While I'm surprised that a team of Juventus' level would be interested, I can see why Josh would be picked up by a pretty good team notwithstanding his lack of elite performances at Bremen.
Kinda reminds me of Jozy at Hull City. Working hard, winning aerials and being a solid target forward, but getting no service, none of his runs are rewarded, midfield often overrun and the team is just scrapping for points. It's just not going to be pretty for the rest of this year, just hope he gets minutes and reps and they boot Kohfeldt or someone swoops in to buy him after relegation.
It comes down to what @Sam Hamwich noted about a coach who has not created an identity for the team or doesn't have leaders who are either not right for that identity or unwilling to implement it on the pitch and - along with the CBs - it's the CMs and DMs who impose an identity on the pitch. Since the summer departures there were youngsters joining 3 Liga sides, the key personnel in those areas haven't really changed since last season. That said, there have been two significant chanes in midfield; the addition of Bittencourt as an AM and the loss of Kevin Mohwald to a season-long injury. Although he made only 7 starts, utility man Mohwald was subbed on another 16 times and played in a variety of positions, through the middle (CM, DM, AM) or wide at RM as Bremen made tactical adjustments, and he also contributed 3 goals. Losing someone that versatile makes a coach's life a lot harder. As for Bittencourt, last season Bremen alternated between a diamond 4-4-2 and an attacking 4-3-3 (mostly away) in 80% of their games, but this season they've been all over the place, with constant tinkering at the back as they try 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 3-1-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 (the cynics might call it 4-something-something). The only constant is that Bittencourt starts, goes 90', plays AM throughout - and doesn't contribute much. Right now, it doesn't mtter who plays up front - Sarge, Pizzaro, Osaka - Bremen'll be lumping the ball forward and the CFs will have to hunt down the defenders and hope that forces or triggers turnovers. Even if they stay up, Sarge and his agent need to see real changes in midfield personnel over the summer or start pushing for a move. Strikers develop when they have a midfield to integrate with. Without changes, he won't at Bremen.
SkyTV is allowing all games for the BuLi and 2.BuLi to be free on TV during the first two weeks after re-start, to avoid crowds outside the stadiums: https://www.kicker.de/775011/artikel/die_1_und_2_bundesliga_kommen_teilweise_ins_free_tv
I know the club are committed to Bittencourt (700k loan fee, with an obligation to buy in June), but if, four games into the season, you bring in a player who triggers - even necessitates - fundamental tactical changes that land you in the relegation zone, then bring in a loanee or two at XMas who'll let you revert to last seaon's successful formulas and make Bittencourt an impact sub luntil the end of the season and loiok to properly integrate him in the summer. Persisting with him is madness and doing him no favours.
I know their options are limited, but Bittencourt is just straight up horrible. Has the same 3g and 2a that Sargent has, but in close to double the minutes. He’s got to be one of the smallest and weakest players in the league, he’s slow, and just flat out is a bum. Again, it’s shocking that Werder wasted time with bringing Selke on loan when the wing opposite Rasica is so bad, as is their midfield, as is their outside back situation, and as are their tactics.
And a good weekend for Bremen just became a great one, as Dusseldorf gave up two late goals - in 88' and 90+1', it's very late - to draw 2-2. Bremen are now just 3 points behind with a game in hand, 4 points if you include their -7 GD. On top of that, Paderborn drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim. With Augsburg next, followed by Dortmund and Leipzig before they face Bremen they might be mathematically relegated before the kick-off.
Sargent starts 2️⃣ changes from the weekend 🔁Tonight's XI 📋 #werder #SVWBMG pic.twitter.com/PGtS2V9Fn0— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) May 26, 2020
I would love to see sargent passed the ball into an attacking position. This is like holdup play exclusively
Looking at the lineup, Josh appears to be the lone Center-Forward today. 30 minutes in, 0-0. No mention of Josh in matchtracker so far.
Don't really know what's up with their lineup today, but Sargent almost seems to be playing the right side of an attacking two. Whatever they are doing, they look infinitely better than last week, and Sargent has been pretty good. Quiet, but a few nice touches.
sargent got the ball in dangerous spot after a giveaway and tried to run at defense but like his teammate didn’t give him any kind option so he basically ran himself out of real estate.
bremen methodically are building opportunities to run into each other toothlessly in the attacking third
even in dangerous positions the bremen players first instinct is to do the absolute safest thing possible
I watched most of this one. Sargent played much better this game, although so did all of Bremen. He was much more aggressive chasing the ball and finding space than he has been of late. His passing was a bit inconsistent. He had a great opportunity where the ball found his way after the keeper mishandled the ball, but it was blocked. Aside from possibly giving him rest I’m thinking he’ll play Saturday against Wes.
This was a very valuable point in the race to avoid the drop. Sargent did what he could. That's the best I can say about him.
They played 433 diamond ---------rashica--------josh -----------------osako ------klaasen-----------eggestein ------------------etc. Gladback were befuddled trying to get thru the middle but the interplay between the Bremen forwards was not incisive enough. They need to work on it.
Rashica was absolutely on-fire for a long stretch this season and Bremen lost most of those games. He has been pretty poor since the return but Bremen is actually getting some points. I counted at least three times in this last game where he had one or two open men in the middle of the 18 that he missed. Once when he tried to shoot instead of passing (typical) and the other two were just misfired crosses. I think he is pressing. The interplay between the forwards is still far below par. Rashica needs to focus on passing a bit more and it might open things up a bit. Sargent got two opportunities outside of hold-up play in roughly 70 minutes. One he choked away by dribbling into three defenders and the other was on a loose ball in the box that was blocked. Right now it seems like Sargent is going to continue to get limited chances but if he can continue to help control the ball and keep possession he might be able to hold onto the starting job. Unfortunately, it may be more about what Selke is not bringing to the table rather than what Sargent is.
He’s 20 and a ST in a top league. It’s much harder for a ST to break thru then a winger at a young age. He’s got 3 g 2 a in about 1000 minutes. The majority of those minutes are as a sub. Let’s be happy he’s seems to have taken a starting role and their playing better. Goals and assists will hopefully come but it’s a big step up in his development.