Analyze this: Can RB Leipzig figure it out?
Over the course of this week, we have looked at what is going on with Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04, but today it's RB Leipzig. Take a look below for our take on Die Roten Bullen and what ails them.
RB Leipzig
The Roster
RB Leipzig, by its nature, is mostly comprised of young and up-and-coming players. While that lends itself to great pace and aggression, it also leaves the team almost barren when it comes to experience. The squad is talented, but it is still trying to find itself under Ralf Rangnick. Timo Werner (22), Emil Forsberg (26), Yussuf Poulsen (24), Jean-Kevin Augustin (21), Marcel Sabitzer (24), Kevin Kampl (27), Diego Demme (26), Willi Orban (25), Peter Gulasci (28), and Dayot Upemecano (19) are the core group of the squad at this stage. The ability is there, but can it be molded together to win?
The Stars
Werner appears to be finding his legs under Rangnick and has two goals in three Bundesliga matches, but has been battling injuries and an illness in the early part of the season. The speedy center forward is the best player on the squad and needs to be the focal point of the offense. Rangnick's biggest challenge is trying to find the proper personnel to surround Werner.
Aside of Werner, the rest of the roster is comprised of very solid players, but few legit stars at this stage. Forsberg may be the next biggest name, but Augustin, Sabitzer, and Poulsen certainly could develop further to have more prominent roles on the squad.
Regardless, Werner is the man for Die Roten Bullen; he just needs to stay healthy. Werner is currently battling a groin injury, which certainly doesn't help the squad as it looks to gain some sort of consistency.
The Coach
Rangnick is in a lame duck....err, caretaker season with RB Leipzig, which is a questionable strategy with such a young group of players. Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann will make the move to Leipzig next season, but in the mean time, Rangnick is trying to maintain some semblance of order. It has not been great.
Rangnick has had issues with his lineups and figuring how to best utilize the weapons at his disposal. Seemingly resigned to the fact that the team will struggle on defense, Rangnick has yet to figure out how to use Werner, Poulsen, Augustin, and Forsberg in a way that would really maximize their collective production. If RB Leipzig isn't going to be able to rely on its defense to win games, it HAS to find a way to out-score its opposition. Until Rangnick can wrap his head around that, it will continue to be a roller coaster ride for this squad. Ultimately, anything outside of a Champions League berth will be a disappointment for this team.
Analysis
Leipzig doesn't have much room for error. The club is going to have Rangnick finish this season no matter what and he can either figure out how to best utilize this roster soon or spend the entire season scuffling and experimenting. This season just doesn't feel like it will ever get sorted for Die Roten Bullen. Even if Rangnick can make it all work, the squad is not deep enough to seriously challenge Bayern or even Dortmund at this stage. Step one of fixing things should be to get Werner healthy and the rest should subsequently start to fall in place if Rangnick can find an alignment and rotation that works. We don't have a lot of faith that will happen and ultimately think Leipzig could spend the season wasting away in mediocrity unless things change quickly. It's your move, Ralf...make it count.
