Hamburg Equals Frowny Face
By: ryan_s | March 23rd, 2012What more can I say? My post from two weeks ago held up after last week’s demoralizing loss, and holds up to the 2-1 away loss to Wolfsburg too. The defense wasn’t as awful as it has been, but an Aogo dispossession led to one goal, and Drobny getting beaten on his near post off of Schaefer’s free kick was enough to see off a largely not inventive Hamburg.
Positives: Mancienne played well, after looking outclassed for most of his other appearances this season. Tackled well, distributed well, etc. Also, Marcus Berg had one of the nicest finishes of Hamburg’s awful season with his beautiful lob over the goalie. I liked what I saw from him generally, and think that he should get a few starts down the road to see if he can develop into a consistent striker. Ilicevic had a moment or two where he looked tricky, but was otherwise silent (22 touches of the ball = terrible).
Negatives: Firstly, the goals. HSV’s defense (despite sporting some pretty decent players in our back four) has been absolutely awful this year, and this was added onto today by Aogo being careless and therefore allowing Wolfsburg to take all day to set up a cross to the sneaky Mandzukic and one of only a few Drobny mistakes this season. Drobny in general wasn’t great today, and was a little slow to come off his line. Rene Adler is looking better after this game.
Petric was largely silent again today, and for a player of his skill needs to be more involved (though he had the most touches on the ball of any of our attacking players with 34, sadly). Jansen hasn’t been very good since his little peak in form during the middle of the season, and looks to have lost a couple steps of pace since a few years ago (7 for 14 in passing, oy). To me he plays kind of like a striker who happens to be a decent tracking back defender, therefore he plays in midfield. But otherwise he generally doesn’t get involved with quick decision making buildup play or beating a player one on one. He’s a good finisher, but in our two striker formation I feel it hurts to have three players who play like that.
One of the most annoying developments under Fink (which Mark has mentioned a few times) is players looking like they might take a risk when we are on a fast break, only to think twice about it and then just knock it back up safely to our defenders. We never get a decent shot on counters because of this. This happened quite noticeably with Ilicevic a couple of times.
Personally, I think a player with more pace is needed in our attack with the way Fink plays – Beister is quite quick, so it’s good that he’s coming. But I sure do wish we hadn’t sold Jonathon Pitroipa for 2M last year, even if he wasn’t the best shooter or passer.
Next weekend is a massive battle against bottom dwellers Kaiserslautern (who have a new coach). It’s an away match (which is good I guess) but is at a notoriously loud and raucous stadium (which is bad).
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Comments
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That was a terrible display.
Berg and Petric clogged up all the counters which is why they always knock it back. Petric is too slow / unmotivated. Berg’s timing is a comedy of errors. You keep jumping the trap randomly 100 times, you will be onside once.
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Can’t disagree with you. My hope for berg starting is getting his timing down on those runs. I will say though that both strikers had more touches than either of our wingers – that’s not gonna help on counters either
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Fink said that he would count on most experienced guys in relegation battle; let put aside that it would be reasonable to play only the best regardless of age, but following this concept he put Ilicevic on wrong wing becouse of one dimensional Jansen on the left, so we achived nothing on both side. Naturally would be better to have Ilicevic on his left and Tore on his right.
It is obvious that Guerrero miss badly, not Petric nor Berg are capable to accept long balls and crosses on which it relied our offensive play mostly.
Also I think that Fink change his squad too much, minimal changes will bring more necessary stability to the team. -
Tore is totally out of form. His crossing has always been so-so and without that extra explosiveness, he’s not as dangerous with the ball at his feet.
Fink has been fairly consistent lineup wise compared to oenning. most of the changes were forced by injury and suspension. Was disappointed most by Ilicevic today.
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Now that freiburg are leading 2-0 and augsburg are keeping it 0-0, hamburg are in relegation zone again!! this is terrible! we are too good for relegation, with the squad we have! nur der HSV!!!!!
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I think that Tore and Ilicevic may add to creativity in our offense. Tore was bad first half against Freiburg, but in Schalke was the best, and yesterday had 2 crosses in 10 minutes of play (for instance Jansen had only 1 cross in 75 minutes). Of course, it would be great if he reach form before the injury. As regards Ilicevic he must play on the left or in the middle, on the right is very insecure and reluctant to go ahead.
If we not beat lauterers and defeat from kusens I wonder wheter Fink still be on the bench. -
We’re in deep shit.
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Lots of great comments here. I don’t have much to add other than that this probably should have been a draw but with Hamburg’s poor luck and proneness to mistakes they of course lost again. I’m really feeling like the Arnesen youth-centered rebuild was a huge mistake. Last year’s team with RvN, Matijsen, Ze Roberto, etc. looks really good right now. 7th or 8th place vs relegation candidate? I know which one I’d rather be.
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Mladen has been horrific the past four or five matches at least, Arslan should get the nod up top with Berg.
Jansen is in the same boat, Ivo on the left and Gokhan on the right against FCK, please.
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Just saw Hamburg are looking at the top striker in the Polish League, Austrian Artjoms Rudnevs (what a name!) to replace Petric at season’s end. I’m no longer as bummed to see Petric go after his horrible run of form when we’ve needed him most.
Totally agree with everyone saying Ivo on the left and Töre on the right. Though Fink seems to love Jansen.
HSV are being put through extra training this week, and have dismissed Romeo Castelen and Muhamed Besic so that they can work with a smaller group of people.
This weekend has big implications for the future of our club – pull it together HSV! -
According to club’s web Fink won’t change anything from the last game, it means Ivo on the right and Tore on the bench as substitute for him.
Personally I have not good feeling about the next game, there is too much psychosis around. Fink exposed his nervousness in incident with Besic in very unprofessional manner, no matter what Besic was doing (probably he deserved some fine but not grabbing the collar). Instead of emphasising on errors and penalizing for setup picies I would rather focus on fluency and fastening the play and disclosure in offence. Errors are the parts of the game, players must be concentrated to minimise it, but above all they should play. Not only passing back and around, they didn’t forget what they know, let be much faster. Don’t think about the burden, just play, play should be fun.
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