Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average, don’t follow up
Niklas Dorsch
Player profile:
- Nationality: German
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 15/01/1998
- Current Club: FC Heidenheim
- Career: Baiersdorf (Y), Nürnberg (Y), FC Bayern München (Y), 1. FC Heidenheim
- Position: Defensive Midfielder
- Secondary position: Central Midfielder
- Preferred foot: Right
Niklas Dorsch played as a central midfielder in the 4-1-4-1 formation, this role gave him freedom on the pitch even if he mostly played in the left side. This position give him the opportunity to find great areas to deliver dangerous passes. He was able to penetrate the Wehen block with his dribbling ability, he can hold and drive the ball forward to break lines. With the difficulty in the build up play, he had to look for the ball in a low position showing his ability to dominate in his first touch to attack.
With few solutions to attacks, he was sometimes in difficult situations to hold the ball and although lost it at times, he worked hard to get it back. He showed his defensive capability with 9 ground duels won and 3 tackles.
Rating – A1
Niklas Dorsch is a versatile player with technical and tactical ability which allows him to impress in different positions he can plays during the match. He can create with his passing ability attacking situation in different position on the pitch. He is confident with the ball, he has a great first touch and can easily dribble his opponent but he can sometimes forget to play with his partners and release too late.
Marnon Busch
Player profile:
- Nationality: Germany
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 08/12/1994
- Current Club: 1. FC Heidenheim
- Career: SSV Hagen (Y), TuS Güldenstern Stade (Y), Werder Bremen, 1860 München (L), Werder Bremen, 1. FC Heidenheim
- Position: Right Back
- Secondary position: Right wing
- Preferred foot: Right
Marnon Bursch played as right back in a back four in a 4-1-4-1 formation. In a match where FC Heidenheim struggled in build up play, he was often found in the first stage of play but could not progress through the first pressure lane from Wehen. With 109 balls played he is with Patrick Mainka the player who had the most touches. He could not penetrate the Wehen block in the buildup, but his speed allowed him to make great runs in transition. He tried to go over the Wehen block with long passes to find attackers, which brought one of the best attacking chances with a precise long pass to Tim Kleindienst in the area.
In a game where FC Heidenheim dominate a big part of the game, his defensive contribution was not the most highlighted but when he had to defend, he was solid.
Rating – B1
Marnon Bursch can bring danger in his side in different ways. His speed allows him to take advantage in attacking transition and in his defensive contribution. He did not hesitates to offer solution on different stage of play.
Patrick Mainka
Player profile:
- Nationality: Germany
- Age: 25
- Date of birth: 06/11/1994
- Current Club: .1 FC Heideneim
- Career: Arminia Bielefeld , SV Werder Bremen II, Borussia Dortmund II, 1. FC Heidenheim
- Position: Centre Back
- Secondary position: Defensive Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Patrick Mainka played as right central back in a 4-1-4-1 formation. With a dominant FC Heidenheim team unable to get through the mid block from Wehen, Mainka has been in the first stage of build up play, playing the most balls. He is the player with the more touches (109) and passes (92). He is also the player who succeed the more long balls (15). He tried to contributed sometimes to bring verticality in his play but he mostly played safe to retain the ball and not get exposed on the counter-attack.
He showed great awareness in his defensive contribution with great positioning to defend and stop the transition attack from Wehen. He was a dominant player in aerial duels.
Rating – B1
Patrick Mainka is a strong defender who give defensive guarantees to help FC Heidenheim to get promoted in Bundesliga. His play with the ball can be too basic at times to shine in a higher level.
Tim Kleindienst
Player profile:
- Nationality: Germany
- Age: 24
- Date of birth: 31/08/1995
- Current Club: 1. FC Heidenheim
- Career: Jüterborgh (Y), Energie Cottbus, SC Freiburg, 1. FC Heidenheim (L), SC Freiburg, 1. FC Heidenheim
- Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Right
Tim Kleindienst played as striker in the 4-1-4-1 formation. A difficult game for him where he has been isolated in the attack and could not totally use his anchor function. With 39 ball played, he touched the ball as many times as the goalkeeper (Kevin Muller). He is tall and strong in the air, this ability offer solution in direct play. His strength allowed him to get into the area and create one of the best attack situation of the game. He plays to his physicality, to create and develop attacks. However sometimes he can lack discipline and make avoidable faults.
Rating – A2
He is a strong player, dominant in the air who focus the attention of the centre back to free up space for his partner. His physical strength is an asset but he can lack control to dominate situation. This season with 12 goals, he his one of the best goal scorers of Bundesliga.2, he showed ability to scored with either foot and the head. A complete goalscorer.