ESPN+ has it. I won't spoil it for you, but full credit to Heidenheim. It's easy to see how we lost to them early in the campaign, and why they gave Dortmund and Gladbach such fits, too. They maybe lack some quality, but they come to play.
Yeah, I missed watching it live and just now watched the replay. Wild second half! Stuttgart let a 2-0 lead slip starting with a Nübel bobble on a cross producing an own goal. Then Heidenheim scored two in quick succession: their striker Kleindeinst with a brace. In the final minute Heidenheim only had to kill off the match but one of their players kicked out picking up a red card which extended the match an extra minute or two, allowing for that dramatic match-tying goal. If you don't watch the replay, for sure look for the youtube video of that final goal.
Weeks 27: 18-3-6 57 points A fairly comfortable 2-0 lead against Heidenheim was thrown away, mostly due to goalkeeper errors. VfB scored a last minute (90+8) goal to tie it up and only throw away two points instead of three. Goals from Guirassy, Stiller, and Undav; assists by Stiller, Undav, and MIttelstadt. Goals - Assists Guirassy 23 - 1 Undav 15 - 8 Führich 7 - 7 Millot 5 - 2 Leweling 3 - 3 Mittelstädt 2 - 4 Silas 3 - 2 Stiller 1 - 4 Stenzel 0 - 5 Vagnoman 2 - 2 Anton 0 - 3 Karazor 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 63 Goals conceded: 34 Clean sheets: 7
Not like Nübel to make two mistakes in one match like that, especially mistakes like those. He's been good all year. But hey, it happens. Full credit to Heidenheim. They hang in there and don't give up. It's easy to see why they beat us early in the campaign (although we were without Guirassy) and gave Dortmund and Gladbach such fits. Credit to Kleindenst too, especially on that second goal. Deniz is the man, though. He was great all day and came through for us in the end.
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 VfB Stuttgart at the half 4.6.24. We're about dead even. This feels a little like a sumo wrestling match, where they're locked up and nothing much seems to be happening until all of a sudden there's an explosion.
Borussia Dortmund 0-1 VfB Stuttgart in full time [4.6.24]. Holy heart attack, Batman. G: Guirassy 64' and a very valuable three points are in the bag.
Awesome result! My weather today was too nice for me to stay inside for this mid-day match, so I am watching later. Week 28: 19-3-6 60 points Away win in Dortmund, pretty rare for VfB! Leweling assisted on the Guirassy goal. Better enjoy it this season since he will have plenty of Big $$ $uitors this summer. Now in 2nd place and even on points with Bayern "Oh My God, We're Not Going to Win the Title for the 12th Season Running" Munich, who will, no doubt, try to buy Guirassy in the summer. Goals - Assists Guirassy 24 - 1 Undav 15 - 8 Führich 7 - 7 Millot 5 - 2 Leweling 3 - 4 Mittelstädt 2 - 4 Silas 3 - 2 Stiller 1 - 4 Stenzel 0 - 5 Vagnoman 2 - 2 Anton 0 - 3 Karazor 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 64 Goals conceded: 34 Clean sheets: 8
I hope I didn't spoil it for you! It's definitely going to be a challenge keeping the band together. Not only Guirassy, but we have to remember Deniz Undav is on loan from Brighton, too. It's going to cost a few bucks to keep him. Hopefully the near-death experience of the last couple years will motivate the team leadership to spend some money. Sebastian Hoeness signing through 2027 should help, although even with him committed, we shouldn't expect too much of a "hometown discount."
Yeah, keeping the band together is going to be a tough ask. The Schwabs are going to have to open their wallets more than they have in the past, that's for sure.
Really good stuff here. They get into us at the 43' mark. After reviewing our season on the pitch, they get into the leadership controversy (this was recorded before the Christian Riethmüller resignation). It's a terrific podcast for overall Bundesliga news and analysis, by the way. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mNEE8Lm7NxFhowOJjOuEX?si=cQz4zgTUTvOjoLSC-hPqww
That is a good podcast! I'd not heard of that one before. A fan podcast that I listen to is: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vfb-americana/
Excellent! Thank you, thank you. I was looking for a good English-language VfB podcast, but this one didn't pop up when I searched on Spotify. Or at least I didn't see it. My life is now complete. LOL
Club record! Serhou Guirassy with his 25th goal at 11' on a beautiful run out of the offsides trap. What a season.
VfB v Eintracht in Stuttgart. 11' Stiller pass over top of defense sends Guirassy free to score his 25th league goal, a VfB record, 1-0. Now 2-0 with Undav goal. Jinx! We both posted at the same time.
What a half. I was a little concerned with Nübel and Vagnoman out; Frankfurt can be sneaky quick. But no worries now. We just have to calmly see this one out and make sure no one picks up a knock. Bayern on May 4. We can take second then if we keep pace through Werder Bremen and Leverkusen.
Vfb Stuttgart 3-0 Eintracht Frankfurt in full time [4.13.24]. Guirassy doesn't seem too concerned about his knock. It's probably just a strain. Mittlestadt took a knee-to-knee collision but seems to be okay. Overall, we're none the worse for wear. Credit to Frankfurt, they at least tried to fight their way back in. But we're good.
What I like about this team is that they play together as a team! In prior years, the total always seemed to be less than the sum of the parts. VfB, please hang on to Hoeness for a looooong time!
Week 29: 20-3-6 63 points Home win 3-0 over Eintracht Frankfurt keeps VfB tied for 2nd with Bayern Munich. Goals from Guirassy (Stiller assist), Undav, and Leweling (Undav) with Bredlow getting the clean sheet. Goals - Assists Guirassy 25 - 1 Undav 16 - 9 Führich 7 - 7 Leweling 4 - 4 Millot 5 - 2 Mittelstädt 2 - 4 Stiller 1 - 5 Silas 3 - 2 Stenzel 0 - 5 Vagnoman 2 - 2 Anton 0 - 3 Karazor 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 67 Goals conceded: 34 Clean sheets: 9
Yeah, Winoman I suffered through last season faithfully and painfully, so this season has been quite the surprise!
Sorry to not be here for it. I was hospitalized for most of August and I've been battling my way back since being discharged Sept. 1 (not a great diagnosis, but don't worry, I'm fine). I actually was trying to keep up through YouTube highlights and wasn't able to watch full matches until a few weeks ago. It's great to be able to just block off time now and watch from beginning to end. Love it. Anyway, after the near-death experience -- by that, I mean the two near-relegations LOL -- I don't think any of us would have expected this. Bottom three to top three in a year? That's tremendous. And we still get all the palace intrigue and drama, too. Who could ask for more?
Werder Bremen - VfB Stuttgart Nubel in goal. Stergiou-Anton-Ito Karazor-Stiller Leweling-Millot-Mittelstadt Undav-Guirassy
28' Bremen score on a PK, 1-0. VfB caught disorganized at the back and Leweling bundles one of the Bremen players over in the box.