Assessment of Daniel Thioune’s Debut with Werder Bremen

In this evening’s feature on Get German Football News, we will evaluate Daniel Thioune’s inaugural match as head coach of Werder Bremen. Selected to navigate the relegation battle at the season’s outset, this Bundesliga club from the Hanseatic city-state is currently in a precarious position. As squad captain Marco Friedl succinctly stated, Werder appear to be “back where they belong,” with the threat of a second relegation in five years looming.

Thioune’s appointment came midweek under less than ideal circumstances; notably, he was neither the first nor second choice for the role, having previously coached Hamburg SV, Werder’s regional rivals, without success in elevating them back to the Bundesliga. At 51 years old, this marks his first foray into managing a top-flight club, with his prior tenures at HSV and Fortuna Düsseldorf characterized by an inability to return former Bundesliga teams to the top tier.

Despite this, Thioune has garnered a following among German football enthusiasts for his reputation as a principled individual and dedicated family man who leads quietly by example. However, his tendency for slow starts and untimely setbacks at previous clubs presents a challenge for Werder, who are in urgent need of immediate results. A more dynamic and proactive approach may have been beneficial at this critical juncture.

In his debut, the new manager made no alterations to the tactical framework established by his predecessor, Horst Steffen. Steffen had been struggling to revert from a failed transition of Ole Werner’s former 3-5-2 formation to a 4-2-3-1 system, ultimately settling on a defensive 3-3-2-2. Thioune maintained this setup, opting for Keke Topp to start over Samuel Mbangula, marking his only personnel change.

The match began with Justin Njinmah producing an exhilarating overhead kick that almost resulted in a stunning goal. However, after being thwarted by Freiburg keeper Noah Atubolu, Njinmah’s confidence waned, leading to a lackluster performance from Werder, who only challenged Atubolu with long-range efforts throughout the match.

Forty minutes of uninspired football with a numerical advantage did little to instill confidence for the future. Thioune’s side recorded a meager 0.97 expected goals (xG) in their loss to Freiburg. While Steffen’s squad had previously generated more goal-scoring opportunities, the lack of quality finishers acquired during the last two transfer windows is a concern that falls beyond the coaches’ control. Additionally, personnel chief Clemens Fritz’s misunderstandings regarding loan quotas have exacerbated the situation.

Steffen explored various strategies to extract performance from an unbalanced squad, which lacked a proper leading striker. While the roster is filled with supporting attackers adept at contributing to the second attacking phase, the crucial question remains: who can lead the line? It raises the point that retaining players like Marvin Ducksch or Oliver Burke could have been pivotal. With Thioune at the helm, one might wonder if early recall of Dawid Kownacki would have been worthwhile. Neither Topp nor Njinmah have the necessary skills to function effectively as false nines, and although Njinmah has the speed for the role, time for Thioune to develop that capability is scarce.

A fit Felix Agu, paired with the reliable Yukinari Sugawara, could resolve the wingback dilemma, but the fundamental issue of placing finishers in the box remains unresolved. The return of fan favorite Leonardo Bittencourt may enhance midfield battles but fails to significantly advance the team’s offensive play.

While Mitchell Weiser might rejoin the squad off the bench soon, questions linger about his ability to regain form after surgery. The anticipated return of central defenders Maximilian Wöber, Niklas Stark, and Amos Pieper does not substantially alter the dynamics. Ultimately, the answer to whether Thioune can turn this around remains uncertain.

Thioune could find some respite; as Steffen noted at this similar stage in the Hin-Runde, the worst may soon be behind them. Upcoming matches include Bayern, followed by St. Pauli, Heidenheim, Union Berlin, Mainz, and Wolfsburg. Bremen’s season began ominously with a challenging DFB-Pokal draw against Arminia Bielefeld.

Steffen’s team had previously secured 11 points against the five opponents following Bayern in the Hin-Runde, during an unbeaten streak. Unfortunately, the win against Wolfsburg on matchday ten marked the last time the team triumphed in the Bundesliga. If they were to replicate that performance and earn 11 points over the next six matches, they would reach 30 points by matchday 27.

Is that sufficient for safety? Not likely. A tally of 35 points is necessary to guarantee safety in the Bundesliga. Notably, Florian Kohfeldt’s 2020/21 Werder Bremen also achieved 30 points through 27 matchdays during their relegation season, having reached that figure after matchday 20 following their last victory against Arminia Bielefeld, ultimately securing just one additional point thereafter. Thioune will have multiple opportunities to secure points in the coming weeks, but he is in urgent need of a victory.