil Forsberg."

:

01:03:54,112 --> 01:03:59,192

He leaves the breakout and signing

awards to Diamande, terms Willy Orban the

:

01:03:59,253 --> 01:04:04,012

unsung hero for anchoring the third-best

defense in the league and scoring the

:

01:04:04,073 --> 01:04:07,712

goal that secured Champions League

football, and gives goal of the season

:

01:04:07,812 --> 01:04:12,212

to Diamande's spectacular solo run and

finishing against Gladbach in April.

:

01:04:14,212 --> 01:04:15,412

For needs improvement, K.

:

01:04:15,473 --> 01:04:20,593

Smurf targets Johan Bakayoko for failing

to impact games, with honorable mentions

:

01:04:20,632 --> 01:04:24,552

to Romelu, who he thinks doesn't look

ready to be our starting number nine

:

01:04:24,592 --> 01:04:29,832

yet, and El-Tidel Bishapu, who he says

still isn't calm or surefooted enough

:

01:04:29,872 --> 01:04:31,952

to fully trust in high-stakes moments.

:

01:04:32,852 --> 01:04:33,233

Oh, and K.

:

01:04:33,313 --> 01:04:36,772

Smurf added a massive postscript

about our goalkeeping situation that

:

01:04:36,852 --> 01:04:38,233

we absolutely have to talk about

:

01:04:40,685 --> 01:04:42,775

K Smurf, my man, this

is a masterclass of a

:

01:04:43,570 --> 01:04:46,650

First of all, thank you for

bringing up the Emil Forsberg

:

01:04:46,930 --> 01:04:48,430

comparison with Baumgartner.

:

01:04:49,110 --> 01:04:51,130

That is the perfect

counter-argument to Ava.

:

01:04:51,770 --> 01:04:57,110

Forsberg was a player who could be

quiet for 70 minutes, but he possesses

:

01:04:57,150 --> 01:05:00,770

that rare, unteachable knack for

arriving in the box at the exact

:

01:05:00,830 --> 01:05:02,790

right microsecond to score the winner.

:

01:05:03,450 --> 01:05:06,850

Baumi showed that exact

same clutch DNA this season.

:

01:05:06,910 --> 01:05:10,380

He filled a statistical void when

the squad was completely resetting.

:

01:05:12,029 --> 01:05:15,710

I also agree with you

on Bishebu and Romelu.

:

01:05:15,720 --> 01:05:18,779

The talent is clearly there, but when

you look at the errors leading to

:

01:05:18,790 --> 01:05:22,090

shots, we had 21 of them this year.

:

01:05:22,150 --> 01:05:26,450

A lot of that comes from young players

like Bishebu rushing their distributions

:

01:05:26,490 --> 01:05:28,650

or panicking under a heavy press.

:

01:05:28,690 --> 01:05:32,050

They need to mature

quickly over the summer.

:

01:05:32,150 --> 01:05:35,350

Let's talk about your goalkeeper

take on Martin Vandervoort because

:

01:05:35,550 --> 01:05:37,130

you hit the nail right on the head.

:

01:05:38,850 --> 01:05:41,630

I am so glad you brought up

that Sandhausen game in the

:

01:05:41,670 --> 01:05:43,350

DFB Pokal back in August.

:

01:05:43,790 --> 01:05:45,630

He completely looked lost.

:

01:05:46,160 --> 01:05:50,310

The nerves were clearly rattling

him, and I think a lot of us were

:

01:05:50,370 --> 01:05:53,449

privately panicking about what would

happen if Peter Kalaci went down.

:

01:05:54,230 --> 01:05:57,930

But when Pete got injured,

Vandervoort didn't just fill in.

:

01:05:57,990 --> 01:06:00,490

He completely commanded his area.

:

01:06:00,550 --> 01:06:04,490

To jump into a team transitioning

its tactical style, maintain 11

:

01:06:04,590 --> 01:06:08,870

clean sheets across the campaign, and

bail us out when our hyper-offensive

:

01:06:08,930 --> 01:06:11,350

fullbacks left the back door wide open.

:

01:06:11,910 --> 01:06:13,170

Incredible.

:

01:06:13,210 --> 01:06:16,910

At 24 years old, he showed

elite mental resilience.

:

01:06:17,520 --> 01:06:22,050

I completely agree with you

going into the 26-27 season.

:

01:06:22,810 --> 01:06:25,130

That number one jersey is

officially his to lose.

:

01:06:27,130 --> 01:06:29,769

I absolutely love reading through

these ballots every single year.

:

01:06:30,189 --> 01:06:34,309

The variance in how we all see the

exact same 90 minutes of football is

:

01:06:34,349 --> 01:06:35,910

what makes this community so special.

:

01:06:36,689 --> 01:06:40,529

Whether you're riding high on the dear

Monday hype train or deeply stressed

:

01:06:40,629 --> 01:06:45,149

about our 23 shots off the woodwork, your

voice is what drives this show forward.

:

01:06:45,670 --> 01:06:48,090

A massive thank you to everyone

who dropped their ballots in the

:

01:06:48,209 --> 01:06:51,589

server and took the time to hit

up the speak pipe over the season.

:

01:06:53,129 --> 01:06:56,288

But do not go anywhere because the

fan votes are locked in, and now

:

01:06:56,328 --> 01:06:57,848

it's time for the final verdict.

:

01:06:58,308 --> 01:07:01,608

We are going to take a very quick

short break to catch our breath.

:

01:07:02,068 --> 01:07:05,728

But when we come back on the other

side, I'll be stepping up to the podium

:

01:07:05,769 --> 01:07:09,929

to hand in my official definitive

RBL Talk End of Season Awards.

:

01:07:10,468 --> 01:07:11,968

Who takes home the ultimate hardware?

:

01:07:12,648 --> 01:07:14,388

We'll find out right

after this short break

:

01:07:18,154 --> 01:07:20,913

Hey everyone, Justin here, and

while we've got a quick breather,

:

01:07:21,194 --> 01:07:24,974

I wanna take a second to talk about

the behind the scenes of RBL Talk.

:

01:07:25,894 --> 01:07:28,734

As you know, this show is

fiercely 100% independent.

:

01:07:29,175 --> 01:07:32,614

In fact, if you follow the RBL Talk

YouTube channel, you might have seen

:

01:07:32,654 --> 01:07:35,034

the video I put out discussing this.

:

01:07:35,694 --> 01:07:38,714

I was actually approached with an

offer to join the Talk Sport Fan

:

01:07:38,774 --> 01:07:40,114

Network, and I turned it down.

:

01:07:40,835 --> 01:07:44,255

I said no because I wanna keep this

community exactly what it is and

:

01:07:44,294 --> 01:07:48,674

what it always has been, completely

fan-driven, completely unfiltered, and

:

01:07:48,734 --> 01:07:50,594

totally free from corporate strings.

:

01:07:51,174 --> 01:07:55,034

It is always just going to be me

hitting record at 2:30 in the morning.

:

01:07:55,435 --> 01:07:59,054

Right now, it is now

4:12 AM in the morning.

:

01:07:59,114 --> 01:08:02,954

To get the show out to you every

Wednesday afternoon, I do what I can.

:

01:08:03,394 --> 01:08:07,294

It's fueled by, entirely by caffeine

and absolute obsession with RB Leipzig.

:

01:08:07,874 --> 01:08:11,994

Staying independent means I cover all

the running costs for the show, like

:

01:08:12,034 --> 01:08:15,755

the Captivate hosting fees and equipment

maintenance straight out of my own pocket,

:

01:08:15,814 --> 01:08:17,394

and I am completely happy with that.

:

01:08:18,033 --> 01:08:20,194

But a few of you have been

asking how you can help out.

:

01:08:20,575 --> 01:08:23,434

If you ever wanna throw a few

bucks into the tip jar, there's a

:

01:08:23,453 --> 01:08:25,435

support link down in the show notes.

:

01:08:25,475 --> 01:08:27,374

Please know that it is entirely optional.

:

01:08:27,634 --> 01:08:32,113

There is absolutely zero pressure, and

every single cent goes directly back into

:

01:08:32,174 --> 01:08:34,693

keeping the lights on for this podcast.

:

01:08:34,734 --> 01:08:38,693

Honestly though, the absolute best way

to support this show doesn't cost a dime.

:

01:08:38,734 --> 01:08:42,154

Go check out the video on the YouTube

channel, hit Subscribe, and join us

:

01:08:42,274 --> 01:08:44,374

over in the Digital Terrace on Discord.

:

01:08:44,413 --> 01:08:46,094

It is the true heartbeat

of this community.

:

01:08:48,094 --> 01:08:49,274

All right, break over.

:

01:08:49,334 --> 01:08:50,514

Let's get back to the hardware.

:

01:08:54,569 --> 01:08:57,430

Let's kick things off with the

team awards, starting with the best

:

01:08:57,569 --> 01:08:59,050

tactical performance of the year.

:

01:09:01,210 --> 01:09:04,149

I have to hand it to Ava and K Smurf

in the Digital Terrace because we

:

01:09:04,210 --> 01:09:06,330

are completely aligned on this one.

:

01:09:06,390 --> 01:09:11,029

My pick is match day 27, the five-nil

destruction of TSG Hoffenheim.

:

01:09:11,040 --> 01:09:13,970

That wasn't just a win, it

was a tactical masterclass.

:

01:09:14,010 --> 01:09:17,370

We controlled the tempo, the pressing

triggers were absolutely flawless,

:

01:09:17,910 --> 01:09:20,290

and we finally converted our chances.

:

01:09:20,350 --> 01:09:24,420

It was the blueprint for exactly how

this RB Leipzig's team is supposed

:

01:09:24,470 --> 01:09:25,990

to function under this system.

:

01:09:27,390 --> 01:09:30,299

On the flip side, we have

to do the autopsy, the worst

:

01:09:30,330 --> 01:09:31,680

tactical performance of the year.

:

01:09:32,390 --> 01:09:34,830

For me, it's match day

14 against Union Berlin.

:

01:09:35,809 --> 01:09:39,408

Going down 3-1 in that

fixture was a nightmare.

:

01:09:39,450 --> 01:09:43,170

We completely lost our shape, we let

them dictate the physical battles, and

:

01:09:43,210 --> 01:09:45,809

we got absolutely punished in transition.

:

01:09:45,830 --> 01:09:48,670

It was the exact opposite of the

discipline we showed for the rest

:

01:09:48,710 --> 01:09:52,250

of the campaign, and it was a really

tough pill to swallow right at

:

01:09:52,290 --> 01:09:53,840

the thick of the winter schedule.

:

01:09:55,720 --> 01:09:58,650

Which brings us to the sliding

doors moment, the exact

:

01:09:58,690 --> 01:10:00,950

turning point of the year.

:

01:10:01,010 --> 01:10:05,650

A lot of people point to big wins for

this award, but I am looking at a loss.

:

01:10:06,470 --> 01:10:10,110

My sliding doors moment is match

day 26 against VfB Stuttgart.

:

01:10:10,770 --> 01:10:11,590

We lost one-nil.

:

01:10:12,309 --> 01:10:14,090

And listeners, you have

to remember the context.

:

01:10:14,690 --> 01:10:17,059

From the middle of February

until the end of March, we were

:

01:10:17,090 --> 01:10:19,420

completely marooned in fifth place.

:

01:10:20,130 --> 01:10:23,840

Four weeks just staring up at the

Champions League spots, wondering

:

01:10:23,910 --> 01:10:25,830

if we were going to miss out again.

:

01:10:25,870 --> 01:10:29,870

Losing to Stuttgart felt like rock

bottom, but that match forced the

:

01:10:29,930 --> 01:10:31,630

ultimate tactical wake-up call.

:

01:10:31,670 --> 01:10:35,050

The squad looked in the mirror, tightened

up the discipline, and launched the run

:

01:10:35,110 --> 01:10:37,540

that ultimately secured us third place

:

01:10:39,540 --> 01:10:43,620

All right, let's move to the hardware

that really matters, the player awards.

:

01:10:45,240 --> 01:10:48,960

For the Needs Improvement Award,

this one hurts because of how hard

:

01:10:49,020 --> 01:10:51,360

he works, but the math doesn't lie.

:

01:10:52,320 --> 01:10:53,559

It goes to Romelu.

:

01:10:54,559 --> 01:10:58,670

When you lead the line for over 2,000

minutes, generate over 14 expected

:

01:10:58,800 --> 01:11:03,920

goals, and miss 22 big chances,

you have to be in this category.

:

01:11:04,010 --> 01:11:07,600

We desperately need his finishing to

match his pressing work rate next year.

:

01:11:09,010 --> 01:11:12,730

For Goal of the Season, I am looking

straight at our ambidextrous sniper.

:

01:11:12,770 --> 01:11:16,910

It goes to Assan O Drago for

his absolute screamer against SV

:

01:11:16,990 --> 01:11:18,730

Werder Bremen on match day 11.

:

01:11:19,370 --> 01:11:23,610

Taking it from outside the box and burying

it perfectly into the top left corner, and

:

01:11:23,670 --> 01:11:26,410

doing it on his weaker left foot, no less.

:

01:11:26,870 --> 01:11:28,790

Pure, unadulterated quality.

:

01:11:30,290 --> 01:11:34,270

The Unsung Hero Award is the easiest

decision I have made all year.

:

01:11:34,870 --> 01:11:37,550

It goes to the vault door

himself, Nicholas Seiwald.

:

01:11:38,370 --> 01:11:42,380

Nearly 3,000 minutes anchoring the

midfield, breaking up counterattacks,

:

01:11:42,750 --> 01:11:46,950

protecting the back line, and picking

up just two yellow cards all season.

:

01:11:46,990 --> 01:11:50,010

We do not finish third without

Seiwald doing the dirty work.

:

01:11:51,850 --> 01:11:55,250

Now let's talk about the Pure

Numbers game, the Top Scorer Award.

:

01:11:55,270 --> 01:11:58,630

It is a paradox of a season,

but the Golden Boot for the club

:

01:11:58,710 --> 01:12:00,250

goes to Christoph Baumgartner.

:

01:12:00,730 --> 01:12:04,350

With 13 goals, yes, he

missed 21 big chances.

:

01:12:04,790 --> 01:12:06,390

Yes, he drove us completely crazy.

:

01:12:06,930 --> 01:12:07,570

Still is.

:

01:12:08,150 --> 01:12:12,730

But at the end of the day, 13 goals

from the midfield is an incredible

:

01:12:12,770 --> 01:12:15,960

return, And he stepped up when

we desperately needed firepower.

:

01:12:17,700 --> 01:12:21,100

For the Signing of the Season and

Breakout Player Future Star, I'm

:

01:12:21,180 --> 01:12:25,180

combining the categories because

there is only one correct answer.

:

01:12:25,200 --> 01:12:27,950

It is the crown jewel, Yann Diamande.

:

01:12:28,960 --> 01:12:31,850

Arriving from Leganes and

immediately putting up 12 goals

:

01:12:31,880 --> 01:12:37,000

and 8 assists with a 23% conversion

rate, he just didn't break out.

:

01:12:37,059 --> 01:12:38,100

He completely took over.

:

01:12:39,040 --> 01:12:41,559

He was the most dangerous

player on the pitch every single

:

01:12:41,600 --> 01:12:43,620

time he laced up his boots.

:

01:12:43,660 --> 01:12:46,900

And getting him in the door was

the ultimate return on investment

:

01:12:46,960 --> 01:12:47,860

for the recruiting team.

:

01:12:49,360 --> 01:12:54,100

And finally, the ultimate honor,

the RBL Talk Player of the Season

:

01:13:04,361 --> 01:13:08,221

I know the terrace was screaming for

Diamande or Baumi, but when I look

:

01:13:08,321 --> 01:13:12,481

at the entire twenty-five, twenty-six

campaign, when I look at who drove the

:

01:13:12,622 --> 01:13:16,742

standard, who never took a day off,

and who was statistically robbed of

:

01:13:16,821 --> 01:13:21,722

a historic season, my player of the

season is the captain, David Raum.

:

01:13:22,741 --> 01:13:27,042

Thirty starts, over twenty-five hundred

minutes, an absolutely absurd twelve

:

01:13:27,181 --> 01:13:29,081

point three nine expected assists.

:

01:13:29,741 --> 01:13:33,141

He created twenty-two big chances

from that left flank, whipping

:

01:13:33,202 --> 01:13:36,941

in service week after week while

balancing his defensive duties.

:

01:13:37,601 --> 01:13:41,701

He was the heartbeat, the engine, and

the unquestioned leader of the squad.

:

01:13:42,122 --> 01:13:44,761

David Raum is your MVP.

:

01:13:47,161 --> 01:13:51,161

And that is officially going to do it for

the twenty-five, twenty-six season review.

:

01:13:51,601 --> 01:13:55,081

A massive thank you to everyone who

submitted a ballot, everyone who

:

01:13:55,142 --> 01:13:58,281

joined the debates in the digital

terrace, and every single one of you

:

01:13:58,341 --> 01:14:00,281

who downloads the show every Wednesday.

:

01:14:00,741 --> 01:14:03,381

We survived the rollercoaster, and

the Champions League nights are

:

01:14:03,521 --> 01:14:05,161

officially returning to Leipzig.

:

01:14:05,901 --> 01:14:08,282

If you enjoyed today's tactical

deep dive, make sure to hit that

:

01:14:08,341 --> 01:14:12,201

subscribe button on your podcast

app and leave a five-star review.

:

01:14:12,642 --> 01:14:14,461

Also, check out the

links in the show notes.

:

01:14:14,601 --> 01:14:17,801

We wanna keep this show completely

free from corporate sponsors.

:

01:14:17,841 --> 01:14:21,601

So if you enjoy the content and are able

to, please support the show to help cover

:

01:14:21,682 --> 01:14:23,841

our production costs and hosting costs.

:

01:14:23,901 --> 01:14:27,161

Let's keep this podcast independent

with no agendas, no gatekeepers,

:

01:14:27,221 --> 01:14:28,681

just pure Leipzig passion.

:

01:14:29,150 --> 01:14:31,410

It's been an absolute pleasure

to have you along for the season.

:

01:14:31,910 --> 01:14:34,990

I've been Justin Crozer, and

until next time, bye-bye for now

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About the Podcast

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RBL Talk
The global home for RB Leipzig fans bringing you independent, fan-led coverage in the worlds language.

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About your host

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Justin Crozer

Tactics. Tradition. Truth.

The Analyst from the Antipodes
Based in Australia, Justin Crozer has spent years bridging the 15,500-kilometre gap between the stands of the Red Bull Arena and the international fan community. As the creator and host of RBL Talk, Justin brings a unique, high-definition perspective to RB Leipzig β€” combining the cold, hard data of Sofascore tactical breakdowns with the warm, unfiltered pulse of the global fanbase.

More Than a Club, More Than a Franchise
RBL Talk isn't just about xG and verticality. It was born from a genuine love for the fearless, youth-driven football that put Leipzig on the map. But as the modern game evolves toward surveillance culture and sterile atmospheres, Justin has redefined the show's mission. He isn't just here to talk about the win on the weekends; he’s here to be a vocal advocate for the supporters who make the sport possible.

A Community-First Philosophy
Through live-stream watch-alongs, an active Discord home, and the "Player Watch" segment, RBL Talk is built on the belief that football is nothing without its fans. Whether it’s featuring listener opinions via SpeakPipe or diving deep into the club's impact on East German football culture, the show serves as a "safe space" for those who love the team but aren't afraid to demand more from the institution.

Roots and Reason
With family roots stretching back to Germany, Justin understands that football is a marathon of heritage, not just a sprint for trophies. RBL Talk is where data meets DNA β€” providing the most honest, analytical, and fan-centric coverage of RB Leipzig in the podcasting world.

Support RBL Talk

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
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