Union Berlin scores too little goals. That is why the transfer of the Croatian striker Marin Ljubicic is not surprising. However, his profile surprises.
Football is a game of the probabilities. This can be seen, for example, by the fact that the most popular way of evaluating teams that are so -called Expected Goals. So the likelihood of statistically leading to goals with the offensive efforts. Union Berlin, for example, has an XG value of 25.56 in the previous season. In fact, the team, which has now been trained by Steffen Baumgart, has only scored 16 times in 20 games so far. What is one thing in particular with a 100 percent probability: too little.
Now only the goals are missing
The point win against RB Leipzig was the same as a Unioner exclamation mark in the relegation battle. However, the performance also opened unresolved questions in the attack. But Steffen Baumgart gets closer to the solution. By Shea Westhoffmore
Striker without footprint
Now this is probably also because the quality of the existing strikers does not meet the requirements. That has been the case for a while, which is why the center forward at the 1st FC Union has finally become a kind of instantaneous water heater. Ivan Prtajin, Chris Bedia, Andrej Ilic, Mikkel Kaufmann, David Datro Fofana and Jordan were the newcomers to the last three Union-Saions. The footsteps that they (previously) left (so far) are to be found in the children’s shoe department of the Union tool houses.
Now observers, supporters and probably also those responsible for the club were pretty much that something had to be done in the winter transfer window this season 2024/25. Which brings us back to with probabilities. Because how did the user write “Unionwessi” in the forum of the website specializing in transfer questions “Transfermarkt.de” [Ext. Link] On February 1st (at 4:39 a.m.) with regard to rumors that Union is interested in the Croatian striker Marin Ljubicic? Exactly: “Think about it, there is nothing, rumor rate 0 percent.” A day later, the change was then 100 percent of the association confirmed.
Does the new one also pack it in the Bundesliga?
“Marin is a great talent in his age group and has shown not only at the LASK (Linz athletics sports club, editor’s note). Help and give the coaching team more options on the offensive, “Horst Heldt let himself be quoted, Union Managing Director Sport.
Which would be once again with probabilities. Because while one should assume that world-class player from the caliber Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland would suddenly enhance the Union storm, the actual transfers are regularly faced with whether the services are in rather weaker leagues to be transferred to the performance in the Bundesliga.
It was one of the secrets of success of the initial Bundesliga years Union that the then managing director Sport Oliver Ruhnert seemed to master this conversion course dazzling. That he was constantly in bet and won very often. Whether Grischa Prömel, Marvin Friedrich, Julian Rerson, Sheraldo Becker, Kevin Behrens or Danilho Doekhi – none of the later top performers came to Köpenick as a seasoned Bundesliga player.
Didn’t Union actually look for anything else?
Whether Union’s latest obligation, whether Marin Ljubicic goes a similar way, is currently mere speculation. What is known about 19 times the U21 international Croatia is still raising questions. Ljubicic is considered a mentality player and work animal with a good conclusion. And even if he achieves his goals almost exclusively in the penalty area and mostly even around the five -meter space, he tries to contribute to the game structure.
His technology is solid. Dribblings are a rarity, rather it solves one-against-one duels with clever body falsifications and a good start. Ljubicic has a strong shooting technique with the right foot and a good left foot. He knows how to use his very strong body very well, plays straightforward. 30 goals and 4 templates in 87 games for the LASK show that despite everything, he is rather snappy. Above all, it is just 1.83 meters tall. Or to do it with the side “Sofascore” [Ext. Link] To say that the profiles of players created based on data sets: strengths – none, weaknesses – header duels.
Now, however, there are severe suspicions that Union coach Baumgart has a pattern in mind when it comes to torment: flank, header, cheering. Which means that the Ljubicic obligation and the change from Freiburg’s Maximilian Philipp, a kind of half-striker, probably only burst at the last second. But probably none of this is wrong and Marin Ljubicic makes five goals out of one chance in the upcoming away game in Hoffenheim (Saturday, February 8, 3:30 p.m.).
Sending: The Day, 03/03/2025, 7:15 p.m.
