Originally Posted by DSQUAREDLOL
22.08.2010, 13:30h | Greuther Furth - Karlsruher SC
I like Greuther Furth and their style of playing. This time I have to back them.
Well, Furth lost two players: Caligiuri and Allagui, both to FSV Mainz. Caligiuri was a great midfield player but in the end of the season he was injured and Furth played even good without him. Allagui was the star from Greuther Furth but he was a bit arrogant and vain sometimes. He is a great striker, no doubt, but he was not working, he did not fight. So it is maybe not so bad that he changed. The new striker from Furth will be Kingsley Onuegbu. I know him very well because he played for my local team last year and I can assure that it was a good decision to buy them. Another "new" player is Dani Schahin, he was a reserve player last year but he played great test games and therefore he will get the chance to show his skills. He is quite young and he came from Hamburger SV but I heard good things about him. Apart from that Furth bought Kleine from Gladbach as defender and he will be the new captain. Kleine is very experienced and he already played for Furth some years ago. Let's have a look in Furths probably lineup:
Grün - Schröck, Kleine, Biliskov, Rahn - Pekovic - Nehrig, Haas, Müller - Onuegbu, Schahin
Grün is one of the best goalkeepers from the league, his saves are unique. Schröck is currently in a very good form, he played great test games. Kleine and Biliskov are too slow was defenders I think but Karlsruhes offensive is not good enough to put them under pressure. But all in all they are solid and experienced. Rahn is back after long injury, his freekicks/corners are his strength but he has problems against fast strikers. But Karlsruhe has no good wingers, so it won't be a problem for him. Pekovic is a fighter and an unfair player but he can destroy Karlsruhes build up play. Nehrig and Müller are very strong wingers, above all Müller. Nehrig is good, too, but he was injured for some months. His form is not so good yet but he is a strong player. Haas is a solid midfield player, not very offensive, but Furth make pressure through the wings. As I said above, Schahin and Onuegbu will probably play. Furths best striker Nöthe is doubtful but coach Buskens will decide some minuts before game start. Nöthe said in an interview that he is fit enough to play. So I trust him.
Still some words about Furths DFB Pokal game in Braunschweig. Braunschweig is a very offensive strong 3. Liga team and Furth had problems with their fast wingers. So Braunschweig create good opportunities but Karlsruhe has not so good wingers like Braunschweig (or they are injured). But Furth won in the extra time and all in all not undeserved.
The key to beat Furth is putting their defense under pressure with fast strikers. I do not see Karlsruhe putting Furths defense under pressure, Karlsruhe has currently no self-confident to do that.
Just some words about Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe wanted to fire their coach Schupp some months ago but they have not enough money to pay that. So he is still their coach but there is big trouble beetween Schupp and the management. The management bought a player (Rieß) without asking Schupp before. Apart from Rieß (who will not play because Schupp does not like him) Karlsruhe did not buy any players due to financial problems.
Their team is bad, they showed a bad performance when they lost away in the DFB Pokal against Ingolstadt. Their defense was their strength last year but this year it is different because important players left the club.
For example their main goalkeeper Miller and their shooting star Stindl changed to Hannover 96, their important defender Matip went back to FC Cologne. Karlsruhes team is weaker than last year. The atmosphere is not good due to the trouble beetween management and coach, their performances so far were poor.
I see a little draw-danger because Furths offensive is not as good as last year, maybe a 0:0, but all in all odds have value on Furth. -0,25 is a great choice (maybe under 2,5 also).
Pick: Fürth (-0,25) @2,01 (Pinnacle) , 5/10
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