Welcome to Fear The Wall’s weekly update on the kids. This will include updates to Borussia Dortmund’s U17, U19, and U23 teams. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

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Do y’all remember when the U17 and U19 teams were outright dominant in their respective leagues from 2014 to 2017? Most Dortmund fans were super excited for these kids to make it to the big club and translate that dominance to the Bundesliga. Unfortunately, that was not the case. But now that might change!

Bundesliga.com had an article this past week highlighting some youth players that could come up and make a big impact. Let’s review:

Ansgar Knauff (RW)

He was part of that formidable attacking trio with Gio Reyna and Youssoufa Moukoko. He recently signed his pro contract and made his debut in the Champions League back in December. Could he be the Achraf Hakimi replacement?

Luca Unbehaun (GK)

Dortmund needs a new goalie, eh? At least that’s what everyone has been yelling for years now (basically since Roman Weidenfeller left). Maybe this can be the guy! Dortmund might finally have a homegrown goalkeeper! Unbehaun was featured on Goal’s 2020 Top 50 Teenagers list, so how bad can he truly be? Dortmund might need to do a full rebuild anyway, so let’s fill the roster with kids and build from the ground up. It’s worked before.

Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Lennard Maloney (CB)

He’s a center back! And he’s good! That’s basically all you need to know. Dortmund is in desperate need of center backs for years now. Maloney could be the answer!

Tobias Raschl (AM)

I feel like I’ve been excited for this kid to come up for like five years now. Dortmund is currently stacked at midfield, but maybe if half those dudes leave, Raschl can fill in.

Dominik Wanner (LW)

Another midfielder, but again: if players keep leaving, you got to replace them. And this guy looks solid.

Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Bottom line, if Dortmund is forced into a rebuild and needs to use its homegrown players to fill out a full roster, it should be fine. These are just a few U23 players. There’s many more just in that team and in the U19s that look promising.

This team has had success with a group of young players before, maybe it will work again. Because whatever is happening right now, is not working. (Play. The. Kids.)

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Borussia Dortmund U17

B-Junioren Bundesliga West

The B-Junioren Bundesliga remains on hold.

Borussia Dortmund U19

U-19 Bundesliga West

The U-19 Bundesliga remains on hold.

But this week they got a new kid! Marian Kirsch is a 17-year-old goalkeeper from Hannover 96 and is set to join the Dortmund U19 squad this summer. His family denied an offer from Bayern Munich two years ago.

Borussia Dortmund II (U23)

Regionalliga West

BVB II had a date with SC Wiedenbrück on Sunday morning (February 14^th). The U23s came into the game well rested, after their game last week was canceled. This game was also almost canceled after serious winter weather hit the area this past week. However, the game was able to be moved from the youth stadium to the artificial pitch next door.

They drew 2-2 and blew the chance to gain points on Rot-Weiss Essen. Captain Steffen Tigges got a quick brace (9’, 14’) to put his team up 2-0. Wiedenbrück was able to draw even with goals from Phil Beckoff (37’) and Daniel Latkowski (59’).

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Looking Ahead

Borussia Dortmund U19

The UEFA Youth League Round of 64 match will be played at Juventus Turin on either March 2^nd or 3^rd.

Borussia Dortmund II

The U23s next game is scheduled for February 20^th at Bonner SC (hello, Jonas Hupe and Marian Sarr). How do they match up?

Well, the Dortmund II squad sits in first place with 57 points (17W-6D-1L) and a goal differential of +46 (64:18).

Bonn sits second-to-last in 20^th place with 16 points (4-4-15) and a goal differential of -23 (21:44). This will be their first game in two weeks.

Stats from kicker.de