Bayer Leverkusen fans and Bundesliga critics have witnessed Roger Schmidt’s men endure a tricky start to the 2015-16 season.
It might only be nine games into the new campaign, but it is still surprising to standby and view a powerful side struggle to hit their stride in the domestic competition where they have exceeded their limits throughout the last few years.
Are you wondering what can help the BayArena outfit escape the form slump, even just slightly?
First and foremost, the line-up needs to be consistent
It goes without saying that players who are in-form or excelling in training are bound to be among the group which are strapping their boots to start come matchday.
However, consistency is the major substance missing for Leverkusen right now and a steady starting lineup could perhaps alter the mixed results. It is not difficult to observe the fact that not all the best performers are commencing most matches.
Take a moment to consider Admir Mehmedi for instance, he has featured in every league outing in 2015-16 but has only started in three, yet still manages to impress in limited durations.
The Leverkusen lineup has constantly been tinkered with and in defence of Roger Schmidt, he is simply testing different possibilities. But it is his second season now and he cannot afford to be switching the team-sheet around for all 34 rounds – the consequences of this could very well result in cohesion issues and a lack of balance in the squad.
Player rotation is always an option, however, a solid formation coupled with a consistent squad could produce pulsating outcomes. Substitutions can still be made and if players in the unvarying lineup have a string of four or five poor matches, then sure, drop those who are underperforming for a week or two.
Obviously Schmidt is a fantastic manager with a great footballing brain, guiding Leverkusen to the top four in his first season at the helm is an excellent achievement. It will now be interesting to see how he approaches the month ahead, which poses two key fixtures against Vfl Wolfsburg and Schalke 04.
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Depth and youth
Leverkusen are an extremely young squad, a ‘fountain of youth’ is one way to describe it. In the recent encounter with AS Roma, the average age of the team was just 23 and that was before introducing a 19 and a 21-year-old into proceedings. At 27, Javier Hernandez was the oldest.
Roger Schmidt’s side is enriched with young talent, the likes of Julian Brandt, Jonathan Tah, Wendell, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Hakan Calhanoglu, Tin Jedvaj and Bernd Leno – all under the age of 24 – are huge future prospects. Amid the mentioned players above is a full defence (Wendell, Papadopoulos, Tah and Jedvaj)
It is inevitable that these prodigies will be sought after by top European clubs and to keep hold of these players, Leverkusen will need to start improving. Keeping the promising stars away from the hands of other suitors will feel like new signings in itself.
It is also clear there is substantial depth in the squad and new signing Charles Aranguiz has missed every game so far. When he is finally set to return to action, he will be an important figure in the team. All this youth and depth is what triggers selection headaches.
Kampl with the CURLER!!!! :O :O https://t.co/HJVLzaRGee
— Football Super Tips (@FootySuperTips) October 21, 2015
Possible lineups
The question is, who should start regularly in a fully fit side? what formation should be utilised? There are various lineups that could be used – the 4-2-3-1 is the predominate formation utilised by Roger Schmidt – but he has changed it on occasions.
In the dismal home loss to Darmstadt, a 4-4-1-1 set up was deployed and in the following defeat against Borussia Dortmund a 4-4-2 was used. Leverkusen responded with two straight victories and in both of those matches a 4-2-3-1 was the preferred formation. But for some reason Schmidt opted for a 4-4-2 setup in the next two matches, resulting in two underwhelming stalemates, which in all honesty should have been comfortable victories.
Lets take a look at a potential 4-2-3-1 option, as it is has proved to be the best formation for Leverkusen so far – nearly recording a Champions League result against FC Barcelona:
This lineup is inexperienced in a couple of areas, but it has a lot to offer. This selection would also leave the likes of Omer Toprak, Christoph Kramer and Brandt on the bench.
Toprak is a solid defender, but Tah has been relishing in the centre-back position and is forming a great defensive understanding with Greek defender Papadopoulos.
19-year-old Jedvaj can play at both centre and right-back. In the central positions the competition for a place consists of Toprak, Papadopoulos and fellow 19-year-old Tah. It is safe to say that the right is the best option for Jedvaj, meaning he will face competition from Roberto Hilbert and Giulio Donati. The Croatian boasts the qualities to seize control of the spot.
Kevin Kampl is another debatable choice, but given some of the cutting-edge form he has demonstrated in previous outings, notably in the matches against Werder Bremen and Roma he will be valuable going forward. In the midweek 4-4 draw aganst Roma, Kampl was vastly responsible in earning his side an important point. At Leverkusen, the Slovenian has already surpassed himself in comparison to his unfortunate 2014-15 season at Dortmund.
While Kramer has been rock-solid so far this season, Kampl will offer more creativity, bringing a bit more spice to the side. We know the 25-year-old has goals in him and when he does score, it always seems to be an absolute cracker.
Brandt is another 19-year-old in the Leverkusen first team ranks and he has not been beginning many matches as it stands in any case. He is Leverkusen’s top scorer so far with two, but has been getting an exceptional amount of minutes from an age point of view.
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