week 2 opponent review VfL Bochum

By: j | August 21st, 2008

Week two of the season sees Wolfsburg travel to face Marcel Koller’s VfL Bochum at the Ruhrstadion.

Since taking over Bochum, Marcel Koller has stabilized the club and seen them gradually work up to being a quality mid-table club capable of performing with the best of squads. The club has made some instrumental acquisitions in the transfer season with Austrian international Christian Fuchs and a return of Vahid Hashemian and Paul Freier who were instrumental in helping Bochum’s win a spot in the UEFA Cup four years ago. At ‘keeper, Jan Laštůvka who did such a fine job last season on-loan from Shakhtar Donetsk has returned the Ukrainian powerhouse and in his place the Canadian (who maintains the tradition of Canadians not playing for Canada. At least he doesn’t try to pull-off Madonna-esque British accent ala’ Calgary’s Owen with a Portuguese styling) Dani Fernandes will now serve as the number one ‘keeper. Additionally Sinan Kaloğlu, comes in from Bursaspor of the Turkey Süper Lig and has shown a good touch near the goal.

Historically Bochum’s woes start defensively and Marcel Koller will need the experience of Anthar Yahia and Marcel Maltritz to shore-up the back-line. In the opening match of the season against Karlsruher SC, Marc Pfertzel was used somewhat as a traditional sweeper in a 3-5-2 with a reasonable improvement to the defense. The midfield while being stable defensively will need to pose a greater offensive threat if they are to threaten the forty-five to fifty-plus point total this campaign. I won’t be surprised to see Paul Freier in the starting grid this week as he was the major creative threat last week and can initiate a stronger counter-attack. Elsewhere in the packed midfield are Daniel Imhof (who actually does play for Canada), Mimoun Azaouagh, the sturdy Austrian Christian Fuchs and Japanese International Shinji Ono, who in my opinion is their most dangerous threat in moving forward. If the former Urawa Red Diamonds player gets untracked he will create nightmares for defenses with his superb crosses and passing, particularly in servicing the striking group of Vahid Hashemian, Stanislav Sestak and new man Sinan Kaloğlu as well as set plays with Christian Fuchs aerial ability paying off.

Of final comment, Bochum should be noted for their tenacity of play at home. They are a completely different squad at home and will be looking to repeat last years 5-3 blood-letting of Die Wölfe again. Felix Magath is more than aware of this and will be facing a stern test at the Ruhrstadion

Part two of my match review to follow.