9/21: Sargent (start) - Bremen v. Leipzig

With the obvious caveat I understand english is his second language, this color guy on FS 2 is laughably bad. Just doesn't stop talking, but it's all nonsensical. Actually hilarious.

 

Just started watching 5 minutes ago (32nd minute now). So far, Sargent isn't seeing the ball. Leipzig is bossing the game and keeping possession in Werder's half.

 

Leipzig up 2-0 now after a great free kick by Sabitzer. It's looking like this will be a fairly useless game for Sargent. Maybe if Leipzig go up by 3 or 4, they'll take their foot of the gas, Werder can get some offensive possession, and Sargent can get some touches.

 

Sargent just picked up a loose ball in his own half...and was dispossessed immediately.

 

Almost got on the end of a good cross, but was about half a step behind.

 

Has held it up well a few times only to have poor options. Had a good run in on goal ~10 minutes in but lost control and fell down around 6 yards out. Some chippier moments between the teams but he's kept his distance from them. Leipzig clearly the stronger team.

 

He was a bit more involved in the last 10 minutes or so of the half, but honestly, I felt like the CB or DM pretty much ate his lunch every time he got on the ball.

 

At this point Pizarro is starting to look like a better alternative.

 

Don't think there's much you can say either way for Sargent. I watched the first half, and Werder had all 11 behind the ball the entire time, with Sargent and the other forward nearly going back to their own 18. Whenever he got the ball, it was in his own half and nobody really there to support.

I thought he looked about the best of any of the attackers/midfielders, which says just about nothing cuz they are not even trying to win, and RB is way better.

 

Klaassen, Eggestein and Goller have all been involved in the couple of chances created by Bremen. Josh has lost nearly every ball he tried to move forward.

 

Hard to evaluate Sargent in a game where the other team is so clearly on a different level from his team. He's doing more defending than anything.
I mean, Leipzig wins the ball back in their half, 3 Werder players try to win it back, and Leipzig effortlessly breaks 3 lines in a row and is off to the races.

 

I've heard this refrain about our players hundreds of times over the years. It has never convinced me. Good players make an impact, even on poor teams.

Note this is just a general point, not an indictment of Sergeant.

 

Sargent (nor anyone else for Bremen) not looking all that threatening. But good holdup play in the second half after a few sloppy giveaways in the first half.

 

Pizarro in for Eggestein, not Sargent, so that's a good sign, I guess.

 

RB red card this could get interesting

 

Agreed. You can make the case that this performance hasn't hurt Sargent, since Werder's undermanned, severely outplayed, and Sargent is still young and inexperienced and hasn't been any worse than more established teammates, which is all true. But the flip side is that he hasn't done anything to make a positive case for more starts either.

 

Nice pass back by Sargent to start that chance. Smart pass, too: to the open guy.

PS: One of the Eggesteins was taken out due to a knock, it seems. Not sure if it was Johannes (the forward) or Max (the midfielder). I suspect it's the latter, who was just back from injury.

 

It seems that Sargent has recognized he needs to play more one-touch passes. He's figured out that Leipzig presses super fast and super hard, and he will lose any physical battles with those CBs if he's caught on the ball.

 

I think Sargent’s lay offs have been excellent, that’s about all he can do under the circumstances. RB with 10 still looks the more dangerous side.

 

Bittencourt has killed at least 3 half-chances or better now, hasn't he?

 

RBL is faster at everything. Faster runners, faster passes, faster thinking.

 

I will say that I'm happy for Adams to be coming back to this Leipzig team. They look really good. It's always foolish to think anyone other than Bayern will win the title, but I think Leipzig (along with Dortmund) can keep things interesting for quite a while.