Matchday 2 – Schalke 04 1-1 Werder

By: Brian | August 25th, 2008

You knew it was coming didn’t you?

I did. Anyone who has any familiarity with Werder Bremen football knew it. As soon as the Green-Whites took the 1-0 lead, the equalizer couldn’t have been far behind, and it wasn’t. At this point Werder giving up weak, late goals is becoming cliche and they didn’t disappoint on Saturday.

In a match that Werder dominated in terms of possession and real goal scoring chances (minus a 10 minute period in the second half), the best they could do was produce a draw versus title rivals Schalke. A utilitarian Frings strike in the 63rd was negated by a Westerman equilizer five minutes from time to keep Werder without a win two weeks into the season.

If it wasn’t before, it is now an undeniable fact that this team has a discouraging inability to hold onto leads, especially those of the one goal variety. This team knows offense and only offense. Given a lead, in lieu of tightening up at the back, they open up in the front. There is no noticable difference in the Bremen strategy when protecting a lead or chasing a deficit. And that’s a problem. After the goal, the first two substitutions made by Schaaf were strikers. A defender (Fritz) didn’t come on until after the equalizer.

Look, there’s no shame in putting on defensive minded players and slowing the game down a bit in an effort to prevent the other team from scoring once one possesses a lead. In fact championship after championship have been won with that common sense gameplan. Look, I’m by no means advocating the implementation of a Hanseatic catenaccio, but at this level minding ones defensive responsibilities shouldn’t be too much to ask. Can it?

1-0

A lovely team goal that was all Mesut Özil. His run with the ball down the left was going nowhere, when he put on the brakes at the goal line and layed a low cross accross the box. Epitomizing his unselfishness, Rosenberg dummied the ball, leaving it to Frings to pick his spot. His spot ws the lower left corner and he did just enough to put the ball there, past Schober.

1-1

Looking extremely strong, but not able to add a second, the equalizer was inevitable. Weise did well to steer a header wide, only to see it fall to the feet of Heiko Westerman. Naldo, Prödl, AND Pasanen found it too much trouble to react properly and quickly, leaving the Schalke defender to hammer it home, essentially unmarked. Not as bad as last week’s second conceded equalizer, but worse than the worst. I really could rank these as the season progresses.

Werder Man of the Match

Mesut Özil. The real bright spot of the day was the coming out party for the ex-Schalke playmaker. After some early obvious nerves, he settled in an had an excellent match filling in for Diego (or Hunt, take your pick). His relative invisibility followed by very visible poor passing gave way to lovely runs and creative scheming. A long, mazy run toward the end of the first half nearly resulted in a early Goal of the Year candidate, if not for the heroics of Schober. Was subbed off for Fritz in the 86th and Werder didn’t threaten again.

Werder Goat of the Match

Very nearly Weise, this week’s honor goes to Petri Pasanen. While he wasn’t overtly bad (really no one was), he committed a number of errors that nearly led to goals, including a comedically weak header back to his keeper that should’ve been punished.

Miscellanea

• Surprised Pizarro got the start five days after re-arriving in Bremen. Still, despite just meeting his teammates, he was very good. Doesn’t have the speed of a Sanogo or Rosenberg, but moves well with the ball, especially laterally. Excellent passing. Maybe a little too unselfish though.

• The last 20 minutes screamed for Vranjes to come on, but Schaaf didn’t call his number. Protecting 1-0 leads are why he’s on this roster. Use him.

• Vintage Weise. He made some amazing saves, but too often flung himself in the general direction of a cross, putting himself way out of position to deal with the subsequent attempt on goal. Only woeful finishing from Die Knappen saved him.

• Boenisch played on the left for most of the match, then switched to the right during the second half. I have no theory on this.

• Schalke was surprisingly….underwhelming. They are my pick for the team most likely to challenge Bayern this season, but they have a ton of work to do. I know they’re missing the Eredivisie imports and the squirrelly Rafinha, but they looked short of ideas on Saturday.

• Naldo was great. Best match from him for as long as I can remember. Still hate his free kicks though.

This weekend is away to ‘Gladbach and the return of the Zaubermaus. A much needed three points.