Friday, December 12, 2008

need to tighten up against Wolfsburg

As the Green Whites finish off the first half of the season against Wolfsburg they know they have a tough task ahead but one that three-points is an absolute necessity. At tenth place with only twenty-three points Werder is in need of a victory to close the gap between the final European spots if not simply avoid dropping into the bottom half of the table.

Thomas Schaaf has told Werder that it will need to muster up their best defensive side against the attack-happy Wolfsburg. If there is a reprieve it is also that die Wölfe is one of the worst teams in the Bundesliga when away from home while their attack sputters to halt. They have yet to produce a single victory on the road and will be without striker Grafite.

In the attack Werder will be concerned with both Claudio Pizarro and Diego suspended for highly unprofessional behaviour (here and here) and Hugo Almeida and Martin Harnik injured. Thomas Schaaf is likely to lay the responsibility with the trio of German U-21 Aaron Hunt, Markus Rosenberg and Bosnian international Said Husejinović. While seen rarely, the combination of Mesut Özil, Aaron Hunt and Said Husejinović offers enormous promise and a possible look into the Green White future.