VfB Stuttgart Thread- Winter Pause und Ruckrunde 08-09[R]

[footyfan1]

While I'm really angry at our team for the performance against Bayern in the cup, I think it's no disgrace to go out in the UEFA cup against the defending champion.

We gave our best and it simply wasn't good enough. We were somewhat unlucky in the first game, and we simply couldn't penetrate Zenit's defense in the second.


Agree with this opinion. I see nothing for VfB fans to be ashamed of or try to make up excuses for.

I think those who are making excuses are taking away from a good effort by your team.

I can't even be critical of your team last night. As you said, they gave their best and it simply wasn't good enough.

If I were a VfB fan, my words would mirror yours.

[Rainer24]

From everything you wrote, I got the impression that trying to write off what you saw as a lackluster performance is exactly what you did whether you were trying to or not.

Your comments read exactly like someone who says, "No offense" just before they proceed to say something completely offensive.

I thought you guys fought hard last night but were simply beaten by a Zenit team who came and did what they had to do.

I thought that match was one hell of a battle.

As you said, they were the better team. They are the defending Cup holders for a reason.

I thought you guys showed plenty of fight and will, but it just wasn't your night.


No, that really isn't what I meant. We were clearly beaten, but I did not see a total team effort and I was really disappointed with a couple of performances in particular. I didn't notice Sami doing the sort of running we are used to from him, but he may just be behind as far as fitness is concerned from having been sick over the break.

I'm not even saying that we could have done something different to win. I think they were the better team and simply outplayed us, no question. It just seemed to me that we ceded the midfield without all that much of a fight, looking only to counter, and that is really a dissatisfying approach to take on your home field. I thought the defense was much better than it had been recently, so that was definitely a bit of a positive. I mean, looking at it differently, Cacau probably should have finished at least one of those two chances in the first half, and on current form, Gomez probably would have put both in the back of the net. Not taking those sorts of chances is definitely the sort of thing that means the difference between winning and losing, so there's no question that we were simply beaten by the better, more experienced team. I just didn't feel a real sense of urgency for a long stretch there in the second half and it kind of disappointed me. They seemed to be everywhere, harassing our guys whenever we did get the ball, so hats off to them for that.

[Borussia]

You know man, when I first heard the attendance figures for tonight I immediately told myself 'Borussia is gonna come on the VfB thread and point this out'.


LOOOL.

When did I ever care about your attendance figures? I was only surprised because this was not a group stage game but an important k.o. match against the title holder with realistic chances for your guys to go through.

[footyfan1]

LOOOL.

When did I ever care about your attendance figures? I was only surprised because this was not a group stage game but an important k.o. match against the title holder with realistic chances for your guys to go through.

And it was also on TV.

Hmmmm, spend money to stand or sit in a cold stadium or spend that money on beer and watch in my living room or in a pub with my buddies??

Tough choice........ :cool:

[Rainer24]

And it was also on TV.

Hmmmm, spend money to stand or sit in a cold stadium or spend that money on beer and watch in my living room or in a pub with my buddies??

Tough choice........ :cool:


Yeah, but there was a much better crowd for the final group stage match. It was weird. I know it was kind of cold, but it was a pretty lame turnout.

[footyfan1]

Yeah, but there was a much better crowd for the final group stage match. It was weird. I know it was kind of cold, but it was a pretty lame turnout.

You mean the match against Standard??

Not according to "Kicker."

According to "Kicker" attendance at that final group stage match against Standard was 28,500.

They list last night's crowd at 34,500.

Either "Kicker" is lying or whomever reported the 30,000 number didn't know what the hell they were talking about.

[Rainer24]

You mean the match against Standard??

Not according to "Kicker."

According to "Kicker" attendance at that final group stage match against Standard was 28,500.

They list last night's crowd at 34,500.

Either "Kicker" is lying or whomever reported the 30,000 number didn't know what the hell they were talking about.


Or I am just remembering a different game. I would bet on that possibility. In any event, it seemed like the crowd that showed up for that game was much more energetic, but I guess that usually is the case when your team is playing particularly well.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

LOOOL.

When did I ever care about your attendance figures?

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=723398&highlight=VfB+Stuttgart&page=22

Post #219

Borussia:

‘PS: Only 8,000 fans attended this important home game, that’s really disappointing in my eyes.’

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=613909&highlight=Stuttgart&page=4

Post # 36 TOLH writes:

7500 attendance?!?!

Post #39 Borussia quotes and writes:

‘That’s really worth of a champion, isn’t it? :D :p’

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

You mean the match against Standard??

Not according to "Kicker."

According to "Kicker" attendance at that final group stage match against Standard was 28,500.

They list last night's crowd at 34,500.

Either "Kicker" is lying or whomever reported the 30,000 number didn't know what the hell they were talking about.

Kicker didn't lie, there were more people yesterday than in the Liege game.

[Rainer24]

Kicker didn't lie, there were more people yesterday than in the Liege game.


Yeah, like I said, I'm probably just remembering some other game.

[Borussia]

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=723398&highlight=VfB+Stuttgart&page=22

Post #219

Borussia:

‘PS: Only 8,000 fans attended this important home game, that’s really disappointing in my eyes.’

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=613909&highlight=Stuttgart&page=4

Post # 36 TOLH writes:

7500 attendance?!?!

Post #39 Borussia quotes and writes:

‘That’s really worth of a champion, isn’t it? :D :p’


Well, that was another story ... since attendances á la Fürth in a 55,000 capacity stadium are embarrassing for a large city like Stuttgart even in the Cup against 2nd league teams or in the UEFA-Cup against Eastern European teams. :p



Hmmmm, spend money to stand or sit in a cold stadium or spend that money on beer and watch in my living room or in a pub with my buddies??


I think it's about supporting the own team in a decisive & tough match against a top opponent. Who knows if the VfB fans will get the opportunity to watch international football next season...

But well, it's the choice of the Stuttgart fans whether they want to go to the stadium or watch the game at home on tv.

[Rainer24]

Hey guys, time to get pumped for this game tomorrow! Derby weekend! Elson and Gebhart both impressed against Zenit, so I hope they both at least get a sub appearance, circumstances allowing, of course.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Well, that was another story ... since attendances á la Fürth in a 55,000 capacity stadium are embarrassing for a large city like Stuttgart even in the Cup against 2nd league teams or in the UEFA-Cup against Eastern European teams. :p

No it's not another story, you asked 'when did I care about attendance figures' and I showed exactly when in the past you have cared about them. How the ******** that is another story is beyond me.

Fact is last year we played 43 matches, this year we played 37 matches so far. So roughly 40 home matches - our attendance figures are above 50,000 for 85-90% of these matches, and it's annoying when almost every time they aren't you come on and mention it. Yet you never comment on certain games like the derby or Bayern being sold out 2 months in advance...

You can be pretty insulting pretty often(like every time you call our performances a 'disgrace' - you've done that like 5 times too, so I can go back and get those posts as well if you deny this) almost without knowing you are, at least that's how I feel.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Hey guys, time to get pumped for this game tomorrow! Derby weekend! Elson and Gebhart both impressed against Zenit, so I hope they both at least get a sub appearance, circumstances allowing, of course.

I'm with you on this one :)

I've already started to forget about Europe and i'm just looking forward to a Derby Sieg. And man it would be sweet to beat K** in their own home.

For lineup:
We've got problems in defence. Now Boulahrouz is suspended - so we're gonna have a very experimental backline in this one: i'd go with Traesch at leftback even if Magnin is fit, Magnin was just awful against Hoffenheim and Traesch was solid on Thursday. Since Delpierre is still injured and Boulahrouz now out, question over who to play in central defence - odds are that Niedermaier will make his debut for us. I'm not big on a debut being made in such a crucial game, but no other option. Hopefully he can impress :)

Then in midfield Khedira and Hitz should make up the centre, who to start at the wings? Kicker have Hilbert on the right and Lanig starting instead of Simak on the left. I'd be okay with that - but part of me does want Gebhart to start. He had a dream debut against Zenit, scoring in the first 15 minutes of his VfB career - and it was a nice goal too! So i'd like to see him. But i'm guessing it's unlikely Babbel will start him.

In attack i'd go with Cacau over Marica.

Overall:
-----------------Lehmann
Osorio----Niedermaier---Tasci-------Traesch
-----------Khedira-----Hitzlsperger
Hilbert---------------------------------Lanig
-----------Cacau-------Gomez

http://www.lostboys99.de/fotos/2008-2009/vfb-ksc/DSC023640.jpg

[Rainer24]

It would be surprising to see Gebhart get his first start in an away derby match, but he looked pretty good the other night, so who knows? Personally, I do hope Lanig starts ahead of Simak, so has been really disappointing ever since he joined up.

The defense is a bit of cause for concern, but it's not as if the CBs have been playing all that well lately, so maybe a shakeup with a chance for a young guy is just what they need. Who knows? I really am hoping for three points. Karlsruhe are having a really bad season, so beating us could really make their, so we need to play well.

[Doc_Aeppler]

btw sweet choreo agaisnt Hopp...

http://www.lostboys99.de/fotos/2008-2009/vfb-hoffenheim/vfb-hoffenheim.htm

http://www.lostboys99.de/fotos/2008-2009/vfb-hoffenheim/DSC065450.jpg

http://www.lostboys99.de/fotos/2008-2009/vfb-hoffenheim/DSC020030.jpg

:)

[seashore10]

It maybe puts too much pressure on Gebhart if start him in today's match. This kid shows potential in UEFA-Cup but it is better to sub him around 60 minutes.

According to kicker, Lehmann, Delpierre, Gomez, Khedira and Gebhart already got 4 yellow cards before this match.

This looks good.

Overall:
-----------------Lehmann
Osorio----Niedermaier---Tasci-------Traesch
-----------Khedira-----Hitzlsperger
Hilbert---------------------------------Lanig
-----------Cacau-------Gomez

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

btw sweet choreo agaisnt Hopp...

http://www.lostboys99.de/fotos/2008-2009/vfb-hoffenheim/vfb-hoffenheim.htm

:)

Thanks for the appreciation man :)

I posted the choreo a few pages back, I think it was pretty well done, also adressed a key issue: no matter what the media or Hoffenheim fans want to make of it, our derby is against K**, not against them, and so the talk of VfB-Hoffenheim being the BW derby is simply incorrect.

[Doc_Aeppler]

I know exactly what you are talking about. It was the exact same with us and Mainz when they played Bundesliga and were the Media-Hype-Team for a year or two...

Stuttgart has generally had some sweet choreos lately, especially given the stadium isnt really perfect for them, as it is not very steep... :)

[Borussia]

You can be pretty insulting pretty often(like every time you call our performances a 'disgrace' - you've done that like 5 times too, so I can go back and get those posts as well if you deny this) almost without knowing you are, at least that's how I feel.

Sorry, I didn't know you are that thin-skinned. If my club had a home attendance of less than 10,000 in an important game, I'd call that embarrassing as well ... and surely wouldn't be offended if fans of other clubs would do that, too.

And I can't remember having ever called your team's performance a disgrace (maybe you want to go back and show me those posts as well, if you are so keen on that)! I've only called it a disgrace (=Blamage) to lose a Cup home match as champion against the bottom team of the 2nd league ... and if you are honest, that wasn't an insult but a fact!