Have Stuttgart Signed Germany's Next Great Striker in Daniel Ginczek?
VfB Stuttgart completed the signing of centre-forward Daniel Ginczek from FC Nurnberg, per Stuttgart's official website, so can he succeed in the Bundesliga next season? To address that question, here is a scouting report on Ginczek, a 23-year-old German footballer.
Positives
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Ginczek is a 6'3", 190-pound No. 9 with untapped potential.
"Daniel's a rangy, pacey, bustling striker with a proven nose for goal," Stuttgart sporting director Fredi Bobic said, per Bundesliga.com. "[Ginczek has] all the attributes we're looking for."
Bobic's description was encapsulated by Ginczek's goal against Hoffenheim.
He took then-Nurnberg (now Bayer Leverkusen) right-forward Josip Drmic's pass, outmuscled Hoffenheim centre-back David Abraham and guided the ball into the bottom corner.
It was a routine pass from Drmic which turned into an assist.
This demonstrates Ginczek can make game-changing plays, which was on show when he sliced through Wolfsburg's defence with a mazy dribble.
Ginczek averaged more dribbles per game (2.1) than Borussia Dortmund right attacking midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (0.6).
Ginczek is a counter-attacking threat, as was the case when he raced in behind Hoffenheim's defence and placed the ball past Hoffenheim goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
Negatives
Ginczek is physically athletic, but his body could not cope with his dynamic playing style last season.
"Up until my injury I had a great time in Nuremberg," Ginczek said, per Stuttgart's official website. "But I really wanted to continue playing in the Bundesliga [Nurnberg suffered relegation]."
Ginczek missed 50 percent of the Bundesliga season primarily due to a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee, per Bundesliga.com.
While Ginczek was a constant threat, his finishing consistently deprived his teammate Hiroshi Kiyotake of potential assists.
Ginczek failed to convert 90.3 percent of goalscoring opportunities, per Squawka.com, and only scored three times in 17 league games.
Bottom Line
Ginczek is lost in the shuffle because of the Bundesliga talent factory.
Elite footballers such as Andre Hahn and Kevin Volland cannot even make the German national team's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, so why would anyone pay attention to Ginczek?
Keep in mind, he was Nurnberg's go-to guy before Drmic ascended to become one of the Bundesliga's best players.
Ginczek is big, quick, has a cannon-like shot and was denied several times by the woodwork.
- He would have scored a deflected goal against Hoffenheim if not for the post.
- His header went past Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Thomas Kraft, who was bailed out by the post.
- Kraft's far-post saved him when Ginczek hit a powerful low-drive.
- Ginczek's searing shot careened off the crossbar against Bayern Munich.
Stuttgart have taken calculated gambles in the past.
Is it a red flag that Ginczek failed to make an impression at Borussia Dortmund earlier in his career? Yes.
But Giovane Elber did not make the grade at AC Milan.
Elber had back-to-back Bundesliga seasons of 15 goals or more during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 campaigns for Stuttgart.
Cacau's career drastically improved after he moved from Nurnberg to Stuttgart, and it can be the same with Ginczek.
If Ginczek can stay fit, he could be a breakout Bundesliga star next season.
Statistics via WhoScored.com
