In other news, Thomas Hitzlsperger has informed the VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG supervisory board that he will not extend his contract once it expires in the autumn of 2022. This opens up a lot of concerns as well as possibilities. https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/club/2021/news-thomas-hitzlsperger/
Week 5: VfB went down in defeat 1-3 at home against Bayer Leverkusen. Bayer played with only 10 men from minute 31 but VfB did not take advantage. They fielded a 4-3-1-2 lineup like this: Coulibaly, Marmoush Mangala Sosa, Endo, Karazor, Massimo Kempf, Ito, Mavropanos Muller Mangala scored only VfB goal. VfB now sitting on only 4 points and just above relegation zone, tied with 4 other squads. Not looking good so far this season compared with last season. Week 5: 1-1-3 4 points Goals - Assists Al Ghaddioui 2 - 1 Sosa 0 - 3 Kempf 2 - 0 Endo 1 - 1 Marmoush 1 - 0 Klement 1 - 0 Mavropanos 1 - 0 Mangala 1 - 0 Coulibaly 0 - 1 Forster 0 - 1 Klimowicz 0 - 1 Goals scored: 9 Goals conceded 12 Clean sheets: 0
Dag, we really need Kalajdzic & Mvumpa to return, like yesterday! We also need the defense to step up and make some plays!
Yeah, the offense has averaged nearly 2 goals per match (1.8), but the defense is horrible: 2.4 goals against per match is pretty bad. I don't know if it is our formation, our defenders, or the coverage in front of the defenders. Endo wins a lot of challenges, but he needs someone else partnering with him who is consistent. He has played with Klement and Karazor mostly so far this season, but I think Matarrazo needs to put Mangala back into that spot.
VfB vs. VfL Bochum on Sunday, 9/26/21 at 9:30AM ET. https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2122/gegnerelf-vfl-bochum---vfb/ We really need to get the full three points from this one.
Week 6: 1-2-3 5 points Good news: VfB kept a clean sheet for once (Muller). Bad news: They didn't score a goal against near-bottom side Bochum. Two points dropped. Now sitting right above the relegation zone. Fuhrich looked good going forward in his first match for VfB. Came on as a sub for Klimowicz. But he needs teammates who can function at a higher level than they have shown so far this season. Goals - Assists Al Ghaddioui 2 - 1 Sosa 0 - 3 Kempf 2 - 0 Endo 1 - 1 Marmoush 1 - 0 Klement 1 - 0 Mavropanos 1 - 0 Mangala 1 - 0 Coulibaly 0 - 1 Forster 0 - 1 Klimowicz 0 - 1 Goals scored: 9 Goals conceded 12 Clean sheets: 1
From VfB's website: Post-match reaction Pellegrino Matarazzo: “The clean sheet is certainly the main positive from the game. We defended solidly as a team for the duration of the game and also saw a good goalkeeping performance from Florian Müller. We’ll continue to work on the attacking issues in the coming days.” https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/team/saison/bundesliga/2122/6-vfl-bochum----vfb-stuttgart/
Yeah, otherwise I don't know from which teams VfB will be able to pick up points if we can't get full points from Bochum.
Here's some good news: Reha-Einheit auf dem Rasen. #Silas trainiert mit dem VfB-Rehatrainer Martin #Franz. 🌞⚽️💪#VfB pic.twitter.com/Bt6wHmqPq4— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) September 30, 2021 I can't wait until he's back on the field. Man, will that help our offense!
From VfB's website: Link: https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/ne...matchfacts-vfb-stuttgart-tsg-hoffenheim-2122/
VfB head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo addresses the media ahead of the home match against TSG Hoffenheim at 9:30AM EST on Saturday: https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2122/pellegrino-matarazzo-vor-tsg-hoffenheim/
Seems like a must-win match for VfB to have any hope of staying out of the relegation battle. Expected lineup: Al Ghaddioui Marmoush, Klimowicz Sosa, Endo, Mangala, Massimo Kempf, Anton, Mavropanos Muller I would rather see Fuhrich start than Klimowicz. Other than that, this lineup is about the best we can hope for until Silas and Kalajdzic come back into match fitness.
Starting lineup looks like a 3-1-4-2 formation: Marmoush, Fuhrich Sosa, Endo, Mangala, Coulibaly Karazor Kempf, Anton, Mavropanos Muller
Final score was VfB 3 - 1 TSG. Now they're above the relegation battlers for at least a little while. Hopefully, we'll do even better once Silas Mvumpa is back on the field!
I watched the first 35 minutes and then switched over to a La Liga match. Intend to watch the second half later today. Yeah, good to see they finally scored some goals and got their second win.
Week 7: 2-2-3 8 points Home win 3-1 against Hoffenheim stopped the slide. Goals from defenders Kempf (Marmoush assist) and Mavropanos got full points and Massimo (Coulibaly) scored his first goal for the club. Goals - Assists Kempf 3 - 0 Al Ghaddioui 2 - 1 Sosa 0 - 3 Mavropanos 2 - 0 Endo 1 - 1 Marmoush 1 - 1 Coulibaly 0 - 2 Klement 1 - 0 Massimo 1 - 0 Mangala 1 - 0 Forster 0 - 1 Klimowicz 0 - 1 Goals scored: 12 Goals conceded 13 Clean sheets: 1
The hits keep coming: https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2122/test-waldemar-anton-erik-thommy/
Week 8: Borussia Moenchengladbach - VfB Stuttgart Away match for VfB with the predicted lineup of: Al Ghaddioui Marmoush, Fuhrich Sosa, Endo, Karazor, Coulibaly Kempf, Ito, Mavropanos Muller Anton out with an injury so either Ito starts in central defense, or Karazor does and Klement partners Endo in midfield. Still a long injury list which includes Massimo and Thommy now. I don't see any points in this for VfB; Borussia have been tough at home.
Well, VfB played BMG even and came away with a 1-1 draw, which is better than we both expected. Although I thought at one point they might be able to pull out a win, 1 point is definitely better than 0 points!
Week 8: 2-3-3 9 points Away draw 1-1 against Borussia Moenchengladbach. Mavropanos scored only VfB goal off assist by Marmoush. Still hanging above the relegation zone now, but need to find some more offense if they don't want to fight that battle all season. Goals - Assists Kempf 3 - 0 Mavropanos 3 - 0 Al Ghaddioui 2 - 1 Marmoush 1 - 2 Sosa 0 - 3 Endo 1 - 1 Coulibaly 0 - 2 Klement 1 - 0 Massimo 1 - 0 Mangala 1 - 0 Forster 0 - 1 Klimowicz 0 - 1 Goals scored: 13 Goals conceded 14 Clean sheets: 1