Several roster changes made for tomorrow's game versus Wolfsburg. Aycicek and Lukimya out with injuries, while Bartels is suspended for one a game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. Maxi Eggestein called up again along with Lukas Fröde who makes his first nomination with the senior team. Caldirola also returns.
Insane level of intensity in this game. Oztunali has been brilliant today, he's really risen to the occasion. Those long range shots must run in the Kroos family. Selke!! So close to making it 4!
Disastrous start to the second half. Unable to contain De Bruyne along the wing who's making it way too easy for Dost just waiting in the middle. They basically ran the same play 3 times and caught us sleeping. Keeping the lead wasn't going to be easy, but the strategy and mentality to sit back and be content was wrong. The focus definitely slipped and led to this.
Tough set-back today, with our old defensive woes returning to haunt us. There was some good fight in the closing frame though which was encouraging to see. But it's back to the drawing board, we need to regroup from this quickly and win that cup match on Wednesday.
Hi guys, I was curious what you think of Bartels' play so far this year. Are you surprised that he's played so much this season? Thanks
What a terrible game from Vestergaard today. He tends to be very aggressive and try to win the ball before the attacker can get it under control. When he goes for it and misses, disaster. Also he screwed up the offside trap a few times too. I'd like to see Skripnik make more in-game adjustments, especially in a game like this. Wolfsburg spent the whole first half just skipping over the midfield and trying to get in behind our offside trap. After a few successes, even at 3-3 or 4-3, maybe consider dropping the back 4 deeper? That fifth goal was garbage, well offside.
Bartels has been an important player for us, certainly a quality and good value addition. I like his work rate and versatility on both ends of the field. He's also contributed with some timely goals and assists.
Vestergaard and Sternberg were both exposed badly on those goals. Sternberg was often absent or beaten easily on the flank which resulted in Vestergaard over-committing in a late defensive effort. Both the Dost goals were from nearly identical fast long balls that caught us sleeping, and they slipped through our backline. De Bruyne is a top talent, you could tell there was something special when he developed here two seasons ago. Skripnik looked a bit shell-shocked during that short span of time when Wolfsburg scored 3. Almost as if he didn't know how to respond in that moment. He really needs to be more vocal and rally his team to refocus on a tactical strategy.
Vestergaard was not fit. Skripnik planned to give him a break, but then Lukimya got injured and he had to be fielded due to lack of alternatives (what is going on with Caldirola?!).
Vestergaard was so good in the games prior that I'm happy to give him a mulligan. Also he is still very young. Remember how bad Proedl was when he first started? He was a terror on set pieces but terrible on the ball.
Leading 1-0 versus Köln at the half right now. We were a little sluggish coming out the gates but turned it on right around the the 25 min mark. Nice and easy goal by Selke, read that corner really well and was in perfect position to guide it home smoothly. There was another chance just before that. We won a free kick in dangerous territory just on the outside of their box. However, Sternberg botched it into the wall. I was surprised that Junuzovic didn't take it, he's always money on those set pieces. Another good chance just before the whistle, Di Santo got ahead on the counter attack and had Selke emerging on the opposite flank. Overall I'm happy with where we are. Playing on the road up by 1 against a tough Köln defence that doesn't give away many goals.
Lets how this was the last match for Robert Hartmann as a Bundesliga referee. And Garcias slapstick costed in the end 2 points. The weekend is wasted.
Apart from the red card looks like Garcia has also picked up an injury. So we'll be seeing more Sternberg in the upcoming weeks. Hoping he's able to step up his game. Eichin has also commented that on the transfer wishlist for next season, we've highlighted striker and defensive mid as positions we'll need additional coverage in. A big reason has to be planning ahead in case Di Santo is sold for a large fee this summer.
^^ Well...a lot sure changes in 2 weeks. Not sure if he'll start but $elk€ will be included in the lineup for tomorrow's match versus Mainz. I can't see the home crowd embracing him after his announced move this week. They're definitely gonna let that merc hear it. But there are still 8 games remaining, if he's able to focus and contribute some goals then let him play out the remainder of the season. A wild card puzzle piece moving forward now is Hajrovic. He arrived here last summer as a promising addition but never showed the work ethic or dedication afterwards. Earlier he looked sloppy lacking proper fitness and eventually fell out of the rotation. He did have a nice game and score a great goal for Bosnia during the international break. Hopefully this gives him the motivation to step up to maintain his spot on the NT. He still has the skills and ability to be another attacking weapon for us.
10/10 will be watching for this. I'm hoping for a choreo piece, or at least a strongly worded banner, on the matter. I've seen it done for lesser things; Kirchhoff gave everyone the shits in a CL game against chelsea, the next game against Mainz the Nordkurve had a banner hanging from the upper tier that said 'go back to your lederhosen' (or something along those lines). Gotta love fan protest
If Selke will be fielded I could imagine a reaction like this at the player presentation: Stolli (announcer): "An with number 27 Davie ..." Whole stadium: "H*rensohn" (son of a b*tch) But I prefer the choreo idea (and personally I am not sure if the club management does not like this transfer).
Bold decision by Skripnik, Selke will be in the starting lineup. Junuzovic, Oztunali, Hajrovic on the bench. Late change was also made as Fröde gets called up again to replace Fritz. 45 mins till kick-off, can't wait to see what happens! Werder-Start11: Wolf - Gebre Selassie, Vestergaard, Prödl, Sternberg - Bargfrede, Kroos, Bartels, Aycicek - Selke, Di Santo
..few whistles and boos when the number 27 was called, nothing major or orchestrated. damn. the Bremen fan block is packin' the flags. beautiful sight
Some notes from the opening 20 mins: -Prödl's header was the best chance so far -Selke is invisible today -Horrible miscall by the ref. Di Santo was well onside and was actually fouled as he was about to have a clear path on goal -From my blurry stream, Mainz's Baumgartlinger keeps looking like David Luiz