HSV in the autumn blues: little strength, few ideas

As of: September 23, 2023 11:06 a.m

After two defeats against promoted teams SV Elversberg and VfL Osnabrück, HSV is in its first crisis of the season. The pressure before the upcoming game against Fortuna Düsseldorf is increasing.

Were the two defeats against the outsiders two unexpected slip-ups? Or did HSV (and those around it) previously see themselves as better than they actually are? Neither question can be answered with absolute certainty at this point in the season.

However, there was no doubt as to how the 1:2 defeat in Osnabrück was to be classified – for a team that had previously lost 0:7 in Hanover and only scored one point.

“We have a demand for ourselves and we didn’t live up to that today. You have to say that quite clearly,” said goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes, who was the only Hamburg player to convince with some strong saves.

HSV coach Walter: “Absolutely bad”

Coach Tim Walter classified his team’s performance as “absolutely bad”: “We didn’t take place. We allowed ourselves to be duped in the duels,” Walter said angrily:

“You have to question yourself. That’s what we do in the coaching staff and I expect the same from the players,” said the Hamburg coach.

The same mistakes over and over again

But does Walter really do that? After the performance in Osnabrück, it is certainly appropriate to question the attitude and resilience of the HSV professionals. However, the typical German mentality debate often prevents a more in-depth analysis, which would inevitably also have to deal with the coach.

Even in the third year under Walter, HSV sometimes shows grotesque weaknesses in organization, space distribution and positional play. In the quarter of an hour after the break, Osnabrück had so much space to counterattack that only teams that defend against an opponent who storms wildly in the final minutes in all-or-nothing mode with all players have.

Opponent is invited to score goals

This should never happen to a top team – similar sequences can be observed in almost every game for Hamburg. Just like poor tactical behavior in defensive work: players leave their positions, do not coordinate with each other and thus give the opponent chances and goals.

HSV has also not presented itself offensively in the way you would expect from a candidate for promotion. Nominally, the attack is very well staffed by second division standards. But against Elversberg and Osnabrück there was a lack of speed and ideas to bring these strengths to bear.

But defensive vulnerability remains Hamburg’s biggest problem, which has still not been solved despite the numerous new additions to the defense.

Under pressure against Düsseldorf

That’s why it’s only partly true when Walter says: “We weren’t the team I know.” However, the statement is correct: “We have to do everything better next week.”

On Friday (6.30 p.m.) Fortuna Düsseldorf comes to the Volksparkstadion. If there is then the third HSV defeat in a row, the debate will not only revolve around the attitude of the HSV professionals, but also about the future of Walter.

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Hamburg Journal | Sep 23, 2023 | 19:30 o’clock