be nice to the Austrian

That was basically what the club told supporters regarding a not-so friendly Weserstadion reception Sebastian Prödl received during the FC Köln match.

Thomas Schaaf said of the situation:
“Of course it’s understandable that there is an amount of dissatisfaction and impatience considering the current situation, but I got the feeling today that a great deal of that was being unloaded particularly on Sebastian Prödl. I decided to make the substitution in order to spare him that. I felt genuinely sorry for him. I know exactly how discontented he is now sitting in the changing room. The reactions of the spectators didn’t do the team much good at all. They can feel the disconcertment on the pitch and that is not exactly inspiring.”

In further support of the the ex-Sturm Graz man, he said:

“Sebastian has settled in with us very well so far. He is an absolute professional and he gives 100% every day. He is eager to learn and willing, without comment, to take up a position which is not his favourite place on the park. He is happy to play there because that’s where we need him. Aside from that, he has performed very well in that position, although it is clear that, from time to time, certain things don’t work out for him. It’s a real shame that he then has to deal with such immediate reactions.”

Klaus Allofs chimed in with support of younger players:

"You cannot criticise the commitment of players such as Sebastian Prödl or Sebastian Boenish. They are always willing to give their all for the team. In particular as a young player, there can be a tendency to be over motivated. As they gather experience they will find the right balance and poise."

I couldn't agree more with both statements. While supporters are troubled with the play that has seen the Green Whites drop countless points, the younger players are not the problem. The cold-hard facts have been inconsistent play from the supposed "leaders" of the club who seem to be interested in moving elsewhere and some clubs employing better tactical plans. While not the only reason for Werder's "modest" play so-far, with TSG Hoffenheim and FC Köln making the leap up from the second division so easily, it is obvious that some clubs are not responding to tactical maneuvers and being "out-coached." While the Bundesliga likes to embrace a offensive mindset of throwing forward, those who damn the consequences fall short of their goals. Obviously with twenty-four goals in thirteen matches, an alarming inability to control mid-field play and a high incidence of unforced errors, Werder is the worst example of this.