After going 2-0 up in the first half, Stuttgart couldn’t hold on and had to settle for a point, leaving them 8th in the table after game week 7. Frankfurt put on a lot of pressure on the second half and Stuttgart couldn’t hold on. Both teams created a lot of chances but Frankfurt did have the better ones and should have won the game really. It was a very entertaining game though with a lot of action and intensity.
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 in this match
Nicolas Gonzalez
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Argentine
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 06/04/1998
- Club: VfB Stuttgart
- Career: Argentinos Jrs, VfB Stuttgart
- Position: Striker
- Secondary Position: Either Wing
- Preferred foot: Left
Playing in a two-man striker partnership, Gonzalez had an excellent game. He had a good burst of pace and was a very active striker, getting a lot of touches on the ball and always moving, with most of their play going through him. He could drop between the line and look to play or carry forwards, but could also play on the last shoulder and make runs behind. He was an intelligent player with good runs behind the defence and inside the box. From between the lines, he received direct play well and played some very well weighted throughballs, showing decent vision. He assisted the 2nd goal with an excellent throughball to a runner from midfield.
He didn’t take on his man too often but one time he burst into the box and was brought down for the penalty, which he calmly stepped up to finish, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a stutter before striking the ball. He had some decent other chances he was unable to finish but got into good positions and showed good ball striking from range.
Gonzalez stands at 5’11 with an average build with good speed and burst of pace over a few yards. He was direct and a very well rounded player who showed really good intelligence and linkup play. I’d like to see him play in a pair with Sasa Kalajdzic, who could make a dangerous partnership.
Rating – A2
Borna Sosa
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Croatian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 21/01/1998
- Club: VfB Stuttgart
- Career: Dinmao Zagreb, VfB Stuttgart
- Position: Left Back
- Preferred foot: Left
Sosa played as the left wing back and was a very good threat from wide. He carried the ball really well and was direct with his play, completing four dribbles. He made lots of runs down his wing into space. His runs were well times to exploit space and offer the switch option, and received the ball well. He was confident on the ball, carrying the ball really well, often diagonally to cut in slightly and used feints to create space effectively.
He got into really dangerous positions in the final third repeatedly, showing his ability to cross from the byline or deeper positions, with varying types of crosses (cut back, floated, curled, driven across goal) as well as an excellent free kick delivery. He got three key passes and was a constant threat.
Defensively he was decent as well, tracking his runner well and making some well-timed challenges. He did lack aggression and needed to be more physical though, one time letting his man turn too easily and cross. He was patient and a bit passive 1v1 but did well to delay the attack and showed decent footwork.
Rating – A2
Orel Mangala
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Belgian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 18/03/1998
- Club: VfB Stuttgart
- Career: Anderlecht (Y), Borussia Dortmund (Y), VfB Stuttgart, Hamburg (L)
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Secondary Position: Defensive Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Mangala is a very box-to-box player and had a decent game. He showed great work rate and stamina and appears all over the pitch. He received the ball in buildup very deep at times but didn’t really have any options in front of him and struggled to progress the ball. He wanted to carry the ball forwards which he did well, completing 4 dribbles, and able to drive into space. He was a powerful runner at 5’10” with a decent athletic build.
He got forward to support the attack but was a bit static at times. His passing was okay but nothing special other than one decent switch of play. He mainly spread it wide and struggled to play forwards. He was also very right footed which limited him quite a bit at times and slowed down his play in possession.
Defensively he did okay, he put a lot of pressure onto the ball and hassled the opposition but could have been more aggressive to win the ball. He worked hard to get back and showed decent positioning in the defensive third but could have broken up play more.
Rating – B2
Silas Wamangituka
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Congolese
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 06/10/1999
- Club: VfB Stuttgart
- Career: Paris FC, VfB Stuttgart
- Position: Right Wing
- Secondary Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Right
Wamangituka played as the right wing back in a very attacking role until being subbed off in the 72nd. He maintained a high position in buildup and didn’t really get involved. He carried well on the counter with good pace and long limbs. He had good control to retain the ball and was able to chop sharply away from pressure but lost balance a few times. He showed decent strength on the ball to be able to turn and hold off defenders but lost the ball quite a bit.
He didn’t do much defending in the final third. But when he did, it was quite lethargic and passive. He could have gotten tighter to his man and was too quick to step up when Stuttgart won the ball but didn’t regain his position if they lost it again. He was slow to track back and on one counter he lost the ball and didn’t track at all, showing his frustration and letting his head drop after losing the ball.
He was a lot less effective in this game and was too quiet and passive. He worked hard to get forward but is still quite raw and didn’t do enough with the ball other than charge forwards but this didn’t really lead to anything. He’s a good athlete with good control but maybe doesn’t suit the role he’s been given too well, he is still adapting to it however.
Rating – B2
Mateo Klimowicz
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Argentinian
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 06/07/2000
- Club: VfB Stuttgart
- Career: Instituto AC, VfB Stuttgart
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Secondary Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Right
Klimowicz was brought off in the 85th, but before that he played as the second striker. He had a really quiet game with not many touches of the ball. He often drifted into a left wing position or into deeper positions, wanting to get on the ball but wasn’t used and should have stayed further up. He didn’t get involved enough at all. He had one good chance which was a header on to the frame of the goal but was also turned too easily in midfield which lead to their second goal. He’s only 20 and could be a decent player but I didn’t see enough from him today to warrant a higher rating unfortunately.
Rating – D