The Bayer Necessity: Malik Tillman at Bayer Leverkusen

Me too. His potential/talent is really special. It's been a tougher year than I expected for the team overall. Despite the responsibility that often comes w/ wearing the #10, I thought Tillman would have a bit more help from his supporting cast in his first season. It seems pretty clear that they have trouble against teams that press heavy and want to counter. Today they completely dominated the 1st half as Frankfurt sat back in a low block... but they were completely rocked on their heels in the 2nd when EF started pressing heavily. Only the red card stemmed the tide. The playbook for their opponents should be apparent so I hope BL works on a remedy so they can push for a top 4 slot.

 

Yeah, the inability to break the higher-pressure EF game in the 2nd half was pretty concerning. It's was starkly notable and EF looked well on their way to more goals before the dumb - and way too obvious - 2xYC

 

The announcer made an interesting comment during the last match. He said that the Leverkusen manager sees Tillman as almost a support striker! If that is the case we should start to see a game plan that attempts to get Malik the ball in an around the box.

I have complained about a lack of any organized scheme by Leverkusen designed to score goals. maybe that changes?

 

His goal this week followed him send the ball forward from halfway between his own 18 and the center line - then sprinting to the far post and cleaning up 6 passes later, so... He also popped up a lot on the right touch, moving quite a bit laterally as well as vertically. He was very libero, esp in the 1st half.

 

Sounds like he could play a similar role that Wes is playing at Juve. Wonder how they'd do paired together as twin 8/10's with either crashing the box at times?

 

BL with a cup game with St. Pauli today. Possible yank on yank event.

 

Sounds similar to Wes. A year ago we didn’t have any CM attacking options without moving Pulisic centrally and shifting a position gap to winger.

 

Tillman starts! DFB Cup Quarterfinal, Leverkusen hosting St Pauli (Sands also starting!)

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Tillman listed as LAM, Sands as CD in a 3 (Gers flashback nightmare cue!)

 

went 90' in a 3-0 win. Had a nice hockey assist on the 3rd goal. I thought he played well, but wasn't paying the closest attention to the match.

On to the Semis!

 

Sorta wanted St. Pauli to get a little suger in an otherwise sour season, but BL obviously has a better chance at getting past another game or two.

 

Tillman starts! Leverkusen visiting Gladbach (Scally bench; Reyna still out)

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ESPN+ right now for those who are inclined

 

Not able to watch but BMG went up early, and BL tied it up on a BMG OG right before the half. 1-1 at HT>

 

LOL. I have been noting all season about how unlucky Tillman has been WRT assists based on poor striking. In the first half today he sets up a shot that is ruled an own goal but it was on target based on the camera angles I saw. According to Google:

"An own goal in FIFA rules
occurs when a player puts the ball into their own net, either deliberately or accidentally, resulting in a goal for the opposing team. It is generally ruled an own goal if an off-target shot deflects off a defender into the net, whereas a shot already on target is usually credited to the attacker"

Usually... but not in this case. I thought maybe Tillman would get an assist off this shot to make up for all the others missed during the season.

At any rate, aside for the goal play we are seeing the poor "Jekylle and Hyde" state of Leverksen that has driven so many people mad this season. This passive version of the team seems to think that possession % wins the game. They almost refuse to counter... consistently passing the ball backwards on turnovers which allows BM to recover. I would understand if they were ahead in the 2nd half or something... but they were doing it for the vast majority of the 1dt half down by a goal. Add on top of that that this version of Leverkusen seem to be off on the simplest of passes. Man o man... they can compete with really good teams but in other games they are frustratingly bad to watch.

 

Could have had an assist in the 2nd too if Schick could have gotten to the ball faster. Overall, Tillman appears to be a high-variance performance player. Sometimes he seems all-world... but his "smooth" style comes off a bit lackadaisical when things are not clicking. I maintain that he provides at least one or two important chances a game even on down games... and as such, his assist numbers are significantly below expectation. But he has yet to become a consistent play-maker that can carry a team. I.e. he needs his teammates to be in-form in order to really excel to star level.

 

He seems very passive.

 

Correct. He is a very good passer.

 

Only watched the 1st half but this is the "bad Tillman" that pops up every so often. Just seemed uninterested. His first 3 possessions were bad touch, bad pass, bad dribble. And never seemed to move on from it. Drifted out wide left for a good part of the half, not involved and definitely not connecting in anything dangerous.

When he was in the 10 slot mostly just standing in the pocket and maybe a check back and 1 touch pass back.

Hopefully he was better the 2nd half.

 

I think the BL04 coach had some choice things to say at the half as the entire team looked more energized in the second half.

 

Tillman is on the bench. Leverkusen hosting St Pauli (Sands starting).

Leverkusen travel to play Olympiacos on Wednesday in Champions League KO action, so perhaps Tillman is staying fresh for that match.

Edit: Leverkusen up early 2-0 ...

 

In at the half:

🔁 Primer cambio en el #Bayer04:

↪️ Entra Tillman
↩️ Sale Maza

⌚️ 46' | #B04FCSP (2-0)#SomosBayer04 🖤❤️ pic.twitter.com/fduzPC2u1U

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_es) February 14, 2026

Up 3-0 in the 73rd.

 

reminder...CL play today vs. Olympiacos

 

Maybe the Leverkusen players could offer to gift their opponents a game-worn jersey instead. Tillman's might become quite valuable.