Marco Rojas - The retirement of the Kiwi Messi

In the video Marco said that he does not think about last season injuries, he is looking forward season, he has no issues with his health. The interviewer presses a bit if he looks forward to have break through this season because he shot three goals in 3 games but Marco is not really answering it.
After been asked about the new coach and his fitness trainer he told that he was pretty tired for the first two weeks but feels good now and they have enough time to relax in between sessions. The other player, Ruediger(?) get asked about Marco goals and he joked that he has to do that now in the Bundesliga. He also asked what kind of guy Marco is, he said: He loves woman.
So nothing ground breaking.
Let's hope he plays some games. His German is OK.

VfB have posted that Marco Rojas (amongst others) is now back in full training. So must gave had a niggle. DFB Pokal (cup) this weekend at Bochum, it will be interesting to see if he is anywhere near the match day squad.

I thought he at least looks 18 years....

they probably wish he was on youth wages

Doesn't seem to be in the squad. Maybe because lack of fitness? Just came back from injury right?

Coach said in the press conference before the game:

Marco had good pre-season, made some goals. Won't make it to the starting 11. Was injured last season, di not played any games. Would be better to get him some game time.

Sounds they like to loan him to another club. Veh did not want to talk about individual players before the game, he only answered because a NZ reporter friend of the press asked him.

VFB lost 2:0

Following VfB's FB page, I think he started their latest game and scored a hat-trick, final score 11-2

See his name mentioned a lot in the comments section, must have done well!!!

Looked at the same comments, can see that he did well in that game and scored some goals.

Some interesting comments coming back - 

Veh isn't convinced and doesn't want to throw him in the deep end;

He needs to be loaned out to gain experience;

WHY ISN'T HE PLAYING FOR THE FIRST TEAM YET?; & my new favourite google translation (not even sure it's directly related to Rojas)

The one wants to borrow Rojas I can not understand ... even the professionals should be the salary cut so that they once again tear up the ass! 

Pretty hard to gauge where he's at to be honest, opinion seems to be divided. But surely if they were going to give him a chance to prove his worth they would've put him in the team to play Bochum if the DFB Pokal yesterday? I think the only consolation at this stage is that there is a lot of talk about when he'll get the opportunity to step up. Better than nothing I guess.

The fans on the forum likes to see him play, consens is:

Needs a chance, he can't be worse than the current players on the field. 

(Cue: "If only the Germans had a word for it" joke)

Found this on Soccernet in the transfers speculation (reliable, I know...)

VfB Stuttgart about to send New Zealand international Marco Rojas, 22, on loan. "There are a few offers," Stuttgarter Nachrichten quotes sporting director Fredi Bobic as saying, while Rojas said it remains unclear where he will be going, adding: "I have to see what's best for me."

Will have a snoop around and see what other information is available.

Looking at the fansites/forums/facebook pages and news I've seen, a lot of people angry at the proposed move, as they can't see why he hasn't been given a chance in the first team. 

Even though he's been scoring against amateur sides during the pre season, he has apparently looked a lot sharper than a lot of others that VfB have running around at the moment. 

Very interesting.

Yes, interesting situation. The same paper that was quoting Veh that he needed more game time and hinted at a loan, also said that he was likely to be on the bench at Bochum, but that never happenned.  

Would dearly love to see him at "der Club" (1. FC Nürnberg).  Would be a good fit - big club, great facilities (very important!), superb sausages.  Der Club in slight turmoil at the moment with a couple of disastrous results in last two games - would be welcome.  

Back to Victory?

def should look at any offers from the attack friendly dutch league, would be an awesome confidence booster to pick  up some goals.

I don't think they would send Rojas back to the A-League. There are better leagues in Europe which would let them monitor him better. They would probably want him in a more physical league as well.

Maybe to Zwolle, get him and Thomas working in tandem

crossing fingers that he is lent to a Dutch club as well - not sure what connections vfb has to teams in other leagues

He might just end up playing for the second team in the 3.Bundesliga. 

VfB Stuttgart generally loan their players to lower league German sides in 2.Bundesliga etc.:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VfB_Stuttgart#Out_on_...

MFKevin Stöger (at 1. FC Kaiserslautern until June 2015) (2.Bundesliga club) 20 year-old midfielder

GKRastko Šuljagić (at FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk until June 2015) (Ukrainian club - He's Serbian/ Ukrainian nationality)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VfB_Stuttgart_II#Out_...

22

GK

Kevin Müller (at FC Energie Cottbus until June 2015)  (3.Bundesliga club)

MFSimon Kranitz (at SpVgg Unterhaching until June 2015) (3.Bunesliga club)

send the boy to Dresden - capital city with yellow and black as colours and a lion as their symbol

remind you of anywhere?

Wellington - the Dresden of the south Pacific!

when Muldoon was in power it would have been difficult to tell the difference.....

Heard on the radio this afternoon he's been sent on loan to 2.Bundesliga side SpVgg Greuther Fürth.

Haven't seen anything to confirm this though. Any links would be appreciated.

I love Dresden, beautiful city.

Their coach has gone to Stuttgart to look at midfielders, especially Rojas - no confirmation and would be a loan not a sale...

http://www.nordbayern.de/sport/kramer-hat-wohl-ein-auge-auf-stuttgarts-rojas-geworfen-1.3841078

Have never heard of this team...will have to have a look

http://www.goal.com/de/news/968/transfernews/2014/...

http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/greuther-fuerth/...

loan seems to be gaining traction

Confirmed. One year loan to Fuerth without purchase option, if I read it correctly. On VfB website.
Grrrivals! (To 1FC Nurnberg)

Yup, there's a photo of him signing the paperwork on his Facebook page

They're pretty much part of the furniture in the 2.Bundesliga. From what I've looked at in years gone by, they seem to be up there towards the top half of the table. Won the division and subsequent promotion to Bundesliga a couple of years ago but went straight back down finishing dead last with a 4 Win, 9 Draw, 21 Loss record.

Will be good to see Marco finally get some game time though. Really a critical year for him one feels.

http://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/ger...

new coach reckons he's the man to lead their strike force so hopefully marco can provide under a less stressful enviroment.

and they almost got promoted last year as well .... will be great to see a team built around his talent. I hope he likes sausages, beer and lederhosen because there isn't much else going on around that region. At least he will be getting a BMW instead of a Mercedes.....

He now has the chance to become a hero at a half decent club, I would be surprised if he returned to vfb under the present coach.

no comment on an option to buy in the German media, just comment on his Stuttgart contract running until 2017.

From VfB release "Der Zweitligist und der VfB einigten sich auf ein einjähriges Ausleihgeschäft des 22-jährigen Mittelfeldspielers ohne Kaufoption."

Edit: Link to VfB release ... practice your German here.

On paper looks like a solid move for Marco. What's your thinking Turf?

Good team at that level. A Few aussies have done well at that level then jumped up

ha whoops I think I need to practice my English

There are also a few Aussies who struggled to make it in 1.Bundesliga and have slipped down to 2.Bundesliga though. 

Of the 13 Aussies currently under contract to German clubs, only two made appearances in the 1.Bundesliga last season:

http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Abroad/index.html

Langerak (4 apps, second choice keeper) and Kruse (4 starts, 11 as a sub). The rest are playing for youth teams, reserve teams or lower league sides.

Marco will be competing against a couple of Aussies in the 2.Bundesliga this season:

Mathew Leckie: Struggled at Borussia Monchengladbach (9 appearances there) and spent the last two seasons as a regular for FSV Frankfurt in 2. Bundesliga (first season on loan and then sold). Tranferred to FC Ingolstadt 04 this season. 

Ben Halloran: Fortuna Dusseldorf (second season there) - 18 apps in first team and six in second team last season.

Nikita Rukavytsya (ex-Perth): On loan last season to FSV Frankfurt in 2.Liga from Mainz (1.Bundesliga) where he never cemented a first team place (8 appearances since 2012). Never cemented a starting position at FSV Frankfurt either (6 starts, 13 as a sub). 

Mustafa Amini (ex Central Coast) hasn't appeared for Borussia Dortmund's first team yet after signing before the 2012-13 season. Again stuck in the second team this season in the 3.Bundesliga. Made 15 apps last season in the 3.Bundesliga, 14 the previous season.

I found it interesting that Marco's new club has a clover as one of its symbols. It's not an Irish reference but a symbol of their town.