The Müller Effect

Among the many observations from Bayern Munich’s 3-1 triumph over a game Hannover 96 was the impact that Thomas Müller made on the pitch for the Reds. As Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes told the club website last week, "Thomas Muller is brimming with ambition and I am very happy to have him back." And so, it appeared, were Müller’s teammates.

While Müller didn’t find the back of the net, he established himself firmly once again as the vital playmaking cog in the Bayern attack with an assist and a quality service to Coman for a score (not including a would be assists that was disallowed on a very debatable offside call on a Robert Lewandowski tally). What makes Müller’s value more vital is his unselfish insistence on getting Lewandowski on track at the expense of his game. Müller is willing to sacrifice his own chances to get Lewandowski going in the right direction because as the Polish No.9 goes, so does the Bayern Munich attack. Make no mistake, the Müller-Lewandowski on-field relationship is symbiotic with each fully aware of how the other can positively influence the game; albeit in different ways.

Müller’s ability to empower the Polish striker to reach maximum effectiveness is truly the engine of the Bayern attack. Müller’s willingness to create offense for others often spurs more creative attacks for the Bavarians as evidence in his assist on Kingsley’s Coman’s spectacular tiebreaking goal. As Müller told Bundesliga.com: “We have many players who have very good qualities. We know that Kingsley has extraordinary skills that aren't easy to find. If he puts his foot down on the gas – and he has incredible horsepower – every opponent has a tough time against him. He worked the left flank well. He's always been fleet-footed. If he can now add chances that lead to goals then he is solid gold to us.”

Simply put, Müller is essential to the Bayern effort - no disrespect to the other talent around him, but he is the embodiment of the Bayern Munich brand. A versatile, homegrown product with selfless tendencies that binds the team in a way that can’t always be quantified on the stat sheet. For that alone, his presence is integral to rest of this Bundesliga and Champions League season.

With Paris Saint Germaine on the horizon and a bevy of key Bundesliga contests, how Heynckes handles his personnel will be key. Does Müller move to the 10 when Arjen Robben returns? Does he stay on the wing in over Robben or possibly even shift to the left side in an effort for Heynckes to keep James, Robben, and Müller all in the lineup —leaving a surging Coman and a form-finding, but grizzled veteran in Franck Ribery on the bench?

How Heynckes manages this “problem” may well determine how formidable - and cohesive - Bayern Munich is during the stretch run of the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Other Bundesliga Table Talk:

- Hoffenheim’s Bayern Munich loanee Serge Gnabry finally experience his breakout game with two goals in a 4-0 destruction of RB Leipzig. Gnabry would likely benefit from another year of playing time at Hoffenheim before entering the deep waters of the Bayern Munich roster.

- RB Leipzig has continued to be the most mercurial of Bundesliga sides. After getting throttled in the aforementioned 4-0 loss to Hoffenheim, Ralph Hasenhüttl has to be at a loss for how to draw consistency out of the young, but extremely talented side. The key may lie in Leipzig finding new ways to unleash the inherent threat within Timo Werner. Without Werner in top form, RB Leipzig slips back to a middle of the table team. Werner is a dynamo, who creates havoc with his speed and tenacity. It’s hard not to think he should be producing more consistently within the framework of what Leipzig can do offensively.

- Borussia Dortmund continued its slide into mediocrity under Peter Bosz. The BVB side appears to be unraveling for the second season in a row. At some point, Dortmund management will have to look at the core of players to determine if the root cause of the issue lies within the roster or if the guillotine will drop on the manager for the second season in a row. What was most striking in the Hoffenheim contest was how leisurely most Dortmund attackers appeared to be on the attack. Christian Pulisic stood out for his persistence in this regard as opposed to many of his teammates in black and yellow. Regardless, Bosz had better strategize a way to keep the talent at BVB engaged before he gets Tuchel’d.

- Schalke lost a golden opportunity to move into second place with a 2-2 draw against FC Koln. The Royal Blues let down after last week’s dramatic comeback versus Dortmund won’t sit well with S04. The real loser in the game, however, was Billy Goats Manager Peter Stöger, who “parted ways” with Cologne after the match.

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