October 2015
Board Confidence
The board is still delighted, mostly because of the huge increase in stature. However, there are concerns over Denis Thomalla's performances. Which is fine, he hasn't started since Frahn came back and we've been using Rybacki as the third forward.
Europa League Group F Match Day #2
Heartbreak for Die Bullen as End Runs at 90
RB Leipzig 0 1 Liverpool
Goals: Liverpool: Skrtel (90)
Shots/On Target: Leipzig 3/1, Liverpool 17/5
Possession: Liverpool 54/46
Cautions: Leipzig: Crimi (15)
Man of the Match: DC Martin Skrtel 8.0
Form: Baumann 6.7, Nestor 7.0, Willers 7.3, Crimi (sub 6.7) 6.6, Jung 6.8, Politevich 7.4, Oyenard 6.7, Segbefia 6.5, Joćozinho (sub 67) 6.3, Frahn 6.5, Poulsen 6.5, Sebastian (on 83) , Schulz (on 67, inj 83) 6.8, Fandrich (on 67) 6.6
Honestly, I have no complaints about this loss. We were outplayed in every facet, this Liverpool team was the best squad we have faced since this dynasty began. We were unlucky to lose to a 90th minute goal, but that's football. We have to beat BATE twice if we hope to have any chance of advancing out of this group.
We play Stuttgart in three days, so rest will be short.
Schulz Injured
Bastian Schulz suffered a twisted ankle after coming on as a sub. He'll miss 4-5 weeks.
Bundesliga Match Day #8
Politevich Leads From the Back as Leipzig Cruise
(7) RB Leipzig 3 0 Stuttgart (13)
Goals: Leipzig: Politevich (7), Poulsen (47), Thomalla (80)
Shots/On Target: Leipzig 8/4, Stuttgart 16/7
Possession: Stuttgart 58/42
Man of the Match: DC Sergey Politevich 8.5
Form: Baumann 7.4, Crimi 7.8, Sebastian 8.0, Politevich (sub 80) 8.5, van Aanholt 7.1, Oyenard (sub 59) 6.7, Kaiser 7.2, Fandrich 7.3, Joćozinho 7.9, Frahn (sub 59) 6.8, Poulsen 7.7, Jung (on 80) , Segbefia (on 59) 6.7, Thomalla (on 59) 7.2
Ah, Stuttgart. The first Bundesliga side we ever faced, way back in August 2013. Their young forward, Mohammad Abdellaoue had a truly remarkable first half. Around the 20' mark he had a penalty attempt saved by Oliver Baumann. He then had a shot inside the six yard box, with Baumann going the wrong way, fizz wide of the opposite post. Once again, he got in minutes later and worked a weak shot wide of goal. Finally, just before half, he broke in again, but Baumann made a brilliant parry to deny him.
Baumann and Politevich were excellent. Crimi played at right back and deputised very well. Van Aanholt made his debut and was solid, but a bit tired by the end of it. He's going to be very good for us I can feel. An important win for us here. I was concerned this could have been a trap game after the tough loss to Liverpool, but the team regrouped well. We're still struggling for possession though.
Now a well-deserved two week international break before our next match, at Werder Bremen.
GK Oliver Baumann, DC Sergey Politevich, DM Marco Crimi (selected at DR) and AML Joćozinho were named to the Bundesliga Team of the Week.
Poulsen Signs New Deal
Forward Yussuf Poulsen has signed a new 3 year deal worth £4M. Poulsen is said to be delighted to be able to continue working under Florek Tomczak due to his admiration for the club manager.
Segbefia Can't Settle
It seems as if newly signed AMR Prince Segbefia is having trouble settling in Germany. Could it be because he only has two starts and five substitute appearances? Either way, we'll look to sell him off in January. We signed him on a free, so at least he'll be all profit.
Bundesliga Match Day #9
Poulsen Nets Hat Trick, Die Bullen Trample Bremen
(7) Werder Bremen 1 5 RB Leipzig (5)
Goals: Bremen: Joseph-Monrose (18) Leipzig: Nestor (21), Poulsen (47, 62, 78), Frahn (90)
Shots/On Target: Bremen: 10/5 Leipzig: 14/9
Possession: Bremen 60/40
Cautions: Leipzig: Crimi (15)
Man of the Match: ST Yussuf Poulsen 9.7
Form: Baumann 7.4, Crimi 8.0, Willers 7.7, Politevich 8.1, van Aanholt 7.9, Fandrich (sub 63) 7.0, Oyenard (sub 63) 6.6, Nestor (inj 84) 8.2, Joćozinho 8.9, Frahn 8.4, Poulsen 9.7, Kaiser (on 63) 6.7, Morys (on 84) , Segbefia (on 63) 6.9
We may struggle with winning the possession battle for eternity, but when a team can counterattack like ours can, who cares? Poulsen immediately begins to pay dividends just a week after signing a new contract with a hat trick and an assist. Five unanswered goals after going down 1-0, fantastic victory. We have responded to the Liverpool loss magnificently. Also, lucky for us, Nestor's injury was not serious and he won't miss any significant time.
Daniel Frahn scored his first goal of the season and his first in over 11 hours of football.
Player News
ST Yussuf Poulsen was named Bundesliga Player of the Week.
Loļc Nestor, Sergey Politevich and Yussuf Poulsen were named to the Bundesliga Team of the Week.
Toulouse Declined
I have declined the opportunity to speak with French Ligue 1 club Toulouse FC about their open manager position. They are 19th in the league, while I'm third in the Bundesliga. We'll stick it out in Germany.
Europa League Group F Match Day 3
Bulls Get First Taste of Victory in Europe
BATE 0 2 RB Leipzig
Goals: Leipzig: Frahn (31), Joćozinho (35)
Shots/On Target: BATE 14/9, Leipzig 8/4
Possession: BATE 52/48
Cautions: Leipzig: Judt (73), Jung (75), Oyenard (77), Segbefia (89)
Man of the Match: AML Joćozinho 8.0
Form: Baumann 7.6, Crimi (sub 60) 6.8, Willers 6.8, Sebastian 7.5, Judt 7.2, Bambara 6.7, Oyenard 6.6, Segbefia 6.6, Joćozinho 8.0, Frahn (sub 60) 7.3, Poulsen 7.1, Jung (on 60) 6.6, Thomalla (on 60) 6.5
A solid win, our first ever abroad in meaningful competition. We got a bit chippy in the last 20 minutes trying to preserve the clean sheet, but it's a massive victory that puts us second in the group halfway through the fixture list.
We have been awarded £169K for the victory.
Bundesliga Match Day #10
Duarte's Late Own Goal Steals a Point for Leipzig
(3) RB Leipzig 2 2 Gladbach (10)
Goals: Leipzig: Frahn (74), Duarte o.g. (89) Gladbach: Kruse (4), Medojevic (58)
Shots/On Target: Leipzig 10/4 Gladbach 10/4
Possession: Gladbach 61/39
Cautions: Leipzig: Willers (50), Nestor (60) Gladbach: Medojevic (73), Duarte (87)
Man of the Match: MC Slobodan Medojevic 7.7
Form: Baumann 6.8, Nestor 6.7, Willers 6.6, Politevich 7.0, van Aanholt 6.6, Crimi 6.8, Oyenard 6.4, Joćozinho (sub 83) 6.8, Fandrich 6.5, Frahn 7.1, Poulsen 5.9, Segbefia (on 83)
We got lucky here. Very lucky. Deserved to lose with the way we performed in front of our own supporters.
My assistant was feeling that DM Gustavo Oyenard was a bit fatigued His recent performances have been dropping, and after speaking to the player himself we've agreed to give him our next match off.
Valencia Approach
I have declined an interview with La Liga side Valencia. They are currently sitting 19th in the Spanish league.
Stade Rennais Approach
I decline an interview request from Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais FC. The French outfit currently sits 19th in the top tier.
Bundesliga Match Day #11
Die Bullen Stay in Top 3 As October Ends
(16) Augsburg 0 2 RB Leipzig (3)
Goals: Leipzig: Poulsen (17), Sebastian (81)
Shots/On Target: Augusburg 9/3, Leipzig 12/4
Possession: 50/50
Cautions: Leipzig: Jung (73)
Man of the Match: DC Tobias Willers 7.7
Form: Baumann 6.7, Nestor (sub 70) 6.6, Willers 7.7, Sebastian 7.5, van Aanholt 7.4, Crimi (sub 70) 6.5, Politevich 7.3, Segbefia 6.8, Joćozinho (sub 70) 6.6, Frahn 7.5, Poulsen 7.2, Jung (on 70) 6.8, Kaiser (on 70) 6.7, Fandrich (on 70) 6.9
Even in possession! That's a bigger victory than actually winning. A solid way to end a pretty fantastic month, even if it began with that loss to Liverpool.
Top Players
1. DC Sergey Politevich: 15 apps, 3 goals, 1 assist, 4.06 tackles/90', 3 Man of Match, 7.47
2. AML Joćozinho: 17 apps, 3 goals, 11 assists, 2 Man of Match, 7.32
3. DC Tobias Willers: 16 apps, 2 goals, 3.50 tackles/90', 3 Man of Match, 7.26
