Tea Light in the Dark Universe: Bobby Wood at Hamburg

Found a livestream. German commentary.
http://www.shz.de/sport/fussball/ex...yngby-kopenhagen-in-rendsburg-id14544686.html

 

Good lookin out

 

How's he doin so far boys? I just tuned into the stream, but it's pretty choppy.

 

He's looked good in the times he's actually gotten on the ball. He had one really good run that put him through on goal, but the keeper was really quick off his line and smothered any opportunity to shoot really.

 

Certainly bodes well for him heading into the season. Hopefully he can snag a goal or two for confidence in himself and possibly more importantly the staff in him.

 

Last 10 minutes of the first half, it looked like he was on a different wavelength than his teammates, got a little frustrated with some misplaced passes. He needs to get that shiet out of his system, and focus on cresting chances.

 

Bobby isn't really a chance creator though. He is a finisher and maybe the second to last guy to touch the ball before it's shot but if he is having to generate chances because the midfield aren't doing their job then he is screwed. Bobby has a chip on his shoulder and a temper, that's all part of it.

 

I kinda see it a different way, he does not create a bunch of chances for others but more often than not can create his own chance. His finishing tends to be streaky.

 

To me Bobby is similar to Jozy. Not as strong but more technical. He is good at shielding and protecting the ball up top. He can combine well but not really an assist guy. Scoring is not very consistent and seems dependent on how well the team in general combines with him.

 

He can dribble a player or two, and also creates chances from his high energy pressure, forcing turnovers.

 

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...artikel_schipplock_leihgeschaeft-perfekt.html

Schipplock is off to Darmstadt on loan.

 

I agree with this. Take that goal against Costa Rica at the Copa. The pass into him was a fairly simple one, but he was able to turn his defender and fire it home pretty quickly. That, to me, counts as creating your own chance. It's not like he can only score when he gets on the end of perfect through-balls or crosses.

 

Last season, in Bobby's career year (up until now), across all club and national team games he scored 19 goals on 73 shots (for a great 26% conversion rate) in 40 games (35 starts). Jozy went 18 goals on 56 shots (32%, which was by far the biggest positive from a tough season) in 38 games (32 starts). Jozy also probably took more difficult chances (xG/G ratio of 7.45/13 in league play) than Bobby (in part because of PK's).

So I'd say that technically there's not much to chose between them overall, with Jozy having a career edge on finishing. Bobby is quicker on the turn and more agile.

Tactically Bobby is a guy who pushes and probes the backline, he's a more active runner, he hits the front post. Jozy likes coming in a little later, peeling off for the cut-back, or hanging out at the back post. I think they should work well together.

 

So basically Bobby is a worker and Jozy is lazy. Yep, that is pretty much what everybody thinks too.

 

And, of course, "everyone" is usually wrong. It's always pretty funny the idea that a player of Jozy's limited talent can be "lazy" and still be as productive as he's been It's like Demps and his "body language" and "hang dog look..."

They play differently, for sure. Bobby is almost never seen with his back to the goal, or posting up with two defenders on him. He has more footspeed and quickness than Jozy and therefore can play differently. Even when he finds himself "at the tip of the spear" centrally - like say his goal v. Germany, Wood relies on his quickness to get to the ball and his speed and quickness to turn it into space. Jozy, as a general rule, needs to find his space before he gets the ball, which means his work is not "on camera" and is based more on stealth than fast running. When he does get the ball while marked, he tends to have to rely on his physicality to turn, rather than being able to turn quickly and open up space like Wood can.

When Jozy runs "through" on a ball, he usually has to be in the seam/space before the ball is passed. Wood can chase a ball into the seam, or dribble at pace much better - allowing him to use the field differently. Jozy has a better shot from distance and is a better crosser/passer at the moment too, but Wood is much more dangerous with the ball at his feet 20 - 30 yards from goal and is better at creating his own chances.

But neither is lazy, and hopefully Wood keeps improving his game. Given his speed and ability to hit a "pass" into the net at full tilt, he has a lot of upside.

 

http://www.dw.com/en/bundesliga-preview-busy-summer-fuels-expectations-for-hamburg/a-19485254

 

How dare you approach such a topic with actual knowledge and insight.

 

It's also a notion that can come from watching them only on television. Spend a lot of time watching Wood without the ball and, as is the case with his type of striker, there's a lot of low level activity. In games where Union was overwhelmed, it would be tough to describe him as a hard worker. He needed service to look good. Without it, he was frustrated and frustrating to watch.
Upside, if they can start clicking, Hamburg might be able to provide him with some service this season. downside is that it's hard to picture them being a strong side this season, I think stable would be a big step forward.

 

GAMEDAY BABY: HSV vs Zwickau in the DFB Pokal at 12:30 EST

It's not on ESPN3 or anything, but if anyone finds a stream let your boy know

 

Starts in their Pokal match vs. FSV Zwickau

 

Any luck on finding a stream?

 

Just for perspective, Zwichau seriously sucks. They're only meh for liga3.

 

I found this http://goatd.net/159842/watch-zwickau-vs-hamburger-sv

 

Had a chance on a cross but he hit a weak header