VfB Stuttgart in the B2: 2016/17 Season First Half - Hinrunde Discussion

I downloaded this match (it was super slow, but I figured it won't even be available most times). I thought the team played well despite the results. Only Sama and Werner gave me worries. Sama was pushing and holding at every opportunity. I thought they'd give a penalty when he had his arm over the defender's shoulder during a corner. Thankfully he was subbed at the half. Werner doesn't look up to this level, but he was a sub, so I guess it's OK.

Terodde is one I can't figure out. When I was learning the player's numbers, he was the last guy I noticed, and it took a while. He only had one good chance. It came in the second half, and it was golden. He had his feet wrong, and his right foot got out front late, putting the ball in the side netting, but it was a tap in, so stick the left out there! I think I read he was top scorer in B2 last year. I hope we start to see it. It may not have been great service, but we got the ball forward a lot, especially after going behind.

So, I give the boys credit. They really showed urgency after the penalty. The ball came forward quickly. Maxim, Tashchy, and Zimmer all impressed me. Stuttgart was able to switch flanks and bring the ball into space before the defense rotated over. We could do with more crossing, maybe, if that's how we plan to score. Anyway, despite our good possession and pressure, Fortuna had two great chances before the penalty that the defense and Langerak were able to scramble away. The penalty itself was dubious for me. I think it looked bad, because Sama was beaten so bad at first, but the attacker threw his leg out across of him at the end, and stepped on the ball too. It was pretty cheap. If you give that, how could he ignore the kick against both legs of our man in extra time? That was blatant. I don't know why he waved it off, except maybe he didn't want to decide the game in stoppage time. I expect these things will happen on the road in B2.

Take heart. They look like they have talent, and they are playing well as a team. I don't know if they are a top 2 team, though - does anyone know where they are projected? Let's hope they get up top early, so we don't have to suffer too much. On the road again next Saturday against Homburg - that's not a typo. ;-) Let's destroy these minnows!

 

VfB TV is $13.50/3 months, which gives you the full match right after it's over, in german I suppose. I haven't tried it yet.

 

I didn't notice that Homburg was a Pokal match. I didn't see much of it - just about 2 minutes on Alle Spiele, Alle Tore. Gentner seems to be enjoying beating the lesser competition. Özcan started in front of Tashchy, who subbed him at 73 minutes, but they both scored. We'll found out the next round opponent on Friday, after the match against Sandhausen.

 

Yeah, if he was saving him for the league match, why wouldn't he say so instead of saying, "he knows the reason". And Maxim played the full 90 in Düsseldorf, so it must've been an incident in training or off the field after that. Worst case scenario: They told him they were trying to trade him, and he didn't take it well.

Hopefully, he's back in the starting 11 for Sandhausen, and all is forgiven.

 

I caught a crappy stream of this match. Maxim came on at 65', and Grgic got a late runout. A terrible defensive error made it closer than it should have been. I want them to put most teams away and march up the table. Not too many marquee matchups in B2. Terodde got on the scoresheet, so maybe that will happen now.

 

We drew Borussia Mönchengladbach. That should just about end our run (of 1 win).

 

After a hard fought 0:1 win against Kaiserslautern, we barely have time to enjoy it. Everyone is already talking about tomorrow's match with league leaders, Eintracht Braunschweig. It's at a good time to catch a stream here in the states. Let's win this one, and we'll be on our way!

 

Bochum 1:1 Stuttgart

Good lord we gave them so many chances to win that. Through most of the match we were the better team winning the ball back fairly easily and taking it to them. Terrode missed another sitter. I'm not sure what his scoring skill is, but he's apparently not a poacher. Then, against the run of play, we'd let them in for a wide open shots. We were let off time and time again. Their goal, surprisingly, was a luckier chance that fell to the right guy. In the last ten minutes it was a shooting gallery. Always, they were getting lead passes right up the middle. Baumgartl and Sunjic would then attempt last ditch intentional fouls, which made them look completely out of their depth.

I thought Maxim and Gentner looked good. Langerak too, thank goodness. They can learn a lot from that one, I think, but getting better takes time. Pray for our defense. Bochum is a cautionary tale of a club that belonged in the Bundesliga. Whenever they fell out, they would bounce right back the next year. In 2011, they didn't get straight back, and they've been in 2BL ever since.

 

I got onto the stream of this match 5 minutes late and missed our first two goals! This is the kind of comfortable win I want to see in 2BL. The drop off between the top clubs is marked, so 4:0 will do just nicely. Unfortunately, the other 2015 Bundesliga team, Hannover, is keeping pace. So, all it will take is for Braunschweig, Heidenheim, or Bochum to force their way to the top at the end for it to be too crowed for comfort.

Normally, I have some regret when a loanee plays great for us, but with Mané, I don't have a problem. Greuther Fürth made him look world class, and he was dangerous all game, not just on the goals. Terodde needs to up his game. The other debutant, Pavard, also scored off a corner and assisted the first goal. These are great pick-ups, and just what we need to field the better side, even when we're carrying some injuries.

So, let those promotion fears rest over the international break. Sure, management screwed up again with the head trainer, but Wolf instead of Lukuhay means little to me. If the defense can hold up against the better clubs in this race, we'll be there at the end. Niemals Zweite Liga! ;-)