Stuttgart 0-2 Shaktar...Vogts and the Trap.

By Parkboy
November 4 2005

Stuttgart lose a game at home they were expected to cruise, but very rarely these days is a European match easy. Just ask teams that have underestimated the likes of Thun from Schweiss.

On another night if VFB had taken one of the four or five clear cut chances they had it could have been a different story for the Italian master.
The Trap is under continuous pressure from his superiors and the German media who tend to prefer workmanlike German coaches, so tend to try and pick holes in ostentatious foreign exotica.

Thomasson played well, but was replaced after 70min by Streller who is half as good, but better in the air and crosses started to come in quicker, with longer passing.

Here is the heart of the issue as Vogts commented,"He is a great trainer with a big heart, but the team are playing without character and willpower".
Vogts whole hearted defence of the trap was interesting to hear and spot on, this is a side which should have enough about it to be challenging for this competition.

Christian Tieffert, the right winger made the important noises about being dissapointed, but for me he personifyies what is wrong with the side at the moment and what in a way is wrong with Germany as well...People seem to have an over-keen awareness, about how much they have to do so as not to attract criticism. They do the average well and with attention to detail. They are happy with being seen as performing, but not excelling. This is the Stuttgart side in a nutshell. They do not have a leader on the pitch and untill they do they will continue to struggle.

The goals were routine defensive errors, on first the right back was slow tracking back after a forward run and couldn't challenge to defend an average cross. The second goal came because the Shaktar coach saw that VFB were stretched out (chasing the game) and brought on an attacking mf who sat between the last 2 defenders, it was only a matter of time before he beat the high line on the counter. Interestingly the kind of substituion Trap used to make when his sides were ahead.