Player Focus: If in Doubt, you can Count on Ibisevic

Hoffenheim are well-known for their footballing philosophy which was implemented originally by former head coach Ralf Rangnick as the blue steam-train stormed its way into the German Bundesliga.

Bankrolled by Dietmar Hopp, Hoffenheim earned promotion to the Bundesliga in 2008 and have since held their own in the top-flight. Three years on, they are now becoming a regular feature in the division.

After Rangnick resigned last season, the appointment of Holger Stanislawski from relegated St Pauli was a sign that Hoffenheim were serious about continuing their expansive style of play. Despite going down, St Pauli were still credited with playing some very decent football at the Millentor.

The new era under 42-year-old Stanislawski got off to a very fine start with three victories in the first five Bundesliga games of the season. That impressive run included a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the second weekend of the season.

It was their home record, in particular, which caught the eye of Bundesliga fans with just one home defeat this campaign to Werder Bremen. Adding to their win over Dortmund, they picked up points at home against FC Bayern and Gladbach.

Stanislawski’s attacking formation was paying dividends with Ryan Babel and Roberto Firmino scoring four goals apiece in the early part of the season. The clinical duo were usually joined in the attack with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Peniel Mlapa, both of whom have flattered to deceive at times this term with no goals between them and just one assist, with the former now having joined Swansea on loan.

But in Stanislawski’s new system at Hoffenheim, Bosnian striker Vedad Ibisevic, a fans favourite at the club, was effectively surplus to requirements.

The 27-year-old was in ruthless form in Hoffenheim’s first half of the season in 2008/2009, netting 18 goals in 17 games before picking up a cruciate knee ligament injury that ended his season, and Hoffenheim’s dream of challenging for the Bundesliga.

However, in recent weeks, Ibisevic has stepped back into the limelight and has commanded a place in Holger Stanislawski’s first-team.

His all-round game is perhaps not suited to Hoffenheim’s style but the statistics would show that he is more than capable of contributing with 118 accurate passes out of 153 (77%). Ibisevic has also averaged just less than one key pass every match, from his six starts.

However, you can’t argue with five goals in six league starts.

In his last match he netted the winner in the DFB Pokal against Augsburg prior to the winter break, while ten days before against FC Nurnberg he scored twice, picking up an 8.05 rating from WhoScored. Since he scored against Borussia Monchengladbach in October, he has always found himself above the 6.0 rating threshold.

The Bosnian-born striker’s attacking stats are on par with every other attacking option in the Hoffenheim squad though Ibisevic has conceded 16 turnovers in six games, more than both Babel and Firmino who currently rank as their best performing players.

The keen goalscorer has averaged 2.3 shots per match and completed one dribble per game in his appearances this season. With Ibisevic playing on the shoulder of the last defender, he quite often commits fouls and is caught offside on occasion with most Bundesliga sides opting for the high-defensive line.

In total, that amounts to 14 fouls, 14 offsides and being dispossessed by other defenders 21 times, which is perhaps the biggest indicator as to his weaknesses. He has made half of his six starts at the Rhein-Necker Arena, but surprisingly for a predominantly “penalty-box” striker, he has a higher overall performance rating away from home.

His performance against title challengers Gladbach at home was one of his best all-round displays, where he secured a 7.58 rating, the winning goal and the man of the match award. When you consider he has scored three goals in his last three games, and on average, has 2.3 shots per game and 0.7 key passes per game, he is certainly proving his worth to Stanislawski.

In total, including his international record, Ibisevic has scored 8 goals in 8 starts and 4 substitute appearances. On average, his performance rating stands at 6.62, which is the second highest of any Hoffenheim player to have played less than 10 games.

In comparison with Hoffenheim’s other attackers, Brazilian Roberto Firmino has 5 goals, while Ryan Babel and fellow Bosnian Sejad Salihovic have 4 goals to their names. As mentioned above, Sigurdsson, Mlapa, and even Chinedu Obasi with over 30 appearances between them this season, have yet to score in the Bundesliga.

As much as Stanislawski will still want to see Hoffenheim play attractive football, there is simply no way he can exclude one of the best natural finishers in the Bundesliga.