Episode 116

RB Leipzig 26/27 Season Preview & Predictions (ft. Johannes Martin)

Kick-Off — The season starts here.

In This Episode:

  • 🆕 The Big Picture: New season, new gaffer — Ole Werner out, Martín Demichelis in, and we're back in the Champions League.
  • 🎙️ Guest Insight: Johannes Martin (@jjmrtnsports) from 4fans — the voice of the Leipzig terraces, straight from outside the Red Bull Arena.
  • ⚖️ The Werner Question: Was sacking a manager who finished 3rd the right call? The fan verdict on a messy exit.
  • 💰 Transfer Talk: The Diomande → Real Madrid saga, where the ~€135m goes, and the case for keeping Brajan Gruda.
  • 🔮 The Predictions: Johannes commits on the record across the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal AND Champions League.
  • 💬 Fan Voice: Featured prediction from Ava on the Digital Terrace.

Don’t Miss Out:

  • 🏟️ The Digital Terrace: Don’t just watch — 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
  • 📅 Next Livestream: DFB-Pokal Round 1 — Eintracht Trier vs RB Leipzig (Sat 22 Aug 2026, 6:00pm CEST)
  • 📥 Get Involved: Send questions via socials or record an audio message on SpeakPipe to be played on-air.
  • 🗣️ Join the Show: Want to represent your club or share your RBL take? Book a guest spot here: https://rbltalk.captivate.fm/booking
  • ☕ Support the Show: Help us cover running costs here: https://rbltalk.captivate.fm/support

Find Johannes:

Partners & Credits:

🎵 Music: Andrii Poradovskyi (Pixabay)

Transcript
Justin Crozer:

Third place European nights are back under the lights.

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Champions League football

locked in at the Red Bull Arena.

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And the club's response to all of that?

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Sack the manager.

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Ole Werner takes us back into

the top three in his one and

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only season, and he's gone.

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In comes Martin Demichelis, an

Argentine, an outsider to the Red Bull

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system, a man who was managing in the

Spanish second tier not that long ago.

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So the question the whole city's

asking this summer is a simple one.

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Is that bold or is that reckless?

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Today we get into all of it.

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Who wins our awards this season, where

we finish in all three competitions,

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and later I'm joined by a man who stands

outside the stadium with a microphone

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and hears the raw, unfiltered voice of

the terraces like almost nobody else.

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New season, new gaffer, same passion.

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Let's go.

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Welcome to RBL Talk, the podcast

for RB Leipzig supporters

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by RB Leipzig supporters.

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No agendas, no gatekeepers,

just pure Leipzig passion.

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I'm your host, Justin Crozer, and this is

our season preview and prediction special.

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Here's the plan for the next little while.

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First up, I'm handing out

my crystal ball awards.

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Who's my player of the season?

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Who's my breakout star?

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Who lifts the golden boot?

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And I'm committing on the record to

exactly where we finish in the Bundesliga,

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the DFB-Pokal, and the Champions League.

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Screenshot those because we're

coming back to them next year

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Then it's over to the Digital

Terrace, your takes, your

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voices, and me answering back.

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After that, a look ahead to our very

first competitive test of the new era.

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And to round it off, a proper guest,

Johannes Martin, the voice of the

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Terraces himself from Four Fans.

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He's going to give us the real fan

verdict on Demichelis, the summer

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business, and his own predictions.

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Big episode.

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Grab a drink.

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Settle in.

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Let's get into it.

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Player of the Season is

up first, my MVP pick.

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I'm going with Antonio Nusa.

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Hear me out.

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Demichelis has told us

exactly what he wants.

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His words, bold, intense,

vertical attack mode football.

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High pressing, quick recovery,

get up the pitch fast.

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That is a system built for a

winger who can carry the ball

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40 yards and terrify a fullback.

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Nusa was already one of our highest rated

players last term, hovering around that

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seven point three mark on the aggregators.

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And if the new manager unlocks him,

he's a Player of the Season shout.

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My contenders behind him, David

Raum, who was arguably our best

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performer last season, and the

ever-reliable Christoph Baumgartner

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Top scorer, the Golden Boot.

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This one's steadier.

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Christoph Baumgartner.

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He led us for goals last season,

13 in the league, 17 in all

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competitions, and he's still here.

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Still central to everything.

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If Diomande stays, he pushes him hard.

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But for consistency across a full

campaign, I trust Baumgartner's numbers.

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Signing of the season?

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For me, it's Rocco Reitz.

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He arrives from Gladbach.

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He's a proper modern midfielder,

and a De Michelis side that presses

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this aggressively lives or dies on

the man in front of the back four.

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If Reitz becomes the metronome, he's the

signing that makes the whole thing tick.

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Keep an eye on defender Maxime Estevi too.

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Breakout player?

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The future star.

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I'm rolling the dice on

one of the young additions.

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And that is Samba Konate.

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And honestly, any of Suleman Sani

and Adiel Thomas could be the one who

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steals a headline before Christmas

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unsung hero?

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Seiwald took this one off us last season

and did it quietly and brilliantly.

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This year my pick is Costello Lacaba

because nobody talks about the center

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back until the day he's missing.

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And in a high pressing side that

defends with a high line, the calm

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man at the back is everything.

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Goal of the season?

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You can't predict a screamer, but

you can predict who scores it.

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My money's on Nusa with a

solo run or a Diamande half

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volley from the edge of the box

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And the one nobody wants to win,

the Needs Improvement Award.

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I'm not going to be cruel here,

so I'll frame it as most to prove.

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Romelu picked up this

one from us last term.

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I want to see the bounce back.

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A new manager is a clean slate

for everybody, and that's an

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opportunity, not a punishment

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Now the bit you're really

here for, the predictions.

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On the record, Bundesliga,

I'm saying third.

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Again, Bayern are Bayern.

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Leverkusen and Dortmund,

along with Stuttgart, are all

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snapping around that top four.

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But I back this squad and this intensity

to hold a Champions League place.

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Third.

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DFB-Pokal.

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We bowed out in the quarters last year.

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I want one better.

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I'm calling the semifinals.

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If we get past a nasty-looking first

round, which we'll talk about shortly.

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Then Champions League, realistically,

I want us through the league

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phase and into the knockouts.

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Top 24 minimum.

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And I think we can sneak the playoff

round and dream of a round of 16.

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Just being back is the win.

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Making noise is the bonus.

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So those are my calls, but this

show's never just about me.

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Let's open the gates

to the digital terrace

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This is the part of the

show that belongs to you.

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You send in your takes via SpeakPipe,

in the Spotify comments, or even on the

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Discord, and I answer them straight.

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No filter.

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Let's get into what came in

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We got one absolute belted this

week from Ava, and fair play to him.

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He did the whole list, so we're going

through it properly point by point.

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Ava, mate, you did not hold back.

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Let's go.

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Ava's predictions.

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Bundesliga, fourth.

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His reasoning, Leverkusen ended last

season in unbelievable form, and

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he doesn't trust Demichelis yet.

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DFB-Pokal, semifinals.

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And the Champions League, I'm reading

this word for word, with our luck, we

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get Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Inter.

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We somehow scrape through two of

them, and then PSG knocks us out

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Okay, a few things, Ava.

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On the Bundesliga, you've got us one

spot below my third, and honestly,

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the don't trust Demichelis yet

bit is the fairest doubt going.

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He is completely unproven in this league.

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If he needs a few months to

bed his ideas in, fourth in

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very, very live on the Pockau.

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Look at that, you and me

in lockstep semifinals.

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The terrace and the host agreeing for once

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But on the Champions League, I've

got to jump in with the anorak on.

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There are no groups anymore.

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It's the new league phase.

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One giant 36-team table.

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Eight games, everyone gets a

nasty run of fixtures, so the

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good news is you literally can't

get drawn into a group of death.

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The bad news?

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You might cop Arsenal, Real, and Inter

anyway, just spread across your eight.

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And going out to PSG in the knockouts?

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Mate, I'd bite hand off for that run.

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The big one was sacking Werner.

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Madness?

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Eva's verdict is short

and very much not sweet.

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Total madness, especially because

the replacement isn't a big name.

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And that right there is the crux of

the nerves across this whole fan base.

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And it's not only that we sacked

a manager who got us third.

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It's who we brought in to replace him.

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If the club had gone and landed

a marquee name, half this

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anxiety vanishes overnight.

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But here's the Red Bull

counterargument, and it's a real one.

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The club has never hired on reputation.

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Nagelsmann was a kid nobody

outside Germany had heard of.

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Rose, March, the models always have

been system fit over star power.

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Demichelis fits that mold to, to a T.

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Does it guarantee anything?

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Of course not.

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But not a big name, and been

the Leipzig way for a decade.

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Eva, so I gently push back on that one

while completely respecting the nerves.

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Understandable.

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The awards, did we snub anyone?

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And who's got the most to prove?

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Now, this is Eva's coming straight for

my picks, and I respect the audacity.

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He reckons we should be

side-eyeing Baumgartner and Nusa.

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Says statistically they were fine, but in

too many games they just didn't turn up.

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And here's the spicy bit.

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He thinks Baumgartner as our main creator

might actually be limiting the attack

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So let me get this straight.

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I've just tipped Nusa for MVP and

Baumgartner for the Golden Boot, and

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Ava's out here calmly dismantling both.

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And you know what?

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On the didn't show up in the

big games point, that's fair.

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Both of them had quiet afternoons

when we badly needed a spark.

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And raw numbers can paper

right over all of that.

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But the Baumgartner as a break idea is

the one that's really got me thinking.

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There's a version of that

argument that absolutely holds.

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If your creative hub wants the ball to

feet and slows the tempo in a damage

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Halil's side built to go vertical and

fast, that's a potential mismatch.

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Counterpoint.

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13 league goals and six assists

don't happen by accident.

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So my honest read is less drop

Baumgartner and more does his

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rhythm fit the new manager's tempo?

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And that, Eva, might be the best

question anyone's asked all summer.

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Come and take my job

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For Diamande watch, cash in or hold firm.

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Ava's completely unsentimental.

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Sell him, he calls Diamande our

best player, but says he just

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doesn't rate our chances enough

this season to justify holding on

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This is the cold, hard business

brain take, and the timing is spicy.

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Because as we're recording this,

Diomande's actually been left out

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of the training camp while the

Real Madrid situation gets thrashed

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out, and those talks have been on

again and off again all summer.

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So the club is clearly wrestling

with the exact thing you're saying.

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Where I'll push back, the logic

of we won't win anything, so

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cash in, can become a trap.

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You sell your best player, you

get weaker, you win even less,

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and it goes round and round.

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If we wanna keep him, it has to be

because we believe he makes us better,

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not just because the fee looks pretty.

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But I'm not going to

pretend it's clear cut.

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Ava, if the numbers are silly

enough, everybody has a price.

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In the open floor, Ava signs

off with a proper hot one.

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Niland is not a Leipzig-level goalkeeper

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Right, love the passion.

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But let me add some context, because

I think this one's a slight misread.

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Nyland isn't coming in

to be our number one.

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With Galacci off to Villarreal, the

gloves belong to Martine Vandervoort now.

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Twenty-four years old, the club

sees him as the long-term starter.

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Nyland's the experienced backup,

and a small detail worth knowing,

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he was one of the genuine heroes of

this summer's World Cup for Norway.

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Saved a penalty against Brazil, dragged

them all the way to the quarters.

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So as your number two,

that's serious cover.

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If he's starting a stack of league

games, yeah, something's gone wrong.

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But as insurance behind Vandervoort,

I'm more than happy with that.

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But of course, I can agree

that he should not be starting

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Massive thanks to Ava

for going all in there.

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That's exactly what this segment's for.

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Keep them coming.

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The terrace is always open.

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Now, before we bring our guest in, let's

turn our eyes to the pitch, because the

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new era kicks off sooner than you think

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Here it is, Dementielezer's

competitive debut.

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Not a friendly, not a photo op, the

real thing, and it's the DFB-Pokal

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first round away at Eintracht Trier

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Now on paper, this is a mismatch.

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Trier are a lower league side,

several divisions below us, on paper.

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But you know the German Cup.

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You know the first round.

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This competition eats big clubs

alive every single August.

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Hostile little ground, a team with

nothing to lose, a pitch that plays

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half a yard slower than we're used to.

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This is the definition of a banana skin.

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And it's a nightmare first

exam for a new manager.

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Win, and it's the bare minimum.

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Lose, and there was the sacking Werner

a mistake headlines write themselves

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before the leagues even started.

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So the pressure is quietly enormous.

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What am I watching for?

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Intensity from minute one.

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Demichelis promised us

aggressive front foot football.

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A cup tie against a lower league

opposition is the perfect place to

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prove the players have brought in.

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I don't want a nervy, cagey afternoon.

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I want us to go and suffocate them

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And that brings me to today's

player watch, the head-to-head.

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Two of our own, both with something

to prove, both fighting for the

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same real estate in the midfield.

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Rocco Reitz versus Arthur Vermeeren.

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Now, this may not be a direct

duel, of course, but I would

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love to see them both play.

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Reitz is the new signing, the man

I've tipped for signing of the

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season, arriving from Gladbach and

desperate to stamp his authority on

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that deep midfield role right away.

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Vermeeren's the incumbent, the one who

has to adapt to a brand new manager's

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demands or risk losing his spot.

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In De Mancelli's high press

system, whoever controls

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that pivot controls the team.

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So watch them closely.

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Who wins the ball back quicker?

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Who breaks the lines with the first pass?

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Who looks like he owns that shirt?

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This little duel could shape

our entire season, and it starts

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in a tiny stadium in Trier

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A proper first test then, and

speaking of a proper, I've got

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a brilliant guest waiting in the

wings, but first, 60 quick seconds

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Quick one, and it matters.

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You'll notice there's no advert here.

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That's on purpose.

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We wanna keep RBL Talk completely

free from corporate sponsors, no

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brand telling us what we can and can't

say, no agenda but yours and mine.

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But free doesn't mean it

costs nothing to make.

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There's hosting, there's

editing, there's the gear.

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So if you enjoy the show and you're

able to, there's a link in the

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show notes to support us directly.

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Even a small amount, it helps keep

things independent and keeps it ours.

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And stick around because coming up right

now, the man with the microphone outside

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the arena, the voice of the terraces

himself, Johannes Marten from For Fans.

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You do not wanna miss his predictions.

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Let's bring him in

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This is a big one, so let's get into it.

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Johannes Marten, welcome to RBL Talk.

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Johannes Martin: Thank

you for having me, Justin.

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Justin Crozer: For anyone who hasn't

seen your work with For Fans, tell our

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listeners who you are and what you do

with that microphone outside the arena.

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Johannes Martin: So as you

mentioned, my name is Johannes

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Martin, and, um, I've been…

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I joined For, uh, RB Fans, uh, I think

in:

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like, okay guys, let's, let's put me

out from the, in front of the stadium.

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I'll interview the fans about topics,

news, stuff that's just interesting

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around the club or football in

general, around the Bundesliga, and

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that's how I basically got here.

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Justin Crozer: So how did you come,

uh, to support RB Leipzig first?

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Was it a specific match, a player, or

a moment that officially pulled you in?

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Johannes Martin: Yeah, it

was, uh, season:

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I went, uh, with my back then girlfriend

and, uh, her father and, and son.

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They just invited me to Red Bull Arena.

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We watched a game against Freiburg.

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We won 2-1, and, and the atmosphere

was pretty good, and I was like, "Yeah,

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I, I gotta watch that more often."

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So that's how I got into RB Leipzig.

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Justin Crozer: So you're not just

in the crowd, you're working it,

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mic in hand, catching pre-game

predictions and full-time reactions.

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What's the energy actually like

from that vantage point, and how

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does the mood outside the arena

shift between big European night

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and a routine Bundesliga home game?

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Johannes Martin: It's

actually pretty interesting.

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You know, normal, I- I'd say, I, I'm

just gonna say, like, normal games

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against lower tier sides like Bochum

or something like that, you know,

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mid-table teams, it's, it's pretty chill.

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Not as many people,

not as crowded outside.

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People are more talkative.

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They're, they're, they're

expecting a pretty comfortable win.

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You know, just having a good time.

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But when it comes to big games,

Dortmund, Bayern, or, or even a Champions

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League night, that's when people

are, are, are different, you know.

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Bigger crowds.

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People are more, uh, excited.

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They don't know what they're gonna get.

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We might lose, we might draw.

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Uh, sometimes even against Bayern,

a draw is considered a win, so, uh,

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you know, you can really feel it.

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I, sometimes I, I get the

feeling, especially when we play

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against Dortmund, for example,

I can, I can feel it in the air.

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I don't know how, what it

is, but I can, I can feel it.

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The tension is, i- is there

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Justin Crozer: Do you get many questions,

like when you do your work, do you

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just go straight ahead of what you

feel like asking on the spot, or do

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the people ask you certain things that

they'd like you to cover, whether that's

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for fans or whether that's, uh, the

people around the stadium themselves?

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Johannes Martin: No.

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Usually I prepare all

the questions myself.

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Um, I try to do some research about recent

topics or stuff that might be interesting,

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especially I, I'm not just, uh, thinking

inside of the RB Leipzig bubble, I'm

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also trying to ask questions which would

be interesting for people that are not

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fans of RB Leipzig, for example- Mm

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or, uh, which are interesting topics

about the Bundesliga in general, where it

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is interesting to get some, uh, thoughts

and opinions from RB Leipzig fans on.

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So, um, and usually people

don't ask me any questions.

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They … I'm, I'm just standing

there going straight to the

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people and, and I'm like, "You

wanna, uh, answer some questions?

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It's like, you know, for, for

today, interesting stuff," and

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I'm just straight up shooting

out my questions, and that's it.

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Justin Crozer: Do you, uh, ever try to

do any away fans or anything like that?

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Johannes Martin: Yeah, I've been

thinking about it, but I, I don't

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think I'm gonna do away fans ever.

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Uh, one thing that I was

thinking about sometimes is, uh,

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interviewing our fans outside of

away stadiums, you know what I mean?

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Mm.

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But it's a little bit more difficult,

uh, because I'm not gonna say you

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have to watch out more as an RB

fan, but you know, I, I don't wanna

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provoke, pr- provocate, provocate?

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You know, you know what I'm saying, right?

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I know what you mean, yeah.

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Um, trying to keep it respectful

and, and- Mm … that's why I'm just

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doing it at home games, you know?

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Justin Crozer: Do you have any ground that

you feel is, uh, for, not hostile towards,

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:

uh, us RB Leipzig fans specifically,

but a ground that you feel is just a

361

:

hostile environment for an away fan

to, uh, to go and play, the same thing

362

:

you would say maybe for a RB Leipzig

player to play in, in that stadium.

363

:

Is there any type of ground that

gives you sort of that vibe that

364

:

it's a hostile environment as

a away player and an away fan?

365

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah, first club that

comes to mind is Frankfurt, obviously.

366

:

Uh, first of all, for, for, as a fan

because the, the separation, there,

367

:

there's no real separation, you know?

368

:

You're walking in with the, with the home

fans and, you know, it, it's, it, it can

369

:

feel a little bit hostile and intimidating

and, um, the atmosphere there obviously

370

:

is pretty good, and, uh, I, I think it,

it can also affect the players as well.

371

:

Mm.

372

:

Justin Crozer: Across all the match

days you've covered, what stands out as

373

:

your most memorable moment, either as

a supporter yourself or a reaction you

374

:

caught on camera that you'll never forget?

375

:

Johannes Martin: Um, as a supporter

I would say, uh, it was, for, for me

376

:

it's still Champions League 2019, 2020

when we dr- uh, managed to come back

377

:

against Benfica and for the first time

achieved a player p- p- knockout stage.

378

:

You know, we came out of the

group for the first time.

379

:

We, we were 2-0 down and, and made a

comeback in, in, like, stoppage time.

380

:

It was pretty crazy.

381

:

I would also say, uh, away in Leverkusen

in '24, '25 season where we were also

382

:

2-0 down and then even managed to win

3-2 and, and we- Yeah … canceled

383

:

their 51 game unbeaten streak.

384

:

That was a crazy game.

385

:

Absolutely.

386

:

Also, last year, uh, first away win in

Frankfurt, we were crazy good in that

387

:

game, and Frankfurt had a bad time.

388

:

So yeah, those were some

very memorable games for me.

389

:

But I'm, I'm not really, uh,

filming during games, you know?

390

:

I'm, I'm, I'm actually- Mm … never

really filming during games.

391

:

Uh, there, there was a time where

I tried to do some kind of vlogs,

392

:

but for me it's like I don't wanna

film during the games, you know?

393

:

Mm.

394

:

I do the work before, but as soon

as the whistle starts, I'm like,

395

:

"I wanna be focused into the game,

and I wanna feel the atmosphere."

396

:

And yeah, that's my little place where

I still wanna be a supporter, you know?

397

:

Justin Crozer: Absolutely.

398

:

Uh, a quick note on that.

399

:

What's, what are the laws like when

it comes to, uh, I, I mean, I'm

400

:

not too sure if you'll know, but

maybe just a rough idea, what it's

401

:

like to record, uh, during a game?

402

:

Like, uh, is, uh, security

present and, uh, be, are careful,

403

:

uh, for people recording?

404

:

I mean, obviously goals and celebrations

or something like that might be a bit

405

:

okay, but just in general, like, is

there any sort of, uh, laws or anything

406

:

like that which prevents people or are

a bit worried about that or anything?

407

:

Johannes Martin: Mm, let's not say…

408

:

You know, recording for private

purposes, nobody will, will do anything.

409

:

No security will, will, uh-

Mm … hinder you from recording.

410

:

Um, it's, it's just if you start

uploading, um, game scenes and all

411

:

that, because the rights inside the

stadium, everything that happens

412

:

inside the stadium, it's not a,

it's a closed environment, you know?

413

:

You pay- Mm … to go there.

414

:

The, the picture rights are, uh, in

the DFL and Bundesliga, so they can

415

:

take your videos down and strike

you for copyright, uh, purposes.

416

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah.

417

:

That's, that's one thing I'm careful

of when I do my watch alongs, uh,

418

:

for people that do follow my podcast

and channels, is that I never,

419

:

uh, have the tele- game televised.

420

:

I, I will do, for instance, the

DFB-Pokal, I, I will, um, for round one

421

:

it's never televised in Au- at least in

Australia, so I have a web link which

422

:

you can go to DFB Play and have a look.

423

:

But again, I'm not too sure for

everyone around the world that

424

:

listens and watches the show.

425

:

So-

426

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah

427

:

… Justin Crozer: um, you know, I

always say, you know, make sure you

428

:

double check your, um, you know,

your local laws and things like that.

429

:

Johannes Martin: Yes.

430

:

Justin Crozer: Um, just before I

move on to the next question, is,

431

:

was there a reaction that you caught

on camera that you'll never forget?

432

:

Um, like maybe with a fan or, or a RB

Leipzig, um, player or anything like that?

433

:

Johannes Martin: I'm, I'm … If I'm

thinking maybe, maybe in the interview

434

:

there was a fan who was like he … It

was actually he agreed to an interview,

435

:

and it was like the last game of a season.

436

:

I can't remember if it was '24 or '25.

437

:

But, um, I asked … That was the question

of the day where I asked the people, "How

438

:

many games did you visit this season?"

439

:

And he was like, "Yeah,

that's my first one."

440

:

And I was like, "Damn."

441

:

And he was like, "Yeah,

that's my first one ever."

442

:

Oh, wow.

443

:

And he actually wasn't, uh, from Leipzig.

444

:

He was from Aachen, which is like, I

think, like 400 or 500 kilometers away.

445

:

Was pretty funny to interview

him his first game ever.

446

:

Uh, yeah, something like that.

447

:

Some- sometimes I get some

funny reactions, but Yeah,

448

:

nothing that I can't…

449

:

Yeah, that comes to mind right now.

450

:

Justin Crozer: That's all right, Johannes.

451

:

You hear more raw, unfiltered

fan opinion than almost anyone.

452

:

Heading into the season, what's

the overall temperature out there?

453

:

Is the fan base optimistic,

nervous, or split?

454

:

Johannes Martin: From…

455

:

Sometimes I get, um, Instagram DMs

from people who just, they just wanna

456

:

talk and get my opinion, especially

now in a, a season break, you know?

457

:

Uh, sometimes I make videos where I give

my opinion, especially, uh, you know,

458

:

from the, um, trainer, trainer change.

459

:

Um, some people were worried about,

uh, cutting off Ole Werner, but I

460

:

think most people now are pretty

optimistic about the new coach.

461

:

And I think the, the overall, um, feeling

for the fans is optimism, you know?

462

:

I think, I think the fans are, are

thinking it's gonna be a good season.

463

:

Justin Crozer: Hopefully

you are right about that.

464

:

Uh, but the Digital Terraces, so which

is all the people that listen to, I

465

:

know, the RBL talk and, and whatnot,

they're, they're all, they're m- mixture

466

:

of split, um, before th- this episode.

467

:

So, uh, some people were, you know,

happy that Ole Werner was gone.

468

:

Some people are, are a bit cautious

about Martin Demichelis, which we'll

469

:

get onto that in just a second.

470

:

But the one thing that we can all agree

on, at least on, uh, uh, the Digital

471

:

Terrace side of things, is that, uh, how

the club handled the Ole Werner situation

472

:

was a little bit messy and probably

could have done a little bit better.

473

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah.

474

:

Yeah.

475

:

That's also, uh, what I've been hearing

from different sources, uh, from

476

:

people which are closer to the club.

477

:

Um, I think they, they handled it

internally, they handled it pretty good.

478

:

Mm.

479

:

But what got to the outside

was very messy, and that's what

480

:

I'm, you know, what shed a bad

light about the whole situation.

481

:

I think internally they were very clear

about how- Mm … how things will be going

482

:

and how, uh, he's gonna exit the club.

483

:

But, you know, word spread out and, yeah.

484

:

You know how journalism

is sometimes, you know?

485

:

You have to make it up.

486

:

Absolutely.

487

:

Yeah.

488

:

It's all about earning money

at that point, you know?

489

:

You can make a big story

about it and, yeah.

490

:

Justin Crozer: Exactly.

491

:

Um, so the club finished third

and sacked Ole Werner anyway.

492

:

When they then brought in Martin

Demichelis, an outsider to the Red Bull

493

:

system, when you put the mic in the fans'

faces, what's the verdict on the terraces?

494

:

Excitement, confusion, or prove it?

495

:

Have you, have you heard from any

lately or at any maybe training

496

:

ground, uh, or anything like

that, open fan days or anything?

497

:

Johannes Martin: I, I didn't have the

chance to do interviews yet because

498

:

obviously the season is starting in a

few weeks- Mm … but, uh, I've been to

499

:

the test games and, um, what people have

been talking with me about is, uh, some

500

:

people are unsure about him especially.

501

:

You know, Dimitrios wasn't a

very well-known name before we-

502

:

Mm … brought him into our club.

503

:

But I think also that's, that's also

a chance that he has, and the way it

504

:

went with his clubs was, for me it's

still optimistic even though he didn't

505

:

manage to, to, uh, uh, to hold the, the,

you know, even though he got relegated

506

:

with, um, Mallorca I think it was, uh-

507

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah

508

:

Johannes Martin: I, I still

think it's a good one.

509

:

It's- Mm … it's a chance, you know?

510

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah, absolutely.

511

:

Like, there's some things that, it,

I mean, I'm a little bit cautious,

512

:

but I, I, I back the club to do the

right thing, uh, i- in the end, and

513

:

trust what, who they've, you know,

brought in and things like that.

514

:

But there's a couple of things when I

looked at it from his systems, it was

515

:

a bit more like, uh, the River Plate

way that we'll be looking at how things

516

:

will be set up in a, in a 4-2-3-1 using

our wide wingers, possibly inverting

517

:

more than st- pushing out wide.

518

:

Um, and using, you know, like Raum

and, and Baku on the outsides,

519

:

um, for our width, which is what

we normally did a lot anyway.

520

:

Um, and, uh, speaking on players, uh,

the squad's still taking shape as we

521

:

record this, but there's a real mix of

new and returning faces in the picture,

522

:

uh, like Maxim, uh, Maxim Esteve, um,

Brian Gruda is coming back, uh, Rocco

523

:

Reitz, Abdul Kane, uh, Sulman Sani,

uh, Abadel Thomas, uh, Sambo Kanati.

524

:

Um, of that group, who, who are the

fans most curious or most excited about?

525

:

And is there anyone the terraces

are quietly worried about?

526

:

And with that window still open,

is there a position you're hearing

527

:

fans say we need to still fix?

528

:

Johannes Martin: I think people

are very happy that, uh, Brian

529

:

Gruda is, uh, still with us.

530

:

Mm-hmm.

531

:

Like, he extended his loan.

532

:

Because I think he's gonna be a

crucial player for the next season.

533

:

Yeah.

534

:

Uh, I'm very happy about Maxim

Esteve, uh, because he looks like

535

:

a very solid, um, uh, center back,

and we need that in our defense.

536

:

Mm-hmm.

537

:

If we're gonna play the way, uh,

Dimitrios is gonna play, we need,

538

:

we need very solid center backs.

539

:

Fast, you know, big physicality.

540

:

I, I think he's gonna be, he's gonna

be very crucial for the season.

541

:

What I've been hearing and also what

is my feeling, we need to, uh, improve

542

:

our, uh, attack, our strikers, you know.

543

:

Romelu for me- Mm … he's gonna

profit from the new system.

544

:

Because when he was at

Goztepe, he was a counter,

545

:

counterattack s- uh, str- striker.

546

:

Most of his goals were scored, like,

I think the statistic was, like, 20

547

:

seconds after, uh, winning the ball,

so perfect, perfect counter striker.

548

:

For me, Konrad Harder is not gonna

work in this, in, in the squad.

549

:

Mm.

550

:

That's my opinion.

551

:

I think he's, his, his skill

set is too low, you know.

552

:

Okay, he can run, his mentality is

okay, but, you know, technical-wise,

553

:

footballing ability-wise, he's very

limited, and I think that's, that's

554

:

not gonna cut it for, for the season,

so we definitely need a striker.

555

:

I think we also need a winger

now that Diomande is very…

556

:

He's gonna go, you know.

557

:

Mm.

558

:

The, the Real Madrid

deal is pretty much done.

559

:

So yeah, I think we, we

need to stack up our attack.

560

:

Justin Crozer: You mentioned,

uh, a couple of players there.

561

:

Ob- obviously, Diomande one,

and, uh, Romelu another.

562

:

But I've, uh … We do some awards,

uh, for this podcast at the end of the

563

:

season, and I've gone ahead and, uh,

taken a crack on who I'm gonna pick,

564

:

so I'm probably gonna get these wrong,

so we can all laugh, uh, next year in,

565

:

uh, in about May sometime or something

like that, see, uh, how well we do.

566

:

And before I get your, uh, opinions

on those, I just wanted to say, do

567

:

the fans agree David Raum was our

player of the season last year,

568

:

and Yan Diomande sweeping both, uh,

signing and breakout of the season?

569

:

With all the transfer noise around him,

is the fan base bracing to lose him, or

570

:

do they really wanna try and keep him?

571

:

Johannes Martin: I think, uh, with all

the noise and the stories that came out,

572

:

um, during this transfer, uh, odyssey,

I'm gonna say, I think fans are happy

573

:

that it turned out the way it did.

574

:

We are getting a lot of money.

575

:

I mean- Mm … it's gonna be

around, like, 135 million.

576

:

That's gonna be a lot of money.

577

:

It's gonna fix at least, uh,

the problems that we had.

578

:

We had to generate-

Mm … like 100 in sales, so-

579

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah

580

:

… Johannes Martin: that one is fixed.

581

:

So we can buy some new

players with that money.

582

:

I think it's okay.

583

:

And I rather take the money now, even

though he performed outstandingly well

584

:

for his age and for his first season.

585

:

It's sad to lose him after just one

season, but let's look on the bright side.

586

:

We got to Champions League.

587

:

He's gonna bring us- Mm … a lot

of money, and it's not gonna be some

588

:

troublemaking, "I don't wanna play here.

589

:

I'm being forced, uh, uh,

to stay at this club" thing.

590

:

Mm.

591

:

I rather have it this way.

592

:

Even though he's gonna go and we won't

have him, I rather have it this way.

593

:

It's, it's a lot cleaner, you know?

594

:

Justin Crozer: It is.

595

:

We don't want another, like, Xavi 2.0,

596

:

'cause at the end- Yes … of that … He

was a fantastic player, don't get me

597

:

wrong, Xavi Simons, but, you know, at

the end of that you could just tell

598

:

that he just didn't wanna be there.

599

:

Um, it was just getting a little

bit toxic, a little bit out of hand.

600

:

And, um, I'm not too sure if, if

601

:

'Cause obviously we only go by

what the media's willing to give

602

:

us and, and things like that.

603

:

As you know, there's a, a bit

going on in the football journalism

604

:

world from, uh, our Sky, you know,

Germany, uh, audience, along with

605

:

other people in, uh, journalism.

606

:

Um, as, as listeners and

yourself would be quite aware.

607

:

Um, it's, it does seem that a Diomande

deal is going to go ahead, but is he

608

:

really l- like doesn't wanna, wanna

be there, or is that something that if

609

:

he … Uh, obviously this is pure spec

you might not know yourself, but if- Mm

610

:

… Diomande doesn't get to go, and say,

until the, the winter transfer window,

611

:

will, will he, will he re- like relish it?

612

:

Will he still wanna stay, or will

he end up just being, you know, not

613

:

wanting to be there and, and we'll

have one of those on our hands?

614

:

Johannes Martin: I think there's always

gonna be the question, um, if, if there's

615

:

gonna be a game where he underperforms

or something like that, it, it, it can,

616

:

it will always be somewhere around, uh,

that people are gonna say, "Ah, yeah,

617

:

that's because he didn't get to go."

618

:

You know?

619

:

Mm.

620

:

It's always gonna be laid out

negatively, um, even if he would…

621

:

I, I hope he would still play

the w- the same way and give the

622

:

same energy, work the same way.

623

:

You never know, though.

624

:

If he…

625

:

I think he really wants

to go to Real Madrid.

626

:

If we're being honest-

Mm … come on, it's, it's like

627

:

the biggest club in the world.

628

:

It's like one of the most-

Yeah … prestigious clubs.

629

:

If you get the chance to go there,

if they want you, if they go-

630

:

willing to spend that- Mm … amount

of m- that, that, the amount of

631

:

money, you are also gonna push it.

632

:

And let's be honest, if you

come to RB Leipzig, you know

633

:

you can leave when the money…

634

:

If, you know, if the offer is good

enough, they're gonna let you go.

635

:

Mm.

636

:

That's also something that they probably

promised him when they signed him.

637

:

They were, they were gonna like,

"Okay, if you gonna, you know, if

638

:

you're, uh, if, if you're gonna play

that way, get the numbers, you know?"

639

:

Mm.

640

:

"If your evaluation goes up, then

we can let you go," you know?

641

:

It, it's a good-

Mm … deal for both sides.

642

:

Justin Crozer: Absolutely agree.

643

:

Romulo picked up our Needs Improvement

award, uh, last, at the end of the season.

644

:

Is that a fair reflection of

the mood on the ground, or do

645

:

the fans see it differently?

646

:

And who's your pick for the player

with the most to prove this year?

647

:

Johannes Martin: Wait, you,

you gotta explain to me.

648

:

I didn't, I don't understand

what the word means though.

649

:

Justin Crozer: Okay.

650

:

So that's okay.

651

:

So Romelu, um, obviously our player,

picked up our Needs Improvement award.

652

:

So, um- Ah … for, for, for us it,

it was underperformed as a striker.

653

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah, yeah.

654

:

Okay.

655

:

But he- Okay, I get it

656

:

… Justin Crozer: yeah.

657

:

Johannes Martin: Um, yeah.

658

:

Yeah.

659

:

Yeah, yeah.

660

:

Yes.

661

:

Yes.

662

:

Even though he had some moments,

but I think he was underperforming.

663

:

It was underwhelming.

664

:

I expected more, and I think he can do

way better, and that was also the system

665

:

from Ole Werner that did not fit him.

666

:

It just didn't fit him.

667

:

He was used as the, uh, I don't

know the English word for it, but

668

:

in Germany we call it Wanspieler.

669

:

It's like you're, you're

the, the nine who…

670

:

You're, you're just saving

the ball, playing it so other

671

:

people can make room, you know?

672

:

You're drawing out- Yeah … the defense.

673

:

Sometimes y- you can do a header

or something like that, but most

674

:

of the times you're just used

to, uh, get ground, you know?

675

:

Mm-hmm.

676

:

And I think that's just not the

way he wants to play and, uh,

677

:

not the way he, he played at

Goztepe where he was really good.

678

:

So yeah, it was an underperformance.

679

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah.

680

:

Romelu was obviously, as you said,

he wasn't helped by the Ole Werner

681

:

tactical setup and, and as, the way

I looked at it, he was being more

682

:

used as like a, a false nine holding,

uh, center forward to, you know, uh,

683

:

help, uh, with the build-up play.

684

:

But he wasn't really able to

get himself in good positions

685

:

to finish that final product.

686

:

And when he was, there was slight points

in there where he wasn't able to complete.

687

:

That's part on him, but a lot of it

was to do with the system itself.

688

:

It didn't give him any favors whatsoever.

689

:

Johannes Martin: I wouldn't

even be too harsh on that.

690

:

You know, uh, we have to see a

player from the player's perspective.

691

:

You are playing in a system

that doesn't fit you.

692

:

M- maybe a role, a role that you

don't even like to play that much,

693

:

where you don't feel confident,

and all that stuff builds up and

694

:

leads also to you not playing up

to your full potential, you know?

695

:

Mm-hmm.

696

:

Of course, he did not perform well in

that system, but I think it's also because

697

:

it just isn't his system, you know?

698

:

And that's- Mm … that's when

you lose confidence, do things

699

:

differently, do different decisions,

and I wanna see him in this system.

700

:

I think this season can

be very, very different.

701

:

Justin Crozer: Absolutely, and I do

hope that he at least, uh, is, uh, going

702

:

to be in a better system for himself.

703

:

Even if he doesn't show it on the s-

on the stat sheet, you know, like the

704

:

goals or the assists or anything like

that, I just wanna see a, a more rounded,

705

:

better player, which going back from his

Goztepe days, that was the p- what we all

706

:

expected to, to gain, uh, last season.

707

:

So, um, I've also got, uh, another,

uh, one here f- an unsung hero,

708

:

and, uh, for, if you need me to

explain that, let me know, but- No,

709

:

Johannes Martin: no, no.

710

:

I, I, I understand.

711

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah.

712

:

Nicolas Seiw- Nicolas Seiwald took

our Unsung Hero award last term,

713

:

and looking at the current squad, do

you feel that the man ma- making…

714

:

Sorry.

715

:

The man marking system, uh, tick

that doesn't get enough credit?

716

:

Johannes Martin: Actually,

unsung hero fits him very good.

717

:

I think he was, he

improved a lot last season.

718

:

He also had to step up last season.

719

:

Um, now that Savas Schlager is gone,

he also needs to step up a lot more.

720

:

He's, he's gonna be basically our, our,

uh, uh, always playing six, you know?

721

:

The holding six.

722

:

Mm.

723

:

Yeah, yeah.

724

:

I think, uh, this season

he can improve even better.

725

:

He's gonna be a key player,

and he has to deliver.

726

:

Justin Crozer: We're back

in the Champions League.

727

:

What does that mean to the fan base after

missing out, and what's the realistic

728

:

ambition the terraces are setting?

729

:

Survive the league phase or

actually make some noise?

730

:

Johannes Martin: I think

for the fans it's big.

731

:

Um, for me it's also big.

732

:

I'm excited.

733

:

I want some good matches.

734

:

I'm, I'm planning to go on

some away games as well.

735

:

Um, I want some exciting games, and

realistically I'm thinking maybe

736

:

playoffs, but I don't think we're

gonna make the knockout phase.

737

:

It's just my gut tells me

we, we're not gonna make it

738

:

Justin Crozer: Is that mayb- is

that due to just being a new system

739

:

and, uh, new players learning

each other or anything like that?

740

:

Or is that just maybe we're

not at that stage yet?

741

:

Um, I mean, just being in the knockouts

would be fantastic, uh, even if

742

:

we dropped out- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

743

:

Sure … because we didn't make

it last time, as you, as you know.

744

:

Johannes Martin: Last time was a disaster.

745

:

We lost six games in a row.

746

:

That was crazy.

747

:

I think it's a combination of

the new coach, new players.

748

:

It's a…

749

:

Come on, I mean, so many new players.

750

:

Um, also three, three competitions at

the same time, that's also gonna be- Mm

751

:

… uh, harder on us No, I think, I think we

can make it to, to the playoffs, but m- I

752

:

just don't think we're gonna make the run.

753

:

I, what is it, round of

16 after the playoffs?

754

:

Round of 16, right?

755

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah.

756

:

Yeah.

757

:

I- if you get top, if you get top

eight, you go automatic to round of 16.

758

:

Yeah.

759

:

But if you don't, you get nine to 24.

760

:

It's the pl- um, the playoffs, yeah.

761

:

Johannes Martin: I think we can,

we can manage to get into the

762

:

playoffs, and then maybe two lucky

games and we'll do round of 16.

763

:

But I think the quality of the

teams in the Champions League

764

:

this season is also very high.

765

:

The teams which are qualified

already are very, very good.

766

:

Mm.

767

:

Um, and they're also buying new players.

768

:

They're, they're stacking up,

you know, the, the competition

769

:

in Europe right now is very high.

770

:

I just, I just don't see it.

771

:

I just don't see us reaching

round of 16, to be honest.

772

:

Justin Crozer: There's, uh, one

thing I wanna say, uh, just before

773

:

I, I go get your actual predictions.

774

:

Um, I mean, I know it's obviously

pre-season and absolutely anything can

775

:

change, but, um, about Brian Brobbey, I,

I wanted to, to quickly touch on that.

776

:

Now, would there be an option that

we get to keep him for a lot longer?

777

:

Because I did like what I saw.

778

:

I, I know I'm, I myself am very

glad that he's back, and I think

779

:

he provides great coverage as well,

especially when Diomande does leave.

780

:

Uh, what's the, what's the likelihood,

do you think, of, uh, us possibly

781

:

keeping him long-term from Brighton?

782

:

I think- Is that something

the club might look at?

783

:

Johannes Martin: I think the probability

of us buying him is, like, 90%.

784

:

Uh, if I'm not mistaken, uh, the, the

buy clause is, uh, activated at, like,

785

:

10 games or 15 games starting, starting

formation, so that's gonna be an easy one.

786

:

Mm.

787

:

We might even do that in

the league, to be honest.

788

:

And with, with the cup and

Champions League, he's gonna

789

:

start 15 games for sure.

790

:

Justin Crozer: Oh, easily.

791

:

Well, time to commit.

792

:

Give me your end of season

finish in all three.

793

:

The Bundesliga, where do we land?

794

:

DFB-Pokal, how far?

795

:

We bowed out in the quarters last year.

796

:

Can Demi Cheese go further?

797

:

And the Champions League,

how deep is the run?

798

:

I know we touched on that

a little bit already.

799

:

Johannes Martin: Okay.

800

:

Bundesliga, my gut tells me

we're gonna do third place again.

801

:

Borussia Dortmund made s-

very good, uh, transfers.

802

:

They are keeping key players,

keeping the, the, the coach.

803

:

Bayern, different galaxy,

eh, no chance in that one.

804

:

Third place is gonna be a very good,

uh, will be a very good result for

805

:

us, and I'm gonna expect that we do.

806

:

Cup is always, you know, how you, how

they say it, it has their own laws.

807

:

Um- Mm-hmm I think we can do semifinal.

808

:

It depends on the other big clubs.

809

:

If Bayern is gonna bail out s-

early again like they did in some

810

:

years prior, we might even do

the final and even take the cup.

811

:

We're always very dangerous in the cup

and, and one of the favorites to win it.

812

:

But I think it's gonna

be semifinal this year.

813

:

I, I don't think it's gonna be trophy.

814

:

And, and I, I also think it's

okay if we don't win a trophy.

815

:

Justin Crozer: Oh, absolutely.

816

:

There w- there was a few things, uh,

a couple years ago where, not, I'm not

817

:

saying the local fans, but just some

fans in general were a, a bit more

818

:

annoyed that, you know, we didn't win

a, win a trophy and things like that.

819

:

But, you know, a lot…

820

:

some people need to realize

is that, you know, we…

821

:

trophies are great to get along the way,

but we're not one of those clubs that will

822

:

always expect to win a trophy every year.

823

:

Um, and that we're not, you know, like

a glory hunting team, so to speak.

824

:

So, you know, when they come, enjoy them.

825

:

But, uh, you know, you've just

got to expect that we won't

826

:

always win a trophy every year.

827

:

Johannes Martin: Exactly.

828

:

All right

829

:

Justin Crozer: So what- Champions

League Yeah, yeah, exactly.

830

:

Yep

831

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah,

like I said, I, I'm…

832

:

It's gonna be playoffs.

833

:

I think we're gonna go

out in the playoffs.

834

:

It's gonna be fine.

835

:

Come on, we're gonna have eight games.

836

:

No, wait, how mu- how

much is the league phase?

837

:

Eight games?

838

:

Right.

839

:

And then two playoffs.

840

:

Justin Crozer: Uh, I…

841

:

Yeah, I believe so, yeah

842

:

Johannes Martin: 10 games.

843

:

Come on, that's gonna be fine.

844

:

Justin Crozer: Hmm.

845

:

So playoffs, who, who do you think

that will play in the playoffs?

846

:

Obviously, uh, that's a completely-

847

:

Johannes Martin: That's a

848

:

Justin Crozer: wide

one … different one 'cause, yeah.

849

:

'Cause I had a listener to, uh, to quote

Ava from the Di- uh, Digital Terrors, um,

850

:

he said that we would get, uh, knocked

out in the, uh, the knockouts as well,

851

:

but, uh, by PSG, of all, of all teams.

852

:

Um-

853

:

Johannes Martin: No, I don't

think it's gonna be PSG.

854

:

I think- Yeah … PSG's gonna do top

eight and go through automatically.

855

:

Justin Crozer: Mm.

856

:

Johannes Martin: I'm gonna

go with Galatasaray Istanbul.

857

:

You would expect us to beat

them, but we're not gonna do it.

858

:

Justin Crozer: Mm, especially if it's

played over there, especially at, like,

859

:

a, a first leg and whatnot as well.

860

:

That'd be very difficult.

861

:

What do the fans you interview

predict, and does it differ

862

:

from what your own head says?

863

:

Was the Terrors being too

optimistic or too harsh?

864

:

Johannes Martin: Hmm, I haven't had the

chance to, to interview the fans yet

865

:

because hasn't been a, a home game yet.

866

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah.

867

:

Johannes Martin: I think, I think the

pl- the fans are expecting us to finish

868

:

top four in the league, pretty sure.

869

:

Mm.

870

:

But I can also…

871

:

I also think that some fans expect us to,

to do round of 16 in the Champions League.

872

:

Pretty sure.

873

:

And majority of fans are also

hoping for a cup win this season.

874

:

Pretty sure.

875

:

Mm.

876

:

They're like, "Uh, maybe."

877

:

Justin Crozer: Uh, look, a, a, another

cup would always be, uh, fantastic.

878

:

I remember me g- me watching the first

cup final, my missus telling me to, you

879

:

know, be quiet, um, you know, and to put

it nicely, uh, me yelling and screaming

880

:

and the house down around about, like,

4:30 in the morning my local time.

881

:

So Yeah … uh, I'll never

forget our first, uh, cup win.

882

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah,

that was a crazy game.

883

:

Justin Crozer: Absolutely.

884

:

Uh, one player you think decides our

season for better or worse, who and why?

885

:

Johannes Martin: I'm gonna go with

our new center back, Max Till Estevao.

886

:

If he's gonna have a horror season, he's

gonna decide our season for the worst

887

:

because, uh, we are actually depending on

a very good line of defense this season

888

:

if we're gonna play this aggressive

attacking football again, the RB DNA.

889

:

If he's gonna do well, that means

we're not gonna concede as many goals.

890

:

We're gonna have a stable, uh, play, uh,

build up play, and, you know, I think

891

:

his position is gonna be very crucial.

892

:

He's gonna be a very crucial signing.

893

:

I, I don't think many people

realize how crucial he's gonna be.

894

:

Justin Crozer: Hmm.

895

:

I did like what I see.

896

:

I'm, I'm, I'm taking everything

that I see in these, uh, warm-up and

897

:

friendly games a, a grain of salt.

898

:

But everything I've seen from highlight

reels before we grabbed him from Burnley,

899

:

I believe it was- Yeah … and, uh, what

I've seen so far, fantastic center back.

900

:

I, I would almost say a possible

replacement for Willi Orban later on in

901

:

more terms of, uh, age, um, as obviously,

you know, Willi's getting on in the years.

902

:

Uh, but who do you think his strike

partner, uh, sorry, his, uh, defensive

903

:

partner would be, um, this season?

904

:

Johannes Martin: Has

to be Castello Lukeba.

905

:

We have to keep him.

906

:

We can't sell Lukeba because listen,

we were on the brink, on the verge

907

:

of, uh, letting Willi Orban go.

908

:

He had a offer from Saudi, and the only

reason he didn't get to, to leave was

909

:

because Abdul Kone, uh, got injured.

910

:

Mm.

911

:

Actually, i- if he wouldn't have

been injured, Willi Orban might have

912

:

been already gone from the club.

913

:

Okay.

914

:

And I think they want him gone

because he's just getting too old.

915

:

No disrespect- Mm … to him.

916

:

He's a legend, always performing

mentality-wise, you know, perfect and

917

:

everything, but he's getting old and

slow, and we have to face reality.

918

:

He's not gonna be a

key player this season.

919

:

He is not going to be that guy.

920

:

Mm.

921

:

In my opinion, Lukeba and Estevao

are gonna be the starters.

922

:

He's gonna be on the bench a lot of games

if nothing spectacular happens because he

923

:

can't keep up with the speed, you know?

924

:

Mm.

925

:

He's secure and everything, but we're

gonna have a different play style.

926

:

I'm pretty sure we're gonna have a…

927

:

We're gonna see higher

up, uh, center backs.

928

:

They're gonna be in, in the

box when we have corners.

929

:

Both are- Mm … very

strong with their head game.

930

:

So- You know?

931

:

Vide Orban is also strong

with that, but he also has to-

932

:

Mm … make the way back in time.

933

:

Justin Crozer: Yeah.

934

:

That would be his downfall would

be that tracking back speed.

935

:

So, uh, I, I think he has the

endurance to be able to do it, but

936

:

he's gonna get cau- caught too much

on the break if that's the case.

937

:

And-

938

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah

939

:

… Justin Crozer: I might, I do hope to

see him start a couple of games maybe

940

:

against like, uh, the, some of the lower,

lower teams, um, for rotation purposes.

941

:

Sure, sure.

942

:

But yeah, he's, he's not gonna be

able to do it, um, for the long term.

943

:

Johannes Martin: No, no, not.

944

:

Justin Crozer: So if you could bring

back one former RB Leipzig player

945

:

in their absolute prime and drop

them into our current starting 11

946

:

under Domenico Tedesco, or let's

just say, uh, at the start of the

947

:

season, who are you choosing and why?

948

:

Johannes Martin: Yeah.

949

:

It's gotta be Christopher Nkunku because

his position would be so needed right now.

950

:

Goddamn, if we had him right now in

his prime, we could even challenge

951

:

for, we could definitely challenge

for a cup, see a cup, and we, we, we

952

:

could challenge for going a little bit

deeper in the, uh, Champions League.

953

:

Might even, uh, quarterfinal, you know?

954

:

R- realistically talking, he

was so good, and his position

955

:

would be perfect right now.

956

:

We need somebody like

him in this position.

957

:

That would be amazing.

958

:

Justin Crozer: Who do

you think he'd replace?

959

:

That's the tough question.

960

:

Johannes Martin: I think he w- he would

play on the, uh, number 10 position,

961

:

replacing probably Brian Guira and

forcing him out on the wing again.

962

:

Mm.

963

:

Or even going on the wing himself, um,

replacing like Bakayoko for example.

964

:

Him with Nusa and, um, yeah, and Romelu

in, in, as number nine, I think deadly.

965

:

Could be very deadly.

966

:

And having Guira on the 10 or Ui Draogo.

967

:

I think if we had Nkunku right

now in his prime, damn, we

968

:

would be very dangerous team.

969

:

Justin Crozer: Where can everyone

find you, uh, The Four Fans and

970

:

your matchday content online?

971

:

Johannes Martin: Uh, on my,

my TikTok handle is @jjmarten.

972

:

That's where I upload all my videos.

973

:

Um, on Instagram my

handle is jjmartensports.

974

:

Same for YouTube.

975

:

That's where you basically

find all my, my content.

976

:

Yeah

977

:

Justin Crozer: And there it is,

the fan verdict on Demichalis,

978

:

the summer business, and Johannes'

predictions locked in on the record.

979

:

We'll be coming back to those

at the end of the season to

980

:

see whose crystal ball held up.

981

:

So screenshot them now.

982

:

Johannes, thank you for bringing the

real voice of the terraces to the show.

983

:

Go and give him a follow and

check out his work with For Fans.

984

:

All the links are down in the

description and in the show notes.

985

:

It's been a pleasure having Johannes

on to kick off the new season with us.

986

:

Johannes Martin: Been a pleasure too.

987

:

Thanks for having me.

988

:

Justin Crozer: And there it is, a

brilliant chat with Johannes and the

989

:

fan verdict locked in on the record.

990

:

So what did we take from today?

991

:

Three things.

992

:

One, the Demi Chilies era is a genuine

gamble, bold intent, real risk, and

993

:

the first proof points comes fast

away at Trier in the cup, where the

994

:

pressure's bigger than the opposition.

995

:

Two, my crystal ball calls are down.

996

:

Nusa for MVP, Bam Gardner for

the golden boot, and third place,

997

:

Pokal semis and Champions League

knockout run across the board.

998

:

And three, the transfer window's still

open and the Diamande situation is

999

:

the one that could reshape everything

:

00:50:54,106 --> 00:50:54,936

now over to you.

:

00:50:55,436 --> 00:50:57,846

Here's the question for the

Digital Terrace this week.

:

00:50:58,456 --> 00:51:01,856

Do you back Demichelis or does

sacking Werner still sting?

:

00:51:02,466 --> 00:51:03,466

Send me your take.

:

00:51:03,746 --> 00:51:06,736

You'll have up to five minutes

of audio on SpeakPipe, or drop a

:

00:51:06,756 --> 00:51:09,566

comment on the Spotify episode,

or post it on the Discord.

:

00:51:10,056 --> 00:51:12,646

The best ones go straight

on the next episode.

:

00:51:13,376 --> 00:51:16,686

And if you enjoyed this one, hit

subscribe on your podcast app or on

:

00:51:16,796 --> 00:51:19,016

YouTube and leave us a five-star review.

:

00:51:19,526 --> 00:51:21,686

It generally helps more

Leipzig fans find us.

:

00:51:22,006 --> 00:51:25,706

All the links, including everything from

Johannes and For Fans, are down in the

:

00:51:25,706 --> 00:51:29,596

show notes, so go and give him a follow

and check out his matchday content.

:

00:51:30,256 --> 00:51:33,006

And remember, we wanna keep this

show completely free from corporate

:

00:51:33,006 --> 00:51:36,126

sponsors, so if you're able to

chip in and help cover the costs,

:

00:51:36,496 --> 00:51:37,396

there's a link for that too.

:

00:51:38,056 --> 00:51:41,766

Let's keep the podcast independent,

no agendas, no gatekeepers,

:

00:51:41,936 --> 00:51:43,446

just pure Leipzig passion.

:

00:51:44,456 --> 00:51:47,766

It's been a pleasure having Johannes

on to kick off the new season with us.

:

00:51:48,316 --> 00:51:51,976

I've been Justin Crozer, and

until next time, bye-bye for now

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About the Podcast

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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 — 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 — providing the most honest, analytical, and fan-centric coverage of RB Leipzig in the podcasting world.

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