Es ist die Zeit zwischen Saisonende und dem Beginn der Vorbereitung für die nächste Spielzeit – und in dieser Zeit versuchen die Manager und Verantwortlichen der Bundesligisten, ihre Mannschaften zu verstärken um pünktlich zum Auftakt der neuen Saison die Kaderplanung zum größten Teil abgeschlossen zu haben.

Both figuratively and literally.

The noise surrounding Hoffenheim's sonic intervention on Saturday keeps getting louder. Hoffenheim's groundkeepr, lone perpetrator or scapegoat, apparently had a helping hand and nearby stewards being in the know. He also has been operating his "self made" boom box in previous home games against Mainz, Cologne, Frankfurt and again Dortmund as well though it was never as loud as on Saturday.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - MLS coaches were probably wishing that Joe Gyau was entering the upcoming draft.

Gyau, who is under contract with German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, enjoyed an impressive outing in the U.S. U-20 national team's intra-squad scrimmage on Sunday afternoon.

That is if you consider video games as art.

EA Sports claim FIFA 11 is the "most authentic global football experience available" drawing on a detailed player database compiled by 1700 scouts around the world to recreate each player. And in cases where the data is incomplete or incorrect, players are happy to help out and correct the mistake.

Dortmund need to postpone their lap of honor through the Bundesliga. Manuel Neuer may have made the "next big step" in his career from one Europa League bound club to another. A wild winning spree at the bottom of the table leaves Cologne and St. Pauli as this weekend's biggest losers.

Leverkusen 2-1 Hoffenheim.

English speaking BVB fans are on cloud nine. Their German speaking counterparts are on cloud seven. But maybe there's a way to bring the two together for the big party on May 14th. Roman Weidenfeller will volunteer as a translator. A 2-0 victory over Nuremberg clinched Dortmund's seventh German championship and the first title after nine years, thanks to Leverkusen doing, what Leverkusen does best.

• What's left to play for on matchday 33? (Die Bundesliga UK)
• The potential effect of FIFA's Financial Fair Play rules on the Bundesliga's sugar daddy/corporate toys. (Bundesliga Fanatic)
• Looking for the positives after a 4-1 thrashing. (Deutsche Welle)
• Looking for an English teacher.

American winger Joe Gyau recently received good news as he was invited to join 1899 Hoffenheim's first team to begin the preseason on June 22.

Frequenzton Hoffenheim by borussentv

Well, according to a statement released on the club's website, a Hoffenheim employee did on his own accord.

The high publicity and pro/con arguments surrounding billionaire backed village team Hoffenheim have died down for a while now, just as Hoffenheim themselves settled down as yet another mid table team.

• The Independent proves prophetic qualities in its' pre-CL profile of attack minded Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick. (The Independent)
• Leander Schaerlaeckens is less prophetic but all the more impressed by Ralf Rangnick's attack minded Schalke. (ESPN)
• Zonal Marking is not too impressed by all the ludicrous defending going on between Inter and Schalke.

Bayern Munich, freshly freed from Louis can Gaal's dictatorship, do a Schalke and put five past a sorry opponent. Leverkusen, being that opponent, suffered a severe case of title race deja-vu. Dortmund seized the opportunity to put one hand on the Bundesliga shield. Elsewhere teams struggled to achieve that one decisive victory to escape all their relegation woes.

25 year-old Demba Ba, who has been plying his trade at West Ham United since January, could interest Newcastle if West Ham are relegated, which appears likely at the moment. Demba Ba in action against Manchester United The fee West Ham paid German club 1899 Hoffenheim for the player was undisclosed, but it is [.

By CALEB SONNELAND

Police were called to the Grosvenor Hotel in London Monday night after a brawl broke out at West Ham's end-of-season dinner.

West Ham striker Demba Ba was at the center of the altercation, after he reportedly got into an argument with a fan, which resulted in the fan racially abusing the Senegalese player and an ensuing fracas.

Japanese photography giant Fujifilm has announced partnerships with Bundesliga sides Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1899 Hoffenheim.

The Bundesliga is back in its 49th incarnation and Friday's curtain raiser was both wonderful and frightening frightening at least for Bayern, Leverkusen and who else might have had vague hopes to win the league next year.

Dortmund 3-1 Helpless SV. Defending champions Dortmund kicked off the new season in style and with a promise of beautiful football, only they seem to be able to deliver this season.

Dass das Leben kein Heimspiel ist, ist uns allen klar. Dass das aber zumindest in Hoffenheim, einem Stadtteil von Sinsheim einmal anders war, glauben wir heute auch nicht mehr. Aber es war so, in den früheren Zeiten der TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, damals als man das 1899 im Klubnamen noch weggelassen hatte und als man noch [.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images(Bleacher Report)Last January, Liverpool put a stamp of intent on their plans for the future. It truly was a case of "out with the old and in with the new."
After three-and-a-half seasons with the Reds, forward Ryan Babel took the opportunity to move on. He made 146 appearances for Liverpool scoring 22 goals.

The Bundesliga got back underway with Steve Cherundolo donning the captain's armband for Hannover 96, Timmy Chandler manning the defensive flanks for Nuremburg and Daniel Williams made his debut alongside Fabian Johnson for 1899 Hoffenheim.

Fabian Johnson isn't yet eligible to suit up for the U.S. national team, but it might be a little while before he plays for club or country.

According his club, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Johnson injured his neck in training on Tuesday. He reportedly has a herniated disc and is expected to miss the next four weeks while getting treatment.

Fabian Johnson will miss four weeks after suffering a herniated disc in training on Tuesday, according to 1899 Hoffenheim's website.

In seiner ersten Saison in Deutschland lief es für den Stürmer der TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Ryan Babel, noch nicht so besonders gut. Am Ende hatte der holländische Nationalspieler in 15 Saisonspielen nur 1 mageres Törchen erzielt und wurde von vielen schon als Fehleinkauf belächelt. Aber ganz so schnell sollte man einen Spieler mit der Klasse [.

Steve Bruce's tenure at Sunderland has come to an abrupt end.

The Premier League club fired Bruce from his post as manager on Wednesday, cutting his time at the Stadium of Light short in his third season since joining the club from Wigan Athletic -- the 19th-place club to whom Sunderland lost at home last weekend.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Brad Friedel made waves with his comments about Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey this week, but its his team that has been making waves in the Premier League recently. Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur have not lost in the Premiership since the second week of the season, but they'll have to see off tricky Stoke City this weekend if they are to continue their run of good form.