Well @Teak, @el americano, and whatever lurkers are out there, if you're a fan of VfB Stuttgart 1893, post here for the new season! We're staying up! Jaaaaaaaaa! After seeing Kalajdzic being carried on the shoulders of fans, after the whistle blew, and as pumped as he was, I hope he decides to stay. Fact is, he'll earn a hell of a lot more somewhere else - just so long as it isn't Scheiss Bayern! What concerns me almost as much is if Borna Sosa decides to go for the payday this Summer, too. We'll have a hard time recruiting excellent players to replace the both of them, unless Sven Mislintat can keep working his magic. It will be an interesting off season, to say the least!
With the World Cup being run in October and November, I suspect that most European leagues will start earlier than usual so that they can take one month off over the World Cup period. So, the moves in the transfer market need to happen fast. Kalajdzic may not be number 1 on Bayern Munich's list to replace Lewandowski according to this rumour mill. https://www.bavarianfootballworks.c...r-city-lewandowski-fc-barcelona-werner-lukaku
Because VfB avoided relegation, the clause in the Mavropanos loan deal kicks in and VfB buy him from Arsenal for 3 million Euros. That is good news. https://www.justarsenal.com/loanee-triggers-clause-to-end-his-affiliation-with-arsenal-fc/310153
Rumour has it now that Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona are all interested in bidding on VfB's Borna Sosa. He had around 17 assists in the past two seasons, most of them going to Kalajdzic. That would be the deal, I suppose, take the pair off VfB's roster for big money.
That would be a heck of a loss, but would definitely bring a boatload of money. Hopefully, Sven would be able to refill the stable with a few quality players.
What happened to Silas Mvumpa? He gave us 11 goals and 5 assists last season, but hardly played at all this season. First he had that suspension due to the agent shenanigans, and then a foot injury. This article in March states that he was willing to stick with VfB even if relegated so maybe he will remain and stay healthy for 2022-2023. He is rated at 25m Euros so a good season could see him moving on for big money next summer. https://taketonews.com/vfb-stuttgar...emains-even-if-relegated-to-the-2nd-division/
Manchester United (aka ManUre) are linked with VfB's Orel Mangala. https://www.footballfancast.com/man...n-utd-transfer-rumours-ten-hag-premier-league I guess we have to put up with a lot of richer clubs raiding VfB first before seeing who VfB can afford to bring in at lower prices.
VfB is taking up the option to purchase Ito, who seemed to work out well in the back three near the end even though VfB leaked goals like a drunken sailor. https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/ne...fb-stuttgart-zieht-kaufoption-bei-hiroki-ito/
Scoring kind of comes and goes, but the team that used to be known for its defense, like you say, shipped goals by the ton last year. That needs to be straightened out, fast! There is so much improvement that needs to be done, all through the team from striker to defense. Add to that the players that we'll lose because of wealthier teams poaching our better players, I'm very curious to see who Sven brings in. I hope it's not all young kids again. I think that's one reason we were bossed around by so many teams. A little more 'quality' veteran presence should help, in all areas.
I was looking at the VfB Stuttgart Americana account on Twitter ( @VfBAmericana ) when I saw that Grant Wahl had done a podcast which included an interview with Pelegrino Mattarazzo! (Rino's interview starts with about 15 minutes left in the podcast.) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...vive-usmnt-squad/id1513071118?i=1000563350701 VfB Stuttgart Americana also does their own podcast, so please give it a listen! https://www.vfbstuttgartamericana.com/
And now there is this story about how Bayern Munich is buying up lots of young German players so that they can sell them on for a profit later. https://www.bavarianfootballworks.c...ich-wanner-vidovic-tillman-ibrahimovic-yildiz
How is this any different from Scheiss Bayern's M.O. through the years? They've always done this, in addition to skimming off the best adult talent from all their competitors. I just don't get how they can get away with it the way the Financial Fair Play rules are supposed to be in place. The old saying "Money talks, bullshit walks" is true.
I brought up that topic because one of the names mentioned was Laurin Ulrich, a young attacking midfielder on the books of VfB. I checked this season's roster, and it doesn't appear that he has even appeared for the VfB first team squad. It looks like he played for the VfB U-17 squad which competed in the B-Junior Bundesliga: South/Southwest in which the Stuttgart team finished top of the league ahead of Bayern Munich's U-17 amongst others. https://www.transfermarkt.de/vfb-stuttgart-17/startseite/verein/21084/saison_id/2021 Still, the Stuttgart II squad (Klimowicz, Massimo, and others) played in the Regional League, Southwest, which I would have had this Ulrich playing in if they want him to get ready for the first team.
First confirmed exit: Erik Thommy. Contract won't be renewed. https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2122/abgang-erik-thommy/
That makes sense. He did well when he was first acquired, but was injured a fair amount, and didn't really have the impact the team had hoped for.
Daniel Didavi is also leaving. He was with VfB since he was a youth player: Ein Vierteljahrhundert VfB | Daniel #Didavi hat sich beim VfB vom Nachwuchstalent zum gestandenen Bundesligaprofi entwickelt. In diesem Sommer endet seine Zeit beim VfB.Danke, Dida!🤝#VfB | Zur Meldung ➡️ https://t.co/3O87JoYfE1 pic.twitter.com/V06v4Eo5TZ— VfB Stuttgart 1893 (@VfB) May 27, 2022
VfB will play in the first round of the DFB Pokal against Dynamo Dresden. July 29 and August 1. Bundesliga play begins the following weekend. This shows how early the league is starting up due to the month-long World Cup break in November.
VfB are going to purchase Omar Marmoush on a permanent deal. This is good news. https://www.kingfut.com/2022/05/28/stuttgart-omar-marmoush-permanent-deal/
According to Sky Sports, VfB is interested in Kai Wagner from the Philadelphia Union: Laut dem SSNHD Transferupdate ist der #VfB an Kai #Wagner (25, LV, Philadelphia Union) interessiert. #VfBTransfers https://t.co/rJsEKzbPCD— VfBTransfers (@VfBTransfers) May 31, 2022 I believe he's a Left Back who's had a number of assists. Might be a decent replacement for Borna Sosa. He's a German National. (I don't know if he's obtained US citizenship.)
It looks like Kai Wagner played in Germany before joining the Philadelphia Union. He last played at the 3.B level with FC Wurzberger Kickers. Since MLS is probably closer to 2.B in level, and not 1.B, I wonder if Wagner is ready to step up to a higer level of play.
Now it looks like Bayern Munich are proposing a swap deal. They would trade Joshua Zirkzee (striker) and Omar Richards (left back or wing back) straight up for Sasha Kalajdzic. This would give VfB a direct replacement for both Kalajdzic and Borna Sosa, and hopefully they will get cash for selling Sosa to someone else. https://www.bavarianfootballworks.c...richards-kalajdzic-manchester-united-dortmund
Slow news period regarding transfers, however: Erik Thommy is a likely signing with Sporting Kansas City of the MLS. https://www.thebluetestament.com/20...k-thommy-kansas-city-stuttgart-bundesliga-mls And, Atakan Karazor is under investigation for a rape in Ibiza during holiday. https://www.90min.com/posts/bundesliga-footballer-arrested-with-another-man-on-suspicion-of-rape