Ich bin keine Hamburger

By: Shazback | November 28th, 2007

Hamburger SV might have one of the funniest names in professional football, but their squad is no laughing matter. Sitting on the last step of the Bundesliga podium, Huub Steven’s squad are hoping for a second win that would put them top of Group D, and probably qualify them for the next round of the UEFA Cup. On the other hand, Rennes are in bad form, with only one point in five games (4 defeats and 1 draw since the 28th of October). Pierre Dréossi will have to turn the tables on luck and win despite 7 injured players just to stay in the running for qualification.

Lady luck hasn’t looked down on Rennes over the past month, and after 7 wins, 3 draws and only 1 defeat from the 15th of August to the 28th of October in the league, Rennes have lost 3 times on the run, been knocked out of the Ligue Cup by Valenciennes, and took only one point in their first two UEFA Cup group stage games losing to Basel and drawing Brann… Sure, the defeats in the league have been against “big” sides : Monaco, Bordeaux and Lyon, but Rennes’ UEFA qualification looks rather lucky so far, with only one win in four games, and a qualification for the group stages by only one goal…

Dréossi will have a difficult task as he is left without three key players due to injury : Mbia, Didot and Mensah are all out. Didot is the most bothersome, since he has been instrumental for Rennes so far this season, with great performances week in and week out. Mbia is slightly less bothersome, but his physical presence has been lacking since his injury, and his versatility means that young players will have to be brought into the squad to cover positions he played in. Mensah is funnily the lesser of the three injuries, since he was out at the beginning of the season, and Hansson has filled in very well in his absence.

Other niggling injuries include excellent cover goalkeeper Luzi, young Swiss striker Esteban, goal-to-goal midfielder Danze, and the strong youth defender Oniangue.

On the good side, Wiltord, Pouplin, Thomert and Pagis are all back in top gear, and after the game against Lyon where they all featured it looks like they’ll be able to put on a great performance against Hamburg if they’re on the team sheet. Catherine, perhaps the unluckiest second goalkeeper with Cudicini is also back from injury, mimicking Pouplin.

Rennes’ group :
Goalkeepers : Catherine, Pouplin
Defenders : Borne, Dembelé, Edman, Fanni, Hansson
Midfielders : Cheyrou, Lemoine, Leroy, Marveaux, Sorlin
Attackers : Badiane, Briand, Emerson, Pagis, Thomert, Wiltord

Logical choice by Dréossi, but the squad seems slightly unbalanced to me, with a lack of defensive options, and pretty much an overkill of attackers. I’m surprised Moreira isn’t part of the group, since he’s not on the record as injured. But then again, 29 games without a goal are pretty bad for a striker. Once more, I’m disappointed that Jeunechamp left, since he would be useful in this kind of situation.

Possible Rennes line-up :
Pouplin
Fanni - Borne - Hansson - Edman
Cheyrou - Sorlin
Leroy - Marveaux - Thomert
Briand

Pretty much a “normal” line-up, with the only “surprises” being Marveaux and Borne. Borne is in because of injuries to Rennes’ back four, and Marveaux deserves a start after his good game against Lyon. Nice to have Wiltord, Emerson and Pagis on the bench, but it looks like the only changes that are possible are offensive-minded, leaving Rennes in the delicate position of being unable to “close” the game once we’re ahead…

Perhaps that’s a good thing though, because Hamburg aren’t a team I imagine will find it too hard to break down Rennes’ defence. With key players Van der Vaart, Olic, Trachowski and Castelen in attack all ready to start, it could be a hard evening for Pouplin. Kompany, Jarolim and Reinhardt will be guarding Rost’s goal from any assaults and will prove hard to break down. And to put it differently, any side that can put Sorin, Zidan and Addo on the bench can’t be too bad.

Rennes will be wary of HSV crowd pleaser Hermann the blue dinosaur.

Hamburger SV group (unofficial)
Goalkeepers : Rost, Hesl
Defenders : Benjamin, Reinhardt, Mathijsen, Kompany, Boateng, Sorin
Midfielders : Jarolim, Castelen, Trochowski, Addo, Brečko, Kunert, Ben-Hatira
Attackers : Olic, Van der Vaart, Zidan

A squad that looks more defensive than it really is. Benjamin is quite an offensive-minded full-back, and Kompany is often played as a defensive midfielder. Castelen and Trochowski are very offensive wingers, Jarolim and Addo being more defensive central midfielders. Olic is the only real striker, but Van der Vaart and Zidan are versatile strikers that can play on the wing, in the hole or up front.

Possible HSV line-up
Rost
Boateng - Reinhardt - Mathijsen - Benjamin
Castelen - Jarolim - Kompany - Trochowski
Van der Vaart - Olic

A strong side, with an excellent bench : Sorin, Zidan, Addo… They’ve got options to go more offensive of more defensive, to play in other formations, or swap from a short-pass game to a long-pass game… Very complete squad.

Rennes will find it hard to tackle HSV in Hamburg. The pressure will be on Leroy and Marveaux to create chances for Thomert and Briand. Cheyrou and Sorlin will have the pressure of containing Jarolim and Van der Vaart, or Rennes will be very exposed to Hamburg’s strike force.

I expect a 2-2 draw, but I’m hoping HSV will lose their temper and play in a rash manner, something that would allow Leroy, Wiltord and Briand to combine to maximum effect.

Otherwise :

Sorin vs. Sorlin
Zidan on the bench
Pouplin vs. Olic aka. “England Killer”
Waiting for the commentators to make a bad joke about Fanni and Kompany
Reinhard and Trochowski to be replaced to leave Rost as the only German player
Congolese striker duel : Kembo-Ekoko vs. Saka. Well, we can imagine it.