Good start against the RB Leipzig. Füllkrug scored with a sitter after 13 minutes after a nice pass by Arnautovic. Arnautovic already had a good chance, too, but hit the bar after 9 minutes. RBL had a good chance after 7 minutes, but Mielitz could save. Dutt uses the match for experiments. Todays formation 4-3-3: Mielitz - Aycicek, Pavlovic, Kroos, Hartherz - Yildirim, Ignjovski, P. Stevanovic - Füllkrug, Arnautovic, Akpala
Since Fulkrug's goal, there hasn't been much to cheer about. Werder can't play a final ball through to our offensive players. Arno hasn't managed to pass to a Werder player in lord knows how long... Kroos had a nice cross in the 43rd, though. 1-1 now
68th minute. Nearly the whole team was subbed. Elia-Petersen-Hunt Ekici-Makiadi-Juno Hatherz-Luca-Proedl-Gerbe This could conceivably be our starting lineup this season. It makes me nervous that Leipzig still looks to be the more dangerous side.
RB Leipzig already started their season so their fitness levels are better. Plus they are not just any 3rd division side. They are a very ambitious club and should be in the bundesliga in 3 maximum 4 years time. They are one of the favorites to get promoted this season and are investing a lot of money.
Man, none of the competitive matches got won. At least these are only test matches, I really hope we see another Werder when the cup and the league start. We don't want excuses, RBL is a 3. Liga side. We want results.
In a way I'm happy about the understatement, there will be plenty of pressure soon enough in real situations and paramount is that every player remain in tact. Two seasons now we have started with major injuries: Proedl, Pizza, Fritz, etc. (2012) and Naldo, Mertes, Boenisch, etc. (2011). The whole reason we have 20 year-old kids with BL experience in the first place is due to thier injuries. I'm not saying they happened in pre-season, just saying there's no need for anyone to get unnescissarily injured, just ask Nik Fullkrug. What does interest me is the team-building. Are these players maturing as individuals and as a group? So far no scraps, no bad interviews, no arrests and by the looks of things well orchestrated public discipline. Guess now these so-called "talented" young men have finally got the message: there's nothing left to hide behind. I don't care if they win pre-season friendlies, great - they're getting rotated in and out and formations are changed game to game, half to half. Better now then during regular season. Schaaf tried that and failed. I hope they are confused, scared and broken now - afraid for thier jobs; so Dutt can come along and take control of these frightened boys. Turn that so-called talent into wins! I guess what I really want from this pre-season is Dutt putting his boot on the neck of these under-achieving, over-paid punks and seeing who is man enough to wear the "W". If these truths do not begin to reveal themselves now then I know relegation looms. I do not want to see what happens to my club relegated! The only way I can see this happening is buried deep inside the hearts of those players...the kind of stuff that makes men from punks and boys. 100% Werder, right Slad!
Had some good scenes offensively, but problems defensively. No surprise, Dutt could have ask a lot of people following the team to get this conclusion, but wanted to evaluate it in a match.
Do u guys Füllkrug will start sometime this season? I think the kid is poising for a breakout year in 2013/2014, he is well-rounded and isa complete striker. Füllkrug has all u want from a striker, size/skill/killer instinct/pace......i dont think he is a worse option than Akpala or Nils Petersen at this point already.
My wish right now is that Fullkrug and Yildrim play mad minutes this year at the expense of Hunt, Eksfaktor or...oh heck, take your pick
Thanks Pops, looks like another failed experiment at fullback they're running out of options. Its either Fritz or Iggy. Everyone else they place there gets caught out same as today (or yesterday to you). Liepzig looked good, fit and I imagine this is the type of competition they'll be facing in the Cup match. Hope none of those shots misses the mark when it matters. Nice weather you're having btw!
Yeah, it is quite hot in Germany ~90 °F (32°C) and in a stadium with not much air circulation it is even hotter on the pitch, maybe ~100° F. Up to the weekend it will get even hotter, than thunderstorms are expected and temparatures will drop a bit.
Interesting article from Bild.de Apparently they have some insight into Dutt's startelf http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/robin-dutt/das-ist-seine-startelf-31523450.bild.html I'm actually....ok with this. Whats the point of signing Caldirola if you're not gonna play him? We all knew Makiadi would be integral to his plans. Ekici gets a chance to be a deep-lying playmaker... ...this works for me, at least at the start. The article also gives insight as to the positions of Arno and Iggy...definitely worth a look.
Wow, big shocker there! Elia redeemed, Eksfaktor redeemed, Luki shunned. This line-up will do for the Cup but Juno sending in crosses from the right? C'mon ! Hunt a targetman? Whoahaaahahhahaaaa !! You're kidding me right? Even fat-Astro would be a better choice than Hunt as a target. Oh well, he'll get the s**t kicked out of himself waiting for balls to drop and thats about as much fun as watching Zidan give Matterazzi a piece of his mind! One thing I will applaud is the focus on defence. Robin Dutt is smart to play the percentages with a draw. I hope and I pray that the back four will deliver us to the 90th minute from whence Fullkrug shall come and deliver the win.
Has Gebre-Selassie EVER played left-back? I would rather Fritz play on that side since he has the experience to make it work... Juno was an effective playmaker when he first transfered to the team, so here's hoping he gets back to doing that. I expect to see Ekici/Elia subbed for Yildrim or Fulkrug in the 60th every match...
Dutt fielded Gebre-Selassie as LB in some test matches. The 4-2-3-1 is one of the formations that were trained. 4-1-4-1 and 4-3-3 are the others and during the match there were also some modifications. About Juno on the wing I share Winnis opinion. He does not suit there well and instead Arnautovic or one of the youngsters should be fielded there. Juno on the other hand is a good option for the central midfield. He played there strong under Schaaf and with his mix of offensive and defensive skills he should contribute well in the new systems, too.
This evening there is a test vs. another 3- Liga side, FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt. The match starts at 7:00 PM CET. The players should be motivated after the bad results lately.
On paper having Elia stacked on Gebre down the left flank is a powerful attack but given thier last season performance I hope Selassie has grown another foot that defends. I assume this risky move is based on Saarbrucken's weaknesses. This is a massive experiment that would never happen in BuLi! Lets look at the positives: two strong dms that can slide out and cover the wings, a non-stop circus of skill moves, maisy runs and air raids on the left; and a fire-plug workhorse that can play tag all night on the right (Hunt/Juno or Fritz /Juno). If they manage to concentrate for 90 minutes this will work. If they cough up the the ball and strand thier forwards, it will be the same thing as last season only magnified by the unfamiliar assignments. It really all depends wether Sketchy and Elia really know how to play football, Hunt can put a solid game together and Selassie has always been a LB but didn't realize it . I can see the wisdom in having this test match today. It will end 10-0 for us. 100% Werder Slad!
This is likely Dutts thoughts exactly, play for a 1-0 or 0-0 and wear them down then lower the boom stick with the dynamic duo. I'm really happy for Juno playing these many varied roles and has been freed from the defence...let Sketchy rot back there! I vaguely remember Gebs play there one match on last seasons carousel but the results? Couldn't have been that good or we'd recall. I pray its a new beginning for him...for all the players!
I'm excited about finally having some idea what the team will look like when it takes the pitch. I hope to see a starting XI take the field for the next few friendlies.