Starting lineup against Red Bull Leipzig: Tomas, Kalajdzic Silas, Ahamada, Endo, Fuhrich, Vagnoman Ito, Anton, Mavropanos Muller
Ended in a 1-1 draw with Ahamada scoring off a Kalajdzic assist. No Sosa on the bench as he is being sold. Atakan Karazor on the bench and coming on late.
Week 1: 0-1-0 1 point Goals-Assists Ahamada 1 - 0 Kalajdzic 0 - 1 Goals scored: 1 Goals conceded: 1 Clean sheets: 0
Seeing as we've lost the last 7 matches against them, I'm OK with this draw. Too bad we couldn't have nicked another goal to win it, but this is a step up. Excelsior!
Werder Bremen - VfB Stuttgart Starting lineup: Tomas, Kalajdzic Silas, Ahamada, Endo, Fuhrich, Vagnoman Ito, Anton, Mavropanos Muller
76' Sasa sends Silas free down the left side to slot past keeper, 1-2. His first goal in a long time, good to see him back in form.
Karazor and Pfeiffer on for Silas and Sasa, respectively. What's the story with Karazor? He obviously was allowed to leave Spain.
I don't know the disposition of his case, but I had heard that he was training and might play this week.
Week 2: 0-2-0 2 points The defense lets down again. All they had to do was kill off extra time. Goals-Assists Kalajdzic 0 - 2 Endo 1 - 0 Silas 1 - 0 Ahamada 1 - 0 Fuhrich 0 - 1 Goals scored: 3 Goals conceded: 3 Clean sheets: 0
If only Silas had buried his second one-on-one with the keeper. Alternatively, we could have held a little more possession when we were killing off the game. However, that was a weak point throughout the match. Honestly, it's worrying that we struggled to retain the ball against Werder, who I do not expect to be top half this year.
It looked like Werder were more physical, in that VfB players got the yips every time a Werder player got near. VfB need to be a lot more 'stout' in possession, as you say.
VfB host SC Freiburg in Stuttgart this morning and here is starting lineup: Silas, Kalajdzic Fuhrich Sosa, Ahamada, Endo, Vagnoman Ito, Anton, Mavropanos Muller VfB haven't had much success against their SW Germany neighbors so hopefully they can batten down the defense and nick a game winner this time.
11' Mavropanos lets Grifo sneak behind him at the far post and put in a cross, 0-1. The VfB defense ...
And it ends 0-1 for Freiburg. SC scored on about their only attack, and VfB struggled to get the ball past Flekken, who is a very decent goal keeper. Two points from 3 matches is more like last season's form than two years back. Disappointing.
Week 3: 0-2-1 2 points Back in the relegation zone, so soon. Goals-Assists Kalajdzic 0 - 3 Endo 1 - 0 Silas 1 - 0 Ahamada 1 - 0 Goals scored: 3 Goals conceded: 4 Clean sheets: 0