Werder Bremen Preview

Werder Bremen

Coach: Thomas Schaaf

Thomas Schaaf IS Werder Bremen.
What can we say here really. After ten years of Werder Bremen he was criticized a bit in last season, which was an unlucky season for them though they reached UefaCup final and won the domestic cup.

Anyway the club, especially Allofs does support Thomas Schaaf and he will pay that back with the best possible results.

After Diego left Werder Bremen it may be possible that the usual Schaaf system with one DM, LM,RM and OM in midfield can be changed to two DM, LOM and ROM.

Additionally Schaaf should sign a new contract soon according to Allofs.

Money spend for transfers: 10.950.000 €
Money earned from transfers: 24.650.000 €

Balance: +13.700.000 €

Atmosphere during training camp&test matches:

Atmosphere was good, but many players missed at the beginning of the training. Rosenberg and Jensen were injured. Özil and Marin had longer holidays due to U-21 EM.

Anyway it may not have a big influence on them. Wins over Wolfsburg (2:1) and FSV Frankfurt (2:1) showed their improving form! The latest defeat against Alemannia Aachen (3:2) should not be rated too high since it was last match in Tivoli (old stadium of Aachen).

Possible line-ups & tactics:











Most likely:
1. 4-4-2 (4-2-2-2); LB,CB,CB,RB,DM,DM,ROM,LOM,ST,ST

Aim set by club:

Increase performance this season after last season bad position in Bundesliga. Top five is the aim as well.

Team check:

Goalkeeper: 9/10

Tim Wiese, also called Kong Fu Wiese after his terrible attack on Olic.
It is nothing new that goalkeepers get crazy sometimes so we skip this one and concentrate on his performances.

Wiese is good on line and has a good advantage because he is so big (he looks so small in TV damn!). Additionally he is a playing keeper who has no problem to read the match and run out of the penalty box if needed. Only problem of him that he has a big ego and that he impair his own performances with it.

Defence: 7/10

Both centre backs are very good.

Mertesacker and Naldo could easily play in any other country but both have the disadvantage that they are tall and that is not very helpful when Bremen runs after another counterattack. Same with Prödl, good defender but very tall as well.

The big issue are left and right backs.
Both Boenisch and Fritz are good players but they have an unbelievable average error number in one match. Either wrong passes or very bad crosses. Boenisch also tends to tackle too early, the opponent passes him and he lies on the ground because of a sliding tackle.

Alternatively Bremen has defensive all-rounder Pasanen who does his job without catching any attention at all and Tosic who is not bad, if he could calm down when holding the ball.
Mr. Panic Tosic I'm calling him already, because you can see in his face how nervous he is in some situations.

Midfield: 7/10

Diego left, Borowski came back.

Most likely a time to change the system from one defensive midfield player to two.
Frings and Borowski will then suit the centre position which could work out quite good. If Jensen will be fit he could take one of that positions from time to time, but also Vranjes will sit on bench for the same position.

Left offensive midfield will be Özil side, who could finally show everyone what he is capable of. Good season with Bremen for him, scoring the important goal in domestic cup final and winning the U-21 EM with Germany with good performances in all matches.

Right offensive midfield position can be played by Hunt or the newcomer Marko Marin.
Hunt is a fast guy, an offensive all-rounder really and he would fit on this position.

Marko Marin is good but he has still to learn a lot. He has the talent to go the same way as Özil did go one year ago.

Big question if Marko Marin and Özil can compensate Diego during one whole season!

Striker: 7/10

Bremen probably want get Pizarro for another season which is a big loss!

They bought Moreno who made a good impression in test matches.
It will be interesting to see how he can adapt to German league after he had problems to play in Donezk.

Together with him Bremen has Hugo Almeida who is not bad too. Good in heading and some freaking good long shots, just running a lot is not one of Almeidas favourite things.
Markus Rosenberg and Sanogo may play a role. While Rosenberg got his chances during the last season and scored a few goals, Sanogo could not convince in Hoffenheim were he was on loan for half a season.

Difficult to predict the striker strength without watching some matches but on paper they could be rated average to good only.

Total: 7/10

My prognosis:

An important year for Bremen to see if last year was just one bad season or not.
Will they end up in midfield or will they be able to get back on top?

Well very difficult question. It will depend on how the new transfers will fit into the team. Then two or three guys have to take responsibility in difficult matches and most important if they change the system the team must adapt to it.
It is not easy to find the right balance between offense and defense, especially if you change the midfield line-up!

For me Bremen has a difficult job this season and in the best case I see them qualifying for Europe League.