Impressive development by SVE in their second year – a preliminary review
SV Elversberg are heading into the last international break of the year with plenty of wind in their sails. This is not what many of the pre-season critics would have expected – but SV Elversberg have once again proved everyone wrong.
It is an old footballing maxim that has proven true time and again: the second year after being promoted is the hardest. It has been a stumbling block for many teams, but SV Elversberg have shown once again that they are the exception to the rule. After managing to retain their place in the league in magnificent form in the previous season, coach Horst Steffen’s team have shown impressive development during their second year in the 2. Bundesliga and are even rubbing shoulders with the table leaders. What’s more, they achieved this despite summer omens that were less than favourable.
The departure of top performers such as Paul Wanner and Jannik Rochelt brought the sceptics out in force. Many people doubted that Elversberg would be able to absorb these losses in the second division after such as strong debut season. However, these doubts have proven unfounded. Coach Horst Steffen and sports director Nils-Ole Book’s managing team once again had a good handle on the transfer market, and a team quickly emerged. This team spirit and a clear tactical approach have allowed the squad to fight their way back to the upper echelons of the 2. Bundesliga.
The start of the season was unquestionably bumpy: 0:0 in Magdeburg, another draw against Cologne, and a defeat by Karlsruher SC caused some unrest. Critics felt proven right – their fall after their debut season would be too great. However, the team were undeterred. The first stir came with a clear 4:0 win over Darmstadt. This success put wind in their sails: points against Fürth and an impressive 4:1 victory over Hertha BSC in the Berlin Olympiastadion clearly demonstrated that Elversberg were not listening to the naysayers. It was a turning point, made even sweeter by another highlight: SVE triumphed in the derby against 1. FC Kaiserslautern in front of a home crowd at the URSAPHARM Arena. The team then showed their mettle in Münster to gain a late point, before another historic home game: Hamburger SV were sent back to the Hanseatic city with a scoreline of 4:2. The team also kept their heads up in the DFB cup. Although Elversberg lost 0:3 to top-division team Bayer Leverkusen, they were bold and well organised, and Horst Steffen sounded so relaxed about the defeat that it almost sounded like a victory. The fact that this was followed by a loss to last-placed team Regensburg was only a side note, as in their next home game against Hannover 96, the team put in a performance that will go down the club’s history as one of their best in recent years, beating the table leaders 3:1.
SV Elversberg have remained true to themselves – which is one of the keys to their success. This is a club marked by calm and continuity. Despite some difficult moments, the sporting management have never wavered from their course. Coach Horst Steffen offers a clear style of play and exceptional team leadership. Last year’s motto was ‘we all allow each other success’, and that has held true for this year. This solidarity makes Elversberg a cohesive unit. In addition, the squad has been remarkably stable. Injuries suffered by top players such as Fellhauer, Sahin, Schnellbacher or Le Joncour have not prompted drops in performance. Instead, new additions and other players have proven ready to step up and take responsibility.
One example of this is Fisnik Asllani. The forward, who suffered injury problems at Austria Wien last season, has seen an explosion of form: he has been one of the stars of the season so far, with seven goals and three assists. His physical strength, paired with technique and agility, have enhanced Elversberg’s play. Muhamed Damar has similarly provided some highlights – his dynamism and technical skill have made him a crucial part of the attacking lineup. 19-year-old Elias Baum has become a firm fixture as a right back and is now demonstrating his potential to achieve greater things. Maximilian Rohr seamlessly filled the gap in the central defence and Lukas Petkov has shone with his offensive play. Frederik Schmahl and Filimon Gerezgiher have also provided vital momentum. Only Mohammad Mahmoud has not yet been able to impress as hoped – but the season is far from over.
Despite the positive development overall, there have been a few setbacks. The start of the season was not ideal and the points lost in Münster and against Ulm were painful, as the team were not pushed to their limits in these matches. With a little more consistency, Elversberg could even be threatening the top of the table. However, these are minor details given the team’s overall performance. The euphoria surrounding SV Elversberg still continues unabated. Fans are enjoying their club’s fairytale journey so minor bumps in the road are taken in their stride. There is a prevailing sense that anything is possible – and this confidence has spread to the team. The preliminary review is clear: SV Elversberg are continuing their exceptional development. Whether or not this journey continues upwards remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the club has the potential to cause more upsets. The fairytale continues – ideally straight after the international break, when the team are heading to Düsseldorf to face the third-placed team in the table.