(R) VfB Stuttgart Thread 08/09

[Borussia]

Loool.

[Syriaman]

Any highlights of the match?Thanks.:)

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

PS: Only 8,000 fans attended this important home game, that's really disappointing in my eyes (Schalke had 52,000).

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/uefa/spielrunde/spielpaarungsbericht/object/883422

Important game?

It was the first round of the Uefa Cup against a no-name team and the media wrote about the game as us being practically through already. Which we were - we had won away and were a much stronger side. The fact we almost went out is a total disgrace, but it wasn't portrayed as being an important match.

But whatever, one thing I can say is the stadium will go back to being sold out tomorrow. :)

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

So, my player ratings:

Jens Lehmann: 5.5

Ricardo Osorio: 4

Serdar Tasci: 4.5

Arthur Boka: 3.5

Sami Khedira: 3.5

Thomas Hitzlsperger: 3.5

Roberto Hilbert: 4.5

Martin Lanig: 3

Sebastian Rudy: 3.5

Mario Gomez: 3

Ciprian Marica: 4

SUBS:

Cacau: 3

Magnin: No rating

Mandjeck: No rating.

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So, criticism time:

Lehmann mistake was an enormous blunder, after what happened in the Gyor away game, its his second huge error of the season. Luckily, neither goal conceded cost us but he'll have to watch out that he doesn't continue to repeat such mistakes. An error like that in the Bundesliga or even later UEFA Cup rounds can equal 0 points / elimination. I know it may seem harsh to complain since he's done well so far this season, but really things like this have to stop happening.

Now, the defence was no good. I don't like us with a 3-man defence. Osorio is not made for a central position, neither is Boka. As for Tasci, he's been good so far this season but he has to take some of the blame for the 0-1 as well. It was a poor pass. I'm left really worried I must say becase it seems Boulahrouz and Delpierre will also have to miss the Bremen match. And I am not confident about the prospect of a Diego or a Pizarro attacking this 3-man defence. I want us to go back to 4 man, however possible. Even if it means moving Hilbert back to rightback.

And with Hilbert, we can go to our midfield. Unfortunately Roberto was really poor again as he has often been this season. I love the guy and will never forget his instrumental role in the title win, but he really should go about finding his form again sooner rather than later because, at the rate he's playing now, he simply cannot stay in the side much longer. Hitzlsperger scored the all-important 1-2 so he was given a 3.5, but that doesn't mask the fact that he also played too passively and poorly over large periods of the match. He'll need to do better against Bremen. In fairness to Lanig, I felt he played a good game. I don't understand why Veh subbed him off and I think Martin did well overall. As for Rudy, I was really surprised to see he's already doing many of the standards. Mixed first game for him, good start, then he was largely invisible for most of the second half, but he did provide the assist for the 1-2 just before being subbed off. For a first game, not bad, congrats. :)

In attack, Gomez saved us again as he's done often in the past. It wasn't Marica's best day today and he looked a little silly on the dive. Cacau was better after coming and provided the assist to the equaliser. Well done.


Overall though, this was no good. the defence needs to change somehow even with our two best defenders out injured, and the midfield will just have to be much better.

I also question Veh's motivation tactics a little - surely it shouldn't take until the 80th minute and being 2-down against a side that would struggle in the 2. Liga, that team actually bothers to start attacking and playing???? Piss poor.

And I really have a bad feeling about tomorrow. :(

[Borussia]

Important game?


Well, maybe it's not really important to reach the group stage of the UEFA-Cup...

[Syriaman]

He meant playing first round in Uefa-Cup against a no-name team isn´t important.

I think group-stage is interesting and important :)

Our road in Uefa-Cup/highlights:

VFB-Saturn 3-0 AET:

http://www.myvideo.de/watch/4764321/VfB_Stuttgart_Saturn_Ramenskoje_26_7_2008


VFB-Gyor ETO 4-1:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=mjK89uKawpo

VFB-Varna 2-1:

http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5205793/Cherno_More_Varna_Stuttgart_1_2

VFB-Varna 2-2:

http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5203602/UEFA_Cup_VfB_Stuttgart_Cherno_More_Varna

Couldn´t find VFB-Gyor 2-1.

Sorry.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Well, maybe it's not really important to reach the group stage of the UEFA-Cup...

Ok, lets put it this way:

Schalke won their first match and were a pretty sure bet to go through before the game and you complimented them on getting 52000 fans for a 'meaningless game'.

We were in the same situation as them pretty much as we had won away and were huge favourites, about 95% odds were we would go through. You then said it was bad that we only had 10000 fans in an 'important game'.

The use of little words like that can go from you raising a valid point(Schalke getting more for unimportant matches) to you sounding completely unobjective, and therefore not serious. Use meaningless for both sides or hell, important for both sides. But don't differ unfairly between them as every now and then someone will read both your posts and think you sound like a hypocrite.

And anyway, of course reaching the Uefa Cup group stage itself was important. And hey, we did it. :cool:

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Anyway, Bremen today.

I gotta say i'm not confident.

Our defene will be completely missed up as our two best defenders our out injured. There's even talk of Rudy moving back to central defence to play alongside Tasci here. I dunno, after 15 professional bundesliga minutes, i'm more than a little worried about him making a start out of position against Werder Bremen.

Pardo still injured so Khedira will start again. Hilbert, despite poor form, will start again, and Lanig will again play in the creator role as both Basturk and Simak our out injured.

The only area that looks 100% is the attack: Cacau is set to return to the starting side after a break midweek to partner Gomez.

Anyway, come on guys! You're capable of good football, we all know it, so just go out and show it today!!

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Last minute news:

Magnin starts on the left, Boka moves to the center alongside Tasci. No place for Rudy.

Lanig out of the starting side, Khedira playing in the creator role today, and youngster Traesch, who has played 1 BL game for us against Schalke last season, starts at DM.


We'lll see, game starts now...

[THOMA GOL]

The way it's going, only a matter of time before the first Schwaben goal, hopefully. Nice pressure. Bremen are all jacked up right now.

[THOMA GOL]

Toooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrr!!!!

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

GOAL!!!!
KHEDIRA!!!

We're up 1-0, but it's still early days :)

Come on guys, great start!

[THOMA GOL]

Trasch TOOOOOOOOORRRLAAAAZOOOOOOOOO !!! 2-0

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

GOALLLLLLLLLL! 2-0! AMAZING GOAL! ********ING BEAUTIFUL GOAL!!!!


AND GUESS WHO?????

TRAESCH!!!

Absolute beauty! This is easily our best half of the season!

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

2-0 up at halftime ! Amazing performance so far, i'm so pleased with our boys!!

The defence has been very strong despite our two top players missing. Tasci, Osorio, Magnin and Boka have all been strong.

The midfield has also been excellent. Hitz hasn't been too present but hasn't made any big mistakes either, Hilbert still doesn't look too confident but has been very active, Khedira has been simply excelent so far, very nice goal, then good passes, good ball wins, great job by him so far. And finally there's Traesch - who would've thought??! Well, he scored the goal of the week probably, amazing volley. Great job!

Gomez has been strong in attack but has missed 2 huge chances, Cacau meanwhile has been excellent, setting up a goal and always looking dangerous when he's on the ball.

It's been an excellent half, but things aren't over yet, Bremen will come out attacking and we will need to match them in the second half, this win isn't secure yet by any means.

However this is a totally different team than the one that played on Thursday.

[THOMA GOL]

Hopefully Schwaben doesn't relax but rather go for the blowout, also playing smart possession ball.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Gomez missed his third 100% chance today... but it's ok, still 2-0, 30 minutes left to hold on!

[Syriaman]

go go,the best match!


VFB,VFB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

It's 3!!!!!!!!

HILBERT!!!!!!


Game over now I think, what a brilliant, brilliant match!!!

[THOMA GOL]

So simple. Game over. Tschuss Bremen!

Even after that Diego goal.