Don't forget, Friday night game this week! Let's go for the auswaertssieg and the BW derby win! Can't write much, running behind schedule here, but I just hope for the 3 points. Let's go
I hope Okazaki continues to score lol. Our D has looked pretty good, actually, and I hope that we can keep Cisse in check.
Match was delayed about 20 minutes due to a S-Bahn problem. Just kicked off, and Cisse has already had a half decent shot...
Freiburg already forced to make a sub because on of their players seems to have a serious (knee?) injury.
Yeah, it was Ferati's (sp?) right knee. It was strange though - he didn't even have any weight on it when it buckled on him...
Yeah, at first I though he was embellishing, but he seemed to be in real pain when he was stretchered off. I can see how in that position the knee might buckle side to side and tear some ligaments.
That is what it looked like. His right leg was stretched out a bit behind him, and it looked like his knee just took a slight bend sideways.
Freiburg playing better now, though they are not really creating many clear chances. Stuttgart might be able to hit them on the counter.
Must say, this is the first time I've watched Cisse play. Normally just always read about him, but never saw him play. He's a lot better than I thought and worth the talk he's gotten.
Gebhart has gotten bigger and badder, lol. He reminds me of the kind of player you'd hate to play against, but would love him on your team. He just looks really intimidating now lol.
I got home just in time to see that live. What a nice goal! They had me worried when Cisse pulled one back. I'll watch the whole thing later on. Three more points! Keep up the good work, boys!
Win feels good 1) Derby Sieg (kinda) 2) First Auswaertssieg of the season 3) It puts us back on an optimistic track, consolidates the steps taken from last weekend. 4) We didnt play well I think the game was evenly balanced but Freiburg ultimately created many more opportunities than we did. It was courtesy of an excellent performance by Ulreich and some bad finishing that they didnt make use of their chance -- Cisse owned Boulahrouz at the 1-2, but we held on, got the win, and thats all that matters Some additional team thoughts: - Ulreich was very good, and it is only with performances like this that he will stand a realistic chance of keeping no.1 from Leno once the shooting start returns. - The defence continues to be impeccable, at least centrally. 4 goals conceded in 6 games, what a step up eh. Key to me has been Tasci: his one-on-one stats are amongst the very best in the league, and he always seems calm and in control. If he keeps this up, he should be heading back to the German NT. And no undermining Maza, to integrate is quickly as he did in perhaps the trickiest integrating position has been nothing other than impressive. One day Delpierre and Niedermeier will be fit again, bt they willl struggle to become starters if these trends continue. - It was the first time that I felt Kvist played poorly. Unnecessary fouls, lazy passes. But after his stellar start to his VfB career, we can forgive him. - The winger spot just got more complicated. I thought ultimately when Gebhart is back fully fit it would resign Harnik to the bench: had been to mediocre so far. But then he goes and scores two goals to win the game, and one of them was even very nice. Im really not a huge fan of him, but his ability to finish is more than respectable, and it is thanks to him we won today. - Gentner was ineffectual as attacking mid again, like last week. Hajnal improved the game for us after coming in, like last week. I really Hajnal should just maintain the first 11 spot. Gentner is no more than an action sub: can play central mid, wings, or attacking mid. That's useful. But his performances do not warrant a starting spot currently. Great win boys! Moving on up!
Presently my favorite line up is: [LINEUP-4-5-1]Cacau,Gebhart,Harnik,Kvist,Hajnal,Kuz,Molinaro,Tasci,Maza,Boula,Ulreich[/LINEUP-4-5-1] Subs: - Okazaki coming on as either winger - Gentner coming on as either winger, CAM, or a DM if Kuz/Kvist are bad - Pogreb as the striker replacement - Boka as either full back replacement if need be I'm hoping Schieber can come back strong and take the back up striker role.
That was a silly goal celebration, but so long as he scores two, he can do whatever he likes. It was worrisome how much we turned it over against a team like Freiburg, but we've got time to improve with HSV up next.
Player Ratings: Sven Ulreich: Kicker Rating: 2 (6 games, 2.75 avg.) My Rating: 2 Khalid Boulahrouz: KR: 4 (5 games, 3.70 avg.) MR: 5 Serdar Tasci: KR: 3 (6 games, 2.75 avg.) MR: 2.5 Maza: KR: 3 (6 games, 3.33 avg.) MR: 3 Cristiano Molinaro: KR: 2.5 (6 games, 3.50 avg.) MR: 2.5 William Kvist: KR: 2.5 (6 games, 2.42 avg.) MR: 4 Zdravko Kuzmanovic: KR: 3 (6 games, 3.08 avg.) MR: 3 Martin Harnik: KR: 1.5 (6 games, 3.42 avg.) MR: 1.5 Christian Gentner: KR: 4 (6 games, 5 as starter, 3.50 avg.) MR: 4.5 Shinji Okazaki: KR: 4 (5 games, 3 as starter, 3.50 avg.) MR: 4.5 Cacau: KR: 4 (6 games, 3.33 avg.) MR: 4.5 SUBS: Tamas Hajnal: KR: NR (6 games, 4 as starter, 4.25 avg.) MR: 4 Timo Gebhart: KR: NR (2 games, 0 as starter, no avg. rating) MR: 3 Pavel Pogrebnyak: KR: NR (6 games, 0 as starter, 4.00 avg.) MR: NR Unused Subs: - Marc Ziegler - Patrick Bauer - Stefano Celozzi - Ibrahima Traore