Post Match Thoughts
29.08.21
A Step forward despite potential for points
The good defensive work and the creation of goal-scoring chances are rated positively after the 0-0 draw in Heidenheim. However, there is still room for improvement in the way the chances are utilised.
How do you rate a goalless draw on matchday five against a strong away opponent? This question is not as easy to answer as it seems at first glance. First of all, it must be stated that the 90 minutes on Saturday (18 August) between HSV and 1. FC Heidenheim was without doubt a 0:0 of the very good kind. According to the DFL database, there were 18 (FCH) to 16 (HSV) shots on goal in the end, plus a total of three efforts off the crossbar (2x FCH, 1x HSV) and numerous other good opportunities on both sides. "The spectators saw a very entertaining football match with two teams that played very intensively," analysed Tim Walter in the press conference afterwards. And Jonas Boldt, who followed the action in the Voith Arena from the stands, also had a lot of positive things to say about the Reds' performance. "We had very good facilities, played very concentrated and patiently and also created many really good chances. We also saw very good goalkeepers on both sides," he said.
Special praise for "Ferro"
The two goalkeepers really couldn't complain about being busy on this day and earned top marks. Daniel Heuer Fernandes received special praise from the coach because he played the game with a broken toe, just as he did in the home game against Darmstadt last week. Ferro" not only underpinned his performance with strong saves, but was also very actively involved in the game as the first set-up player in the coach's system with 77 ball contacts and a safe passing rate of 80%. And finally, for once, there was a clean sheet for him. "Before the game, our goal was to play to nil. We managed that. We also implemented other plans from the training week, such as filling the positions better and preventing counterattacks," Heuer praised Fernandes, but added: "However, we are not satisfied with the result."
Meffert: "You can see that it is getting better and better".
Midfield stabiliser Jonas Meffert, who blocked many of the opponent's important passing routes in Heidenheim and had the last chance of the game himself with his blocked low shot in the 90th minute, sees it similarly. "Of course we would have preferred to have two more points on our account, but unfortunately we didn't manage that. We didn't take our chances. We have to improve that," said the 26-year-old newcomer. He has already realised that patience for improvement - and here we are at the other side of the evaluation - is much less in the Hamburg environment than at his previous stations. "In Kiel, everyone would have said: Heidenheim is the most difficult away game. 0:0, super game, so many chances against such an opponent. We are satisfied in the sense that we have taken a step in the right direction."
However, HSV's performance is also read off the table - no matter what matchday it is. And there the Reds currently find themselves in ninth place with six points after five matchdays (as of 28.8.). "We are simply not rewarding ourselves enough. We have to be more consistent and make the most of our chances," said Tim Walter, who nevertheless gave his team a positive report card. "For us, this game was a step forward. We defended very consistently at the back, especially with the many corner kicks that Heidenheim had. Going forward, we had the necessary composure, were good on the ball and created our chances." Jonas Meffert agrees. "You can see that it's getting better and better. We are implementing what the coach wants, how we play the balls in front, how we create the chances. It wasn't as wildly back and forth as against Darmstadt. I saw a development. It was a step in the right direction. So the overall assessment is positive, even if there is still room for improvement in the standings.