VfB Stuttgart - Pushing for Europe, 08/09 Season Thread Part III (R)

[schwabenland]

Luis Fabiano plays for Sevilla, not Valencia ;)

[footyfan1]

Luis Fabiano plays for Sevilla, not Valencia ;)


Thanks. I went back and fixed that.

[Rainer24]

I'm with Sean.

I wouldn't want a guy who so obviously doesn't want to join my club and only will if someone else doesn't come for him....

Huntelaar isn't the only guy who can fill that void. He might not even be the best one.

Just the biggest "name".......

Yeah, he was never my first choice. I'm not crazy about the Vagner Love idea , either. Guy is a midget, but he does get goals, so whatever.

I doubt he would be interested, but we should at least put out a feeler for Fabiano since his price is known and we are apparently willing to spend that kind of money this summer. He turns 29 this year, so doesn't really seem like the kind of guy we would pay that much for, and I'm sure he looking for a big pay day, as this might be his final transfer.

[footyfan1]

Yeah, he was never my first choice. I'm not crazy about the Vagner Love idea , either. Guy is a midget, but he does get goals, so whatever.

I doubt he would be interested, but we should at least put out a feeler for Fabiano since his price is known and we are apparently willing to spend that kind of money this summer. He turns 29 this year, so doesn't really seem like the kind of guy we would pay that much for, and I'm sure he looking for a big pay day, as this might be his final transfer.


Stuttgart does have options in this matter if Huntelaar chooses not to join.

There are still quite a few transfer scenarios to play out.

[benztown]

Latest rumor: The Spurs are going for Negredo.

I expect Huntelaar in Stuttgart tomorrow.
*Fingers crossed*

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1200113/Tottenham-Hotspur-close-13m-Real-Madrid-striker-Alvaro-Negredo.html

[schwabenland]

Latest rumor: The Spurs are going for Negredo.

I expect Huntelaar in Stuttgart tomorrow.
*Fingers crossed*

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1200113/Tottenham-Hotspur-close-13m-Real-Madrid-striker-Alvaro-Negredo.html

Hell Yeah!!! GREAT :D:D

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

We won our latest friendly 9-0 against mighty Pinzgaum :)

Watched the highlights on VfB TV.

Tasci scored the first goal after some nice work by Cacau who laid it off for Tasci to tap in. The 2-0 was again good work by Cacau who, following a nice through ball by Rudy, laid it off this time for Marica to tap in. Rudy scored the 3-0 himself with a nice shot into the bottom right corner. Incidentally, Cacau was the assister again. 4-0 was again a tap in, oddly enough again by Tasci, and even odder, with the set up being by Boulahrouz. A nice co-production of our two central defenders!

In the second half, a nice chip by Hitzlsperger was forwarded by Rudy to Marica who finished off nicely beating the keeper. Rudy got his own brace for the 6-0 by finishing off coolly following a flat cross by Magnin. Cacau got his goal for the 7-0 smashing the ball into the top of the net. 25 minutes before the end then 8 of the players were subbed off. In the remaining minutes two more goals were scored, first Schieber's pass across the face of the goal was tapped in by Basturk, and then Schieber got a goal himself following some horror defending.

Full side:
Stolz (46. Ulreich) - Osorio (64. Träsch), Tasci (64. Niedermeier), Boulahrouz, Magnin - Hilbert (64. Gebhart), Lanig (64. Schwarz), Hitzlsperger (64. Elson), Rudy (64. Simak) - Marica (64. Schieber), Cacau (64. Bastürk)

[footyfan1]

Latest rumor: The Spurs are going for Negredo.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1200113/Tottenham-Hotspur-close-13m-Real-Madrid-striker-Alvaro-Negredo.html



Actually, that's an old rumor re-released.

Again, consider the source.

BTW, I don't believe Real will sell both Huntelaar and Negredo.

One or the other.

If they sell both, it would only leave Higuain, Benzema, Raul, and van Nistelrooy on the roster.

And before you say "David Villa", Barca seems to have the lead on him........



I expect Huntelaar in Stuttgart tomorrow.
*Fingers crossed*

Despite all my comments, I do hope you're right. I'm just trying to help "keep it Real" LOL!! :D

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

So, here's what my (premature) impressions of the squad are from the early training games and how they're gearing up for the season.

In goal Lehmann has yet to play in any of the friendlies but he's obviously number 1. Stolz will most likely remain the number 2 ahead of shaky Ulreich.

In central defence, Boulahrouz seems to be ahead of Delpierre in the early stages for who will partner Tasci in central defence, and i'm Osorio has been getting more minutes than Traesch at rightback. Interestingly enough, I thought Traesch's good end-of-season performances would mean he'd be the starter in that spot going into the new season but so far it appears that Osorio has been used more in the friendlies. At leftback, Boka hasn't played much yet as he's still recovering from last season's injury and Magnin will probably remain first choice in that spot. Celozzi didn't play in the last game but he did in some of the ones before - he hasn't stood out really so far and will have to raise his game a bit if he is to challenge for a starting spot once the season starts.

In midfield there's been some surprises in the performances. Khedira isn't palying much yet 'cause he had practically no summer due to being busy captaining the U21s to glory :), Hitz however has been playing but isn't near the top of his game yet. Lanig has been decent but hasn't stood out. Our two main starting wingers in the last 5-10 matches last season were Hilbert and Gebhart, yet neither or them have had much of an impact in the friendlies so far. However, Simak and Elson have both been banging in numerous goals and creating chances. In Didavi and Rudy we also have two up-and-coming wingers who have impressed so far and could play a role in the coming season. Rudy I especially expect to play a part - we all know he's a big talent and indeed he could've perhaps broken through last season but injury prevented it. He returned to VfBII and was imo the best player for the reserves in the rest of the season and I expect he'll be getting minutes this season. He seems to have similar talent to Fischer (in a different position) but with a better work-ethic. Could well be the next real deal. Basturk has done decently, but with Babbel's system I don't see where he'd fit in anywhere. Unless we played with just one attacker. Schwarz has done little to impress me up until now - but still early days.

In attack, obviously I hope we will still get our star. But as for the others, Cacau and Marica have both been decent until now. Cacau plays well but now without Gomez I would hope he'll be scoring more goals himself. Marica in any case needs to do better this year than in the first 2. Schieber is also a talent but for now I wouldn't expect him to challenge seriously for a starting spot yet. Riedle has shown talent when he's played but he's only 17 and i'll be surprised if he plays any role in the a-team in the next season.

Our current lineup going into the season, excluding possible buys, looks like this:

---------------------Lehmann
Stolz
Osorio----------Tasci-------Boulah/Delp-------Magnin
Traesch/Celozzi Niedermeier Boulah/Delpi-------Boka/Celozzi
----------------Khedira-----Hitzlsperger
Lanig Basturk/Schwarz
Hilbert/Gebhart--------------------------------Gebhart/Rudy/Simak
Hilbert/Gebhart/Elson/Didavi Gebhart/Rudy/Simak
-----------------Cacau---------Marica
Basturk/Riedle Schieber


All in all, it's still incredibly unclear :D

We'll obviously get a better picture after the next friendlies, when we play that cup again Bayern, Schalke and HSV (forget already what it's called) it should by then be a good indicator as to where we stand going into the season.

What is clear is we really, really need a new top striker, as we all already knew our current attack doesn't quite cut the mustard. I hope KJH is soon on his way. And hell, if he says no, I hope Love will be on his way.

We also need a winger still regardless how much Huntelaar or any other striker would cost. We have many wingers now, yet none really stand out. If we got a leftwinger, Hilbert and Gebhart could fight for the rightwing slot, if we got a rightwinger, Hilbert and Elson could be back up and Gebhart could continue to fight for a starting spot at leftwing where he played last season, against talent Rudy and Simak.


So, questions to answer before the season starts:
- Who will be our new attacker?
- Will we buy a new winger? If yes, who???
- If not, then who will start on the wings??? Very unclear atm.
- Will Osorio remain ahead of Traesch and Celozzi for the rightback spot, at odds with what I predicted a month ago?
- Will it be Delpierre or Boulah who partner Tasci in central defence?
- Will either a healthy Boka or Celozzi be able to contest Magnin's starting spot?
- Where could Basturk fit into any of this??? He hasn't been bad, but he's not part of the system at all. Only time he's played competitively under Babbel, we got smoked 5-1 and he was invisible. And it doesn't seem he'll be leaving.




Many, many questions.

Will be exciting to see how it all pans out.

[schwabenland]

1. Spurs have jumped ahead of Stuttgart in the signing of Huntelaar. Stuttgart are still to agree terms with Madrid due to the 6 million Euro's Madrid have to pay Ajax. Stuttgart refuse to pay anymore then £15m.5 however Spurs have apparently agreed to pay near to £17m. According to Hunter Huntelaar preferred choice is Spurs and the Prem rather then Stuttgart and Bundesliga.

2. Hunter said Huntelaar will definately leave Madrid as he is the only big name who has not travelled to Ireland with the Madrid squad.

2. Spurs first choice is Huntelaar rather then Negrado. Spurs have not agreed terms with Madrid for Negrado, but if the Huntelaar thing doesn't happen then Nagredo is the next choice.

3. Spurs could still have a very good chance in signing Robben. Hunter is adamant Madrid want to sell Robben despite his comments that he wants to stay.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

Sources for any of this?

[footyfan1]

Sources for any of this?


I don't know where he got it from but similar stories have been all of the The Sun and The Daily Mail for awhile now.

Hopefully, this will be done today and Huntelaar will sign for VfB.

[Rainer24]

I think this is all coming from Graham Hunter, who covers La Liga for Sky Sports and really seems to know his shit. If he is saying stuff like this, I am genuinely worried.

[benztown]

So now Huntelaar apparently said that he'll publicly announce what he's going to do on Monday. This is getting ridiculous. I think we should up the pressure a bit, so that it won't take any longer than that. Make Monday the official dead line.

Should Huntelaar not come, I hope that we already talked to Berg. Now that a move to Hamburg seems to be off the table, he would be my #2 choice, plus we'd still have enough money to sign another top player. Vagner Love would probably be just as expensive as Huntelaar and TBH, I think he would be just as big a risk as Berg.

[footyfan1]

So now Huntelaar apparently said that he'll publicly announce what he's going to do on Monday. This is getting ridiculous. I think we should up the pressure a bit, so that it won't take any longer than that. Make Monday the official dead line.

Should Huntelaar not come, I hope that we already talked to Berg. Now that a move to Hamburg seems to be off the table, he would be my #2 choice, plus we'd still have enough money to sign another top player. Vagner Love would probably be just as expensive as Huntelaar and TBH, I think he would be just as big a risk as Berg.


I disagree with you totally on the Berg thing. I saw your comments over at the HSV thread too, but decided not to discuss there.

If you can't find someone PROVEN, you need to get someone who at least has experience at the European level.

What has Berg done? Scored goals in the Dutch league (17 last season)?

Had a nice U-21 tournament on his home soil??

If you're going to get a striker with nothing but potential, save the freakin' money and give Fischer his chance.

I get that Berg is the "flavor of the moment", but don't lose sight of what it is VfB actually needs.

You guys have enough young strikers, you need someone who you know can get it done in Europe.

[benztown]

I disagree with you totally on the Berg thing. I saw your comments over at the HSV thread too, but decided not to discuss there.

If you can't find someone PROVEN, you need to get someone who at least has experience at the European level.

What has Berg done? Scored goals in the Dutch league (17 last season)?

Had a nice U-21 tournament on his home soil??

If you're going to get a striker with nothing but potential, save the freakin' money and give Fischer his chance.

I get that Berg is the "flavor of the moment", but don't lose sight of what it is VfB actually needs.

You guys have enough young strikers, you need someone who you know can get it done in Europe.

I agree that he's a risk, but I'm not sure that Vagner Love would fit in either. With Huntelaar I'm actually pretty sure that he could replace Gomez for the most part. I think Berg's style of play is more similar to that of Gomez than Vagner Love's, so while he might not be on the same lever experience wise, I think he isn't any more risky, since he'd be easier to integrate. Especially since he'd only cost us half of Love.

The advantage of Berg would be that we'd save a lot in transfer fee as well as salary. So there would be enough room to buy another high quality winger. This of course only makes sense if Heldt has already talked to a winger like that and is confident that we could sign him. Otherwise I totally agree that we shouldn't go for Berg and focus on Huntelaar and Vagner Love.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

I would prefer Love to Berg. But I would like Berg. And I would like Huntelaar more than either of them. But I am no longer optimistic that he'll come. I think Monday he'll announce he won't be coming. And if that happens, I hope we'll have cleared everything with Love and with Moscow to allow a swift transfer.

[footyfan1]

I agree that he's a risk, but I'm not sure that Vagner Love would fit in either. With Huntelaar I'm actually pretty sure that he could replace Gomez for the most part. I think Berg's style of play is more similar to that of Gomez than Vagner Love's, so while he might not be on the same lever experience wise, I think he isn't any more risky, since he'd be easier to integrate. Especially since he'd only cost us half of Love.


And I guess total lack of European experience doesn't matter?

Vagner Love played in 10 UEFA Cup matches last season. He scored in 7 of them.

Against weak teams? Mostly, yes. However, he at least has that experience.

That's what you're paying for.

And with what you guys are going into next season, you need experience, not potential.



The advantage of Berg would be that we'd save a lot in transfer fee as well as salary. So there would be enough room to buy another high quality winger. This of course only makes sense if Heldt has already talked to a winger like that and is confident that we could sign him. Otherwise I totally agree that we shouldn't go for Berg and focus on Huntelaar and Vagner Love.


With everything you guys have riding on next season, I don't see how Berg makes much sense at all.

I think getting a player like Berg also sends the wrong message to your young talents coming up.

Karl-Heinz Riedle was asked why he sent his son to Stuttgart instead of one of his ex-clubs Bremen or Dortmund.

He said it is because of your record of giving young players a chance.

Again, at this point, I think you need experience over potential.

[benztown]

And I guess total lack of European experience doesn't matter?

Vagner Love played in 10 UEFA Cup matches last season. He scored in 7 of them.

Against weak teams? Mostly, yes. However, he at least has that experience.

That's what you're paying for.

And with what you guys are going into next season, you need experience, not potential.






With everything you guys have riding on next season, I don't see how Berg makes much sense at all.

I think getting a player like Berg also sends the wrong message to your young talents coming up.

Karl-Heinz Riedle was asked why he sent his son to Stuttgart instead of one of his ex-clubs Bremen or Dortmund.

He said it is because of your record of giving young players a chance.

Again, at this point, I think you need experience over potential.

Yeah, I guess you're right there...At this point, we need experience...I have to concede that.

Although I'm not sure about Schieber and Fischer anymore...I just hope that Riedle will turn out to be diamond in the rough and that he'll be a great addition to the first team a couple of years down the road.

[Rainer24]

And I guess total lack of European experience doesn't matter?

Vagner Love played in 10 UEFA Cup matches last season. He scored in 7 of them.

Against weak teams? Mostly, yes. However, he at least has that experience.

That's what you're paying for.

And with what you guys are going into next season, you need experience, not potential.






With everything you guys have riding on next season, I don't see how Berg makes much sense at all.

I think getting a player like Berg also sends the wrong message to your young talents coming up.

Karl-Heinz Riedle was asked why he sent his son to Stuttgart instead of one of his ex-clubs Bremen or Dortmund.

He said it is because of your record of giving young players a chance.

Again, at this point, I think you need experience over potential.


Of course, but that's the way we've always done thing and that's got us to where we are. We need to buy a bit more to move up in the world.