Copyright: IMAGO/Matthias Koch
Sargis Adamyan of the 1. FC Köln scored in the Bundesliga defeat of the year in a 0-2 draw at Hertha BSC (November 12, 2022).
1. FC Köln have a storm problem. No FC striker has scored more than three Bundesliga goals so far. During the trip to the USA, those in charge want to discuss whether the front should be resupplied.
1. FC Köln has a storm problem! This became clear in the last snap of the year, not only thanks to a mistake by Sargis Adamyan (29) in the 0-2 defeat against Hertha BSC. In the USA camp (from Wednesday November 16, 2022) the bosses want to discuss winter provisions.
Because things no longer want to go ahead. Two miserable goals in their last five Bundesliga games have all alarm bells ringing.
Steffen Tigges is FC’s top goalscorer in the Bundesliga with three goals
After the departure of Anthony Modeste (34, BVB), there are no longer any strikers in the ranks of Köln who score reliably. The gap left by the French so far has not been filled.
The best FC striker in the league is Steffen Tigges (23) with three goals. Sargis Adamyan (29), who arrived to much early praise and was handed a lavish four-year contract, has yet to catch on.
The Armenian falls behind expectations with a goal in the league (in Wolfsburg). “I would have liked more goals, of course,” said the striker after his huge missed chance in Berlin. There Adamyan didn’t hit the empty goal from three meters away.
At the latest from this slapstick action, the calls for a new top scorer are getting louder and louder. Especially since with Florian Dietz (24, cruciate ligament rupture) there is no alternative until the end of the season and the comeback dates of Tim Lemperle (20) and Sebastian Andersson (31) are uncertain. Another target player for Baumgart’s side kick would be important!
Those in charge now want to sit down during the trip to the United States (until November 24) to discuss the storm problem. “We have a lot of time to chat there. We’ll count sheep and review the year,” Thomas Kessler (36) announced during a transfer summit in Texas.
However, the head of the licensed players department still doesn’t let himself be looked at, and on requests for offensive reinforcements he says: “I don’t see the problems there so much. I see a team that is constantly developing. We have had situations where obviously we should have scored one or two more goals. But we scored 17 points and we’re in goal.”
Will the winter break help Sargis Adamyan and Steffen Tigges?
Internally, trust in existing staff is still high. Those responsible continue to believe in the breakthrough of Modeste’s successors. In the winter break there is finally time to better integrate Adamyan and Tigges into the FC game, the former Dortmunder had completely missed the summer preparation due to his six-month injury layoff (ankle fracture).
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The fact is: keep an eye out for alternatives, however – especially in winter it’s a question of money and feasibility. Quality strikers are in short supply and when they arrive, they come at a price.
To do this, those in charge must address the question of whether they want to rely on a short-term rental solution until the summer or whether they want to anticipate the new season by buying them.
Because at the latest the attack department needs to be updated. With Sebastian Andersson (out of contract) a striker will leave the club permanently. Tim Lemperle’s future (option for another season) is also unclear, and it remains to be seen when and how Florian Dietz will return after the second cruciate ligament tear in his young career.
