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Bundesliga Team of the Week: Round 17
Clark Whitney runs the rule over the Bundesliga’s top performers in Round 17.
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Dec 21, 2009 7:00:00 AM
Goalkeeper:
Frank Rost (Hamburg)
Didn’t quite keep a clean sheet, but held off the Bremen onslaught until it was too late for a comeback. Rost did exceptionally well to deny the Werder attack, especially as it reached a climax in the closing minutes. Close-ranged efforts from Claudio Pizarro, Tim Borowski, and more would have beaten most goalkeepers, but Rost dealt with his challenges and, with a little help from the crossbar, helped Hamburg take three points from their northern rivals.
Defenders:
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Hertha did very little in attack up the left side, a tactic that suited Lahm well. Relieved of his defensive duties, the German international filled in as an auxiliary forward, providing service for the strikers. Although he earned just one assist (to Mario Gomez for Bayern’s second goal), Lahm’s play in attack was exceptional, and his service alone merits praise.
Pedro Geromel (Koeln)
The Brazilian central defender scored Koeln’s opener—at the time just the eighth goal of the campaign for the Billy Goats—and was rock-solid in defense throughout the match. Nuernberg may not have the league’s most impressive offense, but Geromel held his own and gave his team the confidence to go on to score another two goals.
Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich)
Following the departure of Lucio, there were many questions as to whether Bayern’s defense would be able to improve from last year, but Van Buyten has risen to the challenge and exceeded expectations. Against Hertha, the towering Belgian defender played well defensively and scored two glancing headers (one was disallowed for an unrelated infraction) as Bayern coasted to a comfortable win.
Christian Fuchs (Bochum)
It’s like déjà vu all over again. The Austrian left back has scored from late free kicks in his last three matches, the most recent of which was the winner against Hannover. In addition to his stunning long-distance strike, Fuchs provided much-needed support to the Bochum attack, and was a major influence in his team’s reversal of an early 2-0 deficit.
Midfielders:
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Playing as a starter for the first time since recovering from a nagging knee injury, Robben was back to his best. His pace alone was troubling for Hertha’s defense, and his sharp technique made the Dutchman a nightmare to defend. While his goal was by no means a work of art, his assist for Thomas Mueller’s strike was a real testament to Robben’s quality: cutting inside with flawless control, Robben mesmerized and distracted the Hertha defense before picking out Mueller’s run.
Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke)
Positioned in an unfamiliar holding midfield role, Hoewedes excelled. Defensively, he was major part of the Schalke defense that comprehensively nullified any forward motion from Mainz. Going forward, his distribution was precise, and his vision set up several opportunities for his colleagues.
Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen)
After his brace on Saturday, Kroos now has six goals to his name. His opener, a screamer from the top of the penalty area, was yet another of the type that is fast becoming his trademark shot. Later on, the youngster, who is still just 19 years old, struck home the game-winner as Leverkusen reclaimed the top spot from Schalke.
Strikers:
Jan Schlaudraff (Hannover)
In his first start since returning from a long injury layoff, the ex-Bayern attacker got off to a dream start. Shclaudraff had a brace within 33 minutes, and set up his team for what should have been a win. He faded out of the match later on, but his quality in the first half was enough to earn him a place in the starting eleven.
Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)
With a goal in each of his last five matches, Gomez is among the Bundesliga’s hottest strikers. Having found his eye for goal once more, the German international has sharpened his quality in all aspects of his game. Although he scored just once, he was unlucky to be denied by Jaroslav Drobny on more than one occasion and provided a perfect assist to Ivica Olic.
Milivoje Novakovic (Koeln)
The Slovenian international has been in poor form for most of the season, but ended 2009 in style against Nuernberg. Novakovic netted his team’s ninth and tenth goals of the campaign on Sunday with a pair of fine finishes.
Defenders Joris Mathijsen, Maik Franz, and Marcelo Bordon deserve a tip of the cap, as do midfielders Josue and Sami Khedira, and strikers Edin Dzeko and Lucas Barrios.
Goal.com welcomes your opinion…
Clark Whitney, Goal.com
Frank Rost (Hamburg)
Didn’t quite keep a clean sheet, but held off the Bremen onslaught until it was too late for a comeback. Rost did exceptionally well to deny the Werder attack, especially as it reached a climax in the closing minutes. Close-ranged efforts from Claudio Pizarro, Tim Borowski, and more would have beaten most goalkeepers, but Rost dealt with his challenges and, with a little help from the crossbar, helped Hamburg take three points from their northern rivals.
Defenders:
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Hertha did very little in attack up the left side, a tactic that suited Lahm well. Relieved of his defensive duties, the German international filled in as an auxiliary forward, providing service for the strikers. Although he earned just one assist (to Mario Gomez for Bayern’s second goal), Lahm’s play in attack was exceptional, and his service alone merits praise.
Pedro Geromel (Koeln)
The Brazilian central defender scored Koeln’s opener—at the time just the eighth goal of the campaign for the Billy Goats—and was rock-solid in defense throughout the match. Nuernberg may not have the league’s most impressive offense, but Geromel held his own and gave his team the confidence to go on to score another two goals.
Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich)
Following the departure of Lucio, there were many questions as to whether Bayern’s defense would be able to improve from last year, but Van Buyten has risen to the challenge and exceeded expectations. Against Hertha, the towering Belgian defender played well defensively and scored two glancing headers (one was disallowed for an unrelated infraction) as Bayern coasted to a comfortable win.
Christian Fuchs (Bochum)
It’s like déjà vu all over again. The Austrian left back has scored from late free kicks in his last three matches, the most recent of which was the winner against Hannover. In addition to his stunning long-distance strike, Fuchs provided much-needed support to the Bochum attack, and was a major influence in his team’s reversal of an early 2-0 deficit.
Midfielders:
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Playing as a starter for the first time since recovering from a nagging knee injury, Robben was back to his best. His pace alone was troubling for Hertha’s defense, and his sharp technique made the Dutchman a nightmare to defend. While his goal was by no means a work of art, his assist for Thomas Mueller’s strike was a real testament to Robben’s quality: cutting inside with flawless control, Robben mesmerized and distracted the Hertha defense before picking out Mueller’s run.
Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke)
Positioned in an unfamiliar holding midfield role, Hoewedes excelled. Defensively, he was major part of the Schalke defense that comprehensively nullified any forward motion from Mainz. Going forward, his distribution was precise, and his vision set up several opportunities for his colleagues.
Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen)
After his brace on Saturday, Kroos now has six goals to his name. His opener, a screamer from the top of the penalty area, was yet another of the type that is fast becoming his trademark shot. Later on, the youngster, who is still just 19 years old, struck home the game-winner as Leverkusen reclaimed the top spot from Schalke.
Strikers:
Jan Schlaudraff (Hannover)
In his first start since returning from a long injury layoff, the ex-Bayern attacker got off to a dream start. Shclaudraff had a brace within 33 minutes, and set up his team for what should have been a win. He faded out of the match later on, but his quality in the first half was enough to earn him a place in the starting eleven.
Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)
With a goal in each of his last five matches, Gomez is among the Bundesliga’s hottest strikers. Having found his eye for goal once more, the German international has sharpened his quality in all aspects of his game. Although he scored just once, he was unlucky to be denied by Jaroslav Drobny on more than one occasion and provided a perfect assist to Ivica Olic.
Milivoje Novakovic (Koeln)
The Slovenian international has been in poor form for most of the season, but ended 2009 in style against Nuernberg. Novakovic netted his team’s ninth and tenth goals of the campaign on Sunday with a pair of fine finishes.
Rost
Lahm, Geromel, Van Buyten, Fuchs
Robben, Hoewedes, Kroos
Novakovic, Gomez, Schlaudraff
Lahm, Geromel, Van Buyten, Fuchs
Robben, Hoewedes, Kroos
Novakovic, Gomez, Schlaudraff
Defenders Joris Mathijsen, Maik Franz, and Marcelo Bordon deserve a tip of the cap, as do midfielders Josue and Sami Khedira, and strikers Edin Dzeko and Lucas Barrios.
Goal.com welcomes your opinion…
Clark Whitney, Goal.com
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