VfB Stuttgart staying in the B1: 2017/2018 Rückrunde Discussion

Some big changes for the rückrunde. First off, Tschüss und viel Glück to Simon Terodde! I'll always love him for making our season last year, but 2 goals in the first half is not aysomething that can be allowed to continue. He's off to Köln, and scored in his first match, so I hope it's a better situation for him. They look certain for relegation, so I'm sure they'll be glad to have him in B2.

Brekalo ended his load early and returned to Wolfsburg. I always like his play, but it was tempered with the knowledge that he wasn't our player. I'm sure he'll go on to bigger things. This is a loss, but it was part of a deal for...

Mario Gómez! He hasn't been scoring is Wolfsburg, but he sure looked the part in his first match back. God I hope this change is enough to avoid relegation, because that looks like management's plan. I do think we'll see more scoring, but will it be enough? Part of the problem was getting service to the striker, and we'll have a problem replacing Brekalo because...

Mané is out for the season. Sure, I already wrote him off due to the severity of his first injury - who knows if we'd see the acceleration he showed early on. Now he's torn another tendon, just after he got back to training with the squad. It's not his knee this time at least, but enough to properly end his loan with us. Again, good thing it's a loan.

Other developments of note:
Grgic to the Swiss league.
Badstuber continues to injure himself, but managed to play 7' vs. Berlin.
Other rumors of players coming in have not come to fruition. The current transfer window closes Jan. 31.
Happy 2018.

 

I only just finished watching the Bremen match. Bremen looked pretty weak, but Mario is still having trouble scoring at the MBA. Gentner scoring off a header was the highlight - facemask and all. VfB definitely look like they belong in the 1.BL.

One has to wonder what their ambitions will be next year. Korkut will have a chance to change the roster a little more to his preference. Will he be able to build on Wolf's progress, or will he want big changes? At least the fowards have to be sorted out. Can we go a full season without firing the manager?! If we want to challenge for a Europa League place, teams like Hoffenheim and Leverkusen will be a good test. We can enjoy this tough finish from the safety of being erstklassig!

 

Hey, you said that last week. They're masters of the 1-0 victory! Had a hard time parking the bus for 20 minutes though. I feel like that chip in the Hanover match made Zieler ready to get back for this attempt to chip it over him. He played out of his mind. A blocked penalty and he came out to stuff a couple of lone attackers, although one was caused by his bad pass. All is forgiven. Can't really expect Europe, so no pressure in the last two.

 

Yeah, playing hard to breakdown against Bayern just keeps the goal differential down.

Gomez opened the scoring on an inch-perfect cross over the defender by Gentner. Mario finally scored his first home goal for Stuttgart and they tried to make it stand up. Ascacibar made it harder with his gelb-rot dismissal, but Gomez somehow scored a second on a long outlet pass. The defender caught up to him, but he feinted the shot and let him fly past. Then he took a touch to freeze the keeper and shot it through his legs. Two goals against the run of play and a not quite Europa League worthy season nearing its end. It's interesting to note where having a barely winning record takes you in the table. I feel they've overachieved though, so I'm hoping for significant squad improvement in the summer.

Fantastic atmosphere at MBA for the last home game. They should be proud.

 

Cannstatter kurve is the best kurve!

 

Found a highlight of Gomez's second goal.

 

It's because you've stolen too many of our players, although you're entirely forgiven for poaching Ulreich!

I was too busy last week to finish watching this, and in no hurry since it was still 1-1 where I left off. I fell out of my chair when Akolo hit that leaning tower header into the ground. Just brilliant counters all day, although I admit the Bayern attack was way off. I really did enjoy watching Ginczec knock 'em past Ulreich. VFB TV has been worth every Euro this season. If only Bayern had handled Frankfurt in the DFB we would have had a crazy Europa League finish - our own fault for losing to the Energy Drink team. This year consolidation, next year, we fight from day 1. (need a little depth, I think. Korkut doesn't trust anyone on the bench.)

You've made us proud VFB!