I'm gonna be totally honest with you guys. I don't know why bother creating these threads since the same problems from the past four seasons persist. Vulnerability in set pieces, dropping points vs minnow teams and far too inconsistent to mount a proper challenge for the Bundesliga. Even worse is the fact that our management are aiming no higher than second in the league, but here we are.
This is another game where points have often been dropped in the past, often due to horrible defending. A commanding performance would reinstall some belief that this year could be different, but I doubt it will happen.
Its a labour of love. Early team news suggest Meunier is back in the squad, but Hummels and Schulz might be absent.
Kobel Meunier Witsel Akanji Guerreiro Dahoud Bellingham Reyna Reus Malen Haaland So the diamond once again. Meunier is hopefully an upgrade but I fear we'll still struggle in defense. It will also be a question whether we can bring the ball forward in a way that puts the offense in promising situations.
We look bad in defense and Hoffenheim can win this with their style. They hit the post but we had more chances so far, mostly due to counter attacks. Hoffenheim play very physical. 2 early yellow cards for fouls with no regard for the other player's health that were just at the edge for reds.
Am I crazy? How is that not a penalty? He almost brought Reus (who has 'weak' knees) to the infirmary right there in the box and never touch the ball! It feels like those calls always only go against us!!!
Dahoud is playing well as is Reus. Malen has done some nice things, but losing the ball too often. Bellingham and Reyna haven't been great. Bellingham when he comes to receive deep losing the ball too often. Can't judge Meunier since this is his first game..
Shaky start but we've dominated the game, however no end product. Malen looks like he's getting the hang of the team.
Good half by us after Hoffenheim had the stronger start. After the first 15-20 minutes, it was almost complete control. Chances were there. Good pressing by us.
My stream stopped just when we scored. But we've looked shaky in the second half any only used the one chance we got. We better get back to playing football anytime soon because we surely cannot defend. And now Hoffenheim scores. We've been just horrible in the second half. Without Kobel, we would have looked way worse in these first 3 games.
What a strike from Bellingham!! 2-1 Makes me think of that bullet from Kiel in his last year... but not quite as epic
2:1 Bellingham. It sucks that we needed Hoffenheim to score but it's a completely different game since they did. Brandt sub was also needed. Reyna scored but it was obvious that a change was needed. Just continue playing like this.
As I was writing that my hope for the season was slipping away on a stupid goal allowed at the 90th minutes, Haaland scores to put us back in front merely seconds later! We need to start a trend KEEP HAALAND at all cost!!
... but we win (luckily) !! Thanks (again) Mr Haaland I'll have a long depression when/if Haaland goes...
We conceded two goals for the third game in a row. Not good. At least we have all three points. See you in two weeks time after the international break.
It's a bit strange watching this team. You see some promising stuff, the team could easily score half a dozen goals with a bit more luck and getting used to each other more. But as soon as we our in our own half, it's shitting bricks time. Some of the players need time to get into rhythm and we need Hummels back but I'm not sure that alone will fix it. We get beat with simple long balls too often. It seems Kobel has 2-3 of those out of the box saves to bail the defense out every game. But all those issues aren't only on the defense. I think a few players (Kobel, Dahoud) make us look better so far. Either the coach finds the right balance and gets the whole team to work or we'll inevitably lose more games.
Agreed. I would add Reus to that duo as well as it is largely thanks to his outstanding early season form that has carried our game for most of the time.