Analysis of Daniel Thioune’s Debut as Werder Bremen’s Head Coach

In tonight’s feature, we will evaluate Daniel Thioune’s introductory match as head coach of Werder Bremen, a club currently engulfed in relegation concerns. As expressed by captain Marco Friedl, Werder is “back where they belong,” acknowledging the looming threat of a second relegation in just five years.

Coaching Appointment and Background

Thioune was appointed to the role midweek, but the circumstances surrounding his selection were less than favorable. He was not the preferred choice for the club, having previously coached rival Hamburger SV without notable success. The 51-year-old has yet to manage in the top tier, and his last two roles saw him unable to guide teams like HSV and Fortuna Düsseldorf back into the Bundesliga.

Thioune possesses a loyal following within the German football community, recognized for his integrity and dedication. However, his coaching history has been marked by slow starts and untimely setbacks. Given Werder’s urgent situation, a more dynamic and assertive approach may have been more suitable.

How Did Thioune Perform in His Bundesliga Debut?

During his debut match, the new coach opted to retain Horst Steffen’s previous tactical setup. Steffen had struggled to transition from a 3-5-2 formation to a 4-2-3-1 at the season’s outset, ultimately concluding with a conservative 3-3-2-2 formation. Thioune made only one adjustment, replacing Samuel Mbangula with Keke Topp.

Justin Njinmah began the match with an exciting overhead attempt that nearly resulted in a goal. However, after being thwarted by Freiburg’s goalkeeper, his confidence dwindled, and Bremen’s attack faltered, with the team failing to challenge Atubolu significantly throughout the game.

The team’s performance was uninspiring, managing just 0.97 expected goals (xG) in a disappointing loss to Freiburg. The previous coaching staff had generated more attacking threat, but the lack of quality finishers acquired in recent transfer windows falls beyond the responsibility of the current coaching staff.

Personnel Options for Thioune

Steffen explored various strategies to maximize the potential of an unbalanced squad. The management, including Clemens Fritz and Peter Niemeyer, assembled a roster filled with supporting attackers but failed to secure competent finishers. Players like Jens Stage, Romano Schmidt, Samuel Mbangula, Jovan Milosevic, Patrice Covic, Cameron Puertas, and Marco Grüll are capable of contributing offensively from deeper positions.

The question remains: who will lead the line? The absence of effective strikers like Marvin Ducksch or Oliver Burke has left the team struggling. With Thioune’s appointment, one wonders whether recalling Dawid Kownacki might have been beneficial. Neither Topp nor Njinmah possess the necessary attributes to function effectively as false nines, raising concerns about whether Thioune can develop the latter’s skills quickly.

Potential for Injury Recovery

Should Felix Agu and Yukinari Sugawara return to health, they could address the team’s wingback issues, although the core challenge of finding finishers in the box persists. The return of key player Leonardo Bittencourt could enhance the midfield’s competitiveness, yet it may not translate into increased attacking momentum.

Mitchell Weiser’s potential return might provide bench support, but given his recent surgery, it’s uncertain he can regain match fitness. The possible return of central defenders Maximilian Wöber, Niklas Stark, and Amos Pieper holds little significance for immediate team improvement.

Upcoming Fixtures and Challenges

Thioune might find some relief in the forthcoming match schedule. As reminded by Steffen, tough days will soon pass. The upcoming opponents include Bayern, St. Pauli, Heidenheim, Union Berlin, Mainz, and Wolfsburg. Werder’s season began on a negative note with a challenging DFB-Pokal match against Arminia Bielefeld.

Steffen’s squad accumulated 11 points from the five teams they faced after Bayern during the earlier rounds of the season, but their last Bundesliga victory came against Wolfsburg on matchday ten. Statistically extrapolating, another 11 points from the next six matches would yield 30 points after 27 rounds.

However, achieving 35 points is crucial for Bundesliga survival, a concerning benchmark considering Werder’s current standings.

Historical Context

Reflecting on past campaigns, Florian Kohfeldt’s 2020/21 Werder Bremen squad similarly acquired 30 points by matchday 27 during their relegation struggle. Kohfeldt’s team ultimately finished the season with only one additional point, causing alarm as Thioune faces a crucial period with multiple opportunities to secure points.

The new coach remains in dire need of a decisive win to revive the team’s fortunes.