Dull first half with only a single shot on goal by each squad. Castro and Förster are the weak links in the offense. Both slow and not good in possession.
VfB hang on to win 1-0, a rare clean sheet. Offense produced very few chances and I attribute that to our poor linkup play between midfield and Kalajdzic. 1 2 4 3 Goalkeeper This is usually how VfB play. The problem is not with the 1 or the 4 or the Goalkeeper. It is the 2 and sometimes the 3. I felt we were better earlier in the season when Coulibaly and Didavi got more playing time. Förster is not starter material for me, and Castro is getting slower with age. I like Thommy on the left and Coulibaly on the right of that 2. I think we would create more chances.
VfB get the full three points! Keep on keeping on, and they will stay safely in the middle of the table. I'm (kinda-sorta) hearing rumors that BVB are after Mislintat. I think he's been terrific, and it would really hurt Stuttgart if he were to leave right away. I hope he stays for a good, long while.
Week 22: 7-8-7 29 points Eeked out a 0-1 away win at FC Cologne. Sosa free kick headed in by Kalajdzic. Other than that, not much offense created. Kobel and defenders finally got another (rare) clean sheet. Three away points counter balances the poor home record. Goals - Assists Wamangituka 11 - 3 Kalajdzic 10 - 3 Gonzalez 6 - 2 Sosa 0 - 6 Didavi 2 - 3 Castro 3 - 1 Mangala 1 - 2 Kempf 2 - 0 Coulibaly 2 - 0 Klimowicz 1 - 1 Thommy 0 - 2 Klement 0 - 2 Forster 1 - 0 Endo 0 - 1 Anton 0 - 1 Goals scored: 39 Goals conceded: 35 Clean sheets: 3
Who is Mislintat? Oh, is he the sporting manager who has been in an argy-bargy with Hitzlsperger? That would make sense for one of them to give way to keep peace at the club.
No, that's Team President Klaus Vogt. Sven Mislintat is the Sporting Director (I guess we would call him the Manager) who was the Chief Scout at BVB, then went to Arsenal, and came to Stuttgart. He's acquired some very good players in his time: From his Bundesliga page: He brought over Wamagituka from Arsenal, IIRC, and was also trying to get Folarin Balogun from Arsenal, but there are too many other teams with deeper pockets than Stuttgart in the running for him.
VfB host Schalke tomorrow in Stuttgart. I will be traveling at the time so will have to watch this on replay later, likely next week. Bundesliga.com probable lineup: Stuttgart: Kobel - Mavropanos, Anton, Kempf - Silas, Mangala, Endo, Sosa - Förster, Castro (c) - Kalajdzic Thommy and Coulibaly both out with injuries, so we are stuck with Förster once again.
I don't watch Bundesliga on broadcast TV. ESPN+ ($5/month) streams every 1.B match this season on the internet, and I will have one week to watch the match on replay. I am watching Werder Bremen - Eintracht Frankfurt right now, 1-1 in the second half. Very good stream is like watching cable.
Week 23: 8-8-7 32 points VfB picked up only their second home win of the season with a 5-1 thrashing of Schalke. Endo with a man-of-the-match performance with two goals and two assists. First goal, he side footed in a Sosa right-side corner at the back post. Second goal, he side-footed in a Castro left-side corner at the back post. Schalke should learn to mark the back post area, eh? Third goal was another Sosa cross from the left side, in off the head of Kalajdzic. Fourth goal, Klement took a Endo pass, turned and fired in on the left side of the goal. Final goal, Didavi took an Endo pass, and hit a rocket in from just outside the box. Kobel didn't get a clean sheet, but he did save a penalty kick, his second of the season. Sosa picked up his 7th and 8th assists of the season. The Bundesliga is now starting to take notice of him and his connection with Kalajdzic. Klement scored his first ever Bundesliga goal. Goals - Assists Wamangituka 11 - 3 Kalajdzic 11 - 3 Gonzalez 6 - 2 Sosa 0 - 8 Didavi 3 - 3 Castro 3 - 2 Endo 2 - 3 Mangala 1 - 2 Klement 1 - 2 Kempf 2 - 0 Coulibaly 2 - 0 Klimowicz 1 - 1 Thommy 0 - 2 Forster 1 - 0 Anton 0 - 1 Goals scored: 44 Goals conceded: 36 Clean sheets: 3
Good morning, VfB fans! ⚪️🔴Greetings from @wataru0209 🤙#VfB #VfBS04 5-1 pic.twitter.com/5Ftd58Mpxk— VfB Stuttgart_int (@VfB_int) February 28, 2021 🇦🇹 Saša Kalajdžić (23) for @VfB in the Bundesliga this season:☑️ 12 starts⚽️ 11 goals🅰️ 3 assists🔥 Goal involvement every 84 minAnd 🇭🇷 Borna Sosa (23) this season:☑️ 17 starts🅰️ 8 assists🔑 2.1 key passes p/g🔥 7 assists in his last 7 gamesIndustrious. pic.twitter.com/gjeryqaGym— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) February 27, 2021
VfB visit Frankfurt to take on Eintracht, who lost last week to Werder Bremen. Bundesliga.com probable lineup: Stuttgart: Kobel - Mavropanos, Anton, Kempf - Silas, Mangala, Endo, Sosa - Klimowicz, Castro (c) - Kalajdzic
Slightly different starting lineup: Kalajdzic Coulibaly, Forster Sosa, Mangala, Endo, Wamangituka Kempf, Anton, Mavropanos Kobel Matarazzo still hasn't found the ideal 2 to sit behind the striker.
0-0 at the half between my #1 and #2 Bundesliga squads. Very open attacking match which is what makes these teams attractive.
Kostic scores to make it 1-0 for Eintracht, 55'. And then VAR rules it offside. I didn't see that. Still 0-0.
70' Kostic slots in from the same spot as a few minutes ago, 1-1. This one is good. Karazor on for Mavropanos.
Week 24: 8-9-7 33 points VfB went to Frankfurt and picked up a point in a 1-1 draw. Kempf cross chested down by Kalajdzic and toe poked in for his 7th goal in 6 straight matches. Goals - Assists Kalajdzic 12 - 3 Wamangituka 11 - 3 Gonzalez 6 - 2 Sosa 0 - 8 Didavi 3 - 3 Castro 3 - 2 Endo 2 - 3 Kempf 2 - 1 Mangala 1 - 2 Klement 1 - 2 Coulibaly 2 - 0 Klimowicz 1 - 1 Thommy 0 - 2 Forster 1 - 0 Anton 0 - 1 Goals scored: 45 Goals conceded: 37 Clean sheets: 3