(R) VfB Stuttgart Thread 08/09

[Syriaman]

Yes,we were playing really good.Congrats to our boys.:D

[ForeverRed]

Good away win and start for you guys today but taking your foot off the gass in the second half was not very good. I do think Lehmann will do you a lot of good this season though.

[footyfan1]

Good away win and start for you guys today but taking your foot off the gass in the second half was not very good. I do think Lehmann will do you a lot of good this season though.

True. After those lackluster UEFA Cup Qualification performances, I didn't know what to expect from this Stuttgart team. Much better performance.

But I think it helped that Gladbach played as if they were still in the 2. Liga too.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Wow, I'm so pleased with this start :)

After all, the away losses of last season, it was such a good feeling to watch them play such a good game as they did today. I was worried we may struggle against Gladbach but instead we played our own game, and did so very well. Starting the season with an away win is awesome :) - it is also our first win on the first day of the season in 4 years!

I really was simply pleased with the entire side today.


The new players who started today made their presence known straight away: Lehmann is such an upgrade on Schaefer that it's almost comical. Number of good stops today, a real reassurance for the whole defence, only made one single small mistake in the entire game, and that one mistake went unpunished. Other than that, excellent performance by him. And Jan Simak was just, my personal man of the match. Two assists, one which he created perfectly by winning the ball in a tight position then setting up Marica perfectly, and the other through an excellent coutner attacking pass. Other than that, he genuinely seemed to possess the vision and intelligence in midfield that the likes of our recent creators have been missing. Awesome start!

The defense I was pleased with. Gladbach played pretty attacking but we held them off well most of the time. Boka was very active on the left, made the odd mistake(as we have gotten used to with him), but was ultimately imposing and he also saved TWO(!) balls off the line during the game - that he has to be praised for. Good game. Osorio also played well on the right side, I swear it works much better when Hilbert goes to the rightwing and Osorio plays RB. He most notably assisted the first goal. Tasci and Delpierre were also solid in defense - there's gonna be a real competition when Boulahrouz is fit!

Midfield was also good. Hitz capped off his first BL game as captain with a goal, and lead the team well, Simak we've already discussed. Hilbert and Pardo can perhaps both improve a bit, but neither had a poor performance.

And the attack was great too, Marica on a roll right now and i'm loving it, and Gomez, despite missing some good chances, still did well, especially with scoring that goal through the keeper's legs in a very tight angle.


Not much else to say, great start, I hope this is a sign of things to come!

[ForeverRed]

True. After those lackluster UEFA Cup Qualification performances, I didn't know what to expect from this Stuttgart team. Much better performance.

I'm with you on that. This team is a bit of an enigma. On one hand they have a side that won the league two years ago with plenty of talent and capable players, on the other is the team that tends to underperform and had that aweful start to the season last year. It could go either way really. I do think that getting Lehmann was huge IMO and will pay off in the end. He is a big character and a leader that will instill some confidence and urgency in the team. He'll be good for some of the younger players.

I think a lot will also depend on how Marica will play so they don't rely fully on Gomez for goals. I don't know how much Simak will help them and Basturk is past it IMO so players like Khedira and Hilbert will have to step it up another level. Its going to be interesting to track their progress this season. A part of me feels that there is much more to this team than a one season wonder.

[Borussia]

Congrats on the deserved win (you perfectly took profit of our mistakes & naivity) and good luck for the UEFA-Cup match in Györ!

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Player ratings:

Jens Lehmann: Kicker Rating: 2
My Rating: 2.5

Arthur Boka: KR: 3.5
MR: 2.5

Matthieu Delpierre: KR: 3
MR: 3

Serdar Tasci: KR: 3
MR: 3

Ricardo Osorio: KR: 3
MR: 2.5

Pavel Pardo: KR: 3.5
MR: 4

Thomas Hitzlsperger: KR: 2 (Man of the match)
MR: 2.5

Roberto Hilbert: KR: 3.5
MR: 3.5

Jan Simak: KR: 2.5
MR: 2(Man of the match)

Ciprian Marica: KR: 3
MR: 2.5

Mario Gomez: KR: 3
MR: 2.5

[Borussia]

You've got 2 MOTM ? :eek:;)

Damn, why does Simak always play so well against us? :-)
At least Hilbert didn't score against us this time...

[Etown United]

Thanks for the info about tickets.

[Rainer24]

You've got 2 MOTM ? :eek:;)

Damn, why does Simak always play so well against us? :-)
At least Hilbert didn't score against us this time...



One is Kicker's MOTM, the other is his choice.

[ForeverRed]

I have to admitt, when you signed Simak my thoughts were initially that he wouldn't do you guys much good. But if he continues to play like he did against Gladbach he would be quite a signing.

[footyfan1]

I have to admitt, when you signed Simak my thoughts were initially that he wouldn't do you guys much good. But if he continues to play like he did against Gladbach he would be quite a signing.


Those were my thoughts exactly. And I agree with your comments!

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

I have to admitt, when you signed Simak my thoughts were initially that he wouldn't do you guys much good. But if he continues to play like he did against Gladbach he would be quite a signing.

I must admit I was skeptical at first too, though it turns out that so far he's been a big improvement as a creator over last season's Basturk :)

[footyfan1]

I must admit I was skeptical at first too, though it turns out that so far he's been a big improvement as a creator over last season's Basturk :)


OK, that, I knew he would be..... ;)

[Borussia]

One is Kicker's MOTM, the other is his choice.

I've checked it in the meanwhile. :) My MOTM is that damn Lehmann. ;)

[footyfan1]

I've checked it in the meanwhile. :) My MOTM is that damn Lehmann. ;)


LOL!! :D

[Rainer24]

Tasci is going to make his debut for Germany! Great for him and VfB. Several national team players in the side these days.

[budullewraagh]

I haven't heard much on the injuries to Cacau and Boulahrouz...who do you all think will start this Saturday?

[Rainer24]

Probably pretty much the same guys as the last game. Marica should start ahead of Cacau based on form anyway.


Pardo scored both of Mexico's goals in their 2-1 World Cup Qualifier win yesterday.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Big let down today :(

I'll give my opinion on it all a bit later.