VfB Stuttgart-Deutscher Meister 07 Thread 07/08 part 2 [R]

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

A little late, but to get this thread running again here are the ratings from the Bochum game:

Sven Ulreich: KR: 3
MR: 3.5

Ricardo Osorio: KR: 3(very surprised)
MR: 4.5

Fernando Meira: KR: 3
MR: 2.5(MotM)

Matthieu Delpierre: KR: 3.5
MR: 3.5

Ludovic Magnin: KR: 3.5
MR: 3.5

Pavel Pardo: KR: 3.5
MR: 4

Roberto Hilbert: KR: 4.5
MR: 5

Thomas Hitzlsperger: KR: 2.5
MR: 3

Yildiray Basturk: KR: 4
MR: 3.5

Cacau: KR: 4
MR: 4

Ciprian Marica: KR: 4
MR: 3.5

------------------------------------------------------------
Subs:
Mario Gomez: KR: NR
MR: 3.5

Sami Khedira: KR: NR
MR: 3.5

Arthur Boka: KR: NR
MR: 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was very positive to see a second solid performance in a row by our defense, hopefully they're gonna make a habit of it now. Osorio was the only poor one, mostly to blame for the 1-0 and with some other poor actions as well. I was surprised he got such a solid rating since I thought he was really pretty bad. Boka did well after coming in for Magnin but for me Magnin would still be first choice for now.

In midfield, Hitz almost didn't even play the game, but we are lucky he did in the end since he scored the all-important equalizer. Hilbert had a very bad game, lost many balls, got booked, and missed an enormous chance that could've won us the game. Usually he does much better, this just wasn't his day. Basturk again didn't set the world alight.

Neither striker was great, Cacau had a horror first half but then improved a little in the second, while Marica did well to set up the 1-1, but is still not good enough at getting himself into good positions, and that's an issue. Hopefully Gomez can play from the start against Rostock, preferably alongside Cacau.

Overall i'm satisfied with the draw, but we'll need the three points this weekend. I'm confident we'll get them, especially since, for the first time since the 3-0 against cottbus, i'll be back in the stadium at last ;)

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Game starts in less than two hours, I leave to the stadium in 30 minutes :)

We should really win this without too much difficulty if we play to our best.

Hilbert is suspended, probably Khedira will take his place, and Gomez should really be back in the starting line-up, preferably alongside Cacau. Other than that I don't expect any changes from the Bochum match.

Let's get the 3 points!

[TheBoss84]

Gomez is simply amazing, scoring an own goal and then scoring one for himself and assisting. He has to partner Klose at the Euros no doubt.

[Projekt4]

Just watched the highlights. It's frankly not fair that defences like those of Rostock or Bremen have to face him...he breaks away as if they're some pub team. Neat personal effort leading up to the penalty, great goal, great assist, and he really should have scored on yet another breakaway...impressive.

He seems to be a bit injury-prone though.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Well, it was a great return to stadium for me :)

A very convincing win. We played very poorly imo in the first half and I was really unsure about whether we'd still win, especially since the biggest chance of the first half had gone to Rostock.

but it seems that Veh found the right words at halftime since they came out a changed side and played much better. We got a penalty, without a doubt a correct one, put it in, and then everything looked secure from then on. Cacau hit a wonderful volley for the 2-0, he was my man of the match yesterday. Unfortunately we still seem to fall asleep at some point and Rostock got a goal back out of nowhere. Then I was kinda nervous for the next 20 or so minutes but thankfully Mario finished off the game 5 minutes from time with the 3-1. He had a very strange game, invisible in the first half, then he missed a 100% chance one-on-one with the keeper, then he scored a virtual own goal, So you'd think it couldn't get any worse, but he remains unfazed, scores his goal, and then gave a smooth assist to Basturk for the 4-1. Very up-and-down :)

The defense is looking better now. Meira had his third very good game in a row, Delpierre was also solid, and Osorio played a good game. Magnin got a slight injury so he'll be misssing a couple of weeks, but Boka was good again after coming on yesterday, he'll be intent on seizing his opportunity to return to the first team. Beck was also very good after being subbed in for Osorio, so this could create some interesting competition for starting spots.

Overall, we remain in 6th place, and have an excellent 16 points from the last 6 games. The side is once again strong. If results today go our way, we could be only 3(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) points away from a Champions League spot. Now, I don't want to get ahead of myself and start dreaming, but.... ;)

[Fußballgott]

I would also for give a special mention to Hitzlsperger
who had a good game after being missing for some weeks.

[jq pepe]

That was a case study on lethality, most chances ended in goals and the defense is looking solid again, great game guys.

I was looking at the table this morning, the UEFA and Champions league spots are within striking distance with still many games to be played...:D

Somebody mention that some Italian and Spanish clubs are casting long eyes on Super Mario, are there any concrete proposals so far.

[Fußballgott]

I was looking at the table this morning, the UEFA and Champions league spots are within striking distance with still many games to be played...:D


But the remaining schedule is quite difficult:

Hannover 96 : VfB Stuttgart
ok, they play bad atm, but Hecking needs a win to silence his critics

VfB Stuttgart : Hamburger SV
direct competitor

Bayer 04 Leverkusen : VfB Stuttgart
direct competitor

VfB Stuttgart : 1. FC Nürnberg
our bogey team

FC Bayern München : VfB Stuttgart
in Munich they might put up more resistance than in the last 2 games

VfB Stuttgart : Eintracht Frankfurt
are on a good run and fighting for an Uefa-Cup spot

Borussia Dortmund : VfB Stuttgart
always difficult to win in Dortmund especially if they have fired Doll before this game

VfL Wolfsburg : VfB Stuttgart
improving side that might fight for UI-Cup

VfB Stuttgart : DSC Arminia Bielefeld
might be their last chance to prevent relegation

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

I know it's not an easy run in, but my prediction(which probably won't be accurate since form switches from now until the end of the season):

vs. Hannover: 3 points
vs. Hamburg: 3 points
vs. Leverkusen: 0 points
vs. Nuernberg: 3 points
vs. Bayern: 0 points
vs. Frankfurt: 3 points
vs. Dortmund: 1 point
vs. Wolfsburg: 1 point
vs. Arminia Bielefeld: 3 points

that would equal to 17 out of a possible 28 points and 5 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses. If we do end up getting this many points in the rest of the season I will probably be satisfied, but I'm pretty certain it would not be enough for a Champions League spot.

But we really should just take it one game at a time. If we end up in the top 6 and make it to Europe, i'll be satisfied, a CL spot would be terrific, that would even make the season a success despite all the frustrations. But it would be very hard to reach and we'll just have to see.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Well, Bremen drew, so the 3 points gap remains. I'm excited to see how the team continues :)

[benztown]

My (slightly optimistic) take on our schedule:

vs. Hannover: 3 points
vs. Hamburg: 1 point
vs. Leverkusen: 3 points
vs. Nuernberg: 3 points
vs. Bayern: 1 point
vs. Frankfurt: 3 points
vs. Dortmund: 3 points
vs. Wolfsburg: 3 points
vs. Arminia Bielefeld: 3 points

Of course all our important players have to stay healthy to accomplish that, but it's manageable.

It would give us 23 points which should be enough to secure third place...however, anything less would probably already be too few if we wanna get into the Champions League.
The problem is, with that kind of competition, even 17 points might turn out to be not enough to get into the UEFA Cup, especially since our goal difference is so horrible...

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Player ratings:

Sven Ulreich: KR: 3
MR: 3

Ricardo Osorio: KR: 4
MR: 3

Fernando Meira: KR: 3
MR: 2.5

Matthieu Delpierre: KR: 3
MR: 3

Ludovic Magnin: KR: 3
MR: 4

Pavel Pardo: KR: 3.5
MR: 3

Sami Khedira: KR: 4
MR: 3.5

Thomas Hitzlsperger: KR: 3
MR: 3

Yildiray Basturk: KR: 3.5
MR: 3.5

Cacau: KR: 2(MOTM)
MR: 2(MOTM)

Mario Gomez: KR: 2
MR: 3

SUBS:

Arthur Boka: MR: 2.5

Andy Beck: MR: 2

[nanni]

Pavel Pardo Scored a goal for Mexico...

[VfBOmaha]

Pavel Pardo Scored a goal for Mexico...

Awesome!:)

Our boys are having a great time at International matches this week

Khedira with a triple against Luxemberg for U-21 EM qualification on Tuesday
Delpierre with his French A-national debut against Mali
Gomez with 2 and an assist against Switzerland in a friendly on Wednesday


In other news:

Our A-Junioren team has 9 wins in a row and tops the A-Junioren table in the Sued/Suedwest league. VfB II is also in 2nd place in Regionalliga Sued, just 1 point behind Ingolstadt (where Heiko Gerber now plays). It looks like our VfB is still building for the future!:)

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Awesome!:)

Our boys are having a great time at International matches this week

Khedira with a triple against Luxemberg for U-21 EM qualification on Tuesday
Delpierre with his French A-national debut against Mali
Gomez with 2 and an assist against Switzerland in a friendly on Wednesday


In other news:

Our A-Junioren team has 9 wins in a row and tops the A-Junioren table in the Sued/Suedwest league. VfB II is also in 2nd place in Regionalliga Sued, just 1 point behind Ingolstadt (where Heiko Gerber now plays). It looks like our VfB is still building for the future!:)


All good news, just one question, didnt France play England?? i never heard about any match against Mali, am I wrong? :confused:

[VfBOmaha]

All good news, just one question, didnt France play England?? i never heard about any match against Mali, am I wrong? :confused:

Well, France did play England on Wednesday, but they played Mali on Tuesday. Their trainer selected a large number of players (around 40 or 50, I think) to try-out for the Euro 2008 squad. I think the match against Mali was for the more unknown talent in the squad to show what they can do. I believe Delpierre was on for the entire match in a 3-2 win.

Also, Marica scored for Romania on Wednesday.:)

Hopefully all this international success translates to success against Hannover on Sunday!

Auf geht's VfB!

[Fußballgott]

Never had as much fun hearing Bundesliga-radio. :p

[Fußballgott]

And now a bit of fun for the fans of other teams. What a boring match.
Our situation stays the same after this weekend.

[Borussia]

It seems that you signed another great talent from Fürth (thanks to the good contacts between both clubs)...

http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/spieler/3942/martinlanig/aufeinenblick.html

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Hey guys, I was in Hungary this week so I wasn't able to post.

well what can I say! I was so pleased after the results yesterday, and I really hoped we could go equal with many of our rivals in front of us, but it just wasn't to be as we were really too harmless in Hannover today. They were probably better than us overall, but I think we deserved the draw since we were stable at the back and did our job.

That wasn't enough for an Auswaertssieg, and we probably wouldn't have deserved it anyway. But i'm not too dissappointed, a win in Hannover was never going to be easy anyway. We need to concentrate hard now for next weekend's match at home to Hamburg. If we want to keep up even a VERY SMALL HOPE of qualifying for the Champions League, we'll need to go for the three points on Saturday. I think with good preparation we can achieve this. And we also need to watch our backs since Frankfurt is on form and could just steal even sixth place from us if our form drops.