Comments on: Matchday 15: Tristesse as Usual http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html News from The German Bundesliga Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:54:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jan http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7948 Jan Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:08:31 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7948 I am not that confident any longer. Hamburg had everything together to be runaway leaders in the Bundesliga but they aren't. Injuries are one reason for sure. The defense is another. Frank Rost is still soild but he's not as good as he was over the last seasons, which may or may not be age related. Rozehnal is not a backup defender Hamburg would want to rely on too often, but they had to with Silva out. As a whole, the midfield and all the possession is usually a good first line of defense for Hamburg, but beyond that, they are vulnerable. And I think that that's also a rather rational reason why even bigger teams come to Hamburg with such a defensive counter attacking mindset, because that's the easiest way to beat the team. Now, obviously once Hamburg are more or less complete again, every part of Hamburg's game will receive a boost, including their defense. At the same time, all the big matches (almost all) in the Bundesliga will be away games in the second half of the season - making reclaiming lost ground all the more difficult. Hamburg need to get six points from their last two games and then they are still well positioned to be right in it for the CL/EL spots. I'm just not sure whether the team has the edge to be a true title contender. I am not that confident any longer. Hamburg had everything together to be runaway leaders in the Bundesliga but they aren’t. Injuries are one reason for sure. The defense is another. Frank Rost is still soild but he’s not as good as he was over the last seasons, which may or may not be age related. Rozehnal is not a backup defender Hamburg would want to rely on too often, but they had to with Silva out. As a whole, the midfield and all the possession is usually a good first line of defense for Hamburg, but beyond that, they are vulnerable. And I think that that’s also a rather rational reason why even bigger teams come to Hamburg with such a defensive counter attacking mindset, because that’s the easiest way to beat the team.

Now, obviously once Hamburg are more or less complete again, every part of Hamburg’s game will receive a boost, including their defense. At the same time, all the big matches (almost all) in the Bundesliga will be away games in the second half of the season – making reclaiming lost ground all the more difficult. Hamburg need to get six points from their last two games and then they are still well positioned to be right in it for the CL/EL spots. I’m just not sure whether the team has the edge to be a true title contender.

]]> By: g? http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7946 g? Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:13:19 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7946 Too bad parking the bus seems to work just fine :P Jan, I'd be interested to hear if you think we can contend for the BL once we get the gang back together. Too bad parking the bus seems to work just fine :P
Jan, I’d be interested to hear if you think we can contend for the BL once we get the gang back together.

]]> By: Richard http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7899 Richard Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:54:02 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7899 Well I hope the ball provides some more exciting results next June! What an anticlimax! Still, I wouldn't have thought many German punters would have backed all those 0-0 results, which is probably for the best considering how much they would have lost out due to the appalling value of European betting monopolies! http://cli.gs/GNGEbW Well I hope the ball provides some more exciting results next June! What an anticlimax! Still, I wouldn’t have thought many German punters would have backed all those 0-0 results, which is probably for the best considering how much they would have lost out due to the appalling value of European betting monopolies! http://cli.gs/GNGEbW

]]> By: Jan http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7895 Jan Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:00:55 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7895 It's hard to tell. In theory everything is and was in place for Stuttgart to make the next step. The books are balanced. The local market is big and - different to e.g. Bremen - can support a big club in terms of available fan base and potential sponsors. A top modern stadium is in place. The youth academy is excellent. The current squad has a lot of quality already. So, in the end it probably comes down to the coach and sporting director. Stuttgart once had the perfect man for both positions with Magath, but he was snapped up by Bayern... Since then Stuttgart struggled to find long term solutions. It’s hard to tell.

In theory everything is and was in place for Stuttgart to make the next step. The books are balanced. The local market is big and – different to e.g. Bremen – can support a big club in terms of available fan base and potential sponsors. A top modern stadium is in place. The youth academy is excellent. The current squad has a lot of quality already.

So, in the end it probably comes down to the coach and sporting director. Stuttgart once had the perfect man for both positions with Magath, but he was snapped up by Bayern… Since then Stuttgart struggled to find long term solutions.

]]> By: diana http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7893 diana Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:32:27 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7893 I hope so, Jan. When I first heard about those rumours regarding Christian Gross, my first impression went back to how he was remembered at Tottenham. Then I remembered that he is back at his native Switzerland with Basel before now being at the VfB Stuttgart hot-seat. You have pointed out that the club have tried out over 30 coaches in Stuttgart's 47 years of existence in the Bundesliga. I really hope (though I seem to jinx it for some reason or another) Gross eventually do not become another piece of statistic in the club's history. I hope so, Jan.

When I first heard about those rumours regarding Christian Gross, my first impression went back to how he was remembered at Tottenham. Then I remembered that he is back at his native Switzerland with Basel before now being at the VfB Stuttgart hot-seat.

You have pointed out that the club have tried out over 30 coaches in Stuttgart’s 47 years of existence in the Bundesliga. I really hope (though I seem to jinx it for some reason or another) Gross eventually do not become another piece of statistic in the club’s history.

]]> By: Jan http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7891 Jan Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:39:57 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7891 "‘Gross spent the last ten years coaching FC Basel with quite some success.’ Though I think Tottenham Hotspur fans may like to beg to differ during his time there." Think positive. Tottenham was the only club where he "failed" - his Wikipedia entry gives a lot of reasons for his troubles at Tottenham - none of those reasons can be applied to Stuttgart. And in the end: exceptions and rules and all. :-) Maybe Stuttgart finally found the guy to bring consistency to the club - and balance to the force. “‘Gross spent the last ten years coaching FC Basel with quite some success.’
Though I think Tottenham Hotspur fans may like to beg to differ during his time there.”

Think positive. Tottenham was the only club where he “failed” – his Wikipedia entry gives a lot of reasons for his troubles at Tottenham – none of those reasons can be applied to Stuttgart. And in the end: exceptions and rules and all. :-)

Maybe Stuttgart finally found the guy to bring consistency to the club – and balance to the force.

]]> By: Abby http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7889 Abby Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:39:23 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7889 But that was what, 12 years ago? I think one is allowed to move on... But that was what, 12 years ago? I think one is allowed to move on…

]]> By: diana http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7886 diana Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:23:39 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7886 'Gross spent the last ten years coaching FC Basel with quite some success.' Though I think Tottenham Hotspur fans may like to beg to differ during his time there. We will have to wait and see then. ‘Gross spent the last ten years coaching FC Basel with quite some success.’
Though I think Tottenham Hotspur fans may like to beg to differ during his time there.

We will have to wait and see then.

]]> By: Luka http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7885 Luka Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:19:43 +0000 http://bundesliga.theoffside.com/1-bundesliga/werder-bremen/matchday-15-tristesse-as-usual.html#comment-7885 Barrios needs to improve his efficiency in front of goal, he's too wasteful at the moment. Barrios needs to improve his efficiency in front of goal, he’s too wasteful at the moment.

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