On paper, the showdown between Werder Bremen and Greuther Fürth appears to be an easy one for the hosts on Saturday 16 March 2013 at 3:30 p.m. Werder are a storied team welcoming in the promoted side from Fürth, who are...
On paper, the showdown between Werder Bremen and Greuther Fürth appears to be an easy one for the hosts on Saturday 16 March 2013 at 3:30 p.m. Werder are a storied team welcoming in the promoted side from Fürth, who are...
On paper, the showdown between Werder Bremen and Greuther Fürth appears to be an easy one for the hosts on Saturday 16 March 2013 at 3:30 p.m. Werder are a storied team welcoming in the promoted side from Fürth, who are anchored at the bottom of the table. But Fürth and their new coach Frank Kramer would like to give a good showing over the remainder of the season.
Fürth started their first Bundesliga season with much excitement. But at the moment it appears that their time in the Bundesliga may only last one season. Going into the away match at Weser Stadium, Fürth are last on the table with a seven-point deficit to the relegation playoff spot. In addition, Mike Büskens, who led Fürth to promotion, was sacked and his successor, interim Ludwig Preis, was replaced by Frank Kramer.
Greuther Fürth have struggled all season. They are still waiting for their first home victory of the season, having collected just four draws, including a 1-1 draw against Werder in the first half of the season. Away from home they have collected 10 points including victories in Mainz (1-0) and at Schalke (2-1). Kramer, who played for Fürth and coached the second team, will make his debut as boss of the top side. "Everybody here worked to get to the Bundesliga. Now with nine matches left, both the team and everyone around it should get a chance to enjoy it a bit," said Kramer. That sounds a lot like a "farewell tour" as everyone in Fürth knows staying in the league will take a near miracle.
Still, Thomas Schaaf's Werder team should take their 1-1 draw at Fürth in the first half as a warning. In addition, an old familiar face is returning as Florian Trinks comes back after leaving the club during the winter break to join Fürth. "If my coach asks me about Werder, of course I will tell him everything I know," said Trinks with a grin in an interview with WERDER.DE. It remains to be seen if a former Bremen player will be able to change Fürth's fortunes. But the match will definitely be exciting, if nothing else because Fürth will be coming to Bremen for the first time. Both the 2004 German DFB Cup match and the first Bundesliga game this season were in Fürth.
