‘The Unrelegatables’: How Peter Zeidler’s tactics can secure VfL Bochum’s Bundesliga status

Back in May, VfL Bochum narrowly secured their Bundesliga standing for another term after turning around a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Fortuna Düsseldorf in last season’s relegation playoff. 

Now, they must set their sights on another season battling to stay in the league. However, having opened their 2024/25 season with an early DFB Pokal exit and back-to-back league defeats without scoring, it has been a less-than-ideal start.

Yet, there have been positive signs for the club from North Rhine-Westphalia, as new head coach Peter Zeidler’s tactical setup has shown great promise. Zeidler arrived in the summer to replace Thomas Letsch, who was sacked in April after the club fell into 15th in the league. 

The German coach had managed Swiss Super League side FC St. Gallen for the previous six years and boasts a wealth of managerial experience across Europe. 

With that in mind, it seems pertinent to assess his chances at Bochum and how his tactical setup will help the club to remain afloat in the topflight of German football.

ANALYSIS OF FC ST. GALLEN

Comparing the Swiss side’s team statistics under Zeidler to the other 11 Swiss Super League clubs gives a clear indication of his managerial intent.

In the 2023/24 season, Zeidler’s side finished first for xG (61.1) and shots on target per match (5.5), but 11th for accurate passes per match (280.1) and last for accurate long balls per match (21.9). FC St. Gallen also averaged less than 50% possession per game and had the most yellow cards with 97.

This proves that Zeidler’s system emphasises chance creation as a priority. He wants his team to take a considerable amount of shots, while also not being ponderous in possession. He encourages players to play low percentage passes, transitioning from defence to attack in a risky but rapid fashion in order to break vertical lines at a quick pace and deliver the ball into the box. 

In all of the last three seasons under Zeidler, FC St. Gallen ranked poorly for pass accuracy but always maintained high xG, goals per match and a minimum of five shots on target per game. Zeidler’s style exploits high tempo football with a shoot-on-sight mentality.

Out of possession the German manager targets a strong pressing system. In 2021/22 and 2022/23, FC St. Gallen had the league’s most successful tackles per match (12.1 and 12.3), but also the most red cards (7 and 9). 

Although Zeidler’s teams turn over possession frequently, they also win it back with uncompromising aggression. Their low number of interceptions per match means they rarely adopt a stand-off mentality. Instead, Zeidler demands that his players actively win back possession and do not allow the opponent control of the game.

IMPACT FOR VFL BOCHUM 

To analyse the impact that Zeidler’s tactical transition will have on his new team we can examine Bochum’s statistics from last season. The club had the Bundesliga’s worst pass accuracy and ranked 13th for both xG and goals per match, only managing 23 goals from open play all season. 

However, Die Unabsteigbaren did finish 5th highest for tackle success rate and possession won in the final third, with the 4th best cross success rate.

This data is twofold. It shows that although Bochum were winning the ball back vigorously, they were often poor at utilising it once in possession.

Zeidler will hope to implement his system to greatly increase the side’s number of chances created, and thereby goals scored. He will try to turn their passing game into a risky system that creates as many shooting opportunities as possible and demand that they win the ball back high up the pitch so as to account for their leaky defence.

Simply put, Bochum have to score more goals. As strikers Moritz Broschinski and Philipp Hofmann stand at 6’2 and 6’4 respectively, it is key that they target wide areas to create crossing opportunities. The addition of Koji Miyoshi for a reported €2.2 million from Birmingham City should help to provide such chances. 

Zeidler will ask his team to shift the ball wide swiftly, as their poor passing could be exploited if kept to the centre. Crosses and balls to feet will be Bochum’s staple passing methods, as the German manager will want to disrupt opposition defences as frequently as possible.

EVIDENCE VS LEIPZIG 

Analysis of Bochum’s opening day defeat to RB Leipzig evidences Zeidler’s setup.

Above is Bochum’s shot map from the game. From ten shots they managed four in the box, four on target and a total xG of 0.97. When considering that Bochum only had 37% possession and Leipzig only accumulated 1.34xG in comparison, this proves the manager’s focus on chance creation. 

Bochum were very effective at generating respectable shooting opportunities despite their low possession and also managed a relatively high number of shots. This will pay dividends if Bochum can begin to convert these opportunities to goals.

The second diagram shows the number of passes by both teams’ centre-backs that targeted the middle third of the pitch. Bearing in mind Bochum registered 26% less possession, this is a relatively balanced graphic. 

Clearly, Erhan Mašović and Jakov Medić passed the ball with an attacking intent, aiming to progress the play at all costs rather than retain possession. This shows that Zeidler wants the ball shifted away from his own team’s goal as quickly as possible to commence attacks swiftly. Both teams registered an equal number of these passes in the opposition’s half. 

This demonstrates that Zeidler insists on deploying a high line where the Centre Backs shift into the middle to bring their holding midfielders into play.

The final graphic shows the position of both sides’ successful tackles. Bochum won the ball six times in the opposition half, with Leipzig only managing this once. 

Therefore, the diagram testifies to Zeidler’s aggressive tactics when out of possession. He implements a high press in order to turn over the ball and ensures his wide players push up to force tackling opportunities near the byline.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS

An intense, high-pressing system could be just what Bochum need after doing the impossible to survive last season. However, with the departures of top goalscorers Kevin Stöger (to Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Takuma Asano (to Mallorca), Bochum fans may be worrying about who will provide the goals. 

Despite their concerns, it is clear that Peter Zeidler has set his sights on playing attacking football. He wants to see Bochum regularly on the scoresheet and will hope to cause more upsets like their 3-2 defeat of Bayern Munich in February. 

Although it has not been the dream start he may have hoped for, it is clear that Zeidler will not let Bochum go down without a fight and will throw everything he can at opposition defences. 

If his attacking style can get them firing, there is no reason why Bochum’s ‘unrelegatable’ nickname cannot ring true for another season.